Soheila Comninos is a seasoned leader in human rights philanthropy and advocacy and humanitarian protection, with over 15 years of international experience in strategy development, program management, and partnership building. She has worked extensively on democracy, human rights, social justice, and crisis response, designing and leading initiatives that strengthen civil society, advance justice, and protect human rights in complex and fragile environments. Her expertise spans grantmaking, policy advocacy, and coalition-building, with a focus on supporting resilient movements and organizations.
Currently, Soheila is an independent consultant with Johns Hopkins University’s SNF Agora Institute, where she is facilitating the development of a global democracy theory of change, convening diverse stakeholders to shape strategies for reversing democratic erosion. Previously, she served as a Senior Program Manager at the Open Society Foundations (OSF), where she developed and funded strategies on criminal justice, security and rights, and the protection of human rights defenders. Earlier in her career, she managed humanitarian programs at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Central Africa, Libya, Iraq, and Sudan, providing protection and assistance to victims of armed conflict and violence.
Soheila serves on Saferworld’s Board of Trustees, contributing her expertise to global peacebuilding efforts. She holds a Master’s in Near and Middle Eastern Studies from SOAS, University of London, and a Diploma in Political Science from Sciences Po Paris.