Sheila Paylan is an international human rights advocate and war crimes investigator with nearly 20 years of experience advancing accountability, the rule of law, and survivor-centered justice in conflict and post-conflict settings. As a legal advisor to the United Nations, she has worked across multiple regions on international criminal law, gender-based violence, and mainstreaming human rights in policy and practice.
John DiPirro is a foreign policy expert with over 15 years of experience leading international development programs, with a focus on democracy, human rights, and governance across the Eurasia region. He is currently a Senior Fellow for Eurasia with the American Foreign Policy Council and its Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, where he publishes research on political strategy, regional security, and geoeconomics.
Rusudan Shelia is a journalist with 16 years of experience, based in Washington, DC since 2022. In 2023, she founded Globalnews Georgia, a media outlet focused on Georgia–US relations and the South Caucasus. Her work centers on Georgia’s domestic and foreign affairs, with a strong emphasis on security and geopolitical dynamics.