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Emerging Leaders Directory

More than 50 resident and nonresident fellows offer research, analysis, and commentary on US foreign policy and public opinion, global food security, and global cities.

Kamran Bajwa 

Partner, Head of Middle East Practice, Kirkland & Ellis
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Cohort
Industry
Law
Kamran Bajwa specializes in complex international legal matters, particularly in the Middle East and emerging markets. He has advised major international NGOs on intercultural dialogue across the US, Europe, and the Middle East. He's lived in Dubai, Cairo, and Bahrain, and has worked in over 20 countries across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Kaberi Banerjee-Murthy 

Board Member, Ms. Foundation for Women
Kaberi Banerjee Murthy headshot
Kaberi Banerjee-Murthy is a philanthropic leader committed to transforming philanthropy by shifting power to historically underserved communities. Her experience includes leading the education, arts & culture, and civic affairs work at Crown Family Philanthropies. She's also worked with the Picower Foundation, the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, and Hemenway & Barnes.

Suchi Bansal 

Gender and Adolescent Health Consultant
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Cohort
Industry
sector
Suchi Bansal is a gender and adolescent health consultant and previously a senior health research specialist at the Center for Interdisciplinary Inquiry and Innovation in Sexual and Reproductive Health (Ci3) at the University of Chicago. Ci3 is an innovative and interdisciplinary research center aimed at improving the health and well-being of young people in Chicago and across the world.

Mary Barnicle 

Principal, Amazon Air
Mary Barnicle oversees regulatory policy development for Prime Air, Amazon's commercial drone delivery service. Previously, she held the position of managing director of regulatory affairs at United Airlines, where she advocated for the company’s interests before multiple government regulatory agencies, particularly regarding taxation and economic liberalization.

Barbara R. Barreno-Paschall 

Managing Attorney, Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
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Cohort
Industry
Law
sector
Barbara Barreno-Paschall was previously a commissioner with the State of Illinois Human Rights Commission following her appointment by Governor JB Pritzker. As a commissioner, she adjudicated complaints of discrimination filed under the Illinois Human Rights Act.

Paul Bauerschmidt 

Head of Technology, Digital Assets, Millennium
Cohort
Paul Bauerschmidt serves as the head of technology for digital assets at Millennium Management, a global multi-strategy investment firm. Previously, he led new growth initiatives in OTC markets as executive director of OTC products at the CME Group, owner of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and also held leadership positions in corporate development and technology.

Lauren Bean Buitta 

Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Girl Security
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Lauren Bean Buitta is founder and CEO of Girl Security, a nonpartisan, non-profit organization closing the gender gap in national security through learning, training, and mentoring support.

Emma Belcher 

President, Ploughshares Fund
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Emma Belcher is the president of the Ploughshares Fund, a public grantmaking foundation that supports initiatives to prevent the spread and use of nuclear weapons. Before this position, she was the director of nuclear challenges at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and published research on nuclear weapons at the Council on Foreign Relations as a Stanton Nuclear Security Fellow.

Silvia Beltrametti  

Lecturer, School of Art Institute of Chicago
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Cohort
sector
Silvia Beltrametti teaches at the School of the Art Institute and advises on matters related to intellectual property in the creative industry. Her research focuses on art law, as well as international antitrust and intellectual property. She has published works in the Journal of Law and Economics, among many other publications.

Craig Bennett 

Former Vice President, Associate General Counsel Recycled Energy Development, LLC
Cohort
Craig Bennett, now retired, was one of eight executive committee members responsible for managing the strategic direction of Recycled Energy Development, LLC, an independent power producer that acquires, develops, owns, and operates industrial cogeneration and waste heat/gas recovery projects. They worked to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the cost of steam and electricity for host companies.