Analysts
Sarah Michaels
Deputy Director of Analysis
Joined Oxford Analytica in 2008. Holds an MA in International Relations from the University of Chicago and a BA in Philosophy from George Washington University. Currently writing a PhD on civil-military relations in Ukraine at King's College London. Former Naval Reserve intelligence officer and previously spent seven years analysing Russia, Ukraine and the Caucasus for the US Defence and State Departments. Specialises in defence and security affairs in the former Soviet space.
Dr Michael Taylor
Senior Analyst, Eastern Europe
Joined Oxford Analytica in 2002. Holds a DPhil from Corpus Christi College, University of Oxford. Has worked for over twenty years as an analyst of Soviet and East European affairs, first for the BBC’s Monitoring Service, specialising in Afghanistan and Poland, and then for the Economist Intelligence Unit, focusing on the western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia, Macedonia and Yugoslavia) and on the prospects for NATO enlargement.
Region Heads
Dr Paul Chaisty
University Lecturer in Russian Government, University of Oxford
Specialist on Russian politics. Particular research interest in Russian constitutional and legislative politics. Recent publications include Legislative Politics and Economic Power in Russia (Palgrave, 2006) and articles in the Journal of Legislative Studies, Legislative Studies Quarterly, Europe-Asia Studies and Party Politics.
Chris Le Fevre
Independent Gas and Oil Consultant
Worked in the oil and gas industry for 30 years, including a variety of positions to executive director-level in Transco (now National Grid Gas) British Gas, and Shell. Since 2002, he has run an independent energy consulting business serving a range of European clients. Recent projects include pipeline regulation, gas storage studies, buyer due diligence on gas infrastructure opportunities, analysis of Russian and CIS oil and gas markets, access to offshore infrastructure, executive training and analysis of energy retail issues.
Dr Alex Pravda
Fellow and Director of the Russian and East European Centre
Author of studies on Soviet/Russian politics and foreign policy. Recent publications include Developments in Russian and post-Soviet Politics (with S L White and Z Gitelman). Has acted as specialist advisor to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee of the House of Commons and to the BBC.
Dr David Priestland
Fellow and Tutor in Russian History and Politics, St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford
Widely published on Russian political and constitutional issues. Has lived and travelled extensively in Russia.
