Dr. Waad Khaleel is an academic and national expert in Sociology and Criminology, specializing in peacebuilding, preventing violent extremism (PVE), and community conflict analysis. He holds a PhD in Sociology/Criminology from the University of Baghdad and brings over twenty years of academic experience in teaching and research at the University of Mosul and other academic institutions.

He is recognized as one of the leading experts in peacebuilding in Nineveh Governorate, with more than seven years of experience in designing, implementing, and facilitating social cohesion and local reconciliation programs. He contributed to the development of the Countering Violent Extremism strategy in Nineveh and serves as a member of the central committee for preventing violent extremism in the governorate as a representative of the University of Mosul. He also serves as Head of the Capacity Building Department at the Center for Peacebuilding and Peaceful Coexistence at the University of Mosul (2023–2025).

Since 2005, Dr. Waad has been working as an expert and advisor with the Iraqi Institution for Development (IID), providing technical support in the design of research and community-based programs, conducting social conflict analysis, developing training curricula and capacity-building initiatives, and offering academic supervision for field studies related to social cohesion, reintegration, and PVE.

Dr. Waad combines strong academic depth with extensive field experience in managing complex community dialogues, making him a nationally recognized reference in social cohesion, peacebuilding, and preventing violent extremism in Iraq.