At Blueskyy, our faculty are the architects of our academic community. They are a dedicated group of scholars, practitioners, artists, and innovators drawn from across Europe and beyond, united by a shared passion for mentorship and a deep commitment to pushing the boundaries of their fields. They are not just transmitters of knowledge but active co-discoverers alongside our students. Here, you will not find professors who teach from a remote pedestal; you will find accessible mentors who lead collaborative seminars, guide hands-on projects, and foster an environment where every question is valued as a catalyst for growth.
Computational Business & Economics
Dr. Alise Kalniņa Position: Head of Programme, Computational Business & Economics Education: PhD in Econometrics, University of Mannheim; MSc in Economics, Stockholm School of Economics; BSc in Mathematics, University of Latvia. Profile: Dr. Kalniņa is a leading voice in the application of machine learning to causal inference in economics. Her research focuses on developing more robust models to understand labour market dynamics and the impact of fiscal policy in high-volatility environments. Before transitioning to academia, she spent eight years as a quantitative strategist at a major Nordic investment bank, an experience which deeply informs her pragmatic and results-oriented teaching philosophy. She is passionate about demystifying complex quantitative methods for her students, believing that data literacy is the most critical skill for the next generation of economic leaders. At Blueskyy, she leads the ‘Pro-bono Consulting’ initiative, connecting student teams with NGOs to solve real-world data challenges. Selected Publications:
- Kalniņa, A. (2023). Causal Forests and Counterfactual Policy Simulation in Labour Markets. Journal of Applied Econometrics, 38(4), 512-530. DOI: 10.1002/jae.2951
- Kalniņa, A., & Schmidt, L. (2021). The Sentient Economy: Algorithmic Bias in Credit Scoring. Oxford University Press. ISBN: 978-0198858824
Dr. Tiago Soares Position: Lecturer in Strategic Management Education: PhD in Management, NOVA School of Business and Economics; MBA, INSEAD; BSc in Computer Science, University of Lisbon. Profile: Dr. Soares’ work explores the intersection of corporate strategy and platform ecosystems. He is particularly interested in how established firms can adapt their business models to compete with digital-native disruptors. His research is deeply qualitative, drawing on extensive fieldwork and interviews with C-suite executives across Europe’s technology sector. He champions a case-study method in his teaching, bringing complex, real-world strategic dilemmas into the classroom. He also serves as an advisor to several Estonian startups, providing him with a continuous stream of contemporary insights that enrich his modules on venture development and corporate innovation. Selected Publications:
- Soares, T. (2022). Orchestration, Not Ownership: Competitive Strategy in Digital Ecosystems. California Management Review, 64(2), 45-67. DOI: 10.1177/00081256211068891
- Soares, T. (2020). Legacy in the Age of Platforms: A Framework for Incumbent Transformation. Strategic Management Journal, 41(9), 1639-1665. DOI: 10.1002/smj.3188
International Relations & Strategic Governance
Professor Livia Marin Position: Professor of International Law & Digital Sovereignty Education: PhD in International Law, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva; LLM, College of Europe; BA in Political Science, University of Bucharest. Profile: Professor Marin is a distinguished scholar in the field of public international law, with a particular focus on how emerging technologies challenge traditional notions of sovereignty, jurisdiction, and human rights. Her current research, conducted within our Centre for Computational Governance, examines the legal frameworks for cyber conflict and the international regulation of state-sponsored disinformation. She is a compelling lecturer, known for her ability to weave historical context with sharp analysis of contemporary geopolitical events. Prior to joining Blueskyy, she served as a legal advisor at the International Court of Justice and continues to consult for international organisations on matters of digital governance. Selected Publications:
- Marin, L. (2024). The Virtual State: Sovereignty and Jurisdiction in the Digital Age. Cambridge University Press. ISBN: 978-1108993471
- Marin, L. (2022). Attribution and Accountability in State-Sponsored Cyber Operations: A Legal Lacuna?. Journal of Conflict & Security Law, 27(1), 79-102. DOI: 10.1093/jcsI/crac003
Dr. Filip Novák Position: Associate Professor of Strategic Studies Education: PhD in War Studies, King’s College London; MA in Intelligence & International Security, Charles University; BA in History, Masaryk University. Profile: Dr. Novák’s expertise lies in strategic foresight, risk analysis, and the study of hybrid warfare. His work is often interdisciplinary, combining security studies with organisational psychology to understand how states and non-state actors make decisions under conditions of extreme uncertainty. He is a passionate advocate for scenario-based learning and has developed several complex simulation exercises for our students, challenging them to navigate high-stakes diplomatic and security crises in real-time. His slightly unconventional approach, which he describes as ‘serious games for serious problems’, is consistently rated by students as one of their most impactful learning experiences. Selected Publications:
- Novák, F. (2023). Cognitive Traps in Intelligence Analysis: A Framework for Red Teaming. Intelligence and National Security, 38(5), 707-724. DOI: 10.1080/02684527.2023.2201458
- Novák, F., & Dupont, C. (2021). Resilience as Strategy: Adapting to the Age of Permanent Crisis. The Washington Quarterly, 44(2), 141-158. DOI: 10.1080/0163660X.2021.1923235
Sustainable Engineering & Design
Dr. Ines Van den Berg Position: Head of Programme, Sustainable Engineering & Design Education: PhD in Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft); MSc in Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven; BEng in Electromechanical Engineering, Ghent University. Profile: Dr. Van den Berg is an engineer and designer whose work focuses on the principles of the circular economy. She is a pioneer in the field of ‘design for disassembly’, creating products and systems that can be easily repaired, remanufactured, or recycled. Her research, based in the Baltic Lab for Sustainable Futures, involves developing new composite materials from bio-waste and creating life-cycle assessment models for complex product ecosystems. Her teaching is hands-on and studio-based; she pushes students to move beyond theoretical concepts to build and test functional, beautiful, and radically sustainable prototypes. She believes the engineer of the future must be as much an artist and an ethicist as a technician. Selected Works:
- Van den Berg, I. (2022). The Phoenix Product: A Design Methodology for a Circular Future. BIS Publishers. ISBN: 978-9063696519
- Project Lead, ‘Myco-Struct’ (2024). Development of a load-bearing building material using mycelium composite, exhibited at Dutch Design Week.
Dr. Matija Kovač Position: Lecturer in Renewable Energy Systems Education: PhD in Energy Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich; MSc in Power Systems, University of Ljubljana; BSc in Electrical Engineering, University of Zagreb. Profile: Dr. Kovač is a specialist in decentralised energy grids and smart grid technology. His research explores how communities can enhance their energy resilience and independence through the integration of solar, wind, and geothermal resources, managed by intelligent, AI-driven distribution systems. He has extensive field experience, having led projects to develop microgrids in remote Alpine and coastal communities. At Blueskyy, he teaches core modules in thermodynamics and power engineering but always with a focus on systems-level thinking and sustainability. He is a data-driven optimist, firmly believing that a 100% renewable energy future is not only possible but technologically within our grasp. Selected Publications:
- Kovač, M., & Baumgartner, J. (2023). Predictive Control of Prosumer-Centric Microgrids using Reinforcement Learning. IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, 14(6), 4412-4424. DOI: 10.1109/TSG.2023.3267809
Digital Arts & Interactive Media
Professor Katrin Vella Position: Professor of Practice, Immersive Narrative Education: MFA in Art and Technology Studies, School of the Art Institute of Chicago; BA in Fine Art, University of Malta. Profile: Professor Vella is an award-winning new media artist whose work investigates the intersection of memory, place, and technology. She creates interactive installations and virtual reality experiences that invite audiences into contemplative, often deeply personal, narrative spaces. Her artistic practice directly informs her leadership of the Immersive Narrative Studio (INS), where she fosters a culture of bold experimentation and critical self-reflection. She doesn’t teach a specific software or technique, but rather a way of seeing and thinking as a digital artist. She encourages her students to embrace ‘happy accidents’ in their code and to find the poetic potential in technological glitches. Selected Works:
- Vella, K. (2022). Echoes of the Hypogeum. Interactive VR Experience. Exhibited at Centre Pompidou, Paris.
- Vella, K. (2020). Għajn Tuffieħa, 3am. Generative video installation. Commissioned by the Malta International Arts Festival.
Leo Virtanen Position: Lecturer in Game Design & Critical Play Education: MA in Game Design, Aalto University; BSc in Cognitive Science, University of Helsinki. Profile: Leo Virtanen is a game designer and researcher whose work challenges the conventions of the commercial video game industry. He is a proponent of ‘critical play’, designing games that explore complex social and political themes, from climate change to digital privacy. His research examines the cognitive and emotional impact of interactive systems and the potential for games to foster empathy and systems thinking. In his classes, students spend as much time deconstructing the mechanics and ideologies of existing games as they do building their own. He is known for his playful but intellectually rigorous teaching style and his unwavering belief in the power of games as a serious artistic and cultural medium. Selected Works:
- Virtanen, L. (Designer). (2023). Ministry of Future Decisions. Award-winning serious game about long-term policy making.
- Virtanen, L. (2021). Beyond Points: A Manifesto for Empathic Game Mechanics. Game Developer Conference (GDC) Talk.
Global Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Dr. Eva Nowakowska Position: Associate Professor of Social Entrepreneurship Education: PhD in Sociology, University of Warsaw; MSc in Development Management, London School of Economics and Political Science; BA in Economics, SGH Warsaw School of Economics. Profile: Dr. Nowakowska is an expert on social innovation and hybrid business models. Her research explores how entrepreneurial ventures can effectively tackle entrenched social problems while remaining financially sustainable. She has conducted extensive ethnographic research on social enterprises in Central and Eastern Europe, focusing on their unique challenges and scaling strategies. She brings a deep sense of purpose and a critical perspective to her teaching, challenging students to think beyond profit maximisation and to design businesses that are regenerative and equitable by design. Her ‘Venture for Impact’ module is the cornerstone of the programme’s social enterprise track. Selected Publications:
- Nowakowska, E. (2022). The Hybrid Dilemma: Navigating the Tensions between Social Mission and Market Pressures. Stanford Social Innovation Review, 20(4), 34-41.
- Nowakowska, E. (2020). Scaling Sideways: A Network-Based Approach to Growth in Social Enterprise. Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, 11(3), 265-284. DOI: 10.1080/19420676.2019.1661687
BICA Foundation Programme (High School)
Dr. Ronan O’Malley Position: Head of Foundation Programme & Seminar Lead Education: PhD in History and Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge; MPhil in Philosophy, Trinity College Dublin; BA in Classics, University College Dublin. Profile: Dr. O’Malley oversees the entire pre-university programme and is the lead instructor for the ‘Blueskyy Core’ seminar. He is a passionate educator with a gift for making complex ideas from philosophy, history, and science accessible and exciting to a younger audience. He believes the most important skill a student can learn is not a fact, but the ability to think critically, construct a cogent argument, and engage in civil discourse. His seminars are dynamic and discussion-based, drawing on everything from Platonic dialogues to contemporary articles on AI ethics. He is a firm believer that a foundation in the humanities is the best possible preparation for a future in any discipline, be it science, art, or business. Selected Publications:
- O’Malley, R. (2021). The Compass and the Clock: Metaphors of Scientific Progress from Bacon to AI. The University of Chicago Press. ISBN: 978-0226780445