Lara Maria Guedes Gonçalves Costa

Lara is a Graduate Professional with UNIDIR’s Conventional Arms and Ammunition Programme, contributing to the research pillar on weapons and ammunition management.

Previously, she worked as an intern at the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs in Vienna, Austria, and at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute in Solna, Sweden, where she supported the Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme.

Lara also interned at the International Centre for Defence and Security in Tallinn, Estonia, and worked as a project assistant at the Kosciuszko Institute in Kraków, Poland. In addition to her roles at the UN and research institutes, she worked in the private sector as an accounts analyst at IBM BTO Business Consulting Services in Poland.

She holds a master’s degree in Security, Intelligence and Strategic Studies, jointly awarded by the University of Glasgow in the UK, Dublin City University in Ireland and Charles University in Czech Republic. She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Area Studies from Jagiellonian University, Poland.

Lara’s research interests include arms control, disarmament, military expenditure and emerging technologies. She speaks Portuguese, English and Italian, as well as having basic knowledge of French and Spanish.