Dr. Alexandra Abello ColaK
Founder and Executive Director
Alexandra founded Security 4 Peace as a hub that brings together diverse stakeholders with different kinds of knowledge and capacities to collaborate and co-develop security initiatives that not only reduce violences but help build more peaceful societies. Over the last decades she has studied dynamics of violence, insecurity and crime in cities and co-produced methodologies to help communities, civil society organizations, researchers and local governments work together to address urban insecurity.
Using participatory methodologies, peace research and complex systems thinking she has influenced academic and policy debates on urban security. She worked at the Department of Peace Studies at Bradford University in the United Kingdom, Universidad del Rosario in Colombia and the Centre for Conflict Studies at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. She has been based at the London School of Economics and Political Science since 2016, contributed as expert adviser and lead consultant on human security to UN-Habitat’s Safer Cities Programme and led and coordinated projects in 10 cities in Colombia, Mexico, Jamaica and South Africa.
Cindy D. Abello, MPH
Strategy and Knowledge Integration Lead
Cindy leads strategic and knowledge integration efforts at Security 4 Peace, helping bridge research and practice across the organization’s knowledge areas. With a background in public health and communications research, she focuses on how knowledge is created, shared, and applied to strengthen evidence-based decision-making.
Her experience spans non-profits, consulting firms and government agencies in the U.S. and abroad, with a focus on translating complex insights into practical frameworks that improve coordination and impact. At Security 4 Peace, she works closely with teams to align strategic goals, build knowledge systems, and foster a culture of adaptive learning that supports sustainable peace and security outcomes.
Dr. Jorge Ramirez
Quantitative Research and Modelling Lead
Jorge leads the quantitative research, computational analysis, and modelling efforts behind the Glocal Human Security Index, helping develop rigorous data-driven methods to measure and understand urban security and its drivers. He is an applied mathematician, researcher, and educator specializing in the modelling and analysis of complex systems in the natural and social sciences, and engineering.
He is Associate Professor of Mathematics at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. His work focuses on stochastic processes, probabilistic modelling, and computational methods for complex systems. In addition to his academic research, he has worked as a researcher and consultant in applied mathematics for industry, government, and educational institutions, contributing quantitative expertise to interdisciplinary projects involving data analysis, uncertainty, and decision-making.
Claudia Rodríguez-Castellanos
Strategic Analysis and Mixed-Methods Specialist
Claudia develops integrated analytical approaches that combine qualitative and quantitative research to support the strategic use of data generated through the Glocal Human Security Index-GHSI and other tools. Her work focuses on translating complex data into insights that can inform policy, research, and action to strengthen people-centred security. She works closely with teams and partners, providing technical guidance to ensure the methodological integrity and consistent application of the GHSI across different contexts.
Claudia is a PhD candidate in the Department of International Development at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Her research explores the role of informal institutions in contexts affected by violence and armed conflict. She brings experience in both academic research and public service, including roles at Universidad de los Andes, Colombia’s Office of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies.
advisory board
Prof. Jenny Pearce
Mariann Sarquis-Sepúlveda
Dr. Markus Gottsbacher
Jenny is a political scientist and peace scholar with decades of experience in researching violence. Recognized as an outstanding scholar and academic change-maker Jenny has made important contributions to understandings of dynamics of violence, state formation, participation and social change by using anthropological and participatory research methods in many violent contexts in Latin America. She is currently Visiting Professor at the International Inequalities Institute of the London School of Economics, UK.
Dr. Markus Gottsbacher
Mariann Sarquis-Sepúlveda
Dr. Markus Gottsbacher
Markus is a political scientist with three decades of experience in projects on access to justice, crime prevention, as well as violence reduction and peacebuilding. He has worked with various programs, funds and specialized agencies of the United Nations, as well as with civil society and multilateral organizations. Currently he is in charge of projects on climate justice, civic space, forced displacement, and digital governance as Senior Program Officer at the International Development Research Center (IDRC), Canada
Mariann Sarquis-Sepúlveda
Mariann Sarquis-Sepúlveda
Mariann Sarquis-Sepúlveda
Mariann is a Human Rights lawyer who has built a career in strategic planning, project, and research management. She has extensive experience designing and leading complex projects within the higher education, international cooperation, and civil society sectors. Her passion lies in supporting organisations that promote inclusive and equitable societies. She is currently responsible for managing the Academic Skills Development initiative at the Centre for Teaching and Learning of the University of Oxford.