Jasmine-Kim Westendorf

Dr Jasmine Westendorf is a Senior Lecturer in International Relations at La Trobe University. Her research focuses on civil wars, negotiated peace processes, international approaches to peacebuilding, the politics of international law and international organisations, and the role of women in peace and war. She has conducted field research in East Timor, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Nepal, Cyprus, Palestine, and at UN Headquarters in New York and with the humanitarian sector in Geneva.

She is currently leading two major projects: (1) Building better peace: Exploring alternative pathways to peace after civil war and (2) Mapping the impact of sexual exploitation and abuse by interveners in peace operations.

Jasmine's first book, Why Peace Processes Fail: Negotiating Insecurity After Civil War was published in 2015 by Lynne Rienner Publishers. Her second book, Violating Peace: Sex, Aid and Peacekeeping is forthcoming with Cornell University Press. She has also published her research in leading journals, including International Affairs, the Australian Journal of International Affairs and the Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding.

Jasmine has conducted policy and research work with a range of NGOs including the Humanitarian Advisory Group, International Women's Development Agency, World Vision, ActionAid and others. She is a Board member of Oxfam Australia. Jasmine is a regular contributor to international and local print and broadcast media. She has been interviewed about her research and various issues around war, peace, Australian foreign policy, and open education on a range of media platforms, including the following: Foreign Policy, The Age, The Australian, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Melbourne Times, The Melbourne Leader, and numerous radio and TV stations in Australia and overseas.

Jasmine has also been extensively involved in designing, delivering and facilitating training for peacebuilders globally, including with the International Peace and Security Institute and for NGOs in Palestine.