Meridian Extends Fall Welcome to New Chiefs of Mission

Ambassador Rebecca Gonzales, Director of the Office of Foreign Missions, smiles as she shares remarks on the podium on September 13, 2022. Photographed by Oskar Dap. 

On September 14, 2022, Meridian International Center hosted an outdoor evening reception in its scenic Linden Grove to welcome newly arrived chiefs-of-mission to Washington, DC. 

Meridian honors new ambassadors twice a year through Welcome to Washington receptions, which provide Chiefs of Mission with an opportunity to meet and engage with a cross-section of Washington leaders from the government, business, and policy communities.  

Meridian welcomed 13 new ambassadors at this autumn reception. Those in attendance included the ambassadors from the Bahamas, Cambodia, Denmark, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, Ireland, Mali, Mongolia, Panama, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, Tanzania, and Vietnam.  

Other notable guests included Under Secretary Marisa Lago (Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade), The Hon. Piper Campbell (Ambassador to Mongolia, 2012-2015), Alicia Adams (VP of International Programming, The Kennedy Center), Glenn Nye (former Congressman VA-2), The Hon. Michelle Giuda (former Under Secretary of State), and The Hon. Ann Stock(, Meridian Chair). Meridian’s Board of Trustees, Diplomatic Engagement Advisory Committee, Global Leadership Council and Corporate Council were also well-represented. 

Meridian CEO Ambassador Stuart Holliday and Ambassador Rebecca Gonzales, Director of the Office of Foreign Missions at the State Department, provided special remarks welcoming the newly arrived ambassadors and highlighting the pivotal role they play in continued international cooperation.  

This reception was generously supported by Abbott Laboratories. 

Ambassador Sekou Berthe of Mali at the Welcome to Washington Reception on September 14, 2022. Photographs by Oskar Dap

Meridian CEO, Ambassador Stuart Holliday (center) honors newly arrived Chiefs of Mission (from left to right), Ambassador Rosan Perkasa Roeslani of Indonesia, Ambassador Taeyong Cho of the Republic of Korea, Ambassador Keo Chhea of Cambodia, Ambassador Batbayar Ulziidelger of Mongolia, Ambassador Christina Lassen of Denmark, Ambassador Marie-Helen Mathey-Boo of the DRC, Ambassador Holliday of Meridian, Ambassador Elsie Kanza of Tanzania, Ambassador Sekou Berthe of Mali, Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dzung of Vietnam, Ambassador Ramon Martinez of Panama, Ambassador Wendall Jones of the Bahamas, and Ambassador Francisco António Duarte Lopes of Portugal. September 14, 2022. Photograph by Oskar Dap.

Mr. Robert Kapla (Squire Patton Boggs LLP) with H.E Elsie S. Kanza (Ambassador of Tanzania) photographed with on September 14, 2022. Photographed by Oskar Dap.

H.E Marie-Helene Mathey Boo, (Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo) engages in conversation on September 14, 2022. Photographed by Oskar Dap.

H.E. Nguyen Quoc Dzung (Ambassador of Vietnam) and H.E. Cho Tae-yong (Ambassador of Korea) pose for a photo on September 14, 2022. Photographed by Oskar Dap.

Ambassador of Ireland Geraldine Byrne Nason talks with guests at the reception. September 14, 2022. Photo by Oskar Dap,

Ambassador Holiday shares remarks honoring his colleagues at the Welcome to Washington Reception on September 14, 2022. Photographed by Oskar Dap.

Meridian Executive Vice President Natalie Jones alongside Mr. David Barrosse (Capstone LLC) on September 14, 2022. Photographed by Oskar Dap.

H.E. Ramon Martinez (Ambassador of Panama) enjoying a conversation with Under Secretary of Commerce Marisa Lago on September 13, 2022. Photographed by Oskar Dap.

Mr. Abo A. Najem and Ambassador Christina Lassen, Ambassador of Denmark, September 14, 2022, photography by Oskar Dap.

Mr. Alistair Somerville (United Nations) sharing ideas with a colleague on September 14, 2022. Photographed by Oskar Dap.

Remarks by Jason Grove, Abbott Laboratories, welcoming the newly-arrived Ambassadors. September 14, 2022, photographs by Oskar Dap.

Ambassador Rosan Perkasa Roeslani of Indonesia, Ambassador Taeyong Cho of the Republic of Korea, Ambassador Keo Chhea of Cambodia, Ambassador Batbayar Ulziidelger of Mongolia, Ambassador Christina Lassen of Denmark, Ambassador Marie-Helen Mathey-Boo of the DRC honored onstage alongside their fellow newly-arrived Ambassadors. September 14, 2022, photography by Oskar Dap.

Meridian Center for Global Leadership Vice President Dr. Myra Best, and Mr. Timothy Thomas (GroundbreakerFilms LLC) pose for a photo on September 14, 2022. Photographed by Oskar Dap.