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.

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.

Anton Bebler studied various subjects in Slovenia, Serbia, Russia, USA, UK, France and earned his Ph.D. in Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA. Since 1972 he has taught at University in Ljubljana, Slovenia and became a full Professor of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. For several years he regularly taught at the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna and occasionally lectured at various universities and institutes in North America, Europe and Asia. He authored, co-authored and edited a dozen books in several languages, wrote chapters in numerous international compendia and several hundred articles in journals published in European, North and South American, Asian and African countries on various topics and organized a number of international conferences on various topics of international relations and security. Anton Bebler has served as member of councils and boards of several international professional associations (ISA, IPSA, IUS et. al.), of several national and international editorial and advisory boards and panels. In 1991 – 1992 he founded and chaired the Slovenian Council of the European Movement, in 1992 – 1997 served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Slovenia at the UN Office in Geneva, in 1999 – 2003 as Vice-President of the Atlantic Treaty Association, in 2006 – 2009 as Member, Executive Council, International Political Science Association and since February 1998 he has been President of the Euro-Atlantic Council of Slovenia. His latest co-authored and edited book “Frozen Conflicts” in Europe was published in 2015 in Germany by Barbara Budrich Verlag.

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.

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.

General Mihail Ionescu, was born on 14th January 1948 in Ploiesti, Romania. He is 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 Integration 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 Region of the Black Sea of the Partnership Consortium for Peace of Academicians and Institute for Security Studies.

Daniel Dăianu is economist, member of the Board of National Bank of Romania and member of the Romanian Academy. He graduated the International Economics Relations of The Bucharest University of Economic Studies. He has a Ph.D. in Economic Sciences from the National Institute for Economic Researches, and post-doctoral specialisations at Harvard University. He is also member of HLGOR. He held numerous high level positions between 2013-2014, as first Vice President of the Financial Supervisory Authority, member of the board of ESMA, the board of IOSCO and of the European Systemic Risk Board. He was also member of the board of the CEC Bank between 2012-2013, Minister of Finance between 1997-1998, Deputy Minister of Finance in 1992, Consultant of OECD, etc.

Mădălina Teodorescu has over 20 years of experience in the banking industry in Romania. Starting with 2014, she is 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.

Dr. Sorin Ducaru, 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.

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.

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.

Laurynas Kasčiūnas  is a political scientist and lecturer at the Institute of International Relations and Political Science, Vilnius University. From 2012 to 2016 he was the Director of the Eastern Europe Studies Centre. Between 2009-2012 he was Foreign Policy Advisor to the Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.  In 2016 he was elected in the parliament of Lithuania as representative of the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats.

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.

Liviu Muresan is the founder and the Executive President of the EURISC Foundation – European Institute for Risk, Security and Communication Management (1995). He was a member of the Romanian Parliament, leader of the Majority (1990-1991) and the Deputy Chief of the Romanian Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. He is Executive President of the Euro-Atlantic Council Romania – Casa NATO, EURODEFENCE Romania and Association des Anciens Auditeurs de l’IHEDN (Paris).  Since 2007, he is member of European Security Research and Innovation Forum (ESRIF), contributing to the development of a “Joint Security Research Agenda” (European Commission).

He received the National Order “Star of Romania” – Class Officer (2000).

Alina Bârgăoanu is  professor and the dean of the Faculty of Communication and Public Relations at SNSPA, and former rector of the same university between 2012 and 2014. She is the President of the European Institute from Romania and author, co-author and editor of multiple books, such as: United by or Against Euroscepticism. An Assessment of Public Attitudes towards Europe in the Context of the Crisis (2105, co-editor), The Crisis of the European Union (2013, co-editor), Comunicarea în Uniunea Europeană. Modele teoretice şi aspecte practice (2011, coeditor), Examenul Schengen. În căutarea sferei publice europene (author, 2011), Fondurile europene. Strategii de promovare şi utilizare (author, 2009); Istoria comunicării (coauthor, 2007); Tirania actualităţii. O introducere în istoria şi teoria ştirilor (author, 2006); Mass media şi societatea (coauthor, 2003), Geopolitica (2001, coauthor); author of over 50 articles, studies and chapters on topics related to Europe and European Union. She is the founder of the Center for EU Communication Studies from SNSPA and of the online magazine Convorbiri Europene (www.convorbirieuropene.ro). She was also lecturer within the MBA program “Process and Project Management” of Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration (2009 – 2012) and Fulbright scholar (2001- 2002).

Minister Jacek Krzysztof Czaputowicz was appointed to the helm of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in January 2018. Previously, Mr Czaputowicz, a tenured Polish diplomat, has served as Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2017 until 2018, Deputy Chairman of the Public Service Council (2007–2009), the Administrative Board of the European Institute of Public Administration in Maastricht (2006–2010) and the Public Service Council of the Prime Minister (2007–2009). In the years 2008–2012 he was the director of the National School of Public Administration and in 2014 he became a member of the program council of the Law and Justice party. Mr Czaputowicz is also a university professor; he graduated from the Warsaw School of Economics Faculty of Economics.

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.

Prof. Shaul Kimhi, PhD, is a full professor of psychology and head of the Master’s Studies Program, Psychology Department, Tel Hai Academic College, Israel.

He is also a Research Associate at the International Policy Institute for Counterterrorism at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya. Mr. Kimhi has also served as special adviser to the Research Unit of the Intelligence Branch of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

He is also a member of the American Psychological Association and a member of the International Society of Political Psychology.

Cindy Wittke became leader of the research group “Frozen and Unfrozen Conflicts” at the Leibniz-Institute for East and Southeast European Studies in Regensburg in June 2017. From 2014-2017 she was a senior researcher and lecturer with the Department of Politics and Public Administration of the University of Konstanz. Additionally, she is an external programme associate of the Peace Agreement Access Tool (PA-X) Database of the Political Settlement Research Programme, University of Edinburgh. Cindy Wittke earned a Magistra Artium (M.A.) in East European Studies (2007) and a Ph.D. in Law (summa cum laude) from the Faculty of Law of the Freie Universität Berlin (2014).

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.

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.

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.

Zoran Dragišić is a Member of the Serbian Parliament and security analyst. He has served in the National Assembly of Serbia since 2016 as part of the parliamentary grouping of the Serbian Progressive Party and he was previously a candidate for president of Serbia in the 2012 presidential election. He is currently a member of the parliamentary defense and internal affairs committee; a deputy member of three other committees; a deputy member of Serbia’s delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly; the head of the parliamentary friendship group with Turkey; and a member of the parliamentary friendship groups with China, Israel, Syria, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

He graduated from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Security Studies in 1991 as valedictorian and subsequently earned a master’s degree (1999) and Ph.D. (2004) from the university’s faculty of law.

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.

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.

Dănuț Sebastian Neculăescu was appointed in 2017 as state secretary for the liaisons with the Eastern neighbourhood and multilateral relations at global level. He is a Romanian diplomat and has been working for the Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry since 2002. Between April and July 2017 he was a state counselor for the Romanian Prime Minister, while between June 2016 and April 2017 he was secretary of state for strategic affairs. He has graduated from the Faculty of Political and Administrative Studies at the University of Bucharest and the Faculty of Law at Nicolae Titulescu University.

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.

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.