Oliver Adcock is an associate adviser at the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT), where he works on projects related to economic decision-making, sustainability and security. Oliver has helped design numerous impact evaluations, including randomized controlled trials to understand influences on economic decision-making, and has designed tools for and advised UK government departments and large organizations worldwide. Oliver holds a first-class honours degree in history and politics from the University of Oxford and a master’s in international studies from the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna and the University of Vienna, where he focused on the role of nuclear weapons in international security.
Edward Bradon formerly led BIT’s home affairs, security and international development practice. Having joined BIT in London in 2014, Ed worked to establish the international footprint of behavioural insights, first as a founding member of BIT’s first overseas office in Australia, and then across the Asia-Pacific region. Increasingly, his focus is on how organizations can build behavioural principles into their structure to create high-performing teams. Prior to joining BIT, Ed worked as a strategy consultant with OC&C, advising the senior management of leading companies in the technology, media, retail, consumer and energy sectors. He holds the Hicks and Webb Medley Prize in economics from the University of Oxford.
Julia Cournoyer is a research analyst in the International Security Programme at Chatham House. Her research primarily covers projects related to nuclear weapons policy, emerging technology and outer space security. Before joining Chatham House, Julia interned for NATO’s Joint Intelligence and Security Division in the Strategy and Policy Unit. She also worked as an international strategy consultant for ONHYS, a French technology company developing COVID-19 virus simulation software. Julia holds an MA in international security from the Paris School of International Affairs (Sciences Po) and a BSc in international relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Marion Messmer is a senior research fellow in the International Security Programme at Chatham House. She has expertise in arms control, nuclear weapons policy issues and Russia–NATO relations. Before joining Chatham House, Marion was the co-director of BASIC, where she led the organization’s work on nuclear risk reduction and disarmament. Marion is an N2 Innovation Fellow (2020–21) and an ACONA Fellow (2021–22), and holds a PhD in security studies from King’s College London.
Emma Saunders is a research assistant in the International Security Programme at Chatham House. Her research primarily covers projects related to biological weapons and biosecurity, nuclear weapons policy and emerging technology. Emma previously interned at NATO’s Arms Control, Disarmament and WMD Non-Proliferation Centre, where she worked on issues related to small arms and light weapons. She also worked as a graduate professional at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Affairs, where her research focused on cyber biosecurity and WMD compliance and enforcement. Emma holds an MSc in security studies from University College London (UCL) and a LLB from the University of Exeter.
Antonio Silva is head of social cohesion at BIT. He has worked on applying behavioural science to public policy in over 10 countries and numerous organizations, including most UK government departments, No. 10 Downing Street, UNDP, UNICEF and Meta. Antonio is a leading expert in rigorous impact evaluations, having led over 30 randomized control trials with a focus in the communication and security sector, including designing one of the world’s first robust evaluations of counter-radicalization programmes. His previous work includes creating a radio campaign that to promote the reintegration of ex-Boko Haram combatants, and designing and testing the real-world impact of evidence-based campaigns to tackle Russian misinformation in Eastern Europe. Antonio has a PhD in evolutionary anthropology from UCL on the interplay between conflict and cooperation in Northern Ireland, and is a senior research fellow at the University of Lisbon, where he works on bridging the gap between scientific research and applied behavioural science.
