King's College London

The King’s Sanctuary Programme is a cross-university initiative that brings together education, research and community engagement to support people affected by displacement, including refugees and people seeking asylum. Working in partnership with staff, students and community organisations, the Sanctuary Programme supports inclusive learning environments, widens access to higher education and contributes research and policy expertise on displacement, migration and sanctuary. 

As Academic Director, Dr Podder will provide strategic leadership for the Programme, shaping its research activities, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration, and engaging with partners across the higher education, policy and community sectors. This includes the development of the Sanctuary Hub, a space for researchers across King’s to share insights on forced migration and related challenges.  

Dr Podder is a senior academic in the School of Security Studies with over 15 years’ experience across research, teaching, consultancy and professional military education. Her research focuses on peacebuilding, conflict and recovery in societies affected by war, and has been supported by major funders including the Arts and Humanities Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council, NATO’s Science for Peace programme and the British Academy. 

She is the award-winning author of Peacebuilding Legacy: Programming for Change and Young People's Attitude to Peace (Oxford University Press, 2022), which received the International Studies Association Best Book Prize in 2024. She has been elected Vice President (2026-7) of the International Studies Association and sits on the Board of Peace Direct, which supports locally led peacebuilding initiatives in conflict-affected contexts.

To find out more about the King’s Sanctuary Programme and how you can get involved, sign-up to their newsletter or email the team at sanctuary@kcl.ac.uk