People powered. AI supported. Built for complex markets.
European Diplomats was founded to bring practical diplomatic craft, public affairs judgement and commercial execution into one modern government relations consultancy.
Founded during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Original co-founders: Alistair Starling, Daniela Abentung and Michal Gawryl.
Automation and analysis used to support, not replace, human judgement.
European, international and public-private engagement from the outset.
Born out of disruption, built for internationalisation.
European Diplomats was founded in 2021 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic by its original co-founders Alistair Starling, Daniela Abentung and Michal Gawryl.
The founders brought together diverse backgrounds from the British Foreign Service, public affairs and the headhunting business. That combination shaped the company’s original purpose: a fast-paced, digital government affairs agency focused on helping organisations internationalise and engage the right stakeholders.
From the beginning, the model was deliberately practical. European Diplomats uses people skills, digital tools, automation and artificial intelligence to support government relations, international market access and public-private engagement. The point is not consultancy theatre. It is useful access, credible positioning and disciplined follow-through.
Three different backgrounds, one commercial diplomatic method.
The original team combined government, public affairs, communications, recruitment, stakeholder access and international business development. That mix remains the backbone of the European Diplomats approach.
Alistair Starling
Co-Founder and Managing DirectorFormer UK diplomat with extensive government and private-sector experience. Alistair brings commercial diplomacy, business development, innovation and international market access experience across Europe and beyond.
a.starling@european-diplomats.eu
Daniela Abentung
Co-FounderTrained journalist, political and communication scientist with deep experience in EU affairs, stakeholder relations, international communication, policy environments and complex public-sector settings.
d.abentung@european-diplomats.eu
Michal Gawryl
Co-FounderBusiness administration, marketing, innovation management and recruitment experience. Michal brought network-building, stakeholder identification, cold outreach and organisational complexity skills to the founding team.
m.grawyl@european-diplomats.euValues that actually describe how the work gets done.
These are not wall slogans. They reflect the operating style needed for government relations, stakeholder access, international expansion and politically sensitive commercial work.
People Powered
Government relations is a people business. Relationships, soft skills, trust, teamwork and human judgement sit at the centre of the work.
AI Supported
We use AI, automation and digital tools to sharpen analysis, increase efficiency and improve output, while keeping judgement human.
Resourceful
Our team brings creative, strategic and analytical thinking together, finding practical routes through complex constraints.
Resilient
Government, markets and institutions rarely move neatly. We stay calm in complexity and keep delivering when circumstances change.
A modern consultancy with an old-fashioned respect for trust.
European Diplomats was built around a simple idea: internationalisation and government relations work best when human relationships, strategic clarity and disciplined execution are combined.
That means understanding who matters, why they matter, how decisions are really made, and what kind of message can credibly move a conversation forward. Tools help. Networks help. But judgement remains the scarce resource.
Want to understand the people behind the work?
Meet the wider European Diplomats team and see how our experience connects government, business, policy and international markets.