Iliana Olivie

Iliana Olivie

Strategic Foresight Expert in Global Presence, Geopolitics, and International Development

Core Intelligence Domain: Geopolitics
Location: Madrid, Spain | Languages: English, Spanish
Representation: Represented globally by PSpeakers Global Intelligence

Iliana Olivié is a highly distinguished Senior Analyst at the Elcano Royal Institute and a recognised authority on international development, global governance, and geopolitical presence. As the mastermind and Coordinator behind the Elcano Global Presence Index—a proprietary analytical framework that measures the international projection of countries outside their borders—she provides unparalleled strategic foresight into how global power dynamics are shifting. Her insights empower decision-makers, multilateral organisations, and corporate leaders to navigate the complex realities of modern globalisation, foreign aid architecture, and shifting economic hegemonies.

Academic Leadership and Institutional Impact

Beyond her pivotal role at the Elcano Royal Institute, Dr. Olivié serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Economics, Structure and History at the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM). Her dual standing in academia and high-level geopolitical analysis allows her to bridge the gap between rigorous empirical research and actionable foreign policy intelligence. Over her career, she has directed and coordinated multiple high-stakes research projects funded by European institutions, the Spanish government, and international bodies.

Her expertise is frequently sought by the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation. Through her advisory roles, she has actively shaped policy discussions on the European Union’s external actions, international cooperation frameworks, and the strategic deployment of Official Development Assistance (ODA).

Strategic Frameworks and Research Focus

Iliana Olivié’s work centres on decoding the intricacies of international development and global affairs. Her proprietary work on the Elcano Global Presence Index provides a quantifiable, objective metric for understanding soft, military, and economic power in the 21st century. Her broader research portfolio encompasses:

• Globalisation and De-globalisation: Analysing macroeconomic trends and their impact on global supply chains, international trade, and political stability.
• Foreign Aid and Development Policy: Evaluating the strategic deployment of international aid and its socioeconomic impact on developing nations.
• EU External Action: Assessing Europe’s strategic autonomy, diplomatic positioning, and economic influence in an increasingly multipolar world.

Key Speaking Topics

• Mapping Global Shifts: Insights from the Global Presence Index: A deep dive into how economic, military, and soft power metrics are evolving, providing corporate and political leaders with a roadmap for future global markets and diplomacy.
• Navigating the Future of Globalisation: Strategic intelligence on the forces driving economic integration and fragmentation in a post-pandemic, geopolitically volatile world.
• European Strategic Autonomy and Foreign Policy: An expert analysis of the European Union’s role as a global actor amid rising tensions between international superpowers.
• The New Architecture of International Development: Exploring how foreign aid, global finance, and international cooperation must adapt to modern systemic crises, including climate change and geopolitical conflicts.

Key Takeaways

• Architect of the Global Presence Index: Creator of a leading proprietary framework used globally to measure and understand the real-world international influence of nations.
• High-Level Policy Advisor: Trusted geopolitical consultant for the European Parliament, the European Commission, and various sovereign ministries.
• Foremost Authority on Globalisation: Renowned expert in identifying macroeconomic and geopolitical trends that shape global markets and international relations.
• Academic Excellence: Bridging rigorous empirical research with pragmatic policy solutions as a Senior Analyst and Associate Professor in Madrid.