Laura Brinks PhD

Laura has worked at IOB since September 2026 where she researches the synergy between Trade and Development Cooperation. For this purpose she worked at the humanitarian aid department of the Directorate of Stability and Humanitarian Aid in The Hague on, among other things, locally managed work (localization) and risk sharing. Laura has a broad background of work experience at the United Nations (OCHA and IOM) focused on Internally Displaced People (IDPs). As a result of this work experience, she has written her dissertation in which she has developed a model to better match the coping strategies of IDPs and the help given by other (more top down) actors. During her dissertation, Laura worked at both University College Dublin and the University of Groningen as coordinator and lecturer. In addition to her experience as MEL Manager at SPARK, Laura and her family volunteered at the Kamutamba Guesthouse in Zambia. Laura completed the Master in International Relations & Organizations (IRIO) at the University of Groningen (2004) and the Post-graduate Degree Network in Humanitarian Action (NOHA) at University College Dublin (2005).