Events
Whether you’re interested in becoming a diplomat or foreign service officer, or simply learning what the day-to-day work of a Consul-General or Ambassador looks like, this panel will provide an introduction to and guidance on each step of pursuing a career in diplomacy and foreign service.
Panelists will also cover the substantive issues faced by diplomats, from migration policy to trade issues, as well as supporting their citizens both at home and abroad. Learn more on Wednesday from Cristy Andrino, Consul General of Guatemala; Pier Forlano, Consul General of Italy; Sandeep Chakravorty, Consul General of India; and Ambassador William Swing, PWH distinguished visiting fellow, six-time U.S. ambassador, and former director general of the International Organization for Migration.
A reception with additional members of the Consular Corps Assocation of Philadelphia will follow, and provide great networking opportunities. This event is run in partnership with the Consular Corps Association of Philadelphia and U.S. Diplomat in Residence.
SPEAKERS
Cristy Andrino is Consul General of Guatemala. She has served in many different cities across North America including Miami, Atlanta, Veracruz (Mexico), McAllen (Texas), and now Philadelphia. She graduated from John Brown University with a B.S. in Broadcasting. She also has a background in bilingual studies as well as communication sciences.
Pier Forlano was born in Ferrara, Italy. In 1985 he graduated from the Facoltà Cesare Alfieri in Florence with a degree in Political Science. He is a highly motivated and dedicated diplomat, with 30 years of professional experience, including appointments in four Embassies (Bulgaria, Malta, South Africa and Australia). He has attended several highly specialized professional training courses at the Scuola per Alta Amministrazione, at the International University College in Turin and at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Rome. He has been responsible for the administration of human resources, structural management organization, coordination of various events and diplomatic representations - all requiring strong networking and advocacy skills. Pier Forlano was appointed Consul General of Italy in Philadelphia on August 14, 2017.
Sandeep Chakravorty, a member of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) since 1996, has served in India’s Missions in Spain, Colombia, Bangladesh and Peru. Prior to assuming charge as Consul General of India in New York in August, 2017, he was the Ambassador of India to Peru and Bolivia. Earlier he had been India’s Deputy Chief of Mission in Bangladesh. In India’s Ministry of External Affairs he has held several positions including Press Relations Officer, Staff Officer to Minister of State and worked on desks dealing with Central Asia, East Asia and China. Before joining the Government, Mr. Chakravorty worked with civil society organizations dealing with natural resources and environmental issues. He has a Master’s degree in Advanced Studies in International Security from Geneva University, a Master’s degree in Sociology besides a Post Graduate Diploma in Forestry Management and an under graduate degree in Physics from Delhi University. He is fluent in Hindi, Bangla and Spanish. In his spare time, he reads up on International Relations and the Environment and enjoys visiting historical sites. He is married and is father of twin daughters.
Ambassador William Lacy Swing has served as an American and United Nations diplomat for half a century. He was Ambassador to six countries – South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Nigeria, Liberia, the Republic of the Congo, and Haiti – under four U.S. Presidents. Upon completion of his US diplomatic career in 2001, Swing then served in senior United Nations positions for seventeen years. From 2003 to 2008, he was Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Chief of the UN Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo —the largest peacekeeping operation in UN history. Earlier, he was SRSG and Chief of Mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO), from 2001 to 2003. Swing was elected in 2008 to be Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and re-elected in 2013, completing his second term in 2018. Under his ten-year leadership, IOM expanded its membership and global footprint and became a United Nations Agency in 2016. Swing has been recognized by several foreign governments, including France, Japan, and Germany, and has also received several U.S. government awards, including the Presidential Certificate of Commendation and Distinguished Service, and Superior and Meritorious honor awards; and the Secretary of State’s Distinguished Service and Valor Awards. He received his B.D. from Yale University, and completed postgraduate studies at Tübingen University in Germany.
MODERATOR
Michael C. Horowitz is Perry World House's interim director. He is a professor of political science at the University of Pennsylvania and a co-faculty lead for the Global Order: Power, Technology and Governance research theme. He is the author of the award-winning book, The Diffusion of Military Power: Causes and Consequences for International Politics. His research interests include military innovation, the future of war, forecasting, the role of leaders in international politics, and the relationship between religion and international politics. He has published in a wide array of peer reviewed journals, as well as more popular outlets such as the New York Times, Politico and Foreign Policy. Professor Horowitz spent 2013 working for the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy in the Department of Defense as an International Affairs Fellow, funded by the Council on Foreign Relations. He is affiliated with the Foreign Policy Research Institute, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the Center for a New American Security. He is also a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies. He has held fellowships at the Weatherhead Center, Olin Institute, and Belfer Center at Harvard, where he received his PhD in Government. Professor Horowitz received his BA in political science from Emory University.
