Dr. Jan Cernicky is a German political scientist and expert in international economic policy, trade, and economic security. He holds a Magister degree in Philosophy and Political Science from Leibniz University Hannover and studied at the Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne in Paris. He later earned a Ph.D. in Political Science with distinction (magna cum laude), specializing in regional integration and economic cooperation in West Africa. Over the course of his career, Dr. Cernicky has combined academic research with extensive international leadership experience. Following several years as an independent consultant advising companies on business opportunities and risks across Africa, he held senior positions with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kenya. In these roles, he developed high-level government, business, and civil society networks while providing strategic policy advice in complex political and economic environments. From 2020 to 2022, he served as Advisor for International Economics and Trade at the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, leading analyses, studies, and stakeholder dialogues on global trade, economic resilience, supply chain security, and emerging economic security challenges. He subsequently headed the Foundation’s Department for Economic Affairs and Innovation in Berlin, overseeing policy work on competitiveness, innovation, international trade, and economic security. Since July 2026, Dr. Cernicky has served as Adviser for Central and Eastern Europe and the European Economy, focusing on the geopolitical and economic dynamics shaping Europe’s competitiveness, resilience, and strategic autonomy. Fluent in English and French, he is a frequent moderator, speaker, and advisor on international economic policy, European affairs, and geopolitical developments.
