Texas-Mexico Summit
2017-05-04 09:00 - 22:00 (America/Chicago) | Archer Hotel Austin, 3121 Palm Way, Austin, TX, 78758, United States
The Texas-Mexico Summit is offered to business executives through a collaboration with the Association of Mexican Entrepreneurs (AEM). In 2015, Texas exported $94.5 billion in goods to Mexico. These exports to Mexico represented 38% of Texas’ total exports. Under NAFTA, Texas’ exports to Mexico have increased by 384%, with an annual average growth rate of 7.2% over 21 years.
Mexican and American CEOs, entrepreneurs, business leaders, as well as high ranking government officials will come together in the capital of the Lone Star state on May 4th and 5th. The Texas-Mexico Summit will provide corporate executives with the resources they need to engage in cross-border business growth and thereby strengthen the bi-national trade relationship between Mexico and the USA.
May 4th Agenda
9 am
Registration opens
9:30 am
AEM Board & Chapter Presidents’ Special Session*
10:30 am
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Mexico Ambassador to USA Gerónimo Gutiérrez (invited)
11:30 am
DISCUSSION: How to create successful binational businesses
Panelists: Mexico and U.S. CEOs
12:30 pm
LUNCH
2:00pm
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: “Mexico US NAFTA challenges ahead”
3:00pm
DISCUSSION: Coming to US from Mexico and creating a successful business
Panelists: Mexico SMB CEO’s
4:00pm
Coffee Break
4:15 pm
DISCUSSION: Strategic importance of Mexico to Texas trade & economy
Panelists: U.S and Mexico’s Senior Experts
5:30 pm
Networking Round tables
6:30 pm
BREAK
7:30 – 11 pm
AEM Summit Reception & Leadership Awards Ceremony

Sixth Annual Texas-EU Business Summit
2017-05-09 08:00 - 16:00 | San Jacinto Meeting Rooms, 309 E 21st St, Austin, TX, 78712, United States
In its 6th year, the Texas-EU Business Summit is the premier event for Texas businesses, entrepreneurs and economic development professionals seeking to expand their footprint in Europe.
Texas is already the largest exporting state to the EU. The summit builds on that footprint, focusing on promoting the international trade capacity of Texas businesses and economic development organizations while creating greater awareness regarding the benefits of exporting.
The Texas-EU Business Summit sessions are led by business leaders, trade and investment officials from EU countries, trade policy experts and political officials.
Event sponsors include:
The Center for European Studies, the University of Texas at Austin,
The Kozmetsky Center at St. Edwards University,
The International Business Institute at Austin Community College,
The Consulate General of Ireland in Austin,
The International Trade Center at the University of Texas San Antonio,
The Greater San Marcos Partnership.

International Business Coalition Meeting
2017-06-08 11:30 - 13:00 | Austin Chamber of Commerce, 535 E. Fifth Street, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
Please plan to attend the next meeting of the Central Texas International Business Coalition. The regular informational networking agenda will include great speakers and global trade updates.
Our featured speakers from BTX Global Logistics will be Kim Schaerges, Director of Sales, and Hans Falk, International Shipping Specialist.
Kim and Hans will provide a brief overview on the documents necessary to import and export, along with a review of common questions and concerns. Some of those items include: methods of transport, commercial invoices, shippers letters of instructions, incoterms, HTS codes and customs. Please come with any specific questions or issues you have as well.
With gratitude to our host:

Smart Cities Connect Conference & Expo
2017-06-25 13:00 - 2017-06-27 16:30 | Austin Convention Center, 500 E. Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, 78701, United States
The World Affairs Council of Austin is a supporting organization for the Smart Cities Connect Conference & Expo taking place on 26-28 June 2017. The Expo brings together over 200 cities and their respective leaders to demonstrate and partner with innovative technology and service providers — linking progressive cities with state-of-the-art solutions and best practices.
The Smart Cities Connect Conference & Expo, in partnership with US Ignite, will once again deliver North America’s largest concentration of C-Level Smart City Leadership working towards innovative solutions for progressive city needs. Join us as we expand our community of city leaders and solution providers, delivering an exciting “city first” agenda accelerating state-of-art solutions into global city practice.
World Affairs Council of Austin members receive a 10% discount on registration fees. Become a member today and obtain this special discount!

3DS Austria to Austin Final Pitches
2017-07-07 16:00 - 18:00 | Capital Factory, 701 Brazos Street, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
Join us for the final pitches offered by twenty-three (23) standout Austrian university and Fachhochschule students who have embarked on a high-energy, boot camp-intense, international entrepreneurial journey. The students will demonstrate the early-stage companies they have created in the 3 Day Startup program.
During their time in Austin, the student entrepreneurs will attend the 3DS Global Roundup (an annual conference of great doers, thinkers, and makers at universities around the world), gain exposure to one of the most innovative cities in America, and learn how to transform their communities back in Austria.
Exchange participants gain familiarity with American culture, access over two-hundred 3DS alumni, mentors, investors, and community members at the 3DS Global Roundup Conference, validate the early-stage businesses they create in every facet of the Austin and San Antonio entrepreneurship ecosystems, and learn how to build robust communities of innovation and creativity through curated site visits and program activities. The skills acquired will enable them to found an international or domestic startup, launch new social impact initiatives, reshape Vienna’s corporate landscape as intrapreneurs, and become community leaders.
No RSVP is necessary, the event will take place in the new Capital Factory offices on the first floor.
The video below provides an overview of the 2016 edition of this program.
https://youtu.be/Z4Gz9WKz5Mg

Facebook Live Interview of Mandela Washington Fellows
2017-07-18 20:00 - 21:00 | Facebook LIVE, Online, Link, Below
In collaboration with the International Office at the University of Texas at Austin and the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, please join the World Affairs Council on Facebook for a live interview of four young entrepreneurs visiting Austin from Zimbabwe, Central African Republic, Togo and Nigeria.
The four Mandela Washington Fellows to be interviewed:
Josephine Mahachi (Zimbabwe) is a media practitioner, investment consultant, businesswoman and the host and creator of Click Africa, a television show that broadcasts across the continent to help shape the African narrative.
Pascale Gabriella Serra Nga Gnii Voueto (Central African Republic) is a documentary filmmaker with a background in conflict resolution. She is the head of IllustrO, a company that promotes the image of the Central African Republic by working with people in need and broadcasting documentaries about challenges they face.
Yannick Davidson Vossah (Togo) is the CEO of Afrique Direct, a pan-African news website. He is also one of the heads of Green Action Africa, an ecological association for more environmentally friendly actions in Africa.
Oluwaseyi Albert (Nigeria) is the founder and CEO of IyaliFresh, a grocery delivery and food processing startup. He has a background in branding and social media and works as a digital marketing consultant. He also creates free training programs for unemployed people in Nigeria.

Mandela Washington Fellowship Pitch Competition
2017-07-22 09:00 - 17:00 | Impact Hub Lamar, 5540 N. Lamar, Austin, TX, 78721, United States
In collaboration with the International Office at The University of Texas at Austin you are invited to the 4th Annual Mandela Washington Fellowship – Pitch Competition!
The 25 Fellows participating in UT Austin’s Business and Entrepreneurship Institute will each present a 5-minute pitch.

Please RSVP via the link.

Doing Business in Japan Seminar
2017-08-12 13:00 - 16:00 | Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Road, Austin, 78754, United States
Experience Japan at the Oita Summer Festival! You won’t want to miss the “Doing Business in Japan” seminar during the Festival. Texas exported over $6 billion in goods and services to Japan in 2016. This represents a 22% increase from 2015. Japan is also a top five export market for central Texas companies. Be sure to attend this informative session to learn more from our friends at the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).
This session will include an overview of Japan’s industry sectors including a look at the Japanese corporate presence in the U.S., Japanese cultural characteristics, promising sectors for U.S. goods and services, and resources for American companies wishing to establish a corporate entity in Japan. There will be 2 sessions of the same briefing (1:00 pm or 2:30 pm) and you can attend either one.
Please RSVP for the seminar via this link.
Additional festival activities include:
Noodle eating contest
Kids activities
Anime festival
Artisan and festival marketplace
Cultural performances including taiko drums, tea ceremony, kendo, and kimono show
Traveling to Japan seminar
Japanese food, beverages, a silent auction featuring SXSW Platinum Badge!
Festival Agenda
12:00 pm On-going “Whisk & Drink” Tea Demonstration & Participation
12:15 pm Kendo Demonstration by Austin Kendo
12:15 pm Introduction to Oita, Japan
12:45 pm Welcome/Opening Remarks
1:00 pm Tea Demonstration by Central Texas Chado
1:00 pm Japan Business Market Briefing
1:00 pm Japan Travel Tips
1:30 pm Kimono Show by Lone Star Kimono
2:00 pm Minyo Dance by Austin Minyo Group
2:00 pm Introduction to Oita, Japan
2:15 pm Noodle Eating Contest
2:30 pm Japan Business Market Briefing
2:45 pm Minyo Dance by Austin Minyo Group
3:00 pm Taiko Performance by Austin Taiko
3:00 pm Japan Travel Tips
4:00 pm Introduction of Anime Festival with “The Tale of Princess Kaguya”

Navigating Business Overseas—Without Falling on Your Assumptions
2017-09-22 11:45 - 13:00 | AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center, 1900 University Ave, Austin, TX, 78705, United States
Intercultural communication can complicate business practices. Here’s your chance to practice and learn to recognize your own cultural orientation; notice and identify cultural tendencies in any environment; predict problems culture-based difference will cause in the workplace; and develop management strategies.
McCombs School of Business faculty members Deirdre Mendez, Orlando Kelm, and John N. Doggett will use real-world examples and audience feedback to show you how to recognize and manage cultural differences on international partnerships, teams, and projects of all kinds.
Parking options include the AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center and surrounding public lots.
This event is in partnership with:

Second Annual Texas-Latin America Business Summit
2017-10-18 09:00 - 13:00 | Hilton Garden Inn Austin Downtown, 500 North Interstate 35, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
The World Affairs Council of Austin will present the Texas-Latin America Business Summit on October 18th. The Summit brings trade promotion experts and business decision-makers together for panels and meetings. The event is a unique face-to-face opportunity for Austin corporate representatives to make connections and learn about current inbound and outbound business opportunities with Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, and other nations.
The Second Annual Summit will include a LATAM market overview by Gary Hoover, Founder of Hoover’s Online and first Entrepreneur-in-Residence of the Herb Kelleher Center for Entrepreneurship at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.
Over the last decade, the region experienced a deep economic and social transformation, which lifted millions out of poverty and swelled the ranks of the middle class. Latin America’s economy is expected to expand 2.0% against a backdrop of stronger global growth. Attend the Summit and learn how your company may benefit from this growth.

AGENDA
8:30 am Registration Opens
9:00 am Welcoming Remarks
9:05 am LATAM Executive Overview by Gary Hoover, Founder of Hoover’s Online

9:30 am Austin as a Technology Gateway to Latin America
Panelists: Hector Gomez, CCO, IDZ Technologies;
Eduardo Velasco, CEO, SharedFi;
Paul Alvaro Marin, Director of Partnership & Innovation, U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA);
Bill Leake, CEO, Apogee Results
Moderator: Estuardo Robles, Partner, Briggs Capital
10:45 am Opportunities in Colombia’s Cybersecurity Industry

Panelists: Sebastian Gomez, Trade & Investment Representative, PROCOLOMBIA;
Carolina Carrasco, Senior Project Manager, Fluidsignal Group S.A. (FLUID)
Moderator: Bill Hulsey, Principal, HULSEY PC
11:50 am Free Trade Agreements with LATAM Nations
Panelists: Tejas Vakil, CEO, FinanceGenius, Inc.; Karen Parker, Director, U.S. Commercial Service-Austin;
Jonathan Brooks, Managing Director for Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and Latin America at the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
Moderator: Doug Smith, Assistant Director, International Trade Center at the University of Texas at San Antonio
12:50 pm Concluding Remarks

Downtown Parking Options:
Fifth Street now permits two-way traffic.
Austin Convention Center Garage at 601 E. Fifth Street: Enter from Fifth Street. 1-2 Hours $6. 2-7 hours for $9.
Or
http://www.bestparking.com/austin-parking/

Infrastructure Opportunities in Emerging Markets: Utilizing Commerce, USTDA and MCC
2017-10-19 11:30 - 13:30 | Austin Chamber of Commerce, 535 E. Fifth Street, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
Please join the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and the World Affairs Council of Austin for a special event highlighting several key federal government resources available to Austin-area businesses looking to do business in emerging markets. The event will feature presentations and a panel discussion with the following guests:

Karen Parker – Director & International Trade Specialist at the U.S. Commercial Service – Austin, the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration which helps U.S. companies get started in exporting or increase sales to new global markets.

Paul Marin – Director for Partnership and Innovation at the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), which helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies.

Jonathan Brooks – Managing Director for Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and Latin America at the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), an independent U.S. Government agency working to reduce global poverty through economic growth.

Who should attend:

Exporters looking to expand into emerging marketsCompanies pursuing international competitive bids in emerging marketsCompanies looking to develop infrastructure in emerging markets or sell U.S. goods and services to infrastructure projectsEngineering and consulting companies with expertise in infrastructure development

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is: Why What You Buy May Not Reflect Your Moral Values
2017-10-25 11:30 - 13:00 | AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center, 1900 University Ave, Austin, TX, 78705, United States
The World Affairs Council of Austin, in partnership with the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business, is proud to present the Texas Enterprise Speaker Series.
Looking at the world, it’s easy to see that people — in general — are ethical. They give to charity, help their neighbors, love their children. And if you ask them if they’re comfortable with sweatshops, child labor, or animal testing, it’s no surprise that most will say they are not. For example, a recent (2013) ChildFund survey indicated that 77% of respondents would not buy clothing or other goods made with child labor. Contrast that statistic with the fact that the U.S. Department of Labor’s list of goods produced by child labor in 2014 comprised of 139 goods from 75 countries, and that a large proportion of many popular goods (such as cocoa and diamonds) are made using exploitative labor. It is clear that there are inconsistencies between values and behavior.
Join us for lunch on October 25 as behavioral economist and researcher Julie Irwin, a professor at the McCombs School of Business, explores consumer behavioral patterns to help expose some of the reasons why people’s buying habits often don’t align with their values.

What you will learn

Understand people’s economic behavior can be different from what they actually care about
Identify aspects of consumer situations that can lead consumers to be “bad”
Better align your purchases with values.
See how corporate marketers, non-profits, and political organizations can help guide people toward expressing their ethical values

Julie Irwin is the Marlene and Morton Meyerson Centennial Professor of Business in the Business, Government and Society and Marketing Departments. Prior to joining McCombs, Dr. Irwin has taught at Wharton and the Stern School of Business at NYU. She received her Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from the University of Colorado and completed post-doctoral training in quantitative psychology at the University of Illinois. She has published more than 40 refereed journal articles and book chapters such as a chapter in Wharton on Making Decisions, and a chapter in The Oxford Handbook of Business and the Environment. She has also published a number of articles in the popular press, and in outlets such as the Harvard Business Review, Forbes, The Conversation (reprinted by CNN), Huffington Post, and the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Hot Topic: China’s Increasing Role in the Middle East
2017-10-25 18:00 - 19:30 | ACC Highland Business Center 2nd Floor Boardroom, 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin, TX, 78752, United States
The World Affairs Council of Austin is pleased to have David Oualaalou (pronounced Walalou, known also as Dr. O) discuss China’s growing influence in the Middle East. Dr. O is a global-affairs consultant, analyst, blogger, author, educator, and former international security analyst in Washington, DC.
His 15 years of experience in support of the US government’s foreign policy initiatives have given him a valuable perspective. His duties included providing regional orientation, mediating cultural differences among the U.S. and its allies, helping parties understand differing religious beliefs and values, assisting with foreign internal defense, offering insights into countries’ politics and economics, and disseminating information to high-level officials during negotiations with foreign officials of targeted countries. Similarly, he framed U.S. government policies and interests within the proper cultural and political context of countries engaged while facilitating cultural, political, economic, and religious awareness between the U.S. and its counterparts.
David worked in the field with elite U.S. military forces carrying out operations at the behest of U.S. policymakers. On many occasions, he worked in and visited many countries in the Middle East and around the world in an official capacity representing the United States government. He speaks Arabic/French fluently, grasp the depth of the Middle East’s economic, social, cultural, and religious interactions, and, from both abstract and practical perspectives, know how the region’s internal politics work. His assignments took him to Afghanistan, Bolivia, Cambodia, Canada, Denmark, Djibouti, England, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Poland, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, and Yemen.
David has written numerous analyses on global affairs issues which have appeared in many newspapers and online journals, including the Slovak Atlantic Commission (SAC), an affiliate of the European Atlantic Council, The HuffPost, the Waco Tribune-Herald, South China Morning Post (SCMP) in Hong Kong, Eurasia Daily, Journal on European Perspectives of the Western Balkans, Defense Alert Journal, MSN News, Al-Jazeera, Middle East & North Africa (MENA) Forum, Security News Wire, and Freedom and Justice Gate Journal in the Middle East, among others.
David has an international audience that spans the political spectrum. Some of his 140 plus articles have been translated into Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, German, Malay, Russian, Spanish, Thai, Turkish, and Vietnamese.
David is the author of the Ambiguous Foreign Policy of The United States toward the Muslim World: More Than a Handshake (2016). His forthcoming book, Volatile State: Iran in the Nuclear Age due for release in Jan/2018. Currently, he is working on his third book, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: the Hidden Truth. David has also co-authored other books including: Dying to Eat: Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Food, Death, and the Afterlife, (January, 2018).
David’s academic, linguistic, and cultural background, coupled with his substantial experience, has proved vital to understanding the geopolitical trends and the political, economic, and security risks organizations face when operating overseas. His insights are key to organizations’ long-term strategic planning and access to new markets not only in the Middle East but also in the world writ large.

Agenda
6:00 PM Registration and networking
6:15 PM Speaker Presentation followed by Q&A
7:15 PM Additional networking
7:30 PM Event Concludes

Business Briefing on New Zealand and Australia
2017-11-07 09:00 - 10:00 | BBVA Bank, 1703 W. 5th, Ste. 500, Austin, TX, 78703, United States
Please join the Camino Real District Export Council, the U.S. Commercial Service–Austin, and the World Affairs Council of Austin for a special event highlighting business opportunities in Australia and New Zealand. The event will feature the following guest speaker:

Duncan Archibald has over 10 years’ experience working with the U.S. Government’s pre-eminent trade and marketing agency under U.S. Dept. of Commerce, the U.S. Commercial Service. Duncan is a professional and creative business development and relationship builder with comprehensive experience assisting U.S. ICT, and financial services companies enter and sell products and solutions into the Australian market through forming alliances with the local channel or through establishing subsidiary offices. In addition, Duncan assists U.S. companies with their pipeline sales by organizing C-level marketing events, seminars, and organizing USA-branded government pavilions at local trade shows.

Perspectives on Cuba’s Future: Exploring Policy Options & Paths for the U.S.-Cuba Bilateral Relationship
2017-11-08 19:00 - 21:30 | St. Edwards University, Jones Auditorium, 3001 South Congress, Austin, TX, 78704, United States
Held in collaboration with the Kozmetsky Center at St. Edward’s University, this session will feature leading specialists of the academic and business communities on various aspects of Cuban society, economy and foreign policy offering a diversity of perspectives on Cuba and the United States-Cuba bilateral relationship. Our objectives for this evening event are to heighten student and public awareness of political and economic circumstances in contemporary Cuba, and to explore various policy options for achieving long-term desired end-states in the United States relationship with our geographically close neighboring nation of Cuba. The session will devote significant focus to assessing the state of Cuba’s economy, investment opportunities and potential contributions of the American and Texas private sector and civic engagement to Cuba’s future and the development of the United States relationship with the island of Cuba. Our confirmed expert contributing speakers:

Carmelo Mesa-Lago, Professor Emeritus of Economics, University of Pittsburgh
Rafael Velazquez Perez, Professor of Law at the University of Holguín (Cuba) and University of Vigo (Spain)
Emilio Morales, President and CEO of The Havana Consulting Group in Miami
Margaret Crahan, Senior Research Scholar and Director of the Cuba Program at the Institute of Latin American Studies at Columbia University (former Director of the Kozmetsky Center, St. Edward’s University)
Jorge R. Pinon, Director, Latin America and Caribbean Energy Program, Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas, Austin

The forum will be in the Jones Global Events Center from 7:00-9:30 PM.

Carmelo Mesa-Lago is Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of Economics and Latin American Studies University of Pittsburgh, has been a visiting professor in 8 countries and lecturer in 39, founder and editor for 18 years of Cuban Studies, and author of 95 books pamphlets and 318 articles published in 7 languages in 34 countries, on Cuban economy, social security and comparative economic systems. Recent books on Cuba: Market, Socialist and Mixed Economies: Comparative Policy and Performance (Johns Hopkins, 2002); La economía y el bienestar social en Cuba a comienzos del siglo XXI (Colibri, 2003); Cuba’s Aborted Reform (with Jorge Perez-Lopez, U. P. Florida, 2005); Cuba en la era de Raúl Castro: Reformas economico-sociales y sus efectos (Colibri, 2012); Sistemas de Protección Social en America Latina: Cuba (ECLAC, 2013); Cuba Under Raul Castro: Assessing the Reforms (with J. Perez-Lopez, Lynne Reinner, 2013), and main author of Voices of Change in Cuba from the Expanding Non-State Sector (forthcoming University of Pittsburgh Press, Fall 2017). He has worked throughout Latin America as an ECLAC regional advisor, consultant with most international financial organizations, several U.N. branches and foreign foundations. Was President of LASA, is member of the National Academy of Social Insurance and has received: ILO International Prize on Decent Work (shared with Nelson Mandela), Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung Senior Prize, two Senior Fulbrights, Arthur Whitaker and Hoover Institution Prizes, Distinction of ASCE, Best Cuban Educator of the Year, LASA Proze for excellence on research on Cuba, University of Pittsburgh Bicentennial Medallion, Homage for his life work on social security (OISS, CISS) and the Cuban economy (ICS, Encuentro, FIU); selected among the 50 most influential Iberoamerican intellectuals of 2014; finalist in Spain’s Prince of Asturias Prize on Social Sciences 2009, 2014, 2015

Dr. Rafael Velazquez Perez received his PhD in Sustainable Development and Environmental Strategies from the University of Extremadura and a second PhD in International Private Law from the University of Vigo. He has been a visiting scholar to the law faculty of University of Holguin (Cuba), University of Belgrano in Buenos Aires (Argentina) and the University of Columbia in New York. His most recent works include authorship of a book “Inversiones extranjeras sostenibles” and an editorial, “Las inversions extranjeras sostenibles en la litigacion commercial internacional: formas de solucion de conflictos” (Memorias – 14º Encuentro Internacional de Derecho Ambiental). He has also co-authored “La obligacion de alimentos en el Derecho internacional privado de la Unión europea” (Quantex, Orense, 2009, pp. 271), and “Fundamentos de Derecho procesal civil internacional” (Quantex, Orense, 2009, pp. 217). Apart from being a permanent partner for the Caribbean, Argentina Environmental Foundation (Fundama), he is a member of the Scientific Society of Constitutional Law of the National Union of Jurists of Cuba and of the World League of environmental lawyers.

Dr. Margaret E. Crahan is a Senior Research Scholar and Director of the Cuba Program at the Institute for Latin American Studies at Columbia University. From 2007-09 she was the Kozmetsky Distinguished Professor and Director of the Kozmetsky Center of Excellence in Global Finance at St. Edward’s University, from 1982-1994 she was the Henry R. Luce Professor of Religion, Power and Political Process at Occidental College and from 1994-2008 the Dorothy Epstein Professor of the City University of New York. She serves on the Executive Committee of the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights and is a member of the Boards of St. Edward’s University and the Latin American Program of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. In 2013 she was recognized by the government of Brazil for her work on human rights. Dr. Crahan has received grants from the Fulbright Program, Social Science Research Council, American Council of Learned Societies, Open Society Foundations, the Ford Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, among others. She has visited Cuba over 50 times since 1973 for research. Dr. Crahan has published over one hundred articles and books including Human Rights and Basic Needs in the Americas; Religion, Culture and Society: The Case of Cuba; The City and the World: New York’s Global Future and The Wars on Terrorism and Iraq: Human Rights, Unilateralism, and US Foreign Policy (with Thomas G. Weiss and John Goering).

Emilio Morales is President & CEO of HAVANA CONSULTING GROUP (THCG and Tech, LLC), a Miami-based consulting firm specializing in market intelligence and strategy for U.S. and non-U.S. persons doing business in Cuba. Born and raised in Cuba, Mr. Morales was formerly the Head of the Strategic Marketing Planning Department for the Marketing Division for CIMEX Corporation, Cuba’s largest state enterprise holding company, with more than 80 subsidiaries across Cuba engaged in 35 different retail and wholesale businesses and annual revenues of more than US$2.2 billion. Prior to CIMEX, Morales worked for the Cuban government on a range of bilateral projects in Argentina, Canada, Mexico, and South Africa. Recognized for his unique insights into the dynamics of the Cuban market and economy, Morales has produced dozens of related research papers and written over 50 articles on various sectors of the Cuban economy, including remittances, the market for mobile phones, real estate opportunities, tourism, energy, logistics and transportation, health care services and biotechnology, agriculture, food industry, retail opportunities, sugar industry, exports of rum and cigars, and Cuba’s growing opportunities for entrepreneurs (known in Cuba as cuentapropismo). He has also conducted several studies on the Cuban economic model, including studies on Cuba’s internal economic consumption in various sectors (both at the state and non-state levels). Morales is the author of two books: “Cuba: A Silent Transition to Capitalism?” (2009) and “Marketing without Advertising: Brand Preference and Consumer Choice in Cuba,” Routledge Advances in Management and Business Studies, 2011.

Jorge R. Piñon is the Director at Latin America and Caribbean Energy Program, Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin and Interim Director, Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy, Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin. Piñon began his thirty-two-year career in the energy sector when he joined Shell Oil Company’s supply and transportation organization in 1975. He was president and CEO of Transworld Oil USA prior to joining Amoco Corporation in 1991 as president of Amoco Corporate Development Company Latin America. In this position Piñon represented the business development and joint venture efforts in Latin America between Amoco Corporation and state oil companies. In 1994 he was transferred to the downstream oil sector to serve as president of Amoco Oil de México and president of Amoco Oil Latin America, based in Mexico City. He was a member of the board of INROADS de Mexico, an organization developing underserved youth in business and industry and preparing them for corporate and community leadership. In 1997, while vice-president and member of the board of directors of the American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico -AMCHAM-, Piñon received the “Yiacatecutli” award for distinguished service in the promotion of U.S.-Mexico business relations. With international experience in business development, joint ventures and relationship management in emerging and transitional markets, and a network of senior energy contacts in Latin America; he is recognized as an independent analyst of regional energy issues, as well as the geopolitics of oil and natural gas in Latin America. He has conducted research and country risk assessments as a Visiting Energy Fellow at the University of Miami’s Center for Hemispheric Policy (2005-2010) and at Florida International University’s Latin American and Caribbean Center (2010-2011) prior to joining the University of Texas at Austin in 2012. He holds a degree in International Economics and a certificate in Latin American Studies from the University of Florida, Gainesville.

Texas Venture Labs, How it Works, and How You Can Get Involved
2017-11-17 11:30 - 13:00 | AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center, 1900 University Ave, Austin, TX, 78705, United States
The World Affairs Council of Austin, in partnership with the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business, is proud to present the Texas Enterprise Speaker Series.

Ever think about starting a business? Ever think about helping a startup get off the ground? Texas Venture Labs has a number of programs to help both happen. Come hear about our innovative entrepreneurship programs, the process we follow, the kinds of companies getting started, and the results we are producing. Learn how you can become a part of the success story.

What you will learn

The programs Texas Venture Labs runs
How you can recommend companies to Texas Venture Labs’ accelerator
How your company can apply to the accelerator
The acceleration process we use
How the investment competition works
How you can get involved as an investment competition judge

Rob Adams is on the faculty of The University of Texas at Austin where he teaches entrepreneurship in the MBA and MSTC programs and is the Director of Texas Venture Labs at the McCombs School of Business. He’s a former software executive, entrepreneur and institutional fund manager. He has served on many corporate boards and has founded or financed more than 40 companies, which have launched more than 100 products and raised significant amounts of capital in both private and public markets.
Prior to his appointment at The University of Texas, he was in the venture capital industry, ultimately founding AV Labs, a fund affiliated with Austin Ventures. Prior to the venture business, he was a software operating executive for two decades. This career included positions in sales, marketing, and general management. He was with Lotus (NYSE: IBM), joining the company shortly after its public offering. Adams was their first corporate sales representative and went on to be instrumental in the development and launch of both 1-2-3 for Macintosh and Lotus Notes. He founded and was CEO of Business Matters, a venture-backed developer of financial modeling products that was acquired. He was an executive with Pervasive Software (NASDAQ: PVSW), a company he helped take public.
Dr. Adams holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University, where he received their Outstanding Engineer Award, a Masters of Business Administration from Olin School of Management at Babson College, and a Ph.D. in Management from Capella University. He has taught in the MBA programs of The Acton School of Business, Babson College and The University of Texas at Austin and is the recipient of numerous teaching awards.
He is an internationally recognized speaker on innovation, commercialization, and entrepreneurship. He speaks frequently on his pioneering work in Market Validation and has keynoted the Inc. 500 business conference, international venture conferences, and consults for numerous global 500 companies. His work has been covered in Business Week, Forbes, Fortune, Money, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, on Bloomberg Radio, Public Television and public radio’s nationally syndicated “Marketplace” program.
He is the author of A Good Hard Kick in the Ass: Basic Training for Entrepreneurs (Random House/Crown, 2002), If You Build It Will They Come? Three Steps to Test and Validate Any Market Opportunity (Wiley, 2010) and is co-author of New Venture Creation: Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century (McGraw-Hill, 2011).
He provides expert testimony on technology-related business issues and has consulted on economic development and early stage company investment and its impact on economies for governments including Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, India, Malaysia, New Zealand and Thailand. In the United States he has advised the White House and the Department of Commerce.
Adams is a Fellow at the IC2 Institute; a University of Texas-based foundation that runs the Austin Technology Incubator and has held visiting professor positions at the University of Auckland, Thammasat University and the University of Manitoba.

A Conversation with Ambassador Thomas Pickering about the Iran Nuclear Deal
2017-12-07 11:30 - 13:00 | ACC Eastview Campus MultiPurpose Room 8500, 3401 Webberville Road, Austin, TX, 78702, United States
Join the World Affairs Council of Austin for a luncheon featuring Ambassador Thomas Pickering, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
Since President Trump set the stage for eventual US withdrawal from the nuclear agreement, how the Congress now deals with sanctions against Iran will define the nature and pace of US potential withdrawal. What’s next with the Iran deal? How might a US withdrawal impact relations with Europe and the Middle East?
The program will be conducted in an interview style with an opportunity for questions from the audience. The discourse will focus on the Iran Deal and its implications for the region and global peace. Roy E. Casagranda, PhD and Professor of Government at Austin Community College will conduct the interview.

Recent Opinion by Ambassador Thomas Pickering published in San Antonio Express News on November 30, 2017:
U.S. must be wary in choosing sides, Saudi Arabia vs. Iran

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Ambassador Thomas R. Pickering is Vice Chair of Hills & Company. He holds the rank of Career Ambassador, the highest in the U.S. Foreign Service. In a diplomatic career spanning five decades, he was U.S. ambassador to Israel, the Russian Federation, India, El Salvador, Nigeria, and Jordan. From 1989 to 1992, he was Ambassador to the United Nations in New York, and he then served as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. Earlier in his career, he was Special Assistant to Secretaries of State William P. Rogers and Henry Kissinger. He also served in the U.S. Navy and Naval Reserves.

2018 Business Forecast: Driving Innovation
2018-01-19 07:00 - 09:30 | AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center, 1900 University Ave, Austin, TX, 78705, United States
The World Affairs Council of Austin, in partnership with the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business and the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, is proud to present the Texas Enterprise Speaker Series.
We invite you to join us for a lively discussion on driving innovation with corporate executives, economists, and academic leaders, including Peter Zandan, Global Vice Chairman, Research+Data Insights, Hill+Knowlton; David Judson, Editor-in-Chief, Stratfor; Mine Yücel, Senior Vice President and Senior Research Advisor – Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas; and Jay Hartzell, Dean – McCombs School of Business. From their unique vantage point, our guest speakers for this 2018 Business Forecast will share how innovation drives industries—especially regarding trends, opportunities, and challenges. Presenters will answer your questions about the 2018 economy, both in Texas and nationally. This special program will focus on market analytics, global intelligence and its impact on your company’s success.
DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION is JANUARY 11, 2018. TICKETS MUCH BE PURCHASED IN ADVANCE OF THE EVENT. Individual registrations are available until we reach capacity. Event cost includes breakfast. Register via event website link here and below.

SPEAKERS

Peter Zandan is currently global vice chairman at Hill+Knowlton Strategies, a marketing communications firm with 3000 employees in 85 countries. Peter has over 30 years of experience conducting quantitative and qualitative research with many of the world’s top brands, public causes, and institutions.
Zandan founded IntelliQuest and served as its chairman and CEO for 15 years. Under his leadership, IntelliQuest became the fastest growing market research company worldwide and was publicly traded on the Nasdaq (IQST). Zandan also founded and served as CEO of Zilliant, a leading provider of price-optimization solutions that was named one of the top 50 venture-backed companies by The Wall Street Journal.
Zandan is a member of the Presidents’ Circle of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine, in Washington, D.C. He also serves on the McCombs School of Business Advisory Council at The University of Texas at Austin. He advises and has invested in over 25 early stage data and technology businesses. Zandan has been selected by Interactive Week as one of the “Unsung Heroes of the Internet,” awarded Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year,” and was named to the Holmes Report’s inaugural Innovator 25 list.

David D. Judson, Stratfor’s editor-in-chief and head of content production. Judson oversees both the global network of the company’s information gathering researchers, the forecast-making analyst team as well as the publishing team in Austin that crafts Stratfor’s work into written, video, and graphic form. Judson also oversees Threat Lens, Stratfor’s premium and specialized service for corporate security officers.
Before joining Stratfor, Judson worked for the Istanbul-based Dogan Media Group for eight years, first as managing editor of the Turkish-language business daily Referans and later as editor-in-chief of the Hurriyet Daily News, the company’s English paper. Before his work internationally, Mr. Judson was a senior correspondent in Washington for Gannett Newspapers/USA Today. He and his wife Nermin have lived in Austin since early 2013.

Mine Yücel has been with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas since 1989. Prior to becoming research director, Yücel was head of the FRB micro/regional/energy group and director of publications. Yücel is an advisor to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas president on regional and energy issues and has published numerous articles on energy and regional growth.
Yucel is a member of the National Association for Business Economics board of directors and was president of the International Association of Energy Economics in 2011, an institution with 102 member countries. She is also past president of the United States Association of Energy Economics (USAEE). In 2006, she was chosen as one of the recipients of the Key Women in Energy—Global Award. She received the USAEE Senior Fellow Award in 2007 and the Energy Journal Best Paper Award in 2009.
Before joining the Bank she was an assistant professor of economics at Louisiana State University. She has a BS and MS in mathematics from Bogazici University in Istanbul, Turkey, and a Ph.D. in economics from Rice University in Houston.

Jay C. Hartzell is the dean of the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. He joined UT in 2001 after teaching at New York University’s Stern School of Business, and prior to his current role, he held several key administrative roles at the McCombs School. His most notable positions include his service as the senior associate dean for academic affairs, chair of the finance department, and executive director of the McCombs School’s Real Estate Finance and Investment Center.
Dr. Hartzell holds the Centennial Chair in Business Education Leadership and the Trammell Crow Regents Professorship in Business. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Economics (cum laude) from Trinity University and a Ph.D. in Finance from The University of Texas at Austin. His research focuses on real estate finance, corporate finance, and corporate governance. His articles have been published in the leading journals in the field, including the Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial Economics, Real Estate Economics, and the Review of Financial Studies.
Dr. Hartzell serves on the editorial board of Real Estate Economics, and he served as an associate editor of the Review of Financial Studies, and as a member of the board of directors of the American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association. In addition to his academic experience, Dr. Hartzell previously worked as a consultant with Hewitt Associates.

Texas Roundtable: EU-US Animal Health, Safety and Trade
2018-02-13 10:00 - 12:30 | State Capitol, 1100 Congress Avenue, Austin, 78701, United States
Join the World Affairs Council of Austin as we welcome Dr. Lorenzo Terzi, European Union Minister-Counselor for Food Safety and Consumer Health. During this special EU Trade Roundtable, Dr. Terzi will focus on the animal welfare and food safety standards that are of high interest to Texas companies exporting to Europe.

Houston Cyber Summit
2018-02-28 07:00 - 18:00 | George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida de las Americas, Houston, TX, 77010, United States
The World Affairs Council of Austin, a state partner with Cyber Houston and the Energy Conference Network, is pleased to present the Second Annual Houston Cyber Summit. This cyber security conference features industry experts and opportunities to network with over 200 business professionals.
World Affairs Council of Austin members receive a $50 registration discount. Click here and become a member today.
This event will be held in Houston.

Registration and Breakfast
7:00am – 8:10am Feb 28

Opening Remarks
8:10am – 8:40am Feb 28

Umesh Verma
President & CEO, BLUE LANCE

Keynote Speaker
8:40am – 9:10am Feb 28

Live Hack Demonstration
9:40am – 10:40am Feb 28

Jon Villanti
VP, Information Security Officer, Allegiance Bank

Panel 1: Legal & Risk Mitigation
11:10am – 12:10pm Feb 28

Elizabeth Rogers
Shareholder, Cybersecurity, Privacy & Crisis Management, Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Mark Goldberg
Vice President of Public Affairs, Houston First Corporation

Angela Haun
Special Agent & Coordinator , InfraGard, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Mary Dickerson
Assistant Vice President, Assistant Vice Chancellor, IT Security, University of Houston

Nick Economidis
Underwriter, Beazley

Jason Ritchie
Assistant Vice President-Bank Administration, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Houston Branch

Paul Farrell
Founder and CEO, Nehemiah Security

Lunch
12:10pm – 1:15pm Feb 28

Panel 2: Cybersecurity and Innovation
1:15pm – 2:00pm Feb 28

Gina Luna
CEO, Luna Strategies, LLC.

Amanda Edwards
At-Large Position 4, Houston City Council

Pierluigi Stella
CTO, Network Box USA, Inc.

Dick Williams
Interim President and CEO, Houston Exponential

Panel 3: Cyber Security Assessment Essentials
2:00pm – 2:45pm Feb 28

Moderator: Jesse Carrillo

Mel Nevarez
Manager Identity and Access Management and Compliance, CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

Jesse Carrillo
Senior Vice President & CIO, Hines

Phil Beckett
Chief Expansion Technology Officer , HASA

Peter Thomas
CTO, BLUE LANCE

Andy Sawyer
Director of Security, Locke Lord

Panel 4: Federal, State and Local Cyber Updates
3:00pm – 4:15pm Feb 28

Moderator: Mary Dickerson

Gary Spurger
Manager, High Tech Crime Unit, Harris County Sheriff’s Office

Lenny Schad
Chief Information Officer, Houston Independent School District

Jack Hanagriff
Mayor’s Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security, City of Houston

Mary Dickerson
Assistant Vice President, Assistant Vice Chancellor, IT Security, University of Houston

Brian Wilson
Vice President, Citi

Panel 5: Cyber Workforce Development
4:15pm – 5:20pm Feb 28

Dr. Doug Rowlett
Dean , HCC Digital & Information Technology Center

Daniel Ragsdale
Founding Director, Texas A&M Cybersecurity Center

Stan Napper
Founding Dean of Engineering, Houston Baptist University

Tom Winn
Interim Director – MSM Program, University of Houston-Downtown Marilyn Davies College of Business

Louanne Harvey
CTE Chair, Digital Forensic Science/Cyber Security, Eastwood Academy High School, Houston Independent School District

Arthur Conklin
Associate Professor, University of Houston

Closing Remarks and Prize Drawing
5:20pm – 6:00pm

Business Spotlight: Kristiansand (Norway) & Austin (Texas)
2018-03-10 11:45 - 14:00 | City of Austin CAD Office, 201 E. Second Street, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
The World Affairs Council of Austin, along with the City of Austin, Business Region Kristiansand, the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Kristiansand are pleased to present this informative business opportunities briefing. American corporate executives are encouraged to explore and leverage the existing trade relationship between Central Texas and the Agder Region of Norway.
This interactive program will provide attendees with information about the resources available to companies considering a trans-Atlantic expansion. Attendees will learn how Kristiansand provides a platform to enhance business growth within Norway and Europe, as well as further markets through its geographic location, human capital, infrastructure, government vision, and innovative spirit.
In addition, this program will feature a fast pitch session by companies specifically selected to demonstrate the Agder region’s strengths in the SaaS, wearable tech, film and creative industry sectors.
Reserve your seat now to learn more about the business opportunities available via this dynamic Nordic city.
Agenda
11:45 AM Registration and networking
12:00 PM Welcome remarks
12:10 PM Past highlights of the Kristiansand (Norway) & Austin collaboration
12:20 PM Introduction to Kristiansand/Agder region and visiting delegates

12:30 PM BBQ lunch

12:45 PM Fast pitches by Kristiansand and Agder region companies including:
SunSense
Telaris PCS
Oya Interaktiv
2:00 PM Event concludes

Conversation with Leo Varadakar, T.D. Prime Minister of Ireland
2018-03-11 14:00 - 15:00 | Hilton Hotel, 500 E. 4th Street, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
SXSW, the Consulate General of Ireland in Austin and the World Affairs Council of Austin are pleased to announce a conversation featuring Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, with Evan Smith of the Texas Tribune. During the event attendees will learn how tech made Ireland become one of the most open and globalized economies in the world. Mr. Varadkar will also discuss Irish innovation at this year’s SXSW and how the Irish tech sector is increasingly impacting the US economy.
Leo Varadkar was elected in June 2017 as Ireland’s youngest ever Taoiseach (Prime Minister). Born in 1979, the son of an Indian father and Irish mother, Mr. Varadkar personifies the dynamic, youthful and diverse Ireland of today. He is one of the few LGBT Heads of Government in the world. Having studied medicine at Trinity College Dublin, Mr. Varadkar qualified as a medical doctor but soon ventured into the world of politics, in which he has risen rapidly to the leadership position he holds today. He heads a Government that is shaping the Ireland of the 21st Century, a country at the heart of the European Union, and an island at the center of the world. Mr. Varadkar is visiting the United States to further deepen and advance the bilateral relationship between the two countries; he will attend SXSW before meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington DC later in the week.
Mr. Varadkar is the only Head of Government speaking at SXSW in 2018. Ireland is one of the oldest international participants at SXSW. Event is available to all SXSW badge holders. www.sxsw.com

Cities without Borders: From Austin to Bologna and the EU to Central Texas
2018-03-12 13:30 - 14:30
Join the European Union, the City of Austin, and the World Affairs Council of Austin for a gathering of those working in and with cities interested in exploring the growing opportunities available for international city-to-city cooperation. The meetup will showcase Austin’s partnerships with Bologna, Italy and Lulea, Sweden around sustainable development, economic development, and cultural relations. We’ll also introduce EU and Central Texas trade reps working to expand their respective international trade relationships.
In addition to a sandwich lunch and networking, the meetup will include:

Brief remarks by Austin and Bologna representatives participating in the EU’s International Urban Cooperation initiative
Brief remarks by Austin and Lulea representatives participating in their economic and cultural partnership
Cultural presentation from Austin’s House of Songs
Concluding remarks by representatives from the European Union

We very much hope that you’ll be able to join us!
#EUatSXSW

Sustaining High Tech and Creative Industries
2018-03-12 19:00 - 21:00 | House of Scandinavia, 340 E. Second Street, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
Agile cities with populations below 1 million are becoming global leaders in creativity and innovation. Norwegian cities are leveraging these attributes and providing a foundation for entrepreneurs to launch successful companies. Learn more about the diverse and imaginative ways cities and regions in Norway are impacting and redefining the meaning of a sustainable community.
Moderator: Jaya Tomlinson, City of Trondheim
Program
Welcome and Introduction
Øyvind Laderud, Business Advisor, Business Region Kristiansand
Jim Butler, Creative Industries Manager, City of Austin
Leveraging Creativity and Innovation – the Austin Example
Mitch Jacobson, Director, Austin Technology Incubator
Ben Ramirez, Executive Director, International Trade Center, World Affairs Council of Austin
Kevin Koym, CEO, Tech Ranch
Norway`s Innovation Scene
Norway’s unique innovation culture and scene
Gro Eirin Dyrnes, Director, Innovation Norway San Francisco & Silicon Valley
Creative Industries Demos
Highlighted initiatives from Norwegian cities

Requestify (Stavanger)
SunSense (Kristiansand)
Sounds Good (Trondheim)
Telaris (Kristiansand)
Oiid (Trondheim)

World Spins Series: Will Blockchain Disrupt World Trade?
2018-03-29 18:30 - 20:00 | Neill-Cochran House Museum, 2310 San Gabriel Street, Austin, TX, 78705, United States
The World Economic Forum estimates that 10% of the world’s GDP will be recorded in blockchains by 2027. So it’s something that everyone in business needs to know about! But what is blockchain, why is it so special, and what is its real promise for global business? This presentation will cut through the considerable hype and FUD that is associated with this transformational technology, provide a plain English overview of its architecture and its benefits, and explain some of the ways that it will disrupt your business world – for good and for bad!
“The bitcoin bubble may ultimately turn out to be a distraction from the true significance of the blockchain.” Steve Johnson
Recommended Reading: Beyond the Bitcoin Bubble by Steven Johnson, The New York Times, Jan. 21, 2018

Pete Harris is the Principal of Lighthouse Partners, Inc., an Austin, TX-based consulting firm that works with global IT innovators to create go-to-market strategies for transformational technologies. With 40 years of business and technology experience, Pete has focused in recent years on business applications of blockchain and distributed ledger technologies.
In addition to his role at Lighthouse Partners, Pete is a Co-Founder and Research Principal at Chain Business Insights, LLC, an Austin-based boutique research/advisory firm that is exploring how blockchain technologies are disrupting global supply chains. Pete is also the founding Executive Director of the Austin Blockchain Collective, which showcases and advocates for blockchain and cryptocurrency innovation happening in Austin.

The World Spins series of bi-monthly talks features distinguished speakers highlighting current topics that impact our lives. The series is an exclusive opportunity for members of the World Affairs Council of Austin to explore these topics as they evolve. Come ready to participate, question and probe.
If you are not yet a member, please visit our membership page and activate your membership.

Rethink Health Care Spending: Are You (and Your Employees) Getting Your Money’s Worth?
2018-04-20 11:30 - 13:00 | AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center, 1900 University Ave, Austin, TX, 78705, United States
The World Affairs Council of Austin, in partnership with the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business, is proud to present the Texas Enterprise Speaker Series.
Join us on 20 April for a presentation by Elizabeth Teisberg, Ph.D.Executive Director, Value Institute for Health and Care at Dell Medical School, McCombs School of Business.

Does health care spending seem uncontrollable and ineffective? Are you and your employees adrift in an ever-shifting landscape of legislation, mergers, rising costs, and ineffective care? Does your organization lose productivity and profit due to poor employee health and high spending on health benefits?
As we all know, there are no quick fixes, but the trends won’t change unless employers take a new stance. What if health benefits promoted health and catalyzed change in health care delivery?
Join us to discuss what high-value health care means and how employers can catalyze change that improves health outcomes and expands meaningful, effective choices for your employees.
Attendees will learn:
• How employers can be catalysts in health care transformation
• How to improve employee health while reducing cost
• How to find and understand hidden costs in health care
• How to create and sustain value
Elizabeth Teisberg is co-creator of the idea of value-based health care strategy and an internationally recognized author and professor. She currently serves as Dell Medical School’s Executive Director of the Value Institute for Health and Care.
Teisberg has won the Wachovia Award for outstanding research, the Frederick S. Morton Award for Leadership, and the Book of the Year Award from the American College of Health Care Executives. She comes to Dell Medical School from Dartmouth College’s Geisel School of Medicine and was previously on the faculty of the University of Virginia’s Graduate School of Business and the Harvard Business School. She earned an M.S. and a Ph.D. from the Stanford University School of Engineering. She also holds a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Virginia and an A.B. degree, summa cum laude, from Washington University in St. Louis.
Registration cost includes lunch. RSVP via the event website link here or below.

Seventh Annual Texas-EU Business Summit
2018-05-08 07:30 - 18:00 | San Jacinto Meeting Rooms, 309 E 21st St, Austin, TX, 78712, United States
In its 7th year, the Texas-EU Business Summit is the premier event for Texas businesses, entrepreneurs and economic development professionals seeking to expand their footprint in Europe.
Texas is already the largest exporting state to the European Union. The summit builds on that footprint, focusing on promoting the international trade capacity of Texas businesses and economic development organizations while creating greater awareness regarding the benefits of exporting.
The Texas-EU Business Summit sessions are led by business leaders, trade and investment officials from EU countries, trade policy experts and political officials.
Event sponsors include:
The Center for European Studies, the University of Texas at Austin,
The Kozmetsky Center at St. Edwards University,
Austin Community College,
The Consulate General of Ireland in Austin,
The McCoy College of Business, Texas State University San Marcos,
The International Trade Center at the University of Texas San Antonio,
The Greater San Marcos Partnership.

REGISTER HERE

Vietnam & Southeast Asia Business Briefing
2018-05-09 09:00 - 11:30 | Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Road, Austin, 78754, United States
Join us for a briefing on Vietnam and Southeast Asia by US-ASEAN Business Council and Becamex IDC. They will present on business opportunities and resources for entrepreneurs looking to expand to Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
Who should attend?
• Manufacturers
• Supply Chains Enterprises (packaging, components, parts)
• Medical Device, Pharmaceutical, Healthcare
Related Industries
• High-Tech, Electrical & Home Appliances
• Electronic & Telecommunication Equipment, IT, Gaming, Software
• Food & Agri-Business (machinery, processing technology, animal feed)
• Property Developers (retail, condo, hospitality, entertainment, sports)
• Investment & Banking

Agenda
9:00 AM Registration & Networking
9:30 AM Welcome & Program
11:00 AM Q&A
11:30 AM One-on-One meetings

Presented in partnership with the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce, Global Business Expansion City of Austin Economic Development, World Affairs Council of Austin, Becamex, and US ASEAN Business Council.

InnoSTARS Competition and the 3rd Annual US China Innovation & Investment Summit
2018-05-14 08:00 - 2018-05-15 17:00
The World Affairs Council of Austin is a returning partner organization for the 2018 InnoSTARS Competition and the 3rd Annual US China Innovation & Investment Summit in Houston 14-15 May 2018.

Over 200 US companies and 300 Chinese investors will be attending the Summit in Houston. Innovative companies have until May 4th to apply and compete for prize money, an all-expense paid trip to China, and specialized business matchmaking. For company qualifications and deadline details visit the InnoStars website:

http://uschinainnovation.org/innostars2018/houston-city

Governor's Business Forum and Small Business Awards Luncheon
2018-05-15 08:00 - 20:00 | Archer Hotel Austin, 3121 Palm Way, Austin, TX, 78758, United States
The World Affairs Council of Austin along with the Asociacion de Empresarios Mexicanos (AEM-Austin) & the Office of Governor Greg Abbott presents the Governor’s Business Forum on 15 May 2018. Join corporate executives, entrepreneurs, community leaders, and government officials working to strengthen business relationships, recognize corporate excellence and promote business growth in Texas.

In addition to the Governor’s Small Business Awards Luncheon, Forum attendees will learn how to do business with the state of Texas; how to enhance your business marketing and social media engagement initiatives; access new sources of business capital and employee training programs; how to plan for the 2018 tax reform impact; and hear from CEOs and entrepreneurs about issues they face each day.

As a partner organization, World Affairs Council of Austin members are eligible to register at the discounted rate of $95. Click here and become a member today.
