Matt Waldman has years of experience in the mediation of armed conflict, including with the United Nations and international mediation organisations. In this careers talk he will reflect on what working in the field of mediation is really like, and the qualities and skills you need to be effective. He will highlight different roles and career tracks within international conflict resolution, and will make suggestions on how to determine what role might be most suitable for you. He will share thoughts on strategies for getting a job or relevant experience, and the qualities that will help you succeed.

Matt Waldman is currently Senior Adviser at the European Institute of Peace and founding Director of the Center for Empathy in International Affairs. Matt has served as a special adviser for United Nations envoys: the UN Envoy for Yemen (2019-2020), the UN Special Representative for Somalia (2016-2018), the UN Special Envoy for Syria (2014-2015) and the UN Special Representative for Afghanistan (2011-2012). He has undertaken mediation work in the Middle East and Africa as a Senior Adviser at the European Institute of Peace and Special Adviser to Inter Mediate.

Matt has conducted research and delivered lectures on foreign policymaking and conflict resolution as a Visiting Fellow at Harvard Law School (2019-2020) and Clare College, Cambridge University (2018), a Research Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs in Harvard’s Kennedy School (2012-2014), and a Fellow at Harvard’s Carr Center for Human Rights (2009-2010). He taught the mediation of armed conflict as a Senior Lecturer at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and a Senior Fellow at the Leir Institute for Human Security (2019).