About Us

Mortada Mohamed

Mortada Mohamed is the President of the World Affairs Council of Austin, and Executive Director for the Texas International Business Council. Prior to his present positions he was the Regional Trade Director for Europe, Africa, Middle East, for the State of Texas, Office of the Governor, Economic Development & Tourism Division. Mr. Mohamed has served as a speaker for the US Department of State International Speaker’s Program throughout North Africa and the Arabian Gulf region. He lectured on doing business with the US private sector and promoted US business in those countries.

Mr. Mohamed also serves as a volunteer consultant on behalf of ACDI/VOCA, funded by USAID, to assist in economic development programs for developing countries. This program, which selects experts in various business areas, has taken him deep into Africa, Siberia and Eastern Europe. Mr. Mohamed is an adjunct professor of international business at several Central Texas universities and colleges. and Chair of the World Affairs Council of Austin. He has presented in conferences both domestically and internationally, most recently the International Academy of Management and Business symposium, Istanbul, Turkey and the World Investment Conference, La Baule, France. Mr. Mohamed is on the University of Texas at Austin Center for European Studies Advisory Board, the Board of Governors of North America Small Business International Trade Educators (NASBITE), member of the Texas Economic Development Council, and is appointed to the Texas Camino Real District Export Council by U.S. Secretary of Commerce. Mr. Mohamed has an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona.

Ben Ramirez III

Ben has over 25 years of experience assisting the transformation of local companies into global competitors. Ben previously served as the International Economic Development Manager for the City of Austin. His responsibilities in this position included governmental initiatives related to international economic development, foreign direct investment, culture, and education. Ben was also appointed to the U.S. Department of State’s Speaker and Specialist Program where he provided presentations overseas on the economic impact resulting from developing and growing technology industry clusters.

Ben manages Foreign Trade Zone #183 of Central Texas with member companies’ annual exports totaling $250-$500 million.  He was appointed to the Texas Camino Real District Export Council by U.S. Secretary of Commerce and now serves as Vice Chair.  Ben is an entrepreneur advisor with Tech Ranch.   He is a former board member of CleanTX, the economic development and business association for clean technology.  He also serves on the board of Austin Sister Cities International and as the President of the Austin Saltillo Sister Cities Association.  Ben obtained a BA in Philosophy and Political Science from the University of Michigan, and a JD from the University of Toledo.

Ana-Barbara Llorente

Ana-Barbara Llorente serves as the Treasurer for WAC Austin. She supervises the bookkeeping and taxes needs for the organization. She implements the accounting procedures needed to assure the transparency and financial operation of WAC Austin. Ana-Barbara is a global auditing executive with finance, management, and public accounting experience in diverse industries in US and EU markets.

She is a CPA in the US and its equivalent in Spain. She is the partner of Pendas Consulting, LLC an international accounting and finance firm helping international companies with accounting, taxes and finance services. Ana-Barbara is the Treasurer of the Board of Directors at Austin International School and the president of Bilingual Toastmaster in Austin. She volunteers with Foundation Communities and she is member of different professional organizations. Ms. Llorente has a BA in Business and a Master in Accounting and Auditing from the University of Oviedo in Spain. She wrote a project about Materiality in Auditing as part of her PhD studies.

Enes Bilgin

Dr. Enes Bilgin serves in the Business Outreach Committee of WAC Austin. Although trained as an engineer, Dr. Bilgin’s interest in global affairs and political issues started in his early ages since his family members were active in various political organizations in Turkey. Since then, he has maintained his interest in those areas through his readings and the classes he took on foreign policy and political science. Dr. Bilgin firmly believes in the importance of engaging public and the youth in global affairs, therefore he very much enjoys being part of WAC Austin.

In addition to his work at WACA, he voluntarily mentors high school students in national and international science project competitions. Dr. Bilgin received his B.S. in Industrial Engineering in 2010 from Bilkent University in Turkey and his Ph.D. in Systems Engineering in 2014 from Boston University. He is currently working as ML at Latitude AI.

Polina Anastassieva

Ellen Murry

A native of Louisiana, Ellen Murry received her BA in history from Louisiana State University, in Baton Rouge. She went on to receive her MA degree in Sino-American relations and 20th-century Chinese Foreign Policy from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX. She has received national awards for her book, Notes on the Republic, and an orientation audio-visual narrated by Mr. Bill Moyers. She has traveled/worked in Africa, Central America, the Middle East, and Asia. She spent over a decade abroad teaching English in both Saudi Arabia and Japan. She most recently also taught ESL at Austin Community College. She is currently the Co-chair of World Affairs Council Globalist Coffeehouse in addition to the Board of the Oita Japan/Austin Sister City Committee and the University Rotary.

Melody Borg

Melody Borg is a global strategy and analytics graduate student at Johns Hopkins University, specializing in Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence. Originally from France, she brings an international perspective shaped by academic, leadership, and research experience in the United States and Europe.

She holds a B.B.A. in International Business and Management from St. Edward’s University, where she served as the president of the International Student Association and founded the Global Affairs Society. Melody has presented research on international market entry, localization strategy, and virtual collaboration at conferences such as the Honors Symposium and the Southwest Academy of Management.

As the WAC Project Management Volunteer in Washington, D.C., Melody supports outreach and partnership development. Her mission focuses on the intersection of technology, international business, and inclusive global engagement.

Rebeka Renczes

Rebeka Renczes is an international business professional dedicated to fostering global connections and cultural exchange. Originally from Hungary, she moved to the U.S. to play NCAA basketball while earning her degree in International Business from St. Edward’s University. Her diverse background has shaped her adaptability, problem-solving skills, and passion for cross-cultural collaboration.

Since graduation, she has embraced the international community in Austin through her work at Austin Sister Cities International, supporting initiatives that strengthen ties with sister cities worldwide. She is also actively engaged with the World Affairs Council of Austin (WACA), contributing to international gatherings and exchanges. Through WACA, Rebeka has built meaningful connections and gained valuable global insights, enriching her personal and professional growth.

Ashley Ramnath

Ashley Ramnath leads brand strategy, communications, and community outreach to help broaden public engagement with global affairs across Central Texas. Her passion for international issues is rooted in her multicultural background and a belief in making global dialogue accessible to all communities.

In addition to her role at WAC Austin, Ashley is the founder of Halummy, an inclusive confectionery start-up, and works as a Pricing Analyst at Whole Foods Market. She previously supported large educational accounts as a Data Specialist at Apple.

Ashley holds a Master of Science in Data Science from Texas Tech University and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing with a minor in Management Information Systems from Lamar University.

DeQuan Carter

DeQuan Carter is an aspiring international business professional committed to promoting global engagement and cross-cultural understanding. Originally from Barbados, he is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, where he also serves as Vice President of the Global Affairs Club and Vice President of Alumni Relations for Delta Sigma Pi, the university’s professional business fraternity. His international perspective is shaped by academic, leadership, and internship experiences focused on global strategy and cross-cultural collaboration.

As an Intern with the World Affairs Council of Austin, DeQuan supports international business outreach, event planning, and research initiatives that strengthen Austin’s global partnerships. He previously completed a management and sales internship with Sherwin-Williams, where he developed key skills in leadership, strategic communication, and client relations.

DeQuan aspires to serve as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer or work within U.S. embassies abroad, leveraging his background in international business, diplomacy, and cultural understanding to promote global cooperation and economic development. He is expected to graduate in May 2026.

Jake Wiley

Jake Wiley is a student intern attending St. Edward's University pursuing a B.A. in Communication and Media Studies. Originally from Dallas-Fort Worth, he moved down to Austin to compete in NCAA Baseball at SEU, as well as serve as a leader for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). His experience includes being a Sports Media Director for GC3 Media at his previous school in Kansas, producing radio shows, writing articles, and more. He also has hands-on experience with sports performance and baseball coaching.

He is on the board of directors for the Anker Christensen Charitable Fund (ACCF), a non-profit that serves the people of Nicaragua. He visits every summer to strengthen relationships and serve. Jake has an immense desire to learn new skills and build meaningful relationships that will guide him throughout his professional and future business endeavors.