Asia 21 Fellows, Class of 2008
The Asia 21 Young Leaders Forum revolves around the Asia 21 Fellows, a core network of leaders among leaders from diverse professional backgrounds, who are tasked to serve one-year terms.
BANGLADESH
Sara Hossain
Sara Hossain is a lawyer at the Supreme Court of Bangladesh (High Court Division) practicing constitutional and public interest law. She is a Board Member of Ain o Salish Kendra (the Law and Mediation Centre), aleading national human rights organization, and is also associated with other legal services groups. She regularly writes, lectures, and comments on human rights law and practice. Earlier, Sara served at the Legal Officer for South Asia at the International Centre for the Legal Protection of Human Rights (INTERIGHTS), based in London, where she worked with lawyers and judges across South Asia on the process of incorporating international human rights law into national courts. Sarahas written and lectured on public interest law, domestic application of international human rights law, and on women's human rights. Her most recent publication is 'Honour' Crimes Paradigms and Violence against Women (Zed, 2005), co-edited with Lynn Welchman.
CHINA
Wen Bo
Wen Bo is Pacific Environment's Beijing-based China Program Director, where he is working to develop the organization's China project. Wen Bo graduated from the China School of Journalism in Beijing and earned his Masters Degree in International Relations at the KDI School of International Policy and Management in Seoul, South Korea. He is a founder of the China Green Student Forum, which is now a network of more than 100 student environmental groups. He was a journalist at China Environment News from 1996 to 1998 and studied for a certificate course at the Center for Environmental Education in India in 1997. In 2000, he set up a Greenpeace office in Beijing and is currently on the China Advisory Board of The Global Greengrants Fund to facilitate the growth of environmental communities in China.
Jia Ping
Jia Ping is Chief Executive Director and Founder of Global Fund Watch (China Initiative), a watchdog nongovernmental organization that combats AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. He is also the Chief Lawyer for the Project of Friends, which is the leading MSM Network on the Chinese Mainland and just received the UNAIDS award for its contributions to fighting AIDS. He also served on the experts' committee for HIV/AIDS of China's Center for Disease Control. Mr. Pingis a tireless advocate for the rights of people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS, sex workers, migrant people, drug users, and homosexuals. He aims to bring the rights of these socially marginalized groups under Chinese constitutional law into accord with international standards. Mr. Ping also served as executive director of Tsinghua University's human rights and constitutional law center, and as the lawyer responsible for health education at the Beijing Ai Zhi Xing Institute. He graduated from Renmin University and East China law schools and was a visiting scholar at the Columbia University Center for the Study of Human Rights in 2005.
Seagull Song
Seagull Song currently works as a foreign attorney for the U.S. law firm of Arnold & Porter, and was previously a Partner at King and Wood, the largest and most prestigious law firm in China. She has been practicing intellectual property law for ten years in Hong Kong and mainland China. Ms. Song is a frequent speaker at such events as the China In-House Summit and the Hong Kong Law Society. She has been recognized as the "Leading Lawyer in the Field of Intellectual Property Law" by Asia Law & Practice in both 2006 and 2007. Ms. Song obtained her law degree from Hong Kong University and her LL.M from the University of California at Berkeley Law School.
HONG KONG
Vivian Lau
Vivian Lau is the CEO of Junior Achievement Hong Kong, an educational non-profit organization, and Hong Kong Petrochemical Co Ltd, a for-profit US$200 million turnover company. She has twenty years of international experience spanning the educational non-profit, petrochemical, leadership development, IT, airlines, advertising, online, and telecommunication industries. In 1999, she was elected one of 12 "Internet Superstars of the Year" by Advertising Age International. Ms. Lau was the Chairman of the Hong Kong Chapter of the Interactive Advertising Bureau from 2001 to 2003, and the Founding Chairman of the Hong Kong 4A's Interactive Committee. In 2006, she was selected by the International Women's Forum as one of the 16 Leadership Foundation Fellows for its 2006-2007 Global Program.
INDIA
Menaka Guruswamy
Menaka Guruswamy is an advocate in New Delhi, India. She was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, a Gammon Fellow at Harvard Law School, and a gold medalist from the National Law School of India. She has law degrees from all three schools, with a focus on constitutional law and public international law. Menaka has practiced law at the Office of the Attorney General of India, the highest office that represents the federal government of India in the Supreme Court of India. She has also practiced law in New York, as an associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell, a large American law firm, where her primary area of practice was commercial law. In addition, Menaka has worked as a consultant for the United Nations Development Program and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), advising both on law reform. This past year Menaka was an Assistant Professor at New York University's School of Law. Menaka presently lives in New Delhi, where she practices law, and focuses on constitutional law scholarship and litigation.
INDONESIA
Sandiaga Uno
Sandiaga Uno currently holds directorships with PT Adaro Indonesia (Coal Mine – South Kalimantan), PT Indonesia Bulk Terminal (CoalTerminal – South Kalimantan), PT Mitra Global Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telecom Operator – Central Java) and Interra Resources Limited (Oil & Gas). He also serves as Commissioner of PT Recapital Advisors, a leading investment house he co-founded in 1997 with Rosan Perkasa, PTKemang Jaya Raya (Grandkemang Hotel – Jakarta), PT Global FinancindoTbk. (Diversified Financial Services) and PT Alberta Investment Management (equity stakes in Pizza Hut Indonesia and PT Sriboga RatuRaya – Flour Mills in Central Java).
Sandiaga graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Wichita State University in 1990 and obtained a Masters of Business Administration from George Washington University in 1992. He served as Finance and Accounting Officer in the Summa Group of Companies in Indonesia, Manager/Financial Analyst in Seapower Asia Investment Limited (now Pacific Century Regional Developments Limited) in Singapore, Chief Financial Officer of NTI Resources Limited in Calgary, Canada. Since 1998, he has been the Managing Director of Saratoga Capital, a private equity/direct investment firm he co-founded with Edwin Soeryadjaya in 1998. In April 2005, he was elected as the Chairman of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association. He also holds the position of Chairman of the Permanent Committee for Small & Medium Enterprises of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) since March 2004. At the Employers' Association of Indonesia (Apindo), he handles the Small Medium Enterprises Division since 2004. In 2004, he was appointed as the Team Manager for the Indonesian Women Basketball Team for the 2005 SEA Games in Manila.
IRAN
Kamiar Alaei
Kamiar Alaei is Co-Founder of Global Health in the Middle East and Central Asia, which trains and motivates health experts in these regions regarding HIV/AIDS and harm reduction. Dr. Alaei co-authored Iran's National Strategic Plan for the Control of HIV/AIDS 2002-2007. He also was instrumental in developing a major health proposal that was awarded $16 million by the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS. In addition, Dr. Alaei played a leadership role in establishing the first HIV/STD and drug use prevention and care center, the Triangular Clinic, in Iran, which the World Health Organization deemed a "best practice." Hehas presented more than 60 papers in 23 countries. The BBC made a documentary about the work being carried out by Dr. Alaei and his brother, who is also a physician. Dr. Alaei received his MD and MPH in Iran, and his master's in international health from Harvard University.
JAPAN
Nami Matsuko
Nami Matsuko is an investment banker at Nomura Securities Co., providing corporate advice for major Japanese companies. Hoping to directly contribute to building fair rules for M&A activities, Namiis also dedicated to several governmental committees such as the Corporate Value Study (Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry), and M&A Study Group (Cabinet Office). Nami is also active in speaking on these topics to enhance understanding of the Japanese business environment, for example, as a panelist for "Japan's New Legal Framework for Corporate Governance" (Japan Society, San Francisco, 2006), and as a speaker on "Hostile Takeovers, Takeover Defenses, Triangular Mergers, and Beyond: WHAT NEXT in 2006? (American Chamber of Commerce Japan, Tokyo, March 2006). She received her B.A. from Sophia University in Tokyo and a LL.M from Georgetown Law Center and New York University School of Law, and is admitted to the New York Bar Association. She enjoys playing the violin in her orchestra on weekends.
MONGOLIA
Dashdorj Zorigt
Dashdorj Zorigt is CEO of the Government of Mongolia's newly established national mining company, Erdenes MGL, which will act as the government's shareholder on major strategic mining projects and is expected to become an industry flagship. Mr. Zorigt rose quickly through the ranks in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, becoming Deputy Director of the Policy Planning Department at the age of twenty-seven. In that position, he played a key role in shifting Mongolia's policy focus toward the Asia-Pacific region and preparing Mongolia for assuming an active role in the ASEAN Regional Forum. Later he served as Director General of the Economic Cooperation Policy Planning Department of the Ministry of Finance and Economy and the Policy Planning department in the Ministry of Industry and Trade. He was instrumental in Mongolia's active pursuit of bilateral free trade agreements with its major trading partners in the Asia-Pacific region.
MYANMAR
The Maw Naing
The Maw Naing is an artist, poet, and filmmaker from Myanmar. He started writing poetry in 1988 while Myanmar was going through political turmoil, and most of his poems are related to political and social affairs. The Maw Naing started painting while he studied under Maung Maung Thein at the Sunflower Art School. Two years ago he also began filming, particularly making short documentaries. In 2007, The Maw Naing's short documentary Again and Again was chosen for the American Anthropological Association Film Festival. The Maw Naing studied computer science in Singapore.
NEW ZEALAND
Mitchell Pham
Mitchell Pham is Director and Co-Founder of the Augen Technology Group. Born in Vietnam, he arrived in New Zealand in 1985 at the age of 13 as a refugee. After studying Information and Communications Technology (ICT) at university, he co-founded the Augen Technology Group, which now encompasses a number of ICT companies in both New Zealand and Vietnam. He also works as a strategy advisor to a number of New Zealand companies with high-growth potential and advises in a number of New Zealand-Asia government initiatives, trade missions, and research projects. Mr. Pham is a keen supporter of the Asia-New Zealand Foundation and of efforts to encourage ICT companies to engage with Asia. He also supports not-for-profit organizations in the community/disability services sector and the fitness industry.
PAKISTAN
Faiysal AliKhan
Faiysal AliKhan is a member of ICC-PNC and chairs the Commission on Customs and Trade Regulation in Pakistan and is the Commercial Directorat DHL Pakistan. He graduated from the University of Kent, Canterbury, where he double majored in Business Administration and Politics. He founded FIDA, an NGO based in Dera Ismail Khan, North West Frontier Province, focusing on rural development and sustainable livelihood. He is also a board member of the Rural Support Programmes Network.
PHILIPPINES
Patricia Isabel Gallardo
Patricia Isabel Gallardo is currently CSR Manager at Ayala Land, the Philippines' biggest real estate company. She handles the company's Campaign for Sustainability, committing its business lines to building model communities and pursuing sustainable land use and development. Pat has over five years of NGO experience, having been with the Asia Foundation, Figaro Foundation, UNDP Special Projects, and the Office of the President of the Philippines. Pat has set up the Birmingham (UK)Chapter of the United Nations Association and continues to work with the Asia Europe Young Leaders and ASEF University program, of which she is an alumnus. She speaks Italian, German, and Spanish, is vegetarian and a yoga practitioner/teacher. She holds an joint MA in Globalization & Governance on scholarship from the University of Birmingham and the London School of Economics, where she graduated with Distinction.
SINGAPORE
Aaron Maniam
Aaron Maniam is currently Deputy Director at at the Strategic Policy Office of the Public Service Division, where he leads a team that analyses long-term inter-agency issues. From May 2006 to January 2008, he served as First Secretary at Singapore's Embassy to Washington, DC. In his community work, Aaron has served as a resource person for Singapore's National Youth Council and a Member of the Executive Committee of Mendaki Club, a group of young Muslim professionals in Singapore. He was Director for Fundraising and Special Services with the Washington DC chapter of the Hugh O' Brian Youth Foundation, a501(c)(3) youth leadership body. As Vice President (2003-2005) and President (2005-July 2006) of the Debate Association (Singapore), Aaron was active in promoting debating among Singaporean youths. He continues to judge debating competitions and conduct workshops for schools. He will be one of the Chief Adjudicators at the 2008 World Schools Debating Championship, to be held in Washington, DC. Aaron won the First Prize for English Poetry in the 2003 National Arts Council-Singapore Press Holdings Golden Point Award. His first collection of poems, Morning at Memory's Border, was shortlisted for the biennial Singapore Literature Prize in 2007. He graduated from Oxford and Yale on a Singapore Public Service Commission scholarship.
SOUTH KOREA
CHEY Chul Won
Mr. CHEY is the President of M&M corp., a major logistics company covering transportation, distribution, and the defense industry. Mr. CHEY was Vice President of SK Networks before founding M&M corp. He received his bachelor's degree in Business Management from Korea University and his master's degree in Industrial Engineering from Hanyang University Graduate School.
THAILAND
Sutapa Amornvivat
Sutapa Amornvivat is currently Economist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, DC. Prior to joining the IMF, she had served as Advisor to the Thai Senate Committee on the Economy, Commerce, and Industry and Director, Macroeconomic Analysis Section at the Fiscal Policy Office, Thai Ministry of Finance. She has lectured at various universities in Asia including Hitotsubashi University, the Indian Institute of Technology, Chulalongkorn University, and Thammasart University. She conducted research on regional economic policy issues at the World Bank in Washington and the Harvard Institute for International Development. Dr. Amornvivat received an undergraduate degree in Applied Mathematics from Harvard University and a PhD in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
USA
Mee Moua
Mee Moua was elected to the Minnesota legislature in February 2002, becoming the first Asian-American woman elected to the Minnesota Senate. Senator Moua chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee and sits on the Senate Committees on Taxes, Transportation, and Public Safety Budget. She is a member of the Democratic National Committee and sits on the board of the Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) Health Forum, a national policy advocacy organization. She was born in Laos, immigrated to the United States in 1978, and currently lives in St.Paul, Minnesota, with her husband and three children.
Anita Ramasastry
Anita Ramasastry is a law professor at the University of Washington in Seattle. She is an international expert on the role of businesses in conflict zones and their accountability for human rights violations in conflict. Professor Ramasastry has participated in several expert consultations convened by John Ruggie, the United Nations Special Representative to the Secretary General on Business and Human Rights. During 2008-09 she will be a Fulbright scholar at the Irish Center for Human Rights, National University of Ireland – Galway. She was previously an attorney at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, an associate at the international law firm of White & Case in Budapest, and professor of law at the Central European University in Budapest, founded by financier George Soros. In 1998-99, she served as a senior attorney and advisor to a claims resolution tribunal in Zurich, established to resolve claims to World War II-era bank accounts. She has been a visiting professor and Atlantic Fellow in Public Policy at the Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary Westfield College, and University of London. In 1996, Ramasastry founded a nonprofit organization, the Immigrant Families Advocacy Project (IFAP), which assists immigrant women and children who are survivors of domestic violence. IFAP, now in its 11th year, also represents immigrant juveniles and victims of human trafficking. She received the 2007 Amicus Award from the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project for her work with IFAP.
Robert Reffkin
Robert L. Reffkin, 28, is a Vice President in the Principal Investment Area of Goldman Sachs. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, he worked at Lazard Frères, where he was an Associate in the Mergers & Acquisitions group and at McKinsey & Company, where he was a Business Analyst. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of USI Holdings Corporation, XLHealth Corporation, the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship, and the Summer Search Foundation. From 2005-2006, he was a White House Fellow serving as a special assistant to the Secretary of the Treasury. He received a B.A. from Columbia University and an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School. His primary philanthropic undertaking includes running 50 marathons, one in each US state, with the goal of raising $1 million for youth education and enrichment programs.
VIETNAM
Dang Huong Giang
Dang Huong Giang founded Action for the City in 2006 to promote sustainable urban development. Action for the City, a registered local non-governmental organization in Hanoi, encourages citizens to minimize consumption of resources, carries out communication campaigns on reduction of transport emissions, and promotes green spaces and green buildings. Giang has been an active advocate for civil society in Vietnam for the past decade as a senior trainer and consultant for the Center for Community Empowerment and as Education Program Manager for Catholic Relief Services. Giang holds an MA in sociology from Catholic University of America, Washington, DC.