Leadership
James Rogers
Co-founder (Research)Main areas of expertise: Britain’s global posture, Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific geopolitics, net assessment and strategic advantage, nuclear strategy
James Rogers is Co-founder and Director of Research at the Council on Geostrategy, where he specialises in British strategic policy in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific, as well as net assessment. He has pioneered work on Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific connectivities, as well as net assessment and strategic advantage. Previously, he held a range of positions, including at the Baltic Defence College in Estonia and the European Union Institute for Security Studies in France. He is also a Visiting Fellow at the Durham Institute of Research, Development, and Invention (DIRDI).
James has given oral evidence at the Foreign Affairs, Defence, and International Development committees in the House of Commons and the Defence and International Relations and European Affairs committees in the House of Lords. He consults regularly with the Cabinet Office, Ministry of Defence and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on foreign affairs and national security. He holds an MPhil in Contemporary European Studies from the University of Cambridge and an award-winning BSc Econ (Hons) in International Politics and Strategic Studies from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.
James has appeared on Times Radio, Sky News and LBC Radio and has written for Times Red Box, the Kyiv Independent, The Spectator and CityAM and been quoted in Newsweek and numerous other publications.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5627
Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė
Co-founder (Strategy)Areas of expertise: Euro-Atlantic geopolitics, defence and maritime affairs
Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė is Co-founder at the Council on Geostrategy where she is responsible for the organisation’s strategy and growth. She is also a Fellow of the Durham Institute of Research, Development, and Invention (DIRDI). Her areas of research expertise and interests include Euro-Atlantic geopolitics, defence and maritime affairs.
Viktorija leads the organisation and delivery of the flagship Royal Navy conference, the Sea Power Laboratory and other programmes. She has developed senior closed-door forums focusing on key geopolitical issues – Geostrategy Forum, Whitehall Briefings and Sea Power Series. Viktorija is also a host of the Defence Talks: Securing the UK Advantage podcast. She has appeared on Times Radio, Sky News, Al Jazeera, The Sun and LBC Radio, written for Times Red Box and Centre Write and been quoted in The Times, Newsweek, The Sunday Express and the Mail Online.
Her previous experience includes research and external affairs roles at the Henry Jackson Society. She is also a regular attendee and speaker at British and international conferences on foreign policy and security issues. She holds an MA in Intelligence and International Security from King’s College, London, and a BA in Political Science from Vilnius University.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5626
Dr John Hemmings
Deputy Director (Geopolitics)Areas of expertise: Indo-Pacific Geopolitics, US-PRC relations, maritime security, the defence industrial base
Dr John Hemmings is Deputy Director at the Council on Geostrategy and a Senior Adviser at the Pacific Forum. Previously, he worked for the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies, a US Department of Defence regional centre in Honolulu, Hawaii. His research focuses on security and defence in the Indo-Pacific, and includes US-PRC relations, Taiwan, Japan, the Korean Peninsula, maritime security and the defence industrial base. He has been an expert witness to two Parliamentary inquiries on the Indo-Pacific, and has provided expert briefings to the Cabinet Office, MOD, FCDO, Department of Business and Trade, SOCPAC, PacFleet and State Department, among others. He holds a PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics.
John has appeared on BBC, Sky News, Fox News and Al Jazeera. He has written on Asia for The Telegraph since 2018, and has been quoted in the Financial Times, The Times and CNN.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5628
Research
Gabriel Elefteriu
Senior Research Fellow (Space Power)Areas of expertise: Space power and policy, international security, military strategy, net assessment, defence and foreign affairs, the Black Sea region
Gabriel Elefteriu FRAeS is a Senior Research Fellow at the Council on Geostrategy, where his research focuses on defence space policy and strategy, and the global space power balance. Having also served as Deputy Director at the Council on Geostrategy, he was previously Director of Research and Strategy and member of the Senior Management Team at Policy Exchange, which he first joined in 2014 and where he also founded and directed the first dedicated Space Policy Research Unit in the United Kingdom. Gabriel is also an Associate of King’s College, London, an elected Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, and a founding partner at AstroAnalytica, a space consultancy. He holds a BA in War Studies (first class) and an MA in Intelligence and International Security (Distinction), both from King’s College, London.
Gabriel has written for Brussels Signal and The Telegraph and been quoted in the Express.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5625
William Freer
Research Fellow (National Security)Main areas of expertise: British national security, defence policy, the armed forces, naval and maritime power, and military technology in relation to geopolitics
William Freer is a Research Fellow in National Security and leads the Strategic Advantage Cell with Gabriel Elefteriu. He is also an Associate Fellow at the Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre. A War Studies graduate from King’s College London, his academic work focused on British-American grand strategy in the Cold War and post-Cold War era, especially how Britain managed military overstretch, economic stagnation, and national security during the withdrawal from ‘East of Suez’ (1957-1971). He previously worked as a consultant for a firm which specialised in research and advisory work (across a wide array of sectors including defence, justice, education, supported employment, and economic inactivity) and government procurement, both in Britain and internationally. He holds a BA in War Studies from King’s College London.
William has written for Warships IFR, the Naval Review, the Express and Progressive Britain and been quoted in the Mirror the Express, the Mail Online and Newsweek and has been interviewed for the Daily Mail.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5629
Grace Theodoulou
Policy Fellow (China Observatory)Main areas of expertise: People’s Republic of China foreign policy, UK-PRC relations and cross-strait relations
Grace Theodoulou is Policy Fellow, China Observatory, at the Council on Geostrategy. Previously, she worked at the Taipei Representative Office in the UK in the Economic Division, carrying out policy and trade analysis in Mandarin and English. She holds a BA (hons) in Chinese and Spanish from the University of Edinburgh, which included a year studying advanced Mandarin in Taipei.
Grace has appeared on Sky News, written for LBC and Progressive Britain and been quoted in BBC News, South China Morning Post, Al-Dustour and LRT.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5625
Gray Sergeant
Research Fellow (Indo-Pacific Geopolitics)Main areas of expertise: Britain’s Indo-Pacific ‘tilt’ and China policy, Taiwan and cross-strait relations
Gray Sergeant is a Research Fellow in Indo-Pacific Geopolitics at the Council on Geostrategy and leads the Indo-Pacific Project. He is also a PhD candidate in the Department of International History at the London School of Economics (LSE). His academic work focuses on British-American diplomatic relations towards the People’s Republic of China during the early Cold War. He previously studied International Relations and History at the LSE before completing a Masters in Chinese Politics at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). He has spent time in Taiwan, first as a Mandarin language student at National Taiwan University and then as a Human Rights and Democracy Fellow at the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy. He co-founded, and previously served as Chair of, Hong Kong Watch.
Gray has written for Labour List, The Spectator and LSE Review of Books and been quoted in Nikkei Asia, the Taiwan Central News Agency and The China Project.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5625
Alec Smith
Editorial AssistantAlec Smith is an Editorial Assistant at the Council on Geostrategy. He is responsible for copyediting and ensuring consistency across published papers. He holds a BA (Hons.) in History and Politics and an MLitt in Publishing Studies from the University of Stirling.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5629
Operations and Engagement
Ben Coxon
Development and Policy OfficerBen Coxon is a Development and Policy Officer at the Council on Geostrategy. He holds a BA in Politics & International Relations from The University of Kent and an MA in Conflict, Development & Security (First Class Hons.) from The University of Leeds. He has previously worked for Care International in Ethiopia and the UK civil service. Ben focuses on conflict, geopolitics and environmental security issues.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5629
John Dobson
Head of Protocol and LiaisonJohn is Head of Protocol and Policy Liaison at the Council on Geostrategy. He is responsible for coordinating protocol, VIP meetings and events, and establishing and nurturing policy relations with key stakeholders in the Palace of Westminster and Whitehall. Previously, John worked as a Parliamentary Researcher for Lord Tyler, Baroness Kramer and Lord Sharkey, assisting all three across a broad spectrum of policy. He holds a BA (Hons.) in British Politics and Legislative Studies from the University of Hull.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5624
Matthew Barnes
Media OfficerMatthew Barnes is Media Officer at the Council on Geostrategy. He is responsible for developing media engagement strategies, nurturing media relations with key stakeholders and following media output. He has previously worked as a freelance radio journalist and was involved in creating multimedia content for a variety of broadcast outlets. He holds an MA in Broadcast Journalism and a BA in International Relations and Politics from the University of Sheffield.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5625
Luca Hincks
Events and Operations CoordinatorLuca Hincks is Events and Operations Coordinator at the Council on Geostrategy. He is responsible for maintaining the Council on Geostrategy’s private and public events programme. Previously, Luca worked for the Industry and Parliament Trust where he organised training events on the processes and functions of Parliament. He holds a BA (Hons.) in History and International Relations from the University of Lancaster.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5624
Freya Peake
Communications and Creativity CoordinatorFreya Peake is the Communications and Creativity Coordinator at the Council on Geostrategy, responsible for implementing communication strategies and coordinating content across various platforms. Previously, she was involved in the production and communication of podcasts for new academic research. She holds a BA (Hons.) in History and Politics from the University of Nottingham.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5625
Ellie Drake
Charles Pasley InternEllie Drake is the Charles Pasley Intern at the Council on Geostrategy. She has recently completed her BA (Hons.) in Human, Social, and Political Sciences at the University of Cambridge, with concentrations in sociology, international securitisation and political theory.
Email: [email protected]