Lawrence Walker

Free-lance producer of theater, film and publication projects relating to the work of Chinese-born author Geling Yan (嚴歌苓), as well as literary translator of her work. Current roles include producer of a Broadway play in development, producer of an independent film, and literary translator (Chinese to English).

Advise the U.S. Africa Command (located in Stuttgart) on foreign affairs and military-to-military engagement in southern Africa, with emphasis on Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius.

Responsible for economic policy between German and U.S. governments on matters of trade, investment, intellectual property, post and telecommunications and pharmaceuticals. Key point of contact with German business associations.

Primary point of contact to the Taiwan press and international media covering Taiwan. Oversaw production of media summaries to inform the U.S. government on developments in Taiwan.

Represented U.S. position and reported on Nigerian government policies and local developments in the areas of trade and finance in Nigeria. Occasional intervention on behalf of U.S. companies bidding on government projects or facing difficulties with government authorities.

Worked with a variety of professionals and free-lance consulting groups on business development in China, persuasive writing and editing, translation, publishing and film production.

Worked in Silicon Valley office of publicly trade Denmark-based venture capital company, charged with learning about the IT products and plans of our 50 portfolio companies in Europe, the U.S. and Greater China and helping them gain market entry to the U.S. and attain second-round VC funding from additional sources.

Helped this B2B Internet portal to secure business associations and chambers of commerce as customers. Particularly concentrated on ethnic chambers in the U.S. as well as business associations abroad.

Managed San Francisco office of a worldwide business consultancy and membership organization sponsored by German industry and government (i.e., an Auslandshandelskammer-AHK-under the DIHK and BMWi). Performed consulting services for German companies in information technology, environmental, multimedia, natural products, giftware, Internet, and other industries. Organized membership events and created a supportive bi-national business community for companies entering the U.S. or German markets.

As loaned executive from U.S. State Department, Developed projects to use the bank's Latin American sovereign debt portfolio to finance infrastructure projects to produce long-term, dollar-denominated income streams for the bank.

Participated in negotiations with South Korea on telecommunications, intellectual property rights, civil aviation, fisheries and science and technology affairs. Briefed senior U.S. Government officials and businesspeople on economic and political developments in Korea.

Interviewed hundreds of factory managers and government officials throughout Northeast China and wrote analyses of economic and political developments, including economic reforms and cross-border barter trade with North Korea and Russia. Wrote investment profiles of the region's provinces and cities and briefed U.S. business people on local opportunities. Consulate had been slated for closing, but quality of my reporting was credited for U.S. Government's decision to keep it open.

Successfully completed full-time professional language training in Mandarin Chinese, with some training in Cantonese and Classical Chinese.

Full-time professional training. Completed 26-week Economic-Commercial Course, equivalent to a bachelor's in Economics plus two master-level courses, and the Foreign Service's Mid-Level Professional Development course.

As Econ Officer, served as U.S. Government's liaison to the German foreign aid establishment. Coordinated U.S. aid objectives with Germany in order to avoid duplication, maximize the impact of U.S. aid and further U.S. policy objectives. As Political Officer, reported and represented U.S. to German govt. on matters related to third countries. As consular officer, adjudicated visas and helped American citizens in distress.

At US Trade Center: Helped organize two major trade shows to sell U.S. petroleum equipment and machine tools. In Visa Section: Adjudicated immigrant and non-immigrant visa cases. Managed a visa fraud unit with two Mexican investigators. Gained cooperation of Mexico’s travel agency association to grant expedited visa issuance to selected agencies in exchange for implementation of anti-visa-fraud measures.

Entry-level U.S. diplomat: completed orientation course and training in consular operations.

International market expansion in the retail sector.