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Breakthrough Summit Leadership Council

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Dr. Meryl James-Sebro, Managing Director, FirstWorks International

Ms. Ashley Judd, Global YouthAIDS Ambassador
An eighth generation Eastern Kentuckian, Ashley Judd first proved her acting abilities in her debut feature film role as ‘Ruby Lee Gissing' in Victor Nunez' internationally acclaimed "Ruby In Paradise," which won the Sundance Film Festival's top prize. Since that time, she has won major acting awards and critical acclaim world wide, having demonstrated her range, and is a proven box office draw.

Ashley is an Honors Program graduate of the University of Kentucky with a degree in French and four minors (Cultural Anthropology, Art History, Theatre, and Women's Studies). Somewhat contradictorily, however, with regard to her alma mater, she is perhaps best known as a devoted fan of its storied men's basketball program.

Ashley Judd is very proud to be the Global Ambassador for YouthAIDS and board member of Population Services International, a global initiative that generates funding for grassroots programs in 65 countries. YA/PSI raise awareness to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS among the world's youth and most vulnerable populations, and to alleviate the burden of disease amongst those living in extreme poverty. Judd has traveled throughout Southeast Asia, Africa, India, and Central America to visit orphanages, slums, brothels, hospices, medical clinics, youth and drop in centers. Her personal emphasis is on empowering girls and women, medically accurate sex education, and putting a stop to sex and human trafficking. To that end, she has been received by heads of state and religious leaders in all the countries she has visited, as well as having addressed the National Press Club and the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee here at home.

Judd resides in Tennessee and Scotland with her husband, open wheel racing driver Dario Franchitti. They have 8 beloved pets and enjoy a quiet, rural life.

In 2006 Ashley returned to her indie roots in the Bold Films feature film "Come Early Morning," written and directed by actress Joey Lauren Adams, her directorial debut. Judd plays a "thirty-something" woman re-examining her wayward life in the town where she grew up and has been living in blame and denial. The film screened in competition at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. It garnered substantial praise for Judd's honest, wrenching performance, including a "New York Times" citation as deserving of an Oscar nomination.

Upcoming, Judd stars in the Lions Gate film, "Bug," as a lonely, paranoid, and traumatized shut-in, written by Tracy Letts, and based on his play of the same name, which was directed by William Friedkin. "Bug" won the International Press Award in Cannes. Again, Judd's extraordinary performance is generating excitement and buzz. The film will release in Summer 2007.

On World AIDS day in 2006, The Learning Channel featured a documentary of Judd's travels to Central America in her ongoing commitment as Global Ambassador for YouthAIDS. Her friend and colleague, actor, feminist, and human rights activist, Salma Hayek accompanied her. The documentary raised significant awareness about the global HIV emergency and helped reduce stigma and taboo by encouraging education and prevention. In 2005, VH-1 featured an award winning documentary about her trip of the same nature to Madagascar.

In 2004, Judd delivered a heartfelt, emotional performance as socialite ‘Linda Lee Porter' in the MGM Studios, Cole Porter bio-pic, "De Lovely," for which she earned a Golden Globe nomination. The film chronicled their marriage, which inspired such famous Cole Porter tunes as "Anything Goes." "De Lovely" premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and co starred Kevin Kline as Porter.

In early 2004, Judd starred in "Twisted" with Samuel L. Jackson and Andy Garcia for director, Philip Kauffman and also starred on Broadway for 6 months in the leading role of ‘Maggie' in Tennessee Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" was produced by Bill Kenwright and directed by Anthony Page and was a success by all standards.

Judd had a very successful and diverse 2002. She had a small, but significant appearance as ‘Tina Modotti' in the Julie Taymor directed bio-pic of "Frida Kahlo." In addition, Judd turned in an unforgettable supporting role in "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" as posh, lively, but drug addicted southern housewife, starring amongst an impressive cast including Sandra Bullock, Ellen Burstyn, Maggie Smith and James Garner. The film was directed by Callie Khouri and was based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Rebecca Wells.

Judd also starred in 20th Century Fox's "High Crimes" which re-teamed her with "Kiss the Girls" co-star, Morgan Freeman. The film was written by Joseph Finder and directed by Carl Franklin. Also for 20th Century Fox, Judd starred with Greg Kinnear and Hugh Jackman in "Someone Like You" for director, Tony Goldwyn. With a turn to the romantic comedy genre, Judd portrayed a producer of a popular day time talk show who had a romance with the show's executive producer.

Judd's other film credits include "Where the Heart Is," opposite Natalie Portman. Bruce Beresford's box-office success "Double Jeopardy," opposite Tommy Lee Jones for Paramount as well as "Eye of the Beholder" with Ewan McGregor. Judd also starred in Walt Disney Pictures' 1998 bittersweet drama "Simon Birch," based on the John Irving novel, A Prayer for Owen Meaney.

In 1997, Judd starred opposite Morgan Freeman in Paramount Pictures' box-office hit "Kiss the Girls," as well as MGM's "The Locusts," in which she co-starred opposite Vince Vaughn and Kate Capshaw. Judd was also seen in Michael Mann's "Heat," for which she won critical acclaim opposite Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino and Val Kilmer. In the summer of 1996, she appeared in Joel Schumacher's "A Time to Kill," opposite Samuel L. Jackson, Sandra Bullock and Matthew McConaughey. In late 1996, she was seen starring opposite Luke Perry in John McNaughton's black comedy "Normal Life." Also in 1996, Judd received an Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal of Norma Jean in HBO's "Norma Jean & Marilyn."

Judd made her debut theatre performance in the Naked Angels' production of "Busted," directed by Timothy Hutton. She then went on to star as Madge on Broadway in William Inge's Pulitzer-prize winning play, "Picnic" at the Roundabout Theatre Company, while simultaneously filming an unforgettable supporting role in the Miramax Film "Smoke," portraying the daughter of Harvey Keitel and Stockard Channing.

Ashley began her acting career by studying her craft at Playhouse West, the highly respected Sanford Meisner School in North Hollywood.

Ms. Rosalind Kainyah, director, Public Affairs USA, The De Beers Group

Mr. Joseph Keefe, president and CEO, Pax World Funds

Dr. Arthur B. Keys, Jr., president and CEO, International Relief and Development

Ms. Daisy Khan, Executive Director, American Society for Muslim Advancement

Dr. Suzanne Kindervatter, Vice President, Strategic Impact, InterAction

Ms. Kimberly King, Co-Chair, Global Action Network Net

The Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, general secretary, National Council of the Churches of Christ

Mr. Cliff Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church, USA

The Very Reverend Leonid Kishkovsky, Moderator of the World Conference of Religions for Peace, Orthodox Church in America

Dr. Leslie Anne Knight, Secretary General, Caritas

Ms. Carla Koppell, Director, Initiative for Inclusive Security, Hunt Alternatives Fund

Ms. Constance Kreshtool, Executive Director, Women of Reform Judaism

Ms. Mehrezia Labidi-Maiza, Coordinator, Religions for Peace Global Women of Faith Network

Mr. Mark Lancaster, Executive Director, The SEVA Foundation

Ms. Elizabeth Latham, Executive Director, U.S. Committee for UN Development Program (UNDP-USA)

The Reverend Dorothy Lau, Director, Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council
Reverend Dorothy Lau is a social worker and has been the Director of Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council for 30 years. Being an experienced social work administrator, she has developed the Council from a coordination body under Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui (the Anglican Church) to a multi-service non-government organization (NGO) in Hong Kong. The Council is now one of the three largest NGOs in Hong Kong with a wide spectrum of services ranging from child care, children and youth integrated service centres, community support and residential service for senior citizens, family service, school social work service for primary and secondary schools, rehabilitation service and youth employment service. The Council is also renowned for launching "Total Quality Management" which encourages creativity and service quality and the "Caring Journey" which creates opportunities for staff to explore life meaning and to achieve spiritual growth. The Council has received recognition and public awards on these related areas.

In view of her expertise in social work profession, Reverend Lau has been invited to serve in various Government Committees and Commissions in relation to social welfare field.

Reverend Lau is a priest of Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui and is currently serving St. Stephen's Church.

Ms. Grace Chung Lee, Representative, Won Buddhism International, Co-President, Religions for Peace

Mr. Lelei LeLaulu, President and CEO, Counterpart International, Chairman of the Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific
Lelei LeLaulu is President and Chief Executive Officer of the private development organization, Counterpart International, a Washington DC based non-profit organization started in Oceania in 1965 where it is still known as the Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific (FSP). Counterpart operates or collaborates with partners on civil society, humanitarian, food security, health, enterprise development, sustainable tourism and environmental restoration programs in over sixty countries.

Rabbi Michael Lerner, National Chair, The Network of Spiritual Progressives/Tikkun

Ms. Nancy Lindborg, President, Mercy Corps

The Very Rev. Samuel T. Lloyd III, dean, Washington National Cathedral

Ms. Jo Luck, President and CEO, Heifer International

Rabbi Bruce Lustig, Washington Hebrew Congregation

Dr. Jo Ann Lyon, founder and CEO, World Hope International

Mr. Charles MacCormack, President and CEO, Save the Children
Charles F. MacCormack is currently President of Save the Children, the world's leading independent nonprofit organization serving children in need. With programs in the United States and in more than 50 countries, an annual budget of over $350 million and more than 6,000 staff worldwide, Save the Children works to create lasting positive change in the lives of children in need through programs in health care and nutrition, education and economic opportunities for children, their families and their communities. Save the Children also provides humanitarian assistance during natural disasters, war and conflict. Dr. MacCormack is on the Board of Directors of the International Save the Children Alliance, implementing $1 billion of programs for children in 120 countries.

Dr. MacCormack currently serves as Board Chair of InterAction (the national association of over 160 international humanitarian and development organizations) and as Co-Chair of both the Basic Education Coalition and the Campaign for Effective Global Leadership. He is Co-Chair of The Global Movement for Children, a worldwide coalition led by UNICEF, World Vision, Plan International and Save the Children, working together to reduce by two-thirds the deaths of 28,000 newborns and children per day. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Throughout his career, Dr. MacCormack has served in many consultative and official roles. He sat on the Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid and the Food Security Advisory Committee, and was President of the Non-Governmental Committee on UNICEF. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Arthur D. Little Management Education Institute. He was selected by the United Nations Secretary General to participate in the Founding Committee of the United Nations University and served as a member of the United States Delegation to the 1997 World Food Summit and the United States Delegation for the 2002 General Assembly Special Session on Children. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Education by Middlebury College, and an honorary Doctor of Law by Clark University. He was made a member of the Grand Cordon of the Order of Al-Istiolal by former King Hussein of Jordan.

Prior to his current position at Save the Children, Dr. MacCormack was President of World Learning (formerly known as the Experiment in International Living) from 1977 to 1992. His first experience at Save the Children was as Vice President of Programs in the 1970s and for four years he worked as the Director of the Masters Degree Program in International Management at the School for International Training. Before that, he was a research fellow in foreign policy studies at The Brookings Institution. He had earlier served as Assistant to the Dean of the International Fellows Program at Columbia University. Dr. MacCormack was an instructor of Latin American Politics at the University of New Hampshire Summer School and was a staff associate for the First National City Bank International Division in Caracas, Venezuela.

Dr. MacCormack received his doctorate and master's degrees from Columbia University and his undergraduate degree from Middlebury College. He was a National Science Foundation Fellow at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico in Mexico City and a Fulbright Fellow at the Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas. He has also participated in a special three-year program at the Harvard Business School on the Leadership of Global Non-Profit Organizations.

Dr. MacCormack resides in Easton, Connecticut. He is married to Susan Ross, who serves as President of the Fairfield County Community Foundation. They have two sons, Cameron and Fraser.

Ms. Hajia Katumi Mahama, President, Muslim Women's Organization of Ghana; Coordinator, African Women of Faith Network, Religions for Peace

Sr. Jenna Margah, Director, Brahma Kumaris of Washington DC

Ms. Katherine Marshall, Senior Fellow and Visiting Professor; Berkelely Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs, Georgetown University

Dr. Ingrid Mattson, President, Islamic Society of North America

Rev. John L McCullough, Executive Director & CEO, Church World Service
The Rev. John L. McCullough is Executive Director and CEO of Church World Service, an international humanitarian agency providing emergency relief, advocacy, sustainable development, and refugee assistance in the United States and more than 80 countries.

Since joining Church World Service in June of 2000, Rev. McCullough has been at the forefront of agency efforts to press for human rights and the empowerment of civil society in developing countries and to expand upon the role of the church as a compassionate and prophetic voice for justice. McCullough is a graduate of the Boston University School of Theology and an ordained minister in The United Methodist Church.

Reverend Dr. Vashti Murphy McKenzie, Presiding Prelate-13th Episcopal District, AME

Ms. Donna McLarty, Vice Chair, Vital Voices Global Partnership

Ms. Mary Ellen McNish, General Secretary, American Friends Service Committee
Mary Ellen McNish was appointed the general secretary of the American Friends Service Committee by its Board of Directors in June of 2000. In this position, she is responsible for the administration of programs and projects in more than 22 countries and 46 cities in the United States.

Before assuming this position, Mary Ellen was the executive director of development at Weil Medical College of Cornell University and New York Presbyterian Hospital and the assistant vice-president for development at Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, PA.

Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Mary Ellen holds a B.S. degree in education from East Stroudsburg University and a M.S. degree in business from John Hopkins University.

Mary Ellen lives in Philadelphia.

Reverend Gail Mengel, National President, Church Women United
Gail has written and served as senior editor for resources entitled, Guide for Retreat Planning, A New and Right Spirit, and Sustaining Faith. She chaired a committee for writing the course, With Equal Regard, which is part of the peace studies series. Gail authored a chapter for Count It All Joy, and she assisted in the writing of Sisters in Christ, a book published on the 1993 International Conference of Women.

Gail has traveled extensively and offered ministry in many regions of the world. She has broad experience as a community speaker on ecumenical and global issues. Gail served as director for an International Conference of Women which gathered 4700 women from more than twenty-eight countries in June, 1993. She headed a delegation to the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China in 1995. In the following year, Hilary Clinton invited her to become a member of the White House Women's Conference Circle. She was been selected as a United States representative to the Ecumenical Decade Festival in Harare, Zimbabwe, November, 1998.

Gail represented her denomination as their representative to Church Women United. In that capacity, she served as convener of the executive representatives of the twenty denominations that support CWU. She was elected as a voting member of the Board representing the denominations from 1995-2003. On July 31, 2004 she was installed as the 18^th National President of CWU and serves as the chair of the National Board and Common Council.

Gail serves on the Justice For Women Working Group of the National Council of Churches, and served fourteen years on the Advisory Council of the Center for the Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence, now known as the FaithTrust Institute. In April, 2006 Gail was elected to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Institute.

Mr. Adrian Merryman, CEO, Opportunity International Network

Ms. Ruth Messinger, President, American Jewish World Service

Ms. Judy Miller, Vice President and Director, Hilton Humanitarian Prize

Dr. Hedieh Mirahmadi, Executive Director, World Organization for Resource Development and Education

Dr. Esther Mombo, Academic Dean, St. Paul’s Theological College, Kenya

Mr. Stephen Moseley, President and CEO, Academy for Educational Development

Ms. Estella Maris Mulaeh, representative, Pax Romana Africa; chairperson, International Youth Committee, Religions for Peace

Ms. Merab Mulindi, Women’s Desk Coordinator, Inter-Faith Action for Peace in Africa

Ms. Christine Naylor, Executive Director, RESULTS

Ms. Sarah Newhall, President and CEO, Pact
Sarah Newhall, Pact's first female president and CEO, is an innovator and leader in citizen's empowerment programs in countries around the world-particularly ones emerging from conflict and civil strife. Her work is founded on the passionate belief that everyone, given an opportunity to chart their own future, can change the course of their lives and their countries. Since June 2000, when Ms. Newhall became president of Pact-an international development organization headquartered in Washington, DC-the organization's revenues have multiplied more than five fold. She presently overseas 24 field offices that manage over 100 projects in 46 countries. Under her leadership Pact has twice been named by Worth magazine as one of America's 100 best charities. In addition, Pact's award-winning women's empowerment program-WORTH-was selected one of ten finalists for the first Amazon.com NGO Nonprofit Innovation Award offered in partnership with the Stanford School of Business.

Building Pact as a globally networked organization based on trusted and respectful partnerships is a key part of her leadership vision. Ms. Newhall has guided creation of a dynamic global north-south network of capacity building organizations-the Impact Alliance-which now has 13 partner organizations and over 3500 professional members. Ms. Newhall is also a leader in forging dynamic new relationships to assist communities and business to advance social development together. Pact's work with extractive industries in DR Congo has gained attention from other mineral-rich countries emerging from conflict and civil war.

Before becoming president of Pact, Ms. Newhall was Pact's executive vice president and country representative in Cambodia where she launched a large-scale democracy and governance capacity-building program shortly after the Paris Peace Accords were signed. Under her leadership the project spurred many new and young organizations to find their voice and to serve a growing civil society constituency.

Before going overseas Ms. Newhall, who hails from Portland, OR, held several leadership positions with city government and nonprofit organizations. In addition she also served on the Portland School Board and ran a city bureau reporting to the mayor of Portland. As a part of her own personal advocacy, she was a volunteer talk-show host for a cable TV public affairs program. She also worked at Center for Urban Education, the human services arm of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon.

Ms. Newhall has a bachelor's degree from Occidental College, Los Angeles, California, and a master's degree in public administration from Portland State University, Portland, Oregon. Ms. Newhall has served on the InterAction board as co-chair for the Commission for the Advancement of Women and as chairperson of the Membership and Standards Committee. She is also a member of the board of directors of Women Thrive, formerly the Women's Edge Coalition.

Mrs. Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director and Under-Secretary General, United Nations Population Fund

Mr. Raymond Offenheiser, president, Oxfam, America

Ms. Jacqueline Ogega, African Women's Project Director, Religions for Peace

Ms. Harriett Jane Olson, deputy general secretary, Women's Division, General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church

Archbishop John O. Onaiyekan, Archdiocese of Abuja, Co-President, Religions for Peace

Ms. Mary Pack, Vice President, Domestic and International Affairs, International Medical Corps

Dr. Elaine Pagels, Harrington Spear Payne Professor of Religion, Princeton University

Ms. Ana Victoria Pelaez, Latin American and Caribbean Regional Office, World Conference, Religions for Peace

Mr. Daniel Pellegrom, President and CEO, Pathfinder International

The Reverend Canon John L. Peterson, Canon for Center of Global Justice and Reconciliation, Washington National Cathedral

Dr. Joy Phumaphi, Vice President, Human Development Network, The World Bank

Mr. Ben Plumley, vice president, Tibotec

Rev. Terry Provance, executive director, Oikocredit USA

Mr. Robert Radtke, President, Episcopal Relief and Development
DR. ROBERT W. RADTKE is President of Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD). He joined the organization in July 2005. Under his leadership, ERD began a domestic emergency preparedness and response program and is expanding its work in the areas of hunger and disease prevention to more than 40 countries worldwide. Under Dr. Radtke's leadership ERD has launched a major malaria prevention partnership, NetsforLifeSM that will reach over 1 million people in 16 countries in Africa before the end of 2008.

Dr. Radtke advocates on behalf of people living in poverty. He is a frequent contributor to the media on a broad range of issues, including HIV/AIDS, Codes of Ethics for Faith Based Organizations and U.S. Foreign Policy. Previously, Dr. Radtke served as the Senior Vice President for Programs at the Asia Society, where he worked for 10 years. Prior to joining the Asia Society, Dr. Radtke was Vice President of the Business Council for the United Nations.

Dr. Radtke received his Bachelor's degree from Columbia University where he majored in East Asian Languages and Cultures and his Doctorate in Modern History from Oxford University, which he attended as a Rhodes Scholar. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Dr. Radtke serves on the board of Church World Service and InterAction. He and his wife, Mary Abraham, have one daughter. They attend St. Bartholomew's Church in New York City.

Ms. Kavita N. Ramdas, President and CEO, Global Fund for Women

Mr. William Reese, President and CEO, International Youth Foundation

Ms. Yolonda Richardson, President and CEO, Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA)
Yolonda C. Richardson is a dynamic leader and recognized expert on gender issues, reproductive health, international development, U.S. philanthropy and corporate responsibility. She has appeared as an expert source in top media outlets, including the Associated Press, Christian Science Monitor, C-SPAN, Knight-Ridder and National Public Radio.

As the President and CEO of CEDPA, Richardson provides overall direction for the organization and its programs, projects and funding throughout the world. Her leadership ensures the success of CEDPA's efforts in girls' education and youth development, reproductive health and HIV/AIDS, and gender and governance.

Throughout Richardson's career she has been committed to social development globally, with a particular expertise in development in Africa. She served as Special Counsel for the African Development Foundation, a government-funded agency that provides financial support to African non-governmental organizations. From 1999 to 2002, she served as Senior Vice President of Africare, where she oversaw more than 150 development projects throughout Africa.

Prior to joining Africare, Richardson spent ten years at the Carnegie Corporation of New York, a global foundation, where she managed an international grant program focused on women's health and development.

Having practiced as a corporate attorney at the Wall Street law firm, Cahill Gordon & Reindel, she continues to be a member of the American Bar Association and the National Bar Association. She is also a member of the Association of Black Foundation Executives, Women in Philanthropy, the Council on Foreign Relations and the Women's Foreign Policy Group. She serves on the board of directors of InterAction and the Society for International Development.

Richardson holds a Masters Degree in Public Health from Columbia University and a Juris Doctorate from Yale University School of Law. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude, from Dillard University in New Orleans.

Mr. George Rupp, President, International Rescue Committee
George Rupp has been president of the International Rescue Committee since July 2002. As the IRC's chief executive officer, Dr. Rupp oversees the agency's relief and rehabilitation operations in 25 countries and its refugee resettlement and assistance programs throughout the United States. In addition, he leads the IRC's advocacy efforts in Washington, Geneva, Brussels and other capitals on behalf of the world's most vulnerable people.

Before joining the IRC, Dr. Rupp served as president of Columbia University. During his nine-year tenure, he focused on enhancing undergraduate education, on strengthening the relationship of the campus to surrounding communities and New York City as a whole, and on increasing the university's international orientation. Prior to his time at Columbia, Dr. Rupp served as president of Rice University. Before going to Rice, Dr. Rupp was the John Lord O'Brian Professor of Divinity and dean of the Harvard Divinity School.

Educated in Europe and Asia as well as the United States, he is the author of numerous articles and five books, including Globalization Challenged: Commitment, Conflict, and Community (2006).

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