October 2006
From top left: Fellows visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art on their trolley tour of the city; a group of Fellows works together during one of their Opening Seminar meetings; the female Fellows gather for a photo at the Trustees & Sponsors Dinner; the Hong Kong Association of New York hosted a reception and seminar with several prominent speakers; and several Fellows met with former EF Chairman Henry Kissinger in his New York City office.
2006 Single Region Program Kicks Off
Twenty-two mid-career leaders from China, China (Taiwan), Japan, and Korea arrived in Philadelphia in mid-September to commence the 2006 Single Region Program. During the Opening Seminar, Fellows participated in seminar discussions on topics such as American cultural values and issues in leadership; visited Pew Charitable Trusts, the Wharton School of Business, and the Federal Reserve Bank; and got to know the Philadelphia area by way of a trolley tour and evening outings. They also participated in a seminar with Ambassador J. Stapleton Roy, a senior U.S. diplomat specializing in Asian affairs, followed by a send-off dinner with EF Trustees and several Philadelphia-area Fellows.
Some Fellows also traveled to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, the September 11 Flight 93 memorial, and Amish country in western and central Pennsylvania. Fellows also visited the home and farm of Governor Christine Todd Whitman, participated in a series of workshops with U.S. Fellows in Research Triangle, NC while enjoying the RTNC Fellows' hospitality, and toured the Grand Canyon.
At the invitation of former Eisenhower Fellowships Chairman Henry Kissinger, five Fellows met with him at his New York office to discuss current issues relating to Northeast Asia. Of particular, and timely, interest were Dr. Kissinger’s views on North Korea’s recent nuclear test and on the outlook for political and economic relations between the U.S. and China.
Currently, the Fellows are traveling across the country for individual and group events to meet and network with professional peers at companies such as Google, Boeing, Microsoft, and Disney. At the conclusion of the program, the Northeast Asian Fellows will participate in EF’s conference on U.S. Competitiveness and Leadership, held in Philadelphia November 15 and 16. They will meet there with current EF Chairman Colin Powell before departing for home.
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EF Announces One-Year Partnership With St. Peter’s School
Eisenhower Fellowships and St. Peter’s School, a coeducational independent school for preschoolers through 8th graders, have formed a one-year partnership. As part of the collaboration, St. Peter’s will invite Eisenhower Fellows to speak in an assembly or classroom setting about their countries, their work, or other topics of interest. Fellows will also meet one-on-one with parents of students who have similar professional backgrounds to exchange ideas and share insights.
The partnership kicked off during the SRP 2006 Opening Seminar week, as two groups toured the school and several St. Peter’s parents hosted Fellows for dinners in their homes or at local restaurants.
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Former EF Chairman Receives Liberty Medal
President and former Eisenhower Fellowships Chairman George H.W. Bush and President William J. Clinton were presented with the 2006 Philadelphia Liberty Medal on October 5, 2006, at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Bush and Clinton joined forces to create the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund and Bush-Clinton Tsunami partnership and are credited with raising more than $1 billion in disaster relief funds.
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Project HOME, Others Collaborate on Housing Initiative
Rock star Jon Bon Jovi, alongside former President Bill Clinton and Project HOME Co-Founder Sister Mary Scullion, ’02, USA, recently announced the Project HOME Phase V Homeownership Project in Philadelphia. The Project is a unique partnership between Project HOME, Habitat for Humanity, the Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation, and Saturn that will undertake the renovation of 15 row houses in one of Philadelphia’s most poverty-ridden neighborhoods.
“We are thrilled to partner with Jon Bon Jovi, the Philadelphia Soul, Habitat, and Saturn,” said Scullion. “Our collective talent and resources will expand our capacity and enable us to reach out to more families in need. This is another critical step forward for community revitalization in North Philadelphia.”
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Recipient, Golden Dove of Peace Prize
This July, Hazem Kawasmi, ’05, Palestine, received the Golden Dove of Peace prize for 2006 from the President of Italy in Rome. This prize is awarded yearly to individuals and institutions making unique contributions to peace. During the past 20 years, the prize has been won by organizations such as Amnesty International and Greenpeace, as well as by individuals such as Nelson Mandela, Michael Gorbachev, and Hans Blix.
Kawasmi is vice president of the Young Entrepreneurs of Palestine, an organization devoted to empowering the younger generation in Palestinian economy and politics. In this position, he has initiated a number of projects for promoting peace.
Kawasmi also recently visited with Osamu Watanabe, ’90, Japan, when he was on a business trip to Japan. A mutual colleague recognized them both as Eisenhower Fellows and set up a meeting. Of the experience, Kawasmi said: “Meeting an Eisenhower Fellow colleague was an interesting unplanned experience. We felt we have many things in common, although we did not know each other before.” |
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Chief Executive, The Institute for Philanthropy
Dr. Salvatore LaSpada, ’96, USA, joined the Institute for Philanthropy as chief executive in April 2006. He was previously the associate director of global inclusion and director of The Philanthropy Workshop (TPW) program at the Rockefeller Foundation. The Institute for Philanthropy is a non-profit making organization located in London that was established in 2000 to develop a greater understanding of philanthropy and its place in modern society, and ultimately to allow philanthropy to thrive.
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Recipient, LaSalle IT Leadership Award
On October 11, 2006, Diane Melley, ’01, USA, received the LaSalle IT Leadership Award. Melley is the director of community relations for the IBM Corporation. The IT leadership award is an honor that is bestowed upon those who have displayed excellence in the area of technology. Each year La Salle honors a deserving individual who has advanced in this field while maintaining his or her La Sallian values.
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Deputy Chief Investment Officer, National University of Singapore
Madeleine Lee, ’02, Singapore, has joined the National University of Singapore (NUS) as deputy chief investment officer of the newly established investment office. This office has been set up to invest the Endowment Fund of the NUS, with advisors from Yale and MIT Endowments.
This position links to Lee’s fellowship experience, which included visits to endowments and foundations to discover sustainable funding and investment strategies. She visited HMC and Princeton University endowment offices, as well as the Rockefeller Foundation and the Smithsonian.
“They say Eisenhower changes one's life. After waiting a few years, the experience is finally coming home to roost for me,” Lee says. “Hopefully it is the start of things to come.”
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Column, Washington Post
Martha Hamilton, ’95, USA, has started a column on financial planning for retirement called Financial Futures, which runs on Sundays in The Washington Post.
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Head, Corporate and International Affairs of Securities Commission
Hardev Kaur, ’96, Malaysia, has accepted a position as head of Corporate and International Affairs of the Securities Commission. Having spent her entire career as a journalist, she will continue to write a weekly column in the New Straits Times.
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Recipient, Harvard Business School Alumni Achievement Award
Philip L. Yeo, ’87, Singapore, is one of four recipients of the Harvard Business School’s 2006 Alumni Achievement Award. Yeo, who is chairman of the Agency for Science, Technology & Research, and former chairman of Singapore Economic Development Board, received his MBA from HBS in 1976.
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Recipient, Research Scientist Award
Professor Melissa Little, ’06, Australia, was presented on September 20 with the Research Scientist Award as part of the Queensland Government Smart Women – Smart State Awards 2006. Winners received $2500 and a trophy at the ceremony, which was held at Parliament House.
Little, who is with the University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience, established the Renal Regeneration Consortium, a national collaborative and multidisciplinary research team, and has defined six possible long-term therapies that may be pursued to treat renal disease. The award was sponsored by the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.
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Author, Shanghai: When West Meets East
Dr. Poujian “Chuck” Chen, ’06, China, recently published his book Shanghai: When West Meets East, a photographic exploration of the changes and development of Shanghai. Dr. Poujian is chairman and CEO of Tianan Insurance Company Limited of China and is currently traveling the United States on his Eisenhower Fellowship.
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