Allison Stepinac
FO-03,ECON
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Commercial Officer
Embassy Sarajevo
, BiH
07.2022 - Current
- Helped U.S. companies win public tenders worth millions of dollars.
- Improved ease of doing business by developing policy advocacy program at the American Chamber of Commerce and serving on the AmCham Board of Governors.
- Doubled paid commercial services conducted for U.S. companies as a Commerce Department Partner Post and identified trade leads.
- Supervise one LES and frequently serve as Acting Econ Chief.
Visiting Scholar
Carnegie Europe
, Belgium
09.2020 - 06.2022
- Selected by Council on Foreign Relations as one of 10 International Affairs Fellows from across the U.S. Government.
- Researched, published, and spoke on great power economic competition in the Western Balkans (See "Selected Works" below).
Economic/Consular Rotation
Embassy Zagreb
, Croatia
01.2018 - 07.2020
- Managed negotiations on a double taxation treaty and all agreements necessary to launch direct flights.
- Secured commitments to trusted vendors for 5G and aviation security as Post's China Watcher and chair of the Interagency Cyber Working Group.
- Developed interagency curriculum while overseeing Embassy internship program, and improved staff morale as Employee Association President.
- Managed all visa operations and implemented fraud prevention program while supervising three LES during one-year consular tour as visa chief.
Political and Economic Officer
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
, Brunei
02.2015 - 02.2017
- Supported TPP trade agreement negotiations by advising on bilateral trade relationship and staffing several USTR and Congressional visits.
- Mitigated the implementation of Sharia Law as human rights officer through coordinated exchanges with the U.S. Islamic community.
- Combatted Chinese influence in the South China Sea by supporting bilateral military exercises and outreach on the Law of the Sea.
- Supervised three LES.
Pickering Fellow, POL/ECON Section
Embassy Kigali
Rwanda
05.2014 - 08.2014
- Supported a level playing field for U.S. business by drafting labor section of Human Rights Report and reporting on nascent capital markets.
- Safeguarded taxpayer dollars after U.S. assistance was suspended over allegations of Rwandan support for rebel group M23 by conducting site visit to DRC border to investigate allegations of continued collaboration.
Short-term Bridge Assignment
Malaysia/Singapore/Brunei Desks (EAP/MTS)
Washington, DC
12.2013 - 01.2014
- Ensured policy alignment between three posts and Washington by drafting night notes and briefing papers.
- Led EAP/MTS response to fatal Indonesia AirAsia Flight 8501, which crashed en route to Singapore, including drafting urgent briefing paper and call sheets.
Pickering Fellow
Operations Center
Washington, DC
06.2013 - 08.2013
- Helped WHA posts prepare for hurricane season and respond to instability following cartel arrests as WHA lead at Crisis Management Support (CMS).
- Staffed Task Force in response coup in Egypt and conducted mandatory trainings for volunteers from across the Department.
- Supported complete overnight evacuation of Western diplomats from Yemen in response to a response to credible terror threat.
Special Assistant
Overseas Private Investment Corporation (now DFC)
, Washington, DC
03.2011 - 07.2012
- Brought the private sector into U.S. assistance efforts by representing OPIC at NSC interagency meetings on South Sudan and global development issues.
- Articulated and shaped OPIC's development priorities ad speechwriter and policy aid to CEO.
- Supported leadership’s long-term strategic planning and budgeting.
Confidential Assistant
Deputy U.S. Trade Representative
, Washington, DC
03.2010 - 03.2011
- Safeguarded U.S. intellectual property as policy lead for IPR by participating in negotiations of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) and evaluating submissions from State for the Special 301 report on inadequate IP protections.
- Supported Deputy USTR by preparing daily briefing book, staffing Deputies' meetings at the NSC, and managing all scheduling and travel.
Staff Assistant
U.S. Senate
, Washington, DC
01.2009 - 03.2010
- Supported adequate State department and assistance funding by providing research and writing support to staff of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations.
- Explained policy to the public by authoring a daily blog following healthcare reform efforts in Congress and soliciting information from various executive branch agencies to respond to constituent inquiries.
Education
M.A. in International Economics -
JOHNS HOPKINS SAIS
B.A. in International Relations -
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT
Skills
- Explaining complex economic topics to nonexpert audiences through concise reporting
- Identifying trade leads and leading interagency deal teams to advocate for US companies
- Analyzing how economic issues influence political decision-makers
- Building and leveraging networks of local contacts, businesses, and the diplomatic community to advance shared priorities
- Empowering local staff to take initiative and expand their skill sets
- Organizing VIP visits to advance policy priorities
Awards and Recognition
- Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellowship (2020)
- Glen Munro Award for Outstanding Potential and Leadership (2014)
- Recognized for Exceptional Contributions to the Human Rights Report (2016)
- Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship (2012)
Languages
- Serbo-Croatian, 3/3, 2020
- Spanish, 2+/2+, 2016
- Italian, 2/2, 2015
Selected Works
- "Hard Cash and Soft Power: When Chinese Firms Win EU Contracts", Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2022/11/hard-cash-and-soft-power-when-chinese-firms-win-eu-contracts?lang=en
- “The EU’s Green Agenda for the Western Balkans Packs a Risky Geopolitical Agenda”, Strategic Europe, https://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/84879
- “The ‘Cold War’ Diplomacy Behind COVID-19 Vaccines”, EU Observer, https://euobserver.com/opinion/151187
- “The EU is a Dishonest Broker on Western Balkan Demographics”, Strategic Europe, https://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/84049
Timeline
Commercial Officer
Embassy Sarajevo
07.2022 - Current
Visiting Scholar
Carnegie Europe
09.2020 - 06.2022
Economic/Consular Rotation
Embassy Zagreb
01.2018 - 07.2020
Political and Economic Officer
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
02.2015 - 02.2017
Pickering Fellow, POL/ECON Section
Embassy Kigali
05.2014 - 08.2014
Short-term Bridge Assignment
Malaysia/Singapore/Brunei Desks (EAP/MTS)
12.2013 - 01.2014
Pickering Fellow
Operations Center
06.2013 - 08.2013
Special Assistant
Overseas Private Investment Corporation (now DFC)
03.2011 - 07.2012
Confidential Assistant
Deputy U.S. Trade Representative
03.2010 - 03.2011
Staff Assistant
U.S. Senate
01.2009 - 03.2010
M.A. in International Economics -
JOHNS HOPKINS SAIS
B.A. in International Relations -
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT
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