The Experts for Security and Global Affairs Association (ESGA)

The Experts for Security and Global Affairs Association (ESGA) - a think tank established in October 2014 and designed as an online platform that brings together researchers, experts, analysts, journalists, civil society representatives both from Romania, Republic of Moldova and from abroad, specialized in the study of political, socio-economic and security of the ex-soviet space, Euro-Atlantic area and the Middle East.

ESGA is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization and think tank.

Our goal

Our goal is to create and support an online platform (network of experts from different fields), bringing together experts, academics, journalists and civil society representatives from Romania, Republic of Moldova, the Euro-Atlantic area, the former soviet space and Middle East.

Our aims

ESGA aims are to formulate and implement strategies, policies and recommendations for Romania by developing and implementing quality research projects and creating platforms for debates.

Our activities

ESGA activities beneficiaries are academics and non-academics, representatives of civil society, public authorities, journalists, individuals and businesses, interested in the evolution of political, economic, social and cultural development of the Euro-Atlantic space, former Soviet Union and the Middle East.

Our experts

ESGA’s experts have experience in academic research in the field of political sciences and international economic relations, they are involved in the projects developed within ESGA Romania, as well as in projects implemented together with our partners from Moldova, Ukraine and various EU member states.

meet the team

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Angela Grămadă

President of ESGA

Angela Grămadă holds a PhD in political science, specializing in international relations, from the National School of Political and Administrative Studies, Bucharest, Romania, and is the president of ESGA.

Angela Grămadă is an experienced researcher and author of several analyses that aimed to study the influence of the Russian Federation’s foreign policy in Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus, published in Romania and abroad.

Her research interests also include European integration processes, international relations, domestic and foreign policy developments in the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, as well as the development of civil society in the wider Black Sea region.

Cătălin-Gabriel Done

Vice President of ESGA

Cătălin-Gabriel Done holds a PhD in Political Science from Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II (Department of Political Science) and serves as Vice President of ESGA.

An expert in Nordic security and cooperation, his research focuses on regional cooperation frameworks in the Nordic area, analysing structures such as the Nordic Council, Arctic Council, NORDEFCO, Joint Expeditionary Force, BEAC, Arctic Five/5+5, and the Multinational Nordic Battle Group, as well as the European integration project of the Scandinavian states.

His research interests include regional security, Russia–Scandinavian relations, Russia–EU dynamics, and cross-border and local regional cooperation and integration initiatives within the Nordic space. With a rigorous analytical approach, he contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities of international relations in Northern Europe and the security challenges facing the region.

Vlada Sanduleac

Strategic Communication Expert

Vlada Sanduleac is a strategic communication specialist and a second-year master's student in Conflict Analysis and Resolution at SNSPA.

She holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations and European Studies and a Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Communication under the aegis of the Sympodium Institute for Strategic Communications.

Her work focuses on analyzing the communication processes of actors and decision-makers in the extended Black Sea region and the impact of these processes on public perception and regional security.

Nicholas Zalewski

Guest Expert for ESGA

Nicholas Zalewski is a Ph.D. Candidate at Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II in public policies for cohesion and convergence in the European scenario.

He is also the Editor in Chief for The New Global Order, an NGO that tries to elevate the voices of young authors who publish political analysises from around the world.

He is a co-host of the EU spectator podcast with Catalin-Gabriel Done and guest expert for ESGA.
His areas of interest include political economy, the EU, Central and Eastern Europe, and NATO.