< Back Dr Premesha Saha Premesha Saha is an Associate Fellow (Strategic Studies Programme) at the Observer Research Foundation. She holds a PhD from the Center for Indo-Pacific Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, with a thesis on ‘Indonesia’s Indian Ocean Strategy, 2004-2015’. She has formerly been an Associate Fellow at the National Maritime Foundation, and a Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for Political Studies in Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan, Jakarta. Her primary research areas are Indonesia’s maritime strategy, the emerging dynamics of the Indo-Pacific region, India and Southeast Asia, India’s Act East Policy, Asia-Pacific multilateralism. She is presently working on research projects focusing on India-Australia defence cooperation, prospects for South Korea’s engagement with India and ASEAN, and deeper Australia-India-Indonesia trilateral cooperation, partnering with institutions such as the Australian DFAT, Korea Foundation, Australian National University (ANU), and CSIS Jakarta. Publications Securing Two Oceans: Bolstering India-Australia Defence Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific: https://www.orfonline.org/research/securing-two-oceans/ India’s Role in the Emerging Dynamics of the Indo-Pacific:https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/indias-role-in-the-emerging-dynamics-of-the-indo-pacific/ The Bottom Line in Blinken’s foray into Southeast Asia: https://www.orfonline.org/research/the-bottom-line-in-blinkens-foray-into-southeast-asia

< Back Dr Marufa Akter Dr. Marufa Akter is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Global Studies and Governance in Independent University, Bangladesh. She obtained a PhD in Political Science from University of Bremen, Germany and her dissertation titled: Women’s Political Participation in Bangladesh Parliament: A Case Study Analysis of Women’s Substantive Representation. She has obtained a Masters degree in Public Policy from Willy Brandt School of Public Policy, University of Erfurt, Germany under DAAD scholarship. She also holds a Bachelor and a Master of Social Sciences degree in International Relations from University of Dhaka. She has attended a one-year graduate course on Peace building, and Conflict Transformation at the SIT Graduate Institute in Vermont, USA. She works in the areas of women and politics; gender and governance; women, peace and security; conflict resolution and peace building, climate change in Indo-pacific, and migration. Publications

< Back Ms Munira Mustaffa Ms. Munira Mustaffa founded Chasseur Group and serves as its Executive Director and principal consultant. In addition, she is a non-resident fellow at New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy, a Washington, DC-based independent policy think tank, and a fellow at Verve Research, an independent research collective focusing on the relationship between the military and society in the context of political development in the Indo-Pacific region. Since 2014, she has worked professionally in the security field, including the corporate, public, and military sectors. Her work on terrorism, extremism, militancy in Southeast Asia, and cyber warfare has been published by the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy, NATO's Strategic Communications Center of Excellence (STRATCOMCOE), and the Global Network on Extremism and Technology (GNET). She obtained a Master’s degree from University College London (UCL). Publications “Social Media Discourse in Malaysia on the Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Rationales for Pro-Russia Sentiments”, ISEAS Perspective, 22 Apr 2022, https://www.iseas.edu.sg/articles-commentaries/iseas-perspective/2022-41-social-media-discourse-in-malaysia- on-the-russia-ukraine-conflict-rationales-for-pro-russia-sentiments-by-benjamin-y-h-loh-and-munira-mustaffa/ “Radical Right Activities in Nusantara’s Digital Landscape: A Snapshot”, Global Network on Extremism & Technology (GNET), 19 Apr 2022, https://gnet-research.org/2022/04/19/radical-right-activities-in-nusantaras-digital-landscape-a-snapshot/. “The Kadyrovtsy: Putin’s Force Multiplier or Propaganda Tool?”, New Lines Institute for Strategy & Policy, 7 Mar 2022, https://newlinesinstitute.org/russia/the-kadyrovtsy-putins-force-multiplier-or-propaganda-tool/.

< Back Ms Tinchu James Tinchu P. James an Assistant Professor of Political Science at St. Thomas College, Pala. She holds an MPhil from Kerala University, and serves as a Member of the UG and PG Boards of Studies, M G Universit, Kerala, and the Director of the St. Thomas College Women’s Forum. Publications

< Back Brendon J Cannon Brendon J. Cannon is an Assistant Professor of International Security at Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE. He earned a PhD in Political Science from the University of Utah, USA (2009). His research is at the nexus of international relations, security studies, and geopolitics. He has published on topics related to regional security and geopolitics, the arms industry, and shifting distributions of power across the Indo-Pacific. Cannon’s articles appear in Defence Studies, Small Wars and Insurgencies, Asian Security and Third World Quarterly. His new book, edited with Kei Hakata, is Indo-Pacific Strategies: Navigating Geopolitics at the Dawn of a New Age (Routledge). Publications

< Back Ms Moitrayee Sengupta Moitrayee Sengupta has served as a Research Assistant at the Department of International Relations, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, working on a project titled ‘Disaster-induced Displacement: Developing a Normative Framework and International Policy’. She has also worked as a Research Intern for Dr Bishawjit Mallick — Chair of Environmental Development and Risk Management, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany, focusing on ‘Historical Grounding of Migration Decisions of the People at Environmental Risks’, funded by the European Union. She holds an MPhil from Jadavpur University, Kolkata. Publications A Triple Crisis in the Indian Sundarbans https://www.sylff.org/news_voices/28796/

< Back Dr Dhanasree Jayaram Dhanasree Jayaram is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Geopolitics & International Relations (DGIR), Manipal Academy of Higher Education. She received her PhD from the Department in 2018, on the topic, ‘Military Dimensions of Environmental Security: An Indian Perspective’. She is also the Coordinator for the Centre for Climate Studies, MAHE, and a Project Associate at the Manipal Advanced Research Group Website Project. She is a former Research Associate at the Centre for Air Power Studies, a Pre-doctoral Fellow at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, and a Post-doctoral Fellow at the Leiden University Institute for Area Studies. Her most recent book, is titled ‘Climate Diplomacy and Emerging Economies: India as a Case Study’, published by Routledge, London. Publications China’s Geoengineering Push Dangerous for the Region: https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/news/chinas-geoengineering-push-dangerous-region Kerala Should get its ‘Sustainable’ Priorities Right: https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/opinion/kerala-get-sustainable-priorities-right

< Back Dr Ladhu Choudhary Ladhu Ram Choudhary is an Assistant Professor, at the Department of Political Science, University of Rajasthan. He holds a PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University, with a thesis titled, ‘Explaining Jointness in Military Affairs: A Case Study of the Indian Military’, and has also served as a Teaching Assistant, for national security and international relations. His research areas include International Relations Theory, Geopolitics, Contemporary Diplomacy, Nuclear Politics, Indian Foreign and Security Policy, and Military strategy. He is an Associate Member at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Analyses, New Delhi, and the British International Studies Association, UK. He has published several research articles on themes such as India-Pakistan relations, nuclear track-II diplomacy, and disarmament, in journals including South Asian Journal of Diplomacy and Political Science Review. The most recent book co-authored by him is titled, ‘Indian Foreign Policy: Identity and Issues’, published by Rawat Publications. Publications SAV Review: What Drives Doctrinal Change in the Indian Army? https://southasianvoices.org/explaining-transformation-indian-army-doctrine/ Review: Rescuing the Debate on Indian Soft Power from Joseph Nye https://thewire.in/books/review-rescuing-indias-soft-power-from-joseph-nyes-conceptualisation

< Back Dr Nansi Paulraj Dr. Nansi Paulraj currently heads the International Relations Department at Loyola College, Chennai. She is an alumna of Loyola College, where she completed her Master's degree. She pursued her M.Phil. and Ph.D. from the School of International Studies, Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Her academic journey includes significant international research experience, having conducted area study doctoral research at both Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia, and The University of Tehran, Iran. A recipient of the Indian Council for Social Science Research fellowship, she also holds UGC NET & JRF in Human Rights and Duties. Dr. Nansi Paulraj, she is an insightful media commentator and has recorded notable contributions including an audio podcast on "Russian Military Offensive: The Revisionist Agenda and the Ripple Effects." Her international recognition includes representing India in the U.S. State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program (2023) focused on "Women Leaders-Promoting Peace and Security for the Indo-Pacific and Central Asia," and participation in the Asian Research Security Consortium in Singapore (2024). Her research experiences have contributed to both national and international publications. Publications

< Back Dr Amrita Jash Dr. Amrita Jash is an Assistant Professor and Ph.D Co-ordinator at the Department of Geopolitics and International Relations at the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) in Manipal, India. Publications

< Back Dr Gaurav Saini Executive Editor Dr. Saini holds a PhD in International Politics from the Centre for International Politics, Organization, and Disarmament at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. His doctoral thesis titled “India’s Strategic Culture: A study of Indian thinking on China, 1998-2014” focuses on contemporary Indian strategic thought with a particular emphasis on China. His research interests include foreign policy, strategic culture, defense industry, regionalism, and conflict resolution. Currently, he is an Emerging Quad Think Tank Leader, a part of the U.S. State Department’s Leaders Lead on Demand program. The program brings together 20 thought leaders (5 from each of the 4 Quad countries) to work together on various aspects of the Quad in the Indo Pacific region. At CSDR, he is responsible for product design and partnerships. gauravsaini@csdronline.com 123-456-7890

< Back Gaurav Saini Fellow & Operations Lead Dr. Gaurav Saini is a Fellow & Operations Lead at the Council for Strategic and Defense Research. Gaurav finished his PhD from the Centre for International Politics, Organization and Disarmament, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. His research interests include Indian foreign policy, strategic culture and conflict resolution. He manages ‘The Chao Track’ - India, ‘National Security Conversations with Happymon Jacob’ and leads product design and partnerships at CSDR.