Ben Lydon was Chief of Operations Officer with ARI from August 2013 to end 2015.

Ben Lydon writes the reports and proposals on ARI’s projects to the donor institutions, coordinating with ARI directors and project staff. Ben is also a member of Initiative for a New Syria and the secretary general of CODSSY (le Collectif de Développement et de Secours Syrien). Previously, Ben worked in Libya for OpenCities Ltd as assistant office manager.  He holds a Masters in International Security, Institut d’Etudes Politiques (Sciences-Po), Paris; BA in French and Arabic, University of Exeter; Research-oriented programme in Arabic (07-08), Institut Français du Proche Orient, Damascus. He is fluent in Arabic, French and English.