The Heptagon Post is an online news site, analysing politics, security, economics, life and culture. Based at the Department of War Studies, King's College London, The Heptagon Post brings together faculty, research students and a global team of experts from a wide range of professional backgrounds. They contribute fresh and bold perspectives on important and emerging world issues, lending the site a broad-based appeal.

Editors

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Massimiliano Fiore

Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Massimiliano is a Fellow at the Department of War Studies, King’s College London, and at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter. His research interests include the Arab-Israeli conflict, intelligence, terrorism and nuclear proliferation in the Middle East. He has previously taught at the London School of Economics and at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. He is the author of a book (Anglo-Italian Relations in the Middle East, 1922-1940) and a number of refereed articles, policy papers and editorials. Born in Italy, Massimiliano received a BA in Political Science, an MA in International Affairs and an MA in Diplomatic Studies. He then completed his education in the United Kingdom where he took an MA and a PhD in War Studies. Massimiliano is a passionate traveller, keen photographer, avid reader and a real Napoli fan-addict. He lives in London with his wife Arabella and son Alessandro. 

 

Roland Bensted

Editor (Europe), Roland was born in London. In 2011 he completed an MA in International Relations at the Department of War Studies, King's College London. This followed his BA in Sociology (with French) from the University of Reading in 2005. During more than four years in the UK's Civil Service, Roland worked for the Home Office and Cabinet Office. With research interests spanning political economy, natural resources and conflict, and ethics in international relations, Roland has been published in the academic journal African Security Review, as well as a range of print and online media. Currently employed as a Senior Researcher, Roland enjoys learning languages, reading, and sports, especially football. 

 

Jacob Hershey

Editor (North America), Jacob earned his MA in International Studies and Diplomacy at the School of Oriental and African Studies, with focuses in diplomacy, international economics and African politics. In his hometown of Chattanooga, he did his undergraduate work in international humanities at the University of Tennessee with a heavy focus on foreign languages and creative writing. His research interests focus on the role of personality in politics, diplomacy, and governance. Jacob is an avid outdoorsman, enjoys travelling and watching baseball, and is the proud owner of a banjo. Most recently he has taught language and worked as a cultural liaison in France and Japan, and is currently based in Washington, DC.

 

Lauren Meryl Williamson

Editor (Africa), Lauren was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. In 2009 her interests led her to the School of Oriental and African Studies, where she completed an MA in International Studies and Diplomacy with a focus on Security and Economics. While in London she has worked at Open Democracy, Al Majalla and the UK Defence Forum. Currently, she works as an International Market Reporter and also writes on a freelance basis. Lauren is passionate about increasing public understanding of issues in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as increasing women’s participation in dialogue on security matters. She has previously worked as a News Reporter, Associate Producer and Anchor at NBC, FOX and ABC affiliated stations in Texas. She holds a BA in Radio, Television & Film from the University of North Texas and served as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar from 2009-2010. Lauren plays classical piano, loves volunteering and takes every opportunity to travel to new places and try new foods. 

Contributors

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David Bayon

Born in Holland to Spanish parents, David completed a BA in Contemporary History at the Complutense University of Madrid and an MA in International Relations at the Ortega y Gasset Foundation. He then spent two years at the Spanish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, where he collaborated in the elaboration of Plan Africa, an effort to redefine Spanish presence in the Sub-Saharan region. David also coordinated the Catalonian Government’s Candidature of Barcelona to the Seat of the Secretariat of the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean. He has authored opinion articles on national and international issues in the El Universo De Madrid. He now works at AFA Press Holding, an international media sales company specializing in compiling in-depth socio-economic reports on developing economies. After two years spent between Freetown, Lagos, Lima and Luanda, David is currently based in Istanbul. 

 

Andrea Dessi

Born in Rome to Italian and American parents, Andrea holds a BA in Middle Eastern History from the School of Oriental and African Studies and has recently graduated from the Department of War Studies, King’s College London with a MA in Conflict, Security and Development. His main research interests include the diplomatic and military history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the foreign policy of the US and the EU towards the Middle East. Previously based in East Jerusalem with the Council for British Research in the Levant, Andrea has worked as a News Writer covering events in Israel/Palestine for the Non-Governmental Organisation Un Ponte Per. A passionate traveller and photographer, Andrea is now working as a Research Assistant at the Istituto Affari Internazionali in Rome.  

 

Ramee Mossa

Ramee is an Iraqi-Canadian, born in Budapest Hungary but currently living in London. He comes from a long line of political activists, the most important of which is his grand-father who played a key role in the Iraqi Communist Party in the 1970’s. Driven by this background, Ramee completed his BA in Political Science with a concentration in international relations at Concordia University. He then finished an MA in International Studies and Diplomacy at the School of Oriental and African Studies. Ramee has worked at VERTIC doing arms controls research, including a particular project which studied the challenges of irreversible nuclear disarmament. Ramee also enjoys travelling the world and exploring new cultures. He has travelled throughout North America, Europe, and Morocco and will spend summer 2011 in Central America. He is an avid hockey fan, and a lifelong supporter of Les Canadiens de Montreal.  

 

Manar Rachwani

Manar is a Syrian researcher and editor based in Jordan. His most recent research Making Peace Work: Bridging the Gap between Hopes and Deeds was published by the International Centre for the Study of Radicalization at King’s College London. Previously, he was Opinion Editor at the Jordanian Newspaper Al Ghad and Director of the Research Department at the Qatari Newspaper Al Arab. Manar holds a BA in Law from the University of Jordan and an MA in Political Science from Al al-Bayt University of Jordan. 

 

Njoki Wamai

Njoki is a Peace, Security and Development Fellow at the African Leadership Centre at King's College London. She has published on Women's Participation in Peace Processes and Natural Resources and Conflict in Kenya. Previously, she worked with the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue and the Kenya Human Rights Commission. Njoki is currently pursuing her MA in Conflict, Security and Development at the Department of War Studies, King's College London. She holds a BSc in Food Science and Technology and a Graduate Diploma in Gender and Development from the University of Nairobi. She is the Chairperson of the Young Women Leadership Institute Board, a Non-Governmental Organisation in Kenya. Njoki loves traveling, music, reading, good food and writing.

 

Zahbia Yousuf

Zahbia was born and raised in Belfast to Indian Muslim parents. She now divides her time between London and Northern Ireland and is currently a Teaching Fellow in International Relations at University College London and the School of Oriental and African Studies, having recently completed a PhD in War Studies specialising in conflict resolution and strategy theory. Most recently, she worked at INCORE at the University of Ulster. She has spent much of the last five years working and researching overseas, spending time in Berlin at the German Institute for Economic Research, and doing fieldwork in Kashmir and Israel/Palestine as well as Northern Ireland. Her other interests include world music, sports and literature.

Associates

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Tommaso Cotroneo

Tommaso was born in Napoli, where he graduated in Computer Engineering. At the age of 24 he left sunny Southern Europe for the flat plains and thousand canals of the Netherlands, where he obtained a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Groningen. Life after academia brought Tom to London and a career at Merrill Lynch, specialising in Equity Derivatives Transactions. In 2006, he moved to Asia, spending two years in Tokyo before moving to Hong Kong, where he is currently Head of the Equity Derivatives Business for the ANZ Bank. Tommaso is a keen photographer and passionate about the visual arts. He was born, is and will for ever be a staunch Napoli supporter.

Editorial Interns 

John Still, Sara Sudetic.