Cecilia Ciepiela

Cecilia Ciepiela-Kaelin is a senior economic development expert and sustainable urban planner with over 25 years of experience in the field of international development.13 She is the Owner and President of AISDevelopment Corporation, a company focused on addressing complex challenges related to equitable socio-economic development and climate change.12

Professional Background

Cecilia has an extensive and diverse career in international development:

• Advised the Panamanian opposition to Noriega
• Designed a $30 million White House-mandated reconciliation program in Bosnia
• Negotiated partnerships with Russian regional governments
• Designed and implemented USAID's first SMS-based market information systems
• Served as Senior Economic Advisor for USAID/Iraq and USAID/Yemen
• Held the position of Vice President at a Fortune 500 company1

Current Work

Cecilia is currently involved in several projects:

• Advising PPL on Program Cycle Capacity building
• Working with the private sector in Colombia on peace initiatives
• Collaborating with a media production company on developing the creative economy in Latin America and the Caribbean1

Education

• Master's in International Affairs from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), specializing in Latin American Studies
• Bachelor's degree in History from Williams College
• Pursuing an M.S. in Sustainable Urban Planning at George Washington University (as of 2015)1

Personal Background

• Grew up in the Philippines and Panama
• Fluent in Spanish
• NCAA All-American swimmer1

Cecilia's extensive experience and diverse background have positioned her as a leading expert in addressing complex international development challenges, with a focus on sustainable and equitable solutions.