International Leadership Forum

Details about the International Leadership Forum:

Date: June 12, 2023

Time: 18.00-21.00

Location: The National Press Club, Washington, DC.

Panel Discussion Schedule

Date: June 12, 2023

Schedule:

- 18:00 PM - 18:15 PM: Open Remarks

The Forum will begin with opening remarks from IGAPA board members and other industry leaders, who will set the tone for the day's discussions and provide context for the various panels and presentations that will take place throughout the event.

- 18:15 PM - 19:00 PM: Panel 1: International Political Leadership

This panel discussion will explore the leadership styles and strategies of international political leaders, with a focus on the lessons that public affairs professionals can learn from their successes and failures.

- 19:00 PM - 19:30 PM: Panel 2: Women's Leadership

This panel discussion will focus on the challenges and opportunities facing women leaders in the public affairs industry, and how organizations can promote gender equality and diversity in their leadership ranks.

- 19.30 PM - 20:00 PM: Panel 3: Business Leadership

This panel discussion will explore the leadership qualities and strategies that are most effective in the fast-paced, constantly evolving world of public affairs.

- 20:00 PM - 20:30 PM: Panel 4: Great Cases Leaders

This panel discussion will focus on the leadership lessons that can be learned from high-profile cases of crisis management and reputation recovery. This panel could also connect with other themes such as digital advocacy, ethics, and diversity and inclusion.

- 20:30 PM - 21:00 PM: Side Event and Networking Reception

After the final panel, participants will have the opportunity to attend a special side event and networking reception, where they can meet other public affairs professionals and exchange ideas and best practices. Light refreshments will be served.

This agenda provides a full day of programming, with ample opportunities for networking and learning from industry leaders and experts.

Additional Program (June 13-14) in Washington, DC

We offer our guests an additional experience exchange program which includes additional meetings with practitioners at lunch with industry practitioners from the US, an experience exchange meeting in a closed Republican club, 2 tours of landmarks in Washington, dialogue with US authorities, and other activities.

Date: June 13, 2023

Location: Washington, D.C.

Schedule:

- 11.00 – 13.00 Tour to the United States Capitol, the seat of the United States Congress.

- 13.00 – 14.00 Lunch

- 14.00 – 16.00 Tour to the Library of Congress, the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the de facto national library of the United States.

- 7.00 PM Dinner at a private club, the National Republican Club at Capitol Hill, one of the most popular gathering spots in Washington for lawmakers, government officials, and other members of the political establishment.

Along with these programs, we offer you a choice to participate in partnership programs, such as the “Ukrainian Days” Advocacy Event, for those willing to support Ukraine and the Ukrainian people and spread or gather information and awareness on Ukraine. Apart from this event, you can also join the “Lift Women Now, Elevate the Future” International Women’s Day Event supporting the women’s movement.

Date: June 14, 2023

Location: Washington, D.C.

“Ukrainian Days” Advocacy Event

Sponsored by the Ukrainian National Information Service (UNIS), the Washington, DC public affairs bureau of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), this advocacy event is a very important endeavor for the Ukrainian American community especially given the nearly one-year war of russian aggression in Ukraine.

As Ukraine enters the first year of the kremlin’s full-scale invasion, the March 8-9th advocacy event will be an opportunity to meet in person with congressional offices and to promote our immediate concerns for increased security assistance for Ukraine; imposing more sanctions against russia; designating russia as a State Sponsor of Terrorism; recognition of the current war and the Holodomor as genocide; and, recognizing the Wagner Group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).

Speakers:

Steven Blank - an internationally recognized expert on Russian foreign and defense policies and international relations across the former Soviet Union. He is also a leading expert on European and Asian security, including energy issues. Since 2020 he has been a Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. In 2020-21, he also was a Senior Expert for Russia at the U.S. Institute of Peace. Between 2013 and 2020, he was a Senior Fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council, www.afpc.org. Between 1989-2013, he was a professor of Russian National Security Studies at the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College in Pennsylvania.

Kendall Coffey – is a former U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Florida (1993-1996); and served as Chair of the Southern District Conference, Florida Federal Judicial Nominating Commission (April 2009 – January 2017). He is annually recognized as one of Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, Florida's “Super Lawyer,” and South Florida Legal Guide’s “Top Lawyers”, recognized by the National Law Journal as one of its Lawyers of the Year for 2000, as a Member of Gore Legal Team. A frequent teacher and guest lecturer, he has been Guest Legal Analyst providing legal commentary for international networks: “CNN International”, “Telemundo”, “Univision”, “Canadian Broadcasting Company”; national networks: “CNBC”, “CNN”, “CNN Headline News”, “FOX”, “MSNBC” and “NBC”; and local television: “ABC-10”, “CBS-4”, “América TeVe”, “Telemundo-51”, “Univision-23”, “TeleMiami”.

Natalija Dobrovic - a political science consultant from Montenegro specializing in working with think tanks, political advocacy, and NGOs. She is currently leading analytics and strategy at Moderna focusing on the COVID-19 vaccine.

Kateryna Odarchenko - Political strategist, CEO and founder of SIC group, Board Member of IGAPA (International Government Relations Association), President of the think-tank “Institute for Democracy and Development “PolitA” (www.polita.org), Founder of Ukrainian government professional relations association (www.grukraine.com.ua), member of board IGAPA network (www.igapa.net). Professional practicing in the field of political communications and projects. He has practical experience in the implementation of all-Ukrainian campaigns and political projects and party-building projects. Organized political communication projects in the European Union and the USA for clients from Middle Asia and Eastern Europe. Develops the theme of lobbying and GR as the correct methods of communication between business and government in Ukraine, author of the bestselling book “The Election Game”. The head of the “National Platform” political party (www.platforma.in.ua), was created through a collection of 14,000 signatures across the country. This party first in worldwide practice produce their ”Token of attention” Now she works in the USA, (Washington, DC). Head of initiative “Ukrainian Humanitarian headquarters”.

Peter Huessy - a senior fellow at Hudson Institute, where he focuses on nuclear deterrence and modernization, arms control, and defense policy. He has spent the past four decades laying out the requirements for nuclear deterrence and modernization, arms control, and defense policy, as well as the companion efforts on missile defense, space, non-, and counterproliferation, particularly using public diplomacy to further US policy. His work has also focused on the threats from Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. Since 1981, Mr. Huessy has been an adviser on policy and legislative issues to a group of aerospace industries in the strategic deterrent business. From 1993 to 2011, he was with the National Defense University Foundation and from 1981 to 1993 with the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis.

Ejike Edward Okpa - a Nigerian real estate company executive. He is a licensed real estate agent in Texas and a recipient of special achievement certified Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation as Receive, 1989. Pioneer Secretary Federation Club, Dallas, 1985-1986. Member National Association Review Appraisers and Mortgage Underwriters (senior member, review appraiser), American Institute Real Estate Appraiser (candidate).

Adam Raezler - a vice-president of the McKeon Group, former vice-president of the Ragnar Research Partners, a campaign, elections, and Capitol Hill strategy, polling, and messaging firm. Adam specializes in legislative and public affairs, campaigns, and elections. He has worked extensively throughout Capitol Hill, as well as with the Departments of State and Defense during the Bush and Trump Administrations. He has over 15 years of campaign and election experience, combined with complex public policy issue knowledge ranging from national security, anti-terrorism, international trade, and relations, to domestic issues such as veterans affairs, energy, financial services, and real estate.  

Leif Larson – political strategist and film production specialist, who has developed strategy and advertising for political candidates and issue campaigns across the country. He has over a decade of experience in public relations and strategic national and international message development and campaigning utilizing a variety of print, radio and television advertising. His past and present clients include Reps. Patrick McHenry, John McHugh, Mary Bono Mack, John Campbell, John Shimkus, NRCC, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and American Society of Anesthesiologists, All Children Matter, Global Automakers, National Retail Federation, and American College of Emergency Physicians.

Marc Plavetic - Executive Officer and Public Liaison for the National Federation of Croatian Americans Cultural Foundation. Former Rudy Perpich Fellow who has participated in multiple political discussions relating to Southeastern Europe focusing on election disenfranchisement in Bosnia and Herzegovina and business and philanthropic relations between Croatia and the U.S. Mark serves as a policy liaison for the President of NFCA Steve Rukavina and has assisted in the organization with Croatian diaspora projects with European Parliament members and specialists of Bosnian elections, Kosovo relations, and Croatia business law, history, and culture.

Event Venue

National Press Club, 529 14th Street Northwest, Washington, United States