© 2025 United Nations Association - Minnesota Chapter
United Nations Association of the USA
Minnesota Chapter
Join Us
Dedicated to educating, inspiring and mobilizing Minnesotans to support the principles and vital work of the United Nations and its Agencies.
UNA Board Officers,
Board, and Advisory
Committee Members
Pictured here are those dedicated Minnesota residents, and UNA members, who guide the activities of your local UNA chapter.
Don McCormick
President
Clara Ugarte Perrin
Vice President
Dale F. Weeks
Treasurer
Kinza Qazi
Secretary
Clara Ugarte Perrin is an international strategic communications leader with three decades of experience reshaping how institutions engage with society across the Americas. She believes progress accelerates when people feel seen, heard, and empowered to shape the decisions that affect their lives. As Co-Chair of the UNAMN Advocacy Committee and now Vice President of the UNA- MN Board, Clara supports strengthening the organization’s policy voice and expanding its coalition strategy to ensure local leadership meaningfully contributes to global progress. She is particularly committed to mentoring emerging leaders and elevating new voices into influential spaces. Clara holds a Master’s degree in International Business and a B.A. in Mass Media Communications. She lives in Minnesota with her family and continues to build bridges across cultures with intention and courage.
Dale F. Weeks is President and Chief Executive Officer of Global Leadership and Benchmarking Associates (GLBA), a Minneapolis-based consulting firm specializing in performance excellence and global benchmarking across government, education, healthcare, startup, nonprofit, and private-sector organizations. He is a licensed professional with Organizational Excellence Specialists and has held senior leadership roles in benchmarking, performance improvement, and enterprise management in major public-sector institutions, including the Florida and Minnesota Departments of Revenue.
Kinza Qazi is an environmental scientist, entrepreneur, and community leader working at the intersection of sustainability, public health, and social impact. She serves as Board Member and Secretary of the UNA-MN and has spent over a decade advising a polio-focused NGO in Lahore, Pakistan, supporting initiatives that strengthen public health and local communities. She holds dual master’s degrees in Environmental Sciences and Geophysics and manages commercial operations in her cement additives company, where she promotes environmentally responsible practices and cleaner construction solutions in Pakistan. Having lived in four countries and led United Nations Day celebrations in international schools for more than ten years, Kinza has developed a deep appreciation for cultural diversity and global collaboration. Her work with nonprofit organizations, including orphanage homes in Jakarta, Singapore, and Pakistan, reflects her commitment to community service and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. A mother of three and fluent in four languages, she values cross-cultural connection in both her professional and personal life.
Don has several decades of experience as a business consultant helping organizations in a variety of industries adapt to new ways of thinking and working. He joined UNA-USA with a belief that the U.S. needs to play a leadership role in realizing the U.N.’s vision for peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet. His focus is on educating Minnesotans about issues impacting human rights and the environment and thereby gaining their help to support the vital work of the U.N. Don and his wife live in Minneapolis and have two college-age children.
UNA-MN Board Members
Stuart Ackman
Charlie Cogan
Anna DeWitt
Michael Eaton
Tammie Follett
Liz Klages
Andrew Lefton
​
​Bob Pitner
Kari Rise
Jay Shahidi
Dale Snyder
Dale Weeks
Chengyan Yue
Phillip Zuidema
