Dr. Rajiv Shah
Dr. Rajiv Shah has been a tireless and dedicated leader, committed to advancing the missions of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United States Department of Agriculture.
Serving alongside some of the most innovative leaders in the world, navigating major natural disasters and man-made crises, Dr. Shah has successfully delivered results and lived up to USAID’s goal of partnering to end extreme poverty and to promote resilient, democratic societies while advancing security and prosperity. From developing infrastructure to igniting power in Africa, to empowering people around the world with skills and opportunities, Dr. Shah has reshaped and re-envisioned a government agency to tackle even the most intractable challenges.
From 2010 to 2015, Dr. Rajiv Shah led the efforts of nearly 10,000 staff in more than 70 countries around the world as administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Under his leadership, Dr. Shah elevated the importance of partnering with and financing the private sector, advocating for infrastructure development, incubating technology solutions and science, and restructuring how USAID delivered its assistance to solve the world’s most intractable development challenges. From extending mobile networks in West Africa to improve real-time data collection for the Ebola response, to creating the Tropical Forest Alliance with Unilever, P&G and other major consumer product firms, to accelerating the use of mobile banking in emerging markets, Dr. Shah demonstrated his leadership, passion and remarkable skills garnering support from both sides of the aisle in Congress. Having been at the forefront of worldwide emergency and crisis management, Dr. Shah understands what is required to take risks, act decisively, make sacrifices and confront injustice, while uniting constituencies to recognize the importance of his agency’s success for American global leadership.
Currently, Dr. Shah leads cutting-edge work as president of The Rockefeller Foundation, a global leader of innovative philanthropy at the forefront of providing solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. Previously, Dr. Shah served as under secretary of agriculture for research, education and economics and was chief scientist at the United States Department of Agriculture. He also spent 8 years at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, at its inception, where he led efforts in global health, agriculture and financial services. Drawing from vast experiences, he shares captivating stories, insider perspectives and personal anecdotes with every audience. Attendees will better understand leadership in crisis situations, the hot-button issues impacting the global risks and opportunities of emerging markets, financial services and health care, and receive practical insights on disaster response, the future of technology innovation and leadership in business transformation.
Kawa Hassan
Kawa Hassan is a Nonresident Fellow with Stimson’s Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Program, Founder of Shrova Strategies, a consultancy focused on MENA affairs and EU-MENA relations.
From March 2021 to February 2023 Mr. Hassan was Executive Director Stimson Europe, Director of MENA Program & Senior Fellow. In these roles, he transferred the Brussels office & MENA Program of EastWest Institute (EWI) to the Stimson Center, established Stimson Europe, the first overseas office of Stimson Center, led projects & staff, oversaw finance, fundraising and administration. Prior to joining Stimson, Mr. Hassan was Vice President, MENA Program and Director, Brussels Center, EastWest Institute (EWI). In these two senior executive positions, he consolidated and expanded both MENA Program & Brussels Center through strategic diversification of donor base, designed and led the implementation of eight Track 2 diplomacy projects.
During his tenure at EWI Mr. Hassan achieved strategic milestones ranging from building trust between Iranian and Saudi officials and experts on issues of common concern and interest; brought together officials and experts from Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, and Turkey and produced policy recommendations on how Iraq could transform from a theater for proxy wars to a center for regional cooperation, mediated between the two Syrian Kurdish parties PYD & KNC, developed confidence and trust building measures between them on power sharing, and successfully lobbied top French and American diplomats to mediate between the two parties, to bridging the divide between ex-officials and experts from GCC, Iran, Europe, US, China, India on maritime security and developed a protocol on preventing incidents at Sea in the Gulf region, developed practical policy ideas for improved economic ties between Algeria and Morocco.
He is an author and editor of numerous publications, an international speaker, and regularly provides interviews to global media outlets. Mr. Hassan holds a Master of Science in International Relations, Political Science from the University of Amsterdam, and studied English and German at the Al-Mustansiriya University, Baghdad, Iraq.
Greg Howell
Greg Howell brings more than two decades of senior leadership in foreign affairs, managing high-impact programs across Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East.
He has directed projects and initiatives with budgets exceeding $100 million, led diverse cross-functional teams in complex global environments, and delivered results in areas including economic growth, financial inclusion, infrastructure, agriculture, governance, policy formulation, and environmental resilience. Mr. Howell is a Senior Affiliate at The Solarium Group, a strategic advisory firm advising presidents and cabinet officials, four-star generals, ambassadors, governors, and ministers.
Most recently, Mr. Howell served as Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator in USAID’s Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, where he oversaw Western Hemisphere soft power strategy and $1.2 billion in foreign assistance programming across 16 countries. He previously held senior leadership roles as Deputy Mission Director in USAID/West Africa and USAID/Guatemala, as well as senior technical positions in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Afghanistan. His career also includes key assignments advancing economic development and partnerships through USAID’s Africa Bureau Office of Sudan Programs, USAID/Iraq, USAID/East Africa, and the U.S. Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative.
Prior to joining USAID, Mr. Howell was an information technology entrepreneur and economic development consultant in South Africa. He holds a Master’s degree in International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs and Economics from American University’s School of International Service.
He is fluent in Spanish and French.
David J. Kramer
David J. Kramer serves as the Executive Director of the George W. Bush Institute. Prior to joining the Bush Institute, he taught at Florida International University’s Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs, where he also was Senior Fellow in the Václav Havel Program for Human Rights and Diplomacy and Director for European and Eurasian Affairs.
Before moving to Miami, Mr. Kramer worked in Washington, DC for 24 years, including as Senior Director for Human Rights and Democracy with The McCain Institute for International Leadership; President of Freedom House; and Senior Transatlantic Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Mr. Kramer also served eight years in the U.S. Department of State during the George W. Bush administration, including as Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs (responsible for Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus affairs as well as regional non-proliferation issues); Professional Staff Member in the Secretary’s Office of Policy Planning; and Senior Advisor to the Undersecretary for Global Affairs. He also was Executive Director of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy in Washington. He is author of the book, Back to Containment: Dealing with Putin’s Regime.
Mr. Kramer chairs the board of the Free Russia Foundation. A native of Massachusetts, Kramer received his M.A. in Soviet studies from Harvard University and his B.A. in Soviet Studies and Political Science from Tufts University.
Peter Natiello
Peter Natiello, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Career Minister, served a distinguished career of more than 35 years with significant contributions to U.S. foreign policy, international development, peace building, civ-mil coordination, public diplomacy and humanitarian affairs.
Mr. Natiello held some of the US government’s most critical leadership posts across Latin America, Africa, Afghanistan, multilateral institutions, and the U.S. Special Operations Command, advancing U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives in some of the world’s most complex operating environments. Mr. Natiello is a Senior Affiliate at The Solarium Group, a strategic advisory firm advising presidents and cabinet officials, four-star generals, ambassadors, governors, and ministers.
Most recently, Mr. Natiello served as USAID’s Senior Humanitarian and Development Counselor in the U.S. Mission to UN Agencies in Rome. Prior to that, he was Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for USAID’s Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean and a USAID Mission Director in Afghanistan, El Salvador, and Colombia. Earlier in his career, he served in multiple positions with USAID/Bolivia, including Mission Director; and held senior leadership roles in South Sudan, Ecuador, and South Africa. He also served as USAID’s Senior Development Advisor to U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) in Tampa, bridging the civilian–military interface in conflict and post-conflict environments.
Mr. Natiello is a recipient of the prestigious Presidential Rank Award and USSOCOM’s Medal for Joint Civilian-Military Service, as well as awards from the Colombian and Bolivian governments for his contributions to those countries’ peace building and rural development efforts.
Over the course of his career, Mr. Natiello has directed multi-billion-dollar portfolios, led multidisciplinary teams in fragile and conflict-affected states, and forged strategic partnerships with governments, the private sector, and civil society. His expertise spans policy dialogue, post-conflict stabilization, civilian–military coordination, democracy and governance, and the design and execution of large-scale development and humanitarian programs.
Fluent in Spanish and proficient in Portuguese, Mr. Natiello began his public service as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador and as a Research Analyst with the Inter-American Development Bank. He holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Economy from Colorado College.
Nancy Ostrowski
Nancy Ostrowski is an economist and strategic advisor with more than two decades of experience at the intersection of national security, economic policy, and organizational transformation—helping governments and institutions align strategy, resources, and partnerships for lasting impact.
A retired U.S. diplomat, Ms. Ostrowski has served in senior roles across Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East, including as Country Representative to the Republic of Djibouti and as Development Advisor in the Pentagon, US Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy. Her career has spanned the design of interagency strategies on economic resilience, governance, and global health, as well as leadership of complex regional growth and partnership initiatives. Nancy is a Distinguished Graduate of the National Defense University’s Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, and holds an MA in Business Economics from the University of South Florida. She speaks Italian, Spanish, French, and Romanian, and is the author of two published works on purpose, balance, and leadership.
Ms. Ostrowski is a Senior Affiliate at The Solarium Group, a strategic advisory firm advising presidents and cabinet officials, four-star generals, ambassadors, governors, and ministers. She helps clients navigate the nexus of security, economics, and institutional performance—bringing the rigor of an economist and the perspective of a seasoned diplomat to strengthen leadership, alignment, and execution in dynamic environments.