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Ambassadors Discuss Their Insight on Potential U.S. Policy in the MENA Region Under President-Elect Biden

  • 15 Dec 2020
  • 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
  • Online

Registration

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Join us for a frank and candid discussion with former career diplomats as they share their perspectives and views on what you can expect from President-elect Biden’s foreign policy strategy in the MENA region.
On January 20, 2021, President-elect Joe Biden will be sworn into office as the 46th president of the United States. The new Administration will face a series of daunting challenges, not the least of which involves America’s foreign policy in the MENA region.  With the recent nomination of former Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken to lead the U.S. State Department, many are eager to gain insight into the new Administration’s strategy to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing the region.

On Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 06:00 PM Bahrain Time, The Bilateral U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce will host an esteemed panel of seasoned career diplomats for an in-depth discussion regarding the results of the recent elections and the new Administration’s possible priorities for the MENA region. 

Webinar details:

  • Date: 15 December, 2020
  • Time: 6:00- 7:00 PM Bahrain Time
  • Cost: AmCham Members: Free
  • Non-AmCham Members: BHD 10.5
  • Where: Online
DISTINGUISHED PANELISTS:
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Ambassador (ret.) Susan L. Ziadeh has enjoyed a 23 year career with the U.S. Department of State where she most recently served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Arabian Peninsula Affairs in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (2014-2016). From May-October 2016, Amb. Ziadeh served as NEA Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary. She is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, and served as the U.S. Ambassador to the State of Qatar from 2011-2014.
She served previously as the Deputy Chief of Mission at U.S. Embassy Riyadh, the Official Spokesperson at U.S. Embassy Baghdad, and as the Deputy Chief of Mission at U.S. Embassy Bahrain. Her other overseas postings include Riyadh, Kuwait, Amman, and Jerusalem. In Washington, she was responsible for the Jordan desk, and served as Acting Deputy Director of the Office for Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.
Susan L. Ziadeh earned a PhD in history from the University of Michigan, an M.A. from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon, and a B.A. from the University of Washington. She is a 2004 distinguished graduate of the National War College, National Defense University with an M.S. in National Security Strategy.
A recipient of the Department’s Superior Honor Award numerous times, she was awarded the Department of State’s 2007 Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Public Diplomacy. Ambassador Ziadeh was also awarded the Department of State’s 2014 Arnold L. Raphel Memorial Award for Leadership. In 2015, the Secretary of Defense awarded her the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service.  The Emir of the State of Qatar conferred on Ambassador Ziadeh the Emiri Sash of Merit in 2014 in recognition of her success as Ambassador in strengthening bilateral relations.
Ambassador Ziadeh is a distinguished member of the Bilateral Chamber's Board of Advisors.
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Barbara A. Leaf, the U.S. ambassador to the United Arab Emirates from 2014-2018, is the Ruth and Sid Lapidus Fellow at The Washington Institute and director of the Beth and David Geduld Program on Arab Politics. During her diplomatic career, Ambassador Leaf served in high-level positions at Foggy Bottom and abroad. Before arriving in Abu Dhabi in 2014, she served as deputy assistant secretary of state for the Arabian Peninsula in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs and as deputy assistant secretary of state for Iraq; directed the U.S. Provincial Reconstruction Team in Basrah, Iraq; and served as the department’s first director of the Office of Iranian Affairs. In addition, she had postings in Rome, Sarajevo, Paris, Cairo, Tunis, Jerusalem, and Port-au-Prince.
Ambassador Leaf departed government as a member of the Senior Foreign Service and has received numerous Superior Honor and Meritorious Honor Awards throughout her career. A graduate of the College of William and Mary, she holds a master's degree in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia. She speaks Arabic, French, Italian, and Serbo-Croatian.

Ambassador Leaf is a distinguished member of the Bilateral Chamber's Board of Advisors.
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Deborah K. Jones has enjoyed a long career in diplomacy, serving as U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait from 2008-11 and previously as principal officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul, Turkey, as well as several posts throughout the Middle East and North Africa. She was appointed an Ambassador to Libya in March 2013. She holds a BA in history from Brigham Young University and is a distinguished graduate of the National War College at National Defense University, with a Master’s Degree in national security strategy.

Ambassador Jones is a distinguished member of the Bilateral Chamber's Board of Advisors.
Moderator
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Aida Araissi is the Founder and CEO of the Bilateral Chamber of Commerce and the education foundation, Teachers Educating Across Cultures in Harmony. She has received numerous international awards for business advocacy including the U.S. Commercial Service Award for Excellence in Export Promotion, the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Trade & Commercial Office commendation for dedication and commitment to strengthening ties between the UAE and the US, the State of Georgia’s US Congress Commendation award as a Leading Women to Watch at the Amazons Watch Magazine’s conference highlighting her work in bridging US-MENA-Africa development. Araissi serves on multiple civic and strategic boards including the U.S. Committee for the World Petroleum Congress, the Export Academy, the Nature Conservancy and the Yellowstone Park Foundation.

We look forward to you joining our first post-election webinar as part of the Bilateral Chamber’s Global Rebound 2021 Series designed to provide stakeholders with key insights and perspectives from prominent experts and global leaders that will guide our members through the challenges and commercial opportunities that lie ahead in 2021 and beyond.


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