Jim Pickup is President and CEO of the Middle East Investment Initiative (MEII) and General Counsel of the Aspen Institute.  MEII is a non-profit organization that designs and implements innovative development finance and technical assistance programs in the Middle East and North Africa in order to facilitate economic opportunities and sustainable job creation.  At the Aspen Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering enlightened leadership and open-minded dialogue, Jim serves as the Institute’s primary attorney.  He is also a Henry Crown Fellow and a member of the Institute’s Aspen Global Leadership Network.

From 1997-2014, Jim was a partner and associate at DLA Piper, an international law firm.  In 2000 and 2001, Jim served as Senator George Mitchell's representative when the Senator chaired the Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee, an international committee established to examine the crisis between the Israelis and Palestinians and make recommendations to prevent its recurrence.  He played a significant role in the committee's activities and the drafting of its report, which has become known as the Mitchell Plan.  Jim graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center, received a Master in International Affairs degree from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, and graduated with honors (M.A. hons.) from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland.