Staff

Leadership

James Rogers

Co-founder and Director of Research

Main areas of expertise: British geostrategic and maritime power, ‘Global Britain’, and Euro-Atlantic, Indo-Pacific and Polar geopolitics
James Rogers is Co-founder and Director of Research at the Council on Geostrategy, where he specialises in geopolitics and British strategic policy. Previously, he held positions at the Henry Jackson Society, the Baltic Defence College, and the European Union Institute for Security Studies. He has been invited to give oral evidence at the Foreign Affairs, Defence, and International Development committees in the Houses of Parliament. 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.

Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5627

Viktorija Starych-SamuolienÄ—

Co-founder and Director of Strategy

Areas of expertise: Eastern European, Baltic politics and security and Euro-Atlantic geopolitics
Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė is Co-founder and Director of Strategy at the Council on Geostrategy where she is responsible for the organisation’s strategy and growth. Her areas of expertise include Eastern European politics and security and Euro-Atlantic geopolitics. Her previous experience included research and external affairs roles at the Henry Jackson Society. In 2021 Viktorija took part in the British Council’s 2021 Future Leaders Connect programme as an expert policy mentor. She has appeared multiple times in the national and international media and on broadcast television and is a regular attendee and speaker at the UK 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 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.

Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5626

Gabriel Elefteriu

Deputy Director (Defence and Space Policy)

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 Deputy Director at the Council on Geostrategy, where his research focuses on defence and space policy. Gabriel also leads the Strategic Advantage Cell with William Freer. Previously he was 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 been quoted in the Express.

Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5625

Research

Dr Mann Virdee

Senior Research Fellow (Science, Technology, and Economics)

Main areas of expertise: science, emerging technologies, research and innovation, international development
Dr Mann Virdee is a Senior Research Fellow in Science, Technology, and Economics at the Council on Geostrategy and leads Caudwell Strong Britain. Previously, he was a researcher at the RAND Corporation, where he managed and conducted research on areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, 5G, space science and governance, biotechnology and the life sciences, and research and innovation. Mann has also worked for the UK Parliament, and the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank and IMF on issues such as global development finance, poverty, healthcare, and education. He holds a PhD in International Development from the University of Birmingham, an MSc in Emerging Economies and International Development from King’s College, London, and a BSc in Natural Sciences from Queen Mary University of London.

Mann has been quoted in The Telegraph and Nikkei.

Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5628

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 a War Studies graduate from King’s College London where his academic work focused on British-American grand strategy in the Cold War and post-Cold War era. His work specialised on 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 that 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 the UK and internationally. He holds a BA in War Studies from King’s College London.

William has written for the Express and Progressive Britain and has been quoted in the Express, the Mail Online and Newsweek.

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. 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

Patrick Triglavcanin

Research Officer

Patrick Triglavcanin is a Research Officer at the Council on Geostrategy. He holds a BA in Sociolegal Studies from the University of Western Australia and a Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations and National Security (1st Class Hons.) from Curtin University. Patrick focuses on the geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific, particularly Australia, the People’s Republic of China and Britain’s role in the region.

Patrick has written for the UK Defence Journal, The Lowy Institute’s The Interpreter, the ASPI Strategist, 9-Dash Line and Jamestown Foundation’s China Brief.

Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5629

Operations

John Dobson

Policy Relations and Memberships Officer

John Dobson is Policy Relations and Memberships Officer at the Council on Geostrategy. He focuses on engagement with Parliamentarians and civil servants whilst maintaining the Council on Geostrategy’s Membership programme. 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

Susie McAdam

Events and Operations Coordinator

Susie McAdam is Events and Operations Coordinator at the Council on Geostrategy. She is responsible for maintaining the Council on Geostrategy’s private and public events programme. Previously, she was involved in arranging activities related to human rights and democratic governance in youth organisations. She holds an LLM in International Law from the University of Glasgow, an MA in International Security from Institut Barcelona D’Estudis Internacionals, and an MA in International Law and Human Rights from the University of Tartu.

Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5624

Isobel Warren

Communications and Creativity Officer

Isobel Warren is Communications and Creativity Officer at the Council on Geostrategy. She is responsible for coordinating and implementing our communications activities with the media and across our numerous platforms. Previously, Isobel worked as an intern at Liberal Democrats Headquarters, working on the development of content for the party’s new website. She holds a BA (Hons.) in Politics and International Relations from the University of Nottingham.

Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 3915 5625

Interns

Amanda Ameral

Charles Pasley Intern

Amanda Ameral is Charles Pasley Intern at the Council on Geostrategy. Amanda is also a Communications Intern for the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut. She is currently an undergraduate student studying Political Science and Journalism at the University of Connecticut.

Email: [email protected]

Thomas Atmaciyan

Charles Pasley Intern

Thomas Atmaciyan is Charles Pasley Intern at the Council on Geostrategy. He is currently in his third and final year of his B.A. at Royal Holloway University. He is studying International Relations with concentrations in political theory, developing nations and research methods.

Email: [email protected]

Katy Flanders

Charles Pasley Intern

Katy Flanders is Charles Pasley Intern at the Council on Geostrategy. Katy is also a Strategy and Transformation Consulting Intern at Armanino LLP in Chicago, Illinois with experience in education, nonprofit, and healthcare consulting. She is currently an undergraduate student studying Politics and International Affairs and Business at Wake Forest University.

Email: [email protected]

To see our Associate Fellows, click here.

To see our Senior Associates, click here.