TAMUNA GABILAIA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
WORLD FEDERATION OF DIRECT SELLING ASSOCIATIONS (WFDSA)

Ms. Gabilaia serves as the Executive Director and Chief of Staff of the 57 nation World Federation of Direct Selling Associations. In her capacity, she oversees the development, planning and execution of WFDSA program of work that aim to enhance direct selling reputation, foster ethical conduct in the marketplace and improve local association management.

Prior to joining WFDSA, Ms. Gabilaia was a senior level diplomat for over seven years working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. She was actively involved in shaping Georgia's foreign economic policy with other countries and has extensive negotiation skills with high level officials from Western as well as from developing countries and international organizations (USAID, World Bank, IMF, UNDP, UNCTAD, WTO, ECE), As an economist, Ms. Gabilaia has experience in matters of international commerce and business. She prepared and negotiated key economic agreements and treaties among Georgia and foreign countries, was involved in the negotiations regarding Georgia's accession to the WTO and organized numerous visits of the former President of Georgia Eduard Shevardnadze to foreign countries.

Ms. Gabilaia graduated from Tbilisi State University of Foreign Languages and Culture, with honors, receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Relations and English Language, and from the School of International Service, American University in Washington DC, receiving a Master of Arts Degree in International Economic Development. Ms. Gabilaia has a Certificate in International Relations and Diplomacy from the Foreign Service Institute of the Ministry of External Affairs of India and she has attended various trade and foreign economic relations courses and seminars around the world.

Ms. Gabilaia is a member of the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area and the American Society of Association Executives. She is a Co-Chairman of the WTO Section of the Women in International Trade (WIIT) a premier non-partisan professional organization and a member of the WFDSA Board of Directors. Ms. Gabilaia is fluent in Georgian, Russian and English languages.