Schedule

Thursday, February 13, 2025
6 p.m. Reception
7 p.m. Program
8 p.m. Audience Q&A

Houston is home to one of the nation’s largest diplomatic corps, a vibrant community that includes consular representation of approximately 80 nations that connects Houston to the world and cements its role as a global city. Many of these consulates are led by dynamic women diplomats who represent their countries, conduct foreign policy, and promote international trade and cultural understanding. While women have been — and still are — underrepresented in international diplomatic efforts, these diplomats are proving that diversity strengthens decision-making, promotes innovation, and brings fresh perspectives needed to address global challenges. They operate on the front line of efforts to promote peace and build relationships. 

Join Asia Society Texas as we host a discussion of modern diplomacy and the role women diplomats play in leading foreign policy efforts around the world. The U.S. Department of State, Office of Foreign Missions Houston Regional Director Katherine Ho, Consul General of France in Houston Valérie Baraban, Australian Consul General and Trade and Investment Commissioner, Houston Gabrielle Hall, and Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office Yvonne Hsiao will be joined in conversation by KHOU 11 News Anchor/Reporter Rekha Muddaraj.

About the Speakers

Valérie Baraban has served as the Consul General of France in Houston since September 2021. She began her career at the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs twenty years ago, with a focus on defense and security, managing arms export control and arms control dossiers in coordination with the European Union, OSCE, and NATO. At NATO headquarters in Brussels, she served as Senior Negotiator to France’s Permanent Representative, overseeing military operations and intelligence governance. Her international experience also includes her role as Deputy Head of Cooperation and Cultural Affairs at the French Embassy in China (2009–2013), where she led one of France’s largest diplomatic networks. Prior to her appointment in Houston, she was based in Paris as a Diplomatic Advisor to the National Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism Coordinator within the Office of the President of the French Republic. An alumna of Lycée Henri IV and the École normale supérieure in Paris, Ms. Baraban is a credentialed professor of philosophy and taught for a decade, including at UC Berkeley in California. 

Gabrielle Hall is Australia’s Consul-General and Trade and Investment Commissioner in Houston, Texas. Her current sectors of focus include energy, health, and space, while her consular remit covers the southern states of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. Prior to landing in Houston, Gabrielle worked in Austrade’s Investment Division focused on attracting productive foreign direct investment from the Americas region to Australia. She has also previously been A/g Trade Commissioner in Santiago, Chile and completed short-term assignments with Austrade in Mexico (2019) and Colombia (2016). Gabrielle also has deep trade experience having supported a broad range of Australian exporters with their international strategies through her time in Austrade’s Trade Division. Prior to joining Austrade, Gabrielle worked as a locally engaged staff member for the foreign governments of Uruguay and Chile in Australia. Gabrielle has an energetic toddler and speaks fluent Spanish.

Katherine L. Ho is the Regional Director of the Office of Foreign Missions in Houston. She leads a team overseeing over 350 foreign missions and 3,200 foreign mission personnel spread throughout eight states (Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Arkansas). She has over 14 years of experience within the U.S. Department of State and has served in the Middle East, Asia, and Europe in various challenging positions. While serving as Economic Director on the United Kingdom Desk during Brexit, she coordinated with the National Security Council and National Economic Council to launch the U.S.–U.K. free trade agreement negotiations. While serving in Riyadh, she finalized the U.S.–Saudi Open Skies Agreement that opened commercial aviation between the United States and Saudi Arabia. Katherine is the recipient of numerous awards for her outstanding contributions in advancing diplomacy for the United States. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Katherine was a practicing attorney in Houston. A native Texan, she is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and Vietnamese, and has working proficiency in Arabic. She has a Juris Doctor (JD) from UCLA School of Law, Master of Arts (MA) from Johns Hopkins University, and Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Vanderbilt University.

Yvonne Hsiao has served as the Director General of the Taipei Economic and Culture Office (TECO) in Houston since July, 2023. TECO Houston represents the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Yvonne is a career diplomat with extensive experience serving in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Her previous postings include serving as Deputy Director General for the Department on International Cooperation and Economic Affairs, serving as Deputy Director General for the Department of International Organizations and serving as Chief Secretary for the Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs. She graduated from the National Taiwan University with a degree in Languages and Literature.

About the Moderator 

Rekha Muddaraj is an Anchor/Reporter at KHOU 11 News in Houston, Texas since 2012, specializing in health/medical reporting. She currently anchors the 4 p.m. weekday news. Prior to her move to Houston, Rekha worked as a reporter and fill-in anchor at KFMB-TV (CBS) in San Diego for five years, where she won an Emmy for her breaking news coverage of the 2007 Southern California wildfires. Rekha also worked as a reporter at KOAM-TV in Pittsburg, KS. She covered news in four states including Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. She holds two degrees from Arizona State University: a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication (from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism) and a B.S. in Political Science.

Asia Society hosts today's leading voices, providing commentary on events in news, society, and culture. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect Asia Society views.

About the Women's Leadership Series

The Women's Leadership Series (WLS) celebrates influential, diverse women making a substantive impact in both the business and culture arenas, locally and globally.

Previous programs:

2024 | Designing the Future
2024 | Building Inclusivity in the Workplace
2024 | Culinary Innovators Building Community
2023 | Women Leading the Evolution of Skincare
2023 | Houston's Leading News Anchors
2023 | Asian American Women in Law
2022 | Philanthropists Leading With Passion
2022 | Huma Abedin on Public Service and Private Legacies
2022 | Cooking at Home, Writing from the Heart with Priya Krishna
2021 | Asian American Leaders Standing Up for Racial Justice
2021 | Women in Space: Breaking Barriers on Earth and Beyond
2021 | Innovation and Investment in Climate Change Solutions
2020 | Building Black and Asian Solidarity: Women Leading Across Race, History, and Culture
2020 | Women Responding to COVID-19
2020 | Women in Journalism: Ann Curry
2019 | Leadership and Success: Conversation with Former PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi
2019 | Women in Entertainment
2019 | Energy Executives on the Importance of STEM Education
2018 | Women in Culinary Arts: Christine Hà, Jenni Tranweaver, and Kiran Verma
2018 | Women in Fashion: Chloe Dao, Becky Hollands, Khanh Nguyen, and Naina Shah
2018 | Technology Trailblazers
2017 | Innovators in Medicine & Science with Keynote Dr. Huda Zoghbi
2017 | Women's Education and Empowerment with Keynote Cherie Blair
2016 | Women in Energy
2016 | Leading from the C-Suite with Keynote Lulu C. Wang
2016 | The Advancement of Women in Public Service with Elaine Chao
2015 | In Conversation: Dr. Anne Chao, Donna Cole, and Y. Ping Sun

The Women's Leadership Series Steering committee is chaired by Theresa Chang. Members include Dr. Anne Chao, Kathy Goossen, Dr. Ellen Gritz, Mandy Kao, Shirley Kwan, Anu Lal, Dr. Jody Lee, Phuong Levan, Niloufar Molavi, Sue Sim, Shazia Sultan, Y. Ping Sun, and Anthea Zhang.

Title Sponsor

Presenting Sponsors

Lead Sponsors
Nancy C. Allen
Anne and Albert Chao
Shirley and Peter Kwan
The Honorable Theresa W. Chang and Dr. Peter Chang
Sue and Randy Sim

Additional Support

Bank of Houston
Kathy and Marty Goossen
Mandy and William Kao
Anu and Shirish Lal
Y. Ping Sun and David Leebron
Michael Hsu Office of Architecture
Private Wealth Management U.S. Bank
Leslie and Shannon Sasser
Leigh and Reggie Smith
Shazia and Omer Sultan
Southwestern National Bank
Alexander Wainwright
Anthea Zhang

About Asia Society Texas

Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.

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