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 (Research) at the Council on Geostrategy, where he specialises in British strategic policy in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific, and 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. He has also been quoted in Newsweek and numerous other publications.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5627
Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė
Co-founder (Strategy)Main areas of expertise: Euro-Atlantic geopolitics, defence and maritime affairs
Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė is Co-founder (Strategy) at the Council on Geostrategy, where she is responsible for the organisation’s strategy and growth. She is a Fellow of the Durham Institute of Research, Development and Invention (DIRDI) and Deputy Director of its National Strategic Research Group, as well as Research Fellow for the University of Oxford Strategy, Statecraft and Technology Centre (SST-CCW). 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.
Viktorija’s areas of research expertise and interests include Euro-Atlantic geopolitics, and defence and maritime affairs. She leads the organisation and delivery of the Sea Power Conference – the Royal Navy’s flagship conference – the Sea Power Laboratory, and other programmes, and has developed senior closed-door forums focusing on key geopolitical issues – the Geostrategy Forum, Whitehall Briefings and Sea Power Series. She is also a host of the Defence Talks: Securing UK Advantage podcast.
Viktorija has appeared on Times Radio, Sky News, Al Jazeera, The Sun and LBC Radio, written for Times Red Box and Centre Write, and has been quoted in The Times, Newsweek, The Sunday Express, Mail Online and Politics Home.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5626
Research
Gabriel Elefteriu
Senior Research Fellow (Space Power)Main 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, armed forces, naval and maritime power, military technology in relation to geopolitics
William Freer is a Research Fellow in National Security at the Council on Geostrategy, where he co-leads the Strategic Defence Unit 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, Mail Online and Newsweek. He has also been interviewed for the Daily Mail.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5629
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, where he 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 (PRC) during the early Cold War. He previously studied International Relations and History at LSE before completing an MA 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, then as a Human Rights and Democracy Fellow at the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy. He co-founded Hong Kong Watch, where he also previously served as Chair.
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
Joe Coney
Policy and Platforms OfficerJoe Coney is Policy and Platforms Officer at the Council on Geostrategy. He is responsible for maintaining and expanding the membership programme, nurturing relationships with key policy stakeholders and editing online platforms such as Britain’s World. Previously, he worked as a parliamentary assistant to a Member of Parliament. He holds an MA in Politics and International Relations and a BA (Hons.) in Politics with History, both from Keele University.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5629
Alec Smith
Editorial AssistantAlec Smith is Editorial Assistant at the Council on Geostrategy, where he is responsible for editing all written output and ensuring technical and stylistic consistency across publications. He holds a BA (Hons.) in History and Politics and an award-winning MLitt in Publishing Studies, both from the University of Stirling.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5629
Lena Stein
Project ManagerLena Stein is Project Manager at the Council on Geostrategy. She is responsible for managing research and parliamentary projects, and helping with the delivery of events. She previously worked for The Ditchley Foundation, focusing on its climate and energy programme. She holds a BSc (First Class Hons.) in Politics and International Relations from the University of Bristol.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5629
Operations and Engagement
Luke Baker-Cowling
Media OfficerLuke Baker-Cowling is Media Officer at the Council on Geostrategy. He supports the organisation’s editorial, media and communications output, including podcast production, written commentary and press engagement. Previously, he worked across media production and broadcasting, presenting and producing live radio/TV and contributing to digital editorial projects. He holds a BA in History from University College London, where his research focused on political communication and public diplomacy.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5625
Ellie Drake
Operations OfficerEllie Drake is the Operations Officer at the Council on Geostrategy, where she is responsible for operations and external liaison, administration and personnel management. She holds a BA (Hons) in Human, Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5626
Luca Hincks
Head of Events and ConferencesLuca Hincks is Head of Events and Conferences at the Council on Geostrategy, where he is responsible for maintaining the organisation’s private and public events programme. Previously, he 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, where she is responsible for implementing communication strategies across platforms, creating design and audio-visual content for the organisation’s research and events, and producing the Defence Talks podcast. 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