Barbara Brank completed a Masters in history and later a research oriented MSc in Violence, Conflict and Development at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at London University. Barbara spent several years in the Occupied Palestinian Territories doing field research and working with UNDP/PAPP. Barbara's previous work experience included being researcher at INTRAC in Oxford, where she provided discussion papers on key issues for NGOs in development. Afterwards she worked as policy advisor on gender and human security at the Dutch peace organisation IKV Pax Christi foussing on new concepts of inclusive human security. Before joining swisspeace, Barbara was advocacy officer at Women Against Violence Europe (WAVE), a feminist NGO network active in 47 European countries based in Vienna. During maternity leave she worked as part-time lecturer on gender and peacebuilding at the University of Salzburg. At the Centre for Peacebuilding (KOFF) Barbara is responsible for issues of Gender & Peacebuilding.