Speaker

Dr. Marufa Akter

Dr. Marufa Akter is an Associate Professor in the Department of Global Studies and Governance at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), specializing in women and politics, gender and governance, peace and security, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding. Her expertise also spans climate change and migration in the Indo-Pacific region. She earned her Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Bremen, Germany, in 2019, focusing on women’s political participation in the Bangladesh Parliament. Dr. Akter also holds a Graduate Certificate in Peace Building and Conflict Transformation from SIT Graduate Institute, USA, and a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Erfurt, Germany, alongside her undergraduate and graduate degrees in International Relations from the University of Dhaka. Prior to IUB, she held academic positions at BRAC University, University of Bremen, and Jacobs University, and worked as a consultant and researcher for organizations including BRAC, Germanwatch, the World Bank, and the International Organization for Migration. Her work bridges research, policy, and education in South Asia.