World Affairs Council of Austin

Application Deadline for Texas CEOs B2B Meeting with Japanese CEOs
2021-11-09 12:00 (America/Chicago) | ONLINE
The World Affairs Council of Austin invites you to apply by noon CT on November 9th for the online CEO Business Meetings in January.
Target Industries:
Industrial robotics, Automation technology; Software systems related to design/quality/production/remote control/AI; Aeronautics – systems, engines, interiors, and airframe (parts/materials); and Aerospace – satellites and rockets (parts/materials).
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 November 2021: https://krs.bz/smrj/m?f=296

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

Kozmetsky Forum on Business Investment Considerations for LATAM
2021-11-02 12:00 - 13:00 | ONLINE
The World Affairs Council of Austin and the Kozmetsky Center of Excellence in Global Finance at St. Edward’s University host a series of Forums on Global Investment, Finance, Emerging Markets and Geopolitical Risk. Our next Forum will feature a lively discussion with Sebastian Gomez, Co-Founder of Thorus Consulting, and David Sandler, Co-Founder at Remarks, on the important details a business investor should consider when looking at expanding and selling into Latin America. Mexico and the rest of Latin America represent the United States’ second-largest trading partner and second-largest export market, and interest is increasing from Texas corporations.

About the speakers:
Sebastian Gomez has been connecting Latanamerica to the world for more than 20 years. He consults U.S. companies on expanding in Latin-America where he supports them to understand the markets and opportunities they present. He is now an entrepreneur and consultant with Thorus Consulting that he founded in 2021 with his wife, after being the Information Technology Trade Representative for the Colombian Government for 12 years supporting the international expansion of companies from Austin and Latam.

David Sandler, Co-Founder of Remarks, is a skilled entrepreneur with experience in marketing, internationalization and strategy building. His track record includes consulting for government, universities, private companies and cluster management organizations.

Globalist Coffeehouse: A Cross-Cultural Look at Cars
2021-10-21 18:30 - 19:30 | ONLINE
Please join like-minded “global thinkers” for a monthly discussion on the major political/economic issues that our world is currently experiencing. Due to the Delta-Variant, this will be an online zoom discussion. Hopefully, in the future, we will be able to return to an in-person discussion at the Shoal Creek Saloon. The topic will be Cars!
And now for something a little different: a cross-cultural look at cars or “you are what you drive.” Cars, cars, cars – they are everywhere and in every society. But what brands of cars are successful in a culture or a country? Which ones make a statement or suggest a certain economic/social status? In the US we have our own stereotypes – “soccer moms” drive Honda Odyssey minivans, and “rednecks” drive Chevy Silverado pickups.
But what about other cultures and countries? In China, you drive a Lexus to demonstrate your status, but why not a Mercedes? Why is a car brand successful or a total “bomb” in certain countries? A wonderful naming disaster is the Mitsubishi “Pajero.” A very good vehicle, but it didn’t sell in Spain or Spanish speaking cultures because it was lost in a very negative translation. There are numerous other lost in translation car brands. The Chevy Nova did not sell in Latin America because translated within the culture “nova” meant “it doesn’t go.” The Toyota Fiera was translated as an “ugly old woman” in Puerto Rico. There are also car subcultures in many societies, such as Low Riders in the U.S. Japan has “Dodge Van Racers” and in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East there are “Desert Drifters.”
What about your own observations or even personal experiences with automobile culture in the countries you have worked in or traveled through? Please join us for what will be a very interesting conversation.

For further information please contact:
Ellen Murry, WAC Advisory Board
ellen.murry@yahoo.com
Polina Anastassieva, WAC management team

polina@wacaustin.org

Application Deadline for Texas CEO Meeting with Japanese CEOs
2021-10-08 16:00 - 17:00 | ONLINE
The World Affairs Council of Austin invites you to apply by October 8th for the web-based online CEO Business Meetings during the SME New Value Creation Exhibition in December.
Target Industries:
AI/IoT; CleanTech – Renewables, Sustainability, Contruction, Building Materials (including Energy Efficiency); Disaster Prevention/Mitigation; Equipment Maintenance; and new material related industries.
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 8 October 2021: https://krs.bz/smrj/m?f=286

Kozmetsky Forum on Global Challenges in Carbon Footprint
2021-10-05 12:00 - 13:00 | ONLINE
The World Affairs Council of Austin and the Kozmetsky Center of Excellence in Global Finance at St. Edward’s University host a series of Forums on Global Investment, Finance, Emerging Markets and Geopolitical Risk. Our next Forum on global challenges in carbon footprint will be moderated by John Bretz and will feature Dr. Dhabia M. Al-Mohannadi.
To mitigate the risks of global climate change, the world has undertaken an unprecedented effort to transition its energy supply towards low carbon energy sources. This journey requires an effective energy transformation that accounts for sustainable economic growth, affordability, accessibility, and security. When coupled with the need to reduce emissions, the challenges ahead of energy transition are immense. This talk will look into sustainable energy transition for hydrocarbon including the role of renewable energy and carbon capture utilization and storage technology.
Dr. Al-Mohannadi’s work focuses on the systematic design of sustainable industrial parks under carbon dioxide limits, resource management, and climate policies evaluation. Her work deals with multidisciplinary problems that involves different decision-making processes, engineering and economics. Her research leads to developing analytical tools that can assess flexibility, robustness, reliability of process systems at the design and operational level.
Research Interests
Process system engineering
Process integration, modeling and optimization
Sustainable design and operation of eco-industrial parks
Carbon dioxide mitigation and natural resource management
Inter-disciplinary approaches to decision-making and problem solving
Strategic planning and techno-economic modeling
Experience

2018-Current — Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering Texas A&M University at Qatar
June 2018 — Visiting graduate student at Imperial College of London
2015-2018 — Visiting Scholar at Texas A&M University at Qatar
2013-2018 — Graduate Fellow, Qatar Research Leadership program (QRLP), Qatar Foundation

About the Moderator: John is the former Country Manager for Anadarko Mozambique Lda, and led in-country operations and administration in Maputo, Mozambique for development of Mozambique’s first onshore greenfield US $20B+ world scale Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) development. He previously served as Vice President Anadarko Energy Services Company leading the crude, natural gas liquids and natural gas marketing and operations teams. In addition, he served as various VPs for commodity marketing activities for Anadarko and was involved in operations for Anadarko midstream activities and ownership development.
John has also held numerous managerial, operations and engineering roles and responsibilities for Duke Energy, Union Pacific Resources, Chevron and others. John has a MBA and Chemical Engineering degree both from Tulane University and is on the Advisory Board of the Austin Texas World Affairs council, the Board of the Tulane University Business School Energy Institute, member of Society of Petroleum Engineers and former Chairman of the Board of the World Affairs Council of Houston Texas.

The Kozmetsky Forums will be held on Zoom during the fall of 2021.

Global Security Forum 2021
2021-10-02 07:50 - 14:30 | ONLINE
The World Affairs Council of Austin is a partnering with the World Affairs Council of Connecticut to present the annual Global Security Forum 2021. From space to cyber, the Forum will explore the changing currency of power and ask: how will decisions made today come to define the future? Are U.S. battle systems prepared to meet the threats and challenges of the future? With a new U.S. administration, what role will the United States play on the global stage? Ultimately, what transformations must occur today in national and global security in order to realize a stable and secure world in the future?
Featured speakers include: General Charles W. Hooper, former director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency; Admiral Kenneth Braithwaite, the 77th Secretary of the Navy; Admiral Michelle Howard, former commander of United States Naval Forces Europe, United States Naval Forces Africa, and Allied Joint Force Command Naples; General Lori Robinson, former commander of United States Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command; Secretary Ryan McCarthy, Former Secretary of the United States Army, among others.

Globalist Coffeehouse: Afghanistan - What’s Next?
2021-09-16 18:30 - 19:30 | ONLINE
Please join like-minded “global thinkers” for a monthly discussion on the major political/economic issues that our world is currently experiencing. Due to the Delta-Variant, this will be an online zoom discussion. Hopefully, in the future, we will be able to return to an in-person discussion at the Shoal Creek Saloon. The topic will be Afghanistan.

Over the course of the last month, we have seen the immense changes that have occurred in Afghanistan. To say that the withdrawal was not well managed would be an understatement. However, there are a variety of complex issues that arise from this. Can the Taliban even be trusted? What role do countries such as Iran, Russia, China, Pakistan, and even India have in filling in the vacuum our departure has created? How has this impacted the credibility of the United States? The President of France has asked the question: Can the U.S. be trusted? What about our ongoing commitments elsewhere in the world – from the Middle East to Asia? Finally, there are the allies and comrades that we left behind. What is their future?
From the state department perspective, some have suggested that the lack of tours of duty sufficient to master the problems and the confusion of policy and implementation are both ongoing issues, and not just for Afghanistan. For a more historical perspective, others have cited an “imperial aversion to instability,” from the British in 19th century Sudan, to our own years in Vietnam. And now perhaps Afghanistan?
How will our Afghanistan experience impact our actions and foreign policy decisions in the future?
Please join us for what will be a very lively discussion.

For further information please contact:
Ellen Murry, WAC Advisory Board

ellen.murry@yahoo.com

Polina Anastassieva, WAC management team
polina@wacaustin.org
We have also included some suggested articles for further reading on this topic.
https://foreignpolicy.com/projects/leaving-afghanistan/
China, Russia Look to Outflank U.S. in Afghanistan
Intervention: Unlearned Lessons, or the Gripes of a Professional

Kozmetsky Forum on Global Investment, Finance, Emerging Markets and Geopolitical Risk
2021-09-07 12:00 - 13:00 | ONLINE
The World Affairs Council of Austin and the Kozmetsky Center of Excellence in Global Finance at St. Edward’s University host a series of Forums on Global Investment, Finance, Emerging Markets and Geopolitical Risk. Our next Forum focusing on political risk will feature Joseph Sadek.
Joseph was the 2016 co-Chair of the Conference on Management Political Risk at The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy at Tufts University, and is currently a Research Manager in Financial Services. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations from The Fletcher School, and a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies from The Ohio State University.
The Kozmetsky Forums will be held on Zoom during the fall of 2021.

Export Reset 2021 Conference
2021-09-02 08:00 - 12:00 | ONLINE
The World Affairs Council of Austin and the Texas Camino Real District Export Council is proud to present these Export RESET 2021 panels:
8:00 AM (CDT): Lessons Learned from 2020 – Panelists (listed in photo above) will discuss trends in the global supply chain before and during the pandemic and which innovative measures remain;
9:00 AM (CDT): Workforce Development Needs for Global Expansion – Look at recent data and solutions that can be applied to meet your entry level and skilled labor needs. Panelists in photo below;

10:00 AM (CDT): International Ecommerce for SME’s – Ecommerce business providers offer website tips to increase international sales. Panelists in photo below;

11:00 AM (CDT): How Finding and Negotiating with your Channel Partners/Distributors Changed – Local companies will share their experiences and recommendations on changes and adjustments they made last year.

REGISTRATION and more details here:

Globalist Coffeehouse - Foreigners: How do We Perceive Them?
2021-08-19 18:30 - 19:30 | ONLINE
The next Globalist Coffeehouse will be on Thursday, August 19th, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in a “virtual zoom” format due to the situation with the Delta -Variant.

See below for the details.
The topic will be: Foreigners: How do we perceive them?
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all ones lifetime.”– Samuel Clements
Travel takes time and money, something many Americans don’t have, consequently what we know about the world – its geography and cultures – comes from the media. At best it is a National Geographic special. Unfortunately, too often most countries are not covered at all and when they are mentioned it is in the negative context of civil war, coups d’états, drought, and famine. And this was before the pandemic. As a result, Americans tend to form negative stereotypes that reinforce prejudices about a country and its people.
What can we do to help overcome this trend? Supporting more international cultural exchanges? Encouraging the mainstream media to focus more on what is “unique” about a country as opposed to “strange” or “backward and primitive?” What about your own experiences living or traveling abroad which may have reinforced your pre-conceived perceptions or changed them for better or worse? Even in this country, has a personal encounter with someone from another culture impacted your perception of that society?
Please join us for what will be a very lively discussion.

For further information please contact:
Ellen Murry, WAC Advisory Board
ellen.murry@yahoo.com
Polina Anastassieva, WAC management team
polina@wacaustin.org

Kirsten Hillman, Canada's Ambassador to the USA among Featured Speakers in July
2021-07-28 12:00 - 17:00
27th at 11am Canada & the US: Friends, Partners and Allies featuring Amb. Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s Ambassador to the USA //
27th at 2 pm Export Compliance 101 featuring Mariana de Gorordo Rutherford, the COO of Kieyos, an international trade company and the Supply Chain / Export Compliance Director of AIRtec, Inc.; and Sheriah Johnson, Trade Compliance Manager for NCR Corporation in Atlanta, Georgia. //
28th at 12noon NET ZERO Leaders Summit Japan Business Conference featuring panels on Japanese Business Initiatives Toward Carbon Neutrality; Green Innovation; Sustainable Finance; Transition in Emerging Countries //

Globalist Coffeehouse: Global Art as “Icons of Cultures”
2021-07-15 18:30 - 19:30 | Shoal Creek Saloon, 909 N. Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX, 78703, United States
The next Globalist Coffeehouse will be on Thursday, July 15th, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Shoal Creek Saloon, 909 N. Lamar Blvd. Yes, it will be in person! See below for the details.
The topic will be: Global Art as “Icons of Cultures”

For centuries art has played a role in culture – whether religion, colonialism, revolution, and war. Think about the collecting (some would say looting) of artifacts from South and Central America by the Spanish and Portuguese or Africa and Asia (including the Indian Subcontinent) by colonials and the French and British in the Middle East. Then there are religious wars and revolutions, from the art appropriated or destroyed by the Germans in WWII – whatever happened to the famed “Amber room” – to the Taliban destroying the Buddhas of Bamiyan in Afghanistan. The U.S. has also “played this game,” if you think about Native American artifacts in our major museum collections.
So, what about more contemporary efforts at repatriation – to locate, restore and even return artifacts to the original owners or societies?
Join us for our first “in person” discussion about this fascinating topic. We are certain that you will all have wonderful stories to tell about experiencing temples, statuary, art collections, and the historical “back-story” of how it ended up on that wall or pedestal.
Regarding the new location and format. We will be in a private dining room at the Shoal Creek Saloon. It is an Austin “icon” in its own right. Please check out their website and menu. The discussion will begin at 6:30 p.m. but do come a little early – get a craft beer, perhaps order something to eat, and enjoy meeting your fellow “globalists” in person!

The Globalist Coffeehouse: The Global Rise of Populism - What Does it Mean for the World’s Democracies?
2021-06-17 18:30 - 19:30 | ONLINE
Over the last decade, there has been a rise in populist and authoritarian regimes around the world. From the increasing influence of authoritarian countries like China to the retreat of democracy across Eurasia and the former Soviet Bloc countries. You have Marine Le Pen and xenophobia in France and Modi in India where the rise of Hindu nationalism threatens Muslims and other minorities. The same trend is found in the Americas and Africa.
Right-wing populism is not a monolith, yet there are some common elements: nationalistic traits, xenophobia, a tendency towards authoritarianism, opposition to immigration, discontent with multi-culturalism/social liberalism and an anti-elitist message.
So what is the solution? How do democracies address this trend? While the focus of our discussion will be mostly global, some would also suggest that recently even the U.S. has been experiencing a similar process.
Please join us for what will certainly be a lively conversation.

For more details contact:
Ellen Murry, WAC Advisory Board
ellen.murry@yahoo.com
Polina Anastassieva, WAC Management Team
polina@wacaustin.org

Conversation with Todd Chapman, U.S. Ambassador to Brazil
2021-06-15 12:00 - 13:00 | ONLINE
Join the World Affairs Council of Austin for a special conversation with Todd C. Chapman, U.S. Ambassador to Brazil. Ambassador Chapman will discuss current events in Brazil as well as the Texas-Brazil relationship with Political Officer Ian Brown at the U.S. Embassy in Brazil.

Todd C. Chapman is the U.S. Ambassador to Brazil. He was nominated by President Donald Trump on October 30, 2019, confirmed by the U.S. Senate on February 20, 2020 and arrived in Brazil on March 29, 2020. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Ambassador Chapman earlier served as U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador from 2016 – 2019.
Ambassador Chapman’s career has focused on promoting economic development and security partnerships around the world. He previously served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Political Military Affairs at the Department of State (2014-2016); Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Brasilia, Brazil (2011-2014); Senior Deputy Coordinator for Economic Affairs, U.S. Embassy Kabul, Afghanistan (2010-2011); and Chargé d’Affaires at U.S. Embassy Maputo, Mozambique (2007-2010). Earlier assignments included Bolivia, Costa Rica, Nigeria, Taiwan, and several tours at the Department of State in Washington D.C.
Ambassador Chapman first came to Brazil in 1974 when his father’s U.S. company transferred the family to Sao Paulo. He attended Escola Maria Imaculada (Chapel School) where he graduated in 1980. Before joining the Foreign Service, he worked as a commercial banker in New York and Saudi Arabia, and later as a business consultant in Brazil and his hometown of Houston, Texas. Altogether, he has lived in Brazil for 11 years.
Ambassador Chapman earned an A.B. in History from Duke University in 1983, and a M.S. in Strategic Intelligence from the Joint Military Intelligence College in 2000.
He is joined in Brazil by his wife of 34 years Janetta Chapman and they are the proud parents of two sons, Joshua and Jason, and daughter-in-law Brooke, all who reside in Denver, Colorado.

Event hosted by:

Iran: Upcoming Elections & U.S. Diplomacy
2021-06-09 11:30 - 12:30 | ONLINE
Learn more about Iran’s elections and the impact on U.S. diplomacy.
Panelists include:
-Ambassador Thomas Shannon Jr.
Senior International Policy Advisor, Arnold & Porter
-Dr. Roxanne Farmanfarmaian
University of Cambridge, Department of Politics & International Studies
-Dr. Ben Radd
UCLA Center for Middle East Development

Speakers:

Ambassador Thomas Shannon Jr.
Senior International Policy Advisor @Arnold & Porter
Ambassador Thomas A. Shannon, Jr. brings more than three decades of government service and diplomatic experience to his practice, providing strategic counsel to clients across a range of legislative, foreign policy, and national security issues. Most recently, Ambassador Shannon served as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, the third highest ranking position at the State Department. Holding the personal rank of Career Ambassador, he was the highest ranking member of the United States Foreign Service, the country’s professional diplomatic corps. During his tenure as Under Secretary, Ambassador Shannon was in charge of bilateral and multilateral foreign policymaking and implementation, and oversaw diplomatic activity globally and in our missions to international organizations. He managed the State Department during the presidential transition, led bilateral and strategic stability talks with the Russian Federation, worked with our allies to oversee Iranian compliance.

Dr. Ben Radd (MODERATOR)
@UCLA Center for Middle East Development
Dr. Benjamin Radd is a Political Scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he teaches global studies, international relations, public diplomacy, and comparative law. Dr. Radd is an expert on the government and politics of the Middle East, with an emphasis on Iran and US-Iranian foreign policy. He is also a teaching fellow at the UCLA Center for Middle East Development and a member of the UCLA International Institute. Dr. Radd holds a PhD in Political Science from UCLA and a JD from Stanford Law School.

Dr. Roxanne Farmanfarmaian
@University of Cambridge, Department of Politics & International Studies
Dr Roxane Farmanfarmaian is a University of Cambridge academic, specialist in Iranian and Gulf politics, media commentator and public speaker. She is Director of International Studies and Global Politics at the University of Cambridge Institute for Continuing Education and a Senior Associate Fellow at the European Leadership Network. Her publications include Blood and Oil: A Prince’s Memoir of Iran From the Shah to the Ayatollah, and recently, articles in The Hill, Foreign Policy and Responsible Statecraft. She has a PhD and MPhil from the University Cambridge and a BA from Princeton. She lives in London and has a son attending the University of Southern California.

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.

Globalist Coffeehouse: Food Diplomacy
2021-05-20 18:30 - 19:30 | ONLINE
Please join like-minded “global thinkers” for a monthly discussion on the major political/economic issues that our world is currently experiencing. Depending on COVID-19 numbers, we hope to host an in-person series of the Globalist in June or July!
This month’s topic is:
Food Diplomacy
“Food Diplomacy” can be described as an interesting international business strategy that can bring countries together or even divide them. Think back to the days when kings would host banquets and lure their enemies to share secrets. At the same time, food has also brought us closer. Think about all the varying restaurants and neighborhoods in our country – Thai, Persian, Indian, even Italian.
What about cultural and religious food taboos in business and diplomacy? What is the role of food as “soft power” or food scarcity as a source of conflict, especially as we face the impact of climate change? Let’s discuss some of your own business and personal culinary experiences abroad. Food always has and will be a common denominator amidst all our differences.

For more details contact:

Ellen Murry, WAC Advisory Board
ellen.murry@yahoo.com
Polina Anastassieva, WAC management team
polina@wacaustin.org

NATO 2030: Strengthening the Alliance to Address New Security Threats
2021-05-17 12:00 - 2021-05-27 17:00 | ONLINE
With the next Summit of Allied Leaders set to take place at NATO headquarters in Brussels on June 14, the World Affairs Councils of America (WACA) will host a forward-looking online speaker series from May 17th-27th. High-level NATO officials and ambassadors from Allied countries will discuss the following critical topics:
May 17th: “NATO as Strategic Anchor – Arms Control and Russia”
May 19th: “21st Century Dilemmas of a Nuclear Alliance”
May 20th: “Climate, Security, and Green Defense”
May 24th: “Outer Space as a Domain”
May 25th: “Energy Security and Resilient Trade”
May 27th: “Emerging and Disruptive Technology (EDT) and Cybersecurity”

Visit the NATO2030 Series Website!

NOTE: Separate registration is required for each and every program in this special series.

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:

Ambassador Hyoeun Jenny Kim among Featured Speakers in April
2021-04-26 18:00 - 19:30 | ONLINE
April events:
6th at 12:00pm Kozmetsky Forum featuring Donovan Blaylock, Research Principal at Sailpoint, on Cybersecurity Threats and Challenges//
15th at 10:00am Europe Webinar Series: Doing Business in Germany //
15th at 6:30pm Globalist Coffeehouse on the Quad and its Role in the Indo-Pacific //
16th at 9:00am UK Fireside Chat on Smart Cities with British Consul General Richard Hyde //
19th-25th Climate Week 2021 featuring Ambassador Hyoeun Jenny Kim, Deputy Director-General of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) //

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.

Globalist Coffeehouse on the Quad and its Role in the Indo-Pacific
2021-04-15 18:30 - 19:30 | ONLINE
The Austin World Affairs Council, in association with the San Antonio WAC Young Professionals, will host the Globalist Coffeehouse on Thursday, April 15th, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. The topic is:

The “Quad” and its role in the Indo-Pacific as a counterbalance to China.
Recently, the Quad has been in the news. Since 2004 the “Quadrilateral Security Dialogue,” composed of Australia, India, Japan, and the US, has been meeting informally and conducting joint regional military exercises.
Now China’s politically motived sanctions of Australian commodities, Japan’s alarm over incursions by the Chinese Navy into disputed waters in the East China Sea, and a deadly clash between India and China in the Himalayas have all caused relations between the Quad countries and China to plummet.
President Biden recently hosted a summit of the Quad to address China’s assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. What are the next steps in the process? Will the Quad evolve into an organization along the line of NATO as a counterbalance to China? Will the Quad be able to demonstrate that they can address and even solve the economic, transnational, and environmental challenges in the Indo-Pacific region?
Please join us, along with the San Antonio WAC Young Professionals, in what will be a very interesting discussion on the future of everyone’s relationship to China.
Jeffery Tunis will provide an introduction to this topic. He is a retired foreign service officer who had numerous postings throughout Asia and will bring a very insightful focus to the conversation.

Ellen Murry, WAC Advisory Board

ellen.murry@yahoo.com

Polina Anastassieva, WAC management team
polina@wacaustin.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.

Stavros Lambrinidis, European Union Ambassador to the United States, among Featured Speakers in March
2021-03-26 16:00 - 17:00
March programs:
2nd at 12:00pm Kozmetsky Forum on Developing a Diverse Internship Portfolio //
3rd at 9:00am UK Fireside Chat with Kunal Khatri, UK’s Deputy HM Trade Commissioner for the USA and Geoffrey Camp, Aerospace and Defense State Director at the Oklahoma Department of Commerce //
3rd at 1:45pm Case Study on Social Entrepreneurship in Latin America use promo code VIP01 //
3rd at 5:00pm Global Perspectives with Richard N. Haass, President of the Council on Foreign Relations //
6th at 4:00pm Promoting US-Japan Exchange during COVID and Beyond //
16th – 20th EU@SXSW Programming with European Union Ambassador to the United States Stavros Lambrinidis among featured speakers //
18th at 6:30pm Globalist Coffeehouse on the Future of Currencies //
24th at 5:00pm Walter Isaacson: The Code Breaker – Gene Editing and the Future of the Human Race, Professor of History at Tulane, former CEO of the Aspen Institute //

Walter Isaacson: The Code Breaker - Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing and the Future of the Human Race
2021-03-24 17:00 - 18:00 | ONLINE
The World Affairs Council of Austin is pleased to partner with the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston in hosting David Rubenstein in a discussion with Walter Isaacson on his new book, The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing and the Future of the Human Race. The bestselling author of Leonardo da Vinci and Steve Jobs returns with a gripping account of how Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna and her colleagues launched a revolution that will allow us to cure diseases, fend off viruses, and have healthier babies.
When Jennifer Doudna was in sixth grade, she came home one day to find that her dad had left a paperback titled The Double Helix on her bed. She put it aside, thinking it was one of those detective tales she loved. When she read it on a rainy Saturday, she discovered she was right, in a way. As she sped through the pages, she became enthralled by the intense drama behind the competition to discover the code of life. Even though her high school counselor told her girls didn’t become scientists, she decided she would.
Driven by a passion to understand how nature works and to turn discoveries into inventions, she would help to make what the book’s author, James Watson, told her was the most important biological advance since his co-discovery of the structure of DNA. She and her collaborators turned a curiosity of nature into an invention that will transform the human race: an easy-to-use tool that can edit DNA. Known as CRISPR, it opened a brave new world of medical miracles and moral questions.
The development of CRISPR and the race to create vaccines for coronavirus will hasten our transition to the next great innovation revolution. The past half-century has been a digital age, based on the microchip, computer, and internet. Now we are entering a life-science revolution. Children who study digital coding will be joined by those who study genetic code.
Should we use our new evolution-hacking powers to make us less susceptible to viruses? What a wonderful boon that would be! And what about preventing depression? Hmmm…Should we allow parents, if they can afford it, to enhance the height or muscles or IQ of their kids?
After helping to discover CRISPR, Doudna became a leader in wrestling with these moral issues and, with her collaborator Emmanuelle Charpentier, won the Nobel Prize in 2020. Her story is a thrilling detective tale that involves the most profound wonders of nature, from the origins of life to the future of our species.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Walter Isaacson, a professor of history at Tulane, has been CEO of the Aspen Institute, chair of CNN, and editor of Time. The bestselling author of Leonardo da Vinci and Steve Jobs returns with a gripping account of how Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna and her colleagues launched a revolution that will allow us to cure diseases, fend off viruses, and have healthier babies. He is also the author The Innovators; Einstein: His Life and Universe; Benjamin Franklin: An American Life; and Kissinger: A Biography, and the coauthor of The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made. Visit him at Isaacson.Tulane.edu
ABOUT THE MODERATOR
David M. Rubenstein is a Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of The Carlyle Group, one of the world’s largest and most successful private investment firms. Mr. Rubenstein co-founded the firm in 1987. Since then, Carlyle has grown into a firm managing $246 billion from 29 offices around the world.
Mr. Rubenstein is Chairman of the Boards of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Council on Foreign Relations; a Fellow of the Harvard Corporation; a Regent of the Smithsonian Institution; a Trustee of the National Gallery of Art, the University of Chicago, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins Medicine, the Institute for Advanced Study, the National Constitution Center, the Brookings Institution, and the World Economic Forum; a Director of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; and President of the Economic Club of Washington.

To redeem your exclusive membership price ticket for this event, add one “Non-members -3/24” ticket to your cart. After clicking Get Tickets, click Proceed to Checkout on the following page when ready. On the Checkout page, please click on the green box containing the text “Have a coupon? Click here to enter your code”. Enter “houston” in the box and press Apply coupon to see your reflect discounted rate.

Globalist Coffeehouse on the Future of Currencies
2021-03-18 18:30 - 19:30 | ONLINE
The future of currencies in a digitalized world.
As e-commerce has come to the forefront of how we purchase goods and services, digital currencies such as Bitcoin have risen as a means of exchange for payment. Bitcoin, unlike other currencies, is not regulated, and therefore its value has skyrocketed. Throughout recent history, we have relied on banking institutions to hold our money, but what happens when they are no longer needed? Can we rely on digital currency on the same scale? Banks are ensured; but how are we supposed to trust digital currency? What about security issues with digital services, i.e., breaches and hacks? There have been numerous “boom and bust” economic cycles in the past. Are Bitcoin and similar entities the future or a potential bust?

What about your own personal experience? Have you or your friends invested in digital currencies like Bitcoin? Would you do so in the future and under what circumstances?

For more details contact:
Ellen Murry, WAC Advisory Board
ellen.murry@yahoo.com
Polina Anastassieva, WAC Management Team
polina@wacaustin.org

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/

Promoting US-Japan Exchange during COVID and Beyond
2021-03-06 16:00 - 17:30 | ONLINE
The U.S. Embassy in Japan has invited alumni of the U.S. Department of State programs to apply and participate in a unique 6-day virtual event discussing Japan-U.S. relations and encouraging Japanese students to return to U.S. institutions of education. The delegation, composed of members from education and business sectors, will “visit” three cities during the program: Washington D.C., Austin, and Boston.
Beginning at 4pm on Saturday, March 6th, GlobalAustin, along with the World Affairs Council of Austin, is hosting a networking event to connect area Texans to members of the Japanese delegation. This 90 minute event will provide an opportunity for local residents to bridge communications between Japan and the U.S., fostering and cultivating global relationships and applying international skills to engaging local communities.
In order to encourage more conversation, space for this virtual event is limited. To join us, please register here.

Kozmetsky Forum on Developing a Diverse Internship Portfolio
2021-03-02 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 will focus on Developing a Diverse Internship Portfolio.
Carlos Balderas is currently a Global Supply Manager, HUB Coordinator for Tesla. A native of Austin, Texas, Carlos Balderas graduated from St. Edward’s University in 2002 with a degree in Humanities. He served the State of Texas as HUB Coordinator for 15 years under the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Texas Department of Transportation. Mr. Balderas established HUB Programs at each of these agencies, which generated a growth for minority and women-owned businesses. He has also worked with and coordinated initiatives with various community partners and local and state representatives for the purpose of increasing minority and women-owned participation in state government. In addition, he is a member of El Amistad, Round Rock’s oldest organization, aimed at providing scholarships to seniors in the community.
