Washington, D.C. – The Women’s Democracy Network (WDN) has announced its Advisory Council for 2021-2023. As WDN continues its work promoting women’s participation in political and civic leadership worldwide, the Council will play a vital role in uplifting women to pursue their political leadership goals.
“Throughout the last fifteen years, WDN has leveraged its incredible network of both aspiring and experienced women leaders to address today’s continued lack of gender equality in political leadership” said Cindy McCain, WDN’s honorary chairwoman. “The guidance and shared experience of the remarkable women composing our Advisory Council will be critical in inspiring and mobilizing our members.”
Julie Fate Sullivan, Ashley Davis, Morgan Ortagus, Myriah Jordan and Tobi Young will serve as co-chairs of the Council. WDN was founded by the International Republican Institute (IRI) in 2006, to help more women participate in the political and civic life of their countries. Fifteen years later, WDN is active in 86 countries in every region of the world and has 16 Country Chapters. WDN members have served in a range of leadership positions, including as parliamentarians, deputy prime ministers, vice presidents, cabinet ministers and ambassadors.
The following is a complete list of the 2021-2023 WDN Advisory Council members:
- Anita McBride – Executive in Residence, Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, School of Public Affairs at American University; former Assistant to President George W. Bush and Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush
- Alison Clark – Former Senior Vice President for Government and International Affairs at United Technologies Corporation; former Chief of Staff to Secretary Donald L. Evans at Department of Commerce
- Ambassador Paula Dobriansky – Senior Fellow, Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs; Vice Chair, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, Atlantic Council; former Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs
- Ann Liebschutz – Attorney & Founder of AML Global LLC; Director of U.S.-Israel Science and Technology Forum; Early Start-up Advisor; former Legislative Assistant & Counsel in U.S. Senate
- Ashley Davis – Founder and Partner, West Front Strategies; former Special Assistant to Director of Homeland Security and Deputy Director of Management and Administration in the George W. Bush Administration; Bush-Cheney Transition Team
- Brenda Becker – Senior Vice President, Global Government Affairs for Boston Scientific; former Assistant to Vice President Cheney for Legislative Affairs
- Cindy McCain – Chair of the Board of Trustees of the McCain Institute for International Leadership at Arizona State University
- Colleen Litkenhaus – Senior Director, Dow; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative at USTR; Deputy Assistant Secretary at Commerce; Special Assistant to the President at the White House
- Debbie Brown – President, Colorado Business Roundtable; Founder at Amplify Strategies
- Gail Gitcho – President and CEO of Gail Gitcho Group; former Communications Director for Mitt Romney’s 2012 Presidential Campaign
- Julie Fate Sullivan – Former Press Aide to Republican U.S. Senator Ted Stevens; former Los Angeles Times Reporter; Board Member, Covenant House Alaska; Member, Board of Trustees for National Museum of the American Indian
- Karen Johnson – Senior Advisor Potomac Strategic LLC and 2KConsulting; former Assistant Secretary of Education for Legislation and Congressional Affairs
- Katie Harbath – Founder and CEO, Anchor Change Civic Tech Strategies; former Public Policy Director at Facebook
- Kerry Healey – President of the Milken Institute’s Center for Advancing the American Dream; former President of Babson College; former Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
- Larissa Martinez – Co-Founder and President of Women’s Public Leadership Network; former Senior Government Relations Professional at Invariant
- Leslie Waters – Mayor of Seminole, Florida; Adjunct Political Science Professor at University of South Florida – St Petersburg and Eckerd College; former Speaker Pro-Tempore of the Florida House of Representatives
- Maria Cino – Vice President for Americas, Corporate Affairs, Hewlett Packard Enterprise; former President and CEO, 2008 Republican National Convention
- Meghan Latcovich—Strategic Advisor, the McCain Institute
- Morgan Ortagus – Spokesperson for the Department of State; Navy Reserve Intelligence Officer; Investor at Rubicon Founders; former Global Executive Director at Ernst &Young
- Missy Edwards – Founder Missy Edwards Strategies, LLC; former Senate staffer and Director of Development at the National Republican Senatorial Committee under Chairman Mitch McConnell
- Myriah Jordan – Policy Director, Facebook; former General Counsel to U.S. Senator Richard Burr; former Special Assistant to the President for President George W. Bush
- Patty Stolnacker Koch – Director, Global Government Affairs at VMware; former political appointee at General Services Administration
- Rachel Woods – Founder and CEO at LTrek Corporation; Clinical Assistant Professor at Baylor University Hankamer School of Business
- Sara Fagen – CEO and Co-Founder, Deep Root Analytics; Co-Founder, Resonate; Former White House Political Director to President George W. Bush
- Sarah Stern – Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Hudson Institute; treasurer of the Main Idea; board member of Winning for Women; former Business Director at Commentary magazine; former staffer at Newsweek
- Tobi Young – Vice President of Government Affairs and Legal, Cognizant Technology Solutions; Board Member, Cognizant Foundation; and former General Counsel to President and Mrs. Bush