Our Team

Sister Cities International is composed of dedicated individuals and organizations committed to realizing President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s vision of peace through people and advancing the citizen diplomacy movement into the future. Our team is available and ready to help you establish a new sister city relationship, connect you with another member, or provide program guidance when you need it.

Country and Region Representatives

Regional Representatives

Region Representatives coordinate directly with the Country and Region Representative Liaison, to manage their team of Country Representatives and ensure the achievement of key goals. They provide strategic guidance on the region’s content needs, educational initiatives, and promotional efforts with diplomatic entities while exploring ways to increase participation. Additionally, they inspire and coordinate the actions of Country Representatives, facilitating communication and overseeing progress to ensure effective collaboration and reporting within their team.

Region Representative Email
Africa Region Ronda Pierce
East Asia and the Pacific Region Lee Guio
Europe & Eurasia Mary Palko
International Organizations James Donovan
Middle East & North Africa Rick Burns
South & Central Asia Michael Curd
Western Hemisphere Bill Boerum

Country Representatives

Country Representatives play a vital role in advancing Sister Cities International (SCI) by serving as a key liaison between their country and the broader SCI network. Internationally, they advocate for SCI’s mission, acting as an extension of the Board Chair and President and CEO, while fostering new and existing partnerships with U.S. cities. They work to establish and strengthen municipal, civic, and professional alliances that enhance SCI’s global presence. Domestically, they lead their country’s outreach to the SCI member network by forming a country committee of U.S. cities and organizing at least two roundtables annually. Additionally, they actively engage with State Representatives and local programs to promote international collaboration, expand partnerships, and increase the number of U.S. dues-paying member cities, ensuring sustained and meaningful global connections.

Country Representative Email
Afghanistan Rick Burns
Albania Tony Bislimi
Angola Fatima Benge
Argentina Mary Palko
Bahamas Ginger Moxey
Benin Rosine Pema Sanga
Bosnia-Herzegovina Drew Powell
Brazil Rodger Randle
Burkina Faso Sonia Harrison
Chile Christine Warnke
China Carol Robertson Lopez
China Victor Wang
Colombia Ivan Mutis
Cuba Paul Bardwil
Denmark Peter Ives
Fiji Peter Ives
Finland Shomari Maynard
France Mary Palko
Germany Christine Colley
Ghana Prince Kwame Kludejeson
Ghana HRH Naa Mildred Yacoba Noyaa (The First) Vanderpuije
Greece Christine Warnke
Guatemala Jeff Lynch
Haïti Alexandre Telfort
Hungary JD Dargai
India Michael Curd
India Rohit Bansal
Iraq Rick Burns
Ireland Amy Seigenthaler
Ireland Ellen Harrington
Israel Peter Svarzbein
Italy Joe Buscaino
Italy Joe Forte
Japan Al Durtka
Japan Kevin O’Donnell
Japan Meg Mizutani
Kazakhstan Carol Robertson Lopez
Kenya James Donovan
Kenya Phyllis Venable
Kosovo Tony Bislimi
Liberia Effua McGowan
México Sherry Dowlatshahi
Morocco Boubker Mazoz
Mozambique Gloria Sumbana
Namibia Nin Aseeya Ra-El (Honorary Consul)
Nepal David Caprara
New Zealand Starr Walton-Hurley
Nigeria Hassan Lecky
North Macedonia Tony Bislimi
Palestine John Dabeet
Panama Neita Wiese
Papua New Guinea Carlo Capua
Perú Bill Boerum
Philippines James Donovan
Poland Edyta Wieczorek
Portugal Carolina Rendeiro
Qatar Neita Wiese
Russia Bill Boerum
Samoa James Donovan
Saint Kitts & Nevis Shomari Maynard
Senegal Mamadou Samba
Senegal Mamadou Laye Seck
Singapore Jessica Ngo
South Africa Jean Bailey
Spain Martha Vera
Sweden Suzanne Svahn
Taiwan Hung-bin Ding
Tanzania Ronda Pierce
Thailand Lee Guio
Türkiye Nur Onvural
Ukraine Harbir Bhatia
United Kingdom Joe Blackman
United Kingdom Rodger Randle
Uzbekistan Carol Robertson Lopez
Vietnam Jessica Ngo
Zambia Richard Buckler

International Organization Representatives

Region Representative Email
European Union Teri Simmons
Organization of American States Bill Boerum
United Nations James Donovan