Lana Bleik is a Senior Research Program Coordinator for the North Africa Initiative at the Foreign Policy Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). She has been active in the field of international affairs, intergovernmental and nonprofit organizations for more than fifteen years. Her focus has been program management, development and implementation of operations and outreach programs for the organizations she served. Bleik has strong communication skills in three languages; she is fluent in English, French and Arabic.

Before joining FPI, Bleik served for eight years as Senior Budget and Administrative Officer at the Intergovernmental Group of Twenty-Four on International Monetary Affairs and Development (G-24) in Washington. Bleik lead the organization’s financial and administrative operations. Her responsibilities also included program development focused on the G-24 members in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Her role involved managing the G-24’s outreach programs and coordinating recommendations for developing countries on monetary and development issues, particularly issues on the agendas of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) and the Development Committee (DC). Bleik liaised with the G-24 members and observers at the IMF and the World Bank and coordinated with their Ministry of Finance and Central Bank in order to ensure representation and participation of their developing countries on the reform of the international monetary system. Bleik oversaw the event preparations and management for the G-24 high level meetings, Ministerial and Deputies Meetings and press briefings at the IMF, the World Bank and in member countries. During her tenure, Bleik advised the G-24 Director, providing recommendations for the board of governance, membership relations, stakeholder engagement, and fund development.

Prior to her G-24 employment, she held the position of Information Officer at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the American Bahraini Friendship Society in Washington. Bleik oversaw the planning and implementation of communication and outreach programs. She demonstrated excellence in international development and was the recipient of an award of appreciation for her outstanding work and for her dedication and contributions to the Embassy.

Bleik served in the roles of President and Chair on the board of her children’s Elementary School Parent Teacher Association, Travilah Elementary School PTA. Bleik led the organization in promoting children’s health, well-being, and educational success through strong parent, family, and community involvement. For more than 10 years, Bleik strengthened the school by increased fundraising. She inspired students through the introduction of cultural and character-based programs.

Bleik holds an M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Saint Joseph, and a B.A. in Communication - Science of Language from the Sorbonne Pantheon-University of Paris I.