The 20 new Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity joining the International Inequalities Institute at LSE this autumn are mid-career activists, researchers, and practitioners from 18 different countries around the world. The new Fellows are working towards more equitable and just societies in fields ranging from gender equity to labour rights and international development.
The Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity (AFSEE) programme’s mission is to create and support a global community of changemakers who are working to address social and economic inequalities. Through research, education and practice, AFSEE supports and encourages dialogue and collaboration between a range of stakeholders, including academics, activists, artists, practitioners and policymakers to develop new thinking, ideas and values-led approaches to tackling social and economic inequalities.
‘Seeing individuals come together across differences to challenge systems and create inclusive, lasting change gives me hope. Even small wins—like a policy shift or a student finding their voice—remind me that progress is possible when we stand together with purpose and persistence.’
Dinara Nurusheva, 2025-26 Atlantic Fellow for Social and Economic Equity
This year’s cohort represent a wide range of countries across the globe, with new Fellows including a trans rights advocate from Indonesia, a conservation journalist from Uganda, a Canadian and Iranian trade union activist and a Nepalese human rights lawyer.
Nine of the 20 new Fellows are Residential Fellows and will undertake the MSc in Inequalities and Social Science at LSE during the 2025-26 academic year. They and their eleven Non-Residential peers will also participate in the four fellowship modules during their active fellowship year. The modules, led by AFSEE Executive Director Professor Armine Ishkanian and AFSEE Academic Lead Dr George Kunnath, are informed by the LSE International Inequalities Institute’s research-rich environment.
The interdisciplinary modules include academic lectures, roundtables with Senior AFSEE Fellows, engagement with researchers and practitioners, leadership training, community-building and narrative and communications skills work. This will also be the second year that AFSEE Non-Residential Fellows will be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Social and Economic Equity upon successful completion of the active fellowship year.
This year’s Fellows have been chosen from an impressive worldwide pool of applicants that has grown every year since the funded fellowship was established in 2016 via a record £64 million grant to LSE from the Atlantic Philanthropies. When they complete their active fellowship year, the 20 Fellows will join a lifelong community of members from all the seven Atlantic Fellows programmes, who collectively focus on work to advance fairer, healthier and more inclusive societies.
The 2025-26 Cohort of Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity are:
Abicakra Mahardika (Indonesia)
Bruno Brandão (Brazil)
Dev Datta Joshi (Nepal)
Dinara Nurusheva (Kazakhstan)
Eduardo Svart (Chile)
Elena Archipovaite (Lithuania)
Faith Chitawo (Malawi)
Fredrick Mugira (Uganda)
Giorgi Arobelidze (Georgia)
Hadija Bonaya (Kenya)
Ida Thien (Malaysia)
Laura Roth (Argentina)
Lauren Díaz Arias (Costa Rica)
Mariama Jobarteh (The Gambia)
Masoud Aminzavvar (Canada)
Max Nichols (United States)
Michael David dela Cruz Tan (Philippines)
Patrícia Nogueira (Brazil)
Raza Shah Khan (Pakistan)
Tomas Kvedaras (Lithuania)