Dr Petrus de Kock

South Africa

Dr Petrus de Kock is a political scientist, geopolitical risk adviser, researcher, writer and strategic consultant with more than 30 years’ experience across academia, think tanks, civil society, public entities and private sector advisory.

Petrus has created, led and delivered research and advisory projects across social, political, economic, policy, peace and security, natural resource and market-related issues. His work has supported corporations and public entities in understanding geopolitical risk, sector dynamics, market opportunities and strategic positioning, from local operational questions through to global strategic challenges.

He has worked in more than 30 African markets and brings a strong understanding of African and emerging world realities, combining ground-level market insight with senior-level policy, institutional and government experience. His expertise spans African political economy, market dynamics, strategic risk, social research, policy analysis and international positioning.

Petrus has also worked extensively in international and regional policy environments. He has been involved with BRICS summits, the South African chapter of the BRICS Business Council, African Union and African Continental Free Trade Area interventions, and has advised South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation and South African missions abroad on strategy and positioning South Africa as a trade and investment partner.

For nine years, from 2012 to 2021, Petrus served as General Manager for Research in a state-owned entity located in the Presidency of the Republic of South Africa. He has also worked in academia, think tanks and civil society, and has run his own geopolitical risk analysis practice. He is currently co-director of RiskRecon, a consulting firm he founded with Dr Kingsley Makhubela.

Petrus is also a prolific writer and commentator, with published opinion editorials, academic journal articles, book chapters, literary work and analytical current affairs books. His latest book, published in 2021, is Searching for Madness in the Method: this is not a survival guide to Autopilot’s Disease and the Turbulent Twenties of the Twenty-First Century. His research leadership includes the creation of a national segmentation research model, which won Best Overall Research and Innovation awards at the 2018 Southern African Market Association Conference.

Petrus offers:

• Senior counsel on geopolitical risk, African political economy and emerging market strategy
• Research-led insight into policy, public affairs, market dynamics and institutional positioning
• Advisory support for corporations, public entities and missions operating in complex African markets
• Experience in BRICS, African Union, AfCFTA and international trade and investment positioning
• Strategic analysis across social, political, economic, peace and security, and natural resource issues

Roles:

• Co-director, RiskRecon
• Former General Manager for Research, state-owned entity in the Presidency of the Republic of South Africa
• Former founder/operator of a geopolitical risk analysis consultancy
• Former academic, think tank and civil society researcher
• Writer, commentator and public analyst

Project examples:

• Strategic advisory work across more than 30 African markets
• BRICS summit-related research and positioning work
• Engagement with the South African chapter of the BRICS Business Council
• African Union and African Continental Free Trade Area-related interventions
• Strategic advice to DIRCO and South African missions abroad
• Development of an award-winning national segmentation research model

Sector and institutional examples:

Corporations, public entities, South African Government, DIRCO, South African missions abroad, BRICS-related institutions, African Union-related platforms, AfCFTA-related initiatives, think tanks, civil society organisations, academic institutions and private sector clients.