Senior Advisor, Governance, Equality, and Social Protection
Mr. Elias Sahardid is a governance and equality specialist with extensive experience in refugee integration, institutional accountability, and social inclusion across government, civil society, and international cooperation. His professional background reflects a strong commitment to building inclusive governance systems, advancing human rights, and strengthening community resilience in complex and diverse environments.
He has led and contributed to programs focused on migration management, safeguarding, social protection, and equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). His experience includes service within local government, policing oversight, foreign affairs, and education, where he has delivered trauma-informed, rights-based, and participatory approaches to community support and policy implementation.
As a member of the Independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board of Northumbria Police, Mr. Sahardid advises on race relations, refugee affairs, and inclusive policing strategies. He is also the Founder and Director of the RAI Academy, an accredited education provider promoting accessible and inclusive learning, and Executive Director of Dialogue Fosters, an organization dedicated to social cohesion, dialogue, and cross-cultural understanding.
Mr. Sahardid holds a Master’s degree in International Relations, Security, and Conflict from Northumbria University, a BSc in Sociology: Gender and Inequality from the University of Sunderland, and a BSc in Economics and Political Science from Cairo University. He is multilingual in Arabic, English, and Somali, and brings a unique ability to bridge governance, community engagement, and education to promote equitable and sustainable development.