Andrea Koppel

Andrea Koppel is an award-winning, internationally renowned journalist with more than two decades of experience covering many of the biggest stories and events in the U.S. and across the globe. For 14 years she worked as a correspondent for CNN reporting from diverse posts, from Africa to China, covering three secretaries of state and two presidents. In January 2010, Koppel became the Director of International Services at the American Red Cross, focusing her field experience on the realm of global humanitarian care. Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities, Koppel uses her journalistic prowess to shed light on American and international policies, and the issues that impact the world at large. Koppel has consistently set herself apart from her peers with in-depth reporting and enlightening interviews with world leaders, politicians, dissidents, and social activists. She speaks with authority and aplomb about the current state of culture, across the continents, and brings her vast knowledge and integrity as a former reporter to every presentation.

A dedicated scoop. In December 2003, Koppel - at the time eight months pregnant - was the first to secure a coveted exclusive interview with Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi, during which he publicly announced his country would shut down its program to develop weapons of mass destruction. She spent 10 days in Libya - much of that time as the only U.S. journalist allowed in.

Over the course of her career Koppel secured numerous other exclusive interviews with world leaders such as China's former President Jiang Zemin before the handover of Hong Kong in 1997 and President Lee Teng-hui, after he became Taiwan's first democratically elected president. She also reported extensively on Arab-Israeli peace talks between 1998-2006 including the Wye River, Shepherdstown, and Camp David II negotiations.

In October 2000, Koppel was among a small group of journalists invited to accompany then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on her historic visit to North Korea. Albright was the highest ranking U.S. official to enter North Korea since the end of the Korean war. Following the 9/11 attacks Koppel joined then-Secretary of State Colin Powell during his high stakes diplomatic mission to Pakistan and Afghanistan just weeks before the U.S. bombing campaign of Afghanistan.

Journalistic flair. Koppel joined CNN in 1993 as the network's Tokyo correspondent and was quickly promoted in 1995 to become CNN's Beijing Bureau Chief. As a mandarin-Chinese speaking journalist Koppel was equipped to integrate within, and provide rare insight into, this complex country and its culture. Over several years she reported from Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and more than half of China's provinces and autonomous regions. She covered a wide variety of economic, social, and political stories including the demise of the country's cradle to grave social safety net. In 1996 Koppel won a prestigious Gracie award for her documentary Daughters of the Revolution, about Chinese women in the wake of the communist revolution. More recently, Koppel demonstrated her knowledge of American politics and domestic issues during her 18-month tenure as the network's Capitol Hill correspondent.