Azadeh Pourzand

A human rights researcher and a civic entrepreneur, Azadeh has spent the past decade contributing to the design, implementation and impact evaluation of civil society strengthening, media development, education and human rights programs for marginalized communities in the Middle East and South Asia. 

Currently a PhD candidate at SOAS, she is a graduate of Harvard Kennedy School of Government (HKS) with a Master in Public Policy (MPP), a graduate of Nyenrode Universiteit with a Master in Business Administration (MBA) focused on entrepreneurship, and a graduate of Oberlin College with an honors bachelor's degree in Comparative Literature. Her research and writing focus on human rights in Iran, with an emphasis on freedom of expression, rule of law, minority rights, and women's empowerment. 

Having previously served as the editor-in-chief of Women's Policy Journal of Harvard, Azadeh has participated in numerous panels and presented on topics related to human rights held by institutions such as the Nobel Peace Center, Chatham House, the Middle East Institute and Front Line Defenders. A selected member of BMW Foundation Responsible Leaders Network, Azadeh has published two co-authored book chapters on women's rights and rule of law in Iran, published by Routledge and Indiana University Press.

A selected member of BMW Foundation Responsible Leaders Network, Azadeh has published three co-authored book chapters on women's rights, rule of law and freedom of expression in the context of arts and culture in Iran published by Routledge, Indiana University Press and Cambridge University Press.