2021 Development Conference Agenda coming soon!

Fireside Chat
9:45 a.m. 

• Sean Cairncross, Chief Executive Officer, Millennium Challenge Corporation
• Moderator: Shiro Gnanaselvam, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Social Impact

Fireside Chat
10:45 a.m.
Australia has long been a key U.S. foreign policy partner, particularly in Asia.  With growing tensions with China impacting both our countries, and recent economic outlooks putting downward pressure on both our foreign assistance budgets, we have much in common with our good friends “down under.” Hear the latest developments from a seasoned Australian diplomat stationed here in Washington, whose extensive service overseas and in Canberra will provide valuable insight on his country’s latest moves in development.

• James Hall, Minister Counsellor (International Development), Embassy of Australia, Washington D.C.
• Moderator: Susan B. Chodakewitz, Chief Executive Officer, Nathan

Congressional Panel
11:45 a.m.
Hear from a bi-partisan, bi-cameral panel of current and former high-ranking Congressional staff regarding their views on the impact of the last four years on American foreign assistance and what to expect from the incoming administration. Panelists represent both appropriators and authorizers, so expect both budgets and policy discussions as part of conversation, moderated by PSC’s very own Paul Foldi – himself a 10-year veteran of Capitol Hill.

Panelists: 

• Kate Eltrich, President, KAE Strategic, LLC. 
• Nikole Burroughs, Staff Director for the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation, House Foreign Affairs Committee under Subcommittee Chairman Ami Bera (D CA-07)
• Lester Munson, Principal, International, BGR Group
• Joan Condon, Professional Staff at U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

Breakout Sessions
12:45 p.m. 
Attendees will select which breakout room they would like to join. Breakout room facilitators will include:

• Breakout 1: 2020, A Look Back on an Eventful Year | Sponsored by Deloitte
  USAID Counsellor, and senior-most Foreign Service Officer, Chris Milligan will discuss the repercussions and adaptations the agency both endured and achieved during the unprecedented challenges posed by COVID-19 on everything from staffing to program performance.  Additionally, he will highlight other successes of the development community in achieving U.S. foreign assistance goals and how the implementing partner landscape has been forever changed.  Time permitting, attendees will be able to submit questions directly during the session. 
  
  • Chris Milligan, Counselor, USAID
  • Moderator: Kathleen O'Dell, Principal, Deloitte
  
  
• Breakout 2: M/OAA – A look back, a look ahead | Sponsored by Panagora Group
  Mark Walther will discuss the key issues and stress-points that impacted acquisition efforts at USAID in 2020, where things stand now, and what lies ahead in the immediate future.  Issues such as Section 889, COVID response efforts, and ADS updates will just be the starting point.  Time permitting, attendees will be able to submit questions directly during the session. 
  
  • Mark Walther, Senior Procurement Executive, Chief Acquisition Officer, and Director for the Management Bureau’s Office of Acquisition and Assistance (M/OAA), USAID
  • Moderator: Betsy Bassan, President and CEO, Panagora
    
    
• Breakout 3: 2020 - What the “F” ?!? - A  Look back at FY 2020 (and into FY 2021) from the State Department's Office of Foreign Assistance (aka “F”) | Sponsored by  DT Global
  Dr. Tracy Carson, F's Acting Deputy Director of Foreign Assistance, is responsible for general management oversight of all phases of F’s work, with a specific focus on integration across all F’s directorates.  She has unparalleled experience in budgeting and program management from her 10+ years within the office.  As part of her day-to-day role, she manages a portfolio of more than $35 billion for both the Department and USAID and is steeped in the inter-agency policy discussions and debates on resource allocations, actively working to ensure U.S. foreign assistance is strategic, coordinated, and effective.  FY 2020 offered more than its fair share of budgetary challenges, and FY 2021 is on track to be just as unique.
  
  • Tracy Carson, Acting Deputy Director of the Office of Foreign Assistance (F), a Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary equivalent, U.S. Department of State
  • Moderator: Santiago Sedaca, Chief Investment Officer and Global Economic Growth Practice Lead, DT Global
   
  
• Breakout 4: Driving Development Outcomes through Effective Private Sector Engagement: A Whole-of-Government Imperative | Sponsored by Palladium
  There is no one way to engage the diverse global private sector in helping achieve solutions to often-intractable development challenges. Core principles, however, include: clarity and transparency of policies, goals, objectives, and processes; nimbleness--the ability to course correct quickly and decisively in the event of changed market circumstances; and consistency and cohesion of purpose, message, and methods across the various USG agencies. Mobilizing the trillions of dollars required to meet the Sustainable Development Goals—and innovating systemic changes in business models to create lasting change—requires coordinated USG action that adheres to these principles. This panel will feature architects of the Development Finance Corporation, and USAID’s Private Sector Engagement (PSE) Policy, its new PSE Hub, and its professional development and training of staff to effectively engage with the private sector. They will share how each of their agencies/offices is working with the private sector to create enduring and inclusive solutions to development challenges, and lessons learned along the way.
  • Stephanie Fugate, Chief, Office of Acquisition and Assistance, Professional Development and Training Division, USAID
  • Karl Fickenscher, DAA, Bureau for Economic Growth, Environment, and Education, USAID
  • Andy Herscowitz, Chief Development Officer, Development Finance Corporation
  • Moderator: Roland Pearson, Executive Director, USAID CATALYZE blended finance platform and Director, Economic Growth, Palladium
    
    
• Breakout 5: Over the Horizon: Preparing for a World Altered by COVID-19 | Sponsored by Cardno
  Maureen Shauket will present USAID’s new initiative Over the Horizon. OTH tackles COVID-19’s effects on the developing world, specifically shocks to the economy, health crises, governance and democracy pressures, food insecurity and national security imperatives. USAID is now beginning implementation of this initiative. Learn more about the next steps and how USAID is engaging external stakeholders, including other U.S. Government partners, other donors, multilateral institutions, think tanks, and implementing partners.
  • Maureen Shauket, Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Policy, Planning and Learning (PPL), USAID
  • Joshua Kaufman, Director, Office of Policy, Planning and Learning (PPL), USAID
  • Moderator: Jaleen Moroney, President, Cardno Emerging Markets U.S.
    
    
• Breakout 6: USAID’s Digital Strategy – A Five Year Plan for the Future| Sponsored by International Development Group
  By combining the power of digital technologies and data, the agency is now poised to take development into a new age. After several years of effort and input from across the development community, USAID released its blueprint in a much-anticipated strategy in the final weeks of Administrator Green’s tenure.  Since his departure, many of the initiatives have begun to quickly bear fruit while others require more time to build a solid foundation.  Two of the key architects of the strategy will present an overview of what this means to implementers from both a programmatic as well as a business perspective. 
  
  • Michelle Parker, Senior Policy Advisor, USAID
  • Christopher Burns, Director for the Center for Digital Development, USAID
  • Moderator: David Snelbecker, CEO, International Development Group