Conference Speakers

Opening Speaker: Goli Ameri | Closing Speaker: Trevor Mundel | 10-Year Anniversary Featured Speaker: Akhtar Badshah

NWMUN-Seattle 2016 Opening Speaker: Goli Ameri

President and CEO, Center for Global Engagement

Goli Ameri is the President of the Center for Global Engagement, a social entrepreneurship organization leveraging the power of technology and TV entertainment for social change. She was the Under Secretary for Humanitarian Values and Diplomacy at the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies, the world’s largest humanitarian organization responsible for global diplomatic efforts including persuading decision-makers and opinion leaders to act, at all times, in the interests of vulnerable people. Ms. Ameri served as the US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, which fosters mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries around the world.

Ms. Ameri’s previous positions include service as a presidentially-nominated Representative to the 60th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Before her UN assignment in New York, she served as a Public Delegate to the 61st session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland. Prior to her government service Ms. Ameri had extensive business and corporate experience, founding eTinium, a boutique consulting and market research firm specializing in the telecom industry, and as a Director at US Leasing responsible for technology assessments.

Additional Information

Ms. Ameri was born in Tehran, Iran, and completed her Bachelor of Arts in Communications and French Literature and her Master's degree in Communications at Stanford University. She also studied at the Sorbonne in Paris, France. She is fluent in French and Persian and is conversant in Spanish.

Ms. Ameri serves on the board of Freedom House and the World Affairs Council of Oregon.  She is also the US Regional Chair of the Young Presidents Organization Global Diplomacy & Public Policy network. In May 2008, the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations presented her with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, which is awarded to U.S. citizens who exemplify American ideals and leadership while preserving the distinct values and rich heritage of their ancestors.

Dr. Trevor Mundel, president of the Global Health Division, leads the foundation’s efforts in research and development of vaccines, drugs, and diagnostics to address major global health challenges in the developing world. Trevor oversees the foundation’s strategies in HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, pneumonia, diarrheal disease, enteric and diarrheal diseases, and neglected infectious diseases. Under Trevor’s leadership, the Global Health Division also works on platform technologies to accelerate development of global health solutions. All of this work occurs in collaboration with an international network of grantees and partners.

Prior to joining the foundation in 2011, he was global head of development with Novartis, and previously was involved in clinical research at Pfizer and Parke-Davis. Raised in South Africa, Trevor earned his bachelor’s and medical degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Trevor also studied mathematics, logic and philosophy – as a Rhodes Scholar – at the University of Oxford. And he earned a Ph.D. in mathematics at the University of Chicago.

Additional Information

Dr. Mundel serves as a member of the Executive Roundtable for the Washington Global Health Alliance, a group which "connects participants in one of the world's most dynamic centers for global health innovation."  He is a contributor to TIME Magazine and writes regularly on LinkedIn Pulse. He served as a Director of Novartis Venture Funds while he was Novartis' global head of development.

A seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience in international development managing a corporate philanthropic program and co-founding a global nonprofit for social enterprise.  Badshah has also taught architecture and urban development at MIT and is a published author, and an acclaimed international speaker.   His expertise is in the areas of corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, information technology for development (ICT4D), nonprofit development, and creating opportunities for youth. 

Badshah has authored Our Urban Future: New Paradigms for Equity and Sustainability, co-authored Technology at the Margins – How IT Meets the Need of Emerging Markets and co-edited Connected for Development – Information Kiosks for Sustainability.  He has also published numerous articles in international journals on CSR, ICT4D, megacities and sustainability, housing, and urban development.  Dr. Badshah has also lectured at numerous universities around the world on issues of Technology and Development, Social Innovation and Corporate Social Responsibility.  He also blogs on the Huffington Post.

Additional Information

Dr. Badshah has extensive experience in serving on numerous boards.  He is currently the Vice Chairman of the Board of Council on Foundations, he is the Chairman of the Telecentre.org Foundation, Treasurer Microsoft Alumni Foundation Board, Board member Youth Empowerment and Sustainability, and serves on the Advisory Board of the US Chamber’s Corporate Citizenship Center.  He has served on the Boards of the United Way King County and on the Advisory Board at the World Affairs Council, Santa Clara University Center for Science and Technology, and Global Washington.  Dr. Badshah is a doctoral graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  He and his family are very active in the Seattle area community.