In collaboration with Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (YPFP), the premier international networking community for young professionals involved in foreign policy, national security, and international development, GIST will be holding a panel discussion and reception starting at 7:00PM at the CDC Development Solutions. The panel will be composed of two GIST Transformers.

Speakers at the event:

Ovidiu Bujorean, Manager, The GIST Initiative, Vice chairman MIT Enterprise Forum of Washington DC & Baltimore

Mr. Ovidiu Bujorean manages and directs the GIST Initiative, an exciting new innovative initiative funded through the State Department that is building a unique entrepreneurial ecosystem in 44 countries across the Middle East, Central and South East Asia, and Africa.  Previously, Mr. Bujorean was the Senior Associate at Rudyard Partners, a private equity firm focused on investing in consumer technologies.  Mr. Bujorean  serves as Chairman of the Board of Advisors of AIESEC DC. Mr. Bujorean founded  LEADERS, an organization that impacted the lives of approximately 10000 young leaders and entrepreneurs in Romania and Southern-Eastern Europe and is a graduate of the MIT Sloan School of Management (MBA) and Harvard’s Kennedy School (MPA). LinkedIn

 Jonathan Margolis, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Science, Space and Health in the Department of State’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Jonathan Margolis, a career member of the Senior Executive Service  is responsible for policies and programs in the areas of International Science & Technology Cooperation, Space & Advanced Technologies, and International Health and Biodefense. From 2007-2011, Mr. Margolis served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Global Communications in the Bureau of International Information Programs. Mr. Margolis oversaw the Bureau’s internet, video and print products, including social media. His team’s programs reached and engaged hundreds of millions of people both directly and through decentralized operations on 250+ sites in virtually every country in the world. Mr. Margolis has a Ph.D. from Harvard University in psychology, focusing on negotiation and conflict resolution. He holds a Master's Degree from the Fletcher School of International Law and Diplomacy, and his undergraduate degree is in Fine Arts from Harvard College. He has also served as an Adjunct Professor at American University, and the Foreign Service Institute, where he has conducted courses on environmental policy, negotiations, and international organizations.

Natalia Pipia, Associate Program Director, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, CRDF Global

Natalia Pipia develops and oversees all Innovation Programs at CRDF Global, and she is responsible for developing outreach strategies to external partners and funders. She manages programs that promote strategic partnerships between technology entrepreneurs and businesses, build innovation ecosystems in countries where programs are being implemented, and facilitate U.S. market access. Pipia has 10 years of experience working in economic development and executed various initiatives in coordination with numerous associations, companies, technology transfer groups, governmental, and non-governmental organizations in Eurasia, Middle East, Africa, Central and Southeast Asia.

Ali Raza, Founder & CEO of PAK-Energy Solutions

Ali was in the first class at his university that had the opportunity to study entrepreneurship, which he embraced wholeheartedly in his efforts to alleviate need and improve quality of life in rural Pakistan. Despite tremendous skepticism and incredulity from outsiders, Ali channeled his deep faith, his family’s encouragement, and his sheer stubbornness into a successful environmental venture—turning agricultural waste into  domestically consumable fuel.

Nurana Indah Paramita, Founder of T-Files Indonesia

“Mita,” currently an MBA student, successfully founded her company while still in her undergraduate studies, gathering a dozen friends with technical skills and the passion to make a difference for her island country of Indonesia which suffers from insufficient energy resources and a number of political and economic woes. Starting from “zero” she turned their 13 thesis projects into a fully-functional venture with government backing and investment from their university, as well as interest from other countries seeking the technology. Mita was raised by a single mother in a Muslim society where taking a stable job to provide for her family was expected, but she chose instead to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams which she hopes will serve as a positive example to Indonesian youth looking for a hopeful future.