Jess Gifkins

Dr. Jess Gifkins is a Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Technology Sydney (since 2023). Previously, she held academic positions at the University of Manchester (2017–2023), Leeds Beckett University (2015–2017), and others. She earned her PhD from the University of Queensland's Asia-Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (R2P).

Her research focuses on two core themes: UN Security Council decision-making processes and the implementation of R2P, with a recent emphasis on integrating queer perspectives into atrocity prevention. Key areas include legitimation practices in UN decision-making, early warning mechanisms for mass atrocities, and the intersection of LGBTQI+ rights with R2P frameworks. She has led projects funded by the British Academy, including studies on Brexit's impact on UK UN reputation (2018–2019) and UN early warning systems (2022–2023).

Her work has influenced UN policy discussions, with findings cited by the UK government and UN General Assembly. Notable outputs include her 2023 monograph *Inside the UN Security Council: Legitimation Practices and Darfur* (Oxford University Press) and co-authored articles such as *Queering the Responsibility to Protect* (2023, *International Affairs*).

• Recipient of the 2017 European Journal of International Relations Best Article Award
• Editorial roles: *Global Responsibility to Protect* (2020–present), founding *Critical Military Studies* Associate Editor (2013–2020)
• Collaborations with institutions like Protection Approaches (Queering Atrocity Prevention project)

Dr. Gifkins is open to supervising PhD students in UN diplomacy, R2P, and queer atrocity prevention. She maintains an honorary research fellowship at the University of Queensland's Asia-Pacific Centre for R2P.