Zineb Benalla is an international expert and consultant in preventing and countering violent extremism, counter terrorism and peacebuilding who spent years working in violent extremism hotspots in the Maghreb, Sahel, and the Middle East. Zineb Benalla has a long experience working with international organisations, civil society, communities, religious leaders, traditional leaders, and with policy makers across many countries and continents.She was nominated for the International Women of Courage Award in 2015 for her work in preventing and countering violent extremism and building peace in the Sahel and Maghreb region. She was awarded Alumna of the Year by Alakhawayan University, Morocco for her outstanding career after graduation. She won The International Studies Association Peace Section and Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies Global South Peace Award in 2020 for her work and research on gender equality and preventing and countering violent extremism in the Maghreb and Sahel.

Zineb Benalla is the CEO and Founder of Eirene Associates Int. which is the first international development and security company in Morocco, she is also the co-founder of a civil society organisation working on transnational violence and countering violent extremism. Zineb Benalla is a visiting professor at the intersession unit at Alkhawayan University where she teaches ‘Rethinking Counter terrorism in Africa: Lessons in Prevention’. Zineb Benalla holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Alakhawayn University, Morocco and Georgetown University, USA. She holds a Degree in International Law from Kent Law School and Brussels School of International Studies.