The International Risk Podcast

Dominic Bowen
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Feb 24, 2025 • 37min

Episode 210: El Salvador: The Impact on Women, Girls, and Children of Bukele's Mass Imprisonment of Gang Members with Juanita Goebertus Estrada

Dive into the impact on women, girls, and children of Bukele's mass imprisonment. We are joined by Juanita Goebertus Estrada who is the Director of the American Division at Human Rights Watch. She tells us about:The corruption in El SalvadorThe history of El Salvador's politicians with the gangsHow human rights are currently being infringedHow the Supreme Court was overruledWhat Juanita's thoughts are on transnational justiceAnd much much more. Tune in now!Juanita Goebertus Estrada is the Director of the American Division at Human Rights Watch. Between 2018 and 2022, Juanita was a Congresswoman in Colombia, dedicating her term to the implementation of the Peace Agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Previously, she was head of the transitional justice group at the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace during the Havana Peace Talks, advisor to the National Security Advisor of Colombia, advisor to the Undersecretary of Defence of Colombia, and deputy director of the Institute for Integrated Transitions. Juanita holds BAs in Law and Political Science from the Universidad de Los Andes (Colombia) and an LLM from Harvard Law School.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!
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Feb 19, 2025 • 48min

Episode 209: China, Africa, and the Green Energy Puzzle: Risks and Opportunities with Fikayo Akeredolu

In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, we explore China’s evolving role in Africa’s energy landscape with Fikayo Akeredolu, a DPhil candidate at Oxford specializing in the political economy of energy in Nigeria.We discuss:China’s growing influence in Africa’s renewable energy sector and its long-term implications.The complexities of Sino-African climate diplomacy and Africa’s role in shaping China’s environmental agenda.The challenge of balancing economic growth with sustainability in Africa’s energy sector.How African nations can assert their interests in China-led infrastructure and energy projects.The risks of debt distress and how green energy investments can be structured sustainably.Join us as we analyze the opportunities and challenges shaping Africa’s energy future and the strategic role China plays in this dynamic space.  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 organizations 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!
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Feb 17, 2025 • 38min

Episode 208: Honduras: Women, Gangs, and Migration with Ellen van Damme

This week Dominic is joined by Ellen van Damme. They dive into the multifaceted complexities of gang violence in Honduras. Hear Ellen discuss her PhD research on gangs, violence and women, as well as her thoughts on how women and girls fall into gangs. They discuss the difference between narcos and gangs, as well as the dehumanisation the Western world undergoes. Listen now!Ellen Van Damme, PhD, is a criminologist specialising in ethnographic research on women, gangs, and migration. From 2016 to 2020, she was a PhD fellow of the Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO) at the Leuven Institute of Criminology(LINC), KU Leuven. Her doctoral research focused on the role of women in and around gangs in Honduras. In 2021-2022, she was a Fulbright scholar at the Center for the Study of International Migration at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she examined female migration from Honduras to the United States. Since 2022, she has been a postdoctoral researcher at the Université libre de Bruxelles and a consultant for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). In 2023, she founded Field Research Coaching, a consultancy that trains and coaches academics and professionals working on sensitive topics in challenging environments.The book she mentioned was 'Tierra de Narcos', by Oscar Estrada.The International Risk Podcast is a must-listen podcast for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors. This weekly podcast explores current affairs, 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!
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Feb 13, 2025 • 32min

Episode 207: Intellectual Property, Trade, and Innovation with Mariana González

This week, Dominic Bowen welcomes Mariana González to The International Risk Podcast for an engaging discussion on the fascinating world of intellectual property (IP). Together, they explore what IP is and why it matters, Mexico’s approach to IP under the USMCA framework, the implications of a new Trump administration, the role of innovation in fostering equal access, leveraging IP strategically, and much more.   Mariana González is a partner and patent attorney at Basham, Ringe y Correa, with over 16 years of experience in IP law. Specializing in the pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotechnology sectors, she advises startups and global enterprises on patent prosecution, transactions, and litigation. With dual qualifications as a chemist and lawyer, a master’s in top management, and certification as a Licensing Professional, Mariana is a recognized expert in Mexico's patent linkage system and data exclusivity.The International Risk Podcast is a must-listen podcast for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors. This weekly podcast explores current affairs, 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!
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Feb 10, 2025 • 32min

Episode 206: Arms Trade with Wolf-Christian Paes: Ethics, Definitions, and Consequences

This week Dominic hosts Wolf-Christian Paes on the podcast. They discuss the ethicality of arms trade, different definitions of a 'just war' and what the consequences are on the arms trade, illegal and legal arms trade, arms embargo's, amongst others. Tune in to hear a very articulated episode with lots of information about the arms trade!Wolf-Christian Paes is a Senior Fellow of Armed Conflict at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. He has more than two decades of experience of working on conflict and post-conflict settings with a focus on Security Sector Reform (SSR); Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) of ex-combatants and arms control. He is particularly interested in the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) to non-state armed groups. Based at IISS-Europe in Berlin, Wolf-Christian is part of the Conflict, Security, and Development Programme, where he leads a project on the effectiveness of non-military conflict resolution and stabilisation tools, in particular with regard to non-state armed groups. Wolf-Christian has also worked as a consultant for different development organisations including the World Bank, the European Union, UNDP, GIZ and KfW, advising on recovery and stabilisation programs in conflict and post-conflict environments. He is also a reserve officer of the German Air Force, where he serves as an arms control inspector with the Verification Centre of the German Armed Forces in Germany.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 organizations 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!
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Feb 6, 2025 • 26min

Episode 205: The Rise of Pandemics and the Prevention of Epidemics with Amanda McClelland

Today Dominic has Amanda McClelland on the show. They dive into pandemics, epidemics, how climate change might influence the rise of epidemics, what future responses should be would another pandemic occur, and much more!Amanda McClelland is a globally recognised leader in epidemic prevention and public health management. Amanda has been on the frontlines of some of the most pressing global health crises of our time, including the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. Amanda is the Senior Vice President of Prevent Epidemics at Resolve to Save Lives, where she leads a team working to accelerate progress to make the world safer from epidemics. Amanda is a notable expert in international public health management and health systems strengthening, especially in emergency health, epidemic control, disease prevention and response operations. Her achievements include coordinating the frontline response during the 2014 Ebola epidemic, for which she received the 2015 Florence Nightingale Medal for exceptional courage, and publishing a landmark study with the World Bank on the cost of health care worker infections during the COVID-19 pandemic.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!
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Feb 3, 2025 • 47min

Episode 204: Dr Marion Messmer on Russia-NATO Relations, Disinformation, Cybersecurity and International Co-ordination

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Marion Messmer, a senior research fellow in the International Security Programme at Chatham House. Dr. Messmer discusses the deterioration of Russia's relationship with the West, the importance of protecting NATO member's critical infrastructure, arms control, nuclear risk reduction, and the significance of continued international cooperation. Before joining Chatham House, Marion was the Co-Director of BASIC, where she led the organisation’s nuclear risk reduction and disarmament work. She is an N2 Innovation Fellow (2020-2021) and an ACONA Fellow (2021-2022). Marion holds a PhD in Security Studies from King’s College London (her dissertation title was, "The Role of Trust in the Relationship between NATO and Russia: From trust building to trust-breaking, 1991-2014") and a Masters in International Relations from Cambridge. The International Risk Podcast is a must-listen podcast 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!
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Jan 30, 2025 • 38min

Episode 203: Mexico's USMCA Challenges: Governance, Trade Risks, and Economic Pressures with Juan Carlos Machorro

This midweek, Dominic Bowen welcomes Juan Carlos Machorro to The International Risk Podcast to dive into the complexities of the United-States Mexico Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA). Together, they discuss the origins of the USMCA agreement, the critical elements of the 2026 Joint Review, the implications of Mexico’s judicial reforms, Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs, and the urgent need to strengthen Mexico-Canada trade relations. Juan Carlos Machorro is the leader of Santamarina y Steta’s transactional and financial practice area, with 30 years of experience advising various national and international organizations on the development and implementation of investment and financing projects in Mexico. His areas of expertise include Mergers and Acquisitions, Project Finance and Infrastructure. His talent, practical and business acumen, and deep knowledge of his areas of specialization have earned him numerous accolades in Mexico and abroad.The International Risk Podcast is a must-listen podcast for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors. This weekly podcast explores current affairs, 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!
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Jan 27, 2025 • 28min

Episode 202: The Ongoing Civil War in Myanmar with Ali Fowle

Welcome back! Dominic has Ali Fowle on this week to discuss the ongoing civil war in Myanmar/Birma. Listen to the what happened in Myanmar on the 1st of February 2021, and why it happened. Moreover questions like 'Who is fighting who?' 'Where are the ethnic armed groups getting their support, money, and weapons from?' 'What has been the effect on the civil population?' and more get answered! Ali Fowle is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and investigative journalist focused on international news and current affairs. She specialises in long form investigative journalism for broadcast, often working in remote and hostile environments. Ali focuses mostly on conflict, human rights and civil disobedience in the Asia Pacific region where she was based between 2008-2021 and has worked extensively on stories about extractive industries, illicit trade and trafficking, surveillance, justice and press freedom. Ali’s work has won multiple global media prizes. In 2022 she was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize for Journalism for her coverage of the Myanmar coup. The same year she won several other awards including a Walkley Award for Excellence in Journalism and a Sigma Award for an investigation into surveillance, interrogation and torture in Myanmar. Her documentary “Myanmar: State of Fear” was added to the Shadid curriculum for ethical journalism as an example of “complex and outstanding ethical-decision making”. In 2018 she was part of the BBC team which received a Peabody Award for coverage of the Plight of the Rohingya. Finally, Ali has worked as a correspondent, self-shooting PD and a video journalist producing work for the world’s leading international media organisations including the BBC, Al Jazeera, CNA, CNN, SBS and NBC.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!
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Jan 25, 2025 • 39min

Episode 201: Trade Dynamics, Tariffs, and North America’s Strategic Future with Dr. Joshua Meltzer

This midweek, Dominic Bowen welcomes Dr. Joshua Meltzer to The International Risk Podcast for an in-depth exploration of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and its evolving role in North American trade. Together, they discuss the significance of the USMCA in maintaining economic competitiveness, the implications of Trump's tariff threats and other Trump policy initiatives, and the opportunities and challenges posed by China's trade dynamics. They also delve into Canada’s unique position within the agreement and the balancing act between national security and open trade in an era of rapid technological advancement.Dr. Joshua Meltzer is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, specializing in international economic relations and digital trade. As the leader of the USMCA initiative, Dr. Meltzer brings critical insights into how the agreement can drive regional cooperation and address global economic challenges.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!

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