The International Risk Podcast

This week on The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen sits down with Dr. Duncan Green, a leading expert on global development and social change, to discuss the evolving landscape of foreign aid and the challenges that lie ahead. As major donor countries reassess their commitments and priorities shift toward  national interest, and military spending, the global aid system faces unprecedented disruption. In this episode, Duncan breaks down the implications of aid cuts, the rise of alternative funding models, and how grassroots movements might step up as formal aid structures decline.Duncan is a Professor in Practice at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where he co-directs the Activism, Influencing and Change Programme. He also leads the Influencing Programme at the Global Executive Leadership Initiative and acts as a consultant for community engagement programs. Formerly Head of Research and Strategic Adviser at Oxfam GB, Duncan is known for his influential "From Poverty to Power" blog and his work fostering leadership and innovation in global development.Visit the new LSE Activism, Influence, and Change Blog.The International Risk Podcast is a must-listen for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors who need more than headlines. Each week, Dominic Bowen cuts through the noise to bring you unfiltered insights on emerging risks, geopolitics, international relations flashpoints, boardroom blind spots, and strategic opportunities. Hosted by Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's top risk consulting firms, The International Risk Podcast brings together global experts to share insights and actionable strategies from the people who have been there, done it, and shaped outcomes at the highest levels.Dominic's 25 years of experience managing complex operations in high-risk environments, combined with his role as a public speaker and university lecturer, make him uniquely positioned to guide these conversations. From conflict zones to corporate boardrooms, he explores the risks shaping our world and how organisations can navigate them. Whether he is speaking with intelligence operatives, CEOs, political advisors, or analysts, Dominic helps leaders gain competitive advantage through these conversations.The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.Follow us on LinkedIn  and Instagram for all our great updates.Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly briefs.Tell us what you liked!

This week on The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen sits down with John Bruce, an expert in cybersecurity law and policy, to explore the evolution of state-sponsored cyber activity, and what these developments mean for businesses and governments worldwide.Cyber operations have changed significantly over the last few decades. Once highly targeted and discreet, state-sponsored cyber activities are now more opportunistic, widespread, and increasingly damaging. In this episode, John breaks down how governments attribute cyberattacks, the blurring lines between cybercrime and intelligence operations, and what this shift means for cyber defense strategies in both the public and private sectors.John Bruce is the former General Counsel for Field Effect Software Inc., a cybersecurity firm based in Ottawa. Before this role, he spent 22 years with the Department of Justice Canada, providing legal counsel and strategic policy advice on cybersecurity programs and operations. He currently teaches cybersecurity and cyber operations law and policy as an adjunct professor at Carleton University’s Norman Paterson School of International Relations and a visiting professor at the University of Ottawa. He is also an Associate Fellow in the Cyber Security Program at the International Institute for Strategic Studies and a Senior Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation, focusing on international cybersecurity law and governance. John holds an LL.B. and an LL.M. in law and technology.The International Risk Podcast is a must-listen for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors who need more than headlines. Each week, Dominic Bowen cuts through the noise to bring you unfiltered insights on emerging risks, geopolitics, international relations flashpoints, boardroom blind spots, and strategic opportunities. Hosted by Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's top risk consulting firms, The International Risk Podcast brings together global experts to share insights and actionable strategies from the people who have been there, done it, and shaped outcomes at the highest levels.Dominic's 25 years of experience managing complex operations in high-risk environments, combined with his role as a public speaker and university lecturer, make him uniquely positioned to guide these conversations. From conflict zones to corporate boardrooms, he explores the risks shaping our world and how organisations can navigate them. Whether he is speaking with intelligence operatives, CEOs, political advisors, or analysts, Dominic helps leaders gain competitive advantage through these conversations.The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.Follow us on LinkedIn  and Instagram for all our great updates.Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly briefs.Tell us what you liked!

This week on The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen sits down with Dr. Nicolai von Ondarza to discuss Europe’s evolving security landscape and its quest for strategic autonomy in the face of rising geopolitical tensions. As Europe confronts the growing threat from Russia and the shifting priorities of the United States under Trump, the continent finds itself at a critical crossroads, navigating how to build military capabilities and reduce dependency on the U.S. security umbrella.Dr. Nicolai von Ondarza shares his insights on how European nations can take decisive action to enhance defense, the strategic importance of rearmament, and how Europe must rethink its approach to security cooperation, particularly with the UK. The discussion also covers the future of EU defense initiatives, the challenges of nuclear deterrence, and the prospects for a ceasefire in Ukraine amid Putin’s unrealistic demands.Dr. Nicolai von Ondarza is an Associate Fellow at Chatham House and the Head of the EU/Europe Research Division at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) in Berlin. His work focuses on Germany’s role in Europe, EU politics, institutional reforms, and EU–UK relations. He has advised the German government, Bundestag, UK government, European Parliament, and the European Commission. Read some of Dr. Nicolai von Ondarza's articles relevant to the episode here:- Geostrategy from the far-right.- Resetting EU-UK defense cooperation.- After German election win, can Merz deliver leadership at home and in Europe.The International Risk Podcast is a must-listen for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors who need more than headlines. Each week, Dominic Bowen cuts through the noise to bring you unfiltered insights on emerging risks, geopolitics, international relations flashpoints, boardroom blind spots, and strategic opportunities. Hosted by Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's top risk consulting firms, The International Risk Podcast brings together global experts to share insights and actionable strategies from the people who have been there, done it, and shaped outcomes at the highest levels.Dominic's 25 years of experience managing complex operations in high-risk environments, combined with his role as a public speaker and university lecturer, make him uniquely positioned to guide these conversations. From conflict zones to corporate boardrooms, he explores the risks shaping our world and how organisations can navigate them. Whether he is speaking with intelligence operatives, CEOs, political advisors, or analysts, Dominic helps leaders gain competitive advantage through these conversations.The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.Follow us on LinkedIn  and Instagram for all our great updates.Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly briefs.Tell us what you liked!

Today we discuss the risks and opportunities of AI with Frank Breedijk. Dominic and Frank discuss the biases of AI, whether AI will pose an imminent threat to jobs or not, whether AI usage can be ethical or not, environmental consequences of AI, the rise of scams with AI usage, and much much more!Tune in now!Frank Breedijk is the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Schuberg Philis. In this role he has three objectives, (1) making Schuberg Philis more secure, (2) making our customers more secure, and (3) developing Schuberg Philis' security business. Building relationships with both C-level and deep technical staff is one of his key instruments. In addition, Frank has been part of the Dutch Institute for Vulnerability Disclosure (DIVD) since day two. At DIVD, he started the Cyber Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) and is currently the Manager of CSIRT. This team is responsible for responsibly informing companies and consumers of vulnerabilities in their infrastructure.Since 14 February 2022, Frank is a founding board member of "Het Nederlands Security Meldpunt" a non-profit organisation that aims to make the country more (cyber-)secure by promoting and facilitating the exchange of information about vulnerabilities, vulnerable configurations, and threat intelligence between trusted parties.He is an experienced public speaker on (cyber-)security related topics and can frequently be heard and seen on various podcasts and conferences.The International Risk Podcast is a weekly podcast for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors. In these podcasts, we speak with experts in a variety of fields to explore international relations. Our host is Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's leading risk consulting firms. Dominic is a regular public and corporate event speaker, and visiting lecturer at several universities. Having spent the last 20 years successfully establishing large and complex operations in the world's highest-risk areas and conflict zones, Dominic now joins you to speak with exciting guests around the world to discuss international risk.The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.Follow us on LinkedIn and Subscribe for all our great updates!Tell us what you liked!

This week, Dominic Bowen welcomes Kailyn Johnson to The International Risk Podcast for an insightful discussion on the evolving landscape of cyber threats and their impact on businesses worldwide. Together, they explore the evolving role of cyber crimes, and the risks businesses face when they neglect their software supply chain security. They also explore how cybercriminal organizations are becoming more sophisticated, the implications of democratized access to dark web tools, and why businesses must integrate geopolitical and technological awareness into their risk management frameworks.Kailyn Johnson is the Cyber Intelligence and Geopolitical Risk Lead at Sibylline, where she specializes in analyzing cyber threats within a geopolitical context. Her expertise lies in cyber risk forecasting, corporate espionage, and the intersection of cyber operations with global security. With a background in cyber threat intelligence consulting and security investigations, she has advised major corporations on mitigating risks from evolving cybercriminal tactics. Kailyn has also presented at leading cybersecurity conferences worldwide, sharing insights on the increasing accessibility of cyber tools and the challenges this poses for organizations.The International Risk Podcast is a must-listen for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors. This weekly podcast dives deep into international relations, emerging risks, and strategic opportunities. Hosted by Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's top risk consulting firms, the podcast brings together global experts to share insights and actionable strategies.Dominic's 20+ years of experience managing complex operations in high-risk environments, combined with his role as a public speaker and university lecturer, make him uniquely positioned to guide these conversations. From conflict zones to corporate boardrooms, he explores the risks shaping our world and how organisations can navigate them.The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge. Follow us on LinkedIn and Subscribe for all our great updates!Tell us what you liked!

This week on The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen welcomes Paul Hockenos to discuss the outcome of the latest German elections, analyzing the distribution of seats and the implications of the AfD’s growing presence as part of the political mainstream. Beyond domestic politics, we will examine Germany’s evolving role within Europe and on the global stage. How will the election results shape the future of the European Union, including prospects for a common defense policy? What position will Germany take within NATO, especially in light of Donald Trump’s affinity for Vladimir Putin? Paul Hockenos is a Berlin-based writer and political analyst who has been working in Germany and across Central and Eastern Europe since 1989. He is the prize-winning author of five books on European politics and culture, and was a fellow at the American Academy in Berlin. His work appears in The Nation, Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs, CNN Opinion, The New York Times, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and others.The International Risk Podcast is a must-listen for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors. This weekly podcast dives deep into international relations, emerging risks, and strategic opportunities. Hosted by Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's top risk consulting firms, the podcast brings together global experts to share insights and actionable strategies.Dominic's 20+ years of experience managing complex operations in high-risk environments, combined with his role as a public speaker and university lecturer, make him uniquely positioned to guide these conversations. From conflict zones to corporate boardrooms, he explores the risks shaping our world and how organisations can navigate them.The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge. Follow us on LinkedIn and Subscribe for all our great updates!Tell us what you liked!

In this episode Dominic hosts Perry Kyles as they dive into banking cartels. They discuss what a banking cartel is, what it entails, and what could be a solution. Perry offers the alternative of gold and explains what the benefits are!Dr. Perry Kyles is a seasoned expert in economic history and operations, and author of the eye-opening book Gold vs The Banking Cartel: How to Use Gold to Become Your Own Banker. With over 20 years of experience spanning academia and business, and the Operations Manager at The Gold Marketplace LLC, Dr. Kyles challenges conventional wisdom about the global financial system and offers insights into the international risks as well as bold alternatives to reclaim economic autonomy.The International Risk Podcast is a weekly podcast for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors. In these podcasts, we speak with experts in a variety of fields to explore international relations. Our host is Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's leading risk consulting firms. Dominic is a regular public and corporate event speaker, and visiting lecturer at several universities. Having spent the last 20 years successfully establishing large and complex operations in the world's highest-risk areas and conflict zones, Dominic now joins you to speak with exciting guests around the world to discuss international risk.The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.Follow us on LinkedIn and Subscribe for all our great updates!Tell us what you liked!

This week on The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen sits down with Joshua Z. Walker to analyze the deepening crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) beyond the commonly discussed issue of resource extraction. With the resurgence of the M23 rebellion, the occupation of key territories, and growing concerns over Rwanda’s involvement, the region faces increasing instability. As M23 asserts control signs point to a broader political agenda that could redefine governance in eastern Congo. In this episode, we explore the economic, humanitarian, regional, and geopolitical risks shaping the future of the DRC.Joshua Z. Walker is the Director of Programs at the Congo Research Group at New York University’s Center on International Cooperation (CIC). A researcher and analyst focused on the DRC since 2004, his work sits at the intersection of academic knowledge and policymaking. He has previously worked at The Carter Center, the United Nations Peacekeeping mission in the DRC, and the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research in Johannesburg. His expertise covers customary conflict, political parties, and artisanal diamond mining, providing a unique perspective on the underlying factors driving instability in the region. He holds a Ph.D. in sociocultural anthropology from the University of Chicago, a master’s in anthropology and development from the London School of Economics (LSE), and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from McGill University.The International Risk Podcast is a must-listen for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors. This weekly podcast dives deep into international relations, emerging risks, and strategic opportunities. Hosted by Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's top risk consulting firms, the podcast brings together global experts to share insights and actionable strategies.Dominic's 20+ years of experience managing complex operations in high-risk environments, combined with his role as a public speaker and university lecturer, make him uniquely positioned to guide these conversations. From conflict zones to corporate boardrooms, he explores the risks shaping our world and how organisations can navigate them.The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge. Follow us on LinkedIn and Subscribe for all our great updates!Tell us what you liked!

This episode dive into cybercrime and how it can affect all of us! We have Jacob Sims on, who discusses how common cybercrime is in South East Asia. He explains the ties between the government of Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar, and the organised crime bosses. Moreover, how the money is laundered, why the government cannot do much, and why they might not want to do much, the forced labour camps being in places one might not expect, and many more topics!Jacob Sims is a columnist for The Diplomat and a founding partner of Operation Shamrock, which is a global public-private coalition working to disrupt Southeast Asia’s organised cybercrime epidemic. He also acts in a formal advisory capacity to numerous other leading organisations and governments in the global fight against modern slavery. Jacob previously served in country (Cambodia), regional (APAC), and global leadership roles at International Justice Mission, led policy research at the College of William & Mary, and conducted human rights research in northern Myanmar. Jacob’s analysis features regularly in major media outlets and global thought leadership forums where he is drawn upon as a leading expert voice on modern slavery and transnational crime.The International Risk Podcast is a weekly podcast for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors. In these podcasts, we speak with experts in a variety of fields to explore international relations. Our host is Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's leading risk consulting firms. Dominic is a regular public and corporate event speaker, and visiting lecturer at several universities. Having spent the last 20 years successfully establishing large and complex operations in the world's highest-risk areas and conflict zones, Dominic now joins you to speak with exciting guests around the world to discuss international risk.The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.Follow us on LinkedIn and Subscribe for all our great updates!Tell us what you liked!

!!! Please note that this episode was recorded before M23 captured Bukavu, the second-largest city in eastern DRC.This week on The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen sits down with Bram Verelst to examine the escalating conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the resurgence of the M23 rebellion. As the group captures key cities, including Goma, tensions are rising, with increasing concerns about Rwanda’s involvement, the worsening humanitarian crisis, and the broader regional implications. In this episode, we explore the historical roots of the conflict, the role of international actors, and the challenges of finding a path to peace in one of Africa’s most volatile regions.Bram Verelst is a Senior Researcher on Conflict Prevention, Management, and Peacebuilding in the Great Lakes Region at the Institute for Security Studies. With expertise in conflict dynamics and regional security, he previously worked as a political analyst for the Belgian Ministry of Defence and as a research fellow at Ghent University. He holds master’s degrees in history (University of Antwerp) and conflict and development studies (Ghent University).The International Risk Podcast is a must-listen for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors. This weekly podcast dives deep into international relations, emerging risks, and strategic opportunities. Hosted by Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's top risk consulting firms, the podcast brings together global experts to share insights and actionable strategies.Dominic's 20+ years of experience managing complex operations in high-risk environments, combined with his role as a public speaker and university lecturer, make him uniquely positioned to guide these conversations. From conflict zones to corporate boardrooms, he explores the risks shaping our world and how organisations can navigate them.The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge. Follow us on LinkedIn and Subscribe for all our great updates!Tell us what you liked!