The Middle East Institute is proud to host Amb. Alan Goulty and Amb. Edward Walker for an examination of the unrest roiling Tunisia and Egypt and its implications for the region at large. Between them, Goulty and Walker have more than 60 years of experience serving in the Arab world. They will draw upon their unique experience and understanding of the region to examine the evolving crises in Tunisia and Egypt, the impact of the street protests on regional governments and the role that Western governments can play during this period of transition.

Bio: Amb. Alan Goulty retired in 2008 after 40 years service in the British Diplomatic Service, including postings as Ambassador to Tunisia (2004-8) and Sudan (1995-9), and as the UK Special Representative for Sudan (2002-4) and Darfur (2005-6). Other diplomatic postings include Lebanon, Egypt and Washington. From 2002-2002 he was the UK Foreign Office Director for the Middle East and North Africa and in 2002 was appointed the UK Special Representative for Sudan. He is currently a non-resident Senior Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and an adjunct professor at Georgetown.
Amb. Edward Walker is currently a scholar at the Middle East Institute and a professor of global politics at Hamilton College. He also served as President of the Middle East Institute from 2001-2006. Before retiring from the State Department, he served as Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs from 2000-2001 and as US Ambassador to Israel from 1997-2000. Other ambassadorial postings included Egypt from 1994-1997 and the United Arab Emirates from 1989-1992. Walker also served in Lebanon, Syria and Tunisia.

Speakers: Alan Goulty, Edward Walker