This year’s academy

Sofia Burton is an Adviser in Group Government Affairs at Saab, focusing on strategic advisory and market analysis. She previously studied at Linköping University and Maastricht University, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science as well as a Master’s degree in International Relations.

Amélie Reichmuth is a journalist and teacher with European experience in international cooperation, media, and education. She operates at the intersection of civil society, public institutions, and the private sector. Her work is characterized by a strong commitment to Nordic cooperation and EU affairs, particularly where politics, society, and human perspectives converge. Amélie holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from Sciences Po in Paris; she is multilingual and has been based in Stockholm since 2019.

Pixie Söderström is a Project Manager at Timbro and previously interned at the consulting firm Urban Utveckling. She holds a Master’s degree in Urban Planning and has a background in the Moderate Party and Moderate Students. Currently, she serves on the International Committee of the Confederation of Swedish Conservative and Liberal Students.

Axel Fégeant works as a Desk Officer at the Department for European and North American Affairs at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. He has previously worked at the Centre for European Studies at Lund University and interned at the Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU in Brussels. Axel holds a Master’s degree in European Affairs and a Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies from Lund University.

Isak Axelson works as a consultant in strategic communication at Bellbird. He has a broad background at the intersection of geopolitics and business, including internships at the UN in New York and Business Sweden in Berlin. Isak holds a Master’s degree in History and International Relations from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Economics from the Stockholm School of Economics.

Emelie Lekebjer is a Senior Project Manager at the policy research institute SNS. She works in the research department and is responsible for, among other initiatives, the SNS Preparedness Commission—a research project exploring how to create and maintain socio-economically efficient preparedness. She also leads the research project Crime and Society, which addresses organized crime and the criminal economy. Emelie holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from Lund University.

Nora Weidel is a third-year student in the BSc program in Business and Economics at the Stockholm School of Economics and works as a military interpreter in the Swedish Armed Forces. She previously served at the Embassy of Sweden in Kyiv before and during Russia’s full-scale invasion, with responsibility for military analysis and diplomatic assignments. She is also a Research Assistant at the Center for Security and Resilience at the Stockholm School of Economics and Chair of the Academic Officer Society in Stockholm.

Gustaf Löf Hagström works as an Analyst at the Swedish Civil Defence Agency. He previously worked as an analyst in the Defence Section at the Embassy of Sweden in Warsaw. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Uppsala University and trained as an Army Ranger at the Life Regiment Hussars (K3). Furthermore, he has a particular interest in Eastern Europe and civil-military cooperation.

Theodor Tralau is currently a student at Stockholm University, studying International Relations and Russian. He was previously an intern at the editorial page of Svenska Dagbladet and a substitute editorial writer for Timbro’s online magazine, Smedjan. He has frequently written editorials for Svenska Nyhetsbyrån, often focusing on Eastern Europe.

Hugo Hedén is a consultant at NEXER Group, specializing in Secure AI and cybersecurity. He holds an officer’s degree from the Military Academy Karlberg and a Master’s degree in Defense Systems from the Swedish Defence University. Since graduating, Hugo has worked with defense materiel issues at the Ministry of Defence and served internationally as part of NSATU. Alongside his professional career, he is actively engaged in defense and security policy issues in both national and international contexts.

Hanna Folkunger is a lawyer currently pursuing an LL.M. in International Operational Law at the Swedish Defence University. Her studies focus particularly on hybrid warfare, terrorism, and emerging technologies. Through participation in a law clinic in collaboration with Diakonia, she examines the obligations of military forces in operational engagements.

Jacob Källman serves as a Political Adviser for the Moderate Party in the European Parliament. He was previously an intern at the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce’s Department of Business Policy and a member of the International Committee of the Confederation of Swedish Conservative and Liberal Students. Additionally, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Law from Lund University.