Raymond Karam is the chief program and development officer at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. Prior to joining AGSIW, Karam served as the EastWest Institute’s Washington, DC representative. In this capacity, he directed the institute’s outreach to members of Congress, congressional staff, various federal departments, foreign embassies, and international organizations.

A skilled dialogue practitioner, Karam also led the EastWest Institute’s Track II diplomatic initiatives with partners in the Middle East on issues of regional security, nonproliferation, economic development, and environmental governance. He facilitated U.S.-Iran policy dialogues, which served as one of the few bridges for sustained, face-to-face discussions between Americans and Iranians.

Karam has also worked for the Synergos Institute’s Arab World Social Innovators Program, supporting social entrepreneurs serving poor and marginalized communities in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and Palestine.

Karam holds a Bachelor of Science in political science and international affairs from Hofstra University, a Master of Science in international relations and transnational security from New York University, and a certificate in international law and European studies from the University of Amsterdam.

A native of Lebanon, he speaks fluent Arabic and French and has a working knowledge of Farsi.