Michael Holtzman

Named "PR Person of the Year" by PR Week Magazine, Michael Holtzman is one of the most well regarded public diplomacy strategists in the world.

Currently a partner at the international strategic communications firm Brown Lloyd James, Mr. Holtzman has led the firm's work to engage and influence high-level and grassroots relationships between the US and China, the Middle East, Russia, North Africa and other areas of strategic importance.

Mr. Holtzman was seconded to the Federal Emergency Management Agency following the September 11th terrorist attacks. Reprising a role he held with FEMA during the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center, Mr. Holtzman served as a media liaison from Ground Zero.

Mr. Holtzman recently served as a Consultant at the US State Department, acting as an advisor to the Director of Policy Planning Staff. Mr. Holtzman has also had several important commentaries on US public diplomacy published in the New York Times. During the Clinton Administration, Mr. Holtzman worked in the Executive Office of the President as Special Advisor for Public Affairs to United States Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky.

He was Director of Public Affairs at the Council on Foreign Relations from 1996-1998.