Kateryna is a graduate of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree in Security, Intelligence, and Strategic Studies (2022-2024) from the University of Glasgow, Dublin City University, and Charles University. Her research interests include European security, Ukraine’s integration, OSINT, and strategic foresight. Currently, she serves as Assistant Programme Director at London Politica’s Intelligence Support Group, focusing on Europe and Russia. She’s a member of the Younger Generation Leaders Network on Euro-Atlantic Security and was a visiting fellow at the Trans European Political Science Association. Kateryna is also an alumnus of the OSCE 2023 Scholarship for Peace and Security, the Atlantic Council's Digital Sherlocks OSINT training, and the 2023 European Forum Alpbach.

Nikolas Beaury is a 25-year-old Master’s student at the Technical University of Munich, focusing on International Political Economy. His thesis explores how trade relationships affect regime stability in low- and middle-income economies. He's conducted research on various global dynamics, including the impact of food prices on African political stability and the effects of the digital Silk Road on democratic quality in Africa. Beaury has practical experience through internships at the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research and a working student position at Fraunhofer Gesellschaft. He's passionate about global politics and economics, actively engaging in civic activities such as the American Munich Youth Advisory Council and as a longstanding member of the SPD.

Agata Bidas is a law graduate from the University of Warsaw and a current master's student in Development Studies at the University of Vienna. Passionate about international law and international relations, her research interests focus on crucial issues such as international security, nuclear deterrence, disarmament policies as well as human rights and the rule of law. Additionally, Agata is an active member of the International Community NGO based in Vienna, where she promotes youth education on international politics. She organizes numerous events such as Model United Nations focusing on critical topics, aiming to foster informed discussions and awareness among young individuals.

Antonie graduated from University College Maastricht with a Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts. Currently, she is pursuing a Master’s in Eastern European Studies at the University of Hamburg with a focus on politics and history. Alongside her studies, she works as a working student at the SPIEGEL Group. Her research interests encompass the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood Policy as well as de facto states in the post-Soviet sphere and the Balkans. Aside from that, she is dedicated to advancing her language skills in Croatian and Albanian.

Mara is currently pursuing her Master's degree at the University of Osnabrück, where she is studying "European Governance" and "Conflict Studies and Peacebuilding". Her research interests focus on the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy as well as feminist and critical approaches to both EU external relations and conflict and peace studies. At the moment, Mara works for an EU information centre and is actively involved in various projects of the Berlin-based grassroots think tank Polis180.

Anna, an honors graduate in International Politics and Economics from the University of Milan, is currently pursuing a master's degree in International Security at Sciences Po Paris. Concurrently, she serves as Vice-President of the Sciences Po Cybersecurity Association. Her recent internship at Sciences Po's Center for International Studies (CERI) honed in on European involvement in Indo-Pacific security, a focus she continues to explore in her master's thesis. Beyond the Indo-Pacific, her research interests include transatlantic relations, alliance theory, hybrid threats and emerging technologies.

Isabel is currently pursuing a postgraduate degree in Politics at the University of Oxford. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Leiden University in International Relations and has previously worked in the Joint Planning and Command Staff of the German Federal Ministry of Defence as well as for the Munich Security Conference. Her research interests lie in the EU Common Security and Defence Policy, alliance politics, transatlantic relations, diplomacy, intelligence studies, and the role of technology in foreign and security policy.

Robin, a Political Science graduate from the Technical University of Munich pursuing a Master's in Politics and Technology, delves into global security at the Federal Foreign Office in Germany. With roles at QinetiQ, IABG, MTU Aero Engines, and SpaceTec Partners, he shapes corporate strategy and analyzes security policies. As Chairman of the Board of the Academic Association for Security Studies (BSH), he amplifies public understanding of security issues, organizing events at the Munich Security Conference. He also contributes to the US Consulate General Munich's Youth Advisory Council and the WARR Scientific Workgroup for Rocketry and Spaceflight.

Katja-Elisabeth, MA Transatlantic Affairs from the College of Europe & Fletcher School, researches transatlantic security with a focus on emerging technologies. Awarded Squire Patton Boggs Foundation fellowship in 2022, she explores U.S. domestic politics and the Three Seas Initiative as an Associate Research Fellow at the Warsaw Institute. Previously, she interned at the NATO Defense College and the European Parliament, focusing on military procurement challenges. Holding a BA in International Relations and International Organizations, paired with an LLB in International and European Law from the University of Groningen, she presented research at the Fletcher School on semiconductor technologies in the EU-US landscape. Interested in cybersecurity and crisis management.

Mahmoud Javadi serves as an AI Governance Researcher at Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) in The Netherlands. In this capacity, he plays a role in an EU-funded research consortium titled ‘Reignite Multilateralism via Technology’ (REMIT). Furthermore, he represents EUR within the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium. Before assuming his current position, Mahmoud was associated with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where his focus lay in conducting research on EU external relations with particular attention on the Middle East. His academic background includes a Master of Arts in Transnational Governance from the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence, Italy.

Maximilian Kallenbach has been working for the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) since 2021. He began his career at the Embassy in Ottawa (Canada) and is currently serving at the Consulate General in Munich. Max studied political science and international affairs in Switzerland, France, and Canada, inspiring him to found two Human Rights programs and intern with the United Nations in New York in 2019. His interests lie in multilateralism, global security policy, and transatlantic relations, particularly the psychological behavior of world leaders. In his free time, Max enjoys reading, hiking in the Alps, and long-night debates with his friends. His ultimate career goal is to become the first Swiss Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Karolina Kisiel graduated a Liberal Arts and Sciences B.A. at University College Maastricht, where she combined International Relations with Law. Her academic interests revolve around Transatlantic relations, Geopolitics, AI in the military domain, and security in the Indo-Pacific region. She wrote her Bachelor’s thesis on lethal autonomous weapons systems regulation in the U.S.

Post-graduation, she participated in the Transatlantic Future Leaders Forum program securing an internship at the U.S. House of Representatives in the Office of Congressman Mike Gallagher. Currently, she works as an Administrative Affairs Assistant at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Poland. Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, Karolina is an active member of the Polish Forum of Young Diplomats, further enriching her engagement in international affairs and diplomatic endeavors.

Lea holds a BA in Liberal Arts from University College Maastricht and currently studies War and Conflict Studies at Potsdam University. She is also a research assistant at the Global Public Policy Institute in Berlin where she works on strategic foresight as well as a 2023 Hertog War Studies Fellow at the Institute for the Study of War in Washington, D.C. Her research interests include security studies as well as military history with a focus on Afghanistan and the evolution of insurgency warfare.

Based in Brussels, Thijs holds an MA in International Relations from Central European University (Vienna) and works as a Junior Project Officer at DCAF – Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance. He also serves as deputy editor-in-chief at youth-led media outlet Lossi 36. His interests include armed conflict and peace-building, security and development policy, and political sociology – with a particular emphasis on Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia.

Mr. Krieger studied Political Science (major) and History (minor) at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt. He completed his studies with a Master’s degree in “Peace Research and International Politics” at the University of Tübingen. As a student, he spent semesters abroad at Bilgi University in Istanbul and at the University of St. Andrews in the United Kingdom. He gained work experience at the Federation of German Industries (BDI), the German-Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Jakarta, the German-American Institute in Tübingen, MBDA Germany, and the George C. Marshall Center. In his spare time, he likes swimming and cycling. He also enjoys reading science fiction and alternate history novels.

Helen is a purpose-driven professional in International Security holding a BA from Groningen university and an MA from Leiden university. Helen has gained experience by interning at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, most recently at Estonia’s Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva working on human rights matters. Last year, Helen also conducted an internship at the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies in Tbilisi where she focused on EU-Georgia relations. Helen’s research interests centre on EU foreign and security policy, EU’s eastern neighbourhood and international security. Currently, Helen is a trainee at the Council of the European Union in Brussels, working on a diverse array of EU foreign and security policy matters.

Dr. des. Rigels Lenja is a journalist, columnist, and historian. He holds a BA/MSC degree in East and Southeast European modern history from the University of Tirana. In April 2024, Rigels defended his Ph.D. thesis at the University of Munich, Institute for East and South-East European History. His research has been focused on dictatorship, modern warfare, democracy, and religion in particular for Balkan countries. He has been involved in numerous programs about freedom of speech in the Balkans. Beyond work and studies, hiking, traveling, and running what I love to do in free time.

Assel graduated with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Dokuz Eylul University, Turkey, specializing in regional politics, conflict resolution, and international political economy. Currently, she is pursuing an Erasmus Mundus Master's in Euroculture, studying at the University of Strasbourg, Palacký University Olomouc, and the University of Göttingen. Her academic journey reflects a commitment to understanding global dynamics and contributing to diplomacy and cooperation.

Natnael is currently studying law in Bayreuth, Germany focussing on internationl trade and sanction law. The fact that development cooperation is also seen as a preventative measure is particularly significant to him.

Charlotte is currently a PhD candidate at the Professorship for International Politics and Transatlantic Relations, University of Regensburg (UR). She holds a BA in Franco-German Studies (from UR and Université Clermont Auvergne) and a Master’s degree in Democracy Studies (from UR). In her PhD project, Charlotte is analysing the ambivalences in the Franco-American security relations since 1990. Her areas of expertise include the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union, the EU’s democratic structures, French, American and German security policy, as well as constructivist IR theory and strategic culture analysis. Charlotte was a fellow at the Federal Academy Security Policy (BAKS) and is involved in the local student initiative for security policy in Regensburg.

Lenin Navas is pursuing a Master's degree in Peace and Conflict Studies at the Otto-von-Guericke University of Magdeburg. He has work experience in peacebuilding NGOs in LATAM and as a researcher in think tanks. He holds a bachelor's degree in International Affairs from the Central University of Venezuela. His areas of interest include geo-economics, international security, and the impact of new technologies in international conflicts.

Polina is currently pursuing a master’s degree in political science at the LMU Munich. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the Kyiv National University. Her research interests include Franco-German cooperation within the CFSP and the energy transition of the EU. Polina has gained relevant experience by completing an internship in a Kyiv-based analytical centre. Additionally, she is an active member of the Young European Ambassadors initiative, aimed at building pro-EU networks in the Eastern Partnership countries.

Anna-Francisca Poupet, specializes as a legal expert in international law, European defense, and security. She pursued her initial training as an international jurist at the University of Panthéon Assas, where she later focused on geopolitics and armaments at the Institute of Applied Geopolitics. She gained practical experience as a legal assistant in Peru for a year, which significantly enhanced her understanding of European international law and policy. Moreover, this opportunity allowed her to develop strong project management skills and collaborate effectively within teams. Currently, she is furthering her academic pursuits in European politics while undertaking research for her thesis. Her thesis examines the European Union's security and defense policy within the intricate context of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Independent professional born in Peru, raised in Ecuador and recently naturalized Spanish. My academic journey has honed my deep interest in contemporary global affairs and present and future security landscapes and dynamics. My main goal is to capitalize on my diverse background, knowledge, and international experience to enthusiastically contribute to academic research, administrative tasks and (ad hoc) project support in these fields.

Lilian Seffer is a development practitioner dedicated to promoting gender equality and social inclusion in her work on conflict prevention and enhancement of human security. She holds a master’s degree in International Affairs from the Hertie School of Governance and Bachelor Degree in Political Science from the Freie Universität in Berlin. Lilian embraces post-colonial approaches and intersectional analysis in her work. She has a proven track record of supporting the evaluation and development of regional peace and security policy frameworks in West Africa and facilitating technical cooperation between Germany, the EU and regional organisations, such as the ECOWAS Commission and its Member States on emerging security threats. Lilian has a keen interest in fostering open discourse on values and priorities in European-African engagements.

Piotr Sieniawski holds degrees in law and international relations and a PhD in political science. An alumnus of the Hague Academy of International Law and participant in numerous courses in international law and EU law. He worked as a visiting researcher at Ilia State University in Tbilisi and at Sokhumi State University in Tbilisi. His internship experience includes positions at the German Bundestag in Berlin, the European Commission in Brussels and at the Parliament of the Slovak Republic in Bratislava. Currently, he works as an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Political Science and Administration, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw. His expertise covers public international law, EU law and international security, with a focus on post-Soviet space. He received the Award of the Polish International Studies Association for the best doctoral dissertation defended in 2022 in the field of international relations.

Roksolana is currently completing her master’s degree in International Governance and Diplomacy at Sciences Po specialising in European studies. She has a keen interest in the Ukraine-EU relationship, foreign policy analysis and countering disinformation. She has previously worked at WithUkraine media, the Representation of Ukraine to the European Union, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and OSCE Project Coordination in Kyiv. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.

Antonio Sorbino is currently pursuing a Double Master's Degree in International Relations from both Université libre de Bruxelles and LUISS Guido Carli. He graduated cum laude with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from LUISS Guido Carli. His academic interests are primarily focused on European foreign policy, international relations and security. His Master's thesis delves into the concept of a federal metamorphosis within the European Union to achieve strategic autonomy, aiming to deepen integration and cooperation among member states and to enhance the collective geopolitical influence of the European Union.

Robin is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in International Security at Sciences Po Paris, while also serving as an AI policy consultant at the OECD. His research focuses on the impact of emerging technologies on European security, and their intersections with the fields of intelligence, diplomacy, nuclear studies, and the Asia-Pacific. Robin also holds a Bachelor’s degree from Amsterdam University College, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude in Politics and Philosophy.

Vincent is currently pursuing a double master’s degree in public policy at Sciences Po Paris and Hertie School in Berlin. His research interests include security and defence policy, ​European politics, and the regulation of emerging technologies. Vincent was a part of the first cohort of students ever to graduate with a BSc. in Global Studies from Maastricht University (cum laude). He has professional experience in consulting projects and field research in Cyprus. When not studying or volunteering, Vincent is passionate about writing non-fiction publications and is always searching for the next story.

Jeremy is a fourth semester master student of International Politics and International Law at Kiel University. Holding a B.A. in Political Science and History from the University of Tübingen, he is currently spending an Erasmus semester at the University of Bologna. His main research focuses are nuclear deterrence, international organsations and European security. Besides his studies, he is volunteering for Deutsche Model United Nations e.V. and has been participating in various Model United Nations conferences.

Ani Tsintsadze is an Advanced master’s student at the College of Europe in Natolin, specializing in security and defense with a keen focus on Russian strategies in Central and Eastern Europe as well as Transatlantic relations. She possesses a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and has extensively engaged in geopolitical analyses. Ani is a Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, serves as the vice president of the European Horizons chapter at her college, and is a Global Network Member at both Generation Democracy and the Geneva Centre for Security Policy. Her professional experience includes significant roles in Georgia, notably as a U.S. Embassy Programs Coordinator in IDP settlements and as a Junior Operations Expert Assistant for the OSCE/ODIHR mission, underscoring her commitment to promoting human rights and democratic development.

Petra Priskin is a graduate student at the University of Munich (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität). She is a 2024 OSCE Peace and Security Scholarship recipient and alumna of the 2023 Winter School on Trade and Security at Amerikahaus. Apart from languages, she is particularly interested in security in the MENA region – especially the Levant –, conflict resolution, and sustainable peace-building among others.