Craig Turp-Balazs

A writer, a researcher, an analyst, an editor, a public speaker. These days I am the head of insight and analysis at Reinvantage (formerly Emerging Europe), an institutional reinvention firm operating across Central and Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia.

Additionally, I am a member of the advisory council of The Diaspora Initiative.

Previously, I was more frivolous. After leaving university (Romanian language and literature at the University of London's School of Slavonic and East European Studies) I spent the best part of the next two decades writing (and editing) travel guides for just about anyone willing to pay me.

Besides the obvious reason for hanging up my travel writing shoes (there wasn't really a decent living to be made anymore, unless I fancied becoming an Instagrammer/YouTuber/TikTokker—I didn't) I had reached the stage where there simply wasn't anything new I had to say about Bucharest's cafes or Warsaw's restaurants.

That and the urge, as I approached 50 (a milestone now long reached and breached), to do something with a bit more gravitas than telling people where they can get a good dinner in Tbilisi. (Not that such things are entirely without importance, and if you do want dinner recommendations for the Georgian capital, let me know).

Occasionally, I still write about my travels and you'll find my words at Backpacking at 50. There are also occasional bits and pieces about life in Bucharest, Romania (my home of many, many years) at Bucharest Life. Brief outbursts of frustration, bewilderment, or even joy (the kind of thing I might have once tweeted about) can be read at Shorts.

If you want to get in touch you'll find me at Instagram and/or LinkedIn (the only social media accounts I now use). Or simply send me an email. I also send out an occasional newsletter you can subscribe to here.