• 2015         named Docent (Associate Professor) in Political Science at Uppsala University on 11 September.

• 2001 - 2004     PhD French and Russian Department, University of Canterbury, New Zealand. Title of the thesis – Ideology, Image-making and the Media in Putin’s Russia. On exchange at Department of East European Studies, Uppsala University, Sweden since April 2002. Successfully defended at the Russian Union of Journalists on Zubovsky Boulevard, Moscow on August 3, 2004. Opponent was the Executive Secretary of the Russian Union of Journalists.

• 2000 – 2001    Master’s thesis with the Department of French and Russian, University of Canterbury, New Zealand. Thesis title is The Impact of Political and Business Interests on the Contemporary Russian Media. Received Masters with Distinction grade

• 1998 – 1999    Russian Government Scholarship to the Russian University of Friendship Peoples in Moscow Russia for intensive language training

• 1998                Bachelor of Arts with Honours with the Department of French and Russian, University of Canterbury, New Zealand. Received B. A. Honours (First Class).

• 1995 – 1997    Bachelor of Arts with the Department of French and Russian, University of Canterbury, New Zealand

• 1988 – 1990    Bachelor of Arts with the Department History, University of Canterbury, New Zealand

• Authored and edited books - 18
• Book chapters - 38
• Articles - 129

2025               Professor at the Department of Journalism, Media and Communication at Daffodil International University in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

2007 - 2025   Lecturer at the Department of Communication Science, Turiba University in Riga, Latvia. Responsible for designing, teaching, grading all three cycles of education (bachelor, master and doctoral levels) within communication sciences. January 2012 I was elected as an Associate Professor. Engage in teaching philosophy based on lectures that are interactive and engaging with the students, where academic theory and concepts are contextualised and framed with practical experience. Significant experience at online teaching at Master and Doctoral levels. Heavily involved in supervising doctoral students, and the wider administration process (including the defence) of the doctoral programme.

2010 - 2023   Researcher at the Uppsala Centre for Russian and Eurasian Studies (later Institute for Russian and Eurasian Studies), Uppsala University, Sweden. Proactive in creating vast global academic networks within the fields of international relations, geopolitics, persuasive organised communication with a particular focus on Post-Soviet Space and the Middle East North African regions. Numerous international collaborations established in the area of research and publishing, including engaging in cutting edge research in the interpretation and representation of global geopolitical transformations of the 21^st century. This included the creation, organisation and running of international conferences and seminars on key topics as Islam in Russia or the developments and influences of political marketing on politics in international relations. Proactive and successful track record in seeking and applying for research funding.

2022               co-creator and co-teaching a brand-new module on Economic War Theory in the Master in Competitive and Business Intelligence programme at the Bucharest University of Economic Studies in November in Bucharest, Romania.

2021               lecturing modules on Speech Writing For Diplomats and Theory and Practice of Negotiations on the International Master Programme in Analytics and Consulting in International Relations at Tyumen State University, Russia. I created the course content, employing my proactive and dialogic teaching style, blending theory and practice for maximum knowledge retention and learning.

2018 - 2021   Leading Researcher, The Centre for Comparative Studies of Toleration and Recognition of the Ural Humanitarian Institute, Ural Federal University, Russia. Successfully lead a team of researchers to achieve the 2.5-year long project’s goals and aims.

2018 - 2021   Leading Researcher in Media and Communication at the Business Technology Institute at Turiba University in Riga, Latvia.

2016 - 2017   Researcher at CATS (Centre for Asymmetric Threat Studies) at the Swedish Defence University in Stockholm, Sweden. Engaged in cutting edge research on subjects such as terrorism, information warfare, hybrid warfare and other related security topics.

2013               Consultant for OSCE on the project International Expert with knowledge of Freedom of Information Laws as they pertain to Law Enforcement; and the role that government public press services play in this context and knowledge of international best practices in the field with my particular task to evaluate the activity of the press-secretaries during the crisis situations in Kyrgyzstan, and to produce a report on the issue that evaluated the performance of the authorities, together with recommendations. The work was done during November and December.

2012-2013     External Evaluator for the EUSBSR Flagship Project 14.3. Tasked with producing the mid-term evaluation report. Plus assisted in the organisation and in the participation of various conferences and workshops associated with the project. This was a contract position from October 2012 until February 2013, I was assigned within the framework of the Swedish Institute.

2005 - 2015   Editor/Researcher with Crismart (Crisis Management Research and Training) in Stockholm, Sweden. Editing English language volumes, co-ordinating a project, training and conducting own research. Worked to tight deadlines in various international research and publishing projects with very diverse international teams. Initiated and led research and publishing projects on highly original and innovative research themes within crisis management and crisis communication with international teams and networks of researchers.

2004 - 2009   Guest Researcher with the Department of Eurasian Studies, Uppsala University, Sweden. I have lectured on Russian mass media issues at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research. Responsible for creating innovative new courses and revamping existing courses based on applied research. Also supervised over 40 international students in their master thesis work, requiring subject knowledge and cultural competence. I was responsible for teaching the course and block of a course:

1. Mass Media and Conflict in the Russian Sphere of Europe, undergraduate
2. Regional Policy Studies (Central Asia), international master’s programme
3. Eurasia Track of the Internship Course

2000 – 2002  PR and Marketing with the University of Canterbury, New Zealand on a part-time basis.

2000 – 2001  Primary Processing Officer (passport control) with New Zealand Customs Service at Christchurch International Airport during the summer holidays.

1998 – 1999  Market Researcher for Kiwi Cooperative Dairies. Assessed economic and market conditions, while based in Moscow.

1994 – 2000  Industrial Temp for Kelly Services Ltd, working on numerous short term work assignments around Christchurch, New Zealand.

1993 – 1998  Artillery Fire Controller and Intelligence Operator in the New Zealand Territorial Army

1986 – 1992  Assistant at Akaroa Boat Hire, New Zealand. Taught people how to sail, rescues, boat maintenance and desk work.