Dr. Alpher is an expert in peacebuilding, integrated deterrence and humanitarian assistance, with twenty years’ experience in the field. He is currently the Conflict and Violence Prevention Integrator for USAID, working to integrate a deeper understanding of conflict and conflict prevention across the spectrum of USAID’s programming. He was most recently a Humanitarian Assistance Advisor to the Military for USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance, and a Democracy Fellow with USAID’s Office of Conflict Management and Mitigation, focused on Countering Violent Extremism. From 2013 until joining USAID in 2018, he was the first permanent representative in Washington DC and head of the US office for the British peacebuilding NGO Saferworld, leading advocacy efforts to shape US foreign policy on areas such as community security, terrorism and violent extremism, aid and conflict interactions, and security sector reform. In previous work within the NGO sector, as a district manager and Chief of Party, he led youth engagement and IDP reintegration programs in Iraq, also managing the civil-military engagement within Iraq’s complex reconstruction and stabilization environment. He has facilitated back-channel dialogues in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, led conflict analysis missions in Burkina Faso, Nepal and Ethiopia, among others, and backstopped a range of peacebuilding and development programs. In addition to his programmatic expertise, he holds an MS and PhD in conflict analysis and resolution. He is also a veteran of the United States Army.

Elizabeth (Liz) Hume is the Executive Director at the Alliance for Peacebuilding. She is a conflict expert and has more than 25 years of experience in senior leadership positions in bilateral, multilateral institutions and NGOs. She has extensive experience in policy and advocacy and overseeing sizeable and complex peacebuilding programs in conflict-affected and fragile states in Asia, Eastern Europe and Africa. From 1997-2001, Liz was seconded by the US Department of State to the Organization for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Kosovo as the Chief Legal Counsel and Head of the Election Commission Secretariats. In these positions, she was responsible for developing the legal framework and policies in support of the implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords and UN Resolution 1244. After 9/11, Liz worked for the International Rescue Committee in Pakistan and Afghanistan where she established and managed the Protection Department for Afghan refugees and returning IDPs.

Starting in 2004, she served in leadership positions and helped establish the Office of Conflict Management and Mitigation at USAID developing programs and policies to improve the USG’s ability to address the causes of violent deadly conflict. In 2007, Liz was the Chief of Party for Pact where she managed a USAID funded conflict resolution and governance program in Ethiopia. She also served as a Technical Director at FHI 360 where she managed a USAID funded peacebuilding and governance program in Senegal with a focus on the Casamance one of Africa’s longest-running civil wars. Liz is also an experienced mediator, and she is a frequent guest lecturer on countering violent extremism, international conflict analysis and peacebuilding in conflict-affected and fragile states.

Liz holds a BA from Boston College, a JD from Vermont Law School, and an MA in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding from California State University, Dominguez Hills. She lives in Falls church city, VA with her husband in a much cleaner and quiet house since their twin girls went to University.

Jason joined Saferworld as the Saferworld USA Head of Office in Washington, D.C. where he manages Saferworld’s policy and advocacy work. Jason has over 20 years’ experience in peacebuilding, governance and development with work in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Before joining Saferworld, Jason was The Carter Center’s Office Director and Country Representative in Guyana. He brings a range of expertise on multi-stakeholder dialogue, inclusive governance, social cohesion, community-driven peacebuilding and aid effectiveness.

Katie Smith is Global Policy Specialist for Search for Common Ground, the largest dedicated peacebuilding organization in the world. Katie leads Search’s engagement with US policy stakeholders on the importance of prevention and peacebuilding in foreign affairs, including atrocity prevention, critical cases of conflict, financing for peace, and structural reforms. She has authored numerous reports and briefs on violent conflict and the opportunities for peace in Nigeria, South Sudan, Myanmar, Yemen, and beyond. Prior to her time at Search, she worked in the Governance Global Practice of the World Bank, where she led initiatives on citizen engagement, anti-corruption, and transparency in Sub-Saharan Africa. She holds degrees in Political Science and Peace Studies from the University of Notre Dame.