Fariz Ismailzade is executive vice-rector at ADA University. Prior to this, he worked for ten years in the NGO sector in Azerbaijan. He was director of political programmes at the International Republican Institute and has done extensive research at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC. His research interests include political affairs in the Caucasus and Central Asia, energy security, and development. He holds a master’s in social and economic development from Washington University in St Louis and a BA in political science from the Western University in Baku.