As the Founder of NorthStar, Arth Malani sets the strategic direction for the firm, leveraging his deep expertise in emerging markets and political risk. Having advised on $325mn worth of deals, Arth has become a trusted partner for Fortune 500s and UK private equity firms seeking to mitigate risk and sharpen their communications. While he takes a rigorous approach to market analysis, he balances his professional life with a love for ABBA and an unsung enthusiasm for a karaoke night.
Rohan leads NorthStar’s Policy and Regulatory Due Diligence practice, supporting investors and corporates in navigating the regulatory complexities of cross-border transactions and market entry across emerging markets.
He brings over a decade of experience spanning private equity, investment banking, and AI startups.
Prior to joining NorthStar, Rohan was at CrossBoundary Group, where he worked on investment transactions across frontier and emerging markets, developing expertise in commercial and financial due diligence, deal structuring, and regulatory analysis. His career has taken him across India, Africa, and Europe, with a focus on the technology, energy transition, and healthcare sectors.
Rohan holds an MBA from Oxford’s Saïd Business School and specialises in translating complex regulatory environments into actionable investment insights for clients operating in high-growth markets.
Ziya Fitri supports marketing and business development at NorthStar Insights, bringing the firm’s vision to life through sharp visual storytelling and polished digital content. With a Bachelor’s in Business from Universitas Brawijaya and an MS in Entrepreneurship from the University of Washington (2025), her digital communications abilities have supported NorthStar amplify their presence in key business circles. Beyond her marketing work, she’s passionate about accessibility and empowering individuals with disabilities to thrive.
Haniva S Deanty is the Communications & Stakeholder Engagement Lead at NorthStar Insights, where she drives the firm's external positioning and client relationships across emerging markets. With a focus on delivering exceptional value in an era of heightened political instability. Haniva leads NorthStar's messaging, media outreach, and event partnerships, playing a central role in establishing the firm as a trusted voice in the advisory space. Prior to joining NorthStar, Haniva pursued a Master’s at King’s College London focusing on international relations and the changing landscape in the Asia Pacific.
As Lead Asia Pacific Analyst at NorthStar Insights, Juliana R Montano oversees the firm's APAC research and manages client engagements across the region. She provides political risk analysis and strategic intelligence on markets spanning Southeast Asia, East Asia, and the Pacific, supporting businesses and investors as they navigate regulatory shifts and evolving trade dynamics. Complementing her academic foundation with hands-on experience in research, strategic communications, and consulting.
As Lead MENA Analyst at NorthStar Insights, Tala Karkanawi generates policy and regulatory intelligence across the Middle East and North Africa.
Prior to NorthStar, she directed regional research at the MEA Institute, publishing analyses on nuclear escalation dynamics, Syrian post-war economic realignment, and Lebanon’s political economy through the MEA Institute and Dialogue Journal, with earlier work on legal and governance issues. She brings a legal foundation from NBCUniversal in corporate and competition law as well as extensive experience working with Public Policy Exchange - one of UK’s leading public policy events service.
Tala earned an M.A. in Politics and Economics of the Middle East from King’s College London with Distinction, with academic research currently under peer review.
Soojin Jang is the East Asia Analyst at NorthStar. Her work focuses on the evolving role of South Korea and Japan in the world especially with regards to the emerging technologies sector. She has recently completed her MA in Korean–Chinese conference interpreting at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, and hold a second MA from King’s College London. Prior to joining NorthStar, Soojin worked for Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London.
Wesley I. Romain is an East Asia Analyst at NorthStar Insights, focusing on geopolitical and investment risks, trade, technology, and supply chain resilience. He holds a BA in Southeast Asian Studies and International Relations from INALCO and an MA in International Affairs from King’s College London. Wesley bodes extensive experience in diplomacy, having served as Executive Assistant to the Ambassador of an ASEAN country. A native French speaker fluent in English, he also has working knowledge of Mandarin and Filipino. Outside work, he continues to refine his language skills to support his expertise in China’s evolving role in ASEAN.
Bandish Oza is the South Asia Analyst at NorthStar Insights, focusing on geopolitical and economic risk analysis within the South Asia subregion. His work involves monitoring political, regulatory and security developments across the region and producing structured intelligence outputs that feed into communications strategies. With a strong academic background including a Master’s from King’s College London, he blends his research skills with business strategy to create unparalleled value for clients.
Steffen Ortiz is a North Africa Analyst at NorthStar Insights, specialising in geopolitical risk, supply chain resilience, and financial strategy within the Maghreb. He transforms complex global developments into actionable intelligence, helping clients across Asia and the GCC anticipate disruption and make confident strategic decisions. Steffen holds an MA in International Relations from King's College London's War Studies Department and a Bachelor's in Economics from the University of New Mexico.
Mary-Jo Sajjad is a Gulf Cooperation Council Analyst at NorthStar Insights, where she provides political risk analysis and strategic intelligence on the Gulf region. She holds an MA in International Peace and Security from King's College London and a Bachelor of Laws from Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, bringing a distinctive blend of legal expertise and regional insight to her work. Previously, Mary-Jo served as a Research Assistant at the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut and UAE’s leading think tank Fiker Institute.
