Dr. Damien M. Pwono is the Director of the Aspen Institute Global Initiative on Culture and Society. He holds a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from the University of Pittsburgh and has worked on arts, culture, cultural diplomacy, and socioeconomic development issues globally for many years. A renowned cultural entrepreneur who has lived and worked in several countries, Dr. Pwono has significantly contributed to the development of cultural markets in Africa, the Arab World, Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America, and North America. His professional experience includes over a decade in philanthropy, serving as a Senior Program Advisor for the Arts and Humanities at the Rockefeller Foundation in New York and Nairobi, and Program Officer for Media, Arts and Culture at the Ford Foundation in New York. Prior to joining the Aspen Institute, Dr. Pwono was the Secretary General of the International Music Council at UNESCO in Paris and Research Faculty at the University of Pittsburgh.