Lecturer of Public Policy

Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management

Nguyen Xuan Thanh has twenty years of experience in teaching, designing, and implementing development policies in finance and public investment. At Fulbright University Vietnam, Thanh teaches at the Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management. Nguyen Xuan Thanh also is a senior fellow at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, Harvard Kennedy School (HKS). Prior to joining the Fulbright School, Thanh served as an official in the municipal government of Ho Chi Minh City.

Thanh’s research interests are banking, public investment, and infrastructure development. His recent and ongoing research projects include financing infrastructure development and cross-ownership in Vietnam’s banking sector.

At the Fulbright School, Thanh teaches courses on Introduction to Public Policy, Local and Regional Development, Appraisal of Public Investment, and Leadership in the Public Sector. He also teaches regularly in the Fulbright School’s executive education and participate in policy dialogues with public sector agencies in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

Thanh earned a B.A. (hons) in economics from the University of New Delhi, an M.S. in economics in finance from the University of Warwick, and an M.P.A. from Harvard University.

Chief Executive Officer

ELEVATE

As the ELEVATE CEO, Ian sets the vision and growth strategy for the company. He is committed to disrupting industry norms through new paradigms, technologies and data analytics to improve sustainability and responsible supply chain sourcing.

Ian is recognized globally as a preeminent subject matter expert and authority on supply chain social, environmental and business performance.

Previously, Ian worked as a senior manager at Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), a consultant at KPMG and at Sears Holdings. At Sears Holdings, he was the Director of Global Compliance where he pioneered the largest effort to promote greater transparency and continuous improvement among thousands of manufacturing facilities globally.

Ian has a Master’s degree from Yale University and a Bachelor’s degree from American University in Washington, D.C.

Director, Hanoi

Vriens & Partners

Samuel Pursch is a Director in Vriens & Partners’ Hanoi office where he manages accounts across sectors with a particular emphasis on tech, healthcare and industry. He also leads the Vietnam’s office public-facing activities, providing briefings on Vietnam’s regulatory and commercial context.

Prior to joining Vriens’ & Partners in 2018, Samuel was co-founder and director of Andaman Research & Advisory, a socio-economic research and political risk advisory firm based in Yangon, Myanmar. Having moved to Myanmar in early 2015, Samuel managed projects for clients including international hydropower and mobile finance investors, The World Bank Group, and a range of international NGOs. Andaman’s work included detailed stakeholder assessments, field research activities, including large-scale surveys, and developing policy recommendations for international actors working to address Myanmar’s myriad development challenges.

While in Myanmar, Samuel co-authored for several World Bank reports, including a Policy Research Paper on Myanmar’s Social Transformation. He was also a contributing author to several subscription-based analysis services. Earlier, Samuel was based in London where he worked in political risk for boutique consultancies focused on West Africa and Southeast Asia.

Samuel holds a master’s degree in War Studies: Conflict, Security and Development from King’s College London, and a BA in International Politics from The George Washington University. He was a visiting student at Pembroke College, Oxford University.

Partner

Baker McKenzie (Vietnam)

Lan Phuong Nguyen heads the corporate services department of the Vietnam offices, and provides international clients with guidance and assistance on market access issues and direct foreign investment procedures.  Phuong is in charge of development and implementation strategies for the corporate services for Vietnam offices, and coordinates with regional corporate services team leaders to provide seamless services to multi-national clients across the Asia Pacific region.

Phuong specialises in M&A, corporate and commercial laws, and has extensive experience in real estate and trade matters. Phuong advises domestic and international strategic and private equity investors on major private and public M&A transactions in Vietnam across a wide spectrum of industries, from consumer goods and retail, real estate, logistics, to pharmaceutical, and renewable energy.  Her M&A work covers wide-ranging types of work, including reorganization and post-acquisition integration advice and assistance.

As an active member of Vietnam Business Forum, Phuong has actively contributed comment, advice, and consultation to the drafting process of major laws of the country, including the current Enterprise Law, Investment Law, Commercial Law, and the Civil Code, and many draft legislations of the Government that have major impact on the legal and business environment of Vietnam.

Mary Tarnowka

Executive Director

AmCham Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang

Mary Tarnowka serves as the Executive Director of AmCham Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang.

Prior to her time with AmCham Vietnam, Mary worked extensively to help U.S. businesses thrive in Asia. As U.S. Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City from August 2016 to July 2019, she oversaw a period of tremendous growth in the U.S. comprehensive partnership, including two unprecedented visits by a U.S. president to Vietnam in 18 months. Mary actively promoted mutual peace, prosperity, and people-to-people ties in central and southern Vietnam. She particularly focused on strengthening the bilateral trade and investment partnership in the dynamic southern region.

Mary was a member of the senior Foreign Service, with decades of experience in Asia, including postings in Seoul, Delhi, Shanghai, and Taipei, as well as at the State Department’s China Desk and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Prior to joining the State Department, Mary worked as a Certified Public Accountant and Manager at KPMG’s International and High Tech Tax Division in San Francisco.