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, it grew into a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration, producing tools, data, and analysis for partners across academia, policy, and civil society. As its scope expanded, so did its ambitions, culminating in the 2025 launch of Turaath Tech, a Portugal-based entity that formalises this evolution into a dedicated research centre at the intersection of technology, history, and heritage.
Our Vision
To become a leading transregional hub for research, innovation, and policy in the fields of history and heritage protection: where critical historical inquiry, technological development, and cross-cultural collaboration meet to address the urgent challenges facing cultural heritage in Europe and the MENA region.
Meet the Team
Operations
Madison Leeson is a cultural historian and digital humanities researcher whose work explores the intersection of heritage, history, and technology. With a PhD in Archaeology and History of Art, she specialises in tracing the movement and transformation of cultural objects across empires, institutions, and digital infrastructures. Her research combines archival work with computational analysis to examine how cultural goods have become entangled in modern-day conflicts over identity, belonging, and historical legitimacy. As Founder and Director, she oversees the research agenda, partnerships, and strategic development of Turaath Tech.
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, compliance, communications, and resource management, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations and a collaborative team environment.
Research
Ezio Sorti
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.
Abdulrhman Nusair
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.
Burcu Ustabaş
Affiliated Researcher
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 and Outreach
Nur Haliza Mitterlehner
EU Grants and Partnerships Officer
As Turaath Tech’s EU Grants and Partnerships Officer, Lisa channels her passion for connecting ideas, people, and resources into shaping ambitious research collaborations. Born in Indonesia and educated in Europe, she has spent over five years navigating the world of EU-funded projects, crafting winning proposals, building partnerships across borders, and translating complex research into strategies that drive real-world impact. Her career has taken her from policy workshops in Jakarta to cultural heritage initiatives in Europe, each step deepening her commitment to bridging history, technology, and innovation. Outside of work, she is an avid reader of history books, a language learner, and a writer of political columns, always seeking new ways to explore the narratives that shape our world.
Nour Erragragui
MENA Grants and Partnerships Officer
Nour Erragragui is the MENA Grants and Partnerships Officer at Turaath Tech, where she contributes to funding strategy, proposal development, and regional partnership building across the Middle East and North Africa. She is currently pursuing a double Master’s degree in International Law and Euro-Mediterranean Relations between the University of Bordeaux and Mohammed V University in Rabat. As the Moroccan president of her master’s association, she leads cross-cultural programming, academic events, and student diplomacy initiatives. She has also contributed to diplomatic coordination and external relations at the Chamber of Councillors of the Moroccan Parliament. Nour’s expertise lies at the intersection of legal research, international cooperation, and civic engagement, with a strong commitment to inclusive and sustainable development in the MENA region.
Bruno Amado
Social Media Officer
Bruno is a Social Media Officer 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.
Foundational Research
Many of the tools, datasets, and research strands now housed within Turaath Tech originated in the founder's earlier work as a historian and consultant. By consolidating these efforts within one entity, we aim to ensure long-term sustainability, visibility, and impact.
