Craig Damian Smith, PhD

Founder and Principal Investigator

Craig is a political scientist, and Senior Research Associate at the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration & Integration at Ryerson University, and a Research Affiliate at the Centre for Refugee Studies, York University. His research looks at the global politics of irregular migration and refugee integration.

Gotam Bhardwaj, P. Eng.

Technical Lead

Gotam is a Professional Engineer (P. Eng.) with fifteen years of software project lifecycle experience, using many of today’s leading technology platforms. He has experience in the education, labour market, and cyber-security sectors, in addition to working with various volunteer and advocacy organizations.

Radboud Reijn

Operations Lead

Radboud has over 15 years of experience in Public Affairs and has build up a broad network in Brussels and the EU Institutions. Having worked for clients from the non-profit and private sector he has a keen understanding how to build coalitions, and drive policy change.

Salif Jaiteh

Data Science & Algorithm Lead

Salif is finishing his PhD in Political Science at Columbia University, New York. He conducts a variety of quantitative research in the Political Economy of Development. He helps lead Pairity’s algorithm and data science initiatives.

Michael Gagnon, CPA, CMA

Finance Lead

Mike brings over 15 years of insight from the technology field. Most recently, he spent 7 years as the Controller for Shopify, where he helped lead private financing rounds toward their wildly successful IPO in 2015. Mike is a graduate of Western University and is a designated CPA, CMA.

Prof. Dr. Julie Birkholz, PhD

Social Network Analysis Advisor

Julie is a Post-doctoral researcher at the Ghent University, Belgium. She specializes in quantitative social network analysis to systematically compare the effect of contexts, network structures and outcomes.

Anna Hogrebe

Communications Advisor

Anna is a Corporate Communications and Public Relations professional with over 15 years of international experience in media, technology and healthcare. She specializes in media and stakeholder relations. 

Mustafa Alio

Policy Advisor

Mustafa is the Co-Managing Director of R-SEAT, advocating for refugee inclusion in global policy-making. He was previously a co-founder and Managing Director of Jumpstart Refugee Talent, an organization devoted to the economic inclusion of refugees. He advises Pairity on policy development and inclusive design.

Andrew Lusztyk

Programme Advisor

Andrew is the Co-Director of Together Project in Toronto, Canada – an organization which matches volunteers with resettled refugees. He specializes in designing, implementing, and evaluating programs that engage and activate communities to drive purposeful social impact. His work has often bridged the gap between the private, public, and social sectors, and has included projects across Europe, Africa, and North America.