Justine Kristel Villegas, a researcher at the Humanitarian Advisory Group, is dedicated to leveraging innovative research methods and visual communication to make data and information more impactful and accessible for humanitarian actors and stakeholders. She believes that meaningful, participatory, and creative knowledge generation is crucial for effective localisation and the advancement of social inclusion in different contexts. Prior to HAG, Justine worked as a Sociology instructor at the University of the Philippines Diliman and as a researcher and consultant supporting various research and capacity-building initiatives implemented by the Demographic Research and Development Foundation, University of the Philippines Population Institute, International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam, and World Vision East Asia.
Her areas of specialization include aging, disability, childhood and youth studies, HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), sexual and gender-based violence (S&GBV), and disaster risk reduction and management. Outside of work, she enjoys music, singing, and playing guitar with her twin sister (who is also a researcher based in Manila).
Justine obtained her Master’s degree in Development Studies (major in Social Policy for Development and specialization in Children and Youth Studies, with academic merit and research paper distinction) from the International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam through the Dutch government Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP) scholarship. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology (summa cum laude) from the University of the Philippines Diliman, through the University of the Philippines Presidential scholarship.
