Upcoming Speakers
Masood Ahmed
May 18, 2026
Topic: World Development and the US Role
Masood Ahmed is the president emeritus of the Center for Global Development. He joined the Center in January 2017, capping a 35-year career driving economic development policy initiatives relating to debt, aid effectiveness, trade, and global economic prospects at major international institutions including the IMF, World Bank, and DFID.
Ahmed joined CGD from the IMF, where he served for eight years as director, Middle East and Central Asia Department, earning praise from Managing Director Christine Lagarde as a “visionary leader.” In that role, he oversaw the Fund’s operations in 32 countries, and managed relationships with key national and regional policy makers and stakeholders. In previous years, he also served as the IMF’s director of External Relations, and deputy director of the Policy Development and Review Department.
From 2003-2006, Ahmed served as director general, Policy and International at the UK government’s Department for International Development (DFID). In that role, he was responsible for advising UK ministers on development issues and overseeing the UK’s relationship with international development institutions such as the World Bank.
Ahmed also worked at the World Bank from 1979-2000 in various managerial and economist positions, rising to become Vice President, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management. In that role he led the HIPC (heavily indebted poor countries) debt relief initiative, which has to-date brought relief from debt burdens to 36 of the world’s poorest nations.
Born and raised in Pakistan, Ahmed moved to London in 1971 to study at the LSE where he obtained a BSc Honors as well as an MSc Econ with distinction.
As a leading expert on international development finance, Masood Ahmed has served on a number of international committees and forums. Currently, he is Policy Advisor to the G20 High Level Independent Expert Group on Strengthening Multilateral Development Banks and co-chair of the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on the Future of Growth. Previously, he was a member of the G20 High Level Independent Panel on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response and the High Level Advisory Group of on Sustainable and Inclusive Recovery and Growth set up by the World Bank and IMF.
In January 2023, he received a knighthood (KCMG) from the UK government for his services to international development.
Michelle Lenihan
June 8, 2026
Topic: The Future of US Engagement in Africa
Michelle Lenihan is the Deputy Commissioner of the Maine Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, where she helps lead statewide efforts supporting military personnel, veterans, and emergency preparedness.
She previously served as the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Policy). In this capacity, she advised DoD leadership and represented the Department on policy matters pertaining to Africa. She previously served the office as Principal Director and Director for North/West/Sahel. Additionally, she is an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserves.
Prior to Office of the Secretary of Defense (African Affairs), Ms. Lenihan focused on national security affairs at the White House as a Director for African Affairs on the National Security Council staff; in the Senate as a Legislative Fellow; at the Pentagon as Chief of Staff for Homeland Defense and Global Security, Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, and Country Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs; and as a Presidential Management Fellow in Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, in the Office of the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and at Naval Forces Europe/Africa in Naples, Italy.
Outside of government service, Ms. Lenihan associate produced for ABC News, led the creation of the first dialysis center in Guyana, South America and taught in Johannesburg, South Africa. Ms. Lenihan earned a Master in Public Policy degree from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania.Ms. Lenihan’s list of honors for journalism include a George F. Peabody Award, an Emmy Award, an Alfred I. DuPont Silver Baton Award, a Silver Cindy Award, a Communicator Award for Video, and two Angel Awards. She received the Dean’s Excellence Award for Innovation while at Harvard. At the Pentagon, she has earned the Defense Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service, the Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service, and the Joint Civilian Service Achievement Award. Ms. Lenihan was a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Dan Poneman
July 20, 2026
Topic: Prospects for Further Nuclear Weapons Proliferation
Daniel B. Poneman is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). His work is focused on nuclear security issues.
From 2015 through 2023, Poneman served as president and chief executive officer of Centrus Energy Corp., of Bethesda, Maryland, a trusted supplier of nuclear fuel and services for the nuclear power industry. Prior to joining Centrus, Poneman served as U.S. deputy secretary of energy and as chief operating officer of the department from 2009 to 2014. Between April and May 2013, Poneman served as acting secretary of energy. He was an adjunct senior fellow for U.S. foreign policy at CFR from October 2008 through June 2009.
Before assuming his responsibilities as deputy secretary, Poneman served as a principal of the Scowcroft Group for eight years. From 1993 through 1996, he served as special assistant to the president and senior director for nonproliferation and export controls at the National Security Council. His responsibilities there included the development and implementation of U.S. policy in peaceful nuclear cooperation, missile technology, space-launch activities, sanctions determinations, chemical and biological arms control efforts, and conventional arms transfer policy.
Poneman first joined the Department of Energy in 1989 as a White House fellow. In 1990, he joined the National Security Council staff as director of defense policy and arms control. Between tours of government service, Poneman practiced law for nine years in Washington, DC, as an associate at Covington & Burling and as a partner at Hogan & Hartson.
Poneman has published widely on national security issues. He is the author of Nuclear Power in the Developing World, Argentina: Democracy on Trial, and Double Jeopardy: Combating Nuclear Terror and Climate Change. His third book, Going Critical: The First North Korean Nuclear Crisis (coauthored with Joel Wit and Robert Gallucci), received the 2005 Douglas Dillon Award for Distinguished Writing on American Diplomacy.
Poneman received AB and JD degrees with honors from Harvard University and an MLitt in politics from Oxford University.