Board of Advisors
The EPIS Board of Advisors brings students together with leading experts in foreign and security policy. Through their experience and connections, advisors enrich EPIS research with the added value of real-world practice.
Charlie Stuart
Chief Peace & Security Advisor, EU External Action Service
Charlie Stuart is the Chief Peace & Security Advisor on Africa for the EU External Action Service. A career diplomat, he has served as EU Deputy Ambassador to Iraq and Head of Delegation in Tanzania. He provides strategic advice on defence, international security, and multilateral policy, drawing on extensive leadership experience and senior postings across Europe and Africa.
Ferenc Gelencsér
Former Member of the Hungarian Parliament & International Affairs Professional
Ferenc Gelencsér is a Hungarian politician and international affairs professional, former party chairman and founding member of a pro-European and reform-oriented movement. He served as a Member of Parliament (2022–2026), focusing on foreign policy, European security, and transatlantic relations. He has field experience in Ukraine, including high-level engagements, and is active in international policy networks on defense, hybrid threats, and democratic resilience.
Gianni Pittella
Former First Vice-President of the European Parliament
Giovanni Pittella is an Italian politician and former Member of the European Parliament who served as First Vice-President of the European Parliament and later as leader of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D). He has held senior roles in both European and Italian politics, including as a member of the Italian Senate
Ingo Friedrich
Former Vice-President, European Parliament
Dr. Ingo Friedrich is a prominent German politician (CSU) who served as a Member of the European Parliament from 1979 to 2009, including a tenure as Vice-President (1999–2007). An economist by training, he currently leads the European Economic Senate and the Union of Medium-Sized Companies. A staunch advocate for the "European Way of Life," Friedrich has been honored with the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for his significant contributions to the EU.
Joshua Burgin
Founder, Alliance for Global Security
Joshua Burgin is the founder of the Alliance for Global Security and a veteran political strategist operating at the nexus of U.S. politics and international affairs. For seven years, he has served as NSL Programs Director at the Warsaw Security Forum. A Harvard Kennedy School alumnus and former IRI Resident Country Director, Burgin has decades of experience managing domestic campaigns, training international political leaders, and directing democracy-building initiatives across Eurasia.
Mika Aaltola
Member of the European Parliament & Former Director, FIIA
Mika Aaltola is a Finnish political scientist, MEP, and former Director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. A leading expert on NATO and Russia, he has taught at Johns Hopkins and the University of Tampere. Elected to the European Parliament in 2024, he serves on the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), the Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE), and is a substitute for International Trade (INTA). He is a key voice in Finnish and European security policy.
Nicholas Dungan
Strategic Leadership Advisor & Former President, French-American Foundation
Nicholas Dungan is founder and CEO of CogitoPraxis, advising leaders on net assessment, foresight, and resilience. Formerly director at Chatham House and president and CEO of the French-American Foundation, he also held senior investment banking roles at Merrill Lynch and Société Générale. An adjunct professor at SciencesPo Paris specializing in strategic leadership and international relations, he is a frequent commentator on international affairs.
Robert Walter
President, Eurodefense-UK & Former Member of Parliament
Bob Walter is President of Eurodefense – UK and the European Security and Defence Association. After 25 years as a stockbroker and investment banker, he served 18 years in the British Parliament. He held key roles in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Western European Union, and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Post-politics, he advised European governments on integration and chairs several defense organizations. He holds a BSc and doctorate from Aston University.
