Edward Safaryan graduated from University of Delaware in 2004 with Masters Degree in Environmental and Energy Policy. Prior to this, he obtained BSc and MSc degrees from State Engineering University of Armenia. Edward has a comprehensive work experience in energy industry in Armenia and the US, as well as in the sector of Government strengthening programs. Currently, Edward is employed as a Budget Advisor in the DFID Project “Support to Roll-Out of Programme Budgeting in Armenia”. He is the author of a series of publications on energy security and renewable energy issues. Currently Mr. Safaryan currently serves on the CDPF Board of Trustees as a Chairman.

Vahan Bournazian was born in San Diego, California in the United States and lived principally in Southern California until he repatriated to Armenia in 2004. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Riverside and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of San Diego. He practiced immigration law for approximately 10 years in the U.S. and has participated in various human rights monitoring actions in Latin America and Iraq. He currently serves as Assistant Dean and Associate Professor at the Department of Law of the American University of Armenia, a U.S.-accredited institution of higher education. He is also engaged in several university-administrative committees and legal education initiatives. Mr. Bournazian currently serves on the CDPF Board of Trustees as a Secretary.

Paula Devejian was born in Fresno, California in the United States and lived there until she moved to Armenia in 2001. With a major in Liberal Arts and a minor in Business, she worked for the private sector in the United States in various administrative and managerial positions. Her past non-profit involvement includes serving for 12 years on the Board of Directors of the United Way in California (a nationwide non-profit organization) and on various committees, councils and boards for the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America. She currently serves the Armenian Church as the Director of Internet Development at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and also represents the Armenian Church in ecumenical works serving as a representative to the World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee and as a member of the working group on Peace, Security and Reconciliation for the Conference of European Churches (CEC). Mrs. Devejian currently serves on the CDPF Board of Trustees as Board Development Officer.

Arthur Drampian has overall thirteen years experience in development assistance, including public sector reform, regional/local development and community mobilization. His professional activities in different years were focused in the areas of integrated water resources management, tax administration improvement, local government reform, improved municipal service delivery, local economic development, public finance and budgeting, citizens’ participation in decision-making, community mobilization, SME support, association building in Armenia. His key experience includes successfully working with the Ministry of Nature Protection, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Territorial Administration, State Tax Service, local governments, national NGO’s, professional associations, community-based organizations, and non-formal citizen groups. He worked on assignments funded by the US Government (USAID) and other international donors since 1994, closely collaborated with a number of international organizations and projects implemented in Armenia. Mr. Drampian also teaches at the American University of Armenia. He is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the School of Political Science and International Affairs. Mr. Drampian currently serves on the CDPF Board of Trustees as BoT Board Financial Officer.