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.

Global Envoys

Global Envoys are highly distinguished volunteer leaders of Sister Cities International who represent Sister Cities International globally including presenting papers, giving speeches, and participating on panels, at workshops, in meetings, at conferences, etc.; and to serve as a diplomat and spokes person for Sister Cities International at U. S. embassies abroad, international embassies in the U.S., protocol visits, and sister city partnership meetings. Global Envoys are appointed for a five year term which may be renewed by the Chair of the board.

RepresentativeEmail
Carol Robertson Lopez
Hans Vielberth
Mary Palko
Mike Hyatt
Nancy Huppert*
Sharon Receveur*
Teri Simmons
Thelma Press
Tim Quigley*

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.

RegionRepresentativeEmail
Africa RegionRonda Pierce
East Asia & PacificCindy Elliott
Europe & EurasiaMary Palko
International OrganizationsJames Donovan
Middle East & North AfricaRick Burns
South & Central AsiaLee Guio
Western HemisphereBill 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.

CountryRepresentativeEmail
AfghanistanRick Burns
AlbaniaTony Bislimi
AngolaFatima Benge
ArgentinaMary Palko
BahamasGinger Moxey
BeninRosine Pema Sanga
Bosnia-HerzegovinaDrew Powell
BrazilRodger Randle
Burkina FasoSonia Harrison
ChileChristine Warnke
ChinaCarol Robertson Lopez
ChinaCindy Elliott
ColombiaIvan Mutis
CubaPaul Bardwil
DenmarkPeter Ives
FranceMary Palko
FijiPeter Ives
FinlandShomari Maynard
GhanaPrince Kwame Kludejeson
GhanaHRH Naa Mildred Yacoba Noyaa (The First) Vanderpuije
GreeceChristine Warnke
HaïtiAlexandre Telfort
HungaryGreg Jackson
IndiaMichael Curd
IraqRick Burns
IsraelPeter Svarzbein
ItalyJoe Buscaino
ItalyJoe Forte
JapanAl Durtka
JapanKevin O’Donnell
KazakhstanCarol Robertson Lopez
KenyaJames Donovan
KenyaPhyllis Venable
KosovoTony Bislimi
LiberiaEffua McGowan
MéxicoSherry Dowlatshahi
MoroccoBoubker Mazoz
MozambiqueGloria Sumbana
NamibiaNin Aseeya Ra-El (Honorary Consul)
NepalDavid Caprara
New ZealandStarr Walton-Hurley
NigeriaHasan Leckey
North MacedoniaTony Bislimi
PalestineJohn Dabeet
PanamaNeita Wiese
Papua New GuineaCarlo Capua
PerúBill Boerum
PhilippinesJames Donovan
PortugalCarolina Rendeiro
PolandEdyta Wieczorek
QatarNeita Wiese
RussiaBill Boerum
SamoaJames Donovan
SenegalMamadou Samba
SenegalMamadou Laye Seck
Saint Kitts & NevisShomari Maynard
South AfricaJean Bailey
SpainMartha Vera
SwedenSuzanne Svahn
TaiwanHung-bin Ding
TanzaniaRonda Pierce
ThailandLee Guio
UkraineHarbir Bhatia
United KingdomRodger Randle
UzbekistanCarol Robertson Lopez
ZambiaRichard Buckler

International Organization Representatives

RegionRepresentativeEmail
European UnionTeri Simmons
Organization of American StatesBill Boerum
United Nations James Donovan