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Almost two years after the fall of the Assad regime, where is Syria heading? In this episode of the International Risk Podcast, producer and researcher Andrea Crafoord-Wiklund flips the script and interviews regular host Dominic Bowen, who joins from Damascus after a week of meetings with Syrian government ministries. Dominic shares what he is seeing on the ground, from the professionalization of the police to rebuilt roads, and explains why the gap between a quick revolution and a long rebuilding process is the biggest misperception abroad. In this episode: - Why Syria is still a high-risk environment despite looking calm and inviting - President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s leadership and the role of the transitional parliament - Israeli incursions, regional rivalries and who has gained or lost influence - Whether conditions are ready for large-scale refugee returns - The reality of reconstruction, with an estimated $216 billion needed - What investors and businesses should know about risk and opportunity - Why Syria matters for European security, migration policy and counterterrorism Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:35 Perception versus reality on the ground 02:29 Security situation today 04:18 Ahmed al-Sharaa as interim president 07:18 Inclusion and elections 09:38 Western warming and sanctions relief 12:14 Israel’s role in Syria 14:17 Turkey, Russia, Iran, the Gulf and the US 18:20 How ordinary Syrians are coping 21:03 Refugee returns 23:41 Reconstruction and investment opportunities 26:20 Why Syria matters globally 27:57 Lessons on risk and leadership 31:34 Syria’s future over the next five to ten years The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you’re a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter. Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe’s leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe’s leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe’s business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today’s business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage. #Syria #Damascus #InternationalRisk #Geopolitics #MiddleEast #SyriaReconstruction #RiskManagement #ForeignPolicy #InternationalRelations #InternationalRiskPodcast Subscribe for expert conversations on geopolitics, security, economics, conflict, resilience and global affairs. Tell us what you liked! Tell us what you liked!

What is at stake in the upcoming US Midterms? In this episode, Dominic Bowen sits down with Marquita Bradshaw, the Democratic nominee for the US Senate Elections on November 3rd. The conversation spans what challenges working people within the USA are currently facing, what change is necessary for Americans, and the dynamics within the political system today.  It is clear there is a loss of faith. Marquita talks about her experiences engaging with voters, hearing their stories, and how this currently drives her priorities along her campaign trail. With rocketing fuel prices, concerned business owners, and a minimum wage that is flailing in the wake of climbing inflation, Marquita outlines how current injustices within the economy and prioritised status for certain interest groups is not serving the ordinary American.  The discussion delves into how environmental justice applies to the political dynamics we are seeing today in America, and how domestic policy is crucial to fix in order to regain a stable USA internationally. Recounting her history as an environmental activist, her source of inspiration to fight for change, and the importance of community, Marquita’s focus is unapathetic and hopeful for shifting the tide in Congress. Is it possible? Share your views in the comments. The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you’re a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter. Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe’s leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe’s leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe’s business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today’s business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage. Subscribe for expert conversations on geopolitics, security, economics, conflict, resilience and global affairs. Tell us what you liked!

In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen speaks with Sophie Schmalenberger about the AfD’s historic result in the Saxony-Anhalt state election and what it means for Germany’s political future.  The discussion examines what is driving the party’s rise, particularly in eastern Germany, and whether Germany’s postwar “firewall” against the far right can still hold. It also explores how the AfD uses history and emotion to build support, and what a stronger AfD could mean for Germany’s role in the EU. The conversation explores: -What the AfD is, where it came from, and what it stands for -What the Saxony-Anhalt result means, and how Germany got here -How memory and emotion have shaped the AfD’s appeal -Whether the “firewall” against cooperating with the far right is still working Dr. Sophie Schmalenberger is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Duisburg-Essen. Her research focuses on the German New Right, particularly the communication and mobilization strategies of the AfD, and how the party uses memory politics and emotion to build support. She holds a PhD from Aarhus University, where her dissertation examined how the AfD constructs identity and memory. The International Risk Podcast brings together global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers to explore the forces transforming our world — from geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare. Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and one of Europe’s leading experts on international risk and crisis management. He advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across Europe on how to prepare for uncertainty, navigate crises, and build strategic resilience in an increasingly volatile world. Further reading:  Dr. Sophie Schmalenberger’s open access book chapter, which looks at the far right’s strategic reinterpretation of the German past: https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783111588551-022/html Subscribe for new episodes every week Tell us what you liked in the comments below Share this episode with colleagues in risk, policy, and security #Geopolitics #Germany #AfD #FarRight #Europe #Democracy #Russia #Ukraine #PoliticalRisk #InternationalRisk #Strategy #Extremism Tell us what you liked!

More than five years after the Taliban returned to power, millions of Afghan women and girls remain shut out of education, work and public life, while governments around the world are quietly normalising relations with Kabul. In this episode of the International Risk Podcast, host Dominic Bowen speaks with Shaharzad Akbar, former chairperson of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and founder of Rawadari, an organisation documenting Taliban abuses and pursuing accountability from exile. Shaharzad shares her journey from a childhood of displacement and refugee life in Pakistan to Smith College and Oxford, and back to Kabul. She explains what daily life looks like for women and girls inside Afghanistan today, how they are finding creative ways to keep learning and working despite the risks, and why the world’s growing willingness to engage with the Taliban is so dangerous. In this episode: Shaharzad’s story: growing up displaced, and her parents’ commitment to educationLife for Afghan women and girls today: the mental health crisis, forced early marriage and secret classroomsHow women are working around Taliban restrictions, and the risks they faceWhy geopolitical interests are overtaking human rights, including Russia’s recognition of the TalibanHer experience as a delegate in the Doha talks and the Taliban’s PR strategyThe economic and social cost of an entire generation of girls shut out of educationUnderstanding the Taliban’s worldview and why they fear educated womenAccess to healthcare and justice for women, including domestic violenceHow the Taliban’s legal and enforcement machinery has developed into what Shaharzad calls a gender apartheid systemWhether the Taliban’s impunity is emboldening other countries and extremist groupsWhat business leaders, governments and listeners can actually do to helpThe international risks that concern Shaharzad most: misinformation, climate change and the erosion of solidarityThe International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you’re a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.   Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe’s leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe’s leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe’s business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today’s business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage. Subscribe for expert conversations on geopolitics, security, economics, conflict, resilience and global affairs. Tell us what you liked!

What happens when voters hear promises about cheaper living — but see their government focused elsewhere? Dominic Bowen puts that question to international pollster Alex Tarascio of Cygnal in episode #405 of The International Risk Podcast. Their conversation examines voter frustration, the US #midterm #elections and the gap between political headlines and the choices people make at the ballot box. They explore shifts in the Republican coalition, the politics of the cost of living and Iran, what interest in socialism tells us about younger voters, and why strong support does not always translate into turnout. Dominic also asks how leaders should judge polling evidence and why data centres have become a source of local political tension.  What matters more in an election: convincing people to switch sides, or getting your supporters to turn out? Share your view in the comments. The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you’re a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter. Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe’s leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe’s leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe’s business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today’s business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage. Subscribe for expert conversations on geopolitics, security, economics, conflict, resilience and global affairs. Tell us what you liked!

Sweden's voters handed the centre-left opposition a win by just three seats, 176 to 173, and yet no one can form a government. The Sweden Democrats lost ground at the ballot box, but they may still hold the key to what happens next. With investors, NATO allies and Ukraine supporters watching closely, this is a stress test for one of Europe's steadiest democracies. Host Dominic Bowen is joined by Anders Sannerstedt, a political scientist at Lund University who studies the Sweden Democrats, local elections and Swedish party politics. Together they unpack why winning an election doesn't guarantee governing, and what happens if the parties can't break the deadlock. In this episode: - Why the opposition is four parties that aren't natural partners, from the Left Party to the Centre Party - How the Sweden Democrats evolved from their white supremacist roots into a right-wing populist party, and why they lost ground this time - The economy, healthcare and gang violence as the issues that shaped the vote - The urban-rural divide and why the Sweden Democrats do well in small towns and the south - What would change under a left versus a right government, particularly on climate policy - Why foreign and defence policy, including NATO and support for Ukraine, is unlikely to shift - Anders's biggest international risk concerns: Russia and climate change The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you’re a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter. Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe’s leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe’s leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe’s business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today’s business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage. Subscribe for expert conversations on geopolitics, security, economics, conflict, resilience and global affairs. Tell us what you liked!

Before you let ChatGPT or Claude influence your next business decision, ask yourself: are you trusting the evidence or how convincing the answer sounds? Dominic Bowen joins AI researcher Herbert Roitblat, author of Algorithms Are Not Enough, to examine what business leaders should demand from artificial intelligence, and where human judgment remains essential. Drawing on his experience as a senior management consultant, Dominic explains why telling a client “I’m not confident yet” can be more valuable than delivering a polished answer. Together, they explore how to challenge AI outputs, identify useful applications and measure whether the technology is actually improving your business. In this conversation: • Why confident AI answers still need scrutiny • What leaders should automate—and where people add value • How to distinguish AI adoption from meaningful business improvement • Why critical thinking and systems thinking matter • How to stay professionally valuable as AI changes work • The privacy and infrastructure risks behind the technology What would you never delegate to AI and why? Tell us in the comments. CHAPTERS 00:00 AI strategy and the leadership challenge 01:08 Are we overestimating AI? 02:15 Dominic challenges the token-guesser argument 03:52 What should an AI-first business automate? 05:54 Where human judgment adds value 08:18 Building a business around better information 10:43 Trust, evidence and reliable outputs 12:37 Confidence is not critical thinking 15:01 Knowledge work and defending your value 18:48 Designing useful AI workflows 20:10 What separates AI value from wasted spending? 22:45 Learning and systems thinking 24:53 Privacy, infrastructure and international risk 27:00 Closing reflections Listen to and follow The International Risk Podcast The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you’re a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter. Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe’s leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe’s leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe’s business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today’s business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage. Subscribe for expert conversations on geopolitics, security, economics, conflict, resilience and global affairs. #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfWork #Geopolitics #AI Tell us what you liked!

In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen speaks with Sarah Logan about the global race to secure Africa's critical minerals. The discussion examines how China, the US, and Europe are positioning themselves in this race, and whether African countries can move beyond simply hosting the competition. It also explores why refining is the real choke point in this race, and why China's head start there now gives it a durable structural advantage. The conversation explores: -What critical minerals are, where they're found, and why demand is only accelerating -Why China is so far ahead, and why refining remains the West's biggest challenge -Whether African and European manufacturing ambitions can align -Whether this rivalry actually benefits African countries Sarah Logan is a lawyer and economist with over 15 years of experience in mining and energy policy across Africa. She is a Visiting Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations and author of the African Extracts Substack. TListen to and follow The International Risk Podcast The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you’re a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter. Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe’s leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe’s leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe’s business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today’s business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage. Subscribe for new episodes every week  Tell us what you liked in the comments below  Share this episode with colleagues in risk, policy, and security  #Geopolitics #CriticalMinerals #Africa #China #UnitedStates #Europe #Mining #Cobalt #Lithium #PoliticalRisk #InternationalRisk #Strategy #EconomicSecurity Tell us what you liked!

In this episode, Dominic sits down with Dr. Maryanne Wolf, a cognitive neuroscientist at UCLA who has spent her career studying what she calls "the reading brain." Maryanne explains why reading doesn't come naturally to us the way language or vision does. It's a skill the brain has to build, circuit by circuit, and one that can atrophy if we stop exercising it. The numbers are stark. Nearly a third of American adults score at the lowest level of literacy. Fourth grade reading scores are at a two decade low. Eighth graders are performing worse than they have in four decades. And it isn't just a US problem. Countries around the world are seeing similar declines. Maryanne argues that these statistics are symptoms of something deeper: a shift away from what she calls "deep reading," the slow process that builds background knowledge, inference, empathy and critical thinking. She shares her own unexpected experience of realising her brain had changed after struggling to reread a novel she once loved, and what she did to rebuild that capacity. The conversation also digs into AI tools, audiobooks and podcasts, and what neuroscience is starting to reveal about "cognitive surrender," the growing reliance on technology to do our thinking for us. Maryanne makes the case that this isn't a minor cultural shift. It's a battle for how future generations will think, reason and govern themselves. The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you’re a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter. Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe’s leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe’s leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe’s business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today’s business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage. Tell us what you liked! Tell us what you liked!

The International Risk Podcast with Tzvi Gottlieb In this episode, Dominic Bowen and Tzvi Gottlieb examine the intersection of war, politics and national security in Israel, asking how domestic political pressures are shaping decisions over Iran, Gaza and the wider Middle East. From Benjamin Netanyahu’s political future and Israel’s confrontation with Iran to the resilience of Israeli democratic institutions and the country’s increasingly strained relationship with the United States, the conversation explores the strategic risks facing Israel at a pivotal moment for the country and the region. We discuss: - Whether Israeli domestic politics are influencing decisions over war and national security - Israel’s confrontation with Iran and what “finishing the job” could realistically mean - Why regime change in Iran would be extraordinarily difficult to achieve - Benjamin Netanyahu’s political incentives and the approaching Israeli elections - The resilience of Israel’s democratic and political institutions - How Israeli politics have changed during Netanyahu’s long period in power - The relationship between Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump - Why changing American attitudes towards Israel could pose a major strategic risk - Whether Israel risks weakening its most important international relationship - Gaza, the West Bank and the prospects for a two-state solution - The political power of Israel’s settler movement and changing Israeli demographics - How the conflict could reshape the balance of power across the Middle East - What Israel and the wider region could look like five years from now About the guest: Tzvi Gottlieb is a political consultant and former communications director for the Israeli government. He is also a former Arab affairs correspondent for Galei Tzahal (IDF Radio) and a former lobbyist for Shatil – The New Israel Fund. He has written for Haaretz, Globes and other Israeli media outlets, and brings extensive experience across Israeli politics, government, media and public affairs. About the host: Dominic Bowen is Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms. He advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives on crisis management, geopolitical risk, operational resilience, and strategy, drawing on decades of experience across government, humanitarian operations, and corporate leadership. See more at www.theinternationalriskpodcast.com Tell us what you liked!

In Episode 399 of The International Risk Podcast, Dominic and Craig examine the real economics of artificial intelligence: how CFOs should measure AI returns, when automation becomes job displacement, why agentic workflows are changing competitive advantage, and how AI is becoming a geopolitical and governance challenge. They discuss: - How CFOs can distinguish durable AI value from hype - Why some companies are cutting headcount while others avoid new hiring - The shift from AI experimentation to operational agentic workflows - Competition and regulation across the United States, Europe and China - How professionals can future-proof their careers - Mass employment change, taxation and pressure on the middle class - Who captures the profits when machines replace human work - Shrinking business moats, talent risk and AI dependency - Defence, data centres, energy, water and international risk What concerns you most: job displacement, concentrated profits, weak governance or geopolitical competition? Share your view in the comments. Listen to and follow The International Risk Podcast The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you’re a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter. Craig Unsworth is a Portfolio Chief Product Officer and senior adviser who works with private-equity firms and their portfolio companies. His work focuses on product strategy, transformation, growth and agentic AI. Craig's website: https://www.craigunsworth.com/ Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe’s leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe’s leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe’s business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today’s business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage. Subscribe for expert conversations on geopolitics, security, economics, conflict, resilience and global affairs. Podcast Chapters 00:00 AI value, jobs and risk 00:22 How CFOs should measure AI returns 01:50 AI productivity, layoffs and fewer new hires 04:14 From experiments to agentic workflows 06:14 AI geopolitics: America, Europe and China 08:39 How to future-proof your career 11:07 The AI tools and workflows leaders overlook 14:57 The cost of waiting to adopt AI 18:47 Who captures the gains from automation? 23:14 Who should govern AI? 23:34 Shrinking business moats and hidden risks 26:27 Defence, resources and data-centre risk 29:08 The leadership skills businesses need now 29:46 Closing thoughts #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfWork #Geopolitics #AI Tell us what you liked!

In this episode of the International Risk Podcast, host Dominic Bowen is joined by Simeon de Brouwer, policy advisor at European Digital Rights (EDRi), Europe’s largest network of digital rights organisations. Simeon explains the controversial EU proposal known as “Chat Control” and explores what mandatory scanning of private communications could mean for encryption, privacy, security and child protection across Europe. We discuss: What the EU’s Chat Control proposal would actually require messaging and hosting platforms to scan for child sexual abuse material and groomingWhy scanning everyone’s private communications raises fundamental questions about the presumption of innocence and proportionalityHow client-side scanning could affect end-to-end encryption on services such as WhatsApp and SignalThe risks of false positives, including innocent communications being flagged, accounts being suspended and private material being reviewed by authoritiesWhy mass scanning could create opportunities for “function creep”, allowing surveillance infrastructure introduced for child protection to be expanded to terrorism, organised crime or political dissentWhy encryption is essential not only for ordinary users, but also for journalists, human rights defenders and businessesHow criminals can adapt their behaviour to evade automated detection, potentially leaving the most sophisticated perpetrators beyond the reach of the technologyThe tension between privacy and child safety, and why EDRi argues that the two do not have to be mutually exclusiveWhat alternative approaches could better protect children online, including addressing how platforms enable adults to find and contact young peopleWhere negotiations over Chat Control currently stand, and what could happen as the European Parliament, Council and European Commission continue negotiationsWhy Simeon is concerned about Europe’s broader push to simplify digital regulation, and the risk that weakening protections in the name of innovation could ultimately create new security and privacy risksThe International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you’re a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter. Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe’s leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe’s leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe’s business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today’s business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage. Tell us what you liked!

In this episode of the International Risk Podcast, host Dominic Bowen is joined by Dr. Holly Bell, economist, former professor and academic administrator at the University of Alaska Anchorage, and author of the geopolitical novel Occupied Alaska. Holly shares the real events that inspired her book, drawing on her own work opposing a proposed $43 billion Chinese-backed gas pipeline deal in Alaska, and explains why economic dependence on foreign capital, technology and infrastructure can constrain a nation's sovereignty just as effectively as military force. We discuss: How a 2017 agreement between Alaska and a Chinese state-linked company for a $43 billion LNG project became the basis for a speculative novel about foreign occupationWhy economically unviable infrastructure deals can still attract foreign investment, and what predatory lending terms reveal about the true intent behind themHow debt-trap dynamics that have played out in Sri Lanka and Djibouti could realistically unfold within a U.S. stateThe accumulation risk of individually rational investments in energy, agriculture and finance, and how they can combine into a national security threatWhy Alaska's abundance of rare earths, oil, gas and proximity to Russia make it strategically indispensable, and strategically vulnerableThe structural disadvantage democracies face when competing against authoritarian states that plan in decades rather than election cyclesHow economic leverage translates into political influence, from campaign financing to land use regulationWhat current developments, including foreign interest in U.S. data infrastructure, reveal about where these risks are heading nextThe International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you’re a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter. Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe’s leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe’s leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe’s business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today’s business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage. Tell us what you liked!

In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen speaks with Stephanie Wolters about security, governance, and stability across the Democratic Republic of Congo. Stephanie Wolters unpacks why the DRC cannot be ignored, and why the roots of the conflict stretch far beyond its own borders. The discussion examines the international intervention in DRC, including MONUSCO, and what daily life actually looks like for communities living under armed group control. It also explores Rwanda's influence in the crisis. The conversation explores:   -The regionally-driven roots of the conflict and why it's about power more than resources -Rwanda's role in the crisis -The impact and limits of international intervention on the ground -What daily life is actually like for communities in areas controlled by armed groups -The challenge of managing outbreaks like Ebola in conflict-affected areas Stephanie Wolters is a Senior Research Fellow at the South African Institute of International Affairs and founding director of Okapi Consulting, with over 25 years of experience researching conflict and political economy across the Great Lakes region. The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you’re a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter. Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe’s leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe’s leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe’s business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today’s business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.   Subscribe for new episodes every week Tell us what you liked in the comments below Share this episode with colleagues in risk, policy, and security #Geopolitics #DRC #GreatLakes #MONUSCO #Congo #Rwanda #PoliticalRisk #InternationalRisk #Strategy #Africa Tell us what you liked!

In this episode of the International Risk Podcast, host Dominic Bowen is joined by Kirtan Pandit, conservation researcher and co-founder of GeoSutra, an environmental intelligence company whose team deployed drones within 24 hours of the catastrophic Nepal flood to carry out rapid damage assessments in Nuwakot district. Kirtan shares a firsthand account of the disaster response, drawing on his work using drones to assess and deliver aid to flood affected communities, and explains why this event, and Nepal's growing exposure to glacial hazards, must be understood as a climate risk issue with global implications. We discuss: What triggered the flood, and how a glacier collapse near the Nepal-China border unleashed one of the deadliest disasters in Nepal's modern historyHow GeoSutra's team accessed the affected area and used drones to assess damage and deliver aid across a river with no remaining crossingsThe scale of destruction to critical infrastructure, including roads, bridges, the Rasuwagadhi border crossing and hydropower stationsThe ongoing search for workers trapped in a hydropower tunnel and the mounting challenge of managing the deadWhy the flood is directly linked to climate change and global warming's effect on Himalayan glaciersThe limitations of Nepal's current early warning systems and what stronger, climate resilient infrastructure would requireWhy Nepal and other low emitting mountainous nations are demanding climate finance and loss and damage funding as grants rather than loansWhat this disaster reveals about the growing risk facing mountain communities across the Himalayas and beyondThe International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you’re a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter. Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe’s leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe’s leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe’s business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today’s business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage. Tell us what you liked!