Elizabeth Iskander is the director of the Next Century Foundation's research programme. A Middle East analyst and writer based in London, she has published in both the English and Arabic-language media and has a particular interest in the politics of Egypt and Iran. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge. She holds a BA in Arabic and Politics and an MA in International Law from the School of Oriental and African Studies. Prior to joining the Next Century Foundation, Elizabeth coordinated a number of research projects on Middle Eastern politics and law for international NGOs.