Yassine Boubout is a lawyer and international negotiator who has worked in environments where negotiations carry real consequences. From negotiating resolutions at the UN to securing humanitarian access in Yemen and South Sudan, he has sat across the table from governments, armed commanders, foreign terrorist organizations, and other high-risk actors.

In these settings, things are rarely clear or stable. Positions shift, pressure builds quickly, and outcomes matter. That is where he learned how to read people, build trust when needed, and hold a line when it counts.

This experience shaped his approach: negotiation is not theory. It is about understanding who you are dealing with, adapting in real time, and making decisions that hold under pressure.

Joseph El Bacha is a criminologist and behavioural analyst, and a former police inspector. As a certified Behaviour Detection Officer, he focuses on reading behaviour, crisis communication, and understanding how people act under pressure.

He has worked with institutions such as the Belgian State Security, the EU Radicalisation Awareness Network, and the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, contributing to work on security, radicalisation, and complex investigations.

This background shaped a practical approach: behaviour is rarely random. It can be read, understood, and used to better navigate tense situations and difficult conversations.

By combining their experience, they bring a distinct perspective on negotiation. Their approach goes beyond theory, grounded in real-world experience from diplomacy, security, and high-pressure environments. They challenge participants to step outside their comfort zone and develop the skills, techniques, and mindset needed to perform in negotiations.