Auveen Woods is a freelance researcher and activist, currently based in Turkey where she works with Istanbul Policy Centre.
She previously worked as a teaching assistant at Sabanci University, before going on to take on the role of Consultant Conflict Analyst and Researcher at Istanbul Policy Centre. At present, Auveen is taking part in an ongoing project examining Turkey’s developmental policies in Somalia and a joint project between Bilgi University in Turkey and the Graduate Institute in Geneva on broadening inclusion in peace processes.
She took time out of her busy schedule to chat to Her.ie about what her chosen career entails…
Tell us a little about what you do…
I am a freelance researcher specialising in the area of conflict and peacebuilding. I am currently working for the Istanbul Policy Centre. My job as a researcher is a little more than what it says on the tin. Of course, I do a lot of research from reading articles to doing interviews but a lot of my time is spent analysing the information, editing and writing reports. I am sometimes asked to consult on a project, report some conflicts that I know well or contribute to a workshop.
How did you get to your current position?
I did my undergraduate in international relations in DCU and came to Turkey in 2008 through the Erasmus program. I fell in love with the country and its complexity; all the different communities, identities and things going on have really broadened my horizons.
I met a lot of different professionals from journalists to activists and teachers and it was the first time that I really started to think of what I wanted to do with my life. In 2012, I moved back to pursue a Masters in Conflict Analysis and Resolution in Sabanci University in Istanbul.
It was through this program that I was recruited by a professor to co-author a policy brief that was eventually published by the Istanbul Policy Centre. Since then, I have continued to produce reports for the Istanbul Policy Centre while also writing and contributing to projects for other organisations.
What is your typical working day?
A typical working day will begin with me at a desk reading the news, some reports and sending off emails on projects and interviews. There are days that I will spend at my desk analysing all my research and writing and editing papers. However, more often I could get pulled into a meeting, interview or workshop.
On any given day, I could also end up at an art gallery or protest. I live in Istanbul, the cultural and historical centre of Turkey and there is a lot going on here so my work is more than just desk research. It is also getting out to talk to people and see what is going on. So, for me, everything can be used to help my work.
Why did you choose your current career?
I never envisaged myself having a nine-to-five job at a desk in Ireland. I always wanted to travel. I grew up in a very politically aware household and from an early age I was interested in international affairs and human rights. I guess I’m an activist in many ways. I don’t understand how some people aren’t bothered by the injustice they see.
I remember as a child watching the news, seeing conflict, famine or political scandal and thinking “people should do something”. That was the basis of my thinking. So I became a researcher in Turkey, which is in the middle of this volatile area with the Balkans on one side and the Caucasus and the Middle East on the other. I write reports on conflict and development that are directed at both practitioners and government officials to try and better inform policies and approaches to emergency situations like conflict or famine.
What are the biggest challenges you face in your career?
Working as a freelance researcher, especially on conflict issues, can be volatile in many ways. The unpredictability of my job as a freelancer means there is always something interesting happening but also that employment is not necessarily stable. As such, I often do extra work such as teaching English to sustain me during quiet periods.
Working on conflict issues can also be a challenge in itself sometimes because it’s not an easy subject to write about. I have worked with refugees and interviewed torture victims but I also often find myself talking to an activist or aid worker and suddenly stumbling upon a lot of trauma. So it’s important to be aware of people and be sensitive to their feelings, as well as your own. Taking care of your own mental health is an important aspect of this work.
What are the most rewarding aspects?
I think it has to be the constant opportunities to try and influence change when meeting new and interesting people, from government officials to aid workers in war-torn countries. I meet them at interviews or conferences, where we are often discussing the reports that I or my employer are working on. In this way, we try to highlight or discuss better approaches to conflict situations.
What has been the one ‘pinch me’ moment of your career so far?
In 2013, I co-wrote a report for the United Nations. I was asked to go and take notes at an international conference on mediation in Istanbul and write up a summary of the key findings. It was just kind of a surreal geek moment because I didn’t meet anyone from the UN but I saw that it was published online.
What do you think is the biggest misconception about what you do?
People have no f**king clue what I do. Simple. Also, my friends are like “Why are you in Turkey? What the hell are you doing there?!”.
What is the biggest mistake that you think people in your chosen sector make?
A lot of people in this sector just work to get something published without producing anything substantive, relying mostly on their contacts. There are still people like this who get ahead in their career but often, people will work around them and not with them. You have to have a lot of energy and ambition to produce good informative work because your credibility and longevity is based on the quality and usefulness of your work.
To read Auveen’s policy brief on Turkey’s International Development Framework Case Study: Somalia, click here.
