A nonpartisan forum, in service of San Diego, since 1954.

President

David Edick Jr.

David Edick Jr. is President of the San Diego World Affairs Council. He advises executives, investors, and stakeholders on energy, commodities, geopolitical risk, supply chains, trade finance, and market strategy. His media appearances include live interviews on CNBC Arabia and NDTV in India. David brings more than 30 years of experience in international trade, investment, and nonprofit activities, with a particular focus on Russia and the Russian Far East. From 1992 to 1996, he worked in Vladivostok for Siberian Capital Investment before establishing California Trading & Industrial Corporation, sourcing food products worldwide for the Russian Far East. He later joined Moscow-based investment bank Vtoroi Finansovy Dom and subsequently served as Executive Vice President of Cortez Seafoods, focused on Mexican seafood exports and development. David serves on the Energy, Natural Resources, and Tribal Engagement committees of the Western Regional Partnership, which brings together federal agencies and state and tribal leadership across six western states. He has lectured widely on energy, finance, and geopolitics for more than three decades. Previously, David served as SDWAC President from 2013 to early 2016, President of the San Diego International Sister Cities Association for six years, and President of the San Diego–Vladivostok Sister City Society for seven years. He helped establish San Diego’s sister city relationships with Jalalabad, Afghanistan, and Panama City, Panama. In 2020, he ran for Congress in California’s 50th District. David graduated from San Diego State University in 1985 with a custom-designed, cross-disciplinary

Vice President

Catherine Greenberg

Catherine Greenberg is the Founder and Executive Director of Bright Light Volunteers, a nonprofit global service-learning organization dedicated to fostering global citizenship through service, education, and meaningful cross-cultural engagement. Since founding the organization in 2012, she has developed and supported programs that connect students, educators, and communities through collaborative service-learning experiences around the world. Catherine also serves as Vice President of the San Diego World Affairs Council (SDWAC), where she helps develop public programming and partnerships designed to deepen understanding of global affairs and create opportunities for dialogue across cultures, communities, and perspectives. Her work with SDWAC includes international affairs programming, citizen diplomacy, student engagement, community partnerships, and initiatives connecting San Diego’s academic, nonprofit, civic, and international communities. She holds a Master of Science in Humanitarian Action from the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies at the University of San Diego, with interests in humanitarian response, migration and displacement, cross-border cooperation, and community resilience. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and a minor in Cultural Anthropology. Catherine additionally serves as Treasurer and a Board member of the United Nations Association of San Diego and is involved in collaborative initiatives throughout the San Diego region focused on global engagement, education, dialogue, and community connection. Across her professional and volunteer work, Catherine is particularly interested in the intersection of global citizenship and local action—and in creating opportunities for people to better understand the world and one another. Her motto is: “Learn, Serve, Lead, Repeat.”

Chief Financial Officer · Finance Chair

Manish Parikh

Former CEO of Icon Systems with extensive experience in management and finance. Chairs the SDWAC Finance Committee.

CFO

Christy John

Christy John is a New York City native who moved to San Diego in 2023. She's a leader in the field of Disaster Recovery and currently has a role at ICF as a Construction Management Consultant. She previously held the role of Director of Operations and Project Delivery at the New York State Governor's Office of Storm Recovery where she played an integral role in managing programs designed to help thousands of homeowners repair and rebuild their homes after the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Christy completed her Bachelor's in Biological Anthropology at Temple University, in Philadelphia and then completed her MBA at Baruch College - Zicklin School of Business, in NYC. Christy is a dynamic leader who will take a vision and translate it into a reality. She loves to collaborate and has a deep passion for helping others. When she's not volunteering her time, she can often be found seeking out artistic events throughout San Diego, reading at a cafe, or spending time with loved ones making home cooked meals together.

Immediate Past President

Christine M. Sheckler

Former Foreign Service Officer with USAID for twenty-seven years. Continues to serve on the Board after completing her term as President.

Board Member

Knox Bell

Knox has been a member of the Board of Directors for SDWAC since 2023. He had a 53-year career as a business transaction attorney in San Diego, with the global law firm of DLA Piper, formerly Gray Cary Ames & Frye; and he retired in 2022. During his law career, Knox’s areas of specialization included corporate finance, mergers & acquisitions, biotech, life sciences and healthcare, real estate, and nonprofit organizations. Knox earned his bachelor degree from the University of California at Davis, and his law degree from UCLA in 1968. He has lived in the Point Loma area of San Diego since 1972. Knox has been privileged to travel in more than 120 foreign countries, as he appreciates the cultures and history of our worldwide communities. He is a member of the Travelers Century Club, the Scholia Club of San Diego, and the San Diego Diplomacy Council. He is a former member of the UCSD Connect, and the Corporate Directors Forum. He is a current member of the Board of Directors of other nonprofit organizations, including the Sanford Laboratories for Innovative Medicines, and the Whelan Lake Bird Sanctuary.

Board Member

Dennis-Michael “DM” Broussard

Dennis-Michael Broussard is an event producer, consultant, and entrepreneur. He founded The Humanitarian Project to support humanitarian causes around the globe. Past projects include bringing water filters to developing countries, in areas where there is little to no access to clean drinking water, including Uganda, Kenya, Senegal, the Philippines, and Guatemala. Appointed by Mayor Gloria, he sits on the City of San Diego's International Affairs Board. He is the founder and President of the San Diego Marseille Sister City Association, San Diego's 17th Sister City. Dennis-Michael has six degrees, including a Master of Business Administration from the University of San Diego and a Master of International Affairs from the School of Global Policy and Strategy at the University of California San Diego. He also sits on the boards of the United Nations Association of San Diego and the San Diego International Sister Cities Association, among other nonprofit boards. He has received numerous awards for his humanitarian work, including a humanitarian award from the American Red Cross, an Outstanding Community Service Award from the USS Midway, and a Local Heroes Award from KPBS. An avid traveler, Dennis-Michael visited his 105th country in 2026.

Board Member

Chayanika Deka

Chayanika Deka teaches American Government at Merced College and Palomar College in California. She has also taught as an adjunct faculty member at several colleges and universities around California, including the University of San Diego, San Diego State University, and San Diego Miramar College. Her research interests include Global Politics, Politics of Development, International Security, and the socioeconomic and political development of Africa. She holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, and a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Delhi, India.

Board Member

Anchalee Gaffney

Former Community Sponsorship Manager with the International Rescue Committee. Brings refugee-resettlement and community-engagement experience to the Council’s programming.

Board Member

Kamesh Gupta

Kamesh Gupta brings more than 40 years of experience in corporate energy and environmental programs. His work focused on reducing waste, conserving resources, and improving operational efficiency, with initiatives that saved his employer hundreds of millions of dollars. He led major energy projects, upgraded facilities to meet federal environmental standards, and received recognition from organizations including ENERGY STAR. Following his corporate retirement, Gupta pursued ventures in renewable energy, including solar and bioenergy. Now retired, he remains active at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UC San Diego, where he helps curate speakers for weekly talks and leads Coffee with Friends, a group where seniors share stories and memories. He also participates in weekly discussions in the Osher Writers Workshop. Gupta enjoys writing poetry and memoirs, spending time with his grandchildren, and traveling internationally. His ongoing involvement in nonprofit work reflects his commitment to giving back to the community. His interests span energy, environmental stewardship, lifelong learning, and the connections people build through sharing their experiences across generations and cultures.

Board Member

Gina Ing

Gina Ing brings a global perspective and a deep commitment to international understanding, cultural exchange, and community engagement. Her professional experience spans international business development, export and import opportunities, locating market prospects, and presenting strategic business plans. Fluent in Spanish and proficient in Italian, Gina has traveled extensively and worked with international investors and diplomatic delegations. These experiences have fostered her appreciation for cross-cultural communication, diplomacy, and the vital role of international relationships in connecting people and nations. Gina helped establish a satellite international small business development center in the city of Fort Worth, Texas. She founded a Spanish-language tertulia at the International Center in Fort Worth, creating a welcoming forum for executives to practice Spanish while engaging in meaningful conversation and cultural exchange. Her interests include international travel, cultural heritage, diplomatic protocol and etiquette, and the exploration of UNESCO World Heritage sites. She is also actively involved in charitable organizations and diplomatic spouses associations, reflecting her enduring dedication to community service, international friendship, and greater cultural understanding. Gina is an avid gardener who loves to cook and entertain.

Board Member

Paul Marttila

Paul Marttila is President of Business Location Dynamics LLC, where he advises corporations on international business expansion and global site selection as well as economic development organizations on attracting and retaining corporate investment. His career spans senior roles in both the private and public sectors. He has served as a partner at two large professional services firms, Vice President of Global Business for the San Diego Realtors Association, and president of the U.S. subsidiary of a European group. His public sector experience includes positions with the Pennsylvania Department of Commerce, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Enterprise Florida. Marttila spent 14 years working as an expatriate in three countries and he has conducted business in nearly 50 countries across five continents. He serves on the City of San Diego’s International Affairs Board. He holds an M.A. in International Affairs from the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce and a B.A. in Economics and Government from Franklin & Marshall College.

Board Member

Maria I. Sarchi

Maria I. Sarchi brings 15 years of Human Resources leadership across both private and public sectors, including the City of Coronado, Illumina, the Port of San Diego, Hilton Worldwide, and Heinz Kraft. Her breadth spans HR policy and employee relations, labor negotiations, leaves of absence, compensation and benefits, recruitment and onboarding, compliance and risk management, workers’ compensation, and payroll. She holds a Master’s in Public Administration from San Diego State University. Maria is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).

Secretary

Kiran Shelat

Kiran Shelat is a nonprofit executive and community leader with more than 19 years of experience in organizational leadership, nonprofit management, fundraising, human resources, and philanthropic strategy. She has served as Executive Director of Classics 4 Kids since 2016, where she leads the organization’s strategic direction, operations, fundraising, and community partnerships, expanding access to music education for students throughout San Diego and beyond. Prior to joining Classics 4 Kids, Kiran held leadership positions with The American Red Cross, Jewish Family Services, Senior Services of Northern Kentucky, and the World Affairs Council of Greater Cincinnati. Her professional experience has centered on strengthening nonprofit organizations and developing programs and partnerships that serve diverse communities. Kiran was honored with the Top 40 Changemaker Award in 2025 and was recognized by the San Diego Business Journal as a finalist for 40 Under 40 Top Business Leaders of Influence in 2025 and Businesswomen of the Year in 2023. Kiran serves on the Board of Directors of the San Diego World Affairs Council and the San Diego Indian American Society, where she supports academic scholarships for high school and community college students. She is particularly interested in international affairs, cross-cultural engagement, education, and strengthening connections between communities.

Board Member

Michael Williams

Michael Williams retired from federal civil service in 2013 as an FBI Supervisory Intelligence Analyst, working on national security and criminal cases in the San Diego Field Office. Before joining the FBI, he served as a Program Analyst with Navy Special Warfare Command, focusing on system requirements and intelligence programs for Navy SEAL and Special Boat Units. Williams served for 20 years as a U.S. Navy Intelligence Officer, with deployments to the Mediterranean Sea and Pacific and Indian Oceans. His assignments included the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington, D.C., Geopolitical Branch Chief for U.S. Navy Europe in London, and Officer-in-Charge of a Naval Intelligence operations unit in the Philippines. His final Navy assignment was Deputy Director of Intelligence for Special Operations during the liberation of Kuwait in Operation Desert Storm. After retiring from the Navy, he helped establish geopolitical analysis companies in New Jersey and Toronto. He later spent five years as a Council Representative and Policy Analyst for San Diego city councilmembers. He has also worked on local and national political campaigns and was a candidate for California State Assembly District 80 in 2024. Williams holds a BA from American University’s School of International Studies, an MPA with a major in International Trade from George Washington University, and an MA in Diplomatic History from San Diego State University. His volunteer activities include serving as a docent at the San Diego Navy SEAL Museum and participating in the Coronado Current Events Discussion Group and local political groups.

Board Member

Ben Moore

Ben Moore serves as Chief Global Affairs Officer for the City of San Diego, supporting the Mayor’s international engagement priorities, including elevating San Diego’s global status, expanding economic development, and embracing global initiatives. Previously, Ben served for 18 years with the U.S. Department of State, culminating in his selection to launch and lead its pioneering subnational diplomacy program in San Diego. His roles included Division Chief covering all U.S. foreign assistance in the Middle East, Political Unit Chief in the Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs, and Stabilization Operations Officer supporting the Syrian opposition from Turkey, Jordan, and Washington, DC. Ben has also worked for the United Nations in Jordan and Haiti and with nongovernmental organizations in the West Bank and Gaza, Zambia, and Burma, primarily on relief projects, peacebuilding, and conflict analysis. A Boren Fellow for Arabic study, Ben holds a master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Board Member

Bill Slomanson

Bill Slomanson is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Thomas Jefferson School of Law. A former Navy officer who served in Vietnam, he earned law degrees from California Western School of Law and Columbia Law School. Although retired, he continues to write and lecture. He serves on the boards of the San Diego World Affairs Council and the Global Neighborhood Project. He also volunteers with the VA Hospital and the Alliance to End Gun Violence and serves as historian for the Point Loma Rotary Club. Slomanson has authored or co-authored 30 books, 35 law journal articles, 19 magazine essays, 42 American Society of International Law newsletters, and 74 op-eds. His work has generated more than 4,200 citations. In April 2026, he delivered the San Diego County Bar Association seminar “AI Hallucinations and the Bar.” His honors include twelve annual Teacher of the Year awards, the Student Bar Association Lewis & Clark Award for Teaching Innovation, the Bernard E. Witkin Award for Excellence in Legal Education, and California Western School of Law’s Distinguished Alumni Award.

President, North County Chapter

Mary Agne

Leads the Council’s North County Chapter, which maintains its own programming calendar serving North San Diego County.

Board Member

Darren Kew

Darren Kew (Ph.D. in International Relations, Tufts University, 2002) is Dean of the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies. He studies the relationship between conflict resolution methods – particularly interfaith and inter-ethnic peacebuilding – and democratic development in Africa, Northern Ireland, and the United States. He has also been a consultant on peace and democracy initiatives to the United Nations, USAID, US Institute of Peace, the US State Department, and to a number of NGOs, including the Carter Center. He monitored the last seven Nigerian elections and the 2007 elections in Sierra Leone, and in 2023-24 co-facilitated a working group of religious leaders focusing on religion and peacebuilding in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Professor Kew was asked by the British and American governments to join an influential international commission requested by the Nigerian government in 2010, which contributed to a major overhaul of its election system. He is author of numerous works on Nigerian politics and conflict resolution, including the book Civil Society, Conflict Resolution, and Democracy in Nigeria (Syracuse UP, 2016), and his articles have appeared in International Negotiation, the Journal of Democracy, and Current History, among others.

Board Member

Grace Cheng

Dr. Grace Cheng is the Founding Director of the Center for Human Rights in the College of Arts and Letters at San Diego State University, where she also teaches political science. She serves on the Board of Directors of the San Diego World Affairs Council. Her expertise is in comparative and international politics, specializing in the Asia Pacific region. Her research examines human rights, self-determination, sovereignty, conflict, and displacement. Her current project explores conflicts associated with mining and industrial agriculture and their connections to local struggles for human rights and self-determination in the Global South. Dr. Cheng has served as a Fulbright Specialist at the University of Jember’s Center for Human Rights, Multiculturalism and Migration in Indonesia. She also led a Fulbright-Hays Short-Term Seminar in Vietnam for U.S. university faculty, hosted by Vietnam National University. Her scholar-practitioner collaborations include work with the International Institute for Peace and Development Studies in Thailand. She also serves on the boards of the Forced Migration Studies Center for Afghanistan, based in the Washington, D.C. area, and the West African Transitional Justice Center in Nigeria.

Jared Hernandez

Jared was raised in both El Centro, California, and Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. He earned his undergraduate degree in Business from California State University San Marcos and his Master of International Affairs from UC San Diego. He studied abroad as a Gilman Scholar, an experience that deepened his interest in different cultures and perspectives. His upbringing and international experiences have shaped his interest in global affairs and cross-cultural connections. He currently works in Community Relations at San Diego County Credit Union, where he helps build community partnerships and support local initiatives. His previous roles include event management at the San Diego Padres and Executive Director of a non-profit focused on housing. Jared enjoys reading, traveling, attending concerts, and following baseball. Some of his most recent travels have taken him to Morocco, India, and Japan. His recent favorite reads include The Precipice and I Who Have Never Known Men. He enjoys meeting people with different backgrounds and interests and welcomes the opportunity to connect on LinkedIn.

Board Member

Margaux Dinerman

Margaux Dinerman, M.A., serves as Major Gift Officer for KPBS Public Media, drawing on more than 20 years of nonprofit leadership to cultivate contributions supporting the station’s operations and community projects. She is also Founder and Director of Worlds Converge, a travel enterprise designing immersive educational journeys centered on cross-cultural dialogue and community connections. She represents and hosts speakers to build bridges of understanding. Her interest in global cultures began at age six when her family moved to Pátzcuaro, Mexico. She has lived and worked in Mexico, Cuba, and Panama and is fluent in English and Spanish. Margaux serves on the SDWAC board and consults for new and growing nonprofit organizations. Her nonprofit career follows 25 years as a professional dancer and musician. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Mills College, a Master of Arts in Dance Ethnology from UCLA, and certificates in Legal Studies from Roger Williams University and Nonprofit Management from the University of San Diego. Based in San Diego since 2003, she enjoys travel, museums, performing arts, and exploring the outdoors with her son and animals.

Board Member

Oscar A. Cortés

Oscar A. Cortés is a highly experienced binational (+35 years) Consultant Senior Civil Engineer, Project Manager/Construction Engineer and P3 expert with history of effective leadership and stewardship of major Civil Works Infrastructure development from screening, economic feasibility, planning, design, and construction. Oscar participated in Development of Sustainable Public Private Partnerships (P3) of capital projects for Road, Transportation, Water Works /Desalination, Wastewater, Solid Waste, and social projects (Hospitals and Schools) in Mexico, Latin America, and the USA. Oscar is Vice President for International Relations at Federación Mexicana de Colegios de Ingenieros Civiles (FEMCIC) & Chairman for Bi-national Infrastructure and PPP’s. He is also Tijuana Economic Development Council, Infrastructure Advisory Chair. Institute of Sustainable Infrastructure Chairman for Mexico (FEMCIC), Member International Committee at American Public Works Association (APWA). Institute Sustainable Resilient Center Advisory Board Member, World Association of Public Private Partnerships (WAPPP) North America Leadership Committee Mexico Chair among other international engineering boards & member ASCE. Board Member at the San Diego Chapter Mexican Association of Entrepreneurs (AEM). Advisory Member at the Institute of Circular Construction in Mexico.

Board Member

Richard E. Feinberg

Richard E. Feinberg is Distinguished Professor at Florida International University and Professor Emeritus of International Political Economy at UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy. His more than four decades of engagement with U.S. foreign policy and inter-American relations span government service in the White House, Department of State, and U.S. Treasury; work with Washington, D.C.-based public policy institutes; Peace Corps service in Chile; and numerous corporate and nonprofit consultancies. Since 2005, he has served as the book reviewer for the Western Hemisphere section of Foreign Affairs magazine. He serves on advisory boards of Global Americans, the Institute of the Americas, and the Stimson Center’s Latin American Program. Feinberg has published more than 250 scholarly and popular articles and books. His publications include Widening the Aperture: Nearshoring in the “Near Abroad,” Open for Business: Building the New Cuban Economy, and Nicaraguan Tragedy: From Consensus to Coercion. Earlier books examine the Export-Import Bank, U.S. foreign policy, and summit diplomacy in the Americas.

Board Member

Marguerita (Rita) Lim-Wilby

Marguerita (Rita) Lim-Wilby’s career spans pharmacy, academic research, biotechnology, business development, and entrepreneurship. After training as a pharmacist and working as an academic research scientist, she moved into commercial biotechnology and later represented vendors and suppliers serving the biopharmaceutical industry. At DuPont, DuPont Merck, and Corvas, Rita worked in thrombosis, cancer, malaria, HIV, and hepatitis C research. She continues to collaborate with former colleagues on mechanisms of drug action and therapeutics. She holds 13 patents, including one for boceprevir, a hepatitis C treatment. She and her team received the Thomas Alva Edison Award from the Research Council of New Jersey in 2006. Rita’s community service has included Wormfree World, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure San Diego, the City of San Diego’s International Affairs Board, San Diego Sister Cities International, the San Diego–Panama Sister City Association, and the San Diego World Affairs Council. She later established a window-treatment business and currently focuses on regenerative organic avocado farming, zero-waste ideas, and decor, particularly window treatments. She lives in University City and travels throughout Southern California.