The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.

Sandra Houston, senior resident country director for NDI's Pakistan office, has worked in politics for 30 years. In Canada, she served as the executive director of her party in two provinces, as deputy chief of staff to the premier of British Columbia, as party organizer and as a campaign manager in dozens of elections across Canada. Ms. Houston has conceived, developed and delivered training for thousands of candidates, party and labor leaders, party activists and government staff.

In addition to these positions, Ms. Houston worked with a public opinion research firm developing research mechanisms and analyzing survey research.

Prior to her position in Pakistan, Ms. Houston worked for NDI in Serbia and Albania developing and delivering training programs for candidates, party leadership, local activists, government agency staff and executive council staff. She was later a consultant with IBM Consulting Services where she worked with the Serbian National Assembly to assist in introducing transparent and inclusive legislative review processes. In addition Ms. Houston assisted government agency staff in developing communications campaigns and materials to inform and consult citizens about legislative changes.

Ms. Houston has  traveled to Iraq on three occasions for NDI, to facilitate groups of women in developing The National Platform for Women to focus election discussion on issues of importance to women, to conduct training for women election candidates and to provide assistance to the women in planning advocacy campaigns.

Ms. Houston holds a masters's degree in leadership and training from Royal Roads University in British Columbia. Her thesis subject was the changing face of volunteerism in politics.