World Affairs Council of Austin

Seventh Annual Texas-EU Business Summit
2018-05-08 07:30 - 18:00 (America/Chicago) | 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.

Investor Education Forum for Consumer Products Industry
2018-06-19 10:00 - 14:30 | Capital Factory, 701 Brazos Street, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
The World Affairs Council of Austin’s Center for Global Trade is a partner organization with SKU, the premiere accelerator for the growing consumer products (CPG) industry.
The consumer products (CPG) industry is hot, and emerging CPG brands present an opportunity for investors, at every stage of the game, to profitably diversify their portfolios. For investors at every stage of the game, emerging CPG brands present an opportunity for a profitably diversified portfolio. However, understanding how to pick winning CPG companies and knowing what to expect as they scale presents a challenge to both new and experienced investors.
Join us as we bring together some of the top Angel, Venture Capital, and Private Equity investors in CPG to listen to their industry insights and learn tips and tricks for investing in the right companies at the right time.
Panelists from: CAVU Venture Partners, Silverton Partners, VMG Partners, 2x Consumer Products Growth Partners, Piper Jaffray, Mark Cuban Companies, Amplify Snack Brands, Diageo, Seed Sumo, and Rhythm Superfoods LLC.
World Affairs Council of Austin members receive a 25% registration discount. Your discount code will arrive in the June member’s newsletter.

Consumer Product Showcase Pitch Event
2018-06-19 17:00 - 21:00 | Brazos Hall, 204 E. 4th Street, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
The World Affairs Council of Austin’s Center for Global Trade is a partner organization with SKU, the premiere accelerator for the growing consumer products (CPG) industry.
Seven amazing startups and their 60 Mentors have been hard at work preparing the SKU 6 companies to scale. We’re excited to celebrate their progress and listen to their visions for the path ahead.
SKU companies will take the stage to tell their brand stories and make time afterward to meet and greet interested investors and community members.
Company pitches begin promptly at 6:00 pm.
There will be plenty of delicious Austin food and beverage available.
World Affairs Council of Austin members receive a 25% registration discount. Your discount code will arrive in the June member’s newsletter.

CANCELED: Mexico's Perspective on NAFTA Negotiations
2018-06-25 12:30 - 13:30
DUE TO A FAMILY MEDICAL EMERGENCY, OUR SPEAKER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TRAVEL TO AUSTIN

The World Affairs Council of Austin in collaboration with the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, Mexico’s Ministry of Economy, and the Texas Camino Real District Export Council, presents an exclusive executive briefing on the NAFTA negotiations featuring Guillermo Malpica Soto, Head of the Trade and NAFTA Office in the Ministry of Economy at the Embassy of Mexico in Washington D.C.
Mr. Malpica will provide an update on the NAFTA negotiations, Texas-Mexico trade, and energy issues. His responsibilities include leading the energy negotiations in the NAFTA discussions.
Guillermo Malpica Soto has served as Mexico’s Director General for International Trade in Services and Investment in Mexico’s Ministry of Economy since 2008. Since then, he has been instrumental in formulating Mexico’s position in these areas in multilateral, regional and bilateral fora, including the Doha Round in the World Trade Organization, the OECD, ALADI, APEC, TISA, the Pacific Alliance and the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP). He also led the negotiation of bilateral investment agreements (Agreements for the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments) with Singapore, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Haiti, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Ukraine.
Mr. Malpica served as Counsellor in Mexico’s Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organization in Geneva in 2007, and as Economic Affairs Advisor in the NAFTA Office of the Ministry of the Economy in Ottawa, Canada in 2006.

International Business Coalition Meeting
2018-07-10 11:45 - 13:00 | BBVA Bank, 1703 W. 5th, Ste. 500, Austin, TX, 78703, United States
The International Business Coalition (IBC) strives to develop international business in central Texas, focusing its efforts on:

Attracting foreign direct investment;
Encouraging international business relocation to central Texas; and
Promoting international trade among central Texas businesses.

This regular meeting of the Central Texas International Business Coalition will include global trade updates.
With gratitude to our partner and host:

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Stop Fakes IPR Protection Conference
2018-08-23 08:30 - 16:00 | State Capitol, 1100 Congress Avenue, Austin, 78701, United States
American companies lose over $600 billion annually due to theft of intellectual property. If you want to learn more about how to protect against piracy of technology and theft of trade secrets, join the World Affairs Council of Austin’s Center for Global Trade, along with experts and attorneys from the Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration (ITA) and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) offer this one-day seminar on how companies and individuals can protect and enforce intellectual property to get the most out of exporting abroad.
The STOPfakes.gov Road Show answers your questions about commercializing your creations and innovations, includes strategies for protecting and enforcing a company’s intellectual property when exporting to foreign markets, and advice for avoiding common pitfalls. Participants have the chance to ask export questions related to patents, trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights and domain names.
At the conclusion of each Road Show, participants take advantage of one-on-one consultations with intellectual property experts to get targeted advice. Small and medium-sized businesses in particular benefit from this unique opportunity. More information and seminar registration is available here.

USMCA Trade Briefing
2019-08-06 09:30 - 11:00 | BBVA Bank, 1703 W. 5th, Ste. 500, Austin, TX, 78703, United States
The World Affairs Council of Austin, U.S. Commercial Service, BBVA, ITC at UTSA, and the Texas Camino Real District Export Council invite you to a USMCA Trade Briefing featuring David Olsen, Mexico Desk Officer, Office of North America, U.S. Department of Commerce, and Katrice Kelly, Senior International Trade Specialist, Office of Trade Negotiations and Analysis/Industry & Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce.
USMCA was signed on November 30, 2018 and Mexico’s legislative body voted in favor of the new trade agreement last month. Attend this briefing for a general overview of the USMCA and to learn about the next steps in enacting this historic trade agreement.
No Cost to attend, click on the button below to Register Now.

European Politics and the State of Transatlantic Affairs
2019-09-13 11:45 - 13:00 | BBVA Bank, 1703 W. 5th, Ste. 500, Austin, TX, 78703, United States
On September 13th, Mr. Karl Matthias Klause, Head of the Economic Section of the German Embassy in Washington DC will offer an overview on transatlantic trade, European politics, and the importance of the EU-US relationship to Texas. Mr. Klause’s responsibilities at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany include economy, trade, business, finance, science, transport, and agriculture.
Agenda
11:45 AM Registration

12:00 PM Speaker Introduction by Roland Pena, Vice President of Economic Development at the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce

Remarks on European Politics and the State of Transatlantic Affairs offered by Mr. Karl Matthias Klause followed by Q&A
1:00 PM Event Concludes
Reserve your seat now for this informative session on the current state of transatlantic affairs.

Event partners include:

International Political Risk: Implications for Business Leaders with DJ Peterson
2019-09-17 11:45 - 13:00 | BBVA Bank, 1703 W. 5th, Ste. 500, Austin, TX, 78703, United States
In collaboration with the Kozmetsky Center of Excellence at St. Edward’s University, the World Affairs Council of Austin is pleased to present Dr. DJ Peterson at the next meeting of the Central Texas International Business Coalition. Our guest speaker, Dr. DJ Peterson, is President of Longview Global Advisors.
Dr. Peterson has 28 years of research and consulting experience focusing on politics, economics, business, technology, and society. Prior to founding Longview Global Advisors in 2013, he held senior positions at Eurasia Group and The RAND Corporation. DJ earned his PhD in Political Science from UCLA. He is based in Los Angeles.

Agenda
11:45 am Registration
12:00 pm International Political Risk presentation by Dr. DJ Peterson
12:45 pm Networking
1:00 pm Meeting concludes

Fourth Annual Texas-Latin America Business Summit
2019-10-03 13:00 - 17:00 | IBC Bank Community Suite 13th Floor, 500 W. 5th Street, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
Texas – Latin America Business Summit Helps Texas Companies Access Nearshore Expanding Markets

The World Affairs Council of Austin will present the Fourth Annual Texas-Latin America Business Summit on October 3, 2019. Forbes reported in March that LATAM’s economy has the potential to grow faster than that of Asia. 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 Latin American nations.

DRAFT AGENDA
1:00 PM Welcome by emcee Andrew (Andy) Martinez, Business Development Executive

1:02 PM Nearshoring in LATAM remarks by Anurag Kumar, CEO & Co-Founder, iTexico
1:15 PM Secrets to Success in Latin America

Moderator: Doug Smith, Assistant Director, International Trade Center – UTSA
Panelists: Sebastian Gomez, Trade & Investment Representative, PROCOLOMBIA; Kevin Koym, CEO and Co-Founder, Tech Ranch; and Jake Le, Head of Jala Ventures Colombia
2:20 PM Using Mexico as a Nearshore Base
Moderator: Roy Austin, Business Development Director, The ILS Company
Panelists: Cindy Blanco, Co-Founder & Executive Director, StartupGDL; Alvaro Quezada, CPA, J.A. Del Rio; and Javier Lopez de Obeso, Attorney, ScottHulse
3:25 PM Spotlight on Brazil
Moderator: Bill Hulsey, Principal, HULSEY PC
Panelists: Elizabeth Jennings, Principal, Venture Atlas Labs; Mark MacBeath, Senior Product Manager, PerkinElmer; John L Howard Jr., Director of Global Public Policy, DELL Technologies; and Felipe Costi Santarosa, Deputy Consul General and Head of the Trade Section, Consulate General of Brazil in Houston
4:40 PM Closing Remarks
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Happy Hour Cash Bar Social at Gloria’s Latin Cuisine 300 W. 6th Street, Suite 100, Austin TX 78701

Summit parking suggestions:

http://www.bestparking.com/austin-parking/

With gratitude to our supporting partners:

Accessing the European Market via Dublin
2019-10-29 11:45 - 13:00 | BBVA Bank, 1703 W. 5th, Ste. 500, Austin, TX, 78703, United States
The next meeting of the Central Texas International Business Coalition will feature guest speaker Lorcan Tyrrell, Head of Development at Dublin Airport Central.

Dublin Airport Central is Ireland’s next generation urban quarter, located just 50 yards from Terminal 2 at the Airport. Specifically targeted at international companies who want a European hub office with ease of access to both the EU and US markets, Dublin Airport Central is the ideal location for any US business to start or expand in Europe. With space ranging from serviced offices for your original landing team to a purpose built HQ office building and a dedicated team of community and customer experience managers to ease you into the European market, the development is ideally positioned to allow your business to thrive and grow.
Agenda
11:45 am Lunch Buffet
12:00 pm Presentation by Lorcan Tyrrell, Head of Development at Dublin Airport Central

12:45 pm Networking
1:00 pm Meeting Concludes

Be Part of Aguascalientes (Mexico) - Business Opportunities Briefing
2019-12-05 17:30 - 20:30 | Consulate General of México in Austin, 5202 E. Ben White Blvd, Suite 150, Austin, 78741, United States
Attend this seminar and learn why Texas companies should consider doing business in Aguascalientes
Aguascalientes belongs to the “Bajío Region” — Mexico’s most important development pole and most influential IT cluster. Sharing the same time zone with Texas facilitates and enables more efficient communications and logistics. Aguascalientes enjoys a demographic bonus with an average population age of 25. As one of the most educated States in Mexico, Aguascalientes features a wide offering of university and technical schools. It has one of the largest ratios of University graduates per 100,000 inhabitants in the country. 35% of these students are enrolled in STEM programs. Aguascalientes also possesses investment grade ratings by both Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings.
Attendees will hear from experts discussing the resources available to successfully grow your company in Aguascalientes.

Featured Speakers
Mr. Luis Ricardo Martínez Castañeda, Secretary for Economic Development at the State Government of Aguascalientes, Mexico;
Mr. Eduardo Alberto Infante Priego, Deputy Secretary for Economic Development at the State Government of Aguascalientes, Mexico;
Mr. Carlos Muñoz Pedroza, General Director for Science, Technology and Innovation for Economic Development at the State Government of Aguascalientes, Mexico;
Mr. Guillermo Ortega, Chief Operating Officer and founder of iTexico

Event Agenda
5:30 pm Registration and Networking
6:30 pm Welcoming Remarks
Mr. Jorge Salcido, Consul General for Political and Commercial Affairs of Austin, TX
Mr. Luis Ricardo Martínez Castañeda, Secretary for Economic Development at the State Government of Aguascalientes, Mexico
6:45 pm Presentation of Aguascaliente’s Competitive Advantages
Mr. Eduardo Infante, Deputy Secretary
7:20 pm Presentation of Aguascaliente’s Environment for Science and Technology.
Mr. Carlos Muñoz, General Director
7:45 pm iTexico Success Story — Guillermo Ortega, COO of iTexico
8:10 pm Closing Remarks — Mr. Eduardo Infante, Deputy Secretary
8:15 pm – 8:35 pm End of Program Networking

Program presented by the Economic Development Ministry of Aguascalientes, Consulate General of Mexico in Austin, World Affairs Council of Austin

Utilizing the Austin-area Foreign Trade Zone in Turbulent Times
2020-07-15 11:00 - 12:00 | ONLINE
Companies dependent on imports as part of their global supply chains are increasingly concerned with the ongoing volatility of the global trade environment. US trade actions have already imposed penalty duties on Chinese goods, many European goods, and steel and aluminum products, and additional activity is underway which could significantly impact supply chain costs, including:

The imposition of US Sections 232, 301, and 201 tariff measures
Replacement of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)
US positioning itself to renegotiate its World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments
Future global digital services taxes and potential US retaliation

The US Foreign Trade Zones (FTZ) Program remains an effective tool to mitigate trade disruptions. Companies in Central Texas have access to the program through the Foreign Trade Zone of Central Texas, Inc. (FTZ No. 183), which serves the five Central Texas counties of Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson.
The World Affairs Council of Austin, Ernst & Young, the Austin Regional Manufacturers Association, the Greater Austin Chamber, Greater Austin Black Chamber, Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber, Greater Austin Asian Chamber, and the Foreign Trade Zone of Central Texas are inviting executives involved with trade, supply chain, strategy, and tax to a 60-minute webcast providing insight on current and potential future trade disruptions, benefits of the FTZ for manufacturers and distributors, how to access the FTZ program, and suggested steps to evaluate the potential impact of FTZ use.

H.E. Dirk Wouters, Ambassador of Belgium to the USA among featured speakers in July
2020-07-31 13:00 - 14:00 | ONLINE
July —
13th at 3:15pm Making Sense of a World in Crisis — Through the Eyes of a Foreign Policy Expert featuring Richard Haass, President of the Council on Foreign Relations //
16th at 10am Intelligent Manufacturing in Europe Series featuring Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Czech Republic //
16th at 1pm Qatar and the Gulf Crisis featuring Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Fellow for the Middle East at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and an Associate Fellow of Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa Program //
29th at 11am Dubai’s Leading Freezone Can Become Your Gateway to Growth & Expansion //
30th at 10am Intelligent Manufacturing in Europe Series featuring Germany, Austria and Belgium //
30th at 12pm Doing Business in Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia featuring Daniel Gaines, Commercial Service-Kenya; Ned Rauch-Mannino, Senior Advisor for Global Markets; Patricia Wagner, Commercial Service-Tanzania; and Christopher Wilkens, Commercial Service-Ethiopia //
30th at 1pm Belgium, Europe and the United States featuring H.E. Dirk Wouters, Ambassador of Belgium to the USA //

Author Lesley Blume among Speakers in August
2020-08-27 08:00 - 2020-08-31 09:00
August —
6th at 1pm Fallout: The Hiroshima Cover-Up and the Reporter Who Revealed It to the World featuring Lesley Blume, award-winning journalist, historian, and New York Times bestselling author //
11th at 10am International Biz Advantage: Austin & Israel featuring Lior Koriat, CEO at Quali; Ze’ev Lavie, VP at the Israeli Chambers of Commerce; and Limor Nakar-Vincent, Deputy Executive Director at the BIRD Foundation //
13th at 10am Intelligent Manufacturing in Europe Series featuring Italy and Turkey //
14th at 1pm Discussion with Former U.S. Secretary of Defense William Perry with author Tom Collina //
18th at 10am The Power of Netiquette featuring Philip Sykes, Founder and Principal of the British School of Etiquette //
18th at 11am The Dynamics of Today’s Supply Chain in SE Asia featuring Ambassador Robert O Blake, Jr. //
22nd at 3pm Japan Fest Online Cooking Demo featuring Oita – Austin’s Sister City //
27th at 10am Intelligent Manufacturing in Europe Series featuring Sweden, Denmark and the United Kingdom //

UK-US Trade Negotiations Update
2020-12-02 12:00 - 13:00
During this special session, attendees will obtain an update on the current round of negotiations from the perspective of our distinguished guests representing the United Kingdom, including Kunal Khatri, Deputy HM Trade Commissioner, USA; Jonathan Marrs, Consul and Regional Director, South Central USA; Christina Luhn, Consul – Senior Trade Policy Adviser; and Tim Cork, Deputy Consul General at the British Consulate General in Houston.

This program is presented by the World Affairs Council of Austin, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and the Texas Camino Real District Export Council.
On May 5th of this year, trade negotiations between the United Kingdom and the United States of America began with a video conference between UK Secretary of State for International Trade Liz Truss and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. In advance of the negotiations, the US and UK set out their respective negotiating objectives. Attendees will learn more about these objectives and obtain a preview of the next steps in the negotiation process.

UK Fireside Chat Series: The Honorable Richard Hyde, Consul General, and Chad Costello, General Counsel for WP Engine
2021-02-16 09:00 - 10:00 | ONLINE
The World Affairs Council of Austin, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, and The UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT) will be hosting a series of fireside chats. Learn from successful entrepreneurs who have successfully expanded their business to the UK. Find out what worked well as they share their lessons and tips on how to make global expansion work for your business. The Fireside chat series is live and interactive; attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions. The series will be recorded as a podcast if you can’t attend each session.
For our first session, Consul General Richard Hyde will talk with Chad Costello, General Counsel for WP Engine, on the company’s expansion into the UK. Chad Costello was instrumental in WP Engine’s expansion in the UK, Ireland, Australia and Poland. Learn how WP Engine is growing its international footprint, the benefits of international expansion for your business and when and how to contemplate a similar move for your company.
The WP Engine WordPress Digital Experience Platform gives companies of all sizes the agility, performance, intelligence, and integrations they need to drive their business forward faster. WP Engine’s combination of tech innovation and an award-winning team of WordPress experts are trusted by over 100,000 companies across 150 countries to provide counsel and support, helping brands create world-class digital experiences.

EU@SXSW Programming
2021-03-16 13:00 - 2021-03-20 12:00 | ONLINE
The World Affairs Council of Austin is pleased once again be a promotional partner for the European Union programming during SXSW®. Highlighting European innovation and culture from March 16 through 20, the festival will for the first time be virtual. Notable speakers include European Commission Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager; European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel; European Commission Vice President Věra Jourová; Director-General for Research and Innovation Jean-Eric Paquet; Co-Founder and President, Center for Humane Technology Tristan Harris; and Michelle Patron, Senior Director of Sustainability Policy, Microsoft (US).
“This year’s festival comes at a special time for the EU-US relationship,” said European Union Ambassador to the United States Stavros Lambrinidis. “We are witnessing the dawn of a new transatlantic era with a strong focus on how Europe and the United States can collaborate on everything from digital transformation to the greening of our economies. And that collaborative spirit – how we can work closely together and learn from each other – is also very much at the heart of our South-by-Southwest programming.”
Join the EU for thought-provoking discussions and presentations about connectivity, collaboration, and innovation. Learn how to participate in EU funded research, take part in a future-focused discussion about what a new social contract for big tech could look like, and discover how privacy and surveillance has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Topics range from Europe’s recently released “Democracy Action Plan” to the latest in tech. The EU will participate in the SXSW Panel Picker official events, which require a SXSW badge for access, as well as five open-to-all conversations. The SXSW Panel Picker events can be viewed by logging in with a SXSW Online badge at sxsw.com and will be available for streaming from March 16-20.
EU@SXSW events listed below will be livestreamed and are free to attend with no badge required.
The full line up of EU@SXSW events and viewing details are available here: https://euinaustin.org/

Tuesday, March 16
Time: 1:00 p.m. CST / 2:00 p.m. EST / 19:00 CET
Horizon Europe: Investing in a Sustainable, Fair Prosperous Future: Europe’s recovery from the pandemic will be firmly rooted in research and innovation and in pursuit of Europe’s goals of green and digital transitions. The Horizon Europe funding program will be key to turning an immense challenge into an opportunity by not only supporting the recovery but also by investing in Europe’s future. Presenter: Jean-Eric Paquet, Director-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission. Moderator: Senior Media Advisor and Content Advisor, Delegation of the European Union to the United States Kasper Zeuthen.
Wednesday, March 17
Time: 10:00 a.m. CST / 11:00 a.m. EST / 16:00 CET
Joining Forces: A Techno-Democratic Approach to Big Tech: Citizens everywhere are questioning the power wielded by “Big Tech” in their daily lives – from online privacy protections and facial recognition systems to unabridged access to news and facts. Building upon their shared democratic values, can the United States and the European Union stand together against unaccountable surveillance and online disinformation campaigns to prevent the erosion of democratic social institutions? Are techno-democratic “rules of the road” for Big Tech necessary? Presenters: Marietje Schaake, International Policy Director, Stanford University’s Cyber Policy Center; Dr. Joan Donovan, Research Director of the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School; and Anne Marie Engtoft Larsen, Tech Ambassador (Denmark). Moderator: Evi Fuelle, Advisor, Digital Economy Policy, Delegation of the European Union to the United States.
Thursday, March 18
Time: 11:00 a.m. CST / 12:00 p.m. EST / 17:00 CET
European Green Deal: Innovative Ideas for the Recovery: In the past thirty years, the European Union has reduced its emissions by 23 percent while growing GDP by 61 percent – and has committed to the goal of zero emissions by 2050. Will COVID recovery derail this goal, or can new tools like the digital services tax, carbon border adjustment mechanism and a commitment to growth through green trade help to advance the recovery and fight climate change? Presenter: Thomas Gerassimos, Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union, European Commission. Moderator: Ben Beachy, Director of the Sierra Club’s Living Economy program.

Friday, March 19
Time: 12:00 p.m. CST / 1:00 p.m. EST / 18:00 CET
Getting to Net-Zero with Digital Tech: The European growth model based on green recovery turns the immense challenge we face into an opportunity by investing in our future. The digital tech sector is driving the development of new services and solutions to optimize responses to the climate crisis. The integration of new technologies such as AI will further amplify this trend. Join the world’s leading technology companies to hear how new tech is supercharging climate action across the Atlantic. Presenters: Ditte Juul Joergensen, Director General for Energy, European Commission; Lubomila Jordanova, CEO, Planet-A; Kate Brand, Sustainability Officer, Google; Michelle Patron, Senior Director of Sustainability Policy, Microsoft and Daniel Schmid, Chief Sustainability Officer, SAP. Moderator: Justin Worland, Senior Climate Correspondent, Time Magazine.
Saturday, March 20
Time: 10:00 a.m. CST / 11:00 a.m. EST / 16:00 CET
Tune Up! Raising the Bar on Gender Parity In Music: This interactive conversation with music sector experts will look at gender equality initiatives in Europe and assess their potential to grow in the US. How divided or connected are states in the US compared to countries in the EU, and what responsibility do cities/funders have? What is the role of the commercial music sector, and how has that been harnessed in Europe? What organizations are becoming more involved in social justice, and does it work? Presenters: Natalie Mets, Co-founder of the community radio IDA operating in Tallinn and Helsinki; Corinne Sadki, Advisor for the Centre National de la Musique, in charge of European Affairs and Gender Equality; Lena Ingwersen, Project Manager for the Music Cities Network and Cultural & Artist Manager, professional DJ and a member of the European Keychange Development Program 2020.
The full line up of EU@SXSW events and viewing details are available here: https://euinaustin.org/

Kozmetsky Forum on Cybersecurity Threats and Challenges
2021-04-06 12:00 - 13:00 | ONLINE
The World Affairs Council of Austin has partnered with the Kozmetsky Center of Excellence in Global Finance at St. Edward’s University to offer a series of Forums on Global Investment, Finance, Emerging Markets and Geopolitical Risk. Our next Forum featuring guest speaker Donovan Blaylock, Research Principal with Sailpoint, will focus on Cybersecurity Threats and Challenges.
Donovan Blaylock is a Research Principal for SailPoint Technologies. SailPoint provides Identity and Access Security globally for organizations looking to effectively secure who has access to what for all Applications and Data, both on-premise and in the cloud. He has held several positions within the company previously including leadership roles in product, engineering and sales. Previous to SailPoint, he spent over 14 years in the US Defense and Federal government space working on some of the largest identity systems worldwide. Donovan grew up in Washington, DC but now calls Austin, TX home. He spends a lot of his spare time involved in technology roundtables, startup social events, and enjoying the famous live music scene that the city is known for. All of his remaining time is spent with his two children, travelling the globe and taking on a new woodworking projects in his woodshop.

UK Fireside Chat on Smart Cities
2021-04-16 09:00 - 10:00 | ONLINE
The World Affairs Council of Austin, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, and The UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT) host a series of fireside chats. Learn from successful entrepreneurs who have successfully expanded their business to the UK. Find out what worked well as they share their lessons and tips on how to make global expansion work for your business. The Fireside chat series is live and interactive; attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions. The series will be recorded as a podcast if you can’t attend each session.
During this session, Consul General Richard Hyde will talk with Paul Kallee-Grover, Group Planning Director for the Leith Group. He is a chartered city planner and economist who advises clients on all aspects of commercial development and real estate. Paul is also the CFO & VP of Investor Relations at the Barcelona based CREA IDEA LAB where he provides expertise in Smart Building & Urban Development globally for smart cities.
Paul is a regular speaker on inward investment and exporting goods and services and has been an Export Champion for the UK government since 2013. In 2018 he was awarded an inaugural Board of Trade Award in recognition of his role in international trade with a specific focus on his work in North America and Asia. In 2019 Paul was invited to become an Export Champion for the Northern Powerhouse. Paul is also an expert in Foreign Direct Investment from overseas markets into British businesses and UK real estate.

The Leith Group is a fast moving and dynamic company, built on a strong foundation of family values and providing exceptional client care. Leith Group provide a range of professional services across the UK, to both national and international clients with a vision to become the most trusted and respected brand in the development industry.

Texas-Europe Union Business Seminar and Summit Online Preview
2021-05-11 09:30 - 13:00 | ONLINE
After a year off due to the global shutdown, the Summit is back with a virtual mini-event preview on May 11th and a full day in-person event scheduled for September 21, 2021. Participants in the May event will be briefed on the business climate and opportunities within key EU markets and sectors. They will also have the opportunity to interact and make connections with European trade representatives.
Agenda

9:30am
Welcome Remarks

9:45am
EU Market Access Part I: Ireland, Italy and Luxembourg

Highlights three very different EU nations with compelling stories to tell: Ireland, Italy, and Luxembourg. Seasoned trade representatives from each country describe what sets their country apart and discusses the opportunities it offers.

10:30am
EU Market Access Part II: Pomerania, Poland and Hungary

Takes a look at the fast-growing countries and regions at Europe’s heart. While they share many advantages, there are differences as well. Panelists will highlight both similarities and differences as well as what they mean for Texas businesses.

11:30am
A New Digital Humanism: A European perspective for tech companies on both sides of the Atlantic

Austria is leading initiatives in tech diplomacy and cultural tech diplomacy. This discussion will highlight the experience of companies working with artists and governments on how technology can change and shape our common future and help us overcome our most pressing global challenges based on a set of common principles and values.

12:15pm
Healthcare and Cleantech: Sustainable Growth and New Transatlantic Opportunities in Science Innovation

Healthcare and Cleantech: Sustainable Growth and New Transatlantic Opportunities in Science Innovation. As the pandemic and previous administrations fade into hindsight, we take a dive into the shifts in investment and business environments, the impact of technology adoption across advances in healthtech and renewables alike, and the opportunities that we anticipate to unfold over this year.

12:55pm
Closing Remarks

1:00pm
End of Program

The May 11th Texas EU-Business Summit preview speakers bios and registration are available here:

Extend your Business to France with the French Tech Visa
2021-06-08 12:00 - 13:00 | ONLINE
The World Affairs Council of Austin invites you to join a session hosted by our friends at French Tech Austin. The French Tech Visa is a simplified, fast-track option for non-EU startup employees, founders and investors to obtain a residence permit for France. Attendees will learn what the French Tech Visa is and the criteria to obtain one.

10th Annual Texas-EU Business Summit
2021-11-09 08:00 - 19:00 | San Jacinto Meeting Rooms, 309 E 21st St, Austin, TX, 78712, United States
In its 10th 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 hosts include:
The Center for European Studies, the University of Texas at Austin,
Austin Community College,
The Consulate General of Ireland in Austin,
The Kozmetsky Center of Excellence at St. Edwards University,
The Texas-Central & Eastern Europe Tech Summit
and
Pendas International

Application Deadline for Texas CEOs B2B Meeting with Japanese CEOs
2021-12-09 11:30 - 12:00 | ONLINE
The World Affairs Council of Austin invites you to apply by noon CT on December 9th for the online CEO Business Meetings for FoodTech and Agriculture companies.
Focus areas include:
Food processing – automation and labor saving technologies; Freshness preservation and packaging materials; Factory wastewater treatment; High value add or advanced foodtech products; Smart agriculture – insect control equipment, productivity improving technologies. (see additional details in the spreadsheet below.)
Intended for: Decision-makers (CEOs, Directors, GMs, etc.) in above companies who are:
Seeking to increase added value through technological collaboration.
Involved in manufacturing of equipment, devices, parts or materials, and would like to have business meetings with Japanese corporate decision-makers.
Considering technical collaboration or joint development with Japanese companies, and/or OEM in the above industries.
Apply to express your interest in joining this CEO network enhancing opportunity on/before noon CT on 9 December 2021: https://krs.bz/smrj/m?f=302

European Union in Austin at SXSW
2022-03-12 14:30 - 2022-03-14 18:00 | Native Hostel, 807 E. 4th Street, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
The European Union is brimming with culture, creativity, diversity, green innovation, trade, and technology. If you’re in Austin, visit the EU House to learn about these groundbreaking European ideas and business opportunities, hear music from emerging European artists, and join our celebration of the transatlantic partnership. The World Affairs Council of Austin is proud to be a partner organization for the EU House again this year. This year, Venture Atlas Labs and ENRICH will also offer attendees the opportunity on Saturday, March 12th (4:00 – 6:00 pm) to focus on Invest & Innovate with the registration link and more details here.
The full EU@SXSW program schedule is here. For those unable to travel downtown, please watch the livestream here.

Opportunity for Investment in the Republic of Panama
2022-05-10 13:00 - 13:45 | ONLINE
The World Affairs Council of Austin, in collaboration with the Austin Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to offer this informative session on Panama’s Digital Hub, nearshoring advantage, and special economic regimes. Our honored guest speakers are: H.E. Juan Carlos Sosa, Vice Minister – Foreign Trade, Ministry of Trade & Industry for the Republic of Panama; Mr. Richard Kilborn, National Director of Investment Promotion, Ministry of Trade & Industry; and Ms. Carmen Gisela Vergara Mas, General Administrator, PROPANAMA.

About the speakers:
Vice Minister Juan Carlos Sosa has over 23 years of experience in foreign trade and investments, marketing, operations, management and franchises. Vice Minister Sosa has held high level positions in prestigious Panamanian companies such as Importadora Maduro and Super 99, as well high-level regional positions in multinational companies such as Samsung and Dell Latin America. Before his position as Vice Minister, Mr. Sosa was the CEO of Fun Franchise Group, a company that manages US restaurant franchises in Panama.
Vice Minister Sosa has a Bachelor of Science in Advertising from The University of Texas at Austin, as well as an MBA in International Business from Royal Holloway, University of London. Other studies include a certification program in Innovation Management from The University of California Berkeley and a certification program in Advanced Marketing from Northwestern University.

Richard Kilborn is a graduate of the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a degree in Political Science. He currently holds the position of National Director of Investment Promotion for the Ministry of Commerce and Trade of Panama.
He has more than 24 years of experience in the financial sector, and has held multiple positions on boards of several financial institutions such as Financiera Familiar, and Frontier Financial Services Inc. He has also been published in several magazines and is the author of the award winning novel “Good Money Gone”, which won best novel in the International Latin Book Awards in the category of “Adventure – Drama” in 2014.

Carmen Gisela Vergara Mas graduated in Law and Political Science from the University of Panama. She has a Master’s Degree in Banking and Financial Law from the University of El Externado in Colombia and a Postgraduate Degree in International Trade Negotiations from the University of Santiago de Chile.
Before holding the position of General Administrator at PROPANAMA, the Authority for the Attraction of Investments and Promotion of Exports of the Panamanian State, Ms. Vergara served as Executive Director of the Federation of Chambers and Industrial Associations of Central America and the Dominican Republic – FECAICA and as Secretary-General of the Central American Economic Integration Secretariat SIECA, achieving important advances for the Central American integration process. Before holding this position, she was a Director before the Board of Directors of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration – CABEI, representing Panama.
Expert in International Trade Law, Business Development, Trade Negotiations, Integration, and Trade Facilitation, she has also served as Minister of Commerce and Industries, Vice Minister of Foreign Trade, and National Director of Investment and Export Promotion of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries. In addition, Ms. Vergara has been Manager of the City of Knowledge Business Technology Accelerator.
Ms. Vergara has also represented Panama as Alternate Delegate before the Inter-American Commission of Women and a member of the non-permanent Specialized Commissions of the Organization of American States – OAS, in the areas of Diversification, Market Access, and Economic Integration. She is a member of the Arbitration Center of Panama and has served as Facilitator of the Master for International Management (MIMLA) offered by Thunderbird University and the Monterrey Institute of Technology, on the subject of International Trade Negotiations. At the private level, she has worked as a Lawyer on commercial issues, as an Advisor on investment issues, and as a Consultant on multiple issues, among which stand out: business development, gender, exports, social responsibility, trade negotiations, competitiveness and facilitation of trade; among others.

Identifying Business Partners in Uzbekistan
2022-05-17 12:00 - 13:00 | Tech Ranch, 8920 Business Park Drive, Suite 250, Austin, TX, 78759, United States
Tech Ranch and the World Affairs Council of Austin invite you to a presentation on Uzbekistan featuring Mr. Sanjar Zakhidov of International Export Consulting LLC. Mr. Zakhidov will provide an overview of Uzbekistan’s economy and offer insight on indentifying business partners in this dynamic market.

Mr. Zakhidov has more than two years of Export/Import management experience. His specific client base includes exporters of textile, fruits, raw materials, and medicinal herbs. Mr. Zahidov also led a volunteer team at the “Global Entrepreneurship Network” (GEN). GEN’s goal is to establish a global ecosystem of entrepreneurship. He holds a Bachelor of Business and Financial Management from the Management Development Institute of Singapore in Tashkent. He is fluent in Russian, English, Uzbek, and Tajik.

Networking Reception with Austrian Startups
2022-06-29 16:00 - 18:00 | Austin Chamber of Commerce, 535 E. Fifth Street, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
The World Affairs Council of Austin, in collaboration with the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, 3 Day Startup, and the U.S. Embassy in Vienna invites you to attend this celebration of Austrian entrepreneurship. This networking reception will highlight the Austria to Austin Student Startup Exchange. The Austria to Austin Exchange is an intense, high energy two-week exchange where twenty standout Austrian university students start early stage companies.
“A key part of the Austria to Austin Exchange program is introducing the next generation of global leaders to the city of Austin and all it has to offer as a creative and startup hub in the U.S.,” Erika Haskins, CEO of 3 Day Startup.
Hear from industry experts and these internationally-minded Austrian entrepreneurs elaborate on their early stage companies, and learn more about their plans to become innovation bridges between the U.S. and Austria!

Business & Investment in Singapore
2022-07-25 17:30 - 19:30 | Capital Factory, 701 Brazos Street, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
Singapore is a vibrant nerve center for business in Asia. The city-state has been consistently acknowledged as a global business hub featuring developed infrastructure, political stability, open business policies, a skilled workforce, and respect for intellectual property rights.
Join the World Affairs Council of Austin and our partners – the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce, City of Austin, and other Austin Chambers of Commerce – as we explore business and investment opportunities in Singapore. Network with representatives from Enterprise Singapore. Hear from panelists representing Igloocompany and Cynopsis Solutions.
A growing number of U.S.-based businesses look to Singapore as a gateway to business in Asia. The reception focuses on the Singapore market as it relates to Austin businesses.
Topics for discussion include:

Manufacturing
Innovation and tech
Healthcare
Electronics
And more…

This important event is part of GAACC’s #MakeAustinGlobal initiative to connect Austin to international markets in Asia and beyond.

Event Agenda
5:30 | Check-In and Refreshments
6:00 | GAACC Welcome
6:10 | Panel Discussion
6:40 | Q&A
6:50 | Games & Prizes
7:00 | Networking
7:30 | Closing Remarks
