Maria Claudette Guevara-Hizon is the Executive Director of the Stratbase Institute, where she is responsible for overseeing the administrative operations and contributing to the strategic planning and execution of the organization’s objectives. She is in charge of approving project timelines, plans, and implementation, as well as reviewing contracts and partnership agreements for compliance. She was the Deputy Executive Director for Programs of the Institute since 2014 where she was in charge of the implementation of the Institute’s projects and activities. She executed the Institute’s programs and administration, and maintained relationships with associates and networks. She coordinated with third-party authors and non-resident fellows for publications, and contributed articles on elections and governance.

 Claudette also serves as the Director of Administration of the Stratbase Group where she is in charge of identifying areas for process improvement and implementing efficiency measures to enhance overall operations. Prior this, she was the Director of Accounts for Stratbase where she ensured the delivery of work for clients. She managed strategic grassroots campaigns for Stratbase clients, identified opportunities, built teams, and engaged in strategic planning and execution of public affairs projects.

 She was the Secretary-General of ADRi’s advocacy group, Democracy Watch Philippines, a citizen-led initiative that advocates for honest, fair and free elections, reforms to strengthen political party systems, and institutionalizing governance reforms through the principles of accountable government and transparency of decision-making.

 She received her bachelor’s degree major in Political Science from De La Salle University – Manila in 2011. She took a course on Leadership of Change for Development Managers at the Asian Institute of Management on May 2017 and a course on Project Management from Ateneo De Manila University Continuing Center for Education in 2015. She was a delegate at the Southeast Asian Young Leaders Program of the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Shangri-La Dialogue 2018.

 In school, she was elected as a two-time Batch President of the College of Liberal Arts at the De La Salle University – Manila from 2008 to 2010 and Sangguniang Kabataan Chairperson in Pasay City, Metro Manila. She was also the High School Student Council President from 2007-2008 at the St. Scholastica’s College-Manila.