We are a multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary group of professionals all motivated by a powerful commitment to help clients manage transformative change.
Nicholas Dungan
CEO and founder of CogitoPraxis. Has advised CEOs, chairpersons, board directors, business owners, senior executives and emerging talents on strategies of influence, professional leadership, corporate citizenship and strategic foresight across a broad range of organisations drawn from industry, finance, government, not-for-profit and professional services. Previously investment banker, not-for-profit CEO, think tank fellow, board director. Graduate of Stanford University and SciencesPo Paris.
Nicholas Dungan
CEO and founder of CogitoPraxis. Has advised CEOs, chairpersons, board directors, business owners, senior executives and emerging talents on strategies of influence, professional leadership, corporate citizenship and strategic foresight across a broad range of organisations drawn from industry, finance, government, not-for-profit and professional services. Previously investment banker, not-for-profit CEO, think tank fellow, board director. Graduate of Stanford University and SciencesPo Paris.
Nicholas Dungan
CEO
Vanessa Badré
Senior Advisor, CogitoPraxis. American University Faculty Fellow. Lawyer, art historian, keynote speaker using art to explore socio-economic themes and concepts. Research focus on problems analysis and decision-making. Previously corporate lawyer, Citroën and Peugeot, Colgate-Palmolive. Graduate of SciencesPo; MA in art history, La Sorbonne; master’s in law, Paris II Panthéon Assas.
Vanessa Badré
Senior Advisor, CogitoPraxis. American University Faculty Fellow. Lawyer, art historian, keynote speaker using art to explore socio-economic themes and concepts. Research focus on problems analysis and decision-making. Previously corporate lawyer, Citroën and Peugeot, Colgate-Palmolive. Graduate of SciencesPo; MA in art history, La Sorbonne; master’s in law, Paris II Panthéon Assas.
Vanessa Badré
Senior AdvisorAmbassador Joachim Bitterlich (Ret) CBE
Senior Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Board Director and Consultant. Teaches geopolitics and strategic affairs at ESCP Paris Business School, ILERI Paris and other institutions. Previously chief European, foreign and security policy advisor to Chancellor Helmut Kohl, German ambassador to NATO and Spain, EVP International and chairman for Germany of Veolia. Graduate of University of Saarbrücken and École Nationale d’Administration. Commandeur of the Ordre national du mérite, Officier of the Légion d’honneur.
Ambassador Joachim Bitterlich (Ret) CBE
Senior Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Board Director and Consultant. Teaches geopolitics and strategic affairs at ESCP Paris Business School, ILERI Paris and other institutions. Previously chief European, foreign and security policy advisor to Chancellor Helmut Kohl, German ambassador to NATO and Spain, EVP International and chairman for Germany of Veolia. Graduate of University of Saarbrücken and École Nationale d’Administration. Commandeur of the Ordre national du mérite, Officier of the Légion d’honneur.
Ambassador Joachim Bitterlich (Ret) CBE
Senior AdvisorColonel (Ret) Si Bradley
Senior Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Director, Si Bradley Consulting Ltd. Over 26 years active UK military service on conventional and special operations: Balkans, Africa, Middle East, Australasia and UK. Developed innovative technological solutions in high-risk environments with defence and civilian industries in the UK, USA, Germany and Turkey. Commanded one of the British Army’s most deployed bomb disposal units. Military advisor at NATO and to Armed Forces of Oman, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, France, Japan and Colombia. Final UK Army appointment was as Military Advisor to UK Secretary of State for Defence in Office for Net Assessment & Challenge working with ministers, senior officials and cross-government advisors.
Colonel (Ret) Si Bradley
Senior Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Director, Si Bradley Consulting Ltd. Over 26 years active UK military service on conventional and special operations: Balkans, Africa, Middle East, Australasia and UK. Developed innovative technological solutions in high-risk environments with defence and civilian industries in the UK, USA, Germany and Turkey. Commanded one of the British Army’s most deployed bomb disposal units. Military advisor at NATO and to Armed Forces of Oman, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, France, Japan and Colombia. Final UK Army appointment was as Military Advisor to UK Secretary of State for Defence in Office for Net Assessment & Challenge working with ministers, senior officials and cross-government advisors.
Colonel (Ret) Si Bradley
Senior AdvisorMark Cliffe
Senior Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Heterodox economist with over 30 years’ experience in forecasting the global economy and markets, advising financial and corporate clients around the world. Visiting Fellow, Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter with a focus on developing decision-useful climate scenarios. Visiting Professor, London Institute of Banking and Finance. Advisor to Project Syndicate. Group Chief Economist and Head of Research at ING Group, having held similar positions at HSBC, Nomura and ANZ Merchant Bank. Double First in Economics from Christ's College, Cambridge University.
Mark Cliffe
Senior Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Expertise: Cyber security, AI, Complex Adaptive Systems. Chief Researcher in British Telecommunications Security Research
Senior Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Heterodox economist with over 30 years’ experience in forecasting the global economy and markets, advising financial and corporate clients around the world. Visiting Fellow, Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter with a focus on developing decision-useful climate scenarios. Visiting Professor, London Institute of Banking and Finance. Advisor to Project Syndicate. Group Chief Economist and Head of Research at ING Group, having held similar positions at HSBC, Nomura and ANZ Merchant Bank. Double First in Economics from Christ's College, Cambridge University.
Mark Cliffe
Senior AdvisorDr Robert Hercock
Senior Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Expertise: Cyber security, AI, Complex Adaptive Systems. Chief Researcher in British Telecommunications Security Research
Dr Robert Hercock
Senior Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Expertise: Cyber security, AI, Complex Adaptive Systems. Chief Researcher in British Telecommunications Security Research
Practice, leading Cyber Security and AI research projects. Visiting Fellow at the Changing Character of Warfare Centre, Pembroke College, University of Oxford. Independent expert for the UK Ministry of Defence Science Expert Committee on strategy and technology. Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology. Previously member of the Royal Society Science and Industry Committee, advisor to the Royal Society on AI and Data Science, Business Research Fellow at the Santa Fe Institute, New Mexico. PhD in Robotics, MSc in Electronics, degree in Physics and Electronics. Holds patents in multiple technology fields.
Dr Robert Hercock
Senior AdvisorDr Abigail Linnington
Senior Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Professor of international security studies, Fletcher School, Tufts University. Previously US Army Colonel and helicopter pilot, specialised at US Department of Defense in military strategy and planning, defence policy, professional military education. Graduate of United States Military Academy, West Point; master’s and PhD, Fletcher School, Tufts University. Has lived in France, Korea, Afghanistan.
Dr Abigail Linnington
Senior Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Professor of international security studies, Fletcher School, Tufts University. Previously US Army Colonel and helicopter pilot, specialised at US Department of Defense in military strategy and planning, defence policy, professional military education. Graduate of United States Military Academy, West Point; master’s and PhD, Fletcher School, Tufts University. Has lived in France, Korea, Afghanistan.
Dr Abigail Linnington
Senior AdvisorMaurits Regenboog
Senior Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Independent corporate finance advisor and investor. Industry advisor to Volpi Capital, London.Ambassador of P Capital Partners, Stockholm. Previously senior management positions at ABN AMRO Bank, Amsterdam; Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Tokyo; BHF Bank, Frankfurt; Charterhouse Bank, London. MBA, Rotterdam School of Management of Erasmus University.
Maurits Regenboog
Senior Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Independent corporate finance advisor and investor. Industry advisor to Volpi Capital, London.Ambassador of P Capital Partners, Stockholm. Previously senior management positions at ABN AMRO Bank, Amsterdam; Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Tokyo; BHF Bank, Frankfurt; Charterhouse Bank, London. MBA, Rotterdam School of Management of Erasmus University.
Maurits Regenboog
Senior AdvisorDr Sebastian Schwark
Senior Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Partner at FleishmanHillard, Berlin, and Visiting Fellow at The German Marshall Fund of the United States, Washington, DC. Previously Managing Director at Edelman, Berlin, Head of New York Office at Portland, Visiting Fellow at the European Institute at Columbia University, New York, and Congressional Fellow at The German Marshall Fund of the United States, Washington, DC. Expertise in corporate citizenship and reputation management. Ph.D. in political science from Georg-August-Universtät Göttingen.
Dr Sebastian Schwark
Senior Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Partner at FleishmanHillard, Berlin, and Visiting Fellow at The German Marshall Fund of the United States, Washington, DC. Previously Managing Director at Edelman, Berlin, Head of New York Office at Portland, Visiting Fellow at the European Institute at Columbia University, New York, and Congressional Fellow at The German Marshall Fund of the United States, Washington, DC. Expertise in corporate citizenship and reputation management. Ph.D. in political science from Georg-August-Universtät Göttingen.
Dr Sebastian Schwark
Senior AdvisorRichard Spiegelberg
Senior Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Former Deputy chairman, City of London Sinfonia. Advisor to EPIC Private Equity. Previously senior positions at Merrill Lynch, Coopers & Lybrand, J Walter Thompson. Earlier at Economist Intelligence Unit, National Economic Development Office and The Times. Author The City, power without accountability; Wilhelm Spiegelberg, a life in Egyptology. Former trustee of the Forum for European Philosophy and ICAN children’s charity. Graduate (MA) of the University of Oxford.
Richard Spiegelberg
Senior Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Former Deputy chairman, City of London Sinfonia. Advisor to EPIC Private Equity. Previously senior positions at Merrill Lynch, Coopers & Lybrand, J Walter Thompson. Earlier at Economist Intelligence Unit, National Economic Development Office and The Times. Author The City, power without accountability; Wilhelm Spiegelberg, a life in Egyptology. Former trustee of the Forum for European Philosophy and ICAN children’s charity. Graduate (MA) of the University of Oxford.
Richard Spiegelberg
Senior AdvisorGeneral Dominique Trinquand (Ret)
Senior Advisor, CogitoPraxis. President, DHT Conseil. Author of Ce qui nous attend, published October 2023. French military career included postings to operating regiments, high-level staff duties and international organisations including UN, EU and NATO. Participated in operations in Lebanon, Balkans, Africa. Previously Marck&Balsan director for external relations, responsible for relations with international organisations and governments; established OMP Solutions group of companies to equip troops participating in peace operations. Graduate of Military Academy of Saint Cyr; Ecole supérieure de guerre, Paris; Staff College, Camberley and Royal College of Defence Studies, London. Regular media appearances on geostrategic, geopolitical and security analysis of current and emerging issues.
General Dominique Trinquand (Ret)
Senior Advisor, CogitoPraxis. President, DHT Conseil. Author of Ce qui nous attend, published October 2023. French military career included postings to operating regiments, high-level staff duties and international organisations including UN, EU and NATO. Participated in operations in Lebanon, Balkans, Africa. Previously Marck&Balsan director for external relations, responsible for relations with international organisations and governments; established OMP Solutions group of companies to equip troops participating in peace operations. Graduate of Military Academy of Saint Cyr; Ecole supérieure de guerre, Paris; Staff College, Camberley and Royal College of Defence Studies, London. Regular media appearances on geostrategic, geopolitical and security analysis of current and emerging issues.
General Dominique Trinquand (Ret)
Senior Advisor
Gaia Bellavista
Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Government and public sector consultant for a multinational firm, focused on culture and sustainability. Previously consultant in the Governance and Innovation team for the United Nations Development programme for Eastern Europe-Central Asia, including portfolio design and data innovation. Co-founder of Carbon Neutrality Challenge. Master’s in International Public Management, SciencesPo, including exchange year, University of Toronto.
Gaia Bellavista
Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Government and public sector consultant for a multinational firm, focused on culture and sustainability. Previously consultant in the Governance and Innovation team for the United Nations Development programme for Eastern Europe-Central Asia, including portfolio design and data innovation. Co-founder of Carbon Neutrality Challenge. Master’s in International Public Management, SciencesPo, including exchange year, University of Toronto.
Gaia Bellavista
AdvisorJason Chau
Advisor, CogitoPraxis. MPhil candidate, St. Antony's College, University of Oxford. Editor-in-Chief of the Oxford Student, Interviews Editor of the Oxford Political Review. Research assistant at Oxford’s Global Parenting Initiative. Previously at United Nations on knowledge management for peacekeeping missions. Has also worked as a legal assistant and management consultant. LLB, University of Bristol with First-Class Honours.
Jason Chau
Advisor at CogitoPraxis, journalist on the Financial Times Opinion desk, incoming foreign affairs writer for The Economist. MPhil St Antony's College, University of Oxford. Previous Editor-in-Chief, the Oxford Student, law and interviews editor of the Oxford Political Review and policy engagement officer at Oxford's Department of Social Policy and Intervention. Prior experience at United Nations on knowledge management for peacekeeping missions; paralegal and management consultant for various firms and organisations. LLB with first-class honours from University of Bristol.
Jason Chau
Advisor at CogitoPraxis, journalist on the Financial Times Opinion desk, incoming foreign affairs writer for The Economist. MPhil St Antony's College, University of Oxford. Previous Editor-in-Chief, the Oxford Student, law and interviews editor of the Oxford Political Review and policy engagement officer at Oxford's Department of Social Policy and Intervention. Prior experience at United Nations on knowledge management for peacekeeping missions; paralegal and management consultant for various firms and organisations. LLB with first-class honours from University of Bristol.
Jason Chau
AdvisorValeria Coutollenc Gonzalez
Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Impact Officer, One Young World. Previously EMEA Policy and Insights analyst at Economist Impact; editor, Contemporary Challenges journal; public policy analyst, Speyside; junior fellow, CogitoPraxis; research analyst, Centro de Estudios sobre Impunidad y Justicia - UDLAP. MS Global Crime, Security and Justice, University of Edinburgh. Bachelors, International Relations, Universidad de la Américas Puebla including year abroad at SciencesPo Paris, campus of Reims. Speaks English, French, Spanish.
Valeria Coutollenc Gonzalez
Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Impact Officer, One Young World. Previously EMEA Policy and Insights analyst at Economist Impact; editor, Contemporary Challenges journal; public policy analyst, Speyside; junior fellow, CogitoPraxis; research analyst, Centro de Estudios sobre Impunidad y Justicia - UDLAP. MS Global Crime, Security and Justice, University of Edinburgh. Bachelors, International Relations, Universidad de la Américas Puebla including year abroad at SciencesPo Paris, campus of Reims. Speaks English, French, Spanish.
Valeria Coutollenc Gonzalez
AdvisorDavid Graf
Advisor, CogitoPraxis. David is an incoming Business Analyst in the Chief Strategy Office of a global bank leveraging his international experiences in Global Markets, Alternative Asset Management, Wealth Management, and more.
A dual degree candidate at Università Bocconi, Milan, and Nova SBE, Lisbon.
David holds a BA in Banking & Finance from the University of Zurich (UZH). He was an Executive Board Member of UZH’s Economics Association and Chairman of the economics faction in the student council.
David's military service in the Swiss Armed Forces as part of the engineering troops culminated in a promotion to Lance-Corporal.
He speaks four languages.
David Graf
Advisor, CogitoPraxis.
David is an incoming Business Analyst in the Chief Strategy Office of a global bank leveraging his international experiences in Global Markets, Alternative Asset Management, Wealth Management, and more.
A dual degree candidate at Università Bocconi, Milan, and Nova SBE, Lisbon.
David holds a BA in Banking & Finance from the University of Zurich (UZH). He was an Executive Board Member of UZH’s Economics Association and Chairman of the economics faction in the student council.
David's military service in the Swiss Armed Forces as part of the engineering troops culminated in a promotion to Lance-Corporal.
He speaks four languages.
David Graf
AdvisorNeville Lai
Advisor, CogitoPraxis.
Neville advises public sector clients on their strategic prioritisation for creating 'future-ready' organisations.
Neville is the Curator for Global Shapers Community Hong Kong, an initiative of the World Economic Forum that inspires, empowers and connects young leaders to reach their full potential, shape decision-making processes and drive positive change in their communities and the world. He founded the ‘Future City Dialogue Series’ that distils youth-led actions to improve the future readiness of Hong Kong through dialogues and is actively growing an audience of young professionals to future-proof together.
Neville is an Independent Strategist in International Affairs with a focus on East Asia. His thought leadership was featured in leading publications. He is also a frequent public speaker.
He is currently based in Hong Kong and speaks four languages.
Neville Lai
Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Neville advises public sector clients on their strategic prioritisation for creating 'future-ready' organisations.
Neville is the Curator for Global Shapers Community Hong Kong, an initiative of the World Economic Forum that inspires, empowers and connects young leaders to reach their full potential, shape decision-making processes and drive positive change in their communities and the world. He founded the ‘Future City Dialogue Series’ that distils youth-led actions to improve the future readiness of Hong Kong through dialogues and is actively growing an audience of young professionals to future-proof together.
Neville is an Independent Strategist in International Affairs with a focus on East Asia. His thought leadership was featured in leading publications. He is also a frequent public speaker.
He is currently based in Hong Kong and speaks four languages.
Neville Lai
AdvisorLoane Le Clouërec
Advisor, CogitoPraxis. French-Peruvian Master’s candidate in International Management and Sustainability at SciencesPo. Currently an M&A Analyst in Renewables at TotalEnergies (Solar, Wind, Hydro) and previously International Business Analyst at Guerlain, Maison of LVMH. Competitive runner, and previously competitive equestrian. Has lived in Madagascar, Scotland, France, Argentina and Angola. Speaks English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese. Bachelor’s in Economics and Society, SciencesPo, including exchange semester, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.
Loane Le Clouërec
Advisor, CogitoPraxis. French-Peruvian Master’s candidate in International Management and Sustainability at SciencesPo. Currently an M&A Analyst in Renewables at TotalEnergies (Solar, Wind, Hydro) and previously International Business Analyst at Guerlain, Maison of LVMH. Competitive runner, and previously competitive equestrian. Has lived in Madagascar, Scotland, France, Argentina and Angola. Speaks English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese. Bachelor’s in Economics and Society, SciencesPo, including exchange semester, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.
Loane Le Clouërec
AdvisorMaria-Ruxandra Lefter
Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Political risk Analyst at a global insurance brokerage. Previously research associate in a due diligence firm, working with investment banks and private equity firms. Worked for a Canadian Member of Parliament and Permanent Romanian Representations. Dual master’s degree in international security and intelligence from Sciences Po Paris and King’s College London and dual bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations from Sciences Po Paris and the University of British Columbia. Fluent English, French, Romanian, Spanish; learning Russian.
Maria-Ruxandra Lefter
Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Political risk Analyst at a global insurance brokerage. Previously research associate in a due diligence firm, working with investment banks and private equity firms. Worked for a Canadian Member of Parliament and Permanent Romanian Representations. Dual master’s degree in international security and intelligence from Sciences Po Paris and King’s College London and dual bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations from Sciences Po Paris and the University of British Columbia. Fluent English, French, Romanian, Spanish; learning Russian.
Maria-Ruxandra Lefter
Advisor
Barbara Matta
Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Master’s candidate in International Security Studies, University of Bologna. European Union Junior Expert at the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, Punto Europa (Forlì). Worked at the Brussels School of Governance and at the Italian Embassy in Chile. Honours graduate in Diplomatic and International Studies, University of Bologna; ERASMUS exchange year at SciencesPo Reims campus, certificate in International Affairs and Strategy summa cum laude. Speaks English, French, Italian and Spanish.
Barbara Matta
Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Master’s candidate in International Security Studies, University of Bologna. European Union Junior Expert at the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, Punto Europa (Forlì). Worked at the Brussels School of Governance and at the Italian Embassy in Chile. Honours graduate in Diplomatic and International Studies, University of Bologna; ERASMUS exchange year at SciencesPo Reims campus, certificate in International Affairs and Strategy summa cum laude. Speaks English, French, Italian and Spanish.
Barbara Matta
AdvisorAnton Strukoff
Advisor, CogitoPraxis. MPhil candidate in law at the University of Cambridge. Experience at Canadian Foreign Ministry and Investment Directorate of the European Commission’s European Social Fund. Previously research assistant at the University of British Columbia and at a law firm in Rome. Speaks English, French, Brazilian Portuguese. Graduate of the Dual Degree Programme between SciencesPo Paris and the University of British Columbia, in international relations, law, and commerce.
Petra Nagy-Jevremov
Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Masters candidate in Conflict Resolution and Mediation, Tel Aviv University. Previously, Consultant at Spencer Ogden, Finance and Trading division, specializing in the Infrastructure, Energy, and Renewables Finance sectors. IMDB accredited actress and former dancer. Speaks Hungarian, Serbo-Croatian, and English. Administrative Field Officer, Mel Wymore for City Council 2017. Honours BA Graduate in World Politics, Leiden University College, The Hague.
Petra Nagy-Jevremov
Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Masters candidate in Conflict Resolution and Mediation, Tel Aviv University. Previously, Consultant at Spencer Ogden, Finance and Trading division, specializing in the Infrastructure, Energy, and Renewables Finance sectors. IMDB accredited actress and former dancer. Speaks Hungarian, Serbo-Croatian, and English. Administrative Field Officer, Mel Wymore for City Council 2017. Honours BA Graduate in World Politics, Leiden University College, The Hague.
Petra Nagy-Jevremov
AdvisorRoberto Nugnes
Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Master’s candidate, Leiden University. Co-founder and vice chair of IAPSS Italy, national chapter of International Association of Political Science Students. For eight years volunteered weekly at the soup kitchen in his neighbourhood, also offered structured educational programmes for teenagers. Speaks Italian, English, Spanish, French. Graduate in International Politics and Government, Bocconi University, including exchange semester at SciencesPo Reims campus.
Roberto Nugnes
Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Master’s candidate, Leiden University. Co-founder and vice chair of IAPSS Italy, national chapter of International Association of Political Science Students. For eight years volunteered weekly at the soup kitchen in his neighbourhood, also offered structured educational programmes for teenagers. Speaks Italian, English, Spanish, French. Graduate in International Politics and Government, Bocconi University, including exchange semester at SciencesPo Reims campus.
Roberto Nugnes
AdvisorAurore Pasquet
Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Computational neuroscientist. Associate at a strategic communications firm in London. eGovernance master’s candidate at Stockholm University. Neuroscience advisor on financial decision-making and research frameworks of biotech startups. Active in Zonta and One Loud Voice for Women. Speaks French, English, Spanish. Master’s and bachelor’s in neuroscience, King’s College London; Associateship of King’s College in Theology and Critical Thinking.
Aurore Pasquet
Advisor, CogitoPraxis. Computational neuroscientist. Associate at a strategic communications firm in London. eGovernance master’s candidate at Stockholm University. Neuroscience advisor on financial decision-making and research frameworks of biotech startups. Active in Zonta and One Loud Voice for Women. Speaks French, English, Spanish. Master’s and bachelor’s in neuroscience, King’s College London; Associateship of King’s College in Theology and Critical Thinking.