Will Bennett
Will Bennett
Will is working on the early detection, prevention, and de-escalation of conflicts at the Centre on Armed Groups.
Will was previously a Senior Conflict Advisor for the EU and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a Gender and Human Rights Advisor for the UN. He was also Head of Policy at the Life & Peace Institute, and Head of Security & Justice at Saferworld, where he led SSR policy work across 16 conflict affected states, working closely with state and non-state armed actors. Since moving to Geneva, Will has directed the Rethinking Stability Initiative at Interpeace, supported UNEP as a Conflict and Climate Advisor, and been a Senior Advisor in the Asia-Pacific Unit at DCAF.
Will has led research and programmes across Asia, Central Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East trying to understand how to prevent and mitigate violent conflict. He taught the Civilian Peacebuilding course at Basel University for Swisspeace, and his writing has appeared in edited volumes, journals, and The Guardian. In 2012 he wrote a book in partnership with the UN on Peace and Development. Will has a BA in History from the University of Bristol, an MA in War Studies from King's College London, and is writing a DPhil on Political Geography at Hertford College, Oxford.
