Janis Sārts is a Director of the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence (Riga), - a multinational, cross – sector organisation providing comprehensive analysis, advice and practical support in strategic communications to the Alliance and the allied nations. Prior to that, he has been the State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Latvia for a bit more than seven years, - leading defence sector reforms during an economic crisis period, developing a new state defence concept, and encouraging regional defence cooperation within NATO and the EU. He has also led the Latvian Government's efforts to increase its security and defence in cyberspace. As Chair of the National Cyber Security Board, he was responsible for formulating and overseeing the implementation of Latvia's cyber security policy, as well as for overseeing the work of the National Information Technology Security Incident Response Institution – CERT.LV.