WIIS Brussels Voices

After a summer break, the WIIS leadership podcast is back to demystify all matters related to nuclear weapons — which is very necessary, given the escalation in threats emanating from the war in Ukraine. Ilana is joined by two women exceptionally well versed in these issues: Jessica Cox, Director for Nuclear Policy at NATO, and Polina Sinovets, Director of the Odessa Center for Non-Proliferation. 

The world of nuclear weapons is very simple to those who deal in it, and baffling to everyone else: what is the difference between nuclear policy and nuclear deterrence? What is the difference between deterrence and non-proliferation? Is there really such a thing as a tactical nuclear weapon? Is a nuclear capability a military or political threat, or both?

This episode takes you through these and other questions, in a fascinating conversation between women who lead on nuclear issues.

This episode was recorded the 5th September 2022 and featured:

• Polina Sinovets: ODCNP; Twitter 
• Jessica Cox: Twitter 
• Ilana Bet-El

Learn more 

• Odessa Center for Nonproliferation
• New NATO strategic Concept 
• Russia: Nuclear capabilities, House of Commons Library

Credits

Music: Free from copyright

Production: Free Range Productions, Florence Ferrando

WIIS Brussels

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this miniseries, WIIS Brussels invites women to share their experiences and expertise on the many dimensions of climate security. 

For the last episode of the miniseries, Sabrine Dao and Sofiia Shevchuk invite Sevim Aktas, Policy Officer at the European Commission, and Elisa Seith, former Situational Awareness Officer at NATO, currently a Client Solution Architect with Jupiter Intelligence. 

These two young professionals with a rich professional and technical background share their insight on the topic of technology and its role in addressing the climate crisis and climate security. The topics discussed include boosting "climate literacy", how to assess which technology is our best tool in climate security, and how to stay positive in the fight against climate change.

Follow and connect with our guests and hosts:

- Sevim Aktas: LinkedIn, Twitter.

- Elisa Seith: LinkedIn.

- Sabrine Dao: [email protected]

- Sofiia Shevchuk: LinkedIn, Twitter. 

Learn more:

• Atlantic Forum Autumn Conference: Beyond the Weather panel with Elisa Seith and Sofiia Shevchuk, November 2021 Youtube
• EU Energy Transition Brief: Instagram breaking down EU energy & climate topics 
•  The Ministry for the Future, novel by Kim Stanley Robinson, 2020

This episode was funded by a grant from the United States Department of State. The opinions, findings and conclusions stated herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.

Credits

Music: Original creation

Production: Sabrine Dao, Fraser Moore

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this miniseries, WIIS Brussels invites women to share their experiences and expertise on the many dimensions of climate security. 

For the fourth episode in the miniseries, our hosts Sabrine Dao and Sofiia Shevchuk invite Benedetta Berti, Head of Policy Planning in the Office of the Secretary General at NATO, and Katarina Kertysova, Policy Fellow at the European Leadership Network (ELN) and a Wilson Center Global Fellow.

In this episode, we explore the many effects that climate change will have - or is already having - on the international defense scene. From national ministries of defense to NATO, how are these organizations adapting to a world of more extreme weather? Does an organization like NATO have the capacity to fight climate change? How will climate change alter the operational role of militaries? Tune in for the answers to these questions and more.

Follow and connect with our guests and hosts:

- Benedetta Berti: Website, Linkedin.

- Katarina Kertysova: Website, Linkedin, Twitter.

- Sabrine Dao [email protected]

- Sofiia Shevchuk: LinkedIn, Twitter

This episode was funded by a grant from the United States Department of State. The opinions, findings and conclusions stated herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.

Credits

Music: Original creation

Production: Sabrine Dao

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this miniseries, WIIS Brussels invites women to share their experience and expertise on the many dimensions of climate security. 

In this third episode of the series, Sabrine Dao and Sofiia Shevchuk have invited Mariko Peters, Senior Peace and Conflict Adviser at the European External Action Service, Olivia Lazard, visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe, and Anniek Barnhoorn, Research Assistant with SIPRI's Climate Change and Risk Programme. 

In this episode, our speakers come not only from different generations but also from diverse workplaces and backgrounds to provide a current state of affairs and prospects on the role of such institutions as the EU, OSCE and UN in climate security. Are peace, climate and security connected? Can multilateralism solve both climate change and security threats? Which institution is the most effective these days in tackling climate change? 

Follow and connect with our guests and hosts:

- Mariko Peters: LinkedIn, Twitter.

- Anniek Barnhoorn: LinkedIn, Twitter.

- Olivia Lazard: LinkedIn, Twitter.

- Sabrine Dao: [email protected]

- Sofiia Shevchuk: LinkedIn, Twitter. 

Learn more on this topic:

- Anniek Barnhoorn’s publication (2022) on Taking Climate Security Forward in the OSCE

- SIPRI Publication (2021) on Reassessment of the European Union’s Response to Climate-related Security Risks

- Olivia Lazard’s Publication (2022) on Russia’s Lesser-Known Intentions in Ukraine

- Olivia Lazard’s TED Talk on The Blind Spots of the Green Energy Transition

This episode was funded by a grant from the United States Department of State. The opinions, findings and conclusions stated herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.

Credits

Music: Original creation

Production: Sabrine Dao

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this miniseries, WIIS Brussels invites women to share their experience and expertise on the many dimensions of climate security. 

In this second episode, Sabrine Dao and Sofiia Shevchuk have invited Dr Hanne Knaepen, Head of Green Transition and Climate Adaptation with ECDPM and Glada Lahn, Senior Research Fellow for Environment and Society Programme at Chatham House. 

To what extent does climate change affect global geopolitics and security? What are the consequences that we can already see? In this discussion, our guests go beyond Europe and touch upon examples from different parts of the world, from Asia and Africa to Latin America. 

Follow and connect with our guests and hosts:

- Glada Lahn: LinkedIn, Twitter. 

- Hanne Knaepen: LinkedIn, Twitter.

- Sofiia Shevchuk: LinkedIn, Twitter. 

- Sabrine Dao: [email protected]

Learn more by looking at:

- ECDPM Great Insights Magazine (2019) on "The complex link between climate change and conflict" (only women contributed to this publication)

- ECDPM publications for the CASCADES project: "Climate Change and Security in North African (2021)", "Climate risks in Tunisia (2021)", "Climate change, development and security in the Central Sahel (2021)"

- Hanne Knaepen's publication on "Supporting adaptation in African agriculture - A policy shift since the EU Green Deal? (2022)" 

This episode was funded by a grant from the United States Department of State. The opinions, findings and conclusions stated herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.

Credits

Music: Original creation

Production: Sabrine Dao, Fraser Moore

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this miniseries, WIIS Brussels invites women to share their experience and expertise on the multi-dimension of the climate security. 

To introduce the journey to capture climate security impact, Sabrine Dao and Sofiia Shevchuk welcome Elizabeth Smith, Research Assistant with the SIPRI Climate Change and Risk Programme, Madeline Babin the Research Associate for Climate Change Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations & Laura Basagni at that time Mediterranean Program Manager at the German Marshall Fund of the United States

Together they are discussing how climate security could be defined, as a holistic and complex problem requiring more diverse voices, and how it is the current representation of women in climate security from their experiences. 

Follow and connect with our guests and hosts:

-       Elizabeth Smith: LinkedIn, Sipri website

-       Madeline Babin: LinkedIn

-       Laura Basagni: LinkedIn, Twitter

-       Sofiia Shevchuk: LinkedIn, Twitter, website

Learn more by looking at: 

-       Gender Dimensions of Climate Insecurity by Elisabeth Smith 

-       Laura Basagni’s publications

This episode was funded by a grant from the United States Department of State. The opinions, findings and conclusions stated herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.

Want to be member of WIIS Brussels?

Credits

Music: Original creation

Production: Free Range Productions, Florence Ferrando

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are eternal questions about the European Union: does it lead events or respond to them? does it become weaker or stronger in crises? is it weakened by consensus or strengthened by it? These questions and many others were also repeatedly posed about the Habsburg empire — that lasted 600 years. To discuss the comparison, as well as the broader situation of the EU, Ilana Bet-El welcomes Dr Nathalie Tocci, Director of the Istituto Affari Internazionali in Rome, a former special advisor to the EU High Representatives, and a renown specialist on EU foreign and security affairs; and Caroline de Gruyter, a journalist and writer on EU and international affairs, and most recently an author of a book on the Habsburg empire and the EU.

The episode was recorded on Monday 13 June 2022.

This episodes features: 

• Ilana Bet-El 
• Nathalie Tocci IAI; Twitter
• Caroline de Gruyter; Bio; Twitter

Want to speak up? 

The Women & Leadership podcast team would like to use the show to align with WIIS Brussels Voices DNA, and offer a platform for women to speak up about security, defence and foreign affairs. Have you expertise or experience on these issues in general and on the Ukrainian crisis specifically that you want to share with our communities? Reach out to us at [email protected]. 

Subscribe to WIIS Brussels Voices on: 

• Apple Podcasts 
• Deezer 
• Spotify 
• Google Podcasts 

WIIS Brussels

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn & our website

Want to be member of WIIS Brussels?

Credits

Music: Free from copyright

Production: Free Range Productions, Florence Ferrando

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Energy and energy security have become a key element of the strategic standoff between Russia and Europe — due to the war in Ukraine. To examine this important issue Ilana Bet-El welcomes Dr Katja Yafimava, Senior Research Fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies Gas Research Programme, and Olivera Drazic-Gaubert, Senior Advisor and former head of FIPRA’s Green Transition, Energy & Industrials practice.

Reflecting both practical and academic expertise as to how how energy is extracted, transported and marketed, the three women attempt to untangle the Gordian knot of energy in Europe, notably gas. From the reasons for dependence upon Russian resources to the future of energy in Europe — and Russia — they offer many insights into how politics, geography and economic interests interweave in this most crucial of resources.

The episode was recorded on Thursday 5 May 2022.

This episodes features: 

• Ilana Bet-El
• Katja Yafimava OEI; Twitter 
• Olivera Drazic-Gaubert Fipra; LinkedIn

Want to speak up? 

The Women & Leadership podcast team would like to use the show to align with WIIS Brussels Voices DNA, and offer a platform for women to speak up about security, defence and foreign affairs. Have you expertise or experience on these issues in general and on the Ukrainian crisis specifically that you want to share with our communities? Reach out to us at [email protected]. 

Subscribe to WIIS Brussels Voices on: 

• Apple Podcasts 
• Deezer 
• Spotify 
• Google Podcasts 

Credits

Music: Free from copyright

Production: Free Range Productions, Florence Ferrando

WIIS Brussels

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn & our website

Want to be member of WIIS Brussels?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Continuing our journey of seeking historic perspective on the conflict in Ukraine, Ilana Bet-El welcomes Professor Kristina Spohr of the Department of International History at the London School of Economics and Dr Olga Oliker, Director of the Europe and Central Asia Programme at the International Crisis Group. 

With their expertise on Russia, Ukraine, the Cold War and the global order, the three women bring out both the complexities of Russian history and identity, and the endemic flaws in the state’s governance — all of which contributed to launching the war of aggression against Ukraine. From facts to narratives, language and memory, the conversation reflects how history is both the hero and the enemy in this war.

The episode was recorded on Sunday 27th March 2022. 

This episodes features: 

• Ilana Bet-El 
• Olga Oliker Twitter & LinkedIn
• Kristina Spohr 

Want to speak up? 

This episode being special, the Women & Leadership podcast team would like to use the show to align with WIIS Brussels Voices DNA, and offer a platform for women to speak up about security, defence and foreign affairs. Have you expertise or experience on the Ukrainian crisis that you want to share with our communities? Reach out to us at [email protected]. 

Subscribe to WIIS Brussels Voices on: 

• Apple Podcasts 
• Deezer 
• Spotify 
• Google Podcasts 

Want to be member of WIIS Brussels?

WIIS Brussels

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn & our website

Credits

Music: Free from copyright

Production: Free Range Productions, Florence Ferrando

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

8 March 1917 was the first day of the Russian Revolution: it was started by women marching for their rights. 8 March 2022 is day thirteen of the Russian war against Ukraine, with women protecting their families, their lives, their rights. 

Upon this historic background, Ilana Bet-El welcomes Rose Gottemoller, former NATO Deputy Secretary General and Steven C. Házy Lecturer at Stanford University Center for International Security and Cooperation. Weaving history with policy and experience, their conversation sheds light on how the West ended up in this situation with Russia, which historical narratives are used by Putin to justify his claims over Ukraine and how this conflict is mainly born from the Ukrainian desire to move towards the European Union and democracy

Looking ahead on the impact of the War, the two women examine the challenges posed to the international rule of law and the European security architecture, and reflect on a basic question: can security arrangements be established in isolation from ideological principles? 

The episode was recorded on Monday 7th March 2022. 

This episodes features: 

• Ilana Bet-El 
• Rose Gottemoeller 

Want to speak up? 

This episode being special, the Women & Leadership podcast team would like to use the show to align with WIIS Brussels Voices DNA, and offer a platform for women to speak up about security, defence and foreign affairs. Have you expertise or experience on the Ukrainian crisis that you want to share with our communities? Reach out to us at [email protected]. 

Subscribe to WIIS Brussels Voices on: 

• Apple Podcasts 
• Deezer 
• Spotify 
• Google Podcasts 

Want to be member of WIIS Brussels?

WIIS Brussels

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn & our website

Credits

Music: Free from copyright

Production: Free Range Productions, Florence Ferrando

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.