People in the news

Rina Amiri

Senior adviser to Frank Ruggiero

Why She Matters

Amiri is one of the few U.S. Afghan officials with an insider perspective of the country. Born in Kabul, Amiri's family fled the country after the king was overthrown in 1973 and eventually settled in America.

But Amiri vowed to return. Her opportunity came in the aftermath of America's war in Afghanistan, when she moved to Kabul to help women there develop their leadership skills as a United Nations representative.

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Background

At a Glance

Career History: Special Representative of the Secretary General,United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (2002 to 2006); Senior Research Associate, Harvard's John F. Kennedy School; Director, Soros Foundation's Afghanistan and Regional Policy Initiative
Hometown: Kabul, Afghanistan
Religion: Muslim