Today the Stimson Center announced it welcomed six new members to its Board of Directors at its December meeting: Jeffrey P. Bialos, Sarah L. Stimson Karis, Dr. Sachiko Kuno, Jonathan Roberts, Ambassador David Welch, and Elise N. Zoli. The terms of the new members began January 1st, 2021.
Brian Finlay, President and CEO of the Stimson Center, said: “We are excited to add such deep and diverse experience to the Stimson Center Board. Together these new members represent decades of diplomatic, scientific, business, legal, and philanthropic expertise. The ongoing support and dedication of these leaders and the rest of our board is essential to the Stimson Center’s continued success and growth. We are also deeply grateful to the members of the Board whose terms have ended and look forward to continuing to engage them in our mission to promote international security, shared prosperity, and justice.”
Ambassador David Lane, Zack Porter, Ambassador Ken Brill, Bo Cutter, Andrea Koppel, and Alice Maroni completed their terms on the Board.
More: The full Stimson Center Board of Directors
Jeffrey P. Bialos has a 30 plus year career spanning national security and international legal, trade and economic matters. Mr. Bialos is currently a partner in the global law firm of Eversheds Sutherland, where he is Co-Head of the firm’s Aerospace, Defense and Security Practice and resident in the firm’s Washington D.C. office. His previous roles include Non-Resident Senior Fellow at Johns Hopkins SAIS’ Center for Transatlantic Relations (2002-2018), appointment to the Secure Virginia initiative, a state-wide panel with oversight over Virginia homeland security policies and programs (2003-2008), and Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Industrial Affairs (1999-2000). More: Full biography
Sarah L. Stimson Karis is an experienced advisor, consultant, and business developer, with a particular focus on creating collaborations between people, corporations, and non-profit organizations. Earlier, she was a marketing, advertising and public relations professional in the art, fashion, film, and television industries, as well as an advocate, spokesperson, and brand ambassador for companies and philanthropic groups. Sarah has a long relationship with the Stimson Center, serving as an Advisor since 2004 and serving on the Board of Counselors to Stimson’s ACRE project since 2020. More: Full biography
Dr. Sachiko Kuno is a committed scientist, philanthropist, and entrepreneur whose mission is to empower others to change the world through socially impactful programs and business. Dr. Kuno was a cofounder of numerous businesses and organizations, including: R-Tech Ueno, Ltd. (Japan), Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, and VLP Therapeutics. Dr. Kuno founded S&R Foundation in 2000, where she still serves as Chairman and CEO, and Halcyon Incubator in 2014 to support social entrepreneurs, creating societal change through innovative business development. She also co-founded WE Capital, a female-led investment fund in Washington, D.C. In Japan, she co-founded Phoenixi Co. Inc in 2018, which operates a social incubator program in Kyoto. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for numerous organizations including Johns Hopkins Medicine, Tudor Place, and the Hoover Institute. She also serves as Executive Vice President for International Liaison and Fundraising at Kyoto University. More: Full biography
Jonathan Roberts is a founder and partner at Ignition Partners, the Northwest’s largest venture capital firm. With more than $3 billion in committed capital across its early-stage venture funds and affiliated funds in China, Ignition focuses its investments on enterprise software companies. Jonathan is also the co-founder of RPrime, a not-for-profit that uses a digital platform with a powerful suite of tools that connect, deepen, and expand relationships for civic and faith-based organizations. In addition, Jonathan serves on multiple University of Washington Advisory Boards, is on the board of The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR), and APL School. More: Full biography
Ambassador David Welch recently retired after 10 years (2009-2019) with Bechtel, a global engineering and construction firm, where he was a Senior Vice President and Partner. Previously, Ambassador Welch served 32 years (1977-2008) with the U.S. Foreign Service, retiring with the rank of Career Ambassador. When he retired from government, David was Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs (2005-2008), the senior-most U.S. diplomat for the region. He was also Ambassador to Egypt (2001–2005), Assistant Secretary for International Organizations (1998–2001), acting Chief of Mission in Saudi Arabia (1992-1994), and a member of the National Security Council staff at the White House (1989-1991). More: Full biography
Elise N. Zoli provides strategic direction and advice to the nation’s leading public and private enterprises. Her experience focuses on the development, financing (impact investment, hedge fund, private equity, governmental grant, and alternative funding), and operation of clean energy, water, and related infrastructure projects and services. Elise is recognized as a leading energy lawyer in Massachusetts and serves as global co-head of the Firm’s Future of Energy, Renewables+ & Sustainability Initiative. More: Full Biography
THE STIMSON CENTER promotes international security, shared prosperity & justice through applied research and independent analysis, deep engagement, and policy innovation.
For three decades, Stimson has been a leading voice on urgent global issues. Founded in the twilight years of the Cold War, the Stimson Center pioneered practical new steps toward stability and security in an uncertain world. Today, as changes in power and technology usher in a challenging new era, Stimson is at the forefront: Engaging new voices, generating innovative ideas and analysis, and building solutions to promote international security, prosperity, and justice. More at www.stimson.org.