Milo Hsieh (謝和軒) is the Founder of Safe Spaces. He is a policy professional with years of expertise in Taiwan politics, U.S.-Taiwan relations, and political risk analysis. He was formerly a freelance journalist, with articles published by media and think tanks including the BBC, The Globe and Mail, the University of Nottingham’s Taiwan Insight, and the Global Taiwan Institute. His work has been cited in research reports by the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, the Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR), and the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. He has a B.A. in International Studies from American University.  

Azim Butt (洪偉) is the Lead Consultant at Safe Spaces. He has worked extensively with various local and international governmental and non-governmental organizations across East Asia and Europe on research projects focused on media, politics, and public policy. His writing has appeared in publications including The National Interest, Taiwan Insight, and the Taipei Times.

He holds an MPhil in Political and Economic Sociology from the University of Cambridge, where he was a Chevening Scholar, and a B.A. cum laude in International Studies from Leiden University in the Netherlands.

Chia-Chen Kuo (郭佳臻) is a Policy Analyst at Safe Spaces. She holds both a B.A. and an M.A. in Political Science from National Taiwan University (NTU). During her time at NTU, she worked as a research assistant on multiple projects, developing her expertise in Taiwan’s political landscape and gender studies. She has also gained practical experience as a campaign staff member and interned at a legislative office.  

Austin Shih (施偉恆) is a Policy Analyst at Safe Spaces. His expertise includes geopolitical risk analysis in the Middle East, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. He previously conducted research at two UK think tanks, focusing on the Iranian nuclear program, conflicts in the Middle East, China’s gray-zone warfare against Taiwan, and cyber threats. He holds an MSc in Politics and Communication from the London School of Economics and Political Science and an M.A. in Political Economy from National Cheng Kung University.

Irene Chou (周依融) is a Policy Analyst at Safe Spaces, focusing on Indo-Pacific security and politics. She has experience in policy research on American politics and digital privacy across East Asia. During her postgraduate year in the United States, she worked in local government, gaining legal experience in public interest, free speech, and freedom of information. She has a B.A. in Political Science and English, with honors, from Brown University.  

Sherry Hsiao is a Policy Fellow at Safe Spaces. She contributes to the firm’s research on Taiwan’s domestic politics and international relations. Previously, she worked for a foreign mission in Taiwan, overseeing strategic partnerships and communications and playing a key role in its reporting on political developments.

She began her career as a journalist. Her reporting has been cited by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, the RAND Corporation, the Atlantic Council, the German Marshall Fund, the Lowy Institute, the Institute for National Strategic Studies, the Global Taiwan Institute, and the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy. She earned her B.A. from Boston College and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Policy at Georgetown University.

Rath Wang (王健智) is a Contributing Writer at Safe Spaces, focusing on politics, finance, security, and culture in East and Southeast Asia, the United States, and other democracies. He has experience in finance, supply chains, media, public policy, political strategy, and organizing. He is also a producer and host of political talk shows and podcasts and has worked on political campaigns and advocacy efforts in Taiwan, the United States, Japan, and Thailand. He regularly contributes analysis on current affairs and diplomacy. He previously worked for over a decade as a capital markets trader and financial analyst. He earned a B.A. in International Relations and Finance from Waseda University in Japan.

Sherry Chen (陳采妤) graduated from Chung Yuan University with a degree in International Business and has developed hands-on experience in accounting and administration. Passionate about streamlining company processes, she focuses on enhancing operational efficiency and driving growth through innovative strategies and a strong understanding of organizational dynamics.