Board of Directors

Board Member
James L. LeBlanc
Executive Director
American-Kuwaiti Alliance

James LeBlanc was recently appointed as the Executive Director for the American-Kuwaiti Alliance; an organization mandated to enhance the political, economic and cultural relations between the two countries. He also just completed an executive assignment as the Senior Resident Country Director in Iraq for the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI). NDI is one of the world's foremost international non governmental organizations (NGOs) dedicated to the strengthening and expanding of democracy globally. Mr. LeBlanc undertook an 18 month special senior appointment at the request of NDI to build, lead and strategically position the Institute in one of the world's most challenging operating environments that was also in the midst of an extremely violent post-conflict terrorist insurgency. He led the largest most experienced multi national team NDI had ever put into the field with operations throughout Iraq with responsibility for every aspect of its mandate.

Mr. LeBlanc has also been President of the Washington, DC area firm J. LeBlanc International, LLC since its establishment in 1994. JLI assisted international private and public sector technology entities by strategically positioning them in their target markets. The core offerings included strategic communications, the development of strategic partnerships and alliances, plus effective business, public policy and competitive intelligence assessments. Through his partnership with The York Group-International Technology Partners, JLI was able to offer a broad range of marketing and similar services in over 20 countries globally. James LeBlanc was also a partner in S&H/LeBlanc International, a joint venture between J. LeBlanc International, LLC and the venerable Washington public affairs, public relations, media and political consulting firm, Smith & Harroff, Inc. It offered public affairs, public relations, branding, issue management, government and political consulting to the international, technology, business and public sector communities. Mr. LeBlanc has also been a senior executive in Global Smarts, Inc. a content driven multi-media firm focusing on the issue of the globalization of technology, business and policy.

Mr. LeBlanc has extensive public and political experience at senior levels in the Government of Canada. He has served as Chief of Staff to two senior Cabinet Ministers - the Secretary of State for External Affairs and International Trade; and the Minister of Science and Technology. He has also served as Executive Assistant to the Canadian Ambassador for International Security and Arms Control.

Mr. LeBlanc holds a Graduate degree from Harvard University, specializing in business-government relations in the US; a Graduate degree in International Affairs from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs in Ottawa; and an Undergraduate degree in Law and Political Science.

Mr. LeBlanc sits on numerous Boards of Directors and Advisory Boards including; the Northern Virginia Technology Council; the Canadian-American Business Council; the Carleton University (U.S.) Foundation; the President's Advisory Council at Carleton University; the Inter-American Economic Council and the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance and serves as US Executive Director for the CATAlliance. He is a past Director of the International Business Council of the Greater Washington Board of Trade.

He is also a Senior Associate at the prestigious Washington, D.C. think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Mr. LeBlanc is included in the Who's Who in America, Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in Canada, as well as Who's Who in Finance and Industry, and Who's Who in Canadian Technology.

As a recognized expert on various international issues, Mr. LeBlanc is often in demand for public speeches, presentations and media interviews such as with; CNN International, the Globe & Mail, CTV and CBC TV National News, the Washington Post, ABC, NPR, BBC World TV et al.