The 2007 CIP Fellows gather for a group shot.

The 1987 MNP Fellows held a small reunion at the Royal Hospital dinner.

Conference in Dublin Focuses on 21^st Century Cities

Nearly 140 participants (Fellows, spouses, Trustees, sponsors, and friends) experienced Dublin as a leading city June 8-10 as the Irish Eisenhower Fellows played host to a regional conference on “21^st Century Cities”.

At Intel’s Innovation Center, their largest such facility in Europe and the fourth largest in the world, conference goers were treated to an up-close and personal look at what has made the company and “silicon economics” so successful. Digital health and wireless cities were two areas touched upon in the discussion that followed, convened by Martin Curley, director of IT Innovation, and Ian Laughton, director of Nomad.

On day two of the conference, Alfonso Vegara, ’87, Spain, EF Trustee and president of Fundacion Metropoli, described the framework by which world class cities are measured, commenting that cities hoping to compete with Dublin and others in the global arena must first discover their areas of excellence and follow through with innovation. John Tierney, Dublin City manager, recounted the process that Dublin had undergone to achieve the desired transformation in a relatively short period of time.

Bertie Ahern, Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), who had won re-election the previous week, greeted Fellows and guests at the Guinness Storehouse prior to the closing dinner. Outstanding entertainment was provided there, as well as the previous evening, ranging from 8^th century Celtic music sung a cappella in angelic-like harmony, to more contemporary Irish music and highly accomplished step dancers.

The conference, which welcomed Fellows from several neighboring European countries and a few from further afield, also served as an inaugural event for 26 Fellows from 13 countries around the globe who will participate in the fall 2007 program on Challenges of Urbanization, EF’s first theme-based or Common Interest Program.

To read USA CIP Fellow Maitreyi Roy’s experience in Dublin, visit her blog here.

EF Trustee Jim Hovey and his wife Carol with Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern at the Guinness Storehouse.

Planning Committee for International EF Conference Announced

Several European Fellows met during the course of the June conference in Dublin to announce their intention to organize an International EF Conference in Paris, September 10-12, 2009. The conference, sponsored by the Fellows of Europe, will focus on energy, the environment, and security.

An operating committee was formed to begin the planning process. Members include:

France: Hedwige Pasquet, ’00; Frederic Mauro, ’01; Cecile Moulard, ’02; Etienne Drouard, ‘06; and Special Advisor Claude Henrion, ’68. 

Czech Republic: Jana Ryslinkova, ‘92

EU: Benoit Aubenas, ‘72

Italy: Guiseppe Cassano, ‘67

Spain: Fernando Ballestero, ‘98

UK: Christopher Flint, ‘90

Ireland: Donal deBuitleir, ‘87

Germany: Rudolf Pospischil, ‘98

Continue to check the EF website for updates on this exciting event!

Alumni Advisory Council Meets in Dublin

Twenty members of EF’s Alumni Advisory Council gathered June 7 in Dublin for their annual meeting. Fellows participating for the first time included Ines Alberdi, ’98 Spain; Mandla Mazizi, ’94, South Africa; and Helen Zheng, ’06, China. 

The Council was briefed by EF President John Wolf on institutional issues, and Fellows’ input was sought on a range of EF activities. Among other things, Fellows were encouraged to establish alumni associations in their countries and to further stimulate alumni activities. AAC members from Pakistan, Brazil, and Malaysia offered insight into the regional conferences planned in those countries for 2008. (See the EF’s Upcoming Events [link to home page] for more information.)

Finnish Fellows Hosted by Former EF Trustee

In late May, a dinner hosted by U.S. Ambassador Marilyn Ware was held to welcome returning Fellow Gunvor Kronman, Finland, who participated in the 2007 Multi Nation Program. The nine participating alumni enjoyed the lively conversation and shared experiences of their Eisenhower fellowships, the earliest in 1962 and the latest in 2007. Attending Fellows included Hilpas K.  Hirvonen, ’62; Matti Kaario, ’64; Eero T.  Kajosaari, ‘66; Jorma T.  Routti, ‘78; Bertil Roslin, ’81; Matti Aura, ’89; Elisabeth Helander, ’88; and Paula Kankaapnaa, ’04. Ambassador Ware is a former EF Trustee.

Fellows from Paraguay Join to Form Enterprise

Martin Burt, ’94, and Guillermo Peroni, ’70, both of Paraguay, have teamed up to form Teach a Man to Fish, an organization that promotes entrepreneurial, self-sufficient schools around the world. To learn more about Teach a Man to Fish, visit http://www.teachamantofish.org.uk.

Burt also recently received two awards from his alma maters. He was named a Distinguished Alumni of 2006 by the University of the Pacific, and this year he received the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award from George Washington University. He was profiled in the Winter 2006 edition of the Pacific Review, which can be viewed here.

Fellow Replaces Fellow as Philadelphia’s Managing Director

Loree Jones, ‘07, USA, was named managing director of the City of Philadelphia, succeeding Pedro Ramos, ’00, USA. She was previously secretary of external affairs in the Office of the Mayor, City of Philadelphia.

Ramos has joined Blank Rome, LLP, as a partner in the employment, benefits and labor practice group of the Business Department.

Of her new position, Jones said, “This is certainly all about the Eisenhower network at work!”

Marcelo Knobel, ’07, Brazil, was awarded the prize for the Best Young Scientist in Latin America and the Caribbean Islands (in Physics) by the Third World Academy of Sciences.

PPIA-VOA Broadcasting Fellowship Announced

Tantowi Yahya, ’05, Indonesia, recently launched the PPIA (Indonesian-American Friendship Association)-VOA (Voice of America) Broadcasting Fellowship. Yahya, chairman of the PPIA, says this endeavor “is one of the fruits of my fellowship.”

PPIA and VOA will provide two young and bright broadcasters every year (one from radio and one from television) with a six-month apprenticeship at VOA in Washington. The program, launched in April, will select its first participants in October 2007.

For more information, visit www.VOAIndonesia.com.

Fellow Running for Congress

Chellie Pingree, ’97, USA, former president of Common Cause in Maine, has announced that she is running for Congress as a U.S. Representative for the state of Maine. Prior to her position with Common Cause, she was majority leader in the Maine State Senate. Pingree’s campaign website can be viewed at http://pingreeforcongress.com.

R&D Director, Hospital Foundation of Minas Gerais State

Josiano Gomes Chaves, ’05, Brazil, has been appointed as strategic development and research director of FHEMIG (Fundação Hospitalar do Estado de Minas Gerais, or Hospital Foundation of Minas Gerais State). He was previously director of the Ezequiel Dias Foundation.

Recipient, National Legislator of the Year for Public Service

Hillman Frazier, ’98, USA, Mississippi State Senator, received the National Legislator of the Year for Public Service award from the Victims’ Rights Foundation, Inc., a Maryland-based nonprofit group that performs volunteer support services on behalf of victims of violent crimes and attacks.

CSR Manager, Abdali Investment and Development

Danah Dajani, ’05, Jordan, has accepted a position as corporate social responsibility manager at Abdali Investment and Development psc, a privately shared land development company established to develop and manage mix-use urban developments. Dajani was formerly external relations director and youth development advisor for The Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development.