Abdulla bin Ahmed Al-KHALIFA | Bahrain
Chairman | Bahrain Center for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (Derasat)

Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Bahrain Centre for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (Derasat). Shaikh Abdullah also holds the post of Deputy Secretary General of the Supreme Defense Council, in addition to serving as Undersecretary for International Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, a post he has held since August 2015. Previously Shaikh Abdulla held the post of Director General for External Communications (2014) at the Information Affairs Authority, during which he played a pivotal role in drawing up and implementing a strategy for strengthening the country’s national communications and public engagement. Shaikh Abdulla was awarded a PhD in International Relations and Diplomacy from the École des Hautes Études Internationales, France and earned a Master of Law (LLM) from Queen Mary College, University of London, UK, focusing on negotiation and mediation. He also holds a Bachelor of Law (LLB) from the Applied Science University, Jordan.

Ibrahim BAKRI | United States
Assistant Director | Middle East Center, University of Pennsylvania

Ibrahim Bakri is the Assistant Director of the Middle East Center at the University of Pennsylvania. His primary responsibilities in this role include management of the Title VI federal grant, communicating with program officers and contacts in Washington, and developing community outreach strategies. He plays a prominent role in event planning and program development and is passionate about public outreach and the accessibility of knowledge. He is also a Non-Resident Fellow in International Relations & Development at TRENDS Research & Advisory. Ibrahim has served as a summit coordinator at the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program, organizing and coordinating summits focused on regional dialogue and communication. He has previously worked with the Foreign Policy Research Institute in Philadelphia within the Program on the Middle East.

Abla ABDEL-LATIF | Egypt
Executive Director and Director of Research | Egyptian Center for Economic Studies (ECES)
Abla Abdel Latif, originally a Professor of Economics at AUC, is currently the Chair of the Presidential Advisory Council for Economic Development; and the Executive Director and Director of Research of The Egyptian Center for Economic Studies (ECES). In 2013, she was honored with membership of the Committee of Fifty, whose mission was to draft Egypt’s Constitution following June 30, 2013. She is also a Member of the Central Bank of Egypt’s Coordinating Council, and was a Board Member of the National Bank of Egypt – the first female in this position, for over six years. She is also a cofounder and Board Member of BASEERA (the Egyptian Center for Public Opinion Research), and “El Nidaa” Foundation for job creation for women and youth. Her professional experience is also extensive, starting from being the Policy Unit Manager in the Industrial Modernisation Centre (IMC) to being the Minister of Industry’s Advisor shortly after the 25th of January Revolution and since 2015, she became the main economic advisor to the President of the Republic.

Sujan R. CHINOY | India
Director General |Manohar Parrikar Institute for Studies & Strategic Analyses (IDSA)
Sujan R. Chinoy is the Director General of the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi. A career diplomat from 1981-2018, he was India’s Ambassador to Japan and Mexico, and High Commissioner of India to Belize and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. A specialist on China with over two decades of hands-on experience, he headed the Indian expert group dealing with the boundary dispute and confidence-building measures for four years. During his foreign service career, he was also the deputy chief of mission in Saudi Arabia and Consul General of India in Shanghai and Sydney, besides serving in the Indian missions in Hong Kong and Beijing. He was India’s representative to the First Committee at the UN from 1992-95, dealing with disarmament and international security. On deputation to India’s National Security Council Secretariat for four years, he anchored policy issues and strategic dialogues with counterpart organisations around the world. He has rich experience in dealing with security challenges in India’s extended neighbourhood, terrorism and extremism, Indo-Pacific and maritime security, defence reforms and modernisation, and regional infrastructure and connectivity. Ambassador Chinoy contributes extensively to newspapers and journals, besides lecturing in think-tanks and defence establishments in India and overseas.

Vasu GOUNDEN | South Africa
Executive Director |African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD)
Vasu Gounden is the Founder and Executive Director of the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) which he founded in 1992. In 2018 Vasu founded Global Peace to mobilize a global constituency to strengthen multilateralism and to build a better world. Vasu was a Fulbright Scholar at Georgetown University where he graduated with an LLM and is admitted to the High Court of South Africa as an Advocate. Over the last 29 years Vasu has been involved in preparing conflicting parties across Africa for political negotiations, and has supported the Facilitators in the peace processes in, among others, Burundi, the DRC, Madagascar, Sudan, South Sudan, and Somalia. He is currently involved in the Sudan Peace Process. Vasu has served on several Commissions in South Africa and serves on the Boards of several Institutions across the world including the Steering Committee of the Paris Peace Forum; the Advisory Board of the CyberPeace Institute; and the Global Citizen 2020 Policy Advisory Sub-Committee.

John ALLEN | United States
President |Brookings Institution
John R. Allen currently serves as the 8 th president of the Brookings Institution. He is a retired U.S. Marine Corps four-star general and former commander of the NATO International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces in Afghanistan. Prior to his role at Brookings, General Allen served as senior advisor to the secretary of defense on Middle East Security and as special presidential envoy to the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL. General Allen is the first Marine to command a theater of war, as well as the first Marine to be named commandant of midshipmen for the U.S. Naval Academy. He holds a Bachelor of Science in operations analysis from the U.S. Naval Academy, a Master of Arts in national security studies from Georgetown University, a Master of Science in strategic intelligence from the Defense Intelligence College, and a Master of Science in national security strategy from the National Defense University.

Milena LAZAREVIC | Serbia
Co-Founder & Program Director | European Policy Centre
Milena Lazarevic is one of the founders and Programme Director at the European Policy Centre (CEP), an independent, non-governmental, think tank based in Belgrade, Serbia, one of the top ten ranked think tanks in Central and Eastern Europe, according to the Global Go To Think Tank Index. A proven expert in the field of public administration reform, in 2014-2015 Milena acted as the Special Adviser to the Serbian Deputy Prime Minister. Before co-founding CEP in 2011, she worked for six years as a civil servant in the Serbian administration. Milena obtained her BA degree in European Studies and International Relations at the American University in Bulgaria as a Soros scholar, and her MA at the College of Europe, on a King Baudouin Foundation scholarship.

Mohammed Abdullah AL-ALI | United Arab Emirates
CEO & President |TRENDS Research & Advisory
Mohammad Al-Ali is the CEO and Founder of the new TRENDS Research & Advisory & senior researcher/writer and an Emirati author, specializing in strategic and political affairs. Dr. Al-Ali received a Ph.D. in Criminology from Mutah University. He obtained a Master of Arts in Diplomacy from the American University in the Emirates, and a Bachelor’s in media, radio, and television from the UAE University. He has vast experience in the media where he supervised magazines and academic journals covering and analyzing regional and international developments. He has worked as Editor-in-Chief of several scholarly periodicals and has held important positions in think-tanks. Dr. Al-Ali has produced several studies including The Role of Electronic Press in Creating Awareness Among the Youth in Arab Gulf Countries, published in the Annals of Arts and Social Sciences in Kuwait. He has also presented numerous research papers at various international conferences.

Diego Lopez GARRIDO | Spain
Executive Vice President | Fundación Alternativas
Diego López Garrido is an economist, and has a Chair in Constitutional Law from the University of Castilla-La Mancha. He has been elected as MP for six terms, was a member of the Convention for drafting the European Constitution, and has represented the Spanish Parliament from 2002-2003. Currently, he is a parliamentary counsel to the Spanish parliament and the Executive Vice President of Alternativas Foundation. Dr. Garrido is a specialist in human rights, and author of many books on politics and European Community Law . His most recent books include: “Lecciones de Derecho Constitucional de España y de la Union Europea” ( Vol. I and II ); “Paraisos Fiscales, libros de la Catarata y Fundacion Alternativas,” (Madrid 2016) and “The Ice Age. Bailing Out the Welfare State in the Era of Austerity” (London Publishing Partnership, 2015); “Derecho Constitucional Comparado” ( Tirant lo Blanc ). He has also served as the Vice President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (2015) and the State Secretary for European Affairs (2008-2011). He coordinated the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union (1 January to 30 June 2010). In acknowledgement of his services and diverse profile, Dr. Garrido has received multiple accolades including the Grand Officer Cross of the Order of Merit of the German Federal Republic (2013), Official of the National Order of the Legion of Honour Insignia of the French Republic (2012), Commander of the Order of the Belgian Crown’s Order Insignia (2012), Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit (1996) among others. Dr. Garrido has a Ph.D. in Law from Autónoma University of Madrid (1981) and speaks Spanish, English, French, and Italian.

Paolo MAGRI | Italy
Executive Vice President |Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI)
Paolo Magri is Executive Vice President of the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI) and Professor of International Relations at Bocconi University. He is member of the Strategic Committee of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, member of the Europe Policy Group of the World Economic Forum (Davos) and member of the Board of Directors of the Italy-China Foundation. He is also a member of the Board of Experts of the GLOBSEC Global Europe Initiative, as well as member of the Scientific Committees of the Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU) and of the Military Center for Strategic Studies (Ce.Mi.S.S.). He is a regular speaker, writer and commentator to diverse media outlets on global issues, US foreign policy, Iran and the Middle East. Previously, he served as Programme Director to the UN Secretariat in New York and, up to 2005, as Director of International Affairs at Bocconi University in Milan.

Lydia RUDDY | Indonesia
Director of Communications | Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)
Lydia Ruddy is the Director of Communications and Special Advisor to the President on US-ASEAN Affairs for the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), an international organization based in Jakarta. With over 20 years of professional experience, she has worked at the nexus of the public and private sectors focused on international relations, development, and investment. Since coming to Indonesia on a Fulbright over 15 years ago, she has advised businesses and organizations on strategic planning, sustainability, and policy issues. Clients and employers have included USAID, ADB, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (KADIN), AMCHAM, The Asia Foundation, private equity firms, and business advisory consultants. Before coming to Indonesia, Ms. Ruddy’s career focused on legal practice, real-estate development and land conservation on the West Coast of the United States. She has a Law Degree from Georgetown University and a Masters of Urban Planning from the University of Washington. She currently serves on the boards of the American Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia and AMINEF (Fulbright Indonesia).

Boris KALISKY | Czech Republic
Director of Operations | Prague Security Studies Institute (PSSI)
Boris Kaliský has served as PSSI’s Director of Operations since April 2020. He is an alumnus of PSSI´s Robinson-Martin Security Scholars Program and has previously worked with PSSI on various projects and events as a communications and logistics coordinator and a researcher. During this period, he also worked as an editor and journalist focusing on maritime affairs. He also undertook an unconventional career detour as a bosun and ship’s officer on the tall ship La Grace, as well as authored a book on the cryptocurrencies. From 2004 to 2013, Mr. Kaliský worked at the Forum 2000 Foundation and Keynote ltd. as an Event and Program Coordinator. He focused on projects aimed at developing civil society in Central and Eastern Europe, the promotion of human rights and renewable energy and security. Mr. Kaliský holds an MA degree in International Relations from the Faculty of Social Sciences at Charles University.

Aaron SHULL | Canada
General Counsel & Managing Director | Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)
Aaron Shull is the General Counsel and Managing Director at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI). He acts as a strategic liaison between CIGI’s research initiatives and other departments while managing CIGI’s legal affairs and advising senior management on a range of legal, operational and policy matters. A member of CIGI’s executive team, Aaron provides guidance and advice on matters of strategic and operational importance, while working closely with partners and other institutions to further CIGI’s mission. He also serves as corporate secretary. Aaron is an expert on cyber security issues. He coordinated the CIGI essay series Governing Cyberspace during a Crisis in Trust. In his introduction, he argues that more robust international norms for cyber security are a national imperative for Canada. Prior to joining CIGI, Aaron practised law for a number of organizations, focusing on international, regulatory and environmental law. He has taught courses at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law, and the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs and was previously a staff editor for the Columbia Journal of Transnational Law. Aaron graduated from the University of Waterloo, placing first in his class as a departmental scholar, with a B.A. (honours) in history and political science. His keen interest in international affairs and political history led him to pursue an M.A. in international affairs at Carleton University’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, where he graduated with distinction. He concurrently pursued his LL.B. from the University of Ottawa, where he graduated cum laude with first class honours. Aaron received his LL.M. from Columbia Law School, where he graduated as a Harlan Fiske Stone scholar.

Mohammed AL-SULAMI | Saudi Arabia
Founder & President | Rasanah – International Institute for Iranian Studies
Mohammed Alsulami is an expert in Iranian affairs. He received his Ph.D. from Leiden University in 2014. His Ph.D. investigated the notions of the ‘other’ in modern Iranian thought. He is interested in Iranian-Arab political, cultural and social relationships in the modern time. He has taught Iranian Studies at Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia, since 2004. He speaks Arabic, English, and Persian, along with a familiarity of Kurdish and Dutch. Dr. Alsulami has presented at numerous regional and international conferences, as well as publishing widely in many peer-reviewed journals and edited books such as “Iranian Journals in Berlin during the Interwar Period”, in Transnational Islam in Interwar Europe; Muslim Activists and Thinkers and “The Arab Omar Khayyam”, in The Great Umar Khayyam: A Global Reception of the Rubaiyat. He has written and co-authored several books such as Iran Supreme Leadership: Usurped Power: Shiite political controversy between Arab and Iranian religious authorities and The Arab Other in Modern Iranian Mentality. At present, Dr. Alsulami is the founder and president of Rasanah: International Institute for Iranian Studies, as well as, the Editor-in- Chief of the quarterly peer reviewed Journal for Iranian Studies. He has acted as an advisor to many governmental and non-governmental organizations in Saudi Arabia. Since 2010 he has been a columnist in different Arab and International newspapers such as The Majala, Alsharq Al-Awsat, Makkah, Alwatan, Washington Times, the Hill newspapers. Currently he writes weekly for Arab News newspaper. He has been a political analyst and commentator appearing on different TV stations such as Al-Arabiya, Al-Jazeera, Al-Ekhbaryya, Sky news Arabic, BBC international service, BBC Persian, Alhurra, and many others.

Gustavo MARTÍNEZ | Argentina
Managing Director | Argentine Council for International Relations (CARI)
Gustavo Martínez is currently International Affairs and Managing Director of CARI – Argentine Council of International Relations and Argentine Think20 Executive Director. Until last year he also served as Head Adviser in the Argentine Parliament to the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and as Academic Director and Professor of Master of Diplomacy and Foreign Policy in UCES – Universidad de Ciencias Empresariales y Sociales. Previously, he was Secretary General of the Università di Bologna, Buenos Aires Headquarters and Academic Coordinator for its Master in International Relations Europe – Latin America and former General Manager of the Universidad del Museo Social Argentino. He has taught at the Universidad de Belgrano, Political Decision Theory, History of Political Ideas, and History of Social Policy in Argentina I. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Universidad de Belgrano and a Masters in Education from the Universidad Torcuato Di Tella.

Akshay MATHUR | India
Director & Head of Geoeconomics Studies Programme | Observer Research Foundation (ORF)
Akshay Mathur is the Director of ORF Mumbai and head of the Geoeconomics Studies Programme across all ORF centres. Within Geoeconomics, his research focuses on issues of economic diplomacy, international financial architecture, global trading system, international monetary system, global economic governance, multilateral financial institutions, economic statecraft. He is also a Senior Fellow with the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), based in Waterloo, Canada for whom he contributes with research on global economic and digital governance issues. Prior to joining ORF, Akshay was the Chief Executive Officer, Director of Research and Senior Fellow of Geoeconomic Studies at Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations. Before joining Gateway House, he worked as a Principal Architect with the corporate strategy group at Fidelity Investments at its headquarters in Boston, specifically the Advanced Research, Strategy Formulation, and Business Architecture division. Akshay has written columns for Indian and foreign news publications such as the Financial Times, Economic Times, and Business Standard and has been interviewed by the New York Times, Bloomberg, BBC, Channel News Asia, CCTV, Russia Today, CNBC, NDTV on global trends. He represented India at the inaugural cohort of the Asia Global Fellows programme for mid-career leaders in the field of global policy-making hosted by the Asia Global Institute in Hong Kong in 2017. He has an MBA from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business with concentration in Finance and Business Analysis and research focused on transnational business and global macroeconomics. He has a B.S. in Computer Science from the School of Computer Science at University of Massachusetts, Amherst and is an alumnus of Mayo College, Ajmer.

Dlawer ALA’ALDEEN | Iraqi Kurdistan
President | Middle East Research Institute (MERI)
Professor Dlawer Ala’Aldeen is the Founding President of the Middle East Research Institute, former Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the Kurdistan Regional Government (2009-2012), and Professor of Medicine in Nottingham University, UK. Dlawer was born and brought up in Kurdistan Region of Iraq, studied medicine in Baghdad and completed his postgraduate studies (MSc, PhD, FRCPath) in London, UK. He was a Medical Research Council Fellow before his clinical academic appointment in Nottingham University in 1994. He held a number of senior board and executive positions at several national institutions and learned societies in the UK, including the Royal College of Pathologists, the Medical Research Council, the Health Protection Agency and Society for General Microbiology. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed international journals and co-authored several books in the field of medicine. Dlawer co-founded the Kurdish Scientific and Medical Association, an advocacy organisation focused on protecting Kurdish human rights and influencing UK and US policies on the Kurds. He also took an academic interest in, and investigated and published scientific evidence for, the use of chemical weapons in Kurdistan. He was a member of the British Working Party on Chemical and Biological Weapons. He took part in the production of numerous television documentaries and his publication, ‘Death Clouds’ was used in the indictment of members of the former Iraqi regime. He later published his memoirs on lobbying activities in his book: ‘Lobbying for a Stateless Nation’ in 2007. Dlawer has been involved since 1992 in supporting the nation-building and capacity building projects in Kurdistan Region. In October 2009, he joined Dr Barham Salih’s Cabinet of Kurdistan Regional Government as Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research (until 5 April, 2012). He initiated an ambitious programme to radically reform the system of Higher Education in Kurdistan. He also led his Government’s major scholarship program for sending thousands of students abroad for Masters and PhD studies. His latest book, Nation Building and the System of Self-Governance in Kurdistan Region, highlights the challenges faced by the KRG and possible directions it might pursue.

Brian FINLAY | United States
President | Stimson Center
Brian Finlay is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Stimson Center. Under his tenure since 2016, Stimson has transformed its business model, launched pioneering new engagements across Asia, and industry-defining programming on environmental security, renewable energy, and technology. The Center also opened its first overseas office in Europe. As a result, the Center has tripled in size and continues to dramatically outperform similarly-sized institutions in global rankings. Notably, Stimson today boasts the most diverse and inclusive workforce of any major Washington think tank. Brian previously served as Vice President, Managing Director, and Senior Fellow at Stimson. Prior to joining the Center, he served as executive director of a Washington-based lobbying initiative focused on counterterrorism issues, as a researcher at the Brookings Institution, and as a program officer at the Century Foundation. Prior to emigrating to the United States from his native Canada, Brian served with the Public Health Agency and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. He is Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Directors of iMMAP, an information management and data analytics organization focused on improving humanitarian relief and development coordination. Brian was an adjunct professor at American University in Washington, and today sits on the Editorial Board of Global Security, a journal of health, science and policy published by Routledge, Taylor & Francis. With expertise in nonproliferation, transnational crime, counter-trafficking, and supply chain security, Brian holds an M.A. from the Norman Patterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University, a graduate diploma from the School of Advanced International Studies, the Johns Hopkins University and an honors B.A. from Western University inCanada.

Marlos LIMA | Brazil
Director for International Affairs | Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV)
Marlos Lima is the director for international affairs at the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV). He is also a professor of postgraduate courses on strategic planning, public policy, prospective scenarios and future studies, and decision-making under uncertainty. Lima has been involved in many private and public initiatives abroad and in Brazil. He is an economist at the Brazilian School of Economics, visiting professor at many universities in Latin America, founding member of the Latin American Group for Public Administration (GLAP/IIAS), and a member of the American Academy of Management. Lima holds a master’s degree in public administration and a PhD in management from FGV.

Dore GOLD | Israel
President | Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs (JCPA)
Dore Gold is President of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. He served as Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations in 1997-1999, and as the Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2015-2016. In that capacity, he was instrumental in expanding Israel’s ties in Africa, the Arab world, and Far East. He has served as an advisor on international issues to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and as an envoy to the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Jordan and the Gulf States. Gold has a BA, MA, and PhD from Columbia University. As a senior diplomat and recognized scholar, Gold is called upon regularly to share his expertise. He delivered testimony at the US House of Representatives for special Congressional hearings on recognizing Israeli sovereignty on the Golan Heights (2018); moving the American Embassy to Jerusalem (2017); and before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Israel’s rights to defensible borders (2011). In 2009, he debated Justice Richard Goldstone on the veracity of the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict. He has written books on the Middle East, including three New York Times bestsellers, and his articles appear in major international publications.

Stormy-Annika MILDNER | United States
Executive Director | Aspen Institute
Stormy-Annika Mildner (M.Sc.) is Director of the Aspen Institute Germany in Berlin. As an adjunct professor, she teaches at the Hertie School. From 2014 to 2020, she served as head of the department “External Economic Policy” at the Federation of German Industries (BDI). As Sherpa, she spearheaded the German Business7 Presidency (2015) and the German Business20 Presidency (2016-2017). During the latter, she was also responsible for the Business Dialogue with the WTO. Prior to joining BDI, she was Member of the Board of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) and headed the program “Globalization and the World Economy” at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP).

Jawaher Shaheen Al-Mudhahki | Bahrain
President |University of Bahrain
H.E. Dr. Jawaher Shaheen Al-Mudhahki is the President of the University of Bahrain, since October 2021. Prior to this position she was the Chief Executive of the Education and Training Quality Authority (BQA) since its establishment in 2008. She began her career at the University of Bahrain, where she held several academic and Administrative positions, where the last position was Vice-President for Administration and Financial Affairs. In 2016, His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa confers the Bahrain Medal of the First Class on Dr. Al-Mudhahki in recognition of her efforts to serve the Kingdom.
Dr. Al-Mudhahki was a board member in a number of national, regional and international boards including: The Supreme Council for Education and Training’s Development, The Government Service Centers’ Evaluation Committee, International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE); the Association of Quality Assurance Agencies of the Islamic World (IQA), the Arab Network for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ANQAHE), Accounting and Auditing Authority in the GCC; Higher Council of Training; Supreme Council for Women; Higher Education Council; Academics Association; and Bahrain Accounting Association; Women Empowerment Award Committee; and The Commission of Prisoners and Detainees Rights; and she was the editor in chief of the GCC “Arab Journal of Accounting”.
Her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Bahrain, Master from the University of Denver (USA) and the Ph.D. from the University of Exeter (UK).

Ebtesam AL-KETBI | United Arab Emirates
President |Emirates Policy Center (EPC)

Ebtesam Al-Ketbi is the President and Founder of the Emirates Policy Center, which is one of the most important think tanks in the Arab World. Dr. Al-Ketbi is a Professor of Political Science at the United Arab Emirates University. The center is considered now as one of the most renowned think tanks in the region. Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate, which is organized annually by EPC, has also become one of the key platforms for dialogue in the world to discuss regional and international security.
In recognition of her role and the great respect she enjoys as part of the distinguished elite in the UAE and the Gulf region, Dr. Al-Ketbi was appointed in 2015 as a member of the Consultative Commission of the Cooperation Council of the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC). She was also chosen in 2018 in the list of 50 Most Influential Women in the Arab World. In 2019, Dr. Al-Ketbi received the Women Super Achiever Award during the World Women Leadership Congress. In 2021, she was chosen as an advisor in the Global Commission for Post-Pandemic Policy. She also held several posts such as the General Coordinator of the Gulf Development Forum, and served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Arab Association for Political Science and as a member in the board of trustees in the Center for Arab Unity Studies, the Arab Thought Foundation, and the Arab Anti-Corruption Organization. Dr. Al-Ketbi published a number of research papers on Gulf Security, US-GCC relations, and War on Terrorism. She has recently published two books; the first titled The UAE Power-Building Model and Foreign Policy Shifts (the Emirates Policy Center, 2021) and the second titled Iran and the Biden Administration: A Potential Return to Negotiations (the Emirates Policy Center, 2021).

Natasha JACOME | United States
Director of Management Operations | Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Natasha Jacome is the Director of Management Operations, Chair of the Staff Committee and Senior Advisor to the Diversity & Inclusion Council. She works with the Chief Executive Officer to shape operations, directly oversees the Human Resources and Support Operations Departments, manages and advises the Financial Management and Information Technology Departments and leads the review, development, implementation and accountability of center policy changes. Previously, Natasha worked alongside the Chief Operating Officer as the Deputy Chief Operating Officer providing strategic, operational and project management throughout the Center. In 2018, Natasha worked in the Financial Management Office, where she handled contracts, procurement and investments. Her work with the Wilson Center started in 2017 when she joined the Latin American Program. She holds an MS in Management specialized in Finance and a BA in Economics from the University of Maryland. As a first-generation American, Natasha spends much of her time educating minorities on the importance of effective financial planning and investing in our youth and communities. She seeks to continue developing, influencing and expanding strategic management methods to promote meaningful change and advocacy worldwide.

Sanam VAKIL | United Kingdom
Deputy Director, MENA Programme | Chatham House

Sanam Vakil is the deputy director of the Middle East North Africa programme, where she leads project work on Iran and Gulf Arab dynamics. Sanam’s research focuses on regional security, Gulf geopolitics, and on future trends in Iran’s domestic and foreign policy. She is also the James Anderson professorial lecturer in the Middle East Studies department at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS Europe) in Bologna, Italy. Before these appointments, Sanam was an assistant professor of Middle East Studies at SAIS Washington. She served as a research associate at the Council on Foreign Relations also providing research analysis to the World Bank’s Middle East and North Africa department. Sanam is the author of Action and Reaction: Women and Politics in Iran (Bloomsbury 2013). She publishes analysis and comments for a variety of media and academic outlets. Sanam received her BA in political science and history from Barnard College, Columbia University and her MA/PhD in international relations and international economics from Johns Hopkins University.

Natalia AQUILINO | Argentina
Director, Monitoring and Evaluation | Center for the Implementation of Public Policies Promoting Equity and Growth (CIPPEC)

Natalia Aquilino is Policy Monitoring & Evaluation Director at CIPPEC, one of the leading think tanks in Latin America. Natalia chairs the Civil Association EvaluAR from where she advocates for the strengthening of the culture of evaluation. She is an independent consultant in evaluation. Natalia teaches planning and evaluation at postgraduate level in Argentinian National Universities: Entre Ríos, Rafaela, San Andrés, General San Martín and International: Bologna and ADEN School of Government (Panama). Natalia led more than 25 impact, outcome and process evaluations and designed M&E systems in Latin America and Argentina. Her research agenda includes evaluability of government programs, M&E systems design and accountability. Natalia acted as United Nations Coordination Officer (UN) and Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). She has a degree in Political Science (Planning and Public Administration) and a postgraduate degree in Public Policies and Local Development from the National University of Rosario.

Amal AL-BREIKI | United Arab Emirates
Deputy Head of TRENDS Council for Young Researchers | TRENDS Research & Advisory

Amal Al-Breiki is a junior researcher and the Deputy Head of TRENDS Council for Young Researchers at TRENDS Research and Advisory. She has a BA in International Affairs and a minor in Psychology from Zayed University, and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Applied Sociological Research at Paris-Sorbonne, Abu Dhabi. Amal has a keen interest in Arab youth, and Arab regional affairs. She has written for TRENDS, Konrad Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), Al Arabiya and Gulf News.

Nicolas VÉRON | European Union
Senior Fellow | Bruegel, Peterson Institute for International Economics
Nicolas Véron co-founded Bruegel in Brussels in 2002-05, joined the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington DC in 2009, and is currently employed on equal terms by both organizations as a Senior Fellow. His research is primarily about financial systems and financial services policies, with a main geographical focus on Europe. A graduate of France’s Ecole Polytechnique and Ecole des Mines, his earlier experience includes senior positions in the French government and private sector in the 1990s and early 2000s. He is also an independent board member of the global derivatives trade repository arm of DTCC, a financial infrastructure company that operates on a non-profit basis. In September 2012, Bloomberg Markets included Véron in its yearly global “50 Most Influential” list with reference to his early advocacy of the European Banking union.

Jan HAGEMEJER | Poland
Vice President| Center for Social Economic Research (CASE)

Jan Hagemejer is the Vice President and Macroeconomics and Trade Director of the Center for Social and Economic Research (CASE) in Warsaw, Poland. He is also an Associate Professor at the University of Warsaw where he heads the Macroeconomics and Trade Theory Division. Prior to joining CASE, he was a chief of division at the National Bank of Poland. Jan Hagemejer’s research focuses inter alia on international trade, trade policy, global value chains, firm performance and productivity.

Hussain NADIM | Pakistan
Executive Director | Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI)

Dr. Hussain Nadim is the Executive Director of Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) based in Islamabad. He was formerly at the Wilson Center and the USIP as Senior Pakistan Expert. For his work in the public sector, Dr Nadim is a recipient of several international awards including being recognised in the Forbes 30 under 30 list of 2016. He has a PhD from the University of Sydney, MPhil from University of Cambridge and a BA from George Washington University in International Affairs.

Andrey KORTUNOV | Russia
Director General | Russian International Affairs Council

Andrey Kortunov graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) in 1979 and completed his postgraduate studies at the Institute for U.S. and Canada Studies of the USSR Academy of Sciences in 1982. He holds a PhD in History. Dr Kortunov completed internships at the Soviet embassies in London and Washington, and at the Permanent Delegation of the USSR to the UN. In 1982–1995, Dr Kortunov held various positions in the Institute for U.S. and Canada Studies, including Deputy Director. He taught at universities around the world, including the University of California, Berkeley. In addition, he led several public organizations involved in higher education, social sciences and social development. Since 2011, Andrey Kortunov has been the Director General of RIAC. He is a member of expert and supervisory committees and boards of trustees of several Russian and international organizations. His academic interests include contemporary international relations and Russian foreign policy.

Tomiko ICHIKAWA | Japan
Director General | Japan Institute International Affairs (JIIA)

Tomiko Ichikawa assumed the current position in July 2020. She joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1985. Her assignments in Japan include Directorship at West Europe Division, Economic Integration Division (EU), Non-proliferation, Science and Nuclear Energy Division as well as Economic Policy Division. Overseas postings include the Embassy of Japan in the UK and Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna. She also assumed positions in international organizations as Political Affairs Officer at UNPROFOR (UN PKO in the Former Yugoslavia) and Special Assistant to the Director General, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Ms. Ichikawa participated in the Six Party Talks (December 2006-December 2008), and continued to follow the DPRK nuclear issue at Permanent Mission in Vienna (2011-2014) and the IAEA (2014-2020). She obtained Bachelors in Law, University of Tokyo, Japan and MA, International relations and contemporary war, King’s College London, UK.

Tuqa NUSAIRAT | United States
Director, Strategy, Operations and Finance, Middle East Programs | Atlantic Council

Tuqa Nusairat is the director for strategy, operations, and finance at Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East Programs. Since joining the Council in 2012, she has played a key role in shaping the direction and growth of the Council’s Middle East related programming, publications, outreach and development and has been instrumental in advancing relationships with vital stakeholders including donors, board members, and high-level contacts. In addition to managing a team of Washington-based fellows and staff, her research focuses on political reform, civil society, and human rights broadly in the region, with a special focus on Jordan.
Previously, she worked at the Project on Middle East Democracy and the National Endowment for Democracy. Nusairat holds an MS in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a BA in Government and International Politics from George Mason University. She speaks Arabic fluently.

Narayanappa JANARDHAN | United Arab Emirates
Senior Research Fellow | Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy

Narayanappa Janardhan analyses and unravels the multi-dimensional partnerships between the countries of the Gulf and Asia. As Senior Research Fellow at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, Abu Dhabi, he also offers diplomats PGD and MA courses on Gulf and Asian foreign policies. The latest among his four books is The Arab Gulf’s Pivot to Asia: From Transactional to Strategic Partnerships (ed., Gerlach, 2020). With a PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, Dr Janardhan is Managing Assistant Editor of the Journal of Arabian Studies (Routledge).

Omar AL-UBAYDLI | Bahrain
Director of Research | Bahrain Center for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (Derasat)

Omar Al-Ubaydli is the Director of Research at the Bahrain Center for Strategic, International and Energy Studies. He is also an affiliated associate professor of economics at George Mason University and an affiliated senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center. He previously served as a member of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Joint Advisory Board of Economists and a Visiting Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago. In Bahrain, he has served as a member of the Higher Education Council Research Taskforce and the National Education Council Skills and Innovation Steering Committee. His primary research areas concern behavioral/experimental economics, political economy, the economics of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the economics of science. He has numerous peer-reviewed publications in international journals, and his research has been covered in mainstream media outlets, in addition to regularly writing newspaper and magazine articles in various outlets.

R. Andreas KRAEMER | Germany, European Union
Founder & Director Emeritus | Ecologic Institute

R. Andreas Kraemer, Founder & Director Emeritus of Ecologic Institute in Berlin, Germany, and Chairman (pro bono) of Ecologic Institute US in Washington DC, is currently non-executive Director of the Fundação Oceano Azul in Lisboa (Portugal), Chairman of Agora Energiewende in Berlin, and Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science and Adjunct Professor of German Studies at Duke University as well as teaching faculty at the EADA Business School in Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain. He is also Initiator and Convenor of the Arctic Summer College. His research focuses on the role and functions of science-based policy institutes or “think tanks” in theory and the practice in different political systems, the interactions among policy domains and international relations, and global governance on environment, resources, climate and energy.
R. Andreas Kraemer is also Manager (pro bono) of the Konrad von Moltke Fund and active as Co-Chairman of the Advisory Board of OekoWorld, which sets global investment criteria for ethical and ‘green’ investment funds or mutual trusts, Advisory Board Member of The Arctic Institute, and Member of the Practice Board for the Master Course on “Strategic Sustainability Management” at the University of Applied Sciences in Eberswalde (HNE Eberswalde). In 2015, he was Visiting Scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research (CEEPR). From 2011 to 2014, R. Andreas Kraemer was Speaker of Ecornet, the Ecological Research Network of independent, trans-disciplinary environmental research institutes in Germany. From 2015 to 2018, he was Senior Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS), Potsdam, Germany.

Laura WHELAN | United States
Assistant Director | Sustainable Information Economy (SIE)

Laura Whelan is the Assistant Director of the Sustainable Information Economy (SIE) which maps ‘real-world’ policy into the digital sphere, in addition to the recent co-author of Global Think Tanks: Policy Networks and Governance (2nd Edition) with Dr. James McGann. Laura is concurrently serving as the Corporate Marketing Lead for SIE’s sister company, Personal Digital Spaces, a distributed ledger application platform that infuses transparency and control into data monetization and management through micro-licensing. Laura previously conducted history and technology policy research at Chatham House, the Urban Institute, and the TTCSP, and while at the TTCSP executed summits across Africa, Latin America, North America, Europe and Asia. Laura was also a panelist at two global think tank summits in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (December 2019) and in Brussels, Belgium (November 2018).