Maude Morrison

Maude Morrison is the Deputy Director for Digital Conflict at the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), where she leads initiatives focused on the intersection of social media and conflict mediation. In her role, she aims to enhance understanding and address the implications of social media in conflict scenarios, advocating for agreements that promote digital restraint among conflicting parties.12

Professional Background

Before joining HD, Morrison served as Deputy Director at Build Up, a non-profit organization dedicated to addressing conflicts in the digital age. There, she worked closely with civil society groups in regions such as Myanmar, Syria, and the Sahel, focusing on how technology influences peacebuilding efforts.1 Her academic credentials include a BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from Oxford University and an MA in International Relations from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.1

Contributions to Peace Mediation

Morrison has been instrumental in developing frameworks that encourage the establishment of codes of conduct for social media use during conflicts. These codes aim to mitigate harmful online behaviors that can exacerbate tensions or undermine peace processes. Her work emphasizes the need for mediators to engage with social media dynamics actively rather than viewing them merely as threats.34

Current Initiatives

Currently, she is involved in launching expert groups aimed at fostering collaboration between tech and mediation sectors to better address challenges posed by social media in conflict contexts. This includes exploring how mediators can broker peace agreements that effectively reduce the negative impacts of social media.24

Morrison's contributions are pivotal as they seek to adapt traditional mediation practices to contemporary challenges posed by digital communication platforms.