LETTER FROM THE CEO As I reflect on the past year as CEO of the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston, I am filled with pride and gratitude. With support from our community, the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston rose to new heights in 2023 and I remain honored to serve such an esteemed organization filled with loyal members, a passionate Board of Directors, and a talented and dedicated team. Last year, the World Affairs Council continued to advance its mission as Houston’s premiere nonpartisan organization focused on international education, the understanding of foreign policy issues, and citizen diplomacy; thereby, expanding the Council’s three service areas: international affairs programming and events, student education, and world travel. 2023 Year in Review includes several global educational programs and events, including: The World Affairs Council speaker programs included over 120 unique and diverse international affairs events and served over 8100 registrants. Featured speakers included former Astronauts, Speaker of the House, two Ambassadors, Secretary of State, Vice-President and two Presidents!! Additionally, the Student World Affairs Council, engaged over 2000 area high school students from across our region delivering programs such as the Global Scholars Academy, which reached across Houston from the Woodlands to Sugarland. The Annual Academic WorldQuest International Affairs Competition hosted over 30 local teams resulting in our Houston team placing 2nd in national competition in Washington, D.C., and lastly, the Council initiated two new high school programs, the Merit Badge Program providing civic engagement merit badge certification classes to area scouts, and the formation of a new Model United Nations Scholarship Program that will be unveiled in 2024. Serving the adult community, the Council’s Global Affairs and U.S. Foreign Policy Institute graduated over 50 graduates in 2023 and provided each Institute student a deeper understanding of global affairs designed to benefit their professional development and personal knowledge of past and present international issues. The Council also expanded our international understanding by hosting learning journeys to eight countries, including: Indonesia, Croatia, South Korea, Taiwan, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Jordan. The World Affairs Council’s Global Young Professionals grew in 2023 to serve over 260 early career professionals who enjoyed diverse and unique events, such as an afternoon of polo at the Houston Polo Club, a cultural illumination with the Israeli Consulate, an evening exploring Spanish heritage, and a captivating program with journalist and Narco author, Ioan Grillo. Positively impacting the Council’s financial success last year, the Council presented the 25th Annual Jesse H. Jones Awards Luncheon and the Inaugural International Women’s Day Symposium, uniting women locally and globally. The Symposium attracted over 225 Houstonians and celebrated an afternoon featuring 20 executive speakers, a tea and champagne reception, and special guest, the President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. The 2023 Jesse H. Jones Citizen of the Year Luncheon recognized the international contributions of three outstanding leaders and culminated in the Council’s most successful fundraiser in history. The luncheon attracted over 800 Houstonians who enjoyed a dynamic afternoon of international celebration including a conversation with President George W. Bush. As we build on our past successes, I and the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston remain diligent to provide and make available global educational programming offering bi-partisan conversations to all, so together we can continue to enjoy a strong and vibrant society. With appreciation,
MARYANNE MALDONADO, CEO
EDUCATION The World Affairs Council of Greater Houston prepares future professionals for international careers by delivering high quality events, cultural experiences, global knowledge, and professional network opportunities.
EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH
2200+
Students Participants
100
150+
Academic WorldQuest Students
Model UN Lead Up Sessions’ Participants
100+
62
Global Scholars Academy Registrations
Scouting Merit Badge Students
| 2023 EDUCATIONAL SPONSOR
STUDENT WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL HIGH SCHOOL CHAPTERS Awty International School Caney Creek High School Carnegie Vanguard Chavez High School Duchesne Academy Episcopal High School First Baptist Christian Academy HAIS Harmony School of Advancement Houston Academy for International Studies Houston Christian High School ILTexas Aggieland High School ILTexas Katy Westpark High School ILTexas Windmill Lakes Orem High School Jack Yates High School Katy High School Kinder HSPVA Lutheran South Academy Memorial High School North Houston Early College High School Sam Houston Math Science and Technology Center Second Baptist High School St. John’s School Strake Jesuit High School The Post Oak School The Village School Tomball ISD High Schools Tomball Memorial High School Waller High School
2023 ACADEMIC WORLDQUEST
ACADEMIC WORLDQUEST 2023 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS COMPETITION
1st Place
Carnegie Vanguard High School
Emerging victorious in Academic WorldQuest in Houston, the winning team travelled to Washington D.C. to participate in the national competition where they secure
2nd Place Winners!
GLOBAL SCHOLARS ACADEMY International enrichment program for High School students A week long program designed to provide an exclusive and unique opportunity for young people to learn about international affairs and prepare themselves for an international future.
HOUSTON
HOUSTON
SUGAR LAND
MERIT BADGE PROGRAM BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA The World Affairs Council of Greater Houston provided Merit Badge classes designed to improve civic engagement, arm Scouts with global awareness, and create well-rounded Eagle Scouts!
PROGRAMS
8150 Program Registrants
1600+ Memberships
125+
Council Cabinet Memberships
120+ Programs & Events
The Council hosts world-renowned expert speakers, thought-leaders, and acclaimed authors for lectures, panel discussions, luncheons, film screenings and networking events.
2023 SPEAKERS
Peter Baker
New York Times Chief White House Correspondent
John Coates Deputy Dean for Finance and Strategic Initiatives at Harvard Law School
Ioan Grillo Narco expert journalist & author
Juan Guaido Former Interim President of Venezuela
Stephen Hadley 20th Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Yonah Jeremy Bob
Senior Military and Intelligence Analyst
Robert Kaplan 13th President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
Thomas Kasza Green Beret, Combat Veteran & Founder of the 1208 Foundation
Justice Malala Political Commentator & Author
Michael McKinley Former U.S. Ambassador to Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Afghanistan
Mevlut Cavusoglu Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey
Christopher Combs Former Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Antonio Division
Anna Fisher Former NASA Astronaut
Loren Grush Space Reporter and author
Richard Haass President of the Council on Foreign Relations
Gil Hoffman Executive Director of HonestReporting
Kenneth Juster 25th U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of India
Evgenia Kara-Murza Russian Human Rights Activist & Wife of Political Prisoner
Douglas Lute 21st U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO
Mary McCord Former Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security
Francisco Monaldi Director of the Latin America Energy Program at the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University
Bethany McLean Editor and Writer for Vanity Fair
Shannon K. O’Neil
James Olson Former Chief of Counterintelligence at the CIA
VP & Deputy Director of Latin America Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations
Nancy Pelosi
Mike Pence
52nd Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
48th Vice President of the United States
Lt. General Sami Sadat Final commander of Afghan Special Operations
David Satterfield Former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey & Jordan, Acting U.S. Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs
Mike Pompeo 70th U.S. Secretary of State & 6th CIA Director
Lt. General Khoshal Sadat
Former Deputy Minister of the Interior of Afghanistan
Richard Sindelar
Hilde Jane Skorpen
Nonresident Scholar in Global Diplomacy at the Baker Institute & Former U.S. Foreign Service Officer
Consul General of Norway in Houston
Vitalii Tarasiuk
Jeremi Suri
American Historian & Professor at University of Texas
Consul General of Ukraine in Houston
Michael Vickers Former Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & CIA Special Operations Officer
Jorge Toledo Former VP of Supply and Marketing at Citgo
General Tod Wolters
Jianli Yang Chinese dissident, Human Rights Activist & Tiananmen Square Survivor
Commander, U.S. European Command and NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe
2023 SPEAKERS
GLOBAL ENERGY TRANSITION
GLOBAL AFFAIRS & U.S. FOREIGN POLICY
INSTITUTE Established in 2021 The Institute is a professional development program tailored for individuals in international business, government, diplomacy, global risk analysis, and NGOs. Offering comprehensive insights, it navigates global affairs, geopolitics, and U.S. foreign policy through expert-led sessions and interactive discussions, fostering applicable knowledge across diverse fields.
51
Graduates in 2023
Spring 2023
Fall 2023
118
Total Graduates
ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2025
Empowering the next generation of leaders, the Global Young Professionals (GYP) is dedicated to fostering a vibrant community of ambitious individuals passionate about global affairs, cultural exchange and meaningful connections.
AUSTEN TECH | PAGE 10
ANNUAL
INTERNATIONAL
WOMEN'S DAY SYMPOSIUM
LEADERSHIP. EMPOWERMENT. ACHIEVEMENT. DIVERSITY L.E.A.D. is a thoughtfully curated professional development afternoon featuring a pinnacle lineup of presenters offering impactful dialogue followed by a champagne reception in an atmosphere advantageous to meaningful networking and building long lasting relationships.
Uniting Women Locally and Globally to #LEADWithPurpose
2023 SPEAKERS
MAJOR KATIE COOK
US Marine Corp Reserve
DR. LESIA CRUMPTON-YOUNG
ANA DENENA
SOHA HAQUE
Texas Southern University
RSM
SH Strategies
PAULA HARRIS
GEORGANNE HODGES
JENNIFER HOOPER
AURAGNI JEANSON
Astros Foundation
Energy Executive and Board Member
Siemens Energy
SLB
SLGI C. JOLISSAINT
REGINA MAYOR
MARIA MONCADA ALAOUI
DR. LAURA MURILLO
Hewlett Packard
KPMG
BMW of West Houston
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
RANI PURANIK
DR. LARA SHEKERDEMIAN
LISA SHUMATE
PAMELA SKAUFEL
World Oilfield Machine
Texas Children’s Hospital Houston Public Media
ExxonMobil
NINA STOFBERG
MAEGAN TOUPS
MICHAELA VAN SCHALKWYK
VANESSA WYCHE
Sasol
Airswift
Baker Hughes
NASA's Johnson Space Center
25
th
annual jesse H. Jones Awards luncheon a global conversation with 43rd President of the United States of America President George W. Bush
2023 honorees Global Education and Institutional Leadership honoree
Renu Khator President of the University of Houston Chancellor of the University of Houston System
2023 International Citizen of the Year
Linda DuCharme President of ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
Outstanding International Philanthropist Award
Syed Javaid Anwar Owner and President of Midland Energy, Inc
the 2023
Global leaders ofInfluence The Jones Awards Luncheon recognizes Global Leaders for their international impact, exceptional leadership, and outstanding contributions to Houston’s international spirit.
Hady Abdulhady thyssenkrupp Uhde USA
Aida Araissi Bilateral Chamber of Commerce
Elaine Balagia Liberty Energy
Filipe Barbosa McKinsey & Company
Michael Carrasco Alvarez and Marsal
Jorge Franz Houston First Corporation
Ellen I. Goldberg Sister Cities of Houston
Soha Haque SH Strategies
Nomaan K. Husain Husain Law
Kat Khosrowyar Texas International Education Consortium
Jeff Miers Amazon Web Services
Alissa Nixon Siemens Digital Industries
Alexander W. Obregon Comcast
Rick Pal Zuhnë
Amb. Michael Pelletier University of Houston
Mariela Poleo Simon Bolivar Foundation
Luis Ruiz The International Parliament of Education
Laura Schilling TechnipFMC
Sanjiv Shah Piper Sandler
Dalia Sherif Lone Star College
Diana Strassmann
Terry Stringer
Walter Ulrich
Hector Villareal
Matt Wilks
Rice University
Hewlett Packard
Medical Bridges, Inc.
Lucho
ProFrac Services
GLOBAL TRAVEL Guided by the Council’s mission and by engaging in people-to-people, in-country exchanges, Council travelers receive greater global understanding and create deep personal relationships around the world.
2024 DESTINATIONS INDONESIA • CROATIA • SOUTH KOREA • TAIWAN • QATAR • OMAN • KUWAIT • JORDAN
2023 STAFF
Maryanne Maldonado
Sandija Bayot
Jack Sim
Ronan O’Malley
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Development Officer
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Programs Officer
Cheri Rocha
Jahan Jafapour
Sofia Sanchez
Eli Quezada
Itziar Vazquez
Administrative Services Manager
Global Young Professionals Manager
Programs & Special Events Coordinator
Shane Brewer
Ethan Eyre
Maria Guarache
Education Coordinator
Daniel Gallego Co-founder
Education Coordinator
Marketing Coordinator
Christopher Ashby
Ambassador in Residence
Co-founder
Membership Coordinator
Marketing Coordinator
2023
BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
CHAIR
PRESIDENT
VICE PRESIDENT
Vivek Chidambaram Accenture
Antony Dsouza DNV
Arthur Kaplun EY LLP
TREASURER
SECRETARY
Paula Ann Miller P.A. Miller Consulting, Inc
Elizabeth Matthews Bristow Group Inc.
Saba Abashawl
Cyndi Hunter
Kevin Pasha
David Adams
Agustin Izquierdo
Daron Peschel
Mark Anderson
Arthur Kaplun
Revati Puranik
Mamadou Beye
Christine LaFollette
T.J. Raguso
Anne Boss
Laura Logan
Brad Ringleb
Vivek Chidambaram
Beth Madison
Eddie Robinson
Alan Crain
Will Marsh
Martha Rocks
Heather Cykoski
Elizabeth Matthews
Andrew Slentz
Suzan Deison
Sid McClendon
Jennifer Smith
Phil DeLozier
David Michels
Soma Somasundaram
Antony D'Souza
Paula Ann Miller
Nick Tran
Michol Ecklund
Pat Moran
Ken Tubman
William Foreman
Sallie Morian
Jesse Tutor
Lyle Ganske
Maureen O'Driscoll-Levy
Rupesh Vadapalli
Charles Gengler
Kevin O'Gorman
Jose Valera
Diane Gendel
Bret Oliver
Michaela van Schalkwyk
Zachary Hodges
Susan Osterberg
Stuart Vogt
J.J. Hollie
Chukwuemeka Oyolu
Joe Watkins
Lynn Hughes
2023 PARTNERS & FRIENDS
Madison Benefits
Moran Explorations
World Affairs Council of Greater Houston 1235 North Loop West Suite 1025 Houston, Texas 77008 (713) 522-7811 wachouston.org