LAUNCH OF THE ASIAN AFFINITY GROUP

Friday, November 11, 2011 from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Enrique Iglesias Conference Center, IDB Headquarters

The IDB Human Resources Department (HRD) is setting up an Asian affinity group for employees and marking this by holding a public event to celebrate Asian cultures. With the number of member countries growing, the IDB seeks to reflect at all levels the diverse composition of the people in Latin America, the Caribbean and member countries. The Bank’s promotion of a diverse and inclusive workplace is based on the belief that employers that draw the top talent regardless of race, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, disability or other personal factors create a naturally diverse staffing situation. Diversity results in better ideas, more effective problem-solving and higher productivity.

Affinity groups are forums where employees gather outside of their business units and share ideas. Affinity groups have a role in welcoming new employees and making them feel included and valued. At the IDB there are employee groups for women (The Professional Women’s Network), afro descendants and indigenous peoples (affinity group), members and friends of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community (IDB GLOBE) and young employees (Young Connection).

An Asian affinity group could help to strengthen the talent sourcing, recruitment, advancement and retention of persons of Asian nationality or descendance, and raise awareness of the importance of Asian cultures in the Bank. With the increasing importance of Asian countries such as China, India, Japan and Korea as development partners in Latin America, it is critical to draw on experiences and knowledge of Asians. Objectives of the Asian affinity group:

Enhance awareness on issues affecting Asians at the IDB and in international careers

Exchange best practices

Increase inclusion in IDB and networking among persons of Asian background

Hold networking events with other organizations

Establish a mailing list for exchange of information

Recommend follow-up activities

Agenda

3:30 p.m. Networking over coffee/tea, alfajores

4:00 p.m. Welcome by Tina Tinde, Diversity Advisor, IDB

4:15 p.m. Introduction by filmmaker Natalie Wei of her award-winning documentary about being a Chinese woman in Trinidad and Tobago

4:30 p.m. Screening of 45-min documentary “Chinee Girl” by Natalie Wei

5:15 p.m. Outline of issues related to recruitment and careers of Asian nationals and descendants in international organizations by panelists Hugo Li Pun, Kyoung-Ah Nam and Ruihua Dong, with comments by Natalie Wei.

5:30 – 6:00 p.m. Q & A

6:00 – 6:30 p.m. Wine and hors d’oeuvres

RSVP by Nov 10 to Tina Tinde, Diversity Advisor, Human Resources Department (HRD) gtinde@iadb.org or Oscar Ruiz, Diversity Research Fellow (HRD) oscarruiz@iadb.org

Speakers

Natalie Wei

Natalie Wei is a Canadian-born artist, writer, freelance photographer and filmmaker of Chinese- Trinidadian descent. Her award winning work addresses memory, history, and identity. Most recently, she has applied her wide-ranging background to film production as an Assistant Director. Chinee Girl, her directorial debut, will be screened at the launch of the IDB Asian Affinity Group. This 45-minute documentary depicts the history and current situation of Chinese women in Trinidad and Tobago via frank interviews. The film has been generously supported by the University of the West Indies and the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company. A graduate of Ryerson University (BFA Hons., Photography Studies), she is currently completing her Masters of Philosophy at the University of the West Indies-St. Augustine, in the field of Cultural Studies.

Ms. Wei has also worked on music videos and television series. Some of the awards she has received includes People’s Choice Award, Best Short Film; Research and Publications Fund Grant, the University of the West Indies; Production Assistance and Script Development Grant, Trinidad and Tobago Film Company Limited; Production Support and Completion Grant, Chinese Bicentennial Limited; Postgraduate Scholarship, University of the West Indies.

Hugo Li Pun

Hugo Li Pun is the Executive Secretary of the Regional Agricultural Technology Fund (FONTAGRO), based at the IDB in Washington, D.C. Dr. Li Pun has over 30 years of experience in management of international organizations and programs on agricultural innovation and natural resource management. He worked in Peru at IFC of the World Bank Group. Was also a Deputy Director General at the International Potato Center in Peru and Resident Director in Ethiopia and Program Director at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). He has also worked at the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) based in Colombia, Uruguay and Canada; the Tropical Agronomic Research and Training Center (CATIE) based in

Panama, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA) based in Washington, and the La Molina National Agrarian University (UNALM) in Peru. Dr. Li Pun got a degree of “Ingeniero Zootecnista” from UNALM and a Master of Science in Dairy Science and Ph.D. in Nutrition, Animal Sciences and Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

Kyoung-Ah Nam

Kyoung-Ah Nam is Assistant Professor, School of International Service at American University in Washington, D.C. Dr. Nam’s research and teaching interests include intercultural communication, maximizing study/work abroad, interaction between international faculty and U.S. students, expatriate intercultural training, and global leadership development. Dr. Nam has extensive experience in intercultural training, consulting, and public relations in North America and in Asia working with international organizations and key transnational companies including the United

Nations (New York) and UNESCO (Bangkok). Dr. Nam is the recipient of various research awards and published in key journals such as International Journal of Intercultural Relations. Prior to joining AU, Dr. Nam taught courses such as Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Leadership, Intercultural Communication, Critical Issues in International Educational Exchange, Maximizing Study Abroad, and Korean Language and Culture at the University of Minnesota. Originally from South Korea, Dr. Nam loves travel and has worked and/or traveled in more than 35 countries over the last 15 years.

Ruihua Dong

Ruihua Dong is Lead Trainer of HRSLO Chinese Language and Culture Program, the World Bank, and Chairperson of the Fund/Bank Chinese Staff Association.

Ms. Dong holds a Master of Education degree in Instructional Technology from George Mason University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Georgetown University. Since joining the World Bank in Group in 2002 Ms. Dong has designed and developed a program that integrates Chinese language, culture and business in World Bank operations. She has taken the lead in designing, developing, and delivering cross-cultural training across the Bank, to help develop awareness of diversity and cultural differences and potential challenges of cultural conflicts. Besides her professional role, Ms. Dong is the Chairperson of the Chinese Staff Association. She initiated Bank-wide celebration of the Asian New Year, jointly with staff from

Mongolia, Vietnam, South Korea and China. She believes that diversity and inclusion go deeper than recruitment and representation, covering career development, promotion and mentality change as well.