Dominik Istrate
Research Director, CEE
Dominik is a foreign policy specialist and political risk analyst focusing on Central & Eastern Europe. He holds 8+ years of professional experience in executive IR analysis, policy research, public affairs and political risk analysis from his experience with the private and non-profit sectors, as well as from international institutions. As Aretera’s Research Director, he is responsible for coordinating policy research in 15+ CEE markets, leading cross-country client mandates and reporting teams across multiple industry sectors, as well as supervising the provision of Aretera’s analytical contents and strategic materials.
Prior to joining Aretera, Dominik worked as a foreign policy analyst at Political Capital, a Budapest-based think tank where he specialized in Eastern Europe and Russia, as well as Hungary's foreign relations. In 2021, he was a James S. Denton Transatlantic Fellow with the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), a Washington-based think tank working on strengthening ties between the US and Central & Eastern Europe. Previously, he worked as a Hungary analyst in various capacities and as a foreign policy and business reporter for Emerging Europe, covering Hungary and the countries of the EU's Eastern Partnership.
Dominik has authored several publications, studies and articles about Russia-CEE relations, while his articles and comments have regularly appeared in Hungarian, European and international media outlets. He is currently a Rethink.CEE Fellow with the German Marshall Fund of the United States, researching Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction from a regional perspective. He is the founder and former President of the Central Europe Association, a Budapest-based youth NGO, currently serving as the organization's Chairman of the Advisory Board.
Prior to joining Aretera, Dominik worked as a foreign policy analyst at Political Capital, a Budapest-based think tank where he specialized in Eastern Europe and Russia, as well as Hungary's foreign relations. In 2021, he was a James S. Denton Transatlantic Fellow with the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), a Washington-based think tank working on strengthening ties between the US and Central & Eastern Europe. Previously, he worked as a Hungary analyst in various capacities and as a foreign policy and business reporter for Emerging Europe, covering Hungary and the countries of the EU's Eastern Partnership.
Dominik has authored several publications, studies and articles about Russia-CEE relations, while his articles and comments have regularly appeared in Hungarian, European and international media outlets. He is currently a Rethink.CEE Fellow with the German Marshall Fund of the United States, researching Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction from a regional perspective. He is the founder and former President of the Central Europe Association, a Budapest-based youth NGO, currently serving as the organization's Chairman of the Advisory Board.