Biography
Sonia Warner is an international development expert, building on an extensive career in the UK civil service spanning over 35 years with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Her extensive work in Africa, mainly in fragile and conflict affected countries, has made her a strong advocate for equality and access to justice for all. As a governance and institutional development adviser, she has implemented various major programmes to promote transparency and accountability. Sonia is an active social and racial justice campaigner, engaging with a wide range of stakeholders on how to make progress in these areas. She mentors young professionals.
Sonia has a BSc in International Development and a MSc in Development Management. She is currently a PhD Candidate at Kings College London, African Leadership Centre, researching in Leadership and Policing.
Thesis
Thesis title: Leadership and Policing in Southwest Nigeria
In Nigeria, police dysfunctionality, including widespread brutality, has significantly eroded public trust. This research explored leadership dynamics in relation to the NPF and impacts on police-citizen relations, focusing on the Southwest region. A qualitative investigation was conducted on the dynamics between assigned and emerging leaders, through three case studies: Police Act (2020), Operation Amotekun, and the #EndSARS Movement, engaging Grint's (2010) “leadership as a process,” as the central theoretical framework.
Principle Supervisor: Olawale Ismail
Secondary Supervisor: Abiodun Alao