Postgraduate Student Academic Representatives

Laiba Ahmad

l.ahmad1@lse.ac.uk

I am currently pursuing an MSc in Criminal Justice Policy at LSE, after completing my Master’s in Sociology from Jamia Millia Islamia and a Bachelor’s in Sociology from the University of Delhi, back in India. My academic journey has been driven by a deep interest in understanding how social structures influence human behaviour. This curiosity has led me to explore topics such as gender, labour in the informal sector, and the precarities of gig economy work. I’ve also had the opportunity to contribute to academic research through projects like “Gender and Work: An Intersectional Analysis of Women’s Employment Patterns” and my master's dissertation on digital capitalism and surveillance.

In my professional experience, I have worked as an HR Executive for two years, where I managed recruitment, employee onboarding, and engagement strategies. This role has given me an in-depth understanding of human resource dynamics, which I aim to leverage as I delve deeper into criminology and social policy. I’ve also gained hands-on experience through internships with organizations like the Center for Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies, where I analysed crime data and urban crime trends. My time with the Justice and Equality Foundation was especially impactful, as I worked directly with incarcerated women to document their experiences and organize legal awareness workshops.

Volunteering has been another important aspect of my journey. I’ve worked with the Youth Empowerment Foundation on fundraising projects and with the Empower Her Foundation, facilitating workshops on gender equality and domestic violence prevention. I’ve also been involved with community safety initiatives, where I designed and delivered workshops on personal safety and cybercrime prevention.

Photography and traveling are my creative outlets. My love for photography began during my boarding school days in Uttarakhand, where the mountains became a source of peace and inspiration for me. I continue to share my photography through my Instagram page, @oneframeatatime, capturing stories through visuals that resonate deeply with me. Traveling, especially solo, has been a transformative experience, teaching me about life, resilience, and connection.

As your student representative, I am excited to engage with everyone and ensure that your voices are heard. I am always open to discussing academic feedback, student life at LSE, or even photography and travel. Feel free to reach out to me anytime!

Shrivalli Ghosh

s.ghosh13@lse.ac.uk

Hi! I am Shrivalli and I am a student academic representative for the Criminal Justice Policy stream.

I am a lawyer from India, and have also spent some time working as an Assistant Professor of Law. I am pursuing my second Master’s degree here at LSE in the hopes of understanding criminal psychology, the factors that influence criminal behaviour and the questions we should really be asking. I am also a competitive rifle shooter (don’t let that scare you off, I’m on your team, I promise!), and an aviation enthusiast. I’ve done Summer School courses at LSE before - so if you need any recommendations or help around campus – I am a text/email away!

I enjoy meeting and working with new people, which is why I am really excited to be in this role and cannot wait to see the positive changes we can bring together in the department as a team. When I’m not reading or working, I can be found trying something new to eat (any foodies out here?), exploring new places or making friends with some dog or cat (I miss mine!)

If you have something that needs addressing, or even if you are overwhelmed and just want to have a friendly chat – hit me up and we can talk over a cup of hot chocolate or a stroll, maybe?

Catherine Flournoy

c.l.flournoy@lse.ac.uk

Staying true to the mission of ISPP, as an Academic Representative, I will approach addressing inequality and promoting student welfare with the same empirical rigor that we value as a programme.

Paul Issaurat

p.w.issaurat@lse.ac.uk

Hi everyone! I’m Paul, an Academic Rep for the General Stream of the MSc in International Social and Public Policy at LSE. I’m 22, originally from France, but I mostly grew up in London. I graduated this year with a bachelor’s in political science and international development from McGill. I’m excited to ensure students’ voices are heard and to help you all with any issues you might have.

Madeleine Smith

m.smith24@lse.ac.uk

Hi, I'm Madeleine. I finished my undergraduate degree in Social Policy and Politics from the University of Bristol this summer and am excited to be undertaking my MSc here at LSE. I am particularly interested in the British Welfare system, specifically housing and am looking forward to exploring this more. Outside of my academics I am a keen runner, having recently run my first half marathon for charity, and am an active member of the LSE Rowing Club. I'm looking forward to working with staff and ISPP - General stream students throughout the academic year to make sure everyone is able to get the most out of their time at LSE.

Kumarjit De

k.de1@lse.ac.uk

Kumarjit De (he/him) is currently pursuing his MSc in International Social and Public Policy (Development) at LSE, having done his undergraduate degree in Psychology, Sociology and Economics. With an interest in issues related to the gender spectrum, international human rights, and the informal labour market, Kumarjit brings his diverse multicultural background and his lived experiences of marginalisation into his work. When not working or studying, you can find him performing street theatre, experimenting in the kitchen, or drawing inspiration from films and music (of all genres)

Moe O'Malley

m.omalley@lse.ac.uk

Hi Social Policy postgraduates! My name is Moe O’Malley and I’m one of your elected student representatives for MSc ISPP (Development). This year, I will be supporting students and staff as a voice for our program and will be campaigning for positive changes within the department. I hope to make myself available to every student and am available to be reached at m.omalley@lse.ac.uk with any questions, concerns, or feedback. I am thrilled to be a part of this department at LSE and am so excited to serve the program for the 2024-25 year! 
A bit about me: I’m originally from upstate New York and studied Applied Math and Public Policy at Brown University. After graduation, I moved to Los Angeles where I took a job working at a sports marketing and consulting firm and worked with organizations like the NFL and Nike. While in this role, I found myself seeking out the intellectual and creative stimulation that I felt as a student and ultimately decided to get my Master’s degree to take on a new opportunity to move to London, study abroad, and hopefully make up for some of the time I lost during undergrad due to COVID. Now that I am at LSE, I am thrilled to be taking courses in environmental policy, international organisations, and am hoping to pursue a career in sustainability. 

Nikola Mayrhuber

n.a.mayrhuber@lse.ac.uk

Hi there! My name is Nikola Anna Mayrhuber (she/her/hers), but you can just call me Niki. I’m from Vienna, Austria, and I hold bachelor’s degrees in both Social & Cultural Anthropology and Business & Economics. Beyond academics, I’m an avid chess player, having represented Austria in international tournaments, and I’m passionate about promoting gender equality in this sport through various initiatives.

What inspires me most in our ISPP (Development) degree is learning from all of you and gaining insights from the diverse experiences and backgrounds each of you brings. At the same time, I understand that we all face different kinds of challenges during our studies, and I hope to address them to the best of my ability as a student rep. Feel free to chat with me anytime you see me around or reach out on WhatsApp if you have a concern, an idea, or just want to connect!

Santhindu Wijesooriya

s.n.wijesooriya@lse.ac.uk

Thindu Wijesooriya is a MSc student, originally from California, who did his undergraduate studies at McGill University in Montreal. After studying International Development and Social Entrepreneurship, he hopes to take the next step in his academic journey by focusing on education policy. To him, education is the most important aspect underlying societal development and for ameliorating divisions within communities. Outside of school, Thindu loves to play basketball, explore new places, and have a glass of tea to wind down.

Charlotte Bennett

c.d.bennett@lse.ac.uk

Hi my name is Charley, I am British/Australian, and my hometown is Norwich, Norfolk, in the East of England! I have already been living in London for the past three years completing my undergraduate degree in International Relations. For the past two years, I have been volunteering with asylum seekers charities here in London which is part of the reason I decided to choose the migration stream. I love films, podcasts, and picnics with wine and cheese, and I am currently learning how to skateboard. Please feel free to reach out to me at any time! :)

Ivey-Elise

i.ivey@lse.ac.uk

Hello everyone! My name is Ivey-Elise, and I am excited to serve as your Student Academic Representative for the MSc in International Social and Public Policy (Non-Governmental Organisations) programme. I was born and raised in Alabama, USA, but I am coming up on my 5^th year of living in the UK for my studies. With a background in Psychology and Social Anthropology from the University of St. Andrews, and I am passionate about the intersection of the policy process, NGOs, and facilitating societal change. I look forward to representing your voices and ensuring we all have a successful and enriching experience throughout our time at the LSE!

Ayisha Khan

a.khan70@lse.ac.uk

Hi, my name is Ayisha, and I will be one of your Student Academic Representatives for MSc ISPP (NGO stream). I was born and raised in China but am Chinese Pakistani. I finished my undergraduate studies at the University of Bristol in Sociology, so I am coming up to my 4th year of living in the UK! I am passionate about understanding how intersectionality can govern social policy processes. I look forward to the year with everyone and hope to able to help with any issues that arise! 

Ilina Kabra

i.kabra@lse.ac.uk

Hello! My name is Ilina Kabra, and I am one of your student representatives for MSc ISPP (Research). I am super excited to support, advocate, and implement student led changes within the department. My email address is i.kabra@lse.ac.uk and reach out on WhatsApp with any questions, concerns, ideas, or if you just want to chat and connect! 

I am American Swiss with my roots in India, but I have been living in London for the past 3 years, where I completed by BA in Politics and International Relations at Queen Mary University of London. My academic interests lie in Gender Studies (I created the first Girl Up UN Foundation Chapter in all of Switzerland), Human Rights, Behavioural Public Policy, but I have an eagerness to learn everything I can and digest new perspectives. I bring a diverse multicultural background and perspective into my studies and work. In my free time, I play the piano (ABRSM Grade 7), guitar, and sing, and express myself through music and writing. I have a passion for food and travel and love a good book. 

Dean Pigott

d.pigott@lse.ac.uk

Bio coming soon

Malvika Parvathi

m.parvathi@lse.ac.uk

Bio coming soon