Embedding Ukraine's defence know-how in EU defence planning and industrial strategy

Tomasz Husak is Director of Directorate A – Defence Policy in the Directorate General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS) since 16 February 2026. Husak has 20 years of experience in defence and space policy, economics and international relations. Prior to joining the Commission in 2014, he worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland. Between 2014 and 2019, he served as Head of Cabinet of the Polish Commissioner, in charge of Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs. More recently, he was adviser on digital and data technologies in the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA). He served, as well, as member of the Team of Sauli Niinistö, Special Adviser to the President of the European Commission on issues related to preparedness and defence readiness. Tomasz Husak played a central role in establishing the legal and budgetary foundations of the Commission’s first defence research programmes between 2016 and 2019. He has also successfully conducted negotiations on behalf of the European Commission on the SAFE bilateral agreement with Canada in 2025.

Polina Istomina is a UK-Ukraine Programs Specialist at the Sahaidachnyi Security Center, where she works on developing strategies aimed at deepening UK-Ukraine defence and security cooperation. Her role involves engaging with government bodies, academia, think tanks, and international partners to support key Ukrainian priorities on the global stage. Polina Istomina built her expansive career in the heart of Silicon Valley and London, most recently focusing on tech and lifescience industries. Since 2022 Polina has refocused on keeping Ukraine top of the agenda internationally and strengthening the defence sector. She is especially interested in how Ukraine fights and prevails in the most technologically advanced war. Particularly, supporting, growing and mentoring miltech companies via platforms like Brave1. She holds an MBA from INSEAD and Kyiv-Mohyla Academy undergrad.

Mārtiņš Mežulis has been part of the Latvian Defence Establishment since 2000. Employed by the Ministry of Defence since 2005, he has worked in Crisis Management, Mobilisation Planning, International Operations, and Defence Industry & Innovation Support. Mežulis’ prior position was Defence Counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. His current responsibilities primarily involve managing multiple national projects focused on the development and experimental introduction of diverse C-UAS, Land/Maritime Autonomy, and Military Mining systems.

Thomas Van Vynckt is Head of Peace, Security and Defence at Friends of Europe, where he leads the organisation’s work on European security, defence industrial policy, the war in Ukraine and Europe’s strategic preparedness. He has over nine years of experience across the private, public and civil society sectors, combining policy analysis, advocacy, stakeholder engagement and complex programme management. Before joining Friends of Europe, Thomas worked at NATO Headquarters in both the Operations and Political Affairs divisions. He previously produced international defence and security conferences at SAE Media in London. Thomas holds degrees from King’s College London, the University of Aberdeen and Leiden University, and is fluent in French, Dutch, and English.