FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

June 25, 2025 
Contact: Gemma Givens 
press@thedialogue.org    

Washington, DC – The Inter-American Dialogue is proud to announce that Amna Nawaz, award-winning journalist, co-anchor and co-managing editor of PBS News Hour, and member of the Inter-American Dialogue, will serve as leader of ceremony for the 10th Annual Leadership for the Americas Awards Gala, to be held on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at the Organization of American States headquarters in Washington, DC.  

Nawaz is a leading voice in journalism, known for her insightful reporting on issues ranging from immigration and global conflict to education and climate change. She has reported from across the United States and around the world, and her work has earned four Peabody Awards, an Emmy, and numerous other accolades for excellence in journalism and public service.  

Before joining the PBS News Hour in 2018, Nawaz was an anchor and correspondent at ABC News and served as a foreign correspondent and Islamabad Bureau Chief at NBC News. She also founded NBC’s Asian America platform to elevate stories from one of the country’s fastest-growing and most diverse communities.  

At PBS News Hour, Nawaz has interviewed heads of state including the Presidents of Afghanistan and Turkey, administration officials from both the Trump and Biden White Houses, and leading figures in culture and sports, including director Ava DuVernay, legendary coach Dawn Staley, and TV host Andy Cohen. In 2019, she became the first Asian American and first Muslim American to moderate a U.S. presidential debate.    

“We are honored to have Amna Nawaz as leader of ceremony for this year’s gala. Amna exemplifies integrity, courage, and a deep commitment to public service, values that we celebrate,” said Inter-American Dialogue President and CEO Dr. Rebecca Bill Chavez. “Through her exceptional journalism, she has elevated critical issues facing the Americas and amplified the voices of communities too often left out of the conversation.”  

Each year, the Leadership for the Americas Awards Gala honors extraordinary individuals and organizations working to shape a more democratic, equitable, and prosperous future for the Western Hemisphere. The 2025 Gala comes at a pivotal moment for the region, bringing together influential voices from across the Americas to celebrate progress and inspire action.  

Past Gala hosts include Lilia Luciano (CBS News), Lulu Garcia-Navarro (New York Times), Pati Jinich (Pati’s Mexican Table), Vanessa Hauc (Noticias Telemundo), and María Elena Salinas (Univision). 

Notes to Editors 

The Dialogue is a hemispheric organization that builds networks of cooperation and action to advance democratic resilience, shared prosperity, social inclusion, and sustainable development across the Americas. We impact policy debates, devise solutions, and enhance collaboration to unlock meaningful change in the Western Hemisphere. 

Individual tickets and sponsorship inquiries may be directed to gala@thedialogue.org.

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