GG Forum 2020 — SPEAKERS
Chairperson
Civil IDEA
Tinatin Khidasheli leads the think tank Civic -- IDEA focused on countering the Soviet legacy in Georgia, challenging Russian propaganda, and promoting robust defence and security policies for the country. As the author of the first Georgian language book on Hybrid Warfare, she imparts her expertise through teaching at the Caucasus University, offering bachelor's and master's programs in Hybrid Warfare and Defense Policy, as well as an anti-corruption class at the Georgian Institute of Public Administration and Ilia University for Master's Programs students. Mrs. Khidasheli, a lawyer by education, has served as the first female Minister of Defense in Georgia and chaired various parliamentary committees, including European Integration and an Inquiry Commission on Violations of Freedom of Speech and Telecommunication laws.
Throughout her career, Tinatin Khidasheli has been an elected member of the Tbilisi City Council, founder, and chair of the largest Human Rights advocacy group in the post-soviet space, the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association. Additionally, she spent four years as a member of the National Anti-Corruption Council under the President of Georgia. Mrs. Khidasheli holds a Master of Laws in International Law from Tbilisi State University, an MA in Political Science from Central European University in Hungary, and has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Freedom Fighter Award by President George W. Bush and the CEU Impact Award for Outstanding Career Achievement. She is married and has two sons.