Challenger
Research
About Us
Challenger Research is an independent research and advisory firm operating at the intersection of policy analysis, strategic context, and intelligence‑led research. We support public and private stakeholders navigating complex regulatory, geopolitical, and strategic environments.
Our work is grounded in a practical understanding of European and international policymaking processes. We provide policy‑relevant insight that helps decision‑makers anticipate regulatory developments, assess strategic risk, and engage more effectively in policy debates across sectors critical to Europe’s economic and security interests.
Challenger Research combines strategic analysis with robust intelligence methodologies, including open‑source intelligence and bespoke research. These capabilities underpin our ability to connect geopolitical developments, regulatory change, and emerging risks into coherent, decision‑relevant insight.
In addition to research and advisory work, we convene expert dialogues and stakeholder discussions designed to support evidence‑based debate and informed decision‑making. Our engagements bring together analysts, industry representatives, and policy experts to explore complex issues in a trusted and neutral setting.
Challenger Research is a value-led company, supported by a core team and a global network of specialists with experience across policy, industry, and analytical environments in the UK, Europe, the United States, and beyond.
Three Pillars. Every Domain.
Our three core capabilities — OSINT, Policy and Regulation, and Geostrategic Analysis — apply across every sector and challenge our clients face.
Stakeholder Dialogue & Convening
Challenger Research convenes policy dialogues and expert roundtables that bring together industry, analysts, and decision‑makers which are designed to support evidence‑based discussion, test emerging narratives, and contribute to informed policy debate.
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Policy & Regulatory Insight
We provide policy‑relevant analysis grounded in a practical understanding of European and international regulatory processes. Our work supports stakeholders in anticipating legislative developments, assessing regulatory risk, and engaging at the right moment in the policy cycle.
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Strategic & Intelligence Analysis
Our intelligence and analytical capabilities underpin all of our work. We apply OSINT, geostrategic analysis, and bespoke research to inform policy‑relevant insight across sectors where strategic risk and regulatory change intersect.
Our Experts
Dr. James Reeves
Managing Director
Dr Reeves leads Challenger Research's work at the intersection of defence, regulation, and geopolitics. With a background in strategic policy analysis and emerging risk, he directed the firm's cross-UK and EU UAS policy assessment and oversees all major engagements. His multidisciplinary approach ensures every project is tailored to the precise strategic requirements of each client.
Manon-Catherine Balbinot
OSINT Lead
Manon-Catherine leads Challenger Research's OSINT team, bringing direct operational experience from her work with the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR) on high-priority Ukraine projects. Her investigative expertise spans some of the most strategically significant supply chain environments in the world, including Brazilian and African critical mineral networks and weapons supply chain analysis.
Edward Shannon-Adams
Head of Business Development
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Edward brings over a decade of asset management experience and deep familiarity with public companies across the drone, technology, and broader innovation sectors. For clients, this means direct access to a commercially astute adviser who understands the investment landscape from the inside — able to contextualise Challenger's intelligence within the financial and market realities that matter to institutional decision-makers.
Seyide Direk
Regulatory and Policy Lead
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Seyide Direk is a Policy and Regulatory Lead specialising in European regulatory and governance frameworks. Previously at the European Enterprise Alliance, she helped shape policies supporting social and economic resilience across EU Member States. Seyide has advised leading business associations and their members on navigating regulatory change and actively engages across institutions to advocate for effective policy outcomes.
Sophia Zanin
Policy Analyst
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Policy Analyst specialising in hybrid threats, conflict risk, and governance fragmentation. Her work focuses on the intersection of security policy, institutional resilience, and the cross-dimensional risks that states and organisations increasingly face in contested environments. Sofia brings a distinctive combination of analytical rigour and policy-facing expertise, with a particular focus on European security architecture and the evolving nature of hybrid warfare.
Academic & Professional Backgrounds
*The institutions shown reflect the educational backgrounds/workplaces of contributors, not formal partnerships or endorsements.
The organisations shown represent where contributors to Challenger Research have held professional roles, in an individual capacity.
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