Ishmael Bhila

Ishmael Bhila serves as a Research Scholar at Universität Siegen and a Research Fellow at Paderborn University, focusing on the project “Meaningful Human Control - Autonomous Weapon Systems between Regulation and Reflection” (MEHUCO), specifically examining African perceptions of meaningful human control. Additionally, Ishmael is the Executive Director of Virtual Planet Africa and has experience as a Research Associate at the University of Portsmouth, where responsibilities included research and module development on autonomous vehicles and weapon systems. Previous roles include Project Coordinator at the Chatteris Educational Foundation in Hong Kong and an intern at Ashinaga, providing support to African scholars. Ishmael's educational background includes a PhD in International Law & Applied Ethics from the University of Portsmouth and advanced degrees in International Relations and International Development Studies.