About Us
Founded in Kosovo as Leeson Consulting, LLC (est. 2023), the company began as a one-person research and advisory practice focused on cultural heritage consultancy. Over time, our work expanded through interdisciplinary collaboration, producing tools, data, and analysis for partners across academia, policy, and civil society. As our scope expanded, so did our ambitions, culminating in the 2025 launch of Turaath Tech, a Portugal-based research and development firm operating at the intersection of technology, history, and heritage.
Meet the Team
Operations
Dr Madison Leeson
Founder & Director
Dr Madison Leeson is a cultural historian of modern West Asia. Her work examines how cultural heritage is used to construct political legitimacy, identity, and historical narratives, particularly in Iraq and other Ottoman successor states. She received her PhD in Archaeology and History of Art (Cultural Heritage Management) from Koç University (2022). Her research combines archival scholarship with computational methods, including network and geospatial analysis, to investigate cultural governance, heritage crime, and the illicit trade in cultural goods.
Yazeed El Jinini
Director of Operations
Yazeed El Jinini is an experienced operations and outreach professional with a strong background in customer engagement, event coordination, and tourism. With a deep commitment to social justice, human rights, and inclusive development, he brings both strategic insight and people-centered management to his work. As Director of Operations, he oversees internal functions, including finance, resource management, compliance, and communications, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations and a collaborative team environment.
Research
Associate Researcher
Ezio Sorti is a junior researcher at the University of Milan, where he earned a Master’s Degree in International Relations. An academic path enriched by international study exchanges at Trinity College Dublin and Charles University in Prague deepened his passion for cultural diplomacy and the Middle East. Hands-on experiences at the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin and the Istanbul Policy Center further reinforced a strong interest in the evolving relationship between the European Union and the MENA region, an interest guided by a strong belief in intercultural dialogue and a deep engagement with the region’s complex social and political dynamics.
Associate Researcher
Abdulrhman Nusair is a PhD researcher in Heritage Studies at the University of Algarve, focusing on the cultural landscapes and built heritage of Gharb al-Andalus. He holds a joint master’s degree in Architecture, Landscape, and Archaeology from the University of Rome, where he developed an interdisciplinary approach to heritage conservation and urban sustainability. Abdulrhman has participated in archaeological and architectural projects across Egypt, India, Italy, France, Portugal and collaborates with institutions such as CNRS, ICOMOS, and the Auroville Earth Institute. His work integrates field research and digital documentation.
Affiliated Researcher
Edo Mešić is an archaeologist and cultural heritage researcher from Bosnia and Herzegovina. His work focuses on archaeological topography, spatial analysis, heritage interpretation, and the use of digital methodologies in cultural heritage research. He holds a Master’s degree in Archaeology and has professional experience in museum work, archaeological field research, and heritage documentation.
His current research explores the spatial distribution of cultural institutions, the impact of conflict on archaeological sites, and the interpretation of multilayered cultural landscapes. He uses QGIS and other digital tools to develop methodologies that combine archaeology, heritology, and geospatial analysis.
Edo is particularly interested in applying interdisciplinary approaches to heritage protection, digital mapping, and the broader interpretation of cultural landscapes in Europe and beyond.
Affiliated Researcher (former)
Burcu Ustabaş is a researcher with a Master’s degree in Maritime Archaeology from Koç University. She has conducted excavation, archival, and museum work in Türkiye, Egypt, and Greece. Her expertise includes from classical period to medieval Byzantine maritime trade, amphora analysis, amphora stamps/graffiti, and digital archaeology techniques.
Marketing
Bruno Amado
Creative Lead & Social Media Strategist
Bruno is Turaath Tech’s Creative Lead & Social Media Strategist with a background in Design & Multimedia. He supports the creation and planning of digital content, helping to grow Turaath Tech's presence across social platforms.
Federico Carrara
Revenue Strategy Intern
Kris Evans
Cross-Functional Operations Intern
Kris Evans is a Cross-Functional Operations Intern with interests in Arabic language, strategy, and operations. He graduated with distinction from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Business Administration and minors in Arabic and Anthropology. His interests include the language learning, organizational strategy, and the ways culture shapes how people and institutions work together.
Our Vision
Our work is grounded in the principles of protection, empowerment, knowledge, and justice.
We believe research should strengthen regional capacity, support ethical practices, and contribute to more sustainable cultural heritage governance.
Interested in joining our team? We’d love to hear from you.
