Ambassador Stuart Holliday

Ambassador Stuart Holliday is CEO of Meridian International Center, a leading non-partisan institution advancing global security and prosperity through effective leadership and diplomacy. Under his leadership, Meridian has emerged as an essential catalyst for collaboration between the government, the private sector, and the diplomatic community.

Ambassador Holliday served as United States Ambassador for Special Political Affairs at the United Nations (2003-2005) after the President's nomination and the Senate's confirmation. Holliday's primary duties involved representing the United States on issues in the U.N. Security Council. This included responsibility for U.S. policy on U.N. Peacekeeping, Sanctions, and Counterterrorism programs. Before serving at the United Nations, Holliday was Coordinator (Assistant Secretary) of the U.S. State Department's Bureau of International Information Programs and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs.

From 2000 to 2001, he was Special Assistant to the President and Associate Director of Presidential Personnel at the White House. At the White House, he advised the President on appointments to the State Department, the Defense Department, the Veterans Department, FEMA, NASA, OPIC, Peace Corps, USAID, and Ambassadorships. Following the attacks of September 11, Ambassador Holliday was tasked by the President's Chief of Staff to work with government agencies to staff the first Office of Homeland Security at the White House.

From 1998 to 2000, he served as Assistant (Deputy) Policy Director to the Governor of Texas. Previously, Holliday served as Executive Director of the Dallas Council on World Affairs and Regional Director for North Africa, the Middle East, and Turkey at the International Republican Institute (IRI), where he worked on political reform and elections.

Ambassador Holliday is a frequent speaker on foreign affairs and international institutions, appearing on television programs on MSNBC, Fox Business, CNN, BBC, Bloomberg News, and various international media networks. He often speaks to businesses and educational organizations on national security, foreign policy, and presidential politics.