Meet the Founders

Black and white portrait of a man with short hair and a beard, wearing a light-colored t-shirt with a pocket, standing against a textured wall.


  • Co-founder

    Giovanni has over 15 years of experience leading teams and driving change in some of the world’s most complex crises, including Syria, the DRC, Libya, Tunisia, and South Sudan. He has directed country programs, managed large-scale emergency operations, and coordinated humanitarian responses across multiple regions, with a strong focus on principled access, negotiation, and systems reform.

    A certified member of the International Coaching Federation, Giovanni brings a neuroscience-based, solutions-focused approach to leadership and organizational development. He holds a Master’s Degree in Global Diplomacy from SOAS, University of London, where his work explored intersectional feminist perspectives on international relations and power dynamics in global governance.

Black and white portrait of a smiling man wearing a black t-shirt, standing against a plain background.


  • Co-founder

    Imrul is a humanitarian with 8 years of experience at the intersection of civil rights, humanitarian diplomacy, and systems reform. He has led high-level advocacy, coordination, and government engagement across Syria, Iraq, Bangladesh, and the United States, helping shape principled aid policy and practice in some of the world’s most complex environments.

    A Certified Mediator and Negotiator, Imrul brings a focus on dialogue, accountability, and leadership under pressure. His work bridges research and practice—drawing on field realities to inform strategy, and using advocacy to unlock access and ethical reform within humanitarian systems. He holds an M.A. in Conflict Resolution from Georgetown University, with a focus on humanitarian emergencies.

Ethics Charter

SIRF was founded to support ethical leadership, courageous decision-making, and systems that serve people — not power. Our consulting reflects these principles at every level: who we work with, how we work, and when we walk away.

1. Do No Harm Is a Baseline, Not a Ceiling

We go beyond “compliance.” Our work is rooted in human dignity, justice, and equity. We choose engagements that align with these values — and challenge those that don’t.

We will not work with:

  • Entities that directly support, finance, or provide political cover for war crimes, ethnic cleansing, or genocide.

  • Organisations engaged in extractive or exploitative practices, especially where these harm displaced populations or marginalised communities.

  • Clients that use advisory work to launder reputations or avoid accountability.

2. Integrity Over Opportunity

We may decline or exit engagements where our work would knowingly shield institutions from necessary scrutiny.

3. Local Before Global

We will prioritise work that:

  • Creates shared value with impacted communities.

  • Channels resources — including budget — to local researchers, analysts, and civil society partners.

  • Recognises that “localisation” is not a buzzword but a redistribution of power.

We will offer pro bono or reduced-cost support to national and local NGOs when feasible — particularly in contexts where our networks and privilege can serve others.

4. We Don’t Have All the Answers

This is a living document. As the world shifts and our practice grows, we will revise and sharpen these standards. In our experience, integrity requires introspection and adaptation, not rigidity.