Sofie Lilli Stoffel

Sofie Lilli Stoffel is a non-resident fellow at the Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi) in Berlin and the Head of Foreign and Security Policy at Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung. Her work focuses on shaping futures-proof resilience and security. Two particular topics of interest: how psychology and neurology can inform a better understanding of international relations and the role children – a substantial demographic in conflict regions – play in security issues.

At GPPi, Sofie previously worked on projects on psychological perspectives on geopolitics, violent extremism prevention, the protection of civilians in areas of Iraq previously under ISIS control, and crisis prevention spending (with a special lens on Germany​’s investments). She also worked as an editor of the PeaceLab Blog.

In addition to her research work, Sofie frequently serves as a speaker, panelist and moderator for events on foreign and security policy, ranging from events such as the World Economic Forum in Davos to a TEDx talk and workshops with national and international stakeholders in Iraq. Her analysis has been featured or appeared in ARD Europamagazin, The National Interest, Der Tagesspiegel, Alternatives Humanitaires, Frankfurter Rundschau, and Internationale Politik, among others.

Sofie previously worked for the German Federal Ministry of Defence’s Directorate-General for Security and Defence Policy and as a consultant for Save the Children analyzing Germany’s foreign policy impact on children and security in Iraq. She is also the co-founder of the Women in Foreign Affairs Network, an organization aiming to make the foreign policy world more accessible and inclusive. For this role she was recognised on the Forbes 30 under 30 list in 2026.

Sofie studied international security and public policy at Maastricht University (the Netherlands), the Australian National University and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. She was a McCloy fellow at Harvard Kennedy School from 2022 to 2024. Sofie’s studies were supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the German National Academic Foundation.