Dr. Christopher A. Hartwell is a seasoned scholar and professional in the field of institutional economics, financial systems resilience, and transitional dynamics. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, he completed his MPP in International Trade and Finance at the noted Harvard Kennedy School before earning his PhD in Economics from Szkoła Główna Handlowa w Warszawie. With over 20 years of experience in both public and private sectors across various countries, Dr. Hartwell has advised governments and organizations on economic policy issues, particularly in transition economies, and has conducted trainings on macroeconomics and growth issues in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Prior to his new role as Head of the International Management Institute at ZHAW School of Management and Law, Dr. Hartwell was a Professor of Financial Systems Resilience at Bournemouth University, served as the President of CASE - Center for Social and Economic Research in Poland, and was the Head of Global Markets and Institutional Research at the Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO. He has also held various positions at organizations such as the US Department of the Treasury, the World Bank, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and has authored books such as Institutional Barriers in the Transition to Market and Two Roads Diverge: The Transition Experience of Poland and Ukraine.

With his vast experience in international economics, Dr. Hartwell has become a sought-after speaker and reviewer for various academic journals such as the Journal of Economic Issues and the Journal of International Money and Finance. His research interests include financial economics, macroeconomics and international trade, property rights and business environment reforms, and the economics of institutions.