Dr. Sophia Close is an Associate with Conciliation Resources since December 2021. Prior to that Sophia was the Head of Gender and Peacebuilding for Conciliation Resources for five years leading on gender, peace and security policy engagement, research, analysis and programme design and delivery. Since 2003 Sophia has worked on policy, research and programming with various governments, the United Nations and non-government organisations focusing on gender-transformative peacebuilding, governance and Indigenous self-determination, including a diplomatic posting with the Australian Government in Papua New Guinea. Sophia completed her PhD at the Australian National University in 2016.