Bogdan Banu serves as Senior Director for Program Management of the Center for Global Leadership at Meridian International Center, a global leadership organization located in Washington, DC. He oversees the division’s overall relationship with U.S. Embassies around the world, private and corporate partners, and other governmental entities to ensure the successful implementation of its short-term study tours and other people-to-people and virtual exchange programs.

He also serves as the Program Director for the Central and Eastern Europe Journalist Fellowship Program, an U.S. Embassy Paris funded exchange, designed to strengthen local and regional press and to expand and improve the sustainability of citizen-generated media in Central and Eastern Europe; for the U.S. Speaker Programs for India, Brazil, North Macedonia and Europe; and of the Department of State Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs’ Science Envoy Programs.

Previously, Bogdan served for eight years as the Program Director of the U.S. Congress – Korean National Assembly Exchange Program, Meridian second longest running exchange program, which for over 20 years has brought together Congressional interns and students from the two countries for a unique opportunity to broaden their understanding of the U.S.-Korean bilateral relations; for the Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative (YTILI) and for other highly customized programs for private clients including Visa Corp. and Cargill. He also managed all the international development grants awarded to Meridian by the U.S. Department of State and USAID including projects in Iraq, Iran and West Bank. As a Program Officer he implemented over 200 short-term professional exchanges for foreign officials and dignitaries coming to the U.S. as part of the International Visitor Leadership Program or as guests of various U.S. Embassies abroad.