Dr Derek Averre is Honorary Reader in Russian Foreign and Security Policy and former Director of the Centre for Russian, European and Eurasian Studies, Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Birmingham. His main research interests focus on Russian foreign/security policy, Russia- EU relations and Russia-MENA relations arms control/non-proliferation issues. He has co-edited a book and journal special issues and written numerous journal articles and book chapters, as well as organising a series of policy and academic conferences and presenting widely in the US and Europe on these topics. He is a member of the Editorial Board of the journal European Security. Dr. Averre is currently writing a book on Russia and the Arab Spring.