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.
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.
Megdelawit
Yohannes Yoseph
Grants & Partnerships Intern
Megdelawit Yohannes is an architect and a researcher in built heritage. Her focus is on architecture conservation and urban transformation in her native country, Ethiopia. She has worked in an intergovernmental organisation focused on conservation alongside working as a freelance architect. Over her career, she has developed interdisciplinary experience not only focusing on architecture but also on sustainability, heritage, and research.
She is committed to the protection of the built heritage and empowering local communities who are custodians of their heritage.
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.
Affiliated Researcher
Bailasan Mohammad Sarrar is an Affiliated Researcher at Turaath Tech, currently pursuing a degree in Heritage Resources Management and Museology at the Hashemite University in Jordan. She is a recipient of the ACOR Frederick-Wenger Educational Fellowship and works as an Educational Explainer at the Jordan Museum. She is also the Founder of Perchta, a handmade brand inspired by craftsmanship, creativity, and cultural expression.
Her research interests include cultural heritage management, cultural property protection, and the intersection of heritage and technology.
Hawah Olawoyin
Affiliated Researcher
Hawah Olawoyin is an Affiliated Researcher at Turaath Tech and a Master's student in History and Diplomacy at Lagos State University, Nigeria. She holds a Bachelor's degree in History and International Studies from the same institution. Her research interests include international relations, diplomacy, security studies, economic history, cultural heritage, and public policy. Hawah has authored and co-authored peer-reviewed publications on Nigeria's international relations, including studies on Nigeria–Japan economic relations, Nigeria's relationship with the World Trade Organization, and US security assistance to Africa and counter-terrorism in the Sahel. She has also presented research at academic conferences and is committed to producing interdisciplinary, policy-relevant scholarship.
Tai Sherman
Affiliated Researcher
Tai Sherman is a London-based Affiliated Researcher at Turaath Tech. He recently completed a Master’s degree in Classical Archaeology at the University of Oxford, and holds an MA in Ancient History and Archaeology from the University of St. Andrews. He has conducted archaeological fieldwork in Italy and the Czech Republic, and currently uses GIS to remotely evaluate archaeological sites in the Iranian Plateau with the EAMENA Project.
His research interests include Etruscan Italy, cultural heritage management, antiquities trafficking networks, and intersectional approaches to researching and combatting archaeological looting and the illicit antiquities trade.
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.
Gender Equality
We are committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and supportive working environment. Our Gender Equality Plan sets out our approach to promoting gender equality across the company, including in recruitment, working conditions, decision-making, and organisational culture.
Interested in joining our team? We’d love to hear from you.
