Migrant: what’s in a name?

An evening of stories, dialogue and reflection on migration and migration policies.

Migration is often talked about in headlines and politics. But what assumptions shape migration policies, and how do they influence the way we understand migration and migrants? This interactive evening brings together research, storytelling and public conversation to explore migration through lived experiences, policy debates and future possibilities. Through discussion, audience interaction and stories, the event invites you to reflect on common narratives about migration, engage with new perspectives and look beyond simplified assumptions.

Explore the PACES resource hub for blogs, podcasts, policy briefs and research on what shapes migration decisions in a changing world: https://iss.nl/paces

Speakers Simona Vezzoli Researcher, Project leader at ISS Riccardo Biggi Policy Research, Investigations and Media Production Silvia Celiberti Co-founder @Bomburo | Brand design | Editorial Illustration Giulia Bruschi Research and Analysis | Data visualization | Protection and Migration across the Central Mediterranean Yacine Ait Larbi PhD Candidate at University of Amsterdam

About the Speakers

­Lelani Lewis
Lelani Lewis is a visionary cookbook author, chef and passionate food activist redefining the culinary landscape through her commitment to sustainability, food justice and global food traditions. With over a decade of industry experience, Lelani believes that food transcends borders, offering a powerful means to bridge differences and unite communities. Lelani is mostly known as a skilled moderator for events, facilitating meaningful discussions on various topics.

Simona Vezzoli
Dr Simona Vezzoli is a migration expert and postdoctoral researcher at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam. She is leader of the project, Making migration and migration policy decisions amidst societal transformations (PACES).

Riccardo Biggi
Riccardo Biggi is a researcher and media producer with the Meldpunt Vreemdelingendetentie and Here to Support. Riccardo’s academic interests are in border ethnography and migration policymaking; with the Institute of Political Science, Leiden University, he was part as Junior Researcher on migration narratives within the PACES project. He wrote and produced the podcasts Migration Chronicles and The Invisible Community, and co-founded the City Rights App.

Silvia Celiberti
Silvia Celiberti studied graphic design at IED (BCN) and SVA (NYC). She works as a concept-based editorial illustrator for a variety of publications and co-owns a social design studio called Bomburo. She is based in Amsterdam.

Giulia Bruschi
Giula Bruschi is a research practitioner and humanitarian analyst with sector experience on protection, mixed migration and working experience with and in the UN system. She currently works as the Data and Research Project Manager at Mixed Migration Centre Eurorpe.

Yacine Ait Larbi
Yacine Ait Larbi is a PhD candidate at the University of Amsterdam, specialising in the intersections of colonialism, social changer and migration systems. Yacine’s thesis, “Where Do People Migrate To and Why Not Elsewhere,” uses migration as a lens to examine how social structures shape the boundaries of what is considered legitimate movement.