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.
Professor John Ryan’s official speaker topics are listed below:
- China and US Economic, Security and Political Rivalry
- Reluctant Leader of a Lost Continent? Germany's Role in Europe
- The Illusion of Leadership: How Macronism has destabilised France and Europe
- Saving the Western Liberal Model: Politics, Security, Economy
- Pax Americana Decline under Trump Accelerates De-Dollarization
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
"Prof Ryan was extremely good. He was extremely well-prepared and flexible and was able to answer various demanding questions with a wealth of knowledge and evidence. This was a welcome challenge to all the students and gave a robust and honest UK view." - Col M L Lewis, French Centre for Higher Military Studies
- 2025 - Published analysis on Angela Merkel’s legacy and Germany’s strategic challenges for the LSE EUROPP blog
- 2025 - Presented an international research paper on de-dollarisation and the decline of Pax Americana
- 2023 - Appointed Research Network Fellow, CESifo, Munich
- 2020 - Senior adviser to public and private sector organisations across the EU
- 2018 - Expert adviser on European Monetary Union to the Irish Joint Oireachtas Committee
- 2015 - Editor of 'Towards a Resilient Eurozone', Peter Lang Publishers
- 2014 - Editor of 'The Global Currencies Conundrum', Peter Lang Publishers
- 2010 - Fellow, LSE IDEAS, London School of Economics and Political Science
- Combined academic expertise with senior industry leadership, including service as Director and Senior Adviser at PA Consulting Group, the European Commission, OECD, United Nations, and national governments.
- Completed education to post-doctoral level with advanced management and training courses at elite global institutions including INSEAD, Wharton, Harvard, University College Dublin, the University of Kiel (Germany), Cambridge, Oxford, and LSE, reflecting a sustained commitment to executive education and research excellence.
- Established thought leadership in monetary and financial analysis, with influential publications examining central banking, dollar dominance, and structural changes in the international financial system, published by leading academic presses in Europe.
- Held senior academic and research appointments at globally respected institutions including the London School of Economics, the University of Cambridge, CESifo Munich, and the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), the Centre for European Studies at Sciences Po, and the Management Research Center at École Polytechnique, Paris. Also served as an EU Research Fellow at University College Dublin (Ireland), the Kiel Institute of World Economics (Germany), and New York University (USA), contributing to policy-relevant research and interdisciplinary scholarship.
- Provided academic and strategic leadership in international business education, serving as Professor, Head of Department, and International Strategy Director across Europe, the UK, and India, shaping learning in global banking, finance, and international strategy.
- Published internationally recognised scholarly works on global finance, monetary policy, and geopolitical power shifts, including 'Towards a Resilient Eurozone' (Peter Lang, 2015) and 'The Global Currencies Conundrum' (Editor, Peter Lang, 2014), contributing to debates on Eurozone stability, currency systems, and global economic governance. Also authored numerous journal articles and hundreds of blogs.
- Recognised as a public intellectual and media commentator, with regular appearances on major international media outlets such as BBC World, BBC News, Bloomberg, Sky News, ITN, Al Jazeera, and TRT, providing expert analysis on global finance, geopolitics, and economic policy.
How to hire Professor John Ryan
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Professor John Ryan for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do NOT accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
