February 23, 2005
Speaker Biographies
George Ayittey, a native of Ghana, is a distinguished economist at American University and president of the Free Africa Foundation. Mr. Ayittey has published many books on Africa, including Indigenous African Institutions (Transnational Publishers, 1991), Africa Betrayed (St. Martin's Press, 1992), The Blueprint For Ghana's Economic Recovery (Africana Publishers, 1997), Africa In Chaos (St. Martin's Press, 1998), and, most recently, Africa Unchained: The Blueprint for Africa's Future (Palgrave, 2005). His numerous articles on Africa and the Third World have appeared in such publications as the Wall Street Journal, Globe and Mail (Canada), the Times of London and USA TODAY. He has testified before U.S. Congressional committees about the Third World debt crisis, foreign aid to Africa, apartheid in South Africa, the World Bank, and debt forgiveness. Mr. Ayittey has received several awards for his work and has served as a consultant to several organizations, including the World Bank and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Roger Bate is a resident fellow at AEI. Before coming to AEI, Mr. Bate was director of the International Policy Network from 2001 to 2003, director of the Environmental Unit at the Institute of Economic Affairs from 1993 to 2003, and director of the European Science and Environment Forum from 1995 to 2001. Mr. Bate researches water policy in developing countries, health policy and endemic diseases in developing countries (AIDS and malaria), international environmental and health agreements (industrial chemicals, climate change, and water), the role of aid agencies and NGOs in developing countries, and genetically modified organisms and pesticide policy in developing countries. He has written numerous articles and opinion pieces, as well as several books, including Saving Our Streams: The Role of the Anglers Conservation Association in Preventing Pollution in English and Welsh Rivers (Institute of Economic Affairs, 2001); Malaria and the DDT Story (Institute of Economic Affairs, 2001); and Life's Adventure: Virtual Risk in a Real World (Butterworth Heinemann, 2000).
Annabel Hughes is the executive director of the Zimbabwe Democracy Trust. Her organization engages international policymakers and members of the media, educating them about Zimbabwe's growing political crisis. To counter state control of the media, Ms. Hughes founded the leading information website on Zimbabwe (www.zwnews.com); today the news source reaches over 100,000 subscribers and disseminates news on Zimbabwe to leaders around the world. Ms. Hughes has worked in international public relations and policy for over twelve years, during which time she has advised financial, political, and sports organizations. A former journalist, Ms. Hughes has been published in national newspapers and magazines in Great Britain, the United States, Canada and southern Africa.
Thomas M. Woods joined the Bureau for African Affairs as a deputy assistant secretary in September 2004. His major responsibilities at the Bureau include overseeing the activities of the Offices of Southern Africa Affairs, West Africa Affairs, and Economic Policy. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Woods served as the deputy assistant administrator of the Bureau for Africa in the U.S. Agency for International Development. He has held other positions at the U.S. State Department as well, which include the special advisor to the assistant secretary for African Affairs, the officer in charge of democracy and human rights policy and programs, and the manager of the Economic Support Funds. Before joining the State Department, Mr. Woods was a refugee policy analyst for the United States Catholic Conference.
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