Risa Pieters is the Deputy Director of Global Programs, Asia-Pacific Lead at the Obama Foundation. Risa brings nearly a decade of professional experience in the Asia-Pacific, working closely with nonprofits, policymakers, companies, and the region's emerging social impact leaders to advance pro-social initiatives and promote international cooperation and peace. Risa's career has been shaped by her mixed Japanese-South African background, working with atomic bomb survivors in Japan and anti-apartheid activists in South Africa. Her five years in Hong Kong focused on fostering cross-sector collaboration for social change across Asia. Now heading the Asia-Pacific Obama Leaders program, Risa is supporting emerging leaders in expanding their capacity for values-based leadership and building a community dedicated to collaborative progress and peace. Risa holds a B.A. in Philosophy and Global Health from Duke University and an M.Ed. in Global and Comparative Studies in Education and Development from The University of Hong Kong. Risa is a Fellow of Salzburg Global Seminar.