William Dunbar is a freelance journalist and researcher who has lived in Georgia since 2006, although originally he hails from London. He has worked for a number of international television stations and written for publications ranging from USA Today to Private Eye. When not taking an unhealthy interest in all things Georgian or singing karaoke, he performs research projects for a number of NGOs, as well as conducting due diligence into all areas of Georgia's economic and political life.
Deborah Fairlamb is a Wall Street refugee, having fled the concrete canyons of NYC after 12 years for the more stress-free opportunities of business development and banking in Eastern Europe. Deborah first came to Tbilisi for business 4 years ago … and ended up staying for business, as well as for all the other reasons people find to stay in Tbilisi. When not organizing TEDx events or being a very active Board member for two local charities, she finds time to consult for companies and intrepid entrepreneurs on business development in the region.
Mary Gabashvili is a native of Georgia and works as a consultant on organizational development and change management. She holds Masters Degrees in Social Sciences and Education, from Tbilisi State University and Harvard University, respectively. Marys most recent experiences have been in the education sphere, and she is currently involved in a number of projects aimed at improvement of the education system of Georgia. These projects include the introduction of secondary school teacher licensing, creating opportunities for professional development of secondary school principals, organization of knowledge exchange events for educators and more.
Hans Gutbrod is the Regional Director of the Caucasus Research Resource Centers (CRRC), which does research with a specific emphasis on gathering quality data on social, political, and economic developments across the Caucasus. Hans has been working, researching, teaching, cycling, skiing, and otherwise been spending time in the mountains of the Caucasus region since 1999 and holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from the London School of Economics.
MarDestinee Gutierrez recently arrived in Tbilisi after love, fate, and a husband in the Foreign Service brought her to Georgia. Previously, she worked for the Institute of International Education, where she managed international study programs for professionals eager to learn about the world in a meaningful way. In addition to creating opportunities for people to exchange ideas, MarDestinee enjoys singing, playing music, hiking, and traveling. She has an M.S. in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University and a B.A. in Criminology, Law, and Society from the University of California-Irvine.
Giorgi Lomsadze is a freelance reporter with a focus on the South Caucasus area. He covers the region for the Eurasianet.org, a New York City-based electronic news bulletin with an interest in the FSU and the Middle East. Giorgi also strings for the Wall Street Journal and has done freelance work for several international news outlets including CNN, Global Radio News and CBC. He holds a masters degree from the Missouri School of Journalism. He also teaches New Media in Tbilisi State University through the Academic Fellowship Program, an Open Society Foundation project.
Ted Darid Mauro is the Director of ED101 Inc., an educational support and NGO development organization. He specializes in educational development, disabilities policy and innovative professional development programming. He has a published and appeared in numerous journals, conferences and media outlets in over 20 countries, has a Ph.D in Education and first worked as a consultant in Georgia in 2007 with the UN. He enjoys history, antiques, sociology, politics, computers, poker and is a unpretentious gastronome.
A long-time resident of Tbilisi, Brian McCotter is a strategic communications and project management specialist, with extensive international development and management consulting experience in the South Caucasus, the former Soviet Union, and Sub-Saharan Africa. He is a founder and board member of Partners for International Development, an Emory University/Atlanta-based NGO implementing a variety of healthcare reform projects in Georgia. Additionally, he possesses an AB from Duke University and an MA from the Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University. Brian is an unrepentant Georgia-phile, professional traveler, and committed foodie.
Cathy McLain is an educational psychologist with ties to Georgia going back for over 8 years She and her husband live in Georgia part time and have begun a non profit organization called McLain Association for Children (MAC) that helps develop education, vocational and developmental programs for people with disabilities especially in the regions.
Mark Mullen is originally from Texas, has worked on democracy in East Africa, Palestine, and Georgia. In 1997, he moved to Georgia to head the office of the National Democratic Institute. He has been the chair of Transparency International Georgia since 2001, and was a 2007 Sloan Fellow of Management at London Business School. His interests include how people in organizations learn from each other, urban transport, and societal change.
Roy Southworth is a co-founder of the McLain Association for Children (MAC) and an economist, who is currently retired after a 30 year career with the World Bank. Prior to becoming involved with MAC, he was the country manager for the World Bank office in Georgia. He has also been involved with numerous other assignments with the World Bank and other organizations in Africa, Europe, and Asia. His interests for MAS include advocacy, capacity building, and micro-financing.
