About Us
The African Youth Security Network was started by two Ghanaian youths with an academic and personal interest in African security. We saw that there was a gap in security discourse where the youth perspective was often overlooked, with policy and opinions being imposed rather than included. We hope to build a community where young security academics, professionals, and enthusiasts within the African continent can connect and collaborate.
Meet The Team
Leonie Mills
Founder
Leonie's expertise lies at the intersection of security, communications, and global affairs. Currently serving as a communications and policy officer for a security network organisation, she leverages her vast experience to help promote a national Human Security Strategy. She earned a Master's degree in Security, Leadership and Society from the prestigious King's College London, where she honed her knowledge of the intricate challenges facing African nations and other emerging economies. Leonie's professional journey was enriched by her Early Career Women's Fellowship in Peace, Security and Development at the African Leadership Centre, solidifying her commitment to fostering stability and progress on the continent.
AYSN came out of a need to truly include young people on the African continent, give them a voice on security issues, develop their own critical thinking and network with like-minded people.
Josephine Nanortey
Co-Founder
Josephine Nanortey is currently working for a private security risk consultancy. She holds an MA in Gender, Peace and Security from the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Ghana.
Josephine wanted to form the AYSN to create a space for young African security analysts, academics, and enthusiasts from all over Africa and the diaspora, to expand on their knowledge and progress within the African peace and security domain. Her combined professional experience spans security, conflict, gender, intelligence and enterprise security risk management.
Rabia Turnbull
Research Lead
Bia, a recent graduate from South Africa, holds an international master’s degree in Security, Intelligence, and Strategic Studies through the Erasmus Mundus program.
Currently serving as an Intelligence Analyst, she exhibits a strong interest in Open-Source Intelligence and has a profound focus on international security, political and diplomatic affairs. Bia harbors a distinct passion for promoting racial justice, peace, and reconciliation, with a dedicated focus on advancing reformed democracies tailored to post-colonial requirements, especially through the empowerment of youth.
Her ongoing efforts involve fostering underrepresented critical youth perspectives from Africa and establishing post-colonial cooperation that transcends African borders, advocating for a unified, empowered, and prosperous global South.