Meet the Spykman Center's Team!
The Spykman Center is home to passionate individuals dedicated to producing efficient and insightful geopolitical analysis. Our members are the true force behind all activities of the Center.
Meet Our Admin Team
  • Manlio Graziano
    Prof. Graziano teaches Geopolitics and Geopolitics of Religions at Sciences Po Paris and at la Sorbonne. He collaborates with the Corriere della Sera (Milan), Scenari (Rome), Limes (Rome), The Conversation (Paris), and International Affairs Forum (Washington DC). He published several books, including at Il Mulino (Italy), Stanford University Press, Columbia University Press, and Palgrave-Macmillan (United States).
  • Mariam Qureshi
    Co-Founder
    Executive Director
    mariam@spykmancenter.org
    Mariam is a PhD Candidate in International Relations at University of Reading. Her research focuses on asymmetric alliances, international conflict and cooperation, and foreign policy of middle powers. She received her MA in International Affairs concentrating in Espionage and Surveillance from King’s College London. She is from Lahore, Pakistan.
  • Igor Lys
    Co-Founder
    Secretary General
    igor@spykmancenter.org
    Founder of the leading French government advisory company Gambit, Igor is a French expert in government development with over 12 years of experience in cultural diplomacy and international relations consulting. He has worked with governments in Europe as a private adviser on issues related to Eastern Europe and Russia before founding Gambit in 2018. Igor is an associate expert of the Jean Jaurès Foundation think tank in France. He is also the founder of the VOICES Film Festival, one of the biggest European cultural events in Russia (2010-2014). Igor has an MA in International Affairs from King’s College London, trained at Yale (psychology of morality) and Business School Lausanne (crisis leadership).
  • Filippo Pallaroni
    Operations Director
    admin@spykmancenter.org
  • Muhammad Asad Rafi
    Admissions Director
    admin@spykmancenter.org
  • Rocco Salvadori
    Editorials Manager
    admin@spykmancenter.org
  • Arslan Suleymanov
  • Andrea Rondoni
    Social Media Manager
Meet Our Editors
  • Manlio Graziano
    Editor in Chief
  • Brian Knowlton
    Copy Editor
  • Muhammad Asad Rafi
    Senior Editor
  • Morgan Byerley
    Editor
  • Giordani Dimitrov
    Editor
  • Filippo Pallaroni
    Editor
  • Mariam Qureshi
    Editor
Meet Our Analysts
  • Mariia Abdurashitova
    Analyst
    I was born in Uzbekistan, raised in Russia, and matured in Singapore. According to the World Bank, these are 175th, 71st and 7th places respectively by 2019 GDP per capita. Having lived in countries with dramatically different historical trajectories, I could not stop wondering what brings countries prosperity or poverty, and what shapes culture and national character. These relations, actions, and their circumstances fuel my interest in getting to the core of many political controversies and understanding the true meaning of political leadership. Hence why I am currently studying International Relations and International Organisations and Honours College in the University of Groningen, Netherlands. My personal and professional experiences (working in a co-governance body of the University) contribute to my interest in research and the field of IR and Geopolitics at large.

  • Milana Bagdasarian
    Analyst
    Milana Bagdasarian is a geopolitical analyst and legal researcher based in Poland, with a degree in International Relations from Collegium Civitas University in Warsaw.
    Her focus on maintaining ethical standards in global affairs is evidenced in her work at Global Animal Law, where she maintains a legal database on animal welfare legislation across the globe. Milana is also a debater, having founded a debate club during her time at university. An active participant in international security conferences, she continues to broaden her expertise in international affairs, including through her membership in the International Association for Political Science Students (IAPSS).
    Her dedication to both her professional field and animal welfare is rooted her commitment to creating a more equitable world.
  • Morgan Byerley
    Analyst
    Morgan Byerley is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in International Studies from the University of Alabama. In addition to a concentration in business, she is interested in South Korean and European affairs. She has used her experience in journalism and business to write for a variety of magazines and literary journals.
  • Antonio de Corso
    Analyst
    Antonio is currently pursuing a Master’s dual degree in International Development at
    Sciences Po Paris School of International Affairs and Bocconi University with a
    concentration in Diplomacy. Born in Italy, he holds a Bachelor of Science in
    Economics and Finance at Bocconi University. His areas of interest include European
    political affairs and Mediterranean basin.
  • Sanne de Jong
    Analyst
    Sanne de Jong is pursuing a Master’s in Environmental Policy at Sciences Po, Paris School of International Affairs. Originally from Germany and the Netherlands, she obtained her BA in International Relations from University College Maastricht. She has worked as a Research Intern at NATO and at the Transatlantic Policy Center at American University, Washington DC, gaining expertise in researching transatlantic relations and security issues related to climate change. She is passionate about researching US and EU affairs, climate geopolitics, international climate relations, and critical approaches to security.
  • Giordani Dimitrov
    Analyst
    Currently pursuing a Master in International Governance and Diplomacy at Sciences Po Paris, Giordani is originally from Sofia, Bulgaria. He holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Sofia University. His professional experience is in the foreign policy apparatus and the diplomatic service of Bulgaria. Main areas of interest include France and its role in the EU, the Balkans, Central Asia, as well as the energy and arms industries.
  • Edoardo Maria Landoni
    Analyst
    Edoardo is a PhD Fellow at NASP, a collaborative doctoral program between the University of Milan and University of Pavia, specializing in Political Studies with a specific focus on International Studies. Having earned his master's degree in International Relations from the University of Milan, his research pursuits primarily revolve around international security, strategic studies, and geopolitics. At present, he is actively engaged in a project that delves into the realm of cybersecurity, exploring the emerging challenges posed by cyberwarfare.
  • Alberto Maggi
    Analyst
    Alberto is currently completing a bachelor's degree in "International Relations and Diplomatic Affairs" at the University of Bologna, Italy, with an exchange program at the National University of Singapore. As a ONE Youth Ambassador, he engages in advocacy activities with Italian institutions, focusing particularly on issues related to climate change and extreme poverty in the African continent. His main areas of interest are climate diplomacy, North-South relations and China's foreign policy.
  • Clément Masselin
    Analyst
    Clément is a Sciences Po-PSIA student currently pursuing a Master in International Governance and Diplomacy, with concentration in Global Risks. He completed a Bachelor’s Degree at Sciences Po Paris on the Reims Campus under the Euro-American Program, and spent a semester in exchange at the University of British Columbia. He is interested in international security issues, international relations, and the challenge of energy transition. His main area of focus are nuclear weapons policies, with an emphasis on the impact they have on international relations, and the extent to which they shape the diplomatic and military strategies of nuclear-armed and non-nuclear-armed countries. As recognition of his work, he was chosen to be a panel presenter during the 2023 Youth and Leaders Summit held by PSIA in Paris.
  • Filippo Pallaroni
    Analyst
    Filippo is currently pursuing a master's dual degree in "International Governance and Diplomacy" at SciencesPo Paris and Peking University with a concentration in diplomacy. Born and raised in Italy, he holds a bachelor's degree in "International Relations and Diplomatic Affairs" from the University of Bologna with exchange programs in Buenos Aires and Berkeley. His areas of interest are China and Western Europe.
  • Manfredi Pozzoli
    Analyst
    Manfredi is a dual degree master's student in International Relations at Sciences Po and LSE. He completed his BA in History and International Relations at King’s College London with a dissertation on early-Cold War covert operations. He is from Rome, Italy.
  • Muhammad Asad Rafi
    Analyst
    Asad is a Sciences Po-Paris School of International Affairs alumnus with a MA in International Security. His areas of expertise are South Asian foreign policy and security issues, mainly focused on Pakistan and its relations with its neighbours and beyond, with a keen interest in climate change and global power politics. Asad has worked as a researcher with UNESCO in Paris, and Tabadlab in Islamabad. Currently, he is working as a Research Associate to the Minister at the Ministry of Climate Change in Pakistan, where he guides and advises on issues related to climate change and Pakistan.
  • Leah Rachel Rea
    Analyst
    Leah Rea is a scholarship PhD researcher at the Transitional Justice Institute, Ulster University, where she examines the relationship between constitutional conventions and the progression of human rights in Northern Ireland in the context of international human rights law. She has an MA in Violence, Terrorism and Security, an MA in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice, and an LLB, all from Queen’s University Belfast. She currently serves on the Human Rights Working Group of the European Student Thinktank, and is a member of the FEPS YAN (8th Cycle). She is an alumnus of the Washington Ireland Programme (2021) and the British Council's Study USA scholarship programme (2014-2015). She is interested in the role of international human rights law and related institutions with focus on foreign policy and geopolitics.
  • Ulysse Richard
    Analyst
    Ulysse Richard is an International Security dual Master’s candidate at Sciences Po & Peking University. His research interests include the ethics of emerging technologies, cybersecurity, and China’s foreign policy. He currently interns within the CyberPeace Institute’s Threat Intelligence team in Geneva and the UN Office for Disarmament’s Science, Technology, and International Security Unit in New York.
  • Stavros Romios
    Analyst
    Stavros was born and raised in Thessaloniki, Greece. He holds a bachelor's degree in Balkan, Slavic and Oriental Studies and is currently pursuing a Master’s in International Security at Sciences Po Paris School of International Affairs. His areas of interest include Eastern European affairs and European integration. Stavros is proficient in Greek and English, with some knowledge of Romanian and French. His focus on conflict resolution and global security provides him with valuable insights into geopolitical dynamics. He has conducted extensive research on regional security issues and is currently affiliated with the Embassy of Greece in Skopje, North Macedonia, where he is actively involved in diplomatic initiatives and policy analysis.
  • Andrea Rondoni
    Analyst
    Andrea is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy. He contributes in a geopolitical student think tank, Aleph - Analisi Strategiche, with focus on intelligence and defense, and his areas of interest are the Mediterranean basin and Northern Africa.
  • Rocco Salvadori
    Analyst
    Rocco is an Italian national based between Paris and Brussels, currently pursuing graduate studies in International Governance and Diplomacy at Sciences Po. He holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations, awarded cum laude, from the University of Bologna, and has also participated in an exchange program at the University of Surrey, UK.
    He has professional experience in European foreign and defense policy, having worked with the European Land Force Commanders Organisation and the European Committee of the Regions, where he focused on external relations. His academic interests are deeply rooted in the geopolitical dynamics of the European continent and the Mediterranean region.
  • Andrea Scotto
    Analyst
    Andrea is currently pursuing a MSc in Economics at Tilburg University. He previously studied International Affairs and Diplomacy at the University of Bologna, where he graduated with First Class Honours. He also studied at SciencesPo Rennes during his Erasmus. His areas of interest are related to the intersection of economics and geopolitics. He is particularly focused on International Trade issues and South East Asia.
  • Riya Shah
    Analyst
    Riya is currently pursuing a Master’s in International Security at Sciences Po Paris School of International Affairs. Originally from the United States, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance with a minor in International Studies from Boston College. She previously worked as an Investment Banker at UBS. Her areas of interest include diplomacy, peace-building, and post-conflict development.
  • William Tomblin Shaw
    Analyst
    William Tomblin Shaw is a BSc Politics & International Relations student at the London School of Economics (LSE). With a keen research interest in Migration Studies and inter-ethnic conflict, William has spent time in Uganda and Cambodia gathering evidence for upcoming publications. Other areas of academic interest include Eastern European politics and Classical Political Theory.
  • Francesco Stuffer
    Analyst
    Francesco is a Geopolitical analyst who graduated from the Paris School of International Affairs – Master in International Governance and Diplomacy, his centers of interest are the Post-Soviet Space and the Balkans. He occasionally writes on Scenari and International Affairs Forum.
  • Arslan Suleymanov
    Analyst
    Born and raised in Uzbekistan and currently in Warsaw, Poland, Arslan is an undergraduate IR student at Collegium Civitas University. His thesis is on the containment of Russia's irredentist policies in post-Soviet states. He is the founder and chairman of the Collegium Civitas Debating Society, and has contributed to the European Student Think Tank and IAPSS. He has professional experience in geopolitical and legislative research, reporting, editing, and copywriting. Having served as an editor for a healthcare magazine in the United States, he plans to pursue a career as an international criminal law specialist. His primary area of interest is Central and Eastern Europe, and he is eager to contribute to the redefinition, enhancement, and maintenance of the rules-based international order. This involves transcending Westphalian principles of cooperation and competition and adapting to the complex nature of global connectivity.
  • Alexander K. Vogt
    Analyst
    Alexander has a background in philosophy and political sciences, with areas of interest including the geopolitical analysis of ‘soft power’ engagements, processes of (de)democratization, as well as conflict studies, and the political theory of social antagonism. He holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Vienna, Austria, and a Master’s in International Politics from KU Leuven, Belgium, and is currently located in Strasbourg, France, where he is working as a temporary agent (policy officer) at the Council of Europe.