MUHAMMAD DERFISH ILYAS

Peacebuilding, Mediation & Strategic Leadership Specialist

Windsor Mill, US.

About

Highly accomplished Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution Specialist with doctoral research focused on the perceptions of AI and economic incentives among U.S.-based peacebuilding NGO leaders. Leverages extensive academic training in mediation, negotiation, and international law, combined with a strong publication record in conflict analysis and governance. Seeking to apply proven analytical, mediation, and policy-development skills to advance peacebuilding, humanitarian affairs, and governance programming with an international organization.

Work

University of the Cumberlands

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Doctoral Researcher - Strategic Leadership, AI & Conflict Resolution

Williamsburg, KY, US

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Summary

Led IRB-approved dissertation research focused on AI perceptions and economic incentives among peacebuilding NGO leaders, employing advanced qualitative methods to analyze leadership decision-making.

Highlights

Conducted IRB-approved dissertation research, "Strategic Leadership in Modern Conflict Resolution: Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Economic Incentives among U.S.-Based Peacebuilding NGO Leaders," employing semi-structured interviews with U.S.-based peacebuilding NGO leaders to examine perceptions of AI adoption and economic incentive structures in conflict resolution practice.

Designed and applied qualitative research methods, including semi-structured interviewing, thematic analysis, and coding in NVivo, to analyze leadership decision-making under crisis conditions.

Conducted systematic literature reviews synthesizing scholarship on strategic leadership and emerging-technology governance to ground original conceptual frameworks.

Produced policy-relevant analysis translating complex academic research into accessible findings for practitioner and policy audiences, enhancing practical application of insights.

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Independent Researcher, Policy Analyst & Author – Peace, Conflict & Strategic Leadership

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Summary

Authored multiple peer-reviewed papers and developed conceptual frameworks for AI-informed conflict analysis, contributing to peace and strategic leadership discourse.

Highlights

Authored seven peer-reviewed and independently published papers on conflict resolution, international humanitarian law, negotiation strategy, and AI governance in armed conflict, contributing to scholarly discourse.

Developed the HM3 and AICRF conceptual frameworks for multiparty mediation and AI-informed conflict analysis, applied to complex geopolitical conflicts to enhance resolution strategies.

Conducted independent policy analysis on international criminal law, civil-military relations, and governance, translating complex legal and political developments into structured written analysis for informed decision-making.

Project Concept Builder

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Project Coordinator

Saskatchewan, Canada

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Summary

Coordinated the design and delivery of educational curricula and modules, fostering lifelong skills and stakeholder engagement for diverse learners.

Highlights

Led cross-functional teams to design curricula for over 100 hybrid and early learners, emphasizing lifelong skills and stakeholder-responsive program design to maximize educational impact.

Collaborated with cross-functional teams to design and deliver 15+ educational modules, coordinating input from multiple stakeholder groups to ensure comprehensive and aligned content.

USA Tech

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Business Analyst

Baltimore, Maryland, US

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Summary

Streamlined operational processes and improved cross-functional collaboration as a Business Analyst, reducing bottlenecks and enhancing efficiency by 20%.

Highlights

Served as a crucial liaison between business, technology, and support teams, successfully implementing process improvements that reduced operational bottlenecks by 20%.

Education

University of the Cumberlands

Williamsburg, KY, United States of America
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Ph.D. Leadership

Courses

The Politics of Organizational Decision-Making

Program Planning and Assessment

Leadership in Theory and Practice

Current Trends in Leadership

The Change Process

University of the Cumberlands

Williamsburg, KY, United States of America
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Master Information Technology

Courses

Analyzing and Visualizing Data

System Analysis and Design

Database Systems

Organizational Leadership

Data Mining

Brandeis University

Waltham, MA, United States of America
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Master of Arts Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies

Courses

Coexistence and Conflict: Theory and Analysis

Coexistence Research Methods

Strategies for Coexistence Interventions

Responsible Negotiation

Responsible Mediation

Humanitarian Negotiation

Advanced Mediation, Skills and Practice

University of Turin and UNICRI

Turin, Piedmont, Italy
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LLM International Criminal Law

Courses

International Criminal Law

International Humanitarian Law

International Criminal Jurisdictions and Procedure

Comparative Criminal Law

Transnational Organized Crime

Forensic Psychology

University of the Punjab

Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
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Master of Arts Political Science

Courses

International Organization

International Law

Comparative Political Systems

International Relations

Muslim Political Thought & Institutions

Awards

Senior Research Fellow

European Institute of Policy Research and Human Rights, Latvia

Peace Ambassador

Institute for Economics & Peace, Australia

Fellow, International Society for Development and Sustainability (ISDS)

International Society for Development and Sustainability (ISDS), Japan

Life Member

Fellowship of Reconciliation, USA

Publications

Hybrid Multilateral-Multiparty Mediation (HM3): A Framework

America's Role in a Changing World: European Concerns over Trump's Re-Election

Negotiation Tactics

Implications and Analysis of the Crime of Aggression against Gaza: Breach of International Criminal Law amid the Israel-Hamas Conflict

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence

Responsible Leadership in Crisis Management: Lessons from the Cuban Missile Crisis

Negotiating the Uncharted: How Leadership Skills are Crucial in Resolving

Probing the Impact of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in Civil-Military Relations and Democracy in Pakistan

Languages

Urdu

Punjabi

English

Certificates

Negotiation and Conflict Management

United States Institute of Peace (USIP), USA

Conflict Analysis

United States Institute of Peace (USIP), USA

Fundamentals of Strategic Advising in Reform Environments

United States Institute of Peace (USIP), USA

Tools for Creative Peacebuilding

United States Institute of Peace (USIP), USA

Engaging with Identity-Based Differences

United States Institute of Peace (USIP), USA

Civil Resistance and the Dynamics of Nonviolent Conflict

United States Institute of Peace (USIP), USA

Good Governance after Conflict: Guiding Principles

United States Institute of Peace (USIP), USA

Global Religious Engagement: Best Practices for International Affairs Professionals

United States Institute of Peace (USIP), USA

Interfaith Conflict Resolution

United States Institute of Peace (USIP), USA

Certificate in Law, War, and Human Rights

London School of Economics and Political Science, UK

Skills

Peacebuilding & Governance

Conflict Analysis, Mediation, Peacebuilding, Peace Process Design, Governance, Humanitarian Negotiation, Stakeholder Facilitation, Dialogue Facilitation, International Development.

Research & Evaluation

Qualitative & Quantitative Research, NVivo, Thematic Analysis, Policy Analysis, Program Evaluation, Monitoring & Evaluation (MEL), Peer-Reviewed Publishing.

Leadership & Strategy

Strategic Leadership, Strategic Decision-Making, AI Governance, Program Development, Cross-Cultural Communication, Public Speaking & Advocacy.

Technical Proficiency

Microsoft Office Suite, Data Analysis & Visualization, Agile, Jira, Business Intelligence Tools.

Projects

Hybrid Multilateral-Multiparty Mediation (HM3) Framework

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Summary

Developed an original mediation framework proposing a hybrid multilateral-multiparty approach, designed to structure engagement across state and non-state stakeholders in protracted conflicts.

AICRF - Artificial Intelligence & Conflict Resolution Framework

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Summary

Developed a conceptual framework examining how AI-enabled tools can be integrated into conflict analysis and resolution processes while addressing associated governance and ethical risks.