Can you briefly present your career path and your current role?
I have spent more than two decades working in defence and national security policy. I joined the Estonian Ministry of Defence in 2001, working first on bilateral relations and later on Baltic defence cooperation. From 2010 to 2013, immediately after my graduation from the Geneva
Graduate Institute, I was Director of International Cooperation. I also worked as Rail Baltic project manager at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and served as Estonia’s Defence Policy Adviser in Washington, DC, and then as Director of National Security and Defence Coordination at the Government Office, advising the Prime Minister.
Today, I am Special Advisor for Defence Industry Development at the Ministry of Defence. My work focuses on strengthening Estonia’s defence-industrial base, including developing defence industry parks and new production capabilities for ammunition and explosives. I also initiated the establishment of Hexest Materials AS, a state-owned military explosives company, and serve on its Supervisory Board.
What are the main challenges in your work today?
Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine has fundamentally changed Europe’s security environment. Europe has rediscovered that credible defence requires not only capable armed forces but also sufficient industrial capacity. The challenge is both scale and speed: we need to increase production rapidly while creating sustainable capabilities for the longer term.
In Estonia, this means developing industrial infrastructure, attracting private investment, adapting regulations, managing planning and environmental requirements, and turning defence needs into viable industrial projects. Expectations are high, and new production capacity needs to become operational quickly.
How has your experience at the Graduate Institute shaped your career?
I graduated in 2010 with a Master’s degree in International History and Politics. My studies helped me place the practical security-policy issues I was already working on into a broader historical and international context.
Geneva also provided a uniquely international environment. Security policy requires an understanding not only of military affairs, but also of history, economics, diplomacy, and international institutions. That perspective has been valuable throughout my career. I was also attracted by the Institute’s bilingual environment: I wanted to learn French, and I did — although I have had fewer opportunities to use it since.
What advice would you give to students interested in careers in security and public policy?
Develop a broad understanding of the world and avoid specialising too narrowly too early. Security and public policy increasingly combine geopolitics, economics, technology, industry, and society.
Seek practical experience. Internships, part-time work, or professional roles help turn academic knowledge and analytical skills into real-world value. Policy is ultimately about turning analysis into decisions and decisions into results.
Finally, remain curious and adaptable. The central issues in European and global security have changed considerably during my career. The ability to understand change, learn quickly, and translate strategic objectives into practical action is one of the most valuable skills you can develop.
This interview was published in Globe #38, the Graduate Institute Review.
