Anita Abbott
Anita Abbott is the chair of APSI Forum committee, and strategy director at the Asia Pacific Global Foundation. She teaches International Relations and Cultural Diplomacy at Charisma University. She was a research fellow at NATO Defence College. She regularly contributes to publications and is invited nationally and internationally for research projects and speaking engagements. Her research areas include strategic foresight analysis, strategic partnerships and alliances. She has published more than 40 articles. She has written five books. Her first book develops education sovereignty model in international negotiation. In her second book, published by Palgrave MacMillan, she uses Indonesia and several countries as examples of how negotiation works for maintaining sovereignty in education. Her two other books focus on the practice of strategic foresight analysis.
Major General (Ret) Gert-Johannes Hagemann, APSI Center of Excellence
Major General Gert-Johannes Hagemann retired as active military September 2020, after having served almost 43 years as a Paratrooper and Infantryman in the German Army. He joined APSI Forum in 2020.
Between 2016 and 2020 he was the Deputy Commander of Headquarters Rapid Reaction Corps (HQ RRC-FR) in Lille, France. Created in 2005, HQ RRC-FR is a French NATO certified headquarters able to command a national or multinational force of between 15,000 and 60,000 personnel. With around 450 military coming from fifteen different nations, HQ RRC-FR is stationed within a 17th-century citadel also known as the Queen of the Citadels, designed by the famous French Field Marshal Vauban. Reactive, flexible and ‘open to the world’, HQ RRC-FR is a purpose-built organization, designed to handle the complexity of military operations of the early twenty-first century.
Prior to his appointment as Deputy Commander of NATO’s HQ RRC-FR, Major General (Ret) Hagemann was Commander of the Infantry School and the Infantry Training Center in Hammelburg, Germany and the General and Director of the German Infantry, Paratrooper and Mountain Infantry. From 2011 to 2013 he was the twelfth Commander of the German-French Brigade in Müllheim, after having served as the German Regional Commander of NATO’s Training Mission Afghanistan 2010 to 2011.
His operational experience and theatre expertise covers additionally the Balkans, Iraq, Somalia, Lebanon, Djibouti, Chad, Central African Republic and Mali. Major General (Ret) Hagemann is decorated with various German, Belgian, U.S., French and NATO medals and was made a member of the French Légion d’Honneur. His fellowships include associations in Norway and Switzerland.
His academic expertise stretches from University studies (graduation in macroeconomics and business management, summa cum laude) to post-graduate studies and courses in Germany and Belgium, covering a wide array of topics in Military Affairs, Defence and Security, Politics, History and Social Science.
Dr. Vira Ratsiborynska
Dr. Vira Ratsiborynska is an Adjunct Professor on NATO and transatlantic approaches to security and Global politics at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium. She is also Academic Scholar, Digital Forensic Research Lab, Atlantic Council, DC, USA. Dr. Ratsiborynska is also Associate Research Director at the Asia-Pacific and Europe Global Foundation (APEG).
Her areas of research interests include the relations between the EU-NATO and the Eastern partners, Russia and Central Asia, e.g. in energy, trade, geopolitics, border security, conflict management and peacekeeping.
Vira Ratsiborynska holds a Ph.D. from the University of Strasbourg, France. She wrote her dissertation on the European Neighbourhood Policy (with regard to the East) and publishes extensively in English and French on the topics of the European Union and the Eastern flank’s security, the relations with the Eastern Partnership countries, NATO and Russia. She obtained a Master’s degree in EU Studies from the College of Europe (Belgium) and a Master in Political and Social Studies from Sciences Po (France).
Her professional experience includes working in support of such organizations as the European institutions and NATO entities. She also has corporate experience in an American public affairs consultancy in Brussels as well as experience in communication and diplomatic fields. Dr. Ratsiborynska speaks English, French, Russian, Ukrainian, and Polish.
Joanne Hand
North Island ManagerHagar NZ
Joanne works for Hagar New Zealand, a global charity doing intensive trauma recovery for women and children who have survived extreme human rights abuses such as modern slavery, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation. Hagar also engages in prevention activities and builds the capacity of governments, social service structures and local duty bearers in the nations they work in.
During her career, Joanne has been involved in multiple issues that disproportionally impact women and girls including domestic violence, HIV infection, and gender equity issues. She spent many years working in Turkey on projects to empower Kurdish women. Her commitment to the status of women and girls in the world continues with the work of Hagar New Zealand.
Joanne has a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, with a minor in Women’s Studies, and a Masters in Nonprofit Management, both attained at the University of Central Florida, USA. Joanne was born in California, USA, and now resides permanently in Auckland.
Dr. Eddy Kristianto
Dr. Eddy Kristianto graduated from Trisakti Faculty of Medicine Jakarta in year 1990. Worked at antiaging clinic Jakarta in 1990-1992, worked as rural medical doctor at Sekadau Hulu region, West Borneo in year 1993-1996. Member of Indonesian Physicians Association since year 1993 until now, work at our own medical clinic, since year 1997 to now. Mastering in herbal medicine at Toshashimizu Hospital Japan in year 2000. Worked as herbal medical consultant in Malaysia & Singapore in year 2000-2002. Indonesian herbal researcher in Indonesia Government Ministry of Health, year 2015-2018. Forest honey researcher & inventor of forest honey fermentation year 2006-2010. Founder & Mentor of Community Development Cell Group (CDCG) since year 1993 until now. This program focus on local resources development by innovation, eliminate the food crisis & fighting poverty. Teaching Community Development at Hope Asia Foundation Tangerang, since year 2016 until now. Mentor at Community Development Cell Group of Transformation Connection Indonesia (TCI) since year 2016 until now. Teaching Community Development at Holistic Mission Training Center at West Borneo, Central Borneo, West Java, Palembang, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Palu, North Sumatra, since year 2017 until now. Teaching Community Development at Maranatha Christian University Yogyakarta since year 2019-2020. Director of PT. Hasil Bumi Melimpah, producing The Golden Trees Honey Wine at Bali, since year 2019 to now. Founder & Commissary of Samasta Integrated Medical Center at Jakarta, since year 2020 until now. Village developments consultant for Indonesia Government Villages Ministry, since year 2020 until now. Member of APSI since year 2021 until now.
Prof Dr. Patrick Glauner
Prof Dr. Patrick Glauner is a Full Professor of Artificial Intelligence at Deggendorf Institute of Technology (Germany) since age 30. He has been ranked by CDO Magazine among the worldwide academic data leaders. As an expert witness, he advised the parliaments of France, Germany, and Luxembourg. He held executive roles in industry, was a Fellow at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), and spent a research visit at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM). He studied at Imperial College London.
Hon. Rinesh Sharma
Innovative, Compassionate and Vibrant Philanthropist and Social Entrepreneur having sound experience conceiving and executing projects with technology embedded agricultural innovations resulting in uplifting quality of life w.r.t health, education and economics. Polished and eminent history of implementing social change for self- sustainability through partnership with civic institutions, local government departments, community partnerships, foundations and international NGOs.
Persuasive, Logical and Visionary Professional having expertise of funding, budgeting, project management, urban form concept designing, hydroponics farming and capability building.
Skills & Areas of Expertise
Project Management | Funding | Grant Proposal Writing | App Development | IOT Development | Hydroponics Farming | Aquaponics Farming | Organization | Verbal & Written Communication | Problem-Solving | Decision- Making | Innovation | Creativity | Time Management | Multitasking | Attention to Detail | Leadership | Delegation
Awards & Accolades
Represented Fiji at the Youth Colab Summit in Singapore 2022
Represented Fiji at the Gen-Next Democracy Program in India 2022
Nominated for Forbes Asia Magazine (30 under 30) by UNDP – Asia in 2021
Represented Fiji at Young Pacific Summit at PNG in 2020
Won “The Commonwealth Youth Award for Excellence in Development” in 2020
Won Queen’s Commonwealth Trust Award in 2019
Won “Award for Social Innovation” at the World Summit for Innovations in Vietnam in 2019
Got recognized under initiative of Fiji’s 30 under 30 changemakers
Won Prime Minister’s International Award for Young Entrepreneur in 2018
Won Youth Colab Challenge under UNDP in 2018
Received $15000 grant being part of Yes Entrepreneurial Scheme in 2018
Won scholarship for Computer Science and Engineering in 2014
Professional Experience
Member of Parliament
Elected Member of Parliament of the Republic of Fiji After the 2022 General Elections
Member of US Embassy Youth Council. 2022 – present
Selected Board Member. 2022 - present
Brigadier KULDIP SINGH (retd)
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Palladium Consulting India Pvt Ltd, Mumbai (Jan 2024 to date)
Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre, Bangkok, Thailand (2021 to Dec 2022)
National Disaster Management Authority, Govt of India (2016 to 2021)
National Security Council (Prime Minister’s Office) (2006-2015)
Defence Intelligence Agency, Ministry of Defence (2003 – 2005)
CVRDE, DRDO (1988 – 1992).
Indian Army (1976-2006)
KEY SKILLS
47 years of experience
Geopolitical Advice, Strategic Estimates, Strategic Planning
Intelligence Handling
Strategic Dialogue (international level)
Defence / Military Issues
Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change, Extreme Weather Events, Climate Change Adaptations
Project Management
Human Resource Management & Development
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
1975: B.A. - National Defence Academy, Pune / Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi.
1984: B.E. - Advance Technologies), from Defence Institute of Advanced Technology, Girinagar, Pune
1995: ‘Senior Command’ from Army War College, Mhow (MP).
2003: PG Diploma (Information Technology & Management).
2004: Defence Management Course, College of Defence Management, Secunderabad.
2005: Cyber Security from C-DAC, New Delhi
1976-2006: Number of Military-specific, armament, nuclear and space, HRD / HRM and training courses in diverse Armed Forces Institutions
2020: Certification- WHO’s IMS (Health Sector Emergency Response Management.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Strategic dialogues with countries of interest. Interacted with numerous foreign governments at apex levels for 10 years for concluding mutually beneficial strategic arrangements.
Represented India at the ‘Munich Security Conference’.
Trans-national exercises.
Tim van de Molen
MP for Waikato
Born and bred in the Waikato, Tim van de Molen has been the Member of Parliament for Waikato since 2017.
Tim was educated at Matamata College and gained a Bachelor of Social Science from the University of Waikato. Following his formal education, he worked as a dairy farmer then ran his own rural construction business before joining the commercial sector, as a rural bank manager. Tim has served as an Officer in the New Zealand Army and has ongoing interests in several small businesses.
With a strong passion for the primary industries, Tim was proud to be named the 2012 Australasian Rural Ambassador. In 2013, he won the prestigious New Zealand Young Farmer of the Year Award. Tim is also a graduate of the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme.
Alongside his commitment to the role of MP for the Waikato electorate, Tim is the Chair of the Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade Select Committee. He has held this role since the formation of the coalition Government following the 2023 general election.
In previous parliamentary terms Tim has held the roles of Opposition Spokesperson for Defence, Veterans, Building & Construction, Animal Welfare, Biosecurity, Horticulture, Oceans & Fisheries, and ACC.
Tim’s local priorities include extending the Waikato Expressway to Tauranga, improving rural connectivity, and developing a Great Walk in our Kaimai Ranges.
A keen outdoorsman, Tim relishes every opportunity to enjoy New Zealand’s natural environment, particularly scuba-diving, fishing, and getting off-the-beaten track exploring forests, ranges, and National Parks. Tim lives rurally in Tamahere with his wife and two children.
Pauline Hanson
For more than a generation, Pauline Hanson has been one of Australia’s most recognisable political leaders. She exploded upon the national political scene with her landmark maiden speech to Parliament in 1996 after she became the first woman ever elected as an independent to Australia’s House of Representatives.
Pauline is a proud Queenslander born in Brisbane, and a proud Australian. She’s a devoted mother with four children and six grandchildren. Before entering Federal politics she ran a number of small businesses, famously including a fish-and-chip shop in Ipswich. She first held public office on the Ipswich City Council before she stood for election in the Federal seat of Oxley.
Pauline’s entry into Federal politics was a controversial one which saw her – and her new One Nation party – become targets of Australia’s political establishment, especially after the 1998 election in Australia and Queensland in which One Nation had a huge impact. Pauline spent a short time in prison before justice was ultimately served and all charges and convictions against her were dropped. She was called Australia’s first political prisoner.
Through all of this, Pauline never lost sight of her goal: to be a strong voice for the Australian people in the halls of power; to stand up for the interests of Australia first and foremost; and to defend the values, rights, freedoms and principles which have made Australia a strong, successful democratic country. Under her leadership, One Nation returned to the Australian political scene stronger than ever in 2016. Today, One Nation representatives sit in six of Australia’s parliaments.
Senator Pauline Hanson and One Nation support strong diplomatic, security and trading relationships between Australia and its neighbours in the Indo-Pacific region that are built on a foundation of shared values and prosperity, and respect for each nation’s sovereignty.
Amit Gupta
AMIT GUPTA is a Senior Advisor to the Forum of Federations, Ottawa, Canada. He has previously taught at Illinois Wesleyan University, University of Illinois, and Stonehill College. He is the author, co-author or editor of the following books, Building an Arsenal: The Evolution of Regional Power Force Structures (Praeger), India’s Nuclear Security (Lynne Rienner), The Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific: Maritime Challenges, Opportunities, and Policies (Routledge-forthcoming), Global Security Watch—India (Praeger), Strategic Stability in Asia, (Ashgate), and Air Forces: Next Generation (Ashgate). His writings have also appeared in journals such as Orbis, Asian Survey, The Round Table, and Security Dialogue. He can be contacted at agupta1856@gmail.com
Mumin Chen, Ph.D
Professor, Graduate Institute of International Politics, National Chung Hsing University (NCHU), Taiwan. Dr. Chen has been teaching international relations in Taiwan since 2004, and worked as visiting scholar in universities or think tanks in China, Singapore, India, Germany, and Sri Lanka. His research includes non-traditional security issues, foreign relations of China and East Asia, and politics as well as security issues in South Asia. He has published 6 books and co-edited 3 books with topics relating to India, South Asia, and International Relations. He has also promoted academic and think tank cooperation between Taiwan and India. From September 2020 to April 2024 Dr. Chen served as Deputy Representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in Delhi, the official Taiwanese mission in India.
Ingrid Leary, MP
Ingrid Leary MP is the Co-Chair of the Inter-parliamentary Alliance on China and previously sat on the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee. She came to Parliament after more than a decade as Country Director NZ and Pacific, then East Asia Communications Director, for the British Council. Ingrid previously lived and worked across the Pacific for five years, much of it in Fiji, helping to found the University of the South Pacific Journalism Programme and as News Director of Fiji Television. A passionate advocate for human rights, she has a Masters in Sociology with Distinction, an LLB Hons and a Diploma with Distinction in Journalism. Of Dutch heritage, she is proud mother to three Dutch-Pasifika children.
George Howell
George Howell is the Director of RAIN+ Industry. In 2022 Howell was lead author on three of RAIN Research’s commercial reports: High-Altitude Platform Systems + Artificial Intelligence, High-Altitude Long-Endurance Uncrewed Systems, and The Venture Capital + Defense Directory. Howell co-authored a paper for National Defense University’ PRISM Magazine ‘Singularity’ issue with Norine MacDonald QC, President + Founder of RAIN. Published in January 2020, ‘Killing Me Softly: Competition in Artificial Intelligence and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles’ explored the use of artificial intelligence in military uncrewed aerial vehicles
Howell previously worked for The International Council on Security and Development (ICOS), conducting research into global security and economic development.
In 2008 he helped establish The Centre for Excellence on Public Security in Rio de Janeiro, a think tank working to bring together policy makers, independent experts, for dialogues towards generating innovative solutions to complex public policy issues.
Moderators:
Brett Murphy, BA
Maxwell Abbott, BTheo
Maxwell is the managing director of Asia Pacific Global Foundation. He holds a degree in Theology from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, and a CELTA certificate from Cambridge University. He is completing his postgraduate study in business at Southern Institute of Technology. He taught international students and adult students at community education in Christchurch and Auckland.
At APSI Forum, he has assisted its community hub to expand.
His passion is to assist his wife, children, and write poems.
Contact Us
info@apsisummit.com
