Ulrich Schneckener is Professor of International Relations and Peace & Conflict Studies at Osnabrueck University, Germany. He is also Chairman of the Board of the German Peace Research Foundation. He is an expert on EU security, enlargement and neighbourhood policy, he currently focuses on the wider international and security implications of Russia’s war of aggression and has a particular regional interest in Ukraine, Moldova, Poland and Romania.

Professor Jan Asmussen is a political scientist and historian specializing in state-building, reconciliation, and political developments in Europe and the Middle East. He has held positions at the European Centre for Minority Studies in Flensburg and universities in Northern Cyprus. His research covers international relations, ethnic conflict, and comparative politics in regions such as Cyprus, Turkey, Bosnia, Lebanon, Iraq, and the German-Danish border.

Julian Pawlak is a researcher at the University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg (HSU/UniBw H) and a Research Fellow at the German Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies (GIDS). As academic coordinator, he leads the interdisciplinary Research Network Maritime Security (iFMS), which supports the Ministry of Defence in strategic foresight and strategy development. Since 2024, he has also served as a non-resident Associate Fellow at the NATO Defense College. His research focuses on strategy, security, and defense in Northern and Eastern Europe, particularly in the Baltic Sea region.

Dr Ivan Klyszcz is a Research Fellow at ICDS, which he joined in September 2022. He received his PhD in International Relations from the University of Tartu, where he also worked as a researcher. His work focuses on Russian foreign policy, great power competition, and the grand strategy of major powers. In recent years, he has examined Moscow’s relations with Africa, Latin America, and South Asia, and their implications for Europe. He has authored over 60 publications, including peer-reviewed articles, research reports, and policy briefs. His expertise has been cited by international media such as BBC, France 24, and The Economist.

Dr Pierre Thévenin is a Researcher at SIPRI’s European Security Programme and an international technical expert for Expertise France. He joined SIPRI in May 2025 as part of a collaboration scheme between SIPRI and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His current research interests revolve around maritime security, Russia and its projection of power across maritime spaces, with a special focus on the Arctic Ocean, as well as the Baltic and Black Seas. He is currently working on a monograph on Russia’s practice of the law of the sea.

COL (Ret) Vaidotas Malinionis – Founder & Managing Director of the National Defense Foundation and Colonels Association, and Managing Director of the Lithuanian Security and Defense Industries Association. He has played a key role in shaping the Lithuanian and Baltic defense industries and has spearheaded major initiatives such as MILEX, MAPEX, and wargaming exercises across various operational levels. His leadership experience includes significant contributions to the European Union Battle Group (EUBG), reflecting a strong commitment to both national and regional security.

Dr Wojciech Lieder – Doctor of Social Sciences, founder and president of the Nordic Institute Foundation. He has long been engaged in research on the Nordic region, combining passion with academic and practical experience. He gained his knowledge at the University of Łódź, Malmö University, Stockholm University, and the University of Southern Denmark in Odense, and professional experience at institutions such as State Street Bank, PwC, and Amazon.

Dr Timo Hellenberg is the Chief Executive Officer of Hellenberg International Ltd., a globally recognized security expert. He has served as a special adviser (on EU affairs) to the Prime Minister of Finland and has advised several government agencies in Europe, the United States, Russia, and Southeast Asia. For twenty years, he has been publishing and providing consultancy in the field of international relations and political science, affiliated with the University of Helsinki and the University of Tampere.

Michael Malm is a Senior Defence Advisor at the Defence Staff of the Swedish Armed Forces, within the Directorate of Strategic Plans and Policy. He has extensive experience in the armed forces, the defence research community, and the private sector.

Prof. Dr Margit Bussmann has held the Chair of International Relations and Regional Studies at the University of Greifswald since 2010. She earned her Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Alabama and completed her habilitation at the University of Konstanz. Her research focuses on the origins and consequences of international and domestic conflicts, civilian victimization, foreign policy analysis, security and cooperation in the Baltic Sea region, and international political economy.

Lillian Mullins is a Societal Security Expert at the Baltic Security Foundation, specializing in disinformation, propaganda, and analyzing political, economic, and social trends across the Baltic States. She researches Russian media influence and supports leaders and policymakers in developing security strategies. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in International Security and Anthropology at George Mason University and plans a PhD focused on disinformation and regional security.