05/2004

Ambassador to the OECD

Carlos Elizondo ’03 has been appointed Mexico´s ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), based in Paris. Elizondo, who previously served as general director of the Centro de Investigación y Docencia Economicas, formally assumed his position in mid-May. News story

Loughran Chair of Gas Company

Sir Gerry Loughran ’89 has been appointed chairman of the Phoenix Natural Gas Company, based in Northern Ireland. Loughran was formerly head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service. He was knighted in the 2004 New Year’s Honours list for his performance of that role.

One-Year Award to Indonesian Fellow

Onno Purbo ‘02, Indonesia, recently completed a one-year sabbatical award from the International Development Research Centre, of Canada. The award supported Purbo’s innovative efforts to promote the dissemination of knowledge in Indonesia through information and communication technologies. Purbo’s fellowship focused on the regulatory and policy frameworks governing the Internet and practical methods to expand the Internet in developing countries.

2004 Pollie Award

For the second time in his career, Felipe Noguera ’88 Argentina won a "Pollie" award for outstanding public affairs consulting work. With the award, the American Association of Political Consultants honored as “International Campaign of the Year” Noguera’s work on the campaign A mas empresas, mas empleos, which had a decided impact on Guatemala’s recent presidential election.

International Book Award

Two news and education programs hosted by Silvia Bacher ’01 Argentina, Catedra Libre (radio) and Pensar Mas (television), received awards during Buenos Aires’ 2004 International Book Festival. On May 4, at the Festival’s Tercer Encuentro de Educacion, Comunicacion, Informacion y El Libro, Fundacion El Libro recognized the programs of Bacher and co-host Monica Beltran for their superior educational quality.

Editor at New Straits Times

Hardev Kaur ’96, Malaysia, became group editor of the New Straits Times on May 1, marking the first time a woman has held that post in the 158 year history of the newspaper. She was previously editor-at-large and assistant group editor at the New Straits Times, after starting her journalism career as a reporter with Radio Television Malaysia.

Belt to head Pension Benefit Guaranty Corportation

Bradley D. Belt USA '97, who traveled to Argentina in 1997, was appointed executive director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) by President George W. Bush and the corporation’s board of directors, a position he assumed on April 26.

As such, Belt will be responsible for the Corporation's operations including management of assets totaling more than $35 billion, administration of two insurance programs covering 44 million workers in 31,000 plans, and payment of nearly $2.5 billion in benefits to some 930,000 workers and retirees.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Candidate

James Eisenhower USA ’02 won the statewide Democratic Party primary for attorney general in late April. The general election will occur in November, with voters choosing between Democrat Eisenhower and the Republican candidate, Tom Corbett. Eisenhower, a lawyer in Philadelphia whose Eisenhower Fellowship took him to Great Britain, serves as chairman of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

Five 2004 North Carolina Fellows Selected

Eisenhower Fellowships announced its 2004 Fellows from the North Carolina Research Triangle, leaders in the business, healthcare, education, urban revitalization, and social justice. Adrian Basora, president of Eisenhower Fellowships, said, “I am delighted to welcome these young and accomplished leaders, whose energy and expertise will contribute much to the vitality of the Fellows’ network.”

The Fellows, who will embark on individualized, international professional programs in the coming months, are: Jean Davis, Partner, Empire Properties; Rosalind Fuse-Hall, Executive Assistant to the Chancellor, North Carolina Central University; Kathryn Higgins, Senior Director, Community Relations, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, and Vice President, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation; Joan Meyers, President and CEO, North Carolina Electronics Information Technologies Association; and Debra Tyler-Horton, Deputy Director, North Carolina Justice Center.