STAFF

Roxana Cristescu is the Head of CMI’s Programme in Eurasia. She leads CMI’s programme activities in the region. Ms Cristescu joined CMI in 2009 and previously worked as Adviser for the Black Sea and Central Asia Programme, with a special focus on CMI’s mediation related activities. Before joining CMI, Cristescu worked in various conflict affected areas including Ethiopia, Sudan, Kosovo (Mitrovica Region), Moldova/Transdniestria, Ukraine and Lebanon.

She holds a BA in Political Sciences from the University of Bucharest, two Master’s Degrees from Florence and Rome University in Mediation and Security Studies. She is currently enrolled for a Master of Science in Mediation Studies at Queens University, Belfast. Cristescu is among others a member of the United Nations Mediation Roster and a member of the UN Women, Central and Southeastern Europe (CSEE) Sub-regional Roster of Experts.

Itonde A. Kakoma is a member of the Leadership Team of CMI. He serves as the Programme Director responsible for Africa (Sub-Saharan Africa, Sahel, and North Africa). He also oversees CMI’s Programme Management Office, especially concerning policy, learning and institutional cooperation.

Prior to CMI, he served as the Assistant Director of the Conflict Resolution Program at the Carter Center, managing the Center’s peace initiatives and supporting President Carter’s efforts in and between Sudan and South Sudan. He was an international observer for Sudan’s National Referendum on the Right to Self-Determination in 2011. Previously, he worked on the Carter Center’s peace initiatives in Liberia, where he was an advisor and report writer for the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission, specifically on the role of traditional and religious communities during the civil war and in peacemaking.

Mr. Kakoma has served as a guest editor for the Journal of Religion, Conflict & Peace and has worked for the World Council of Churches, consulted for the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue’s Nairobi Bureau, and has advised inter-disciplinary initiatives at Emory University and the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs.

Elina Lehtinen is in charge of strategic planning in CMI’s external and internal communications. She has worked for over a decade in media and communications related posts in the USA, Middle East, UK and Finland.

Prior to joining CMI Lehtinen worked in Doha, Qatar as a Senior Communications Consultant for Bell Pottinger, a leading communications consultancy. Previously she has served as a political correspondent and journalist with the Finnish Public Broadcasting Corp. (YLE TV) and different divisions of the Sanoma Corporation.

Elina holds a Master’s degree from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and international politics. She also holds a Master’s degree in journalism and philosophy from the University of Helsinki and a diploma from the private Sanoma School of Journalism in Helsinki.