Conference Speakers

Mugur Isărescu is the Governor of the National Bank of Romania since September 1990, with an interruption between December 1999 and November 2000, when he held the position of Prime Minister. Before 1990 Mr. Isărescu held a research position at the Institute of International Economics and took courses in the United States. Since 1990 he started his activity in the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as economic and monetary affairs secretary at the Romanian Embassy in the United States, and in charge of the relations with the IMF and World Bank. Mr. Isărescu is also member of the Romanian Academy.

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Teodor Melescanu is now the President of the Senate of Romania. His previous longstanding career with Romania’s public service included the position of Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service (2012-2014), Interim Minister for Justice (2008), Minister of Defence (2007-2008), State Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs (1992- 1996), Under-Secretary of State and Secretary of State within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1990-1991). For 22 years (1966-1990), Mr. Melescanu was a diplomat within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Legal and Treaties Directorate.

Minister Melescanu holds a PhD in social and political sciences, specialty – international law, University of Geneva (1973), where he attended the International Institute for High International Studies (1967-1970). He had previously graduated from postgraduate studies in International Relations (1964-1966) and Faculty of Law of the University of Bucharest (1959-1964).

His scientific and academic activity spans more than three decades, including positions such as Deputy Chairman of the Association for International Law and International Relations (ADIRI) in Bucharest. He is also a member of the Institute for Political Studies in Bucharest, the European Academy for Economic and Cultural Relations and the International Law Commission of the United Nations (1996-2011) which he chaired in 2004. He was awarded the Doctor honoris causa title of the Institute for Diplomatic Studies in Mexico City (1983), of the University for Humanistic Sciences in Chișinău,  Republic of Moldova (2003), and of the “Andrei Șaguna” University in Constanța (2014).

Teodor Meleșcanu has been a professor at the doctoral school of the National School of Political Science and Public Administration since 2013 and has taught as a professor and doctoral supervisor at the Faculty of Political Science, University of Bucharest (1992-2013). He was a university professor at the National School of Political Science and Public Administration (NSPSPA) between 1990 and 1991.

Alina Inayeh joined GMF in 2007 as the director of the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation, a project dedicated to strengthening cooperation and fostering development in the Black Sea region. She is an active practitioner in the field of international development and democratization, having run the Freedom House office in Ukraine in 2004 and the NDI office in Russia between 2000-03, with a focus on civic education and political processes. She has trained NGOs throughout Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union on issues related to NGO development and democratization. Inayeh was a leading civic activist in the 1990s in her own country, Romania, and an active promoter of the NGO sector in the country.

Inayeh received her bachelor’s degree in geology from the University of Bucharest and a master’s in public policy from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University. She is fluent in English and Russian in addition to her native Romanian.

Adrian Severin started his politics career under the Communist rule, as lector at Ștefan Gheorghiu Academy, the university for Romanian Communist cadres. After the regime change, he became a member of the National Salvation Front and the Democratic Party. Severin was the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania between 12 December 1996 and 29 December 1997 as part of the Victor Ciorbea cabinet. He is a member of the Social Democratic Party, part of the Group of the Party of European Socialists, and became an MEP on 1 January 2007 with the accession of Romania to the European Union. Previously, Severin served as the UN Special Rapporteur on Human rights in Belarus from 2005 to 2006. He was member of PACE from 1993 till 1997 and from 2003 till 2007.

Lecturer, he taught courses in informatin analysis and risk analysis at University of Bucharest and National Academy of  Informatin “Mihai Viteazul”. He graduated “Lucian Blaga” University from Sibiu and he has a degree in Comunication and Public Relations obtained at SNSPA.

Vasile SECĂREŞ is the Founding Rector of National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA) and Professor within the Department of International Relations and European Integration specialized in international relations theory. He chairs the NATO Partnerships Studies Center and is the coordinator of the Bucharest Security Conference. He is also Chairman of the Board of EximBank since 2015 and Chairman of the Board of the Romanian Banking Institute since 2009. He holds a bachelor in Sociology and a Ph.D. in Philosophy   from The University of Bucharest. He was resident fellow at the Institute for East – West Security Studies in New York, USA and the Peace Research Institute in Oslo, Norway. On July 1, 1990, Vasile Secăreş was appointed presidential adviser, Chief of Staff of the Romanian Presidency, with the rank of minister. He served in this position until 1992. He was founding member of the National Salvation Front, then of the Group “A Future for Romania” (GUVR) and other positions in the high administration. Between 1992- 2001 he was Vice President of EximBank. He is also member of an important number of scientific organizations and was awarded the National Order “For Merit” in 2004.

Professor Remus Pricopie, Ph.D., Rector, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA), Romania. Remus Pricopie graduated at the Chemistry faculty of the University of Bucharest in 1995. He also holds a Ph.D. in Political Science, granted by the University of Bucharest and by the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA). He began teaching at SNSPA in 1998. He was dean of the Faculty of Communication and Public Relations from 2005 to 2007 and from 2008 to March 2012, when he became rector. He had an important number of government positions starting with the Minister of Education and Research of Romania between 2012-2014, State Secretary of Higher Education and Research between 2007-2008, Senior Advisor to the Minister of Education and Research between December 2001 – June 2003 and January – October 2009. He was also Secretary General of the Ministry of Education and Research in 2001 and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Education and Research in 1997 and 2001. He is also involved in professional organisations and management activities in international affairs. He is Vice-President and Treasurer, International Association of Universities (IAU) since April 2017 and Member of the Board since 2012, Member of the International Association of the University Presidents since 2015, Member of Atlantis Group (20 former ministers of education around the world) associated with the Club of Madrid since March 2017, President of the Board of Directors of the Romanian – US Fulbright Commission 2009 – 2012; 2015 – present, Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science since 2013, Member of the Romanian Chapter of the Club of Rome since 2002.

Professor Iordan Gheorghe Bărbulescu is a Romanian diplomat and expert on International Relations and European Studies. He is the President of the Senate of the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA) and Dean of the Department of International Relations and European Integration of SNSPA. Professor Bărbulescu completed his education by taking courses on European integration in Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Denmark and Spain. He obtained his doctoral degree in Political Science and Sociology at the Universitad Complutense from Madrid. Professor Bărbulescu served as a diplomat within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he held different positions, as Deputy Head of the European Union Department, Head of the Latin America Department, Adviser on European Integration for Embassies and Minister Counsellor. He also activated as a member in the Comission for Preparing the Admission Negotiations of Romania to the EU between 2003 and 2004. He received important distinctions, such as the Order of Faithful Service, in 2002, for his contributions to the Romanian foreign policy promotion. In 2007 was awarded the “Personality of the Year for an European Romania”. In 2016 he was awarded the European Citizen of the Year by the European Parliament. At SNSPA Professor Bărbulescu teaches courses related to diplomacy, European Union and Latin America.

Prince Radu of Romania is the husband of Margareta of Romania, head of the House of Romania and a disputed pretender to the former Romanian throne. On 1 January 1999, he was given the name, not title, of “Prince of Hohenzollern-Veringen” by Friedrich Wilhelm, Prince of Hohenzollern, the Head of the Sigmaringen branch of the Hohenzollern family. He has also called himself “Radu Hohenzollern-Veringen-Duda”.Since 2007, when he had his legal name changed from “Radu Duda” to “Radu al României Duda”, Radu no longer uses the name of Hohenzollern. The Fundamental Rules of the Romanian Royal Family, proclaimed by former King Michael I on 30 December 2007, gave Radu the title of “Prince of Romania”, with the style of “Royal Highness”, which King Michael had given him earlier on 5 January 2005.

Ioan Mircea Pașcu is Vice President of the European Parliament since 2014 and he is also Vice President of the Commission for Foreign Affairs. He is former Minister of Defense between 2000-2004. He is member of the Social Democratic Party, part of the Party of European Socialists, and became a MEP on 1 January 2007. He had also an important number of political and governmental positions, as Presidential Adviser in 1990-1992, State Secretary of Ministry of Defense in 1993-1996, Vice President of the National Salvation Front, Member of Parliament in 1996-2000, and other positions. He was also the first dean of the Department of International Relations from National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA), where he teaches Foreign Relations of EU, Global politics, etc.

H.E. Sorin Ducaru is currently the Director of SatCen. Dr. Sorin Ducaru was the Assistant Secretary General, NATO. He is a Romanian diplomat who served as Permanent Representative of Romania to the United Nations (UN) – New York (2000-2001), ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the United States of America (2001-2006) and permanent representative of Romania to NATO (2006). In May 2013, he was appointed, through competition, as Assistant to the general secretary of NATO and head of the Division for Emerging Security Risks NATO.

Oana Lungescu is a Romanian journalist and she  is the principal Spokesperson for the North Atlantic Alliance, providing strategic advice to the NATO Secretary General, the North Atlantic Council, commands and NATO offices on press, media and social media.

She is also in charge of all speeches and publications by the NATO Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General. Ms Lungescu is the first woman – and the first journalist – to hold this position.

Ms Lungescu joined NATO after a long journalistic career with the BBC World Service.She joined the BBC’s Romanian Service in London in 1985 and subsequently became deputy head and then editor.

In 2002, she was the recipient of a European Woman of Achievement Award.

In 2010, she received a jury´s commendation in 2010 UACES – Thompson Reuters Reporting Europe awards for her documentary series “State Secrets” – about secret police archives and her own Securitate file.

General Mihail Ionescu was born on January 14th, 1948 in Ploiesti, Romania. He is a professor within the Department of International Relations, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA), since 1992. Since 2004, he is major general in reserve. He was Head of the Direction of Integration NATO/UEO of the Ministry of National Defense and, since 2000, he is director of the Institute of Political Sciences of Defense and Military History. In 2005 he received the title of co-chair of the Working Group for the Extended Black Sea Region of the Partnership for Peace Consortium of Defense Academies and Security Studies Institutes.

Gen. Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca is the Chief of General Staff of Romania since January 15, 2015. His professional experience resides in many important positions abroad, as January, 2004 – July, 2004 – Commander of the ROU Infantry Battalion, Iraq; June, 2002 – January, 2003 – Commander of the ROU Battalion participating in Enduring Freedom Mission, Afghanistan; 2000 – Chief of Staff of 26 Infantry Battalion –SACEUR Strategic Reserve; May, 1996 – May, 1997 – Staff Officer, UNAVEM III Mission, Angola; In Romania he was also Deputy Chief of General Staff between October 15, 2014 – January , 2015, January, 2014 – October, 2014 –Chief of Land Forces Staff; January, 2011 – January, 2014 – Commander of 2 Infantry Division, Buzău; March, 2007 – February, 2009 – Deputy Commander of 282 Mechanized Infantry Brigade, Focșani; and from August 1998 until March, 2007– Staff Commander, 2 Infantry Brigade, and other positions in Craiova; he participated in numerous exercices – 2010 – Brigade Commander of “Eurasian Star“ Exercise (NRDC – Turkey); 2003 – OCE/EXDIR Exercise, as part of ISAF; 2001 – Commander of 26 Infantry Battalion –SACEUR, in “Dynamic Response“ Multinational Exercise, Bosnia and Herzegovina; 2000 – Commander of Ground Component in the “Blue Danube 2000“ Multinational Exercise. He also received an important number of distinctions and awards.

Daniel Dăianu, President of Romanian Fisacl Concil, economist, he was Minister of Finance between 1997-1998, lecturer at SNSPA in Departement of International Relations and European Integration, President of SOREC, in june 2014 he was elected as member of Administration Concil of National Bank of Romania, member of European Council for Foreign Relations since 2011.

Viorel Ardeleanu is Director General for strategic affairs within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is a career diplomat with the rank of Minister Plenipotentiary. During 2012-1016, he was the Ambassador of Romania to Denmark and Iceland and held, in the past, the position of Special envoy/Director general for EU Strategy for Danube region and National Coordinator for the EU Danube Strategy and permanent representative to Political and Security Committee in Brussels.

Mr. Boyko Noev was member and deputy-head of the Bulgarian delegations to the CSCE and CFE Vienna negotiations and head of the European Organizations Department, during his diplomatic career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1981 – 1993).  In 1993 Mr. Noev was appointed Director of the Center for National Security Studies at the Ministry of Defense. He was Deputy Minister of Defense (1994) and Minister of Defense in the Interim Government (1994-1995). Mr. Noev has been Ambassador to NATO, Belgium and Luxembourg for three years (1996-1999) and was appointed Minister of Defense for a second time in 1999-2001.

Brigadier General (ret.) Mircea Mîndrescu PhD is the Chair of the Executive Academic Board (EAB) of the European Security and Defense College (ESDC).  He is an experienced military officer whose professional expertise spans many of the most important activities in the field of defence, including operational units and formations, military educational institutions, the main bodies of the Ministry of Defence, defence planning, and politico-military diplomacy. From 2013 to 2016, he was commander of NATO’s Joint Analysis and Lessons Leaned Centre in Lisbon, Portugal. In his new post at EAB, he will be in charge with leading the ESDC, as the body responsible with the quality and coherence of the college’s training and education activities. Prior to taking the office at ESDC, Gen. Mîndrescu worked as director at the Strategic Planning Directorate within the Romanian Armed Forces General Staff (April 2017-August 2017), commander at NATO’s Joint Analysis and Lessons Learned Centre (JALLC), Land Forces Command (2013-2016), Chief of Staff of the Land Forces Operational Command (2010-2013), Senior National Military Representative to Afghanistan from Romania (2009-2010), Director of the National Defence College of Bucharest (2009-2010) and Defence Adviser to the Permanent Delegation of Romania to NATO (2003-2007). Gen. Mîndrescu earned his PhD from the National Defence University of Romania, Carol I. He also holds a master degree from the Joint Services Command and Staff College, Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, one from King’s College London and another one Advanced Military Studies Academy. He earned two bachelor degrees, the first from the Land Force Academy and the second from the National Academy of Physical Education and Sport.

Mr. Iulian Chifu is the President of the Center for Conflict Prevention and Early Warning, Romania. He is also a foreign policy analyst, former presidential adviser and professor at the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA). Mr. Iulian Chifu is the author of the books “Reconstrucție postconflict” (Post-conflict Reconstruction) and “Gândire Strategică” (Strategic Thinking) and a regular analyst on the Adevărul online platform on issues related to politics and foreign affairs.

Dan Sultănescu is Executive Director of the Center for Civic Participation and Democracy. He is also Mobilization Expert at the Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding – UEFISCDI. Since 2005 he is Owner of Creative Blueprint and since 2011 he is General Manager of Infopolitic Center for Studies and Research. Since 2011 he associated lecturer at National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA) and he is presently a Ph.D. Candidate. He has a Bachelor in Political Science at SNSPA and an MA in Electoral Marketing and Political Communication also at SNSPA. He is specialized in Social Sciences, Political Consulting, Political Communication, Media Relations, Public Relations, Project Management, Crisis Communications, Strategic Communications, Corporate Communications, Message Development, Political Science, Research, Public Policy, Political Campaigns, Public Affairs, Press Releases, Corporate Social Responsibility.

Florin Georgescu serves as First Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Romania since 2004. Having a wide expertise in the fields of finances and economy, Mr Georgescu held important positions both in national and international institutions. Beginning with 2011, Mr. Georgescu serves also as one of the members of the European Systemic Risk Board. Between 2004 and 2010, Mr. Georgescu was member of the Banking Supervision Committee of the European Central Bank. In the past, he served also as Minister of Economy and Finance. Besides his professional activity, Mr. Georgescu works also in the academic environment, being Professor at the Academy of Economics in Bucharest and doctoral supervisor in the field of “Money and Credit”. Having graduated a Bachelor in Finance and Accounting at the Academy of Economics in Bucharest, Mr. Georgescu holds a Ph.D. Degree in Finance, Money Circulation and Credit. Mr. Georgescu also graduated the International Institute for Management Development in Laussaune, Switzerland.

Alina Bârgăoanu, is a professor and Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Public Relations, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA). She is a member of the Academic Expert Pool, European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (as of 2019), a member of the High-Level Expert Group on Fake News and Disinformation Online – European Commission (2017 – 2018), visiting scholar at the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University (October 2018 – March 2019), and  President of the European Institute of Romania. Her latest book is entitled #FAKENEWS. Noua cursă a înarmării [#FAKENEWS. The New Arms Race] (Evrika Publishing, 2018). She is also founder of the Center for EU Communication Studies and of the online journal Convorbiri Europene (www.convorbirieuropene.ro), as well as a Fulbright scholar (2001-2002).

Corina Rebegea is a Resident Fellow at CEPA, where she leads the U.S.-Romania Initiative and the Center’s programming on democracy and rule of law in CEE. She completed her MPA degree at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs as a Fulbright scholar, with a focus on leadership and public and non-profit management. She is also a graduate of the University of Manchester as an OSI/Chevening Fellow (MA in Human Rights) and of the University of Bucharest (BA in Political Science). Corina has built, managed and supervised projects dealing with justice reform, human rights, good governance and public leadership in the South East European region, as well as Black Sea and broader transatlantic security cooperation. In the past three years she contributed to CEPA’s Stratcom Program dedicated to exposing and analyzing Russian disinformation and propaganda in Central and Eastern Europe and is also currently leading CEPA’s work on countering disinformation in the Baltic region.

Major General of the Portuguese Army (reserve). He holds a Master degree on Military Sciences (Military Academy, Lisbon). Among various military qualifications, he is a graduate of the Army Staff and War College. In addition, he attended an MBA on International Management (Católica Business Scholl, Lisbon) and is finalising a PhD thesis on Conflict Resolution, at the European University Institute, Florence (Italy). Also attended the High Level Course of the CSDP, at the European Security and Defence College (Brussels).

After 1990 Prof. Balázs joined the Government and the diplomatic service of Hungary several times. He was a State Secretary for Industry and Trade (1992-1993) and a State Secretary for European Integration (2002-2003). He was nominated Ambassador of Hungary to Denmark (1994-1996), Germany (1997-2000) and to the EU in Brussels (2003-2004). In 2009-2010 he was Foreign Minister of Hungary. He was Government Representative of Hungary in the European Convention drafting the Constitutional Treaty which has become, after several modifications, the Lisbon Treaty.

In 2004, he was nominated the first Hungarian Member of the European Commission responsible for regional policy. Upon the invitation of the European Commission, he coordinates priority projects of the Trans-European Transport Network.

Prof. Balázs is currently holding a Jean Monnet Ad Personam Chair at CEU. His research activities are centered on the foreign policy of the EU and problems of the late modernization and European integration of the Eastern part of the continent. He also analyzes questions of European governance including the future of European institutions.

Krzysztof Kaminski graduated from the University of Warsaw (Internal Security, Management) and completed the course in The Institute of World Politics in Washington. He gained his professional experience in energy sector (PGNiG SA – Polish Oil & Gas Company, PSA SA. – National Operator of the Electric Power Grid). He was member of the supervisory board of the Chamber of Natural Gas Industry (IGG). Previously Managing Director, presently President of the Warsaw Institute Foundation, Mr. Kamiński’s areas of interest are geopolitics, energy security and public affairs.

Shaul Kimhi completed his bachelor’s and master’s degree in Israel and his Ph.D. (psychology) at the Palo Alto University, California, USA. He was Head of the Psychology Department at Tel Hai College from 2009 to 2016. Prof. Kimhi used to be a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), the International Society for Political Psychology (ISPP), and the International Political Science Association (IPSA). His main areas of research are: individual, community and national resilience, coping with stress, political psychology (including behavior analysis of political leaders), the psychology of terrorism, and army psychology. 

Professor Kimhi has published 4 books (one of them as an editor), 70 articles in refereed journals and 10 chapters in collections. He has participated in many academic international conferences, including as invited and keynote speaker and serves as a referee for several professional journals. He is often invited to the Israeli media (TV and radio) to discuss his areas of expertise. In the past, Prof. Kimhi served as a special advisor in the Israeli Army Intelligence Corps. 

Radu Magdin trains politicians and staff (at international, national and local level) on issues dealing with media relations. He is a visiting professor on political analysis and political leadership at the University of Bucharest’s Journalism and Science of Communications Faculty.

From December 2014 to June 2015, Radu served as Honorary Advisor to the Romanian Prime Minister, on foreign media and political strategy. In 2014 he was one of the 15 Members of NATO’s Emerging Leaders Working Group where he did advisory work on the future of the Transatlantic Bond and NATO. From 2010-12, he was based in Brussels where he worked as an Associate on behalf of Google for the European Parliament, as communications manager for EURACTIV, and served as press officer for the Romanian Social-Democrat Delegation in the European Parliament. From 2006-2007, he was an editor on EU Affairs for the Romanian National News Agency. From 2004-2005, Radu served in the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he worked on regional cooperation and bilateral relations.

Radu writes on national and international politics, communications, EU affairs, IT and energy in both Brussels and Bucharest based publications and has been quoted in the foreign media, as an analyst, by The Economist, The Financial Times, The Guardian, AFP, AP, La Libre Belgique, XINHUA.

In October 2015, Radu enrolled in a PhD program at the National University for Political Studies and Public Administration, with a focus on Russian Propaganda during the Hybrid War. Radu holds a BA in Law from the University of Bucharest with a thesis on international settlement of disputes. He holds a MA in European Union Law and a MA in Security Studies from the University of Bucharest.

Nad’a Kovalcikova is program manager at the Alliance for Securing Democracy in GMF’s Brussels office. While working on European outreach, she focuses also on transatlantic cooperation, NATO, EU – U.S. relations and emerging security challenges. In addition, she analyses information operations, efforts to counter disinformation and threats to democracy. She has developed her expertise through working at NATO, European Parliament, French and Canadian embassies, American Field Service, and several NGO and think thank projects in Belgium, Canada, France, and Slovakia. She represents the organization at various conferences, fora and workshops. In addition to being a native speaker of Slovak, she is fluent in English, French, and Czech, speaks Spanish, and has a basic knowledge of German.

Miruna Butnaru-Troncotă is a Lecturer and postdoctoral researcher in the Department of International Relations and European Studies of the National University of Political Science and Public Administration (SNSPA) since 2016. She has a direct research interest in EU integration, Europeanization and post-conflict reconstruction of the Western Balkans. In the last years she combined academic research with experience in the field of European diplomacy in the Balkans. She graduated the National Program for Young Diplomats organized by the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Romanian Diplomatic Institute (2011), and she worked as an intern Political officer for the Romanian Embassy in Sarajevo (2013) and the Delegation of the European Union in Prishtina (2014) as an intern – political officer.

Col. Constantin Spȋnu is Head of the Information and Public Relations Directorate in the Ministry of National Defence, Romania. In 1993 he graduated the Military Institute for Artillery and Rockets, as head of grade, in 2005 he completed a postgraduate course in Journalism and Multimedia at the University of Bucharest, a course in Information and Public Communication at the Defence Information School (DINFOS), Maryland, USA and in 2016 he followed a Senior Course at the  NATO Defence College in Rome, Italy. From 2009 to 2016 he was Spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense, Romania. As of August 2016 he is Head of the Information and Public Relations Directorate in the Ministry of National Defence.

Spanish Navy Commander Juan Ozores Massó graduated in the Spanish Naval and Military Academy in 1986 after 5 years of naval and military education. Subsequently completing his educations at the Naval Academy, in 1986, he attained the rank of Lieutenant and his first assignment was on board of the Aircraft carrier “Dedalo” as flight deck officer. Later on, he embarked on different units of “The Royal Spanish Fleet”.

Due to his experience on board of combat ships, he was posted as Combat System Section Chief in the “Combat Operational Qualification and Assessment Centre (CEVACO)”. Then, he was selected as attendee to the Joint Staff Course and once he finished, he was assigned in the Navy Headquarter to lead a Logistic Section and the Navy Bureau for Operative Safety. During that period he was temporary deployed as Naval Liaison Officer of Spanish Minister of Defence for “Iraqi Freedom” Operation in CENTCOM, Tampa (Florida).  Afterwards, he was assigned abroad, as staff officer in the Joint Force Command Headquarter in Naples. In that period he initiated the core team for the “NATO Training Mission in IRAK (NTMI)” and after two year he was move to a new vacancy in JFC Naples as “Head of the Training and Exercises Section”, to lead the Key Leaders Training of the NRF10.

Back to Spain, he was nominated as technical advisor of the General Director for the policy of Armed Forces Personnel. Finishing that period he was assigned as Head of the Intelligence Systems Section in the Spanish Armed Forces Intelligence Centre (CIFAS). CDR OZORES MASSÓ is also a professor associate in the “Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (FESEI)” for civil intelligence courses, speaker in military intelligence courses and also a writer in the Spanish Navy magazine. Also, he has a degree in High Management of Human Resources, a diploma in Joint Staff Course, and is specialist in Mechanical Engineer and Electronics. As of August 2017 he assumed the Deputy Commander position (DCOM / EXO) of the NFIU Romania in Bucharest, Romania.

H.E. Mihai Gribincea is the current Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to Romania. He was formerly the Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to the Kingdom of Belgium. He was the Head of the Mission of the Republic of Moldova to NATO and the Political Advisor to the OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities in the Hague, the Netherlands, between 2001 and 2010. He is an Alumnus of the National University for Political Sciences and Public Administration.

Ioan-Cosmin MIHAI is a cybersecurity and cybercrime researcher, professor, trainer and conference speaker. He is Associate Professor at “Al. I. Cuza” Police Academy, the University Politehnica of Bucharest, “Carol I” National Defence University, Romania, and Honorary Professor at the CT University, India, where he is teaching disciplines related to information technology, cybersecurity and cybercrime.

Vasile-Victor Aileni is coordinator of the Department for Strategic Analysis and Planning at MabeInvest LLC, USA. Mr. Aileni was a member of the Romanian Parliament from June 1990 to September 1991. As a member of Parliament, Mr. Aileni was part of the Friendship parliamentary groups regarding the Republic of Poland, the State of Israel and Australia, as well as a member of the Foreign Policy, Military and Public Order Commission. Mr. Aileni was a consultant for Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base and for the construction of the Deveselu anti-missile shield.

Constantin Ionescu is State Adviser at the  Department of National Security and Head of the Integrated Intelligence Office of the Romanian Presidential Administration.

Constantin Ionescu was appointed State Adviser on 23rd February 2015.

Between 1992 and 2000, he was a member of the Chamber of Deputies as secretary of the Commission for Defence, Public Order and National Security (1992-1996). He consecutively held the offices of Secretary of State, Minister of Defence (1996-1998) and Minister of Interior (1999-2000).

He was a member and collaborator of various non-governmental organisations active in the public policies field, as well as in the security and defence systems.

Ionescu graduated from the Faculty of Aeronautics, the Univesity “Politehnica” of Bucharest. He worked as an engineer and researcher at the Aircraft Company in Bacău, the National Institute for Thermic Engines INCREST and COMOTI SA (1982-1992).

He graduated from the National Defence College (1994) and from the Defense Resources Management Institute (the USA, 1995). He holds a diploma in management from the Open University, Open Business School (Great Britain, 1993).

Datuna Rakviashvili is Chairman of the Board of the National Resilience Center, Georgia. Initiated by President Margvelashvili, NRC aims to help national government and the international community in countering hybrid threats through strengthening resilience and improving resistance capabilities. 

Rakviashvili was a Deputy State Minister at the State Ministry for Reintegration of Georgia from 2008 to 2011. He served as a Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Georgia in US (2011-2013). He served as Secretary of National Security Council of Georgia and President Margvelashvili’s National Security Advisor in 2016-2018.

Since the early 90s, before joining public service in 2008, Rakviashvili was actively engaged in developing business, social and educational platforms. He co-created and managed several successful start up business enterprises in hospitality industry & communications management, as well as several professional association and educational institutions.

Maj. Gen. Iulian Berdilă assumed the position of Strategic Planning in September 2017 and starting with 20th of August 2019 he was assigned to take command of the Headquarters Multinational Division South.

He is an experienced military officer whose professional expertise spans many of the most important activities in the field of defence, including strategic planning, operational units and military educational institutions. From 2015, he is commander of the 81st Mechanized Brigade. For his service, joint and multinational staff assignments, Berdilă served as the chief of staff and deputy chief of staff for operations in the 2nd Infantry Division, coalition operations planner in Multi-National Force Iraq, G-5 for the Land Component Command, Aide-de-Camp for the Chief of the Romanian General Staff, NATO integration planner for the Romanian Land Forces and fire support officer for the 2nd Infantry Battalion. His military education also includes the US Army Command and General Staff College in 2004, the US Army Field Artillery Captain’s Career Course in 2000 and the US Army Officer Basic Course in 1996. Berdilă graduated the English Language Course of the US Defense Language Institute in 1996.

His awards and decorations include the Honor of Romanian Army (war signs) Emblem, the Honor of Romanian Army (in peacetime) Emblem, the In Service of Peace Merit Emblem and the Land Forces’ Honor Emblem. His allied and multinational awards and decorations are the NATO Non-Article V Medal, the US Bronze Star and the US Army Commendation Medal.

Victor Adrian Vevera started his career as a Counselor for National Security in 2006. In 2008, he became the Counselor for the General Director of the General Directorate for Intelligence and Internal Security, and in July 2009 he became the Personal Counselor of the Prime Minister. He was the President of the Administration Council of Transelectrica Company, and afterwards became the General Director in 2012. He was also the General Director of Romanian National Computer Security Incident Response Team.

Mădălina Teodorescu has over 20 years of experience in the banking industry in Romania. She is Vice President of First Bank Romania. Starting with 2014, she was Deputy CEO of Piraeus Bank Romania, where she leads the retail and SMEs operations, with a key role in the expansion and consolidation of the product portfolio, as well as in coordinating the bank’s marketing, performance management, credit and debit cards, electronic banking departments and its branch network. For over 12 years, Mădălina Teodorescu held various executive positions within Raiffeisen Bank, where she was responsible of retail sales and distribution, loans for private individuals and private banking clients. Among other companies where she previously worked are Citibank and BCR.

Before joining ICDS Sven Sakkov served for 2 years as the director of NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (NATO CCDCOOE), an international knowledge hub specialising in research, training and exercises in the areas of technology, strategy, operations and law.

Between 2008 and 2015 Sakkov served as an undersecretary for defence policy (policy director) of the Ministry of Defence of Estonia. During his tenure as a policy director Sven Sakkov was responsible for policy planning, threat assessments, NATO and EU policy, international cooperation and arms control. He was an Estonian representative to the NATO’s Senior Officials’ Group and High Level Group.

Previously he had served at the Estonian Embassy in Washington and Estonian Mission to NATO, as national security and defence advisor to the President of Estonia and as the director of Policy Planning of MOD.

Sven Sakkov has studied at the Royal College of Defence Studies (course of 2011-12), University of Cambridge (M.Phil. in international relations) and University of Tartu (B.A. cum laude in history).

John Cappello, a 25-year veteran of the United States Air Force, is a senior fellow for military affairs at FDD, and contributor to FDD’s MilitaryEdge.org.

Most recently, John served as a senior analyst at the U.S. Missile Defense Agency annex office in Tel Aviv, where he worked closely with the Israel Missile Defense Organization, providing program support for the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow anti-missile programs.

John’s distinguished career also includes serving as the U.S. Air Force attaché to the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, where he was responsible for all operational, logistical, and technical issues between the Israel Air Force and the U.S. Air Force. In this capacity, John also advised the United States Ambassador to Israel on all air, space, and missile defense issues, as well as defense authorization and appropriations issues. Before his time in Tel Aviv, John served as U.S. Air Force attaché and Acting Defense attaché in Belgrade, Serbia, and as a political military officer at Headquarters United States European Command, Stuttgart, Germany.

Bret Schafer is the Alliance for Securing Democracy’s Media and Digital Disinformation Fellow. As an expert in computational propaganda, he has appeared in the New York Times, USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, and the Los Angeles Times, and he has regularly been interviewed on NPR, PBS, CNN, and CBS and BBC radio. Prior to joining GMF, he spent more than ten years in the television and film industry, including stints at Cartoon Network and as a freelance writer for Warner Brothers. He also worked in Budapest as a radio host, in Berlin as a semi-professional baseball player in Germany’s Bundesliga, and in Moscow as an intern in the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassy in Russia. He has a BS in communications with a major in radio/television/film from Northwestern University, and a master’s in public diplomacy from the University of Southern California, where he was the editor-in-chief of Public Diplomacy Magazine.

In the last 17 years, mr. Cȋmpeanu held top positions in both public and private organizations – State Secretary in the Ministry for Information Society, President of the National Radiocommunications Company (SN Radiocom), Member of the Board of Directors of the Romanian Air Transport TAROM and Informatica Feroviara (the IT subsidiary of the National Railway Company – CFR), Development Director of SCOP Computers, eSign (part of VeriSign Trust Network) and TotalSoft.

Mr. Cȋmpeanu was also the Romanian representative and Member of the Board of ENISA, President of the Agency for Information Society Services and Vicepresident of the National „Digital Romania” Center. He was actively involved in developing eRomania Strategy, the National eProcurement System (e-Licitatie.ro), Ro-Net project, Ghiseul.ro and the Romanian Single Point of Contact.

Toma Cimpeanu was also a lecturer at the University of Craiova and he led the Institute for Management and Sustainable Development, the first and only Romanian organization coordinating an UN/UNPAN global group. Since 2015, Toma Cimpeanu is the CEO of National Association for Information System Security.

Mr. Dranga started his mission as Ambassador of Romania to Poland on the 19th of June 2013. Prior to this, he held the position of Spokesperson and State Secretary for relations with the Parliament and public diplomacy, as well as State Secretary for Global Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – MFA (2012-2013). Between 2008 and 2012, he was Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Romania to the Kingdom of Belgium. From 2001 to 2005 Mr. Dranga held the position of Deputy State Secretary for Defense Policy and Euro-Atlantic integration within the Ministry of National Defense -MoD, before being appointed as Political Director in the MFA (2005-2007).

Mr. Zakręcki is a graduate of the Cracow University of Technology. He completed specialist courses and training for senior management in Poland, the United States and France.

He has been associated with the aviation industry since the beginning of his professional career.

From 1992 to 1995 he worked at the PZL Mielec Communication Equipment Factory, then at the PZL Mielec Aviation Plant. From 1999 – at Pinnacle Consulting and in Polskie Zakłady Lotnicze Sp. z o. o. In the years 2002–2005 he was the head of the Plastic Processing Department, the head of the New Startup Department and the head of the Department and Program PW600 at WSK PZL Rzeszów.

Mr. Zakręcki has been the president and CEO of PZL Mielec since 2005.

Mr. Zakręcki is a member of the board of the Aviation Valley Enterprise Group Association in Rzeszów.

Jonathan Eyal is the Director of International Security Studies at RUSI and Editor of the RUSI Newsbrief. He was born in Romania, but has lived most of his life in Britain. Educated at Oxford and London Universities, his initial training was in international law and relations, in which he obtained both his first degree and his Master’s with a Distinction. His Doctorate, completed at Oxford in 1987, analysed relations between ethnic minorities in Eastern Europe since the end of the First World War.

After teaching at Oxford for three years, Jonathan was appointed a researcher at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence Studies in London and has been their Director of Studies since 1990.

Jonathan has completed books on military expenditure in the former Warsaw Pact and a published study on military relations in the Balkans during the time of Communism. He is a regular commentator on East European affairs for The Guardian, The Independent, The Times and the Observer newspapers.

Ramona Mănescu is a Romanian politician and lawyer. Starting with 24 July 2019, she became minister of Foreign Affairs in the Romanian Government. She was a Member of the European Parliament serving 2007 to 2013 and 2014 to 2019 from the National Liberal Party (till July 2017), active within the European People’s Party (European Parliament group). As part of this group she is a member of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, vice-chair in the Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries and a substitute member in the Committee on transport and tourism and in Delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula.

Over the course of time she has published articles and reviews in magazines and newspapers in the national press, such as Romanian Journal of Local Public Administration, The Economic Tribune, Euroconsultancy Magazine, The Education Tribune, Political Dial Magazine, The World. In addition to this, Manescu has also published articles in several European publications such as EP Today, The Parliament Magazine and The Regional Review. She is co-author of the photo albums: Bucharest – palaces and monuments and Bucharest – portrait of a city.

Political Director at the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambasador of Poland to Japan. In the years 1997-2001 he worked as a legal secretary, senior expert and finnaly a chief specialist in the Departement of Security Policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the years 2001-2005 he was in the Permanent Representation of Poland  to NATO in Brussels.

Gabriel-Beniamin Leș is a Romanian senator, elected in 2016. He was Minister of Defense between January 5, 2017 – June 29, 2017. He has been appointed Minister of Defense  for the second time since November 20, 2018.

In 2009 he held the position of sub-prefect of Satu Mare county, and from December 2, 2013 and until October 2015, Gabriel Leş held the position of executive director of the Agency for Payment and Intervention in Agriculture – APIA Satu Mare.

Between October 2015 – October 2016 he was Secretary of State – Department for Armament.

Ana Maria Mihăescu is a Member of Board of Directors of Raiffeisen Bank SA, Icme Bank SA and Black Oil & Gas SRL. She was a Regional Manager of the IFC (2014-2017) and Chief Resident Representative of IFC (2011-2014). Between 1997 and 2011 she was Program Manager, Chief of Mission for Romania and Moldova and Chief Resident Representative within the same institution. Before joining the IFC, Ms. Mihăescu was President of Eximbank (1996-1997), where she previously held the following positions: Vice President (External refinancing facilities and export credits insurance division) between 1994 and 1996; General Director of the Insurance and Reinsurance Department; member of the Board and the Inter-ministerial Committee for Loans and Guarantees for Foreign Trade (1991-1992). Ana Maria Mihăescu was Project Officer for the financial sector for the World Bank Resident Mission in Romania (1993-1994) and Deputy Director of the Romania Bank for Development (1990-1991). She holds a degree from the Academy of Economic Studies, Faculty of International Economic Relations.

Nicolae Dănilă is a Romanian economist and one of the prominent figures of the banking system in Romania. He was executive chairman of BCR from 1999-2007, and from October 2009 he is a member of the Board of Directors of the NBR. He graduated in 1974 from the Faculty of Finance-Banks within the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest. In 1983, he obtained the scientific title of doctor in economics at ASE Bucharest in the specialization of international financial-banking relations.

Nicolae Dănilă is part of several professional associations such as: Romanian Association of Banks – vice president; National Association of Romanian Exporters and Importers – Center for the Promotion of Foreign Trade – vice-president; The Romanian Banking Institute – member of the Board of Directors. He has also been a member of the Boards of Directors and other subsidiary banks of BCR: Anglo-Romanian Bank Limited – vice president; Frankfurt-Bucharest Bank – President; Banca Italo-Romena – member.

Currently, Mr. Dănilă is the Chairman of the Board of Directors, First Bank Bucharest.

Dr. Gheorghe is a professor and endowed chair of System of Systems Engineering at Old Dominion University, Virginia, USA.

His research interests include energy systems modeling, modeling and simulation, object-oriented programming, cyber-physical systems, risk analysis of critical infrastructures, and emerging technologies such as block chain. Prior of joining ODU, Dr. Gheorghe was working a senior researcher at ETH Zurich, Switzerland. He also has been senior scientist at IIASA, IAEA, and several research institutions in Romania. He is Senior Scientist with the European Institute for Risk and Communication Management (EURISC), and Vice President World Security Forum (WSF), Switzerland.

Shota Gvineria is a lecturer at the Baltic Defence College in Estonia,  a multi-functional innovator and result oriented strategic thinker with extensive experience of working with the government, nongovernmental, private and academic sectors. In September 2017 Shota Gvineria joined  the Economic Policy Research Center in the position of senior fellow. Prior, from 2001 he has been working on different positions in Georgia’s public sector. He served as Deputy Secretary at the National Security Council of Georgia, he covered NATO integration and security policy related issues as Ambassador at Large in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and in august 2016 he was Foreign Policy Advisor to the Minister of Defence of Georgia.

Alvaro Oleart is a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Political Science and Public Administration of the Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam, and earned his PhD at the Université Libre de Bruxelles. His main field of interest is the European public sphere, the politicisation of European integration, the rise of populism in European politics and the role of civil society in the EU policy-making. He is a member of the EU’s H2020 funded RECONNECT research project and the Jean Monnet network OpenEUDebate.

Mrs. Tika is a Political Scientist. Her main academic and research interests includes the broad spectrum of the processes of democratization in the Balkans, right-wing extremism in Europe and in the Balkans, Populism, Comparative Politics, Euroscepticism, Conspiracy theories, social movements, political parties, human rights and globalization. She is completing her PhD thesis at Panteion University in Athens (Greece) with emphasis on the
political systems of three Balkan countries after the fall of Communism: Albania, Bulgaria and Romania. Mrs. Vera Tika has a Master’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Panteion in Athens (Greece) and an undergraduate degree in Social Policy from the University of Panteion in Athens (Greece). She has been involved in different European projects concerning the phenomena of social and political radicalism, the development of the comparative research and secondary analysis (Socialdatanet). She is a member of the Hellenic Political Science Association (HPSA) and the Hellenic League of the Human Rights.  Mrs. Vera Tika speaks Albanian, Greek, Italian, French, Spanish, English and some Bulgarian.

Mădălina Neacșu is an expert in Intelligence and National Security, founder of  the Information System on Food Security (SISA- www.sisa.ro), expert at STRATEGIKON and a has vast experience as a Data Protection Officer (DPO).  At the moment she has a PhD in National Security and Information, a master degree in Data Analyzing and Security Studies with a thesis on Food Security and another master degree on Agriculture Consulting. Her domains of expertise are:  GDPR, security and intelligence studies, agriculture consulting, competitive intelligence, international relations, law and administrative expertise, sociology and project management