Armando Armas is a public policy consultant and human rights activist from Venezuela. In 2015 he was elected as a member of parliament where he served as a vice chairman of the Defense and Security Committee from 2016 to 2018 and as the chairman of the Foreign Affairs committee in 2020. His areas of interest are security, international relations, migrant and refugee rights, technology, and development. Armando received an M.A. in international development and policy from The University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, an M.S. in comparative politics (Latin America) from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a B.B.S. in law from Universidad Católica Andres Bello.
Amb. Arben Çejku currently serves as the head of the Albanian Center for Good Governance, an independent think tank based in Tirana that researches democracy, political education, regional issues, and cyber, among other topics. Arben is a member of the Council of Albanian Ambassadors, having previously served as the ambassador to North Macedonia. His book Sovereignty versus Integrity: 15 Years of Dialogue Between Kosovo and Serbia is part of several university curriculums. Arben holds an M.A. in history and philology from the State University of Tirana. He is interested in strengthening his professional knowledge of leadership, global challenges, and U.S. foreign policy.
Omar Córdova is public management advisor with the Comptroller General of the Republic of Peru. Prior to this position, he served as an executive management advisor for the Technical Agency for the Administration of Sanitation Services in Lima, Peru. He began his professional career in the agroindustrial sector thirteen years ago, initially in the production control department before transitioning to supply chain management and corporate strategic planning. Omar brings with him a robust background in management across several sectors in Peru, including transportation, communications, water, production, and government control. Omar has also worked as a consultant for the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank on projects related to the provision of public services and investments in infrastructure. Omar is interested in developing his foresight, strategic planning, and negotiation skills. Omar holds a bachelor’s of administration degree in management from Le Cordon Bleu University, Lima, and a degree in industrial engineering from University of Applied Sciences, Lima.
Katie Cronin is a senior country development officer with USAID’s Office of West African Affairs. She provides Washington-based support and guidance to USAID programs in Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Chad, and The Gambia, as well as to USAID’s Sahel Regional Office in Senegal. Katie previously served as deputy director for programs and operations on a special USAID task force focused on migration issues in northern Central America. Before joining USAID, Katie worked for Save the Children in Tanzania, where she led new business development for the country office. Before that, she spent several years working for Washington-based international development NGOs where she developed new economic development, health, and education programs, and conducted field assignments in Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Mali, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. Prior to this period, Katie spent four years helping launch the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. She began her career as a Peace Corps volunteer in Benin. Katie speaks French and has a bachelor’s degree in political science with a focus on sub-Saharan African politics from Columbia University and a master’s degree in public administration from The George Washington University.
Benjamin Heras Cruz is a principal consultant at Carbon Limits AS, where he specializes in climate change mitigation in the oil and gas sector. He is an expert on capacity-building activities regarding international best practices on methane management, as well as climate policies and climate finance. Prior to his current position, Benjamin worked for Mexico’s Ministry of Environment on planning and environmental policy, as well as the country’s oil and gas environmental regulator on the development of standards. Benjamin holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial and systems engineering from Tec de Monterrey and a master’s degree in environmental and energy management from The George Washington University. He is also a Leadership for the Environment and Development fellow.
Michele Crymes is deputy director of the Anti-Corruption & Governance Center at Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), where she works on a variety of global transparency and integrity initiatives. The Center focuses on developing nimble, evidence-based anti-corruption programming for countries with new, pro-reform leadership. Michele plays an integral role in a pioneering approach to corporate compliance that supports companies seeking to manage corruption, labor, and environmental responsibilities and liabilities. Prior to joining CIPE, Michele worked as an investigative attorney ensuring U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practice Act compliance for multinational companies based in Mexico, Brazil, and Peru. Michele also developed rule of law and human rights programming in the Philippines, Fiji, and Vietnam as a program manager with the American Bar Association’s Rule of Law Initiative. Michele has a strong background in democracy and rule of law and has experience supporting the rule of law in Colombia, East Timor, and Central America. She is a member of the bar association in Wisconsin and the District of Colombia. She is a member of the U.S. Supreme Court Bar Association and holds a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School, as well as an M.A. in international relations and politics from Marquette University.
E. Veronica Davis is vice president of strategic engagement at Pamir, a consultancy company headquartered in Virginia. For the past two decades, Pamir has specialized in due diligence and risk management for industry leaders and Fortune 500 companies operating in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in China. Having resided in China and Japan for many years, Veronica’s unique cultural insights and linguistic skills contribute to her success in navigating complex international business landscapes. She started out as a data researcher for Pamir. Over the course of ten years, she was made vice president of research and analysis. In her current position, she manages some of the company’s largest clients and counsels on business and staffing decisions and risk mitigation. As a trusted advisor, Veronica helps clients navigate the opportunities and challenges China poses to the U.S. business community. She leads a high-performing team and nurtures the professional growth of junior analysts, preparing them for expanded roles in client engagements. Among her professional credentials, she is a certified public accountant. In her leisure time, she serves as a committee chairperson for a city service organization that focuses on mental health, hunger, access to education, and other social services. Veronica holds an M.B.A. and an M.S.A from Boston College.
Lígia Ferro da Costa is a legal advisor at the Constitutional Court of Portugal where she has served the Office of the Judges and the 1st Chamber. She finds the most interesting aspect of this work being able to study constitutional issues subject to preventive and successive abstract review. This entails monitoring and analyzing the specific constitutionality review processes and drafting the respective decisions, whether rejecting or acknowledging the merits of the appeal or those relating to any post-decision. Lígia is a member of the board for the Entity of Accounts and Political Funding, elected for a four-year term by the plenary of the 13 judges of the Constitutional Court. She is interested in public political parties and election campaign funding as these topics combine political, democratic, ethical, criminal, and administrative issues. Lígia holds a bachelor’s degree in law and a master’s degree in corporate law from the University of Coimbra.
Rim Kandil is monitoring, evaluation, and learning coordinator at the International Republican Institute in Rabat, Morocco. With a diverse background in international administration, social work, and program coordination, Rim is a leader in the field of civic engagement and social development. In her previous role as the program coordinator of Innovation for Change in the MENA Region, Rim demonstrated a keen commitment to fostering innovation and positive change. Her work in the field of civic participation contributed significantly to the organization's mission, addressing societal challenges, and promoting citizen engagement throughout the MENA region. Rim was selected as an exchange fellow by the Institute of Training and Development and the U.S. Department of State. This prestigious opportunity allowed her to expand her knowledge, engage in cross-cultural exchanges, and contribute to international dialogues on social development and civic participation. Rim's multifaceted background, combining academic excellence with hands-on experience in program coordination and civic engagement, positions her as a leader with a holistic understanding of social development. She holds two bachelor's degrees from the National Institute of Social Action in Tangiers and a master's degree from the Mohammed V University in Rabat.
Niranjan Konduri is currently the deputy technical director for the global medicines, technologies, and pharmaceutical services program at Management Sciences for Health, a global health non-profit agency based in the Washington, D.C., area. Niranjan motivates, inspires, and leads colleagues and team members to achieve their best performance in the interest of the project’s goals and the organization’s mission. He has led teams in publishing results and policy recommendations that were featured in or cited by Forbes, Devex, the World Health Organization, Lancet Global Health, and India Spend. Niranjan holds an M.S. from the University of New Mexico and an M.P.H. from Loma Linda University. Niranjan enjoys bicycling along the Potomac River and awesome trails around D.C. and enjoys a communal fire under the stars.
Dr. Erico Lima de Oliveira is a regional human rights defender in São Paulo, Brazil. Most of his time is spent providing legal aid for people who cannot afford a private lawyer. Erico is interested in human rights, international criminal law, and international humanitarian law. Erico worked for the International Criminal Court, Inter-American Court of Human Rights and UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. His hobbies include tennis, cinema, and literature. Erico is currently trying to write a novel, though he isn’t sure when it will be finished. Erico holds a bachelor's in law, a doctorate in international law, and three master's degrees from universities across Brazil, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
Sally Nnamani is a Nigerian American social intrapreneur, consultant, and the United States co-executive director at PeacePlayers International, an award-winning global organization using the power of sport to bridge divides and develop youth leaders in conflict settings. Her "act local, think global" approach to her work has served her well in building partnerships and fundraising efforts that span three continents. Sally began her career at the Joint Office of the International Chamber of Commerce and the United Nations before embarking on a fellowship in Northern Ireland with PeacePlayers where she worked in cities and rural communities using sport for peacebuilding efforts in a society that is deeply affected by the legacy of sectarian conflict. Sally has shared her expertise in various forums including testifying at the U.S. Capitol and lecturing as a guest at Yale University’s Jackson School of Global Affairs and at numerous sports and social impact conferences. She is a graduate of the City University of New York and earned her master’s degree in international affairs from The New School in New York City. She is a member of the Trailblazer Cohort at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business’ LEAD Program.
Micheal Paige has served in the United States Air Force for the last 13 years. He is currently a noncommissioned officer in charge of an inspection division at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency in Europe. He holds an Airframe and Powerplant license from the Federal Aviation Administration and a General Radiotelephone Operator License from the Federal Communications Commission. He is also pursuing an M.S. in law from Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law. He is passionate about enhancing the safety, education, and security of the world through his work, and strives to apply his skills to achieve effective and cooperative outcomes.
Amy Reardon has been at Bridgewater Associates for 10 years, currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the Portfolio Solutions business. Amy began her career in client service and then served as the chief of staff for co-Chief Investment Officer Bob Prince. Under Prince, Amy built out a team dedicated to investigating research questions and portfolio construction, leading to the subsequent launch of three large-scale portfolios. Amy also oversaw Bridgewater's Commercial Committee where they set, evolved, and enabled the delivery of their commercial strategy. As the COO of the newly formed Portfolio Solutions organization, her goal is to shape the industry with innovative investment solutions that address the clients' biggest investment challenges. Amy's passion lies in taking a large-scale and conceptual vision and translating that into reality, while leading the charge for widescale change management. Amy holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Michigan.
Dayana Saint Vil is the vice chair of diversity and special projects of the Young Lawyers Interest Network of the American Bar Association’s International Law Section. In this role, she leads projects focused on the section’s publications and on mentoring and supporting foreign and U.S. lawyers. She also currently works in tenant defense and is looking forward to expanding her work in international law and other areas. Dayana was part of the inaugural dual J.D./M.I.A. program in law and international affairs at the City University of New York School of Law and the Colin Powell School at the City College of New York. During her years in the program, Dayana studied abroad in Cuba and Ghana, served as an executive board member for student government organizations, was named a NYC Bar Association Civil Right to Counsel Task Force research fellow and a Black Law Student Association fellow, and has received various scholarships. A native of Brooklyn, New York, Dayana, holds a B.S. from the State University of New York at Old Westbury in criminology with a minor in pre-law. Dayana continues to serve her community as a New York City verified Haitian-Creole interpreter.
Daniel Henrick Toligi is a senior manager at BowerGroupAsia (BGA), specializing in helping Fortune 500 companies navigate and do business in Indonesia. With nearly five years of experience, Daniel evolved from an analyst to helping run the Indonesia office, managing operations, strategy, and business development. Daniel is well-versed in the politics, policy and regulation of the digital, health care and consumer goods sectors, cultivating meaningful and enduring relationships with the government and policy influencers. This allows them to advance commercial goals while supporting public sector aspirations. Daniel has helped address major business challenges such as local content requirements, digital sector regulations, discriminatory import taxes and intellectual property rights, including by shaping draft statutes before they are promulgated. Prior to joining BGA, Daniel worked at Ernst and Young, where he advised major private and public sector ventures. His academic background in international relations keeps him engaged in Asia-Pacific issues. Outside of work, Daniel is a big foodie, and enjoys exploring culinary delights alongside his interests in history and golf.
Ernesto Zaldivar is an associate professor of the practice of computer science at Brown University and co-founder of Brown’s Master of Science in Cybersecurity program. He currently serves as co-chair of both the executive committee and the admissions committee for the program. Ernesto's research is focused on cybersecurity practices within organizations, the cybersecurity implications of artificial intelligence and deepfakes, security operations centers, hack backs, election security, and the intersection of law and cybersecurity. In 2019, the Financial Times and McKinsey & Company named him as a finalist for the Bracken Bower Prize for a book proposal based on his information security research. In addition to earning an executive master’s degree in cybersecurity at Brown, Ernesto earned his J.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an M.Ed. in specialized studies on organizational behavior, management, and training at Harvard University's Graduate School of Education.