Meet our diverse roster of international experts, thought leaders, and practitioners. Discover the unique insights and experiences each guest brings to our discussions on global risk, security, and geopolitics.
Dr Aidan Hehir is a Professor of International Relations at the University of Westminster. He gained his PhD from the University of Limerick in 2005 and previously worked at the University of Sheffield. His research interests include transitional justice, humanitarian intervention, and statebuilding in Kosovo. He is the author-editor of twelve academic books, the most recent…
Robert Pratten is a UK-based entrepreneur, transmedia storyteller, and simulation specialist, best known as the founder and CEO of Conducttr, an immersive crisis-simulation and information-operations platform used by governments, defense organizations, and enterprises. Originally trained in marketing and consultancy within the telecommunications sector, his background in narrative design became the foundation of his later work in transmedia…
Dr Andrew Mumford is the University of Nottingham’s first ever Professor of War Studies. He is the editor of the Bloomsbury book series ‘Studies in Contemporary Warfare’ and Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of International Security (published by Cambridge University Press). He has published 4 books on facets of modern conflict. He has extensive experience in researching and engaging…
Ambassador Hesham Youssef is a distinguished, former Egyptian diplomat and international peacebuilding expert, with more than thirty years of experience navigating some of the Middle East’s most complex political and humanitarian challenges. He began his diplomatic career at Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1985, serving in the Egyptian Embassy in Canada (1988–1992) and the Egyptian Mission in Geneva (1995–1999). Between 1992…
Peter Schwartzstein is an environmental journalist, researcher and advisor who focuses on environmental peacebuilding and the conflict-climate nexus. He’s spent more than a decade reporting across more than thirty countries in the Middle East, Africa, and farther afield, mostly for National Geographic. He’s a fellow at the Stimson Center, journalist-in-residence at The Center for Climate and Security, and…
Olha Mukha, PhD, is a cultural analyst and philosopher, cultural manager, curator and expert on international communication and human rights. Known for her extensive work in cultural diplomacy and human rights. She is Co-Founder and Programme Director of the Ukrainian Association of Cultural Studies – Lviv and Head of Educational and International Department of Memorial…
Lateef Johar Baloch is a human rights advocate, researcher, and member of the Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB). With years of experience documenting abuses against marginalised communities and human rights defenders, he focuses on Balochistan’s political landscape, natural resource extraction, and the impacts of state policies on ethnocultural groups. Originally from a rural village…
Dr Tim Stevens is Reader in International Security at the Department of War Studies, King’s College London, and co-director of its Cyber Security Research Group. His research interests include cybersecurity politics, cyber risk, cyberwarfare and the global politics of technology. He has published widely on these topics, including Research Handbook on Cyberwarfare (Edward Elgar, 2024),…
Susannah Streeter is a leading financial commentator, international broadcaster, and award-winning analyst known for making global economic trends understandable to audiences around the world. A former BBC business anchor, she has reported, presented, and analysed market-moving stories for major outlets including the BBC, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, CNBC, TRT, and CGTN. Susannah previously headed…
John Sitilides is a professional keynote speaker on geopolitics at corporate, investor, and industry conferences, and before government, military and intelligence community audiences, on geopolitical risk management and the business impacts of international security policies, John Sitilides is Principal at Trilogy Advisors LLC in Washington, D.C., and is Senior Fellow for National Security at the…
