Dr Bassma Kodmani

In 2011–2012, Dr Bassma Kodman took temporary leave from the Arab Reform Initiative to take on a mission as Head of Foreign Relations and spokesperson with the Syrian National Council, the opposition coalition seeking democratic change in Syria. She also is the co-founder and treasurer of the Initiative for a New Syria, an NGO based in Paris specialized in relief work and support for civil society in Syria.

She holds a PhD in Political Science from Sciences Po (Paris). She has authored numerous books, reports, and articles; her book on the Palestinian Diaspora (in French) was awarded the prize of Association France-Palestine in 1998.

Dr Bassma Kodman is a member of the advisory boards of the European Council on Foreign Relations, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Middle East Center, and International IDEA (Sweden).
She was awarded the Légion d’Honneur of France as Chevalier in 2012, and the Raymond Georis Prize for Innovative Philanthropy in 2011 for her role in developing the Arab Reform Initiative and promoting democracy in the context of the Arab Spring.