Ivan U. Klyszcz (Kłyszcz) is a geopolitical consultant, specialist in international security and risk, emerging market intelligence, strategic communications and influence, with a regional focus on Europe, Russia, Africa and Latin America. He has worked with public and private sector partners and clients in year-long projects as well as short-term consultations.
Coming from academia into the policy world, Ivan is since 2022 a Research Fellow at the International Centre for Defence and Security, a leading think tank in the Nordic-Baltic region based in Tallinn. In this role, he has conducted several long-term analytical projects on topics such as intelligence, foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), Russian foreign policy, and African geopolitics. Since 2024, Ivan is a freelance contributor to ISI Emerging Markets, a London-based market intelligence organisation.
He holds a PhD in International Relations from the University of Tartu, and a Masters from the University of Glasgow in Russian, Central and Eastern European Studies. Grounding his consulting and research work on analytical rigour, Ivan has written a monograph for Cambridge University Press, as well as several peer-reviewed articles on issues of diplomacy and communication, international security, and regional affairs.
Ivan works in English, French, and Spanish, also having proficiency in Russian, German, and reading skills in Polish and Estonian.
Professional training and certifications:
- Strategic Communications, Kings College London (online), 2026
- Raisina Young Fellow (Asian Forum on Global Governance), 2026
- Advanced Online Research Certificate, AFP, 2025
- Monterey Summer Symposium on Russia, 2022
- Åland Islands Peace Fellowship, 2021
Ivan U. KŁYSZCZ, PhD 