Paxton K. Baker is an American businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist, who has served in the entertainment, music, sports and production industries for over 30 years.

Mr. Baker is a minority owner of the Washington Nationals Baseball club and currently serves as Chairman of the Washington Nationals Founding Partners Group. He is also currently a part of the ownership groups for DC Power FC, the Old Glory DC Rugby Football Club and Cape Town Tigers Basketball Club, which competes in the NBA Africa/Basketball Africa League (BAL). In 2024, Baker became a part of the ownership groups for the Brisbane Bullets (NBL), Barcelona Dragons (ELF), Unrivaled and Tomorrow Golf League (TGL).

He currently serves as a governing Board Member of the Global Sports Summit, a private and exclusive gathering of global professional sports franchise owners and industry leaders. Mr. Baker has held ownership interest in both the Washington Kastles World Team Tennis League and Washington Spirit National Women’s Soccer League, with each team becoming reigning champions during his tenure.

From 2018 – 2025, Baker served as the managing partner of the Washington, D.C., office of Liquid Soul, the agency behind the marketing and promotion of such blockbuster films as Black Panther and Fast & Furious 6.

For 16 years, Mr. Baker served as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of CENTRIC (formerly BETJ), BET’s complementary network targeting the African American and multicultural adult. Baker was also President of BET Event Productions, which produced music festivals, award shows, TV specials and concerts throughout the world.

Affiliated with a number of professional, civic and cultural organizations, Mr. Baker is a member of the board of directors for the United States Senate Preservation Trust, Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz. Until 2025, he served as a board member of Wilberforce University, the nation’s oldest private, historically black university, as well as the board of WAMU, Washington DC’s NPR station.

In 2006, Mr. Baker was appointed by the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives to serve as a member of The Congressional Award Foundation National Board of Directors, the only official charity of the United States Congress. Shortly thereafter he was elected to serve as Vice Chairman and then Chairman of the Board in 2007. He is currently the Chairman Emeritus.

In 2022, Mr. Baker was elected to join the Board of the Washington Nationals Philanthropies, the charitable arm of the Washington Nationals.

In 2023, Baker was appointed by Governor Wes Moore to serve as a member of the Maryland Economic Development Commission to establish policy and oversee the creation, attraction and retention of businesses and jobs in the State of Maryland.

Guillermo Corral van Damme joined the Spanish Foreign Service in 1997. He started his career as a parliamentary advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (1997-98), being posted as a First Secretary at the Spanish Embassy in Ankara (1998-2001). He served consecutively as Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy in Dar es Salaam (2001-2003) and as a Counsellor at Spanish Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels (2003-2004). In 2005 he was appointed Deputy General Commissioner for the XXV anniversary of the Prince of Asturias Awards (2005-2006). Consequently, he held several relevant positions in the field of cultural diplomacy: Director of International Relations at Casa Sefarad-Israel (2007), Diplomatic Advisor to the Minister of Culture (2007-2008), and Director General for Creative Industries at the Ministry of Culture (2008-2010). Back to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he was appointed Cultural Attaché at the Spanish Embassies in Washington DC (2010-2015) and Havana (2015-2018). In 2018 he was appointed Deputy Director General for EU Candidate Countries in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From October 2018 he was the Chief of Staff to the Secretary of State for Global Spain at the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was the Ambassador of Spain to Estonia from 2021 to 2025 and that same year he became Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Spain to the United States.

He holds a Degree in Law from the University of Valladolid. As an author he has published numerous short stories and a celebrated graphic novel, El Tesoro del Cisne Negro, which has been translated to numerous languages, including Estonian in 2023. He is married and father to two daughters.

Shameeka Quallo, Esq.is Chief Legal Officer for the Washington Spirit, where she serves as a strategic business and legal advisor with oversight spanning legal affairs, risk management, and organizational strategy. A values-driven executive, she brings a multidisciplinary approach to leadership, shaping key business initiatives beyond the traditional legal function.

Prior to joining the Spirit in 2023, Quallo served as Associate General Counsel and Senior Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Chicago Cubs. In that role, she led complex commercial negotiations, including sponsorship and ballpark operations agreements, managed litigation, contractual and employment matters, and played a pivotal role in developing and executing the organization’s enterprise-wide DEI strategy.

Earlier in her career, Quallo held senior legal and multicultural affairs roles in motorsports with International Speedway Corporation, where she supported legal matters for a publicly traded company while advancing initiatives to increase diversity across the sport. She also served as Associate Counsel for the Ladies Professional Golf Association. Quallo spent 10 years as an auditor with the National Futures Association, where she developed deep expertise in financial regulation, compliance, and investigative risk assessment.

Beyond her professional work, Quallo is deeply committed to community impact and leadership. She has served on several nonprofit boards and industry organizations and remains active in mentorship and initiatives advancing diversity in sports and the legal profession.

A former track and field athlete, Quallo earned her J.D. from Rutgers Law and a Bachelor’s degree in Finance fromSt. John’s University, where she attended on a full athletic scholarship. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma ThetaSorority, Inc.

Sally Roberts is a leader, State Department sports diplomat, entrepreneur, and former elite athlete dedicated to advancing women’s wrestling and strengthening opportunities for the next generation. As the CEO of Wrestle Like A Girl (WLAG), she has played a pivotal role in securing NCAA Championship status for women’s wrestling, ensuring that female athletes have the same avenues for success at the highest levels.

A former world-class competitor and U.S. Army veteran, Sally exemplifies discipline, perseverance, and strategic vision. She spent eight years as a resident athlete at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center, where she became a three-time National Champion, World Cup Champion, two-time World Bronze Medalist, and an Olympic Alternate. She later served in the U.S. Army, including a combat deployment to Afghanistan, and competed in the Army’s World Class Athlete Program, representing the United States as a soldier and a high-performance competitor.

As a CEO and industry leader, Sally has positioned WLAG as a key force in the growth of women’s wrestling. She has worked alongside the NCAA, USA Wrestling, and policymakers to ensure institutional recognition and advancement for female athletes. Her efforts have helped shape the sport’s future, establishing clear pathways for success at grassroots, collegiate, and Olympic levels.

Sally’s expertise and executive influence have earned her numerous accolades, including the 2016 Women in Sport Award from United World Wrestling and USA Wrestling’s Woman of the Year for 2018. She was also selected as one of 25 elite women leaders across seven nations to participate in the EY Women Athletes Business Network, a program designed to propel high-potential women into executive roles.

A sought-after speaker, Sally has addressed audiences at the United States Olympic Museum, the U.S. Institute of Peace, the National War College, WorldBoston, and Global Ties U.S., sharing insights on resilience, strategic growth, sports diplomacy, and advancing leadership roles for women in sports and beyond. WorldBoston is one of the nation’s leading international affairs and citizen diplomacy organizations, convening global leaders, diplomats, and policymakers to foster international engagement and cross-cultural collaboration. Global Ties U.S. is the premier national network advancing public diplomacy and international exchange, bringing together civic leaders, educators, businesspeople, students, athletes, artists, and scientists to strengthen global partnerships through citizen diplomacy.

Sally holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, and a Master of Arts in Sport and Performance Psychology from the University of the Rockies.

Mr. Fernando de Oliveira Sena is a career diplomat with more than 27 years of experience in political, economic, consular, and international affairs in Brazil and abroad.

He has served as Deputy Chief of Mission and Minister-Counselor at the Brazilian Embassy in Washington D.C. since July 1, 2024. In addition to his role as DCM, Mr. Sena oversees the political sector and relations with the US Congress. For one year, he also developed activities related to science, technology and innovation, health and culture, and education at the Embassy.

Before beginning his work at the Embassy, Mr. Sena served as Deputy Consul General at the Consulate General of Brazil in New York for five years.

Before joining the Consulate General, Mr. Sena served as Head of the Human Rights Division (2018) as his last position at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Brasilia.

From 2015 to 2018, Mr. Sena served at the Permanent Mission of Brazil to the United Nations, in New York, and was a member of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions at the United Nations.

Mr. Sena’s previous positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Brasilia include Head of the International Peace and Security Division (2013-2014) and Head of the United Nations Division (2011-2012). In addition, he served as an advisor on multilateral issues to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil (2012-2013). He has extensive experience in multilateral affairs and United Nations-related issues, including politics, peace and security, society, human rights, sustainable development, and management.

From 2011 to 2012, Mr. Sena served as Vice-President of the Brazilian National Committee on Refugees (CONARE), a government and civil society forum on refugee-related matters.

Mr. Sena’s previous diplomatic missions abroad include the Embassy in South Africa (2008-2010) and the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York (2005-2008). He began his career at the office of the Federal Prosecutor in Rio de Janeiro and the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris, France.

Mr. Sena holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of the State of Rio de Janeiro. He also studied International Relations at the Rio Branco Diplomatic Academy. In addition to his native language, Portuguese, Mr. Sena speaks fluent English, French, and Spanish.

Steven M. Smith is co-founder and Executive Director of the Collegiate Cricket League (CCL), the only organized purely collegiate cricket structure in the United States and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit backed by USA Cricket and the National Cricket League.

Launched in December 2024, the league has grown from twelve founding universities to fifty college programs and represents 750 student-athletes. The CCL has reached audiences in more than thirty countries, a 100 million cricket fans, and represents players from twelve nations, positioning itself as foundational infrastructure for a sport with 2.5 billion global fans that returns to the Olympic program at Los Angeles 2028.

The league’s origins trace to October 2024, when Smith attended the inaugural National Cricket League tournament and discussed with longtime family friend Arun Agrawal and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, both co-owners of the league, on the absence of a developmental pipeline for American cricketing talent. A subsequent meeting with Dean Paul Almeida of Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business connected Smith with the university’s graduate cricket club. Within months, Smith, alongside graduate cricket players Ashrav Paul and Sid Rao, hosted a pilot national championship in Austin, Texas, that quickly became a global viral sensation. The event sparked overwhelming student demand, leading to four regional championships and the Collegiate Cup National Championship at Broward Stadium, a 20,000-seat ICC-approved venue in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Under Smith’s direction, the league is organized around three strategic phases: organizing the sport at the collegiate level, building a talent pipeline that feeds professional leagues and national teams worldwide, and elevating cricket on American campuses toward varsity status and scholarship recognition. Longer-term ambitions include a women’s collegiate league by 2030, and international expansion into Canada, Gulf Nations, Commonwealth Countries, the West Indies, and Asia.

Beyond the league, Smith is managing partner of a global consulting firm in Washington, D.C. He previously served as acting Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Staff at a national policy institute and spent four years in the executive branch of the United States government. His earlier career included twelve years in campaign management across federal, state, and local races. He serves on the Advisory Board of HOPE for Prisoners, which works to scale its recidivism-reduction model nationally, and on the board of Experiential Robotics, an organization focused on bringing robotics education into classrooms worldwide. He is also engaged in initiatives supporting tribal communities in South Sudan, with particular attention to food and water self-sustainability and biodiversity restoration.

Smith is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a member of The Explorers Club. He is a second-year MBA candidate at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Kentucky. Originally from Dayton, Ohio, he is based in Washington, D.C.

Andrew Sollinger is CEO & publisher of Foreign Policy, the world’s leading geopolitical media organization. Since joining FP in 2018, he has helped to build teams and drive growth in a diversified set of subscription, event, research and audio formats. Previously, Andrew was EVP of Subscriptions at Business Insider, Executive Director of Capital New York (now Politico NY) and Managing Director of the Financial Times Americas. He was part of the executive team that built and sold Money-Media to the FT in 2008. A former reporter and editor for Institutional Investor magazine, Andrew has lived in London, Hong Kong and New York. He is a graduate of Clark University in Worcester, MA.