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.
The EPIS Board of Advisors advise the EPIS Thinktank and support our students in their research. Through their experience and contacts, we benefit from the added value of practical experience.
Anneli Jäätteenmäki
Former Prime Minister of Finland & Vice-President of the European Parliament
Anneli Jäätteenmäki is a Finnish politician who served as the first female Prime Minister of Finland in 2003. A member of the Centre Party, she was elected to the Finnish Parliament in 1987 and later served as Minister of Justice. She served as MEP from 2004 to 2019 and as Vice-President of the European Parliament from 2012 to 2014.
Dr. Ingo Friedrich
Former Vice-President, European Parliament
Dr. Ingo Friedrich is a highly influential German politician (CSU) and committed European. From 1979 to 2009, he shaped EU policy as an MEP, serving as Vice-President from 1999 to 2007. A doctor of economics, he currently serves as President of the European Economic Senate and Executive President of the Union of Medium-Sized Companies. He was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Klaus Welle
Former Secretary-General of the European Parliament & Chair, Martens Centre Academic Council
Klaus Welle was Secretary-General of the European Parliament from 2009 to 2022, after serving as Secretary-General of the EPP (1994–1999) and the EPP-ED Group (1999–2003). Since May 2025, he has been Special Advisor to the European Commission for Defence and Space, while also teaching at LSE and KU Leuven. He has chaired the Martens Centre's Academic Council since April 2023.
Charlie Stuart
Chief Peace & Security Advisor, EU External Action Service
Charlie Stuart brings extensive leadership experience from a distinguished diplomatic and security career. He is Chief Peace & Security Advisor on Africa for the EU External Action Service and has served as EU Deputy Ambassador to Iraq and Head of Delegation in Tanzania. He has held senior diplomatic postings across Europe and Africa and advises on defence, multilateral policy, and international security strategy.
Nicholas Dungan
Strategic Leadership Advisor & Former President, French-American Foundation
Nicholas Dungan is founder and CEO of CogitoPraxis, advising senior leaders and boards on net assessment, strategic foresight and resilience across business, finance and government. He previously served as President of the French-American Foundation and earlier worked as a senior investment banker in London, New York and Paris with Merrill Lynch and Société Générale. He taught strategic leadership and international relations at SciencesPo Paris.
Christina Riess
Aerospace & Defence Leader; President, Bundesverband der Vertriebsmanager e.V.
Christina Riess is Director Aerospace & Defence at Atreus and President of the German Association of Sales Managers. She leads the Defence Task Force Europe at group level at Heidrick and serves on the Tender Evaluation Board of ESA's Business Incubation Centre. With senior executive experience at Airbus and advisory roles at Roland Berger, she brings deep expertise in aerospace, defence, UAVs, and strategic management.
Viola von Cramon-Taubadel
Politician; Former Member of the German & European Parliament
Viola von Cramon-Taubadel is a German politician from Alliance 90/The Greens. She served in the Bundestag (2009–2013) and the European Parliament (2019–2024), working on foreign affairs, EU–Russia relations, and as Vice-Chair of the EU–Ukraine committee. She previously engaged in projects across Eastern Europe and China.
Brooks Newmark
Angel Investor & Former Minister
Brooks is Chairman of Trypillian Ltd, a UK–Ukraine defence tech business, and Chairman of Anglo REM Ltd, a critical minerals mining business. He is a former Senior Partner at Apollo Global Management and a former UK Member of Parliament & Minister for Civil Society. A graduate of Harvard and Oxford, he is the founder of A Partner in Education, a Rwanda-based education charity, and Angels for Ukraine, a Kharkiv-based humanitarian charity.
Paul Jones
International Affairs Advisor & Former Ambassador
Paul Jones has extensive leadership experience from a distinguished diplomatic and private sector career. He served as US Ambassador to Poland and Malaysia, Chief of Mission in Pakistan, and held senior postings across Europe and Asia. In Washington, he was principal deputy assistant secretary of state for Europe and Eurasia. After government service, he led international engagements at Raytheon Technologies and now serves as International Affairs Advisor at Squire Patton Boggs.
Mika Aaltola
Member of the European Parliament & Former Director, FIIA
Mika Aaltola is a Finnish political scientist and foreign policy expert. He served as Director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA) and has been a leading voice on NATO, transatlantic relations, and Russia. He taught at the University of Tampere and Johns Hopkins University and was elected to the European Parliament in 2024, where he serves on the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Bob 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, the Western European Union, and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. He holds a BSc and doctorate from Aston University.