International Career Advancement Program (ICAP)

The 2017 Conference on Diversity in International Affairs (CDIA) was held at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, DC on April ,28- 29 2017. In its 5^th year, the conference continues to be a collaborative effort by the International Career Advancement Program, the Council on Foreign Affairs, and the Global Access Pipeline project.  As Jim Lindsay, senior vice president and director of studies for the Council on Foreign Relations, said in his opening remarks, this conference continues “to advance the effort to diversify the American foreign policy community so it looks like America.”

This year’s feature keynote speaker, Calvin Sims: President and Chief Executive Officer, International House; Former New York Times Reporter; Former Ford Foundation Executive, gave the audience some inspiration on how to create space and the need for mentors, "You also have to figure out what the game is, because a lot of times nobody is going to tell you. And you can’t get upset with those folks who are playing the game and being successful. You have to figure out what it is that actually impresses people… And you also have to think about, what is the mentor looking for in you? They’re going to invest in you, they’re looking for some return down the line. And so as well, when I do my mentoring, I make it clear to those who I mentor that I expect you to do the same thing.”

This year’s event included over 300 participants from across the country, including young people interested and studying international affairs, senior executives and foreign policy subject matter experts.  The two days concluded with the 2017 ICAP mid-year reunion and the announcement of ICAP Alumni Association Annual Diversity Award Recipient, Farrah Barrios, Staff Chief in Office of Budget and Program Analysis, at the U.S. Department of Agriculture,  (ICAP 09).   

Links:

• CFR CDIA link

Dear ICAP AA Donor, 

We are pleased to announce our new ICAP Alumni Association 2017 board members.  Please join us in welcoming: 

Ambassador Gina Abercombie-Winstanley

Ambassador Abercrombie-Winstanley, the first woman diplomat to lead a U.S. consulate in the gender conservative Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, served as the U.S. Ambassador to Malta (2012-2016).  Abercrombie-Winstanley joined the U.S. Foreign Service in 1985 her first assignment, a posting in Baghdad, Iraq, where she focused on the Iran-Iraq war. From there she served at U.S. Embassies in Jakarta, Indonesia and Cairo, Egypt. She then returned state-side to become Special Assistant for Middle Eastern and African Affairs to Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Lawrence Eagleburger (1991-1993). After a year of intensive Arabic language training in Tunisia, Abercrombie-Winstanley then became a Political Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel (1994-97), focusing on Palestinian-Israeli relations. From Tel Aviv, Abercrombie-Winstanley returned to the U.S. to serve in the President Bill Clinton Administration as part of the National Security Council. She then became Senior Advisor for Middle Eastern Affairs at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, followed by a position as Policy Advisor for the Near East-South Asia Center for Strategic Studies at the U.S. Department of Defense.

Abercrombie-Winstanley also spent time on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee working for Ranking Member Senator Joseph Biden (D-Delaware).  Abercrombie-Winstanley was appointed as U.S. Ambassador to Malta in 2011, making her the first non-politically appointed Ambassador of that country since 1989. Her appointment has also been hailed by many as a sign of the growing U.S. interest in Malta’s strategic importance as a gateway between Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. Abercrombie-Winstanley is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in U.S. leadership and diplomatic affairs. She is a graduate of Cleveland Heights High School, George Washington University, and the Johns Hopkins University. - Source: Black Past- Remembered and Reclaimed. 

Aimee Carter 

Aimee Carter currently serves as the Managing Director for Corporate Affairs at the Council on Foreign Relations. As the managing director of corporate affairs, her role is to lead CFR’s Corporate Membership Program, which provides executives at member companies with access to CFR events, policy discussions, and our resources.  She has held positions at Shaw Pittman Potts Trowbridge, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Booz Allen Hamilton and Bearing Point.

Here is what Aimee had to say about her 2016 ICAP experience " Earlier this fall, I participated in a program called the International Career Advancement Program (ICAP). It is a fantastic week-long leadership program, which gathers mid-career level minorities who work in international affairs to help them develop their network, and figure out how to advance to senior roles in their career. You should look for organizations like ICAP to facilitate your network, but also make sure that your network doesn’t only include people of your minority group. You need to reach out and develop a diverse group of mentors and champions from all walks of life."  Source: Women in Foreign Policy

Sambia Shivers-Barclay

Sambia Shivers-Barclay has had a distinguished 20-year career at the U.S. Department of Education.  She currently manages the International Visitors’ Program for the Department. In this role she coordinates dignitaries visits with State Department offices, identifies visitors requests for education related briefings, and conduct briefings on the organizational structure of the U.S. Education system, education policy and administration, finance, and the No Child Left Behind legislation.

She is also responsible for the management of the logistical contract for the US/UK Bilateral Conference on Citizenship. Arrange meetings for foreign education officials with ED counterparts. Handles inquiries on ED programs and U.S. education policies and reforms. 

A strong supporter of ICAP, Sambia was ICAP class of 2008.

Links:

• ICAP Alumni Association Website