Mark Downes joined the Survey as its Director in February 2024. He has a broad portfolio of experience in the security and development field, having served as Head of the International Security Sector Advisory Team (ISSAT) then later as Head of the Operations Department and Deputy Director of the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF). Mark has worked for the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) on conflict, peace, and development cooperation, and as Head of the Strategic Development Unit within the Law Enforcement Department of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Mission to Serbia and Montenegro. His professional experiences are underpinned by his work as an academic and researcher; he holds a PhD in International Relations from the University of Limerick in Ireland.