Person Type: World Fellow
Sonam Kinga
Sonam Kinga is a scholar-practitioner of democracy. Having contested elections, served as a member of Parliament, and written about his experiences, he continues to study and analyze the political situation in Bhutan. Sonam served as a member of the National Council, Parliament of Bhutan for 10 years (2008-2018) after contesting elections during Bhutan’s historic transition to parliamentary democracy. In his first term, he served as deputy chairperson and, in his second term, as chairperson. His Majesty the King conferred upon him the honor of the Red Scarf in 2012 and the Gold Medal (National Order of Merit) in 2014. He is currently a member of the teaching faculty at the…
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Mariam El Marakeshy
Mariam El Marakeshy is an award-winning filmmaker, multimedia storyteller, educator, researcher, and cultural specialist who works in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the USA. She is a former United Nations staff member. Mariam’s projects explore migration, culture, museums, environment, education, and media ethics. She has worked with National Geographic, ITN UK, USAID, the UN, and many NGOs. Her globally recognized works include films such as “Transit” and “Misafir A Guest” with unique storytelling from the Greek island of Lesvos and Istanbul, in addition to multimedia projects and impact media campaigns, which influence global discussions and solutions. Mariam has received numerous international awards, including the USA Social Impact Media…
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Asa
Bukola Elemide, professionally known as Aṣa, is a versatile and dynamic multi-genre singer renowned for her captivating performances. With a unique blend of influences that transcend cultural boundaries, Aṣa has made a significant impact on the music scene. Her evocative voice and distinctive style have earned her recognition not only in Nigeria but also on the global stage. Influenced by artists such as Marvin Gaye, Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, Aretha Franklin, King Sunny Adé, Diana Ross, Nina Simone, and Miriam Makeba, Aṣa's musical journey is marked by an eclectic fusion of genres, showcasing her ability to seamlessly navigate through diverse sounds. Her stage name Aṣa, pronounced “Asha,” is a…
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Akim Daouda
Akim Daouda is an investment and climate finance expert specializing in sustainability, infrastructure, and economic development. As the founder and CEO of Mwaana Inc., he leads efforts to secure land for conservation and drive ecological restoration in the Congo Basin. His work bridges finance, policy, and business to create economic opportunities rooted in environmental stewardship. Before launching Mwaana, Akim served as CEO of Gabon’s Sovereign Wealth Fund (FGIS), overseeing $1.8 billion in assets. He played a key role in integrating nature into finance, structuring Africa’s first $500 million debt-for-nature swap, and monetizing 90 million tons of carbon credits. His leadership extended across large-scale energy projects, banking, mining, and infrastructure investments,…
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Tamar Chugoshvili
Tamar Chugoshvili is a democracy advocate, lawyer, and public administration specialist with 20 years of experience advancing good governance, the rule of law, and gender equality. She served as First Vice-Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia (2016–2020), where she championed institutional reforms, strengthened parliamentary oversight, and led key gender equality initiatives. She also headed Georgia’s delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), chaired the Parliamentary Friendship Group with the U.S. Congress, and served as an ambassador for the Women Political Leaders Global Forum (WPL). A dedicated anti-corruption advocate, Tamar proposed a reform package to establish an Independent Anti-Corruption Mechanism in Parliament. Previously, as chair of the…
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Amna Baig
Amna Baig is a superintendent of police and a policy expert who stands among the mere 2% of women in Pakistan's police officer corps leadership. Throughout her career, she has focused on combating gender-based violence in a country ranked 145th out of 146 on the global gender gap index. Amna established Pakistan's first Gender Protection Unit, a 24/7 facility that handled over 1,000 cases within six months, improving access to essential services for vulnerable populations. Her policy work includes drafting investigation guidelines for the Anti-Rape Ordinance Committee as a member. At Oxford's Blavatnik School of Government, Amna conducted research focusing on technology-facilitated violence against women (TFVAW), revealing how digital threats…
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XU Heqian
Xu Heqian is a Senior Editor for International News and a member of the Editorial Board of Caixin Media, specializing in analyzing and reporting geopolitical dynamics, China’s foreign policy, and cross-straits affairs. He has a long-standing interest and curiosity in historical, cultural, identity, and ideological factors in international affairs. At Caixin Media, Heqian and his colleagues are committed to broadening communication channels between Chinese readers and plural international perspectives. They try to provide the most unbiased possible foreign affairs reporting to Chinese society whose influence is increasingly spreading beyond China’s borders, and to enrich readers’ understanding of global affairs amid the complexity of the ideological and narrative struggles. Heqian grew…
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Leticia Jauregui Casanueva
Leticia Jauregui Casanueva, a fervent advocate for gender equality and financial health, is exploring the intersection of capital markets, climate change, and critical minerals to drive a just transition. As an entrepreneur and investor, she is renowned for her expertise in exponential technologies, innovation, AI, and the metaverse. As Meta's Global Head of Education Partnerships, she has managed an immersive education fund focused on AI and the metaverse. She founded Crea, a non-profit social enterprise providing business development services to hundreds of thousands of women entrepreneurs in Mexico and Central America. As an independent board director and advisor across Latin America, the US, and Europe, Leticia currently serves on the…
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Anna Biryukova
Anna Biryukova is Head of Public Opinion Research at the Anti-Corruption Foundation (ACF), Russia's most significant opposition organization, founded by Alexey Navalny. Anna joined the team of the Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny in 2013 during Navalny's election campaign for Mayor of Moscow. Since then, Anna has run independent and unbiased surveys, nationwide polls and focus groups, always under immense pressure from Putin's regime. In 2019 she was forced to leave her home country. Russian authorities considered her work — political polling — to be a terrorist and extremist activity. Living in exile in Lithuania, Anna has never stopped doing her research work. As ACF's head of polling, she manages…
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Nima Namdari
Nima Namdari is a social entrepreneur, technology professional, and a fighter to end poverty. He has played a key role in founding or growing eight startups with tens of millions of users, most of which empower low-income people. He is CEO of Karnameh, a platform for empowering low-income blue-collar freelancers in the auto industry. He is also Co-Founder of Baloot Saving, a fintech startup that helps families without pensions to save money. Nima has over two decades of experience in the technology industry, having worked in both the public and private sectors. He was the senior advisor of the Tehran City Council on transparency and smart city planning. Nima also…
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