I am Johanna Amaya-Panche. Welcome to my website

About me

I am a Senior Lecturer in International Relations and Politics at Liverpool John Moores University. Previously, I served as a Postdoctoral Researcher Fellow at the University of Edinburgh with the PeaceRep. I have also been an Honorary Research Fellow at the Institute of the Americas at University College London, where I served as a Lecturer and Director of the Master's Program in Latin American Studies. I earned my PhD in Government from the University of Essex and hold a Master of Research in Latin American Studies, along with a Bachelor of Honours in Political Science and International Relations from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Colombia. 

My research interests lie at the intersection of International Relations, Political Behaviour, and Political Science. I focus on how international organisations influence local civil society dynamics to foster peace, inclusivity, resilience, and reconciliation amid armed conflicts, with particular attention to issues of ethnicity and gender. My primary areas of interest are Latin America, the Global South and post-conflict countries.

This research has received funding from the European Union, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and UCL, among others. My work has been featured in media outlets such as BBC News, The Conversation, France 24, The Conversation, The Inter-American Dialogue, The Canning House, The Independent Diplomat, and the Inter-Ethnic Committee for implementing the Peace Agreement in Colombia.

I am also interested in transitional justice, multiculturalism, equality, and diversity, employing mixed methods research to understand the interactions between global and local phenomena. My research is closely connected to my policy work with international organisations, including the European Union, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Global Survivors Fund, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Before starting my PhD, I was an Associate Professor and consultant for governmental and international organisations in Colombia, focusing on inclusivity, peace-building, and community engagement.

Outside of work, I enjoy a variety of sports and dance styles, including weight lifting, HIIT, salsa, contemporary dance, and Zumba.