Brian Dean joined the International Republican Institute (IRI) in 1999. He currently serves as Regional Program Director for Latin and the Caribbean a position he has held since January 2003. As Regional Program Director, Dean oversees programs for Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru and Venezuela.

Prior to IRI, Dean spent 10 years in Washington, D.C. working in the United States House of Representatives. Dean served as Chief of Staff to Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-WI). Dean also coordinated congressional campaigns and oversaw fundraising operations on a volunteer basis.

A Wisconsin native, Dean graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1989 with degrees in political science, Ibero-American studies, and Portuguese.

Chris Fomunyoh is Senior Associate for Africa and Regional Director at the National Democratic Institute. He has organized and advised international election observation missions as well as designed and supervised country specific democracy support programs with civic organizations, political parties and legislative bodies throughout Africa. He recently designed and launched the African Statesmen Initiative, a program aimed at facilitating political transitions in Africa by encouraging former democratic Heads of State to stay engaged in humanitarian issues, conflict mediation, and public health