The Advisory Board serves as the strategic compass of PPS. It is composed of respected leaders — academics, policymakers, diplomats, philanthropists, and practitioners — who provide guidance, legitimacy, and global connections to the organization. While not involved in daily operations, the Advisory Board ensures PPS remains credible, relevant, and impactful in advancing peace, climate resilience, and policy innovation.
Dr. Hasan Reza, Chairman (Honorary)
Hasan Reza, Ph.D., is an associate professor at the School of Social Work, Indiana University South Bend. He received his doctoral degree from the University of Chicago upon completion of an MSW degree from Carleton University, Canada. Prior to that, he received his undergraduate and graduate education from Bangladesh. Hasan had served as a faculty member in a public university in Bangladesh for about six years. He had also worked in microfinance, research, and human service agencies in Bangladesh and Canada. Hasan's research interests include street children in the developing countries, child abuse, poverty, and international social work. He is currently engaged in a few research projects involving street children in Bangladesh.
Dr. Moogdho Mazhab, Advisor
Dr. Moogdho Mahzab is a leading development economist and Associate Research Fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Washington, DC, and serve as Acting Country Representative for IFPRI-Bangladesh. His research spans development economics, environmental policy, public health, governance, and agricultural transformation, with a strong focus on evidence-based policymaking in South Asia.
Dr. Mahzab holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia, an M.A. in Policy Economics from Williams College as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar, and earlier degrees from the University of Dhaka. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, where he also co-led research at the Stanford Impact Lab. His academic training includes advanced coursework and research at institutions such as Stanford, Duke, UC Berkeley, Princeton, and Hitotsubashi University.
His work has been published in top-tier journals including Science, Scientific Reports (Nature), and Energy Research & Social Science, and he has authored numerous policy reports for IFPRI and the International Growth Centre (IGC). Dr. Mahzab has led or co-led large-scale randomized controlled trials and natural experiments on topics ranging from agricultural mechanization and labor markets to environmental compliance, industrial pollution, and public health. His research has informed national policy in Bangladesh and contributed to global development discourse.
He has received prestigious research grants and fellowships from J-PAL, IGC, Stanford University, and the Government of Japan, and has presented his work at the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, ADB’s Asian Evaluation Week, and leading academic conferences worldwide. A former President of the Graduate Economics Club at UVA, he is also an Honorary Director at SANEM and serves on the Executive Committee of the Association for Economic and Development Studies of Bangladesh.
Dr. Mahzab is widely recognized for his interdisciplinary approach, combining rigorous empirical methods with policy relevance, and continues to shape the frontier of development economics through research, teaching, and global collaboration.
RAKIB HOSSAIN, Advisor
Md. Rakib Hossain, ndc is a highly accomplished public sector leader and development expert with over 37 years of experience in government service, international consultancy, and institutional capacity building. A former Secretary to the Government of Bangladesh and Rector of the Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC), he currently serves as Capacity Development and Training Coordination Expert at the Asian Development Bank’s Bangladesh Resident Mission.
He holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Canberra, Australia, and a Master’s in Strategy and Development Studies from BUP, complemented by advanced training from globally renowned institutions including Harvard University, Duke University, Macquarie University, Deakin University, Central Queensland University, and AIT Thailand.
Throughout his career, Mr. Hossain held senior roles in the Ministry of Public Administration, Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Ministry of Water Resources, and Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, where he led major reforms in training policy, project management, and institutional development. As Project Director of a flagship BCS Cadre Development Initiative, he facilitated overseas training and scholarships in partnership with top global universities. He also served as Senior Program Officer at the Australian Embassy (AusAID), managing development cooperation in education, disaster response, gender, and refugee rehabilitation.
A prolific researcher and policy contributor, he has authored and supervised numerous studies on governance, SDGs, and organizational transformation, and continues to shape public sector excellence in Bangladesh and beyond.
Mahbooba Panna, Advisor
Mahbooba Panna is a distinguished public sector professional and Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow under the Fulbright Program, having completed a year-long professional study in Human Resource Management and Leadership at the University of Washington, Seattle. With a government career spanning three decades, she retired in 2024 as Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Public Administration, after serving in key roles across the Parliament Secretariat, Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, ICT Division, Prime Minister’s Office, and Ministry of Defence.
She holds a BA (Hons.) and MA in English Literature from the University of Dhaka and has completed a wide range of international executive trainings, including programs at the Duke University, University of Alabama, Singapore Civil Service College, University of Wolverhampton (UK), University of Sunshine Coast (Australia), , and the Mekong Institute (Thailand). With over 20 years of experience in training and capacity development, she has played a pivotal role as a resource person, regularly conducting sessions and delivering lectures on public management, leadership, policy development and climate change issues. She has extensive experience in contributing Blue Economy Policies of Bangladesh in collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and has also received specialized training in Australia
A prominent orator and public speaker, Mahbooba Panna is widely respected for her ability to engage, inspire, and educate diverse audiences. Her diverse background also includes work in media and creative production, as well as an internship with Seattle Public Utilities focused on service evaluation.
Dr. Jiban Ranjan Majumder
Dr. Jiban Ranjan Majumder, Senior Project Coordinator at Bangladesh Resident Mission of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), has about 36 years of diverse professional experience in developing and managing programs for sustainable development in Bangladesh and other countries. He joined ADB in 2018 and has since been dealing with project preparation and implementation, coordination with public, private and international agencies. Before joining the ADB, Dr. Majumder worked in different ministries of Bangladesh Government and showed outstanding performance in managing projects in various fields both in government and PPP sectors. He worked closely with international development partners to explore foreign assistance for Bangladesh. In Government, he was the focal person for World Bank, ADB, EU, DFID, Germany, France and many other countries. Dr. Majumder served a key diplomatic position (Economic Minister and Charge d’ Affaires at Bangladesh Embassy in Japan. He also worked in the World Bank Headquarters in Washington, DC and managed regional integration projects in water, environment, climate change, and social development sectors. Besides, he supervised an integrated watershed development program in Nepal. As a guest lecturer, he delivers lectures in different universities in Japan, Thailand and Netherlands. Dr. Majumder holds an undergraduate and an M.Sc. degree from Bangladesh Agricultural University. He holds one more M.Sc. in Wageningen University (Netherlands) and a PhD from the School of Environment, Resources and Development of Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok (Thailand). He has authored a number of publications and attended different training programs organized by the World Bank and other organizations.
Dr. Pear Mohammad, Advisor
Dr. Pear Mohammad is a distinguished Bangladeshi civil servant, policy expert, and scientist with over three decades of multifaceted experience spanning government administration, international consultancy, and academic research. Holding a Ph.D. in Horticulture from Ehime University, Japan, he has served in senior government positions, including Wing Chief (Additional Secretary) at the Economic Relations Division and Alternate Executive Director of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), where he represented Bangladesh in high-level development financing and strategic negotiations. As Project Director of several national initiatives, he has demonstrated outstanding leadership in project formulation, financial oversight, and procurement management. His consultancy work with FAO and USAID has significantly contributed to policy reform in agriculture, food safety, and climate resilience. A prolific writer and translator, Dr. Mohammad has authored over 60 scientific publications, numerous policy documents, and creative works including dramas, songs, and books. His contributions to climate change adaptation, agricultural innovation, and public service training have earned him both national and international recognition. Fluent in Bengali, English, and Japanese, Dr. Mohammad exemplifies a rare blend of research expertise, administrative acumen, and policy depth.
Core Functions of the Advisory Board
1. Strategic Guidance
- Advise on the long-term vision, mission, and strategic priorities of PPS.
- Identify emerging trends and global policy shifts (climate, oceans, peace, Indo-Pacific security) to keep PPS ahead.
- Recommend thematic focus areas for research and dialogues.
2. Oversight and Accountability
- Provide oversight of PPS’s programs, ensuring alignment with its mission and foundational principles
- Review key reports, flagship publications, and project outcomes.
- Ensure transparency, accountability, and credibility in operations and partnerships.
3. Global Networking and Partnerships
- Connect PPS with governments, multilateral institutions (UN, ASEAN, IORA, BIMSTEC), foundations, and universities.
- Support fundraising and resource mobilization by leveraging networks and credibility.
- Represent PPS in international forums and high-level dialogues.
4. Mentorship and Capacity Building
- Mentor Research Fellows, Non-Resident Fellows, and young professionals within PPS.
- Offer expertise and serve as sounding boards for innovative projects.
- Ensure the think tank nurtures a new generation of leaders in peace and policy.
5. Advisory Endorsements
- Endorse PPS’s flagship initiatives (such as Ocean Peace Forum, Bay of Bengal Climate Resilience Compact) to enhance visibility.
- Provide peer review for policy briefs and strategic documents before publication.
- Act as ambassadors of PPS’s values: peace, justice, resilience, and solidarity.
Composition of the Advisory Board
- Chairperson (Advisory Board): Senior statesperson or international figure.
- Members: 8–12 distinguished individuals with expertise in:
- Peace and conflict resolution
- Ocean governance and Blue Economy
- Climate resilience and adaptation
- South Asia and Indo-Pacific geopolitics
- Humanitarian response and refugee protection
- International law and diplomacy
- Honorary Members (Optional): Nobel laureates, eminent scholars, or global advocates who lend prestige.
Working Mechanism
- Meets twice annually (one physical, one virtual).
- Can convene special sessions for urgent issues (e.g., Rohingya crisis, ocean negotiations, COP processes).
- Works closely with the CEO and department leads to provide guidance.
- Provides written recommendations and endorsements for strategic initiatives.