Gunda Reire

Ms Gunda Reire

Head of the Chancery of the President of Latvia
gunda.reire [at] president.lv

Born 20 March 1977.

Since 8 July 2023, Head of the Chancery of the President of Latvia. Previously, she was Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia (2022–2023), Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia on strategic communication, democracy and public diplomacy (2017–2022). She has extensive professional experience, including as an advisor to several ministers, head of the offices of the Speaker of the Saeima and the Minister of Education and Science, Deputy Chair of the Strategic analysis commission of the President of the Republic of Latvia.

Dr Reire's research interests include multilateral international cooperation, UN issues and relations with Russia. She is the author of a number of scientific publications on the UN, Latvia’s foreign policy, including Latvia's participation in UN institutions, Latvia-Russia relations, and has been the scientific editor of several collections of articles.

Dr Reire holds a PhD in Political Science with a specialisation in International Relations from the University of Latvia. Currently, she is also an assistant professor at Riga Stradiņš University and a guest lecturer at Riga Graduate School of Law, as well as the Director of the Centre for International Studies. She was a Fulbright Scholar at the Johns Hopkins University SAIS Center for Transatlantic Relations in the USA.

Education

2011 – Doctoral Degree in Political Science (Dr. sc. pol.), International Politics, University of Latvia

2004 – Master’s Degree in Political Science (MSc. sc. pol.), International Politics, University of Latvia

2001–2002 – Master’s Studies in Political Science, Philosophy and Economics, Albert-Ludwigs Universität Freiburg, Germany

2000–2001 – Master’s Studies in Political Science, Philosophy and Economics, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Germany

1999 – Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, International Politics, University of Latvia

Languages

Latvian – native

English, German, Russian – excellent

French – basic knowledge

Professional Experience

2022–2023 – Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia

2017–2022 – Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia

2023–currentlyLecturer, Riga Stradiņš University

2013–currentlyDirector, Center of International Studies

2011–currentlyGuest lecturer, Riga Graduate School of Law

2020–2023 – Guest lecturer, Riga Stradiņš University

2015–2016 – Residing Fulbright Research Fellow, John Hopkins University SAIS Center for Transatlantic Relations (Washington D.C.)

2006–2016 – Guest lecturer, University of Latvia

2014–2014 – Chief of Staff of the Minister’s Office, Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic Latvia

2010–2013 – Chief of Staff of the Speaker’s OfficeParliament of the Republic Latvia

2010 Public Relations Manager at Parliamentary Elections, Union of Political Parties ‘Vienotība’ (Unity)

2008–2009 – Adviser in Public Relations, Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia

2005–2008 – Deputy Chairperson, Strategic Analysis Commission under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Latvia

2004–2005 – Press Secretary to the Minister, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia

2004 – Head of the ‘Implementation of European Commission’s Enlargement Communication Strategy in Latvia’

2002–2004 – Assistant to the Director in Public Relations and Media Relations, State Agency ‘Insolvency Administration’

2001–2002 – Project Manager, Public Relations Agency ‘Consensus PR’

1999–2002 – Public Relations Expert, World Bank Education Development Project

2000–2001 – Assistant to the Member of Parliament of Germany (Bundestag), Interparliamentary Cooperation Programme

1999–2000 – Advisor to the Minister in Public Relations and Media Relations, Ministry of Education of the Republic of Latvia

1997–1999 – Editor-in-Chief and Head of the Department of Political Analysis, journalist, National News Agency LETA

Awards

2024 – Grand Commander of the Order of the Phoenix of the Hellenic Republic 

2024 – Companion of The National Order of Merit of the Republic of Malta

Publications

Reire, G. The UN and Latvia 2022: Under the Mark of Ukraine. In: Broka, S., Bukovskis, K. (eds.) Latvian Foreign and Security Policy. Yearbook 2023. Riga: Hansa Print Riga, 2022, pp. 116-129. https://liia.lv/en/publications/latvian-foreign-and-security-policy-yearbook-2023-1047?get_file=2

Kotnarowski, M., Szulecki, K., Burean, T., Bivand Erdal, M., Iliev, I., Reire, G., Stanley, B., Ulinskaite J., Zapletalová, V. External Voting among Central European Migrants Living in Western Europe. PRIO Paper. Oslo: PRIO, 2022. https://www.prio.org/publications/13047?fbclid=IwAR17bKeL0c15NfBRNSZrFEACbuuseilJGKzjXdReql-g7ogzZ5atHGc8Y6Q

Reire, G. The UN Security Council in Deadlock (Again): The Ability of the UN to Respond to Russia’s War in Ukraine. Riga: Latvian Transatlantic Organisation, 2022. https://rigaconference.lv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/LATO_WEB-Broshura_3_2022_.pdf

Reire, G. The Role of International Institutions and the Rule of Law in Latvia’s Foreign Policy. In: Spruds, A., Broka, S. (eds.) Latvian Foreign and Security Policy. Yearbook 2022. Riga: Hansa Print Riga, 2022, pp. 56-69. https://liia.lv/en/publications/latvian-foreign-and-security-policy-yearbook-2022-956

Reire, G. Development aid as an economic factor in the United Nations Security Council election: Lessons for Latvia. LZA Vēstis, A daļa, Zinātniskie raksti. Rīga: LZA, 2021, pp. 13-28. https://doi.org/10.53231/LZAV.21.3.1

Reire, G. China’s Voting Practice at the UN Security Council, Its Legal and Political Interpretation: Case of Syria. Socrates, Nr. 2 (20). Rīga: RSU, 2021, https://doi.org/10.251, pp. 99-114. https://doi.org/10.25143/socr.20.2021.2.099-114

Reire, G. Opening of new election polling stations: The effect on turnout and diaspora voting patterns. Economic science for rural development. Conference proceedings, No 55. Jelgava: LLU, 2021,  pp. 604-613. https://doi.org/10.22616/ESRD.2021.55.062

Reire, G. Small States in the United Nations Security Council: Legal and Conceptual Aspects versus Practical Perspective. Socrates, Nr. 3 (21). Rīga: RSU, 2021, https://doi.org/10.251, pp. 90-104. https://doi.org/10.25143/socr.21.2021.3.090-104

Lulle, A., Reire, G. Annual review of labour relations and social dialogue. Baltics: 2018. Bratislava: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, 2019.

Lulle, A., Reire, G. Baltics Annual Review 2017 of Labour Relations and Social Dialogue. Bratislava: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, 2018

Reire, G. The Resilience of the Baltic Countries Against Russia's Foreign Policy. Riga: Center for International Studies, 2016.

Reire, G. The West and Russia. Desperation and Tunnel Vision in Contemporary Warfare. In: Coping with Complexity in the Euro-Atlantic Community and Beyond. Rīga: Rīga Conference Papers 2016, pp. 106-116.

Aunina, E., Kvesko, A., Lulle, A., Reire, G. The Dynamics of Russia's Information Activities Against Ukraine During the Syria Campaign. Riga: NATO StratCom COE, 2016. https://stratcomcoe.org/publications/russias-dis-information-activities-against-ukraine-after-the-commencement-of-the-syrian-campaign/182

Reire, G. A Fresh Start for Us-Latvia Relations is needed. In: Spruds, A., Potjomkina, D. (eds.). Latvia and the United States: Revisiting a Strategic Partnership in a Transforming Environment. Riga: Latvian Institute of International Affairs, 2016, pp. 64-83.

Denisa, S., Kvesko, A., Ozolina, Z., Reire, G., Struberga, S. Redefining Euro-Atlantic Values: Russia's Manipulative Techniques. Riga: NATO StratCom COE, 2016. https://stratcomcoe.org/publications/redefining-euro-atlantic-values-and-russias-strategic%02communication-in-the-euro-atlantic-space/200%20R

Reire, G. Euro-Atlantic Values and Russia’s propaganda in the Euro-Atlantic Space.  European Neighbourhood Policy after the Arab Spring and Russia-Ukraine hybrid war. Yearbook of the Institute of East-Central Europe. Volume 13 (2015), Issue 4, pp. 9-28.

Reire, G. The Outside-In Approach to Human Security in the Baltic Sea Region. In: Gender and Human Security. A View from the Baltic Sea Region. Rīga: Zinātne, 2015, pp. 119-151.

Denisa, S., Kvesko, A., Ozolina, Z., Reire, G., Struberga, S. The manipulative techniques of the Russian information campaign against Ukraine. Riga: NATO StratCom COE, 2015. https://stratcomcoe.org/publications/the-manipulative-techniques-of-the-russian-information%02campaign-against-ukraine/154%20R

Reire, G. From Borders to Frontiers: The Inescapable Fate of Eastern Europe.  Latvian Interests in the European Union, 2015/1, pp. 9.-17.

Ozoliņa, Ž., Reire G. Measuring the Effectiveness of NATO. In:  Ozoliņa, Ž. (Ed.) Rethinking Security. Rīga: Zinātne, 2010, pp. 118–167.

Reire, G. Latvia and Russia in the United Nations: The Human Rights Card. In: Ozoliņa, Ž. (Ed.) Latvia–Russia–X. Rīga: Zinātne, 2008, pp. 58–86.