Deborah Lehr
Founder of the Antiquities Coalition, Chairman, Board of Directors
Deborah M. Lehr is an accomplished global business strategist who has supported leading global firms and organizations to grow their presence in the world’s most complex markets. Deborah has applied her business acumen and policy knowledge to launch the Antiquities Coalition, which works with governments across the world to fight against antiquities trafficking and its use in funding terrorism and organized crime.
As the Chairman of the Antiquities Coalition, Lehr launched a robust Minister-level dialogue on how to preserve and protect our cultural heritage and has elevated global understanding of the linkage between antiquities trafficking and terror networks. Heritage projects offer a tremendous chance for business to create opportunity throughout the Middle East and around the world.
Deborah is also CEO and founding partner of Basilinna, a strategic consulting firm focused on China and the Middle East. She is also the Executive Director of the Paulson Institute, a think tank founded by former Secretary of Treasury Hank Paulson, which is focused on US-China trade, finance, and conservation. She oversees their Green Finance initiative including helping to establish the U.S.-China Green Fund to invest in energy efficient technologies and projects.
She is on the Board of the World Monuments Fund, the Middle East Institute, the International Advisory Board of the London School of Economics, and the Sesame Workshop Global Advisory Board. Deborah is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. UNESCO has nominated Deborah as one of its inaugural list of accomplished global women. She also received the prestigious Hadrian Award from the World Monument Fund for her work in fighting the illicit trade in antiquities.