GLOBAL ACADEMY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
THE TEAM
Our team is the heart of The Global Academy of International Relations, and the reason why our virtual academia has truly thrived. Students stay connected through a variety of online channels. If you’d like to speak directly with one of our members, feel free to reach out and we’d be happy to connect you.
CHRISTIAN FJÄDER, PARTNER
PhD, MBA
Christian  has extensive corporate experience in security, risk and resilience leadership in regional and global leadership roles in Australia, Asia, Europe and South America. In addition he has research and consulting experience in International Relations, geopolitics and global risk and resilience, as well as teaching experience in Geopolitics and global governance. He has a PhD in International Relations from the University of Sydney, MBA from Bond University, Master of Arts (International Relations) and Bachelor of International Studies from Flinders University, Australia.
MIKAEL WIGELL, PARTNER
PhD
Mikael is Programme Director of Global Security Research at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. He is also Adjunct Professor in International Political Economy at the University of Tampere, Non-Resident Associate at the European Centre of Excellence for Countering
Hybrid Threats (Hybrid CoE), and Senior Editor of the Journal of Autonomy and Security Studies. He earned his PhD at the London School of Economics and he has been a Visiting Fellow at the
Changing Character of War Centre, Oxford University. He has also been a Member of the Development Policy Committee of the Finnish Government and President of the Finnish International
Studies Association.Â
University of Tampere students chose his course as the best
international relations course in 2020.
MIKKO VÄHÄ-SIPILÄ, PARTNER
PhD
Dr Mikko Vähä-Sipilä (PhD) is an expert in European Union affairs, especially in energy policy, programme financing, security of supply, resilience and critical infrastructure. Mikko’s professional background is chiefly from within the European Union administration in Brussels where he has worked on energy market issues and regional development. Mikko’s career also includes work on national resilience as well as spells in research, journalism and consultancy. He has studied in Finland, the UK and Lithuania and holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Tampere in Finland.
ANA MARIA MANZUR, PARTNER
MBA
Ana Maria has a bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering from PUCP, an MBA from Bond University, Australia, and a Master in Information and service Management from Aalto University, Finland. She is in charge of coordinating the courses, supporting lecturers and students as well as managing the daily operations at The GAIR.