Samy Akil is a Nonresident Fellow at TIMEP focusing on politics and security in Syria. He is a political analyst specializing in Middle Eastern affairs with a focus on Syria and a particular interest in political transition, diplomacy, and security. He held advisory roles with the International NGO Safety Organization (INSO) where he provided contextual analysis on conflict dynamics in Northwest Syria; and GIZ, where he supported the UN-led peace process as part of the agency’s Syria Peace Initiative. His writing and analysis has been featured in the Middle East Institute, the Atlantic Council, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), the Lowy Institute, and the Operations and Policy Center (OPC). Samy is also a founding member of the Change for Syria Network (C4S), a grassroots initiative promoting youth participation in Syria’s political, civic, and cultural spheres. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from La Trobe University and a Master’s degree in Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies from the Australian National University.