Magic Carpet Flying

Pamela Ryan

Born in Australia and now holding dual citizen-ship as an American and Australian, Pamela Ryan is driven by the conviction that all humans are born equal in capacity but not opportunity. This belief has fueled her lifelong endeavor to help bring voice to the voiceless, whether in the business, social, or political arenas.

For thirty years, Ryan has been committed to facilitating equality and social justice through her direct involvement as a psychologist, an educator (on university campuses in both Australia and the United States), through political activity, and in public policy advocacy.

A firm believer in the potential benefits of "scrambling" one's structured view of the world, Pamela delights to shine light on new ways of doing things, whether for individuals, groups, organizations, communities, or nations. She regularly scrambles her own life, having reincarnated herself as a psychologist in several distinct arenas, corporate, political, clinical, academic, and international humanitarian. All of these "lives" came together in her work with Psychology Beyond Borders, which she co-founded in 2006.

Passionate about education being a fundamental right of all citizens, and the very foundation of democracy, Ryan's role as managing director of Issues Deliberation Australia/America has involved numerous leading-edge national and international public policy and research initiatives, such as building understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims, reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians, feasibility of human rights legislation and parliamentary reform, "future perfect thinking" about economic development, comparisons of voters' mental maps, and exploration of psychological well-being in the face of fear and terror.

Pamela is also committed to ensuring those born into environments with less opportunity and resources get a better deal. In 2000 she co-founded and continues to chair the board of the Texas-based Silverton Foundation, which focuses on empowerment of disadvantaged peoples in the United States, Australia, and other parts of the world such as Ethiopia, East Timor, Sri Lanka, India, Vietnam, and South Africa.

Author or co-author of many public policy reports, conference papers, and academic articles relating to Issues Deliberation subjects and Psychology Beyond Borders projects, Dr. Ryan has also given countless public presentations.

When not immersed in the work that so inspires and sustains her, Pamela succumbs to her "inner sports fanatic." Ingrained during her upbringing in the Australian outback, she revels in any outdoor activity, being an avid swimmer, cyclist, and flier of single-engine planes. She also maintains her balance by regularly practicing Kundalini yoga and pilates, hiking with her Irish setters, and hanging out with family and friends over robust conversation, food, and wine.