Diego Scharifker is a global partnerships and public policy professional with experience at the intersection of government, business, and international development. Before joining Meridian International Center as Senior Director of Corporate Diplomacy, he served as Head of Global Business Engagement at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, where he led efforts to engage the private sector, including building the Institute’s global corporate membership program and expanding strategic partnerships to support its work advising over 45 heads of state and government on strategy, policy, and delivery.

Previously, Diego was Director of Corporate Partnerships at the Atlantic Council, where he developed and managed strategic relationships with global companies focused on addressing complex geopolitical and economic challenges. Earlier in his career, he was part of the corporate partnerships team at the United Service Organizations (USO), supporting its mission to strengthen American service members by keeping them connected to family, home, and country.

Originally from Venezuela, Diego is a former student movement leader and served as President of the Student Government at the Universidad Central de Venezuela, one of the country’s most prominent and politically influential student roles. He was also the first elected president of the youth movement of a major opposition party and an elected member of the City Council in Caracas. He has spoken at international human rights forums, including the Oslo Freedom Forum and the Geneva Summit for Human Rights, and worked closely with community organizations and the private sector to advance social programs in underserved communities during a period of significant national challenge.

He holds a law degree from the Universidad Central de Venezuela and a Master of Public Administration from the George Washington University. Diego is a native Spanish speaker and is proficient in Portuguese.