The European Democracy Youth Network (EDYN) announces changes to its Board of Trustees. As our organization continues to evolve, so does the leadership guiding its mission. Today, we announce a key transition: Peter Cari is stepping down after two years from his role on the Board, and Dr. Justin E. Lane has joined the Board of Trustees.
Peter Cari has been a dedicated member whose insight, commitment, and steady support shaped EDYN during a crucial phase of its development. We extend our sincere gratitude for his service and wish him continued success in his future endeavors. Mr. Cari will continue to support EDYN through his ongoing involvement in our Mentorship Program, where his experience and guidance remain invaluable to our community.
At the same time, we are delighted to welcome Dr. Justin E. Lane, whose distinguished career at the intersection of artificial intelligence, social science, and public policy brings a unique and timely perspective to EDYN’s leadership. His addition strengthens our capacity to anticipate emerging societal trends, leverage innovative technologies, and deepen our understanding of social cohesion across diverse contexts. Below is a brief introduction to Dr. Lane’s background and experience.
Dr. Justin E. Lane
Dr. Justin E. Lane is the CEO and Co-Founder of CulturePulse AI, a US–Slovak artificial intelligence company specializing in social AI and digital twin technology. For more than a decade, Dr. Lane has pioneered new AI systems designed to study and predict dynamics of social cohesion—ranging from hybrid threat assessment and counterterrorism to policy risk evaluation and crisis management.
He earned his doctorate from the University of Oxford and has held academic positions in the United States, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, and Singapore. In addition to leading CulturePulse AI, Dr. Lane is affiliated with the Slovak Academy of Sciences and serves as the Scientific Director at the DEKK Institute in Bratislava.
His work has been featured in WIRED, BBC, The New York Times, Vice News, New Scientist, The Atlantic, and the Joe Rogan Experience. Beyond research, Dr. Lane has supported business development and innovation initiatives for start-ups and investment firms across Central and Eastern Europe, contributing to the acquisition of more than €80 million in funding since 2020.
Dr. Lane is the author of over 100 peer-reviewed publications and conference papers. His book, Understanding Religion through Artificial Intelligence: Bonding and Belief, was nominated for the 2023 ISSR Book Prize. To date, his academic work has garnered over 950 citations, an impressive achievement given that he completed his doctorate in 2019.
Together with his research partner and CulturePulse co-founder Prof. Dr. Dr. LeRon Shults, he has helped secure approximately US$90 million in R&D&I grant funding for technological innovation, along with more than US$20 million in private investment for early-stage companies.
Research ORCID:
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8875-8232
Current Composition of the Board of Trustees
- Mr. Jonas Rolett, Chairman, Former Special Advisor to the Open Society Foundations’ Chairman
- Ms. Alison Kelly, former Irish Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Israel
- Mr. Nicholas Whyte, Senior Director at APCO and Visiting Professor at Ulster University
- Mr. Greg Strimple, Founder of GS Strategy Group
- Dr. Justin E. Lane, CEO and Co-Founder of CulturePulse AI
EDYN extends its heartfelt thanks to Mr. Cari for his invaluable contributions and is grateful that he will continue supporting our community through the Mentorship Program. Looking ahead, EDYN will further strengthen its governance and strategic direction by appointing additional Board members in early 2026.
We enter this next chapter with deep appreciation for those who have shaped EDYN to date and with great anticipation for the leaders who will help steer our mission into the future.
