International Center for Law and Religion Studies | International Advisory Council

Members of the International Advisory Council (IAC) play critical roles in promoting the cause of religious freedom worldwide. Under the leadership of IAC Chair David Colton and the members of the IAC Executive Committee, the members of the IAC host international delegates at the Center’s annual symposium in Provo, travel to many parts of the world to participate in important religious conferences, and otherwise generously share their time, talents, and other resources to move the work forward.

International Advisory Council Executive Committee

L-R: Back row: David Nearon, Bryce Wade, David Colton, Kenneth Woolley, David Christensen, Martin Egbert, Barbara Benac, Bill Benac
Front row: Linda Nearon, Peggy Wade, Julie Colton, Athelia Woolley, Mary Christensen, Allyson Egbert, Lynn Andersen
Not pictured: Craig Cardon, Jim Cook, Sandy Cook, David Harden, Jennifer Harden, Heidi Shipp, Milt Shipp

Milt Shipp

Chair – International Advisory Council

Milt and Heidi recently returned from serving as the Church’s India Mission Training Center President and Companion. Prior to this calling, they served as Government Relations Representatives of the Church stationed in Hong Kong. Milt is a founder and former CEO of DAI, a real estate development company with projects along the Wasatch Front in Utah. He also is a partner in Candlelight Homes. Milt graduated from the University of Utah in Organizational Communications and then attended BYU’s MBA School. He is a member of the IAC Executive Committee, and was recently named the Chair of the IAC.

S. David Colton

Immediate Past Chair, International Advisory Council

Longtime Center supporter David Colton has assumed the role of Chair of the IAC Executive Committee beginning in April 2018. Dave and his wife, Julie, served LDS Charities as Government Relations specialists at the United Nations in New York City during 2015-2017. The Coltons spent 2009-2013 in Frankfurt, Germany, where Dave served as the Area Legal Counsel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the Europe Area. Prior to accepting these position Dave was employed by Phelps Dodge Corporation for almost twenty years. Dave’s career with Phelps Dodge started in 1988 where he held various positions including general counsel, a position he…

David Christensen

Past Chair – International Advisory Council

David Christensen is managing partner of Milestone Holdings, a privately held real estate investment company. Formerly, he was co-president of Nearon Enterprises, and previous to that he was the manager of acquisitions at Bechtel Investments Realty. He earned his bachelor’s degree in financial planning from Brigham Young University in 1980 and a Masters degree in Business Administration from Yale School of Management in 1985. David has worked with the International Center for Law and Religion Studies of the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University since 2002, serving as Chair of its International Advisory Council between 2011 and 2018.