Ambassador Richard B. Norland
Ambassador Richard Norland, a Career Minister in the U.S. Foreign service, currently serves as United States Special Envoy for Libya. Ambassador Norland has served as U.S. Ambassador to Libya, Georgia and Uzbekistan and as Deputy Chief of Mission in Afghanistan and Latvia. He has also served as the Foreign Policy Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; International Affairs Advisor/Deputy Commandant at the National War College; Director for European Affairs at the National Security Council; and Senior Fellow at Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy.
Earlier in his career Ambassador Norland served as Political Counselor in Dublin; U.S. Representative and acting Mission Head for the CSCE Mission to Georgia; Senior Arctic Official coordinating the U.S. Chairmanship of the Arctic Council; sole diplomat in Tromso, Norway (250 miles north of the Arctic Circle); and Political Officer in Moscow covering then Soviet relations with the Middle East and Africa. He was also a Special Assistant for African Affairs to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs and worked on the South Africa and Norway-Denmark desks. His first tour was in Manama, Bahrain.
Pedro G. Campo-Boué, Economic & Commercial Officer, U.S. Embassy to Libya
Keith Kirkham, Regional Senior Commercial Officer, North Africa and the Levant
Keith Kirkham became Regional Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs at the United States Embassy – Cairo, Egypt in January 2022. Kirkham’s immediate prior assignment was in the equivalent role in U.S. Embassy, Tokyo (2017-2021) for a career total of nine years in Japan. In 2018 and 2019 he also served simultaneously as Acting Senior Commercial Officer for Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific in 2018 and 2019.
Kirkham previously served as Minister-Counselor for Commercial Affairs at the United States Embassy – Moscow, Russian Federation, where he had regional management responsibility for Russian, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and several other countries of the former CIS. In that role, he created and executed a program to create value for American companies in frontier markets such as Armenia and Belarus.
A career Senior Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Foreign Commercial Service, Kirkham and his agency help American companies succeed in overseas markets. This work includes providing strategic advice and practical assistance to American businesses seeking to enter, expand, compete, or invest overseas. Kirkham has been recognized by the interagency for his vision and expertise in executing practical measures overseas to build influence for the United States versus adversary nations, and as a valued partner by the defense, intelligence, and development communities.
With a proven talent for international business strategy, and persuasive government relations, Kirkham has created value and preserved market share worth hundreds of millions of dollars for hundreds of companies across three continents. In addition to Russia and Japan, his prior assignments include Bucharest, Romania, and Sydney, Australia. He continues to mentor officers globally.
Before joining the U. S. Government, Kirkham worked for a private sector management consulting firm specializing in high-tech manufacturing clients, and as Director of International Commerce for the state government of Maine.
Debbie Hirst
Debbie comes from a background in emerging markets, energy and investment banking. Her experience includes senior positions on the investor, lender and government sides of projects. She spent many years in Project Finance and Export Finance at BNP Paribas, including as Managing Director and Regional Head, leading an international team located on multiple continents.
Prior to Libya, she worked for the government of Oman, preparing and running competitive bids for power generation and water desalination plants, as well as managing the privatization of state-owned power facilities.
Resident in Libya since 2013, she is on the board of two Libyan companies in the industrial and construction materials sectors. Libya is the 11th country Debbie has lived in. An American citizen, Debbie has a degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA from Vanderbilt University.
Ahmed I. Al-Ghazali
Ahmed has operated as an American brand franchisee in Libya and in the radio broadcast sector. He is an owner of a number of Libyan companies, including Capital Group Consultants, B.S.K. Libya Construction, Nu Horizon Media and Emdad IT & Communications.
Ahmed has a degree in Business Administration from the American University in London as well as a Masters in Marketing from Webster University.
Mamoun Saad, Bechtel International Inc
Mr. Saad is currently the Regional Power Operations Manager for all Power projects in Europe, Africa and Middle East region. He is a Vice President of Bechtel International Inc and General Manager of Bechtel’s Branch Company in Libya and the Country Manager of Libya.
He has more than 39 years of experience in project management on fossil and nuclear power plant projects as well as industrial facilities, commercial and residential high-rise buildings and medical facility projects worldwide. He has been with Bechtel since 1991.
He has extensive experience in international business on multi-billion dollar power projects located in the Middle East and Africa, mainly; Gas to Power projects in Morocco and in South Africa, Al Khalij project in Libya, Ghazlan & Shoaiba projects in Saudi Arabia, and Sidi Krir, Ayoun Moussa, Cairo South, and Cairo North projects in Egypt.
Tarek Eltumi, Eltumi & Co
Tarek is the founder and managing partner of leading Libyan law firm, Eltumi & Co., which specializes in providing commercial legal advice to American and international companies in support of their business interests in Libya.
He is a dual Libyan/New York qualified lawyer, fluent in English and Arabic, with experience advising on corporate and commercial matters, oil and gas, finance and dispute resolution matters.
Tarek was a Partner at international law firm Hogan Lovells International LLP where he led the Libya practice and was also a member of the Infrastructure, Energy, Resources and Projects practice and the Africa practice.
Tarek practiced for many years in Tripoli. He was General Counsel for AECOM Libya Housing and Infrastructure Inc., where he directed all legal issues arising from the US$55bn Libyan Housing and Infrastructure Program – one of the world’s largest ever infrastructure programs.
While working at two well established Libyan law firms, Tarek advised on a range of innovative international finance deals, such as the first international limited recourse project finance deal; and oil and gas matters, including the re-entry of the Oasis parties following lifting of US sanctions.
Ahmed Helmy, Halliburton
Jason Pack, Libya-Analysis
In 2011, he founded Libya-Analysis®, a consultancy which specializes in monitoring, mapping, advisory and due diligence products. In 2015, he founded Eye On ISIS In Libya, a non-profit 501c3. In 2017-18, he served as Executive Director of the U.S.-Libya Business Association.
Jason is the editor of The 2011 Libyan Uprisings and the Struggle for the Post-Qadhafi Future (Palgrave Macmillan 2013) and lead author of The Origins and Evolution of ISIS in Libya (Atlantic Council 2017). His articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Spectator, The Financial Times, The Guardian, Foreign Policy, Newsweek, and Foreign Affairs.
Simon P. Williams, Orkin
Resident in Tripoli since 2018, Simon is General Manager of Orkin Libya, a US-based pest control company. Prior to Orkin, Simon was responsible for the Environmental Engineering Department at a leading London-based demolition services company.
Responsibilities included developing environmental monitoring and mitigation programs for large projects in sensitive locations in order to ensure that all works were performed in compliance with relevant legislation.
Simon has a Master of Science degree in Environmental Management and is a member of the Royal Entomological Society, the British Ecological Society and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment.
Prior to transitioning to the private sector, Simon had a 25-year career in the British Royal Navy in maritime communications.
Christopher Watson, Veritas Global
Christopher Watson is a globally experienced, values-driven business leader and current COO of Veritas Global. Christopher stands as a catalyst for profound transformation, leveraging over 30 years of dynamic leadership across diverse domains. He is responsible for the company’s operations, as well as Supply Chain, Information Technology and Global Services.
His pivotal roles as Director of Operations and COO at AMI Expeditionary Group showcased his prowess in orchestrating multimillion-dollar portfolios. Notably, propelling growth and solidifying relationships with key entities such as DHHS, World Bank, Repsol, Eni North Africa, United Nations, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Christopher’s remarkable journey encompasses strategic leadership, program management, and cross-functional collaboration, positioning him as an industry luminary. With a distinctive ability to foster collaboration across private and public sectors, he navigates intricate stakeholder dynamics, propelling the seamless execution of high-stakes projects involving government agencies, global organizations, and influential leaders.
A cum laude graduate of National University, Christopher Watson’s commitment to exceptional leadership consistently garners recognition. As a change agent, he envisions a world where healthcare knows no boundaries, inspired by his military ethos of integrity, dedication, and unwavering commitment to a higher purpose.
Raed Hergli, Visa Inc.
Raed Hergli is Head Of Government Engagement – MENA at Visa Inc.
