Bassam Barabandi is a Senior Advisor with BGR Group. With extensive experience in Middle Eastern affairs, Mr. Barabandi brings over two decades of expertise in public diplomacy, policy analysis, and strategic advising. His career includes working with high-level government entities and international organizations, specializing in navigating complex political environments and fostering collaboration across diverse stakeholders.
Mr. Barabandi is the Co-Founder of People Demand Change Inc. Born in Damascus, Syria, with familial ties to Deir Azzour Province, he worked in the Syrian diplomatic civil service for 14 years before leaving the Syrian Embassy in Washington, DC, in 2013 to co-found PDC.
His diplomatic career included roles such as First Secretary at the Syrian Embassy in Washington, D.C., head of political affairs at the Syrian Embassy in Beijing, China, and a post at the Syrian Government’s UN mission in New York City. He also liaised with organizations such as the World Bank, the U.S. Treasury Department, and the U.S. Congress.
Since the Syrian revolution in 2011, Mr. Barabandi has been a strong advocate for Syrian citizens, ensuring unhindered access to consular services regardless of political affiliation. He has collaborated with members of Congress, media outlets, and the U.S. Government to expose and sanction Assad regime officials, companies, and businessmen implicated in human rights violations by freezing their assets. Additionally, he has provided regular updates on the situation in Syria—especially regarding foreign fighters and Iranian interference—offering comprehensive analysis and strategic recommendations to decision-makers in the United States and Europe.
As Co-Founder of PDC, Mr. Barabandi has written extensively on the Syrian conflict, with publications in Foreign Affairs and Foreign Policy, and has been featured as an expert commentator on BBC, Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya, Sky News, and France24.
Education
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The American University of Beirut