Professor John Ryan

Professor John Ryan is a political economist and sought-after keynote speaker, widely recognised for his ability to interpret global economic and geopolitical change for senior decision-makers. As Research Network Fellow at CESifo, Munich, John sits at the centre of European economic policy debate, advising institutions, governments and corporations on systemic risk, leadership and power shifts. His work bridges academia, policy and business, and his biggest achievement lies in influencing how organisations understand the intersection between economics, security and global politics at moments of disruption.

John’s early career was defined by intellectual depth and international exposure. He held academic fellowships at the London School of Economics and Political Science, including a prominent role at LSE IDEAS, the university’s foreign policy think tank. Alongside this, he was a Fellow at St Edmund’s College, University of Cambridge and the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin, experiences that grounded his work in diplomacy, defence and international strategy. His formative years also included research positions at leading European institutions in France and Ireland, supported by EU Research Fellowships at University College Dublin, the Kiel Institute of World Economics, and New York University. These appointments shaped John’s practical understanding of how political economy operates across different institutional and cultural contexts.

Throughout his career, John has built an exceptional portfolio of influence and credibility. He has worked as a consultant and adviser to the European Commission, OECD, United Nations and national governments, and continues to serve as a senior adviser to public and private sector organisations across the EU. He was appointed expert adviser on European Monetary Union to the Irish Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs, and contributed to multiple OECD expert groups on innovation, technology policy and national innovation systems. John is also an accomplished author and editor, having led two major publications, ‘The Global Currencies Conundrum’ in 2014 and ‘Towards a Resilient Eurozone’ in 2015, both widely cited in academic and policy circles.

As a keynote speaker, John is trusted by some of the world’s most respected organisations. He has delivered headline addresses for KPMG, Standard Chartered, the Institute of Directors, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, leading economic research institutes and global foundations. His media commentary regularly appears on international outlets including Sky News, Bloomberg and Al Jazeera. Clients hire John for insight that is rigorous, relevant and commercially grounded. His keynote topics span global power competition, European leadership, financial instability and geopolitical risk, subjects that shape boardroom strategy and public policy alike.