International Advisory Board

Michael Chertoff concentrates in the area of White Collar Defense and Investigations. In recent years, he has handled a series of federal investigations, including complex criminal and civil regulatory matters. He has advised major clients on SEC and Justice Department investigations and successfully served as the independent monitor of a major national healthcare company under criminal and civil investigation.

In addition to his legal work, Michael is Founder and Chairman of The Chertoff Group, a security and risk management firm, where he provides high-level strategic counsel to corporate and government leaders on a broad range of security issues, from risk identification and prevention to preparedness, response and recovery.

In April of 2012, Michael was elected as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors of BAE Systems, Inc. He also sits on the board of directors or board of advisors of a number of companies and nonprofits.

Previously, Michael served as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. As Secretary, he led a 218,000 person department with a budget of $50 billion. Michael developed and implemented border security and immigration policy; promulgated homeland security regulations; and spearheaded a national cyber security strategy. He also served periodically on the National Security Council and the Homeland Security Council, and on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.

Prior to his appointment to the Cabinet, Michael served from 2003 to 2005 on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Before becoming a federal judge, Michael was the Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. In that position, he oversaw the investigation of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and formed the Enron Task Force, which produced more than 20 convictions, including those of CEOs Jeffrey Skilling and Kenneth Lay.

Michael’s career includes more than a decade as a federal prosecutor, including service as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, and Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. As a federal prosecutor, Michael investigated and personally prosecuted significant cases of political corruption, organized crime, and corporate fraud.

From 1994-2001, Michael represented major corporations and individuals in numerous white collar investigations and trials. Among other matters, he successfully represented the nation’s largest hospital company in a four year, multi-jurisdictional criminal and civil investigation, represented major corporations in corruption scandals, and obtained acquittals at trial for individual criminal defendants.

Michael has received numerous awards including the Department of Justice Henry E. Petersen Memorial Award (2006); the Department of Justice John Marshall Award for Trial of Litigation (1987); NAACP Benjamin L. Hooks Award for Distinguished Service (2007); European Institute Transatlantic Leadership Award (2008); and two honorary doctorates. His trial experiences have been featured in over half a dozen books and many news articles.

Author of over 120 publications dedicated to the analysis of Soviet/Russian-American relations, global security, and the foreign and domestic policy of the USSR and Russia.

Dr Andrey Kortunov graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) in 1979 and completed his postgraduate studies at the Institute for U.S. and Canada Studies of the USSR Academy of Sciences in 1982. He holds a PhD in History. Dr Kortunov completed internships at the Soviet embassies in London and Washington, and at the Permanent Delegation of the USSR to the UN.

From 1982–1995, Dr Kortunov held various positions in the Institute for US and Canada Studies, including Deputy Director. He has taught at universities around the world and has led several public organisations involved in higher education, social sciences and social development.

Since 2011, Andrey Kortunov has been the Director-General of the Russian International Affairs Council. He is a member of several expert supervisory committees and boards of trustees of Russian and international organisations. His academic interests include contemporary international relations and Russian foreign policy.

Dr Daoud Ali Najafi is the International Memeber Advisory Board of GCTC. From 15th June 2010 till December 2014 Dr. Najafi worked as a Minister of Transport & Civil Aviation of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Dr. Najafi was born in Jaghori District of Ghazni Province. His elementary and secondary education took place inside of Afghanistan. But because of the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan he had to stop his studies and take refuge in Pakistan. In 1985 a short term medical course in Quetta Pakistan enabled him to return to Afghanistan and provide first medical assistances to war wounded Afghans in Ghazni province of Afghanistan. Between 1986 and 1989 he studied Islamic Studies in Pakistan and Iran.

In 1989, Dr. Najafi with the support of UNHCR resumed his studies and enrolled in the Faculty of Medical, University of the Balochestan, Quetta of Pakistan and got his graduation in April 1996. In the same year he entered service (1996 – 1999) worked at a civil hospital as a medical officer, then as a director of the SEHAT, a health organization providing health services program for Afghan refugees in Quetta Pakistan.

From March 1999 till May 2002, Dr. Najafi with other Afghan professionals established and directed a Human Right NGO under the name of Afghanistan Professional Alliance for Human Rights (APAHR) under the umbrella the NGO he established Institute of Science with two faculties and a center for higher education for Afghan refugee’s students.

For better coordination he with support of other Afghan refugee’s lecturers and teachers he established and chaired an Association of Afghan refugees’ lecturers and teachers in Quetta Pakistan,564 lecturers and teachers and 45 highs, middles and primary schools were members of above mentioned Association.

To solve the issue of registration of afghan refugees institute and schools in February 2002 soon after the establishment of the Interim Administration in Afghanistan following the Bonn Accord, Mr. Najafi as a head of 13 members delegation of Afghan refugees lecturers and teachers association returned to Kabul and met with the President and other key officials of Interim Administration in Afghanistan and finally the institute and other schools of Afghan refugees registered with relevant ministries inside of Afghanistan.

Alongside his work, he managed to complete short-term administrative and management programs in Islamabad, Bangkok and Bangladesh. He also published several articles on Human Rights in Sham-e-Awaragan, shelter of humanity magazine on refugee rights During the years of his refugee life in Pakistan, Mr. Najafi, because of his solid commitment to his people and country he continuously and consistently remained in the service of his people. In 9 March and later in May 2002 Mr. Najafi strongly participated in a national workshop which was established by the support of the UNAMA for the Establishment of the Independent Human Right Commission of Afghanistan.

Between March 2002 and February 2003 Mr. Najafi worked as a director of APAHR and focal point for the International Criminal Court(ICC) in Afghanistan, he organized several workshops, seminars on Human Rights, Minority Rights, Women Rights and International criminal court in Kabul and other provinces of Afghanistan.

Alongside his job he worked with other NGOs, established and directed Civic Institution Forum of Afghanistan CIFA which played a key role during the constitutional process in Afghanistan From February 2003 till 7th June 2006, Mr. Najafi was joined to UNAMA as Political Affairs Officer, his main responsibility was, liaise with local authorities, political parties HR groups, Councils, Tribal and religious leaders. Focal point for constitutional process. Focal point for Political parties. Focal points for political affairs and delivered presentations for political rights verification on political, electoral and constitutional issues.

From June 2005 till May 2006 Mr. Najafi joined JEMB as Counterpart to Chief Electoral Office Head of Secretariat (as a UN and Afghan body) his responsibility was overall management of the secretariat. Up on the completion of the parliamentary and provincial council’s elections and one month after the inauguration of the first parliament the Bonn process has completed through a decree of the president of the Islamic republic of Afghanistan the JEMB has dissolved and all the authority of the JEMB transferred to the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan, IEC.

Up on the establishment of IEC, From 2nd April till May 2010 he worked as a Chief Election Officer, Director of IEC secretariat he is responsible for overall management of the Independent Election Commission Secretariat facilitating, coordinating, and directing all Departments and unites and continuing till present. In 2015 Mr. Najafi with others intellectuals and academic local elders formed a political party under name of Afghanistan Peoples Equality Party, from that time till now, Dr. Najafi is elected Chairman of this party.

Cleo Paskal is the International Advisory Board Memebr of GCTC. a Non-Resident Senior Fellow for the Indo-Pacific at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (Washington, D.C.), Senior Fellow at the Usanas Foundation, Fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, a Collaborator at the Network for Strategic Analysis, Visiting Fellow at the Centre d’études et de recherches internationales de l’Université de Montréal (CÉRIUM) and on the International Board of Advisors of the Kalinga Institute of Indo-Pacific Studies.

From 2006 to 2022, she was an Associate Fellow at Chatham House where, among other projects, she led Chatham House’s project ‘Perspectives on Strategic Shifts in the Indo-Pacific 2019-2024’. She is widely published in the academic and popular press.

General R. M. Daya Ratnayake, WWV, RWP, RSP, USP is a former senior Sri Lanka Army officer. He was the 20th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army and is the Former Secretary to the Ministry of Industries and former Chairman, Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

He has commanded Divisions and Brigades during the separatist war in Sri Lanka, and is the only military officer in the Sri Lankan Armed Forces to receive the highest number of gallantry medals.

General Ratnayake had the privilege of becoming the first Commissioner General of Rehabilitation in Sri Lanka. Moreover, he has held the appointment as Military Spokesman for the Ministry of Defence, Senior Intelligence Officer at the Operations Headquarters at Ministry of Defence, Commanding Officer of the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Chief Instructor in the Military Intelligence School and Chief Instructor of the Army Training School. He was also the Senior Intelligence Officer in charge of the Northern Peninsula during 1991-1992.

He has graduated from the National Defence University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China and Defence Service Command and Staff College, Dhaka, Bangladesh and is currently reading for a PhD at Kotelawala Defence University. Daya stated that his unique military experience has allowed him to work in any industry.

Major General Binoj Basnyat (retd.) from the Nepali Army is a Strategic Analyst, South Asian Affairs. He is highly decorated with the Order of Suprabal Jana Seva Shree, Nepal; Order of the Lion of Finland; and the Order of Cross of Germany.

His qualification consists of international and national achievements through various
professional schooling within and outside the country to highlight some, he holds Masters of Philosophy degree in Defense and Strategic Studies with first class from University of Madras; Graduate of the National Defense College, New Delhi, Command and General Staff Officer’s Course from United States Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth; Advanced Security Co-operation Course from the Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies, Hawaii, USA; Executive Course in Defense Decision Making from the Centre of Civil Military Relations, Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, California, USA, The Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, UK and the War College, Mhow, India.

He represented the Army and the country in various International meets like the 6 th Xiangshan Forum in 2015 held in Beijing and Pacific Armies Management Seminar in PACC/PAMS-XXXVII 2013 in Auckland.

He served in key leadership and management roles, notably as Brigade commander, General Officer Commanding and Deputy Chief of Staff. He has further experience and headed prestigious Military Training Institutions like Nepali Army Military Academy, Nepali Army Command and Staff College, and Chief Instructor Higher Command and Management Course, Nepali Army War College.

He represented the UN Department of Political Affairs as a resource person on Sri Lanka Transformational and Rehabilitation program post retirement.

He devotedly is involved in advising, writing, editing and participating in intellectual capacity. He likes Strategic thinking. His focus is in Geo-political and National Security issues. He has been researching in China and South Asia.

Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler is an experienced diplomat, manager and analyst with extensive international experience in crisis management, government-private sector liason and security. Dr. Hans is a specialist in Gulf, Middle Eastern and Central Asian affairs as well as an expert on Iran and Afghanistan. In his professional and academic activities, he continues to focus on energy, international political affairs, sanctions, compliance and strategic advisory for executives, companies and non-profit organizations.

Hans has worked in the Gulf, Middle East and Europe and was educated in Europe, USA and the Middle East.

Through this he developed:

– On the ground experience of the political, economic and security situation in the Gulf, Middle East, Central Asia, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan
– In-depth knowledge of the political systems of Germany, the European Union and US, including their power centers, decision making mechanisms and strategy building methods
– In-depth knowledge of energy corporations’ risks assessment and communication needs concerning the Gulf area

– Insider knowledge of the legal and reputational implications of the international sanctions regime concerning the Islamic Republic of Iran

Hans is also the Senior Director of the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) in New York and Berlin, co-chair of the Advisory Board of the Global Diplomatic Forum in London, member of the Advisory Board of Justice for Kurds in New York, member of the Boards of Directors of Compliance and Capacity Skills International (CCSI) in New York and London as well as a teaching fellow at the academy for Security in the Economy (ASW Akademie AG) in Essen. In these positions, he advices government leaders and top executives in Europe, North America and internationally on issues concerning international terrorism, financial crime, sanctions and combatting the financing of terrorism and extremism.

In 2013 he joined the ISIL (Da’esh), al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions Monitoring Team of the United Nations Security Council and served as the Team’s Coordinator from 2015 to 2018. As Coordinator he regularly briefed the members of the Security Council on the global terrorism threat and the Afghan insurgency. He was also responsible for the development of global counter terrorism sanctions. As part of his duties Hans significantly expanded the cooperation of the Team with national security and intelligence services, military organizations as well as international organizations, including ICAO, IATA, WCO, UNODC, UNESCO and INTERPOL, including on the intersection of financing of terrorism and international crime. He also pioneered the Team’s regular consultations with a wide range of private sector stakeholders on security and counter terrorism finance issues and effective sanctions implementation.

Prior to his appointment, he worked as an associated partner for West Sands, an associated consultant for Stirling Assynt and as Program Director for the Institute for Strategic Dialogue in the United Kingdom as well as a strategic advisor to several companies in Europe. Between 2005 and 2011 he held the position of First Secretary Political Affairs and Liaison to the Security Forces at the German Embassy in Tehran. From 2001 until 2005 he was part of the federal government of Germany’s team investigating al-Qaida in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia.

Having studied in Tübingen, at Georgetown in Washington D.C., and Tel Aviv he holds a Master’s and PhD degree in International Terrorism from St. Andrews University.