DSI Advisory Board
DSI’s Advisory Board exists to provide experienced counsel on DSI’s direction and priorities from policymakers and shapers who have worked at the highest level of democratic politics. DSI Advisory Board members provide invaluable insight and guidance on key DSI projects, and are regularly part of DSI-led events and initiatives. DSI’s Advisory Board includes:
Krišjānis Kariņš is a former Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and Economics Minister of the Republic of Latvia.
He is also a former President of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and has represented Latvia as a Member of the European Parliament.
Kariņš now serves as Senior Advisor to Kreab Worldwide. He joined the DSI Advisory Board in May 2025.
Krišjānis Kariņš
Member, DSI Advisory Board
Kajsa Ollongren is a former Deputy Prime Minister, Defence Minister, and Interior Minister of the Netherlands now serving as the EU Special Representative for Human Rights.
Ollongren has contributed her expertise and strategic mindset as an Advisor and Board Member to organisations such as Yalta European Strategy, GLOBSEC, Munich Security Conference, and Dutch NGOs Protect Ukraine and Netherlands for Ukraine - to name but a few.
Ollongren joined the DSI Advisory Board in early 2025.
Kajsa Ollongren
Member, DSI Advisory Board
Gabrielius Landsbergis
Gabrielius Landsbergis is a former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Lithuania.
He is also a former President of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and has represented Lithuania as a Member of the European Parliament.
Landsbergis is the Founder of Friends of Democracy and joined the DSI Advisory Board in June 2025.
Member, DSI Advisory Board
Chris Alexander
Member, DSI Advisory Board
Chris Alexander is a former Minister of Citizenship and Immigration for Canada.
Prior to his political career, Alexander was a distinguished diplomat, having served as Canadian Ambassador to Afghanistan and with the Canadian Embassy in Moscow.
Alexander regularly comments on strategic issues in democratic security both in his native Canada and abroad. He joined the DSI Advisory Board in June 2025.
Dr. Benjamin Tallis
Ben is a Co-Founder and former Director of DSI, and now chairs its Advisory Board.
Currently serving as Senior Manager for Thought Leadership at Helsing, Ben is a European Security, Strategy and Defence expert and former EU security practitioner.
Ben was previously Head of the Action Group Zeitenwende at DGAP and is the author of several books and publications, including his most recent book, Turning Point.
Chair, DSI Advisory Board
Britta Jacob
Britta is a Co-Founder and Senior Fellow at DSI.
Currently leading Government Relations at ARX Robotics, Britta has previously served as Advisor to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.
Prior to joining the Minister's Office, she was Senior Policy Advisor to Germany's Green Party leadership, specialising in foreign and security policy.
Member, DSI Advisory Board