A long-time supporter and speaker at Keele World Affairs, Rosemary Hollis is Professor of Middle East Policy Studies and Director of the Olive Tree Scholarship Programme at City University. Her research and publications focus on British, European and US policies in relation to the Middle East as well as conflict and security issues in the region.

The Olive Tree Programme, which concludes in 2016, has enabled talented young Palestinians and Israelis to take degrees at City University and while doing so to develop a greater understanding of each other.

From 2005-08 she was Director of Research at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) with overall responsibility for the research and publications output of the institute. This followed ten years as Head of its Middle East Programme, and five years in a similar role at Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).

During the 1980s she was a lecturer in Political Science at George Washington University in Washington, DC, where she also gained her PhD in Political Science.

Her publications include: Britain and the Middle East in the 9/11 Era (2010); Israel and the Palestinians: Israeli Policy Options (2005), Managing New Developments in the Gulf (2000)