Mike most recently served as Special Projects Advisor to Executive Director of the World Food Program, David Beasley. During his tenure, Mike conducted international negotiations and projects on behalf of the Executive Director in Latin America and on matters of global food security. Prior to that, Mike was a software entrepreneur and business strategy consultant, focusing on projects at the nexus of new technology and government services with extensive experience in food and agriculture. Mike serves as Board President at Alimenta la Solidaridad, Inc., a non-profit founded by Roberto Patiño. Mike began his career at the United States Institute of Peace. A resident of Wisconsin, Mike graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Public Policy and International Affairs, at which he continues to be involved in the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination. 

Roberto Patiño holds a Master's degree in Public Policy from Harvard University, a Master's degree in Advanced Peace and Mediation Studies from ETH Zurich and is a manufacturing engineer from Simón Bolívar University. Patiño is the founder of the NGOs Mi Convive and Alimenta La Solidaridad, which have been working for the past ten years in 250 vulnerable communities in Venezuela. They train over 4,000 volunteer women to provide food for 15,000 children and reduce violence among youth. Patiño is an expert in citizen security, negotiation, and conflict resolution. He is a former student movement leader and an active member of the National Board of Directors of the Primero Justicia party. In 2021, he was selected as a Youth Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. 

Tom has a diverse background in strategy consulting and international development. Most recently he was the Special Assistant to the Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), first with Governor David Beasley and then Ambassador Cindy McCain, where he supported strategy formulation and partnership development. He participated in meetings with Heads of State, ministers and CEOs and attended global events such as UNGA, COP and the Munich Security Conference. He also worked on government partnerships in South Sudan and policy development for WFP. Prior to joining the UN, Tom was a management consultant, advising governments, corporates and UN agencies on strategy, digital transformation and project execution. He holds a BA in International History from the London School of Economics and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Climate Change and Development.

Dr. María Ignacia Curiel is an empirical scholar using experimental, observational, and qualitative methodologies to explore questions of conflict, peacebuilding and democratic representation, with a focus on informing policy and practice. She is also a visiting scholar at the Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law (CDDRL) and an affiliate of the Poverty, Violence and Governance Lab at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI) at Stanford University. María earned her PhD in Political Science from the Department of Politics at New York University. Her work has been supported by the Folke Bernadotte Academy, the Institute for Humane Studies, and the American Political Science Association Centennial Center, and is published in the Journal of Politics. In addition to her academic pursuits, María has conducted research for the United Nations University Center for Policy Research, the Inter-American Development Bank, and a Caracas-based NGO. 

Nicholas Naquin (Ph.D., Princeton University, 2013), is a former officer in the United States Army with over twelve years of experience working with security forces across the world. With a BA in History from The Johns Hopkins University and MAs in Classical and European history from The Johns Hopkins University, Oxford University and Princeton University, Dr. Naquin brings unique historical and linguistic expertise to his military and political analysis. Dr. Naquin’s first military service was as an enlisted soldier in the French Foreign Legion (2008-2010), with which he deployed to Afghanistan for six months. From 2013 until 2022 he served as an active-duty infantry officer in the United States Army at Airborne units in Italy (173RD Airborne Brigade), Fort Benning (U.S. Army Ranger School) and Fort Bragg (82ND Airborne Division). From 2017-2019, Dr. Naquin deployed to Afghanistan twice in support of the 75TH Ranger Regiment. While an instructor at the U.S. Army Ranger School (2019-2020), Dr. Naquin was chosen to serve as an exchange officer at Colombia’s Lancero School. He completed the Colombian Army’s Lancero course in December 2019 and worked in Colombia for sixteen months. Dr. Naquin is a fluent speaker of six languages (English, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, German) and a dedicated student of four other ancient and modern languages (Latin, Ancient Greek, Hebrew, Arabic).

Joel is an expert and discipled strategist, with over twenty years of experience within the Department of Defense and Department of State. His broad and diverse background includes an established network and understanding of numerous federal agencies, organizations, and international partners. A strong relationship builder, with an in-depth understanding of foreign policy and national defense, Joel has successfully led multiple teams and organizations to creatively solve difficult and ambiguous problems. Joel is a retired Army strategist, who completed his Army career as the senior policy advisor and director for strategic initiatives for the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA). His overseas assignments included Germany, South Korea, and Iraq, along with extensive travel throughout Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in cultural studies from John Brown University and a Master of Arts in political science from George Mason University. Originally from Colorado Springs, Joel currently resides in Arlington, Virginia.

Kaitlyn brings a wealth of experience in spearheading innovative projects from inception to completion. Her diverse background in tech startups covering marketing, software engineering, and product management, empowers her to craft visionary solutions for complex challenges. Kaitlyn's proven leadership in launching significant products and strategic initiatives underscores her exceptional ability to identify core objectives, meticulously organize resources, and drive execution. Her adeptness at transforming visionary concepts into tangible outcomes fosters organizational growth and achieves key milestones with precision and agility. Adding to her multifaceted skill set, Kaitlyn's years spent studying and working abroad have enriched her with a personal understanding of the importance of international relations.