I am a strategic advisor, geopolitical forecaster, and professor of international relations with over two decades of experience at the nexus of policy, business, and research across three continents.
I help governments, companies, and non-profit organisations anticipate the future and make better decisions through geopolitical forecasting, strategic scenarios, and bespoke briefings. My writing, speaking, and teaching focus on geopolitics and international security with an emphasis on NATO and Transatlantic security, the Russia-China axis, the emerging geoeconomic order, and strategic competition in AI. I was a Superforecaster in the US intelligence community sponsored geopolitical forecasting competition Good Judgment Project.
Previous partners include defence and intelligence agencies of NATO and Five Eyes countries, major financial institutions, Fortune 500 companies, UN agencies, NGOs, and leading universities and think-tanks across North America and Europe.
Currently, I am Co-Founder and Principal at the Pendulum Geopolitical Advisory. I am also Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, an expert forecaster for Good Judgment, Inc., and Adjunct Research Professor at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University. I am a Founding Board Member of the Alliance for Global Security (AGS), and Member of the Editorial Board and Associate Editor of the Journal of Geoeconomics.
My public commentary has appeared in The Globe and Mail, National Post, Toronto Star, Toronto Sun, The Hub, The Hill, and Inside Policy, among other outlets. I'm a regular contributor to major Canadian media, including CBC, CTV, Global News, and national radio programs. I have testified in the House of Commons in Canada, briefed senior policymakers in several NATO nations, and spoken in dozens of academic conferences, workshops, high-level policy forums, closed-door strategic diaologues, and public panels across the world.
Previously, I was the Director of the Transatlantic Program at the Macdonald Laurier Institute and held faculty positions in Denmark, the US, and Turkey and taught graduate-level courses on Transatlantic security, geopolitical forecasting, strategic foresight, and global catastrophic and existential risks.
For speaking engagements, consulting opportunities, media inquiries, or customized training and workshops, please contact me at balkan [at] balkandevlen [dot] com or through LinkedIn.