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Advisory Board

Lester Dally

Lester Dally is an International Business Advisor.  He  provides advice to US and global clients on international business and investment planning, finance, and political economic analysis, especially in the Asia Pacific region and Europe.

Lester has 30 years of experience in the World Bank Group in Washington DC and Asia,  in the legal, treasury, finance, operations and external affairs areas of  the World Bank, including advisor to several Presidents, the Treasurer, to heads of External Affairs and the East Asia and Pacific region.  He was stationed in Tokyo and Seoul as head of the World Bank’s offices in Japan and South Korea.

Previously, Lester practiced as a lawyer, worked in government, political consulting and international investment banking in New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, China, United Kingdom and the United States.

He graduated from Auckland University, New Zealand – BA and LLB (Hons) and Harvard University, USA – LLM.


Hamlet Yousef

Managing Partner, lronGate Capital Advisors

Hamlet Yousef most recently worked for the Federal Government in the National Security/Diplomacy sector, and carries active security clearances. These clearancesallow him to directly review potential contracts and classified technologies associated with prospective lronGate investments.

He has extensive experience working with a variety of Federal agencies and Departments to address issues related to cybersecurity, counterterrorism, and other National Security challenges emanating nation-state adversaries and non- conventional foes. In addition, during his Federal government experience, Mr. Yousef has hands-on substantive experience dealing with use of technology to address Mission Critical needs.

Prior to joining government, Mr. Yousef had extensive experience conducting business development, due diligence, and geopolitical risk analysis in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. He worked on behalf of private investors to seek out and perform feasibility analyses on cutting-edge disruptive technologies in the energy and technology sectors.

Mr. Yousef earned an MBA from Pepperdine University, with an emphasis in International Finance, and a BS in International Business from Florida State University.


Karen Tucker

Karen Tucker was born in Boston and grew up in Cincinnati and Ann Arbor. She has a BA in Political Science from Michigan State University.  After living in San Diego, Philadelphia and NYC-Manhattan she moved to West Palm Beach in 1989, where it feels “just right”.  

For 30 years she had one of the best jobs in the world as a travel agent for Tucker & Tucker for Protravel in Palm Beach.  It has allowed her to visit 100 countries and gain firsthand knowledge about the world. 

During her career she served on Advisory Boards for Orient Express/Belmond, the internationally known owner of luxury trains + hotels + boats, for The World of ResidenSea, the only homeownership on a cruise ship, for Starwood Hotels, for Virtuoso, an international professional organization and the Cruise Committee for Protravel.  

Her favorite facet of our Council is Academic Outreach, and she has worked as a volunteer for 12 years on the annual World Affairs Council of Palm Beach Academic WorldQuest competition.  The mission of the World Affairs Council is in perfect alignment with her own aspirations, to foster better understanding of the world and global events and engage in people-to-people diplomacy.  

Organizations that are members of the national association of World Affairs Councils of America enjoy a variety of unique benefits, including access to nationwide program series, discounts on a number of international journals and publications, reduced rates during our annual National Conference, monthly updates on available speakers and other resources, and of course, opportunities to network with colleagues from across the country.

Member councils can be found in 40 U.S. states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. 


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