BLISS Speakers

PRESIDENT, ROBERTO ARTAVIA INTERNATIONAL CONSULTING, S.A.

DIRECTOR, CENTER ON GLOBAL DEMOCRACY & PROFESSOR, CORNELL UNIVERSITY

PRESIDENT, HUMAN RIGHTS FOUNDATION

AUTHOR AND GENERAL PARTNER, EGODEATH CAPITAL

CEO, THE DEMOCRACY LAB FOUNDATION

PRESIDENT, UNIVERSIDAD FRANCISCO MARROQUÍN

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF COSTA RICA (2010-2014)

CHIEF OF STAFF AND PROJECT DIRECTOR OF THE DEMOLAB FREEDOM ACADEMY, THE DEMOCRACY LAB FOUNDATION

PETER MOORES DEAN AND PROFESSOR OF MANAGEMENT SAÏD BUSINESS SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA (2018-2022)

CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER, HUMAN RIGHTS FOUNDATION

CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, ECOVILLA

LIEUTENANT GENERAL (RET.) H.R. MCMASTER

CEO, FORWARD GLOBAL

CEO, FEDI  

SWAZI HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND CEO, THE THULANI MASEKO FOUNDATION

ZIMBABWEAN CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND MOVEMENT BUILDER, PASTOR AND LEADER, #THISFLAG CITIZENS MOVEMENT.

NBA PLAYER, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND FOUNDER, THE ABRAHAMIC ATHLETIC ACADEMY

BIO:

Enes Kanter Freedom is a human rights activist, NBA star, and Nobel Peace Prize nominee who lost his NBA career for speaking out against human rights violations in China. Raised in Turkey, Freedom began to call out human rights violations by President Erdogan in his home country. Turkey then canceled his passport, put his name on Interpol list, imprisoned his father, and set a $500,000 bounty on his head.

During a 2017 visit to Indonesia, Freedom was nearly kidnapped by the government with intentions to send him back to Turkey. Later that year, he hardly escaped police officers in the Romanian airport that the Turkish government sent after him. In 9 years, Freedom received 12 arrest warrants and countless death threats.

After debuting his “Anti-CCP” shoes during the season opener, every Celtics game was banned in China and Turkey. In many interviews and with the art on his “Freedom Shoes”, he has spoken out for the rights of Uyghurs, Tibetans, Hongkongers, Taiwanese and others facing Chinese oppression. 7 years after having his Turkish citizenship revoked, Freedom became an American citizen. While becoming a citizen, he changed his last name to Freedom.

ECONOMIC FREEDOM AND EDUCATION ADVOCATE AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BENDUKIDZE FREE MARKET CENTER (UKRAINE).

BIO:

Nataliya Melnyk is the Executive Director of Bendukidze Free Market Center (BFMC), an independent Ukrainian think tank established in Kyiv in 2015. With a background in political science and European studies, she has also conducted research on political identification in Ukrainian society at the Kuras Institute of Political and Ethnic Studies.

Nataliya has served as a Development Manager at various organizations, contributing to her extensive experience in the field. She holds a Master's Degree in European Studies and a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.

RWANDAN FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY ACTIVIST

BIO:

Paul Rusesabagina is a Rwandan hotel manager and humanitarian known for hiding and protecting 1,268 refugees during the Rwandan Genocide. None of those refugees were hurt or killed during the attacks. He was the assistant manager of the Sabena-owned Hôtel des Mille Collines before he became the manager of the Hôtel des Diplomates, both in Rwanda's capital of Kigali. During the genocide he used his influence and connections as temporary manager of the Hôtel des Mille Collines to shelter Tutsis from being slaughtered by the Interahamwe militia.

Rusesabagina's efforts were the basis of the Academy Award-nominated film Hotel Rwanda (2004). Rusesabagina also founded the Hotel Rwanda Foundation, with which he managed to ensure that hundreds of African children can go to school and their families have more resources to live.

RUSSIAN DEMOCRACY ADVOCATE AND CHAIR, HUMAN RIGHTS FOUNDATION

BIO:

Yulia Navalnaya is a prominent Russian human rights advocate and the widow of Alexei Navalny, the late opposition leader and outspoken critic of the Russian government.

Her courage and determination have made her a symbol of resistance against authoritarianism, as she continues to speak out against corruption, censorship, and the repression of dissent in Russia.

She was recently elected Chair of the Human Rights Foundation, where she leads global efforts to promote human rights and democracy, continuing to fight for freedom in Russia and beyond. Yulia Navalnaya remains a symbol of resilience and a powerful advocate for those oppressed by authoritarian regimes.

FORMER MINISTER OF FOREIGN TRADE, COSTA RICA. PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS, INCAE BUSINESS SCHOOL

BIO:

Alberto Trejos, with a distinguished academic background including a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, has left a significant mark both in academia and public service. His tenure as Minister of Foreign Trade in Costa Rica, where he spearheaded pivotal negotiations such as CAFTA, underscored his expertise in international trade and economic policy. 

Additionally, his contributions as President of CINDE, along with his involvement in shaping regulatory frameworks like CONASSIF, demonstrate his commitment to fostering economic growth and stability. Beyond his governmental roles, Trejos' influence extends globally through his leadership positions in organizations like the Brenthurst Foundation and the Democracy Lab, where he continues to advocate for sustainable development and democratic principles. As a trusted advisor to governments, international bodies, and corporations across diverse regions, his insights and guidance have played a crucial role in shaping policies and strategies aimed at promoting economic prosperity and social progress. 

Currently, he continues to leverage his expertise as Vice President at Cuestamoras Corporation and through his engagements with BAC-Credomatic Bank, alongside his consultancy roles at CEFSA and DRP, ensuring his ongoing impact on economic and social development initiatives worldwide.

DEAN, SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

BIO:

Dr. Keren Yarhi-Milo is the dean of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) and the Adlai E. Stevenson Professor of International Relations. She is a globally recognized expert in international security and crisis decision-making. Joining Columbia University in 2019 after a decade at Princeton, she became SIPA's youngest dean in July 2022 and previously directed SIPA's Arnold A. Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies.

Her research focuses on how leaders make foreign-policy decisions, particularly regarding the use of force, and she has authored award-winning books on the psychology of leadership in international conflict. In 2023, she founded the Institute of Global Politics (IGP) at Columbia SIPA, chaired by former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. The IGP aims to foster open dialogue and develop policy-relevant ideas addressing global challenges.

Dr. Yarhi-Milo is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, holds a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, and a BA from Columbia University. 

JOSEPH A. STRASSER PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, MAXWELL SCHOOL OF CITIZENSHIP AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS, SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY

BIO: 

Tina Nabatchi is the Joseph A. Strasser Professor of Public Administration and Professor of Public Administration and International Affairs at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, where she also serves as Director of the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration (PARCC). An elected Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, Dr. Nabatchi's research focuses on collaborative governance, citizen engagement, conflict resolution, and challenges in public administration. Dr. Nabatchi has won several university, national and international awards for her research and teaching. She holds a B.A. from American University, an MPA from the University of Vermont and a Ph.D. from Indiana University.

GENERAL SECRETARY, WORLD LIBERTY CONGRESS

BIO:

Leopoldo López is a Venezuelan opposition leader and prodemocracy activist. He founded the Venezuelan opposition party, Voluntad Popular, and served as mayor of the Chacao municipality in Caracas. In 2014, Leopoldo was arrested on trumped-up charges for leading peaceful, nationwide protests denouncing Nicolás Maduro’s regime. After a 19-month show trial, he was sentenced to nearly 14 years in prison.

He spent the first four years in solitary confinement in a military prison. He was subsequently placed under house arrest as a result of international pressure and outrage within Venezuela. Amnesty International named him a prisoner of conscience in 2015. Leopoldo escaped house arrest and was hosted at the Spanish embassy in Caracas. After a daring escape from Venezuela in October 2020, Leopoldo was reunited with his family in Spain, where he now lives in exile.

Today, he continues to be a leading voice in calling for democracy not only in Venezuela, but also across the globe. Leopoldo is a co-founder of the World Liberty Congress, which he strongly believes will be instrumental in unifying prodemocracy and human rights activists to combat the global trend toward authoritarianism.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, HUMAN RIGHTS FOUNDATION (HRF)

BIO:

A human rights advocate and film producer, Thor Halvorssen founded the Human Rights Foundation in the spring of 2005. Halvorssen began advocating for human rights in 1989 in London by organizing opposition to South African apartheid while in school. He is CEO of HRF, founder of the Oslo Freedom Forum, and patron of the Prague-based children’s peace movement, the Centipede Children.

Halvorssen’s opinions and views have appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Foreign Policy, The Economist, TIME Magazine, New York Post, The Atlantic, and British GQ, as well as television outlets such as Al-Jazeera, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, BBC and HBO. Halvorssen has produced several films that focus on freedom and human rights. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with concurrent undergraduate and graduate degrees in political science and history.

PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL REPUBLICAN INSTITUTE

BIO:

He leads IRI’s team of nearly 1000 global experts to link citizens and governments, motivate people to engage in the political process, and guide politicians and government officials to be responsive to citizens. IRI works in over 100 countries and is a core institute of the National Endowment for Democracy.Previously, Dr. Twining served as Counselor to the President and Director of the Asia Program at the German Marshall Fund, as a Member of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s Policy Planning Staff handling Asia during the George W. Bush administration, as the Foreign Policy Advisor to U.S. Senator John McCain, and as a staff member of the U.S. Trade Representative.

He has been an Associate of the U.S. National Intelligence Council, taught at Georgetown University, and served as a military instructor associated with the Naval Postgraduate School. Dr. Twining serves on the Bush Institute’s Advisory Council, the Wilson Center’s Asia Advisory Board, and the USAID Administrator’s Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid. He testifies regularly before the U.S. Congress on international affairs, has been a columnist for Foreign Policy and Nikkei, and has written for Foreign Affairs, the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, and other publications. He has served as an advisor to six presidential campaigns. He graduated with highest distinction from the University of Virginia and from 2004-7 was the Fulbright/Oxford Scholar at Oxford University.

PSYCHOTHERAPIST, AUTHOR, AND EXPERT IN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATIONAL INTELLIGENCE

BIO:

Psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author Esther Perel is recognized as one of today’s most insightful and original voices on modern relationships. Fluent in nine languages, she helms a therapy practice in New York City and serves as an organizational consultant for Fortune 500 companies around the world.

Her celebrated TED talks have garnered more than 20 million views and her international bestseller Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence became a global phenomenon translated into 25 languages. Her newest book is the New York Times bestseller The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity (HarperCollins). Esther is also an executive producer and host of the popular podcast Where Should We Begin?

LATIN AMERICAN GRAMMYS PERSON OF THE YEAR 2024 AND FOUNDER, TRAS LA PERLA

BIO:

The celebrated Colombian singer, songwriter, and actor, has become a prominent figure in Latin music through his unique fusion of vallenato and contemporary pop. With a career spanning decades, Vives has garnered widespread acclaim and numerous awards, including Grammys and Latin Grammys, establishing himself as a cultural icon.

Known for infusing traditional Colombian rhythms into his music, he has left an indelible mark on the global music landscape. Carlos Vives' charismatic stage presence and dedication to preserving Colombian heritage make him a beloved and influential artist in the Latin American entertainment scene.

PRESIDENT AND CEO, NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR DEMOCRACY (NED)

BIO:

Damon Wilson is the President and CEO of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), an independent nonprofit supporting global freedom. Before joining NED, he played a key role in transforming the Atlantic Council into a leading global think tank as its executive vice president.

Wilson's extensive experience includes serving as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European Affairs at the National Security Council, where he worked on NATO enlargement, countering Russian aggression, and partnering with Europe to support global democracy. He also served as Executive Secretary and Chief of Staff at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad during a time of conflict, managing one of the largest U.S. embassies.

Earlier in his career, Wilson was involved in NATO's response to 9/11 and operations in Afghanistan and the Balkans while serving as Deputy Director in the Private Office of NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson. He has also worked on European security at the State Department and served in U.S. embassies in Beijing and Baghdad.

Wilson holds a master’s degree from Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs and graduated summa cum laude from Duke University. He has also studied in France, conducted research on democracy in Estonia, and worked in Rwanda and Croatia on humanitarian issues.

REYNOLDS FAMILY FELLOW FOR GLOBAL SECURITY

BIO:

Mary Beth Long is an attorney, political advisor, and former government official. She was the first woman to be confirmed by the Senate as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs and spent more than a decade as a CIA officer. She has also served as a senior advisor to the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO and chaired NATO’s High-Level Group responsible for nuclear policy. Long is the founder of M. B. Long & Associates.

PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER, DIGITAL CITIZEN FUND

BIO:

Roya Mahboob is Afghanistan’s first female tech CEO and entrepreneur, making a significant impact beyond the business world. She leverages her tech success to foster education and empowerment for Afghan women and girls and champions their rights. Mahboob founded the Digital Citizen Fund (DCF) to improve Afghan women’s technological and financial literacy. She is also the co-founder of the Afghan Girls Robotics Team and supports their endeavors while promoting robotics education through the Inoura platform. She is launching Zalla, an online platform to elevate the voices of Afghan women and journalists.

Roya Mahboob’s commitment to STEAM education and economic opportunities for women, with a strong emphasis on human rights, has earned her global recognition. She was named among TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in 2013, received the Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Award in 2014, and received other prestigious accolades, such as the Advancement of Gender Equality through Education Award. She was a Young Leader at the World Economic Forum in 2015, an Asia Game Changer in 2019, and received the Doha Forum Award in 2022. Her contributions have been honored with the Lantos Human Rights Awards, the Presidential Leadership Scholarship, and an honorary Doctorate of Science from McMaster University.