Ambassador Roya Rahmani is a senior advisor at the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center. She is a distinguished leader with over twenty years of experience across government, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector. She also currently serves as chair of Delphos International Ltd., a global financial advisory firm, and as a senior advisor at Albright Stonebridge Group.

Ambassador Rahmani holds the distinction of being the first woman to serve as Afghanistan’s ambassador to the United States (2018–2021) and Indonesia (2016–2018). She also served as Afghanistan’s ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and as a nonresident ambassador to Singapore. In these roles, she championed diplomatic initiatives that advanced bilateral and regional partnerships. Her leadership has earned her numerous awards and recognitions.

With expertise spanning South Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, Ambassador Rahmani is a trusted voice on geopolitical strategy and sustainable development. She leverages business diplomacy to facilitate access to diverse sources of capital and promote the adoption of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to drive innovation and growth in developing nations.

Ambassador Rahmani holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from McGill University and a master’s in public administration from Columbia University. She was also a distinguished fellow at Georgetown University’s Institute for Women, Peace, and Security.

As a trailblazer in diplomacy and global finance, Ambassador Rahmani continues to champion innovation, economic empowerment, and inclusive development. For more information, visit her website at ambrahmani.com.