Katarzyna W. Sidło is a Director of the MENA Department at CASE – Center for Social and Economic Research, specializing in the political economy, geo-economics and socioeconomic development of the European Union’s Southern Neighbourhood, as well as EU-Mediterranean relations. She has a proven track record working on studies, evaluations and impact assessments commissioned by various international donors, such as the European Parliament, the European Commission and its various departments and agencies, the European Space Agency, and the European Investment Bank. Dr Sidło holds a PhD (summa cum laude) from the Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Warsaw. She gained her professional and research experience in a number of countries, including Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, the United Kingdom, Georgia and Poland. In the past, she was a Visiting Professor at the Graduate School (ASERI) of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan (2022), among others.  An avid language learner, she speaks Polish and English, has a working knowledge of Arabic and Spanish, as well as basic knowledge of French and Georgian.