Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė

Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė is Co-Founder and Director of Strategy at the Council on Geostrategy, where she is responsible for strategic development and external affairs of the organisation. She has recently served as a Member of a Board of a family company specialising in sustainable textiles. Previously, she worked as Strategic Relations Manager at the Henry Jackson Society and at the Lithuanian Embassy in Tokyo, Japan.

She holds an MA in Intelligence and International Security from King’s College, London, and a BA in Political Science from Vilnius University.

Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė

Special episode: The impact of the Iran conflict on UK defence

In this special episode, Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, our Co-founder (Strategy), and Paul Mason, journalist, author and our Adjunct Fellow, are joined by Baroness Dr Sophy Antrobus MBE, Co-director of the Freeman Air and Space Institute and Member of the House of Lords, and Shashank Joshi, Defence Editor, The Economist.

The world in 2026: Challenges, risks and opportunities for the UK

In Episode 15, Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, our Co-founder (Strategy), and Paul Mason, journalist, author and our Adjunct Fellow, are joined by Prof. Peter Frankopan, Professor of Global History at the University of Oxford, and James Rogers, our Co-founder (Research).

Future Combat Air: Countering threats and strengthening deterrence

In Episode 14, Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, our Co-founder (Strategy), and Paul Mason, journalist, author and our Adjunct Fellow, are joined by Richard Berthon, Director Future Combat Air in the United Kingdom (UK) at the Ministry of Defence, and Herman Claesen, Managing Director, Future Combat Air Systems at BAE Systems.

Military families: The importance of defence housing and support

In Episode 13, Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, our Co-founder (Strategy), and Paul Mason, journalist, author and our Adjunct Fellow, are joined by Cat Calder, Housing Specialist at Army Families Federation, and Natalie Elphicke Ross OBE, Chair of the Defence Housing Strategy review team, and Director and Head of Housing at the Housing and Finance Institute.

Strengthening deterrence: Accelerating innovation across NATO

In Episode 12, Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, our Co-founder (Strategy), and Paul Mason, journalist, author and our Adjunct Fellow, are joined by Dr Tanya Suárez, CEO and founder of IoT Tribe, and Brigadier (rtd.) John Ridge, Adoption Lead, NATO Innovation Fund.

Social value in local communities: The contribution of UK defence

In Episode 11, Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, our Co-founder (Strategy), and Paul Mason, journalist, author and our Adjunct Fellow, are joined by Alex Baker MP, Member of Parliament for Aldershot and Chair of the Defence and Security Sectors Supporting Local Communities APPG.

Emerging technologies: Transforming the future of defence

In Episode 10, Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, our Co-founder (Strategy), and Paul Mason, journalist, author and our Adjunct Fellow, are joined by Dr Paul Hollinshead MBA OBE, Chief Executive of Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), and Finbar O’Keeffe, Head of Future Software Capability for BAE Systems Maritime and Land.

Equipping defence for the future: Acquisition and exports

In Episode 9, Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, our Co-founder (Strategy), and Paul Mason, journalist, author and our Adjunct Fellow, are joined by Andy Start, acting National Armaments Director and Chief Executive of Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), and Air Vice Marshal (Rtd.) Gary Waterfall, DSEI senior military adviser.

Financing and investment: Strengthening UK defence and security

In Episode 8, Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, our Co-founder (Strategy), and Paul Mason, journalist, author and our Associate Fellow, are joined by Robert Murray, Chief Executive Officer, Defence, Security, and Resilience Bank, and Aimie Stone, Chief Economist, ADS Group.

The Strategic Defence Review: Implications and implementation

In Episode 7, Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, our Co-founder (Strategy), and Paul Mason, our Associate Fellow, are joined by Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS Group, and Air Mashal (rtd.) Edward Stringer CB CBE, Director iJ7.