meet the team
We are a team of seasoned research and evaluation experts, strategically located across multiple geographies. Each team member brings unique expertise and insights, fostering a collaborative environment where innovative methodologies and rigorous analysis are at the forefront of our work. In addition to our core team members, we collaborate with a broad network of consultants and consultancy firms worldwide. This extensive network allows us to scale our efforts, draw on specialized knowledge, and ensure that we can address a wide range of issues with precision and depth. By leveraging these partnerships, we are able to enhance our capacity to deliver robust, context-specific research and evaluation services that meet the unique needs of each project.
KATHARINA MERKEL
Katharina founded CREL in 2023 and manages the company’s operations, bringing over 15 years of experience in research, monitoring, and evaluation in fragile and conflict-affected states. Her journey began in Kabul, Afghanistan, where she spent 5 years consulting for the former Afghan government and various international aid agencies. Known for her dedication to leading ‘out of the ordinary research’, Katharina has conducted research with the Lebanese Armed Forces and interviews with the Taliban authorities. In addition to her work at CREL, Katharina currently serves as an advisor to the German-Ukrainian Energy Partnership. Additionally, she provides consultancy services to the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office and has contributed her expertise to the UN and renowned policy think tanks such as Chatham House and the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. Her academic background includes an MPhil in Evidence-based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation from the University of Oxford, along with a master's degree from the Department of War Studies at King’s College London. She also spent a year studying Persian language and literature at Tehran University, Iran.
OLIVIA KAYE
Olivia is an established researcher and MEL consultant specializing in crafting adaptive monitoring, evaluation, and learning frameworks for complex development programs. With over 12 years of experience, she has worked with a diverse range of clients . Her primary interest lies in devising innovative methods to capture 'hard to measure' changes, particularly in projects focusing on good governance, security and justice sector reform, democracy, and accountability. She enjoys experimenting with participatory and complexity-aware evaluation approaches to translate nuanced findings into easy to understand research outputs. She has experience evaluating projects that work with vulnerable groups, including survivors of modern slavery and security force abuses, GBV and families of disappeared persons. Olivia holds a master’s degree in international law with a focus on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law from the Australian National University, along with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the same institution. She contributes to CREL across various projects, most recently during the evaluation of the Women’s Academy for Africa and the Etihad project.
ELAF KHALED MOHAMMED
Elaf is a seasoned research officer based in Iraq, boasting a diverse portfolio of collaborations with renown institutions such as King's College London, Save the Children, and various UN agencies. Her previous role with The Cross- Border Conflict Evidence, Policy, and Trends (XCEPT) research program saw her managing fieldwork, coordinating teams, training enumerators, and providing vital support for research initiatives across the Middle East. Her research interests are wide-ranging, with a particular focus on trauma and mental health in conflict zones, oral histories, and armed conflict dynamics. Elaf's expertise extends to working with various research departments of different UN agencies. At CREL, she plays a crucial role in supporting data collection efforts, training enumerators, and coordinating and conducting interviews and focus group discussions across the MENA region. As a multilingual professional fluent in Arabic, English, and Kurdish, Elaf excels in facilitating effective communication across linguistic boundaries, fostering collaboration and understanding in diverse settings.
LIAM LEROY
Leam plays a vital role in shaping CREL's business strategy and development, bringing a wealth of entrepreneurial experience to the team. With a proven track record of successfully launching and managing four businesses across the information technology, hospitality, and consulting sectors, Leam offers invaluable insights into navigating complex business landscapes. His responsibilities at CREL include tackling critical business questions, such as facilitating money transfers to countries disconnected from the international SWIFT system and ensuring compliance with tender documentation. Additionally, Leam provides indispensable support in editing and reviewing reports, drawing on his background in linguistics studies at the University of Cambridge and his prior role as a news editor for Reuters. Leveraging his extensive expertise in the media sector, he also contributes to research and evaluation projects with a focus on media, ensuring thorough and insightful analysis. Beyond his professional pursuits, he is a passionate martial arts enthusiast, dedicating his winters to practicing Thai boxing in Thailand.
DR. ANDREA ABEL VAN ES
Andrea is a research and evaluation consultant, widely recognized for her extensive expertise in the fields of democracy, governance, and peacebuilding. She has led comprehensive evaluations and learning reviews across various EU and US government-funded projects. Most recently, she assumed the role of evaluation co-lead for the UK Labour Party/ Westminster Foundation for Democracy’s evaluation of the Women’s Academy for Africa (WAFA) program, implemented by CREL. Bringing a wealth of field experience, Andrea has worked in various countries in sub-Saharan Africa, conducting evaluations in challenging contexts such as the Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as well as Liberia, Ghana, Mozambique, and Botswana. Holding a PhD in Political Science from Stanford University, Andrea possesses strong quantitative research skills and currently supports CREL in designing a quasi- experimental impact evaluation in Afghanistan. Proficient in French, she leads the majority of CREL’s research and evaluation endeavors in Western Africa.
Aleksandra paWlik
Aleksandra is an evaluator with extensive experience in fragile and conflict-affected states, bringing expertise to the fields of education, media, agricultural development, and migration. She has undertaken numerous evaluations in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and East Asia. Aleksandra worked for five years in Kabul, Afghanistan, where she led the monitoring and evaluation department for a nationwide agricultural technical vocational training program led by Afghanistan’s Ministry of Education. During this time, she was also involved in M&E activities for media development and reporting on gender-based violence interventions. She holds an MA in Anthropology from the University of Warsaw, a Graduate Diploma in Economics from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, a BA in Anthropology with fieldwork in Western Ukraine, and a BA in Journalism and Social Communication. A native Polish speaker proficient in Ukrainian, she combines her passion for research with a strong interest in technology, working as a software developer. Currently, she supports CREL in qualitative data analysis and supports the company’s programming in Central and Eastern Europe.
JOshua Stacey
Joshua is a seasoned researcher with over 12 years of field experience in the Middle East and a proven track record of leading major research, baseline, and evaluation assignments in Iraq for prominent organizations including IOM, UNAMI, the World Bank, EU/UNDP, NRC, NPA, and Mercy Corps. Holding a Master of Arts in Social Anthropology from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, Joshua's academic expertise is complemented by practical training in advanced social science research methods at the American University in Beirut. His extensive fieldwork across Iraq, including in Qaim, Ramadi, Najaf, Baghdad, Salah al- Din, Ninewah, and the Kurdistan Region, underscores his comprehensive understanding of the region's dynamics. Notable projects include a study on women with perceived affiliations to ISIL for IOM and a political economy analysis of anti-corruption institutions in Iraq for the EU/UNDP. Joshua plays a pivotal role in leading CREL’s research and evaluation initiatives in the MENA region, while also contributing his expertise to various other projects.
CHRISTINE PARK
Christine brings over a decade of experience in the development sector, having worked in Botswana, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. With a passion for humanitarian causes, she dedicated more than six years to fieldwork before transitioning to London. In the UK, she founded the London Global Charity Network, a platform aimed at supporting various initiatives, notably providing crucial assistance to Afghan and Ukrainian refugees as they navigate their new lives in the UK. Her earlier career focused on project management, public relations, and communications, skills that have transitioned into her role at CREL. As Communications Lead, Christine leads strategic initiatives to amplify CREL's impact, managing the company's website and spearheading the editing and design of reports to ensure clarity. Beyond communications, she provides project management and backstopping support across diverse projects, leveraging her expertise to ensure smooth operations and successful outcomes. Outside of her professional endeavors, Christine is a devoted mother of three young children, balancing her career with her commitment to family and community.