ENC is a young and dynamic independent think tank, consisting of three full time researchers and project managers, one research assistant and two rotating internships, fundraising and external advisors. If you are interested in joining our team, please send us an email at media@encouncil.org
Team
Samuel Doveri Vesterbye is Managing Director at the European Neighbourhood Council (ENC) and specializes in Turkey, Central Asia and the Middle East. He oversees ENC research projects across the neighbourhood and Central Asia, including Academic Council Members and regional strategy. His research is focused on EU-MENA and EU-Turkey relations in trade, accession, energy, migration, and regional neighbourhood policy. He is the author of numerous research studies, including Palgrave Macmillan’s Managing Security Threats along the EU’s Eastern Flanks.
Asuman Kubra Bas is Head of Projects and Research at the European Neighbourhood Council. She oversees a number of active EU projects, as well as a group of researchers and coordinators, and she is responsible for key areas of planning, project implementation, research, coordination, and management. She has an international relations master's degree and a bachelor's degree in sociology. She has expertise working on a wide range of topics, including EU foreign policy, EU-Türkiye relations, connectivity, business and human rights, youth, media, disinformation and migration. She is fluent in Turkish and English.
Nazerke Mukhamediya is a Research & Communication Assistant at the European Neighbourhood Council. Currently, Nazerke is pursuing a Master's degree in Politics and Security at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek and holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism. She has worked at local NGOs in Kazakhstan, as well as a journalist. Her research interests include Central Asian politics, decoloniality, leadership transition, and contentious politics.
Noorullah Mustafa Bozurgmehr is currently a research and communication intern at the European Neighbourhood Council (ENC) in Brussels, Belgium. He is also pursuing an MA in Politics and Security at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. He holds a BA in Political Science and has several years of experience in the education sector. His research interests include human rights, children’s rights and education, the migration–security nexus, and peace and conflict studies. He is currently writing his MA thesis on the United Kingdom’s policy response to the refugee crisis after 2021. Mustafa is fluent in Persian and English.
ENC Researchers
ENC External Advisor, Chief Investment Officer at ERIH Holding and Partner at AL Energy
Areas of expertise: Renewable energy
Country: Turkey
Professional Background: Ali Yaraş, an engineer by profession, has worked with a wide variety of renewable energy technologies since completing his undergraduate studies at Istanbul University as a geophysicist in 2003. He completed his Ph.D. at Istanbul Technical University’s Energy Department, where he focused on conventional renewable energy technologies such as wind, solar, and biomass. Mr. Yaraş has worked under many roles, such as sustainability consultant, and project coordinator, in 2014 founded his own company to develop solar energy projects, where together with his partner, they became solar energy investors as well as developers. Mr. Yaraş has been involved in international project development and has been a part of the ERIH team since 2021.
Areas of expertise: Renewable energy
Country: Turkey
Professional Background: Ali Yaraş, an engineer by profession, has worked with a wide variety of renewable energy technologies since completing his undergraduate studies at Istanbul University as a geophysicist in 2003. He completed his Ph.D. at Istanbul Technical University’s Energy Department, where he focused on conventional renewable energy technologies such as wind, solar, and biomass. Mr. Yaraş has worked under many roles, such as sustainability consultant, and project coordinator, in 2014 founded his own company to develop solar energy projects, where together with his partner, they became solar energy investors as well as developers. Mr. Yaraş has been involved in international project development and has been a part of the ERIH team since 2021.
Emre Keki
ENC External Advisor and senior corporate lawyer with private practice in Turkey.
Areas of Expertise: Corporate Sustainability, Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG), German Law on Supply Chains, mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence; EU Green Taxonomy, CSRD, SFDR
Country: Turkey
Professional Backgound: Emre Keki is a senior partner at PAE Law Office, an Istanbul-based law firm specialized in Corporate / M&A transactions. Besides his core areas of expertise, he developed over the years a specialist practice in the area of energy law; Mr. Keki is widely recognized as an expert in advising clients generating electricity from renewable energy sources. He holds a German Law Degree (Staatsexamen) from the University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; and a Turkish Law Degree from Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. He is bilingual in Turkish and German and is fluent in English.
ENC External Advisor and senior corporate lawyer with private practice in Turkey.
Areas of Expertise: Corporate Sustainability, Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG), German Law on Supply Chains, mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence; EU Green Taxonomy, CSRD, SFDR
Country: Turkey
Professional Backgound: Emre Keki is a senior partner at PAE Law Office, an Istanbul-based law firm specialized in Corporate / M&A transactions. Besides his core areas of expertise, he developed over the years a specialist practice in the area of energy law; Mr. Keki is widely recognized as an expert in advising clients generating electricity from renewable energy sources. He holds a German Law Degree (Staatsexamen) from the University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; and a Turkish Law Degree from Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. He is bilingual in Turkish and German and is fluent in English.
ENC Academic Council Member and Co-Founder and President at Crossroads Central Asia, a Bishkek-based Research Institute and is Associate Research Fellow at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek.
Areas of Expertise: Domestic politics and foreign policy of Kyrgyzstan, international relations in Central Asia, EU-Central Asia relations
Country: Kyrgyzstan
Professional Background: Shairbek Dzhuraev is the co-founder and president at Crossroads Central Asia, a Bishkek-based research institute. He is also an Associate Research Fellow at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek and holds a postdoctoral fellowship from Volkswagen Foundation through the Technical University of Dortmund. Shairbek previously served as deputy director at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, dean of academic development at the American University of Central Asia (AUCA). He taught Central Asian politics, foreign policy analysis, international relations AUCA, the OSCE Academy in Bishkek and European University in St Petersburg. Shairbek is a member of research networks of political scientists working on post-Soviet Eurasia, including PONARS Eurasia, the Central Asia Program (both based at George Washington University) and the EU-Central Asia Monitoring (EUCAM). Shairbek’s research interests include political regimes, international relations and foreign policymaking in Central Asia. He has extensive experience in policy-related research and consulting as well as running research-oriented non-profit programs. Shairbek has a PhD in International Relations from the University of St Andrews and MSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
Areas of Expertise: Domestic politics and foreign policy of Kyrgyzstan, international relations in Central Asia, EU-Central Asia relations
Country: Kyrgyzstan
Professional Background: Shairbek Dzhuraev is the co-founder and president at Crossroads Central Asia, a Bishkek-based research institute. He is also an Associate Research Fellow at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek and holds a postdoctoral fellowship from Volkswagen Foundation through the Technical University of Dortmund. Shairbek previously served as deputy director at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, dean of academic development at the American University of Central Asia (AUCA). He taught Central Asian politics, foreign policy analysis, international relations AUCA, the OSCE Academy in Bishkek and European University in St Petersburg. Shairbek is a member of research networks of political scientists working on post-Soviet Eurasia, including PONARS Eurasia, the Central Asia Program (both based at George Washington University) and the EU-Central Asia Monitoring (EUCAM). Shairbek’s research interests include political regimes, international relations and foreign policymaking in Central Asia. He has extensive experience in policy-related research and consulting as well as running research-oriented non-profit programs. Shairbek has a PhD in International Relations from the University of St Andrews and MSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
External Advisory Council
The external advisory council has members from the private sector, public sector, civil society, think-tank and media. Members include ex-diplomats, editors-in-chief, advisors, ex-officials, businessmen/women, think-tank and researchers.
The external advisory council serves as an advisory body that helps foster support for projects, research and events, while providing guidance, experience and network.
ENC is required to listen to recommendations from external advisory council members if their concerns are considered relevant to a given field of research or project.
ENC reserves the right to select and amend any advisory council members’ status, with the exception of the ones bound by partnership agreements. Advice provided by the external advisors is not legally binding in terms of implementation, but ENC staff members are required to interact with external advisors annually.
External advisors are expected to:
– Present ENC with potential grant and tender proposals (minimum 1 per year), which are deemed relevant to ENC (e.g. ENP, EU Accession, Security/Defence, Turkey, Iraq, Ukraine);
– Provide advice and sharing of contacts with regards to funding, networks, and donors (through meeting with Managing Director minimum 1 per year);
– Provide advice with regards to ENC’s research orientation/priorities and projects.
External Advisors
Kakha Gogolashvili
ENC External Advisor and Director of EU Studies at the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (GFSIS).
Areas of Expertise: European Integration, International relations, Economics, Conflicts Resolution.
Country: Georgia
Professional Background: Mr. Gogolashvili served for eleven years in the Georgian Foreign Service as the acting Head of Mission to the EU, as well as the Director of Department for Relations with the EU. Since the early 2000s, he has actively been advising the Georgian Government on European Integration, while serving as the Chairman of EaP Civil Society Forum Georgia National Platform.
ENC External Advisor and Director of EU Studies at the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (GFSIS).
Areas of Expertise: European Integration, International relations, Economics, Conflicts Resolution.
Country: Georgia
Professional Background: Mr. Gogolashvili served for eleven years in the Georgian Foreign Service as the acting Head of Mission to the EU, as well as the Director of Department for Relations with the EU. Since the early 2000s, he has actively been advising the Georgian Government on European Integration, while serving as the Chairman of EaP Civil Society Forum Georgia National Platform.
Jos Boonstra
ENC External Advisor and Europe-Central Asia Monitoring (EUCAM) Coordinator (Groningen, Netherlands).
Areas of expertise: Democratisation, Rule of law, Human Rights, EaP, Central Asia, Security Sector Reform.
Country: Netherlands
Professional Background: Until December 2015, Jos Boonstra was Head of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia programme at FRIDE in Madrid and Brussels and prior to that he managed a program at the Centre for European Security Studies (CESS) in Groningen.
ENC External Advisor and Europe-Central Asia Monitoring (EUCAM) Coordinator (Groningen, Netherlands).
Areas of expertise: Democratisation, Rule of law, Human Rights, EaP, Central Asia, Security Sector Reform.
Country: Netherlands
Professional Background: Until December 2015, Jos Boonstra was Head of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia programme at FRIDE in Madrid and Brussels and prior to that he managed a program at the Centre for European Security Studies (CESS) in Groningen.
Talant Sultanov
ENC External Advisor and Director of the Center for Silk Road Studies (Kyrgyz Republic)
Areas of expertise: Economic development, international relations, international finance, Eurasian affairs, Central Asia, digital societies, innovations and ICT
Country: Kyrgyz Republic
Professional Background: Talant Sultanov is a Chair of the Internet Society Kyrgyz Chapter, a Board member at the Bank of Asia in Kyrgyzstan and a Trustee at the Microcredit Foundation “Humo” in Tajikistan. Prior to his current positions, Mr. Sultanov has served as the Director of the National Institute for Strategic Studies of the Kyrgyz Republic. He has also worked as the CFO of the American University of Central Asia. Previously, Mr. Sultanov worked at the World Bank (Washington, D.C. and Almaty), and in Project Finance at Kazkommertsbank in Almaty. Mr. Sultanov is an alumnus of Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Executive Education (2016). He holds a MA in Finance from Columbia University (2006) and a BA Summa Cum Laude from San Francisco State University (1999), where he graduated as the Top Student in the International Relations Program.
ENC External Advisor and Director of the Center for Silk Road Studies (Kyrgyz Republic)
Areas of expertise: Economic development, international relations, international finance, Eurasian affairs, Central Asia, digital societies, innovations and ICT
Country: Kyrgyz Republic
Professional Background: Talant Sultanov is a Chair of the Internet Society Kyrgyz Chapter, a Board member at the Bank of Asia in Kyrgyzstan and a Trustee at the Microcredit Foundation “Humo” in Tajikistan. Prior to his current positions, Mr. Sultanov has served as the Director of the National Institute for Strategic Studies of the Kyrgyz Republic. He has also worked as the CFO of the American University of Central Asia. Previously, Mr. Sultanov worked at the World Bank (Washington, D.C. and Almaty), and in Project Finance at Kazkommertsbank in Almaty. Mr. Sultanov is an alumnus of Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Executive Education (2016). He holds a MA in Finance from Columbia University (2006) and a BA Summa Cum Laude from San Francisco State University (1999), where he graduated as the Top Student in the International Relations Program.
Edward Lemon
ENC External Advisor and Postdoctoral Fellow at the Harriman Institute at Columbia University in USA.
Areas of Expertise: Religious extremism, Central Asia, foreign fighters, authoritarianism, security.
Country: United States
Professional Background: Dr. Lemon recently completed his PhD at the University of Exeter, where he wrote his thesis about Islamic extremism in Tajikistan. In particular, he focused on the ways in which the Tajik government pursues opponents living abroad. In October 2016, he will take up the position of Postdoctoral Fellow at the Harriman Institute at Columbia University. He has conducted extensive field research on religious freedom, migration, terrorism and political Islam in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia. His research has appeared in Central Asian Affairs, Foreign Affairs, The RUSI Journal, Caucasus Survey and Review of Middle East Studies.
ENC External Advisor and Postdoctoral Fellow at the Harriman Institute at Columbia University in USA.
Areas of Expertise: Religious extremism, Central Asia, foreign fighters, authoritarianism, security.
Country: United States
Professional Background: Dr. Lemon recently completed his PhD at the University of Exeter, where he wrote his thesis about Islamic extremism in Tajikistan. In particular, he focused on the ways in which the Tajik government pursues opponents living abroad. In October 2016, he will take up the position of Postdoctoral Fellow at the Harriman Institute at Columbia University. He has conducted extensive field research on religious freedom, migration, terrorism and political Islam in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia. His research has appeared in Central Asian Affairs, Foreign Affairs, The RUSI Journal, Caucasus Survey and Review of Middle East Studies.
Shada Islam
ENC External Advisor and Foundress of New Horizons Project (NHP), a Brussels-based global strategy and advisory media company.
Areas of Expertise: Europe, Asia, Africa, Geopolitics, Trade, Migration, Inclusion, Diversity and Women’s Empowerment.
Country: Belgium
Professional Background: Ms. Islam is a member of the European Policy Centre’s prestigious Strategic Council and Senior Adviser for its Europe in the World programme. She worked for nine years as Director of Europe and Geopolitics at Friends of Europe, an influential independent think tank based in Brussels. She now runs her own Brussels-based global strategy and advisory company, New Horizons Project.
ENC External Advisor and Foundress of New Horizons Project (NHP), a Brussels-based global strategy and advisory media company.
Areas of Expertise: Europe, Asia, Africa, Geopolitics, Trade, Migration, Inclusion, Diversity and Women’s Empowerment.
Country: Belgium
Professional Background: Ms. Islam is a member of the European Policy Centre’s prestigious Strategic Council and Senior Adviser for its Europe in the World programme. She worked for nine years as Director of Europe and Geopolitics at Friends of Europe, an influential independent think tank based in Brussels. She now runs her own Brussels-based global strategy and advisory company, New Horizons Project.
Elisa Cousseran is a seasoned intercultural communications expert and academic, specializing in fostering connections between China, Europe, and the United States. With advanced degrees in Chinese language and civilization from INALCO, Far Eastern arts from SOAS, and nonprofit management from The New School, her career spans management positions in the corporate sector such as Airbus, BBDO and Groupe Figaro. Elisa is now a consultant and she is teaching intercultural communications at INALCO, emphasizing Chinese-European relations. Fluent in Mandarin and highly sensitive to Chinese cultural dynamics, Elisa excels in digital communications strategy, storytelling, and intercultural management, particularly in the tourism, luxury, and arts sectors.
Sanem Guner
ENC External and Assistant Director of the Hollings Center for International Dialogue.
Areas of Expertise: Turkish and U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East and North Africa, Human Security, Islam and Democracy.
Country: Turkey
Professional Background: Sanem was a program officer at the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) where her portfolio included projects on Turkey-EU relations, women’s political participation in Turkey and the Middle East, Turkish rapprochement with Armenia, and the peace process in Cyprus. Sanem graduated Bryn Mawr College with a BA in Political Science, and went on to complete an MA in International Relations at Istanbul Bilgi University.
ENC External and Assistant Director of the Hollings Center for International Dialogue.
Areas of Expertise: Turkish and U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East and North Africa, Human Security, Islam and Democracy.
Country: Turkey
Professional Background: Sanem was a program officer at the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) where her portfolio included projects on Turkey-EU relations, women’s political participation in Turkey and the Middle East, Turkish rapprochement with Armenia, and the peace process in Cyprus. Sanem graduated Bryn Mawr College with a BA in Political Science, and went on to complete an MA in International Relations at Istanbul Bilgi University.
Ronald Meinardus
ENC External Advisor
Areas of Expertise: Greek-Turkish issues, Greek domestic and foreign politics, EU-Turkey relations, the role of Germany in Southern Europe and developments in the Arab world.
Country: Germany
Professional Background: Dr. Meinardus is a political analyst and commentator who started his professional career in journalism at Germany’s international broadcaster – first as economics’ producer, later as Head of Deutsche Welle’s Greek program. A passion for liberal politics and advocacy took him to the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) and assignments in Greece, South Korea, the Philippines, Egypt, India and Turkey. Apart from managing political projects and writing commentary and analytical papers, Meinardus is a qualified facilitator and consultant focusing on strategic planning and political communications. More information and links to selected publications at www.meinardus.info.
ENC External Advisor
Areas of Expertise: Greek-Turkish issues, Greek domestic and foreign politics, EU-Turkey relations, the role of Germany in Southern Europe and developments in the Arab world.
Country: Germany
Professional Background: Dr. Meinardus is a political analyst and commentator who started his professional career in journalism at Germany’s international broadcaster – first as economics’ producer, later as Head of Deutsche Welle’s Greek program. A passion for liberal politics and advocacy took him to the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) and assignments in Greece, South Korea, the Philippines, Egypt, India and Turkey. Apart from managing political projects and writing commentary and analytical papers, Meinardus is a qualified facilitator and consultant focusing on strategic planning and political communications. More information and links to selected publications at www.meinardus.info.
Bruce Pannier
ENC External Advisor, Journalist and Central Asia Analyst
Areas of expertise: Central Asia
Professional Background: Bruce Pannier studied Central Asia at Columbia University under the legendary Central Asian scholar Edward Allworth. Pannier went to Tashkent State University in the summer of 1990, and in 1992-1993 led a sociological research project in villages in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, and has been a frequent visitor to the region since then. He worked for the Prague-based Open Media Research Institute in 1995-1997 before joining Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, where he worked until 2022. Pannier has written for Jane’s Intelligence, Freedom House, The Economist Intelligence Unit, the Cairo Review, the FSU Oil & Gas Monitor, The Diplomat, Foreign Policy Research Institute, and Eurasianet.
ENC External Advisor, Journalist and Central Asia Analyst
Areas of expertise: Central Asia
Professional Background: Bruce Pannier studied Central Asia at Columbia University under the legendary Central Asian scholar Edward Allworth. Pannier went to Tashkent State University in the summer of 1990, and in 1992-1993 led a sociological research project in villages in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, and has been a frequent visitor to the region since then. He worked for the Prague-based Open Media Research Institute in 1995-1997 before joining Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, where he worked until 2022. Pannier has written for Jane’s Intelligence, Freedom House, The Economist Intelligence Unit, the Cairo Review, the FSU Oil & Gas Monitor, The Diplomat, Foreign Policy Research Institute, and Eurasianet.
Nejla Ayvazi
ENC External Advisor and Adjunct Instructor for Social Sciences at ADA University.
Areas of Expertise: International Cooperation, EU Eastern Partnership, Sustainable Development, Minority Rights, Peacebuilding, Policy Advocacy and Leadership.
Country: Azerbaijan
Professional Background: Ms. Nejla Ayvazi is Adjunct Instructor of Leadership, Ethics and Communications at ADA University in Azerbaijan. She was the Senior Expert for EU Summer Schools development and training within an EU funded project at the EU Centre of Excellence at ADA University. In 2018-2019 she worked for UNDP in support of nationalization of the Sustainable Development Agenda in Azerbaijan. Previously, she worked at OSCE in Baku and an OSCE HCNM funded project on minority protection and language rights at the European Centre for Minority Issues in Kosovo. Her professional experience includes working in the UN System in Baku, Azerbaijani Embassy in Lithuania and Irish Embassy to Lithuania and Belarus. Nejla holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Vilnius University and Bachelor’s degree in Law from Baku State University. She speaks English, Russian, Azerbaijani, French, Albanian, Bosnian/Serbian and some Lithuanian.
ENC External Advisor and Adjunct Instructor for Social Sciences at ADA University.
Areas of Expertise: International Cooperation, EU Eastern Partnership, Sustainable Development, Minority Rights, Peacebuilding, Policy Advocacy and Leadership.
Country: Azerbaijan
Professional Background: Ms. Nejla Ayvazi is Adjunct Instructor of Leadership, Ethics and Communications at ADA University in Azerbaijan. She was the Senior Expert for EU Summer Schools development and training within an EU funded project at the EU Centre of Excellence at ADA University. In 2018-2019 she worked for UNDP in support of nationalization of the Sustainable Development Agenda in Azerbaijan. Previously, she worked at OSCE in Baku and an OSCE HCNM funded project on minority protection and language rights at the European Centre for Minority Issues in Kosovo. Her professional experience includes working in the UN System in Baku, Azerbaijani Embassy in Lithuania and Irish Embassy to Lithuania and Belarus. Nejla holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Vilnius University and Bachelor’s degree in Law from Baku State University. She speaks English, Russian, Azerbaijani, French, Albanian, Bosnian/Serbian and some Lithuanian.
Stefano Manservisi
ENC External Advisor and Chair of the Governing Board of the Global Fund to counter and prevent violent extremism.
Areas of expertise: International relations, Law, EU policy, Migration policy, Mobility policy and Security policy
Professional Background: Stefano Manservisi joined the European Commission in 1993 where he enjoyed different positions within the administration and as political adviser to various Commissioners, including as Head of Cabinet to President Romano Prodi. He then became director-General for Development and relations with Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States, then Director-General for Home Affairs and finally Director-General for Development and International Cooperation. He specialized in relations with countries in the Global South in a wide range of policies, including migration, mobility and security. As EU Ambassador to Türkiye, he completed his experience with a diplomatic activity on the ground. After having left the European Commission, he joined various think tanks, and he is advising several international organisations. He lectures in various Universities and he's Adjunct Professor at Sciences Po/Paris School of International Affairs and at the European University Institute/School of Transnational Governance.
ENC External Advisor and Chair of the Governing Board of the Global Fund to counter and prevent violent extremism.
Areas of expertise: International relations, Law, EU policy, Migration policy, Mobility policy and Security policy
Professional Background: Stefano Manservisi joined the European Commission in 1993 where he enjoyed different positions within the administration and as political adviser to various Commissioners, including as Head of Cabinet to President Romano Prodi. He then became director-General for Development and relations with Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States, then Director-General for Home Affairs and finally Director-General for Development and International Cooperation. He specialized in relations with countries in the Global South in a wide range of policies, including migration, mobility and security. As EU Ambassador to Türkiye, he completed his experience with a diplomatic activity on the ground. After having left the European Commission, he joined various think tanks, and he is advising several international organisations. He lectures in various Universities and he's Adjunct Professor at Sciences Po/Paris School of International Affairs and at the European University Institute/School of Transnational Governance.
Natalie Sabanadze
ENC External Advisor and Cyrus Vance visiting professor in International Relations at Mount Holyoke College
Areas of Expertise: post-communist transition, European integration, nationalism and globalization, ethnic conflict, and national minorities
Professional Background: Dr. Natalie Sabanadze is a Cyrus Vance visiting professor in International Relations at Mount Holyoke College, USA. She has written and lectured extensively on questions of post-communist transition, European integration, nationalism and globalization, ethnic conflict, and national minorities. In 2009 she published Globalisation and Nationalism: The Cases of Georgia and Basque Country and in 2010 co-edited a volume with Francesco Palermo titled National Minorities in Inter-State Relations. Her current research focuses on the EU in the world and the diplomacy of small states.
ENC External Advisor and Cyrus Vance visiting professor in International Relations at Mount Holyoke College
Areas of Expertise: post-communist transition, European integration, nationalism and globalization, ethnic conflict, and national minorities
Professional Background: Dr. Natalie Sabanadze is a Cyrus Vance visiting professor in International Relations at Mount Holyoke College, USA. She has written and lectured extensively on questions of post-communist transition, European integration, nationalism and globalization, ethnic conflict, and national minorities. In 2009 she published Globalisation and Nationalism: The Cases of Georgia and Basque Country and in 2010 co-edited a volume with Francesco Palermo titled National Minorities in Inter-State Relations. Her current research focuses on the EU in the world and the diplomacy of small states.
Terje Helland is a seasoned business manager, consultant, and communication strategist with many years of experience across various industries. Specializing in business development, he has successfully led projects in Eastern Europe, Ukraine, Russia, and Uzbekistan. An expert in countering disinformation, Terje has a deep understanding of the complex geopolitics of the region, with a recent focus on Georgia and its emerging geopolitical challenges. His work combines strategic insight with practical solutions, making him a valuable advisor in navigating the region’s business and political landscapes.