2023 ISOA Abu Dhabi Conference Agenda

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Chairman's Opening Reception

Marina Garden

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Members Lounge (ISOA Members Only)

ISOA Afghanistan Working Group Breakfast Meeting

Moderated by: Jeff Grieco

Registration, Networking Breakfast, Industry Fair

Foyer

Opening Remarks

Main Conference Room

Panel 1

Panel 1A: Defense, Diplomacy & Development

A new look at the three key elements of stability operations.

• Moderator: John Gastright, Senior Vice President, Amentum
• Neelima Grover, Founder & CEO, Q2 Impact
• Matt Steinhelfer, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, U.S. Department of State
• LtGen Mike Howard, U.S. Army (Ret), CEO, MLHoward Consulting LLC; Former Deputy Commander for the U.S. European Command
• David Salman, Managing Partner, BHC Law Firm

Panel 1B: Afghanistan's Stability in 2023: Leadership Views & Challenges

Afghanistan's stability is increasingly coming into question as the Taliban Interim Administration (TIA) denies conformance with previous agreements and international commitments. ISOA will hear from U.S. and other leaders on Afghanistan's current state of affairs and what 2023 is likely to bring in terms of its stability, development & SIV program challenges.

• Moderator: Jeff Grieco, President & CEO, Afghan-American Chamber of Commerce
• Leslie Schweitzer, Founder & Chair, Friends of the American University of Afghanistan
• John Ramin, Founder & President, Aria Water Afghanistan
• Ahmad Sayer Daudzai, Charge d'Affaires, Embassy of Afghanistan to UAE
• Sahba Sobhani, Director, Instanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development

Panel 2

Rebuilding Ukraine: Security & Coordination

Looking ahead, beyond providing military capability, to what will be needed for Ukraine's rebuilding efforts.

• Moderator: Gerald Goss, EVP Gov't and Aviation Security Business, MSA Security
• Devon Blake, Senior Director, Global Security, Premise
• Matt Steinhelfer, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, Conflict Observatory, U.S. Department of State
• Marcin Kossowski, Umbrella Protection
• Pawel Kulaga, Supervisory Board, Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce

Networking Break and Industry Fair

Foyer

Panel 3

Panel 3A: Predicting the Future: Global Trends in Stability Operations

From demographic shifts to technological advances, what are emerging global trends and how can we better identify them?

• Moderator: Geraldine Wessing, Chief Political Analyst, Shell
  
• Alessandro Arduino, China Institute, King's College London
• John Siko, Co-Founder & Director, Burnham Global
• Finn Plotz, CEO, Seon Group
  

Panel 3B: Countering Global Threats: The Whole-of-Nation Approach

How does this comprehensive approach improve the resilience of countries' democratic institutions?

• Moderator: DJ Jones, Sr. Account Executive, Department of State & International, Cherokee Federal
  
• Steve Holland, Emerald Group
• Matthew Burnard, Director, Control Risks
• Monika Halupczak, PFA Ammunition

Lunch

Marina Garden

Panel 4

Small Businesses in Stability and Development

Current issues for small businesses in stability and development.

• Moderator: Julianna Keeling, Founder & CEO, Terravive
• Tom Shortley, VP Intl Programs, NELOGIS
• Jake Frazer, Co-Founder & President, Precision Talent Solutions
• Jamie McGinlay, Director, Bromgrove
• Justine Rukeba, CEO, Emerald Solutions

Networking Break and Industry Fair

Foyer

Panel 5

Panel 5: Africa Projects and Opportunities

• Moderator: Doug Brooks, VP Govt Relations, FGi Solutions
• Bill Warnock, COO, RA Federal Services
• Dr. Whitney Grespin, Africa Regional Program Lead, Institute for Security Governance, Defense Security Cooperation University
• Steve Grant, CEO, Castor Vali
• Dr. Yvan Ilunga, Professor of International Relations, Salva Regina University

Keynote Speaker

John (Mick) Nicholson, CEO Lockheed Martin Middle East and Former Commander of U.S. and Allied Forces in Afghanistan

Closing Remarks

Mid-Conference Reception

Marina Garden

President's Dinner hosted by Howie Lind (by invitation only)

Chamas Restaurant

Thursday, February 16, 2023

Registration, Breakfast and Industry Fair

Foyer

ISOA Ukraine Working Group Breakfast Meeting

Moderated by: Jeff Grieco

Opening Remarks

Main Conference Room

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Aref Ali Nayed, Chairman, Libya Institute for Advanced Studies 

Panel 6

Foreign Military Sales

• Moderator: Justin Buckwalter, Dir, ME Region, Xator Corp
• Frank Helmick, SVP Missions Solutions Group, SOSi
• Jonathan Smith, Director of Security Assistance, U.S. Embassy UAE
• Bryan Roberts, Vice President, Business Development, Mission Readiness, Amentum
• COL Eric Nylander, chief, U.S. Military Training Mission, KSA

Networking Break and Industry Fair

Foyer

Business Matchmaking Forum

Hosted by: Giannina Velez

Matchmaking Instructions

Lunch

Marina Garden

Panel 7

Panel 7A: Managing Water, Energy & Food Security During Geopolitical Turmoil

Exploring the security and infrastructure implications of managing access to water, energy and food

• Moderator: Joe Moeder, Founder & CEO, Moeder & Associates International
• Joe Swider, VP & COO, Terravive
• John Katsos, Professor, American University of Sharjah
• Jeff Grieco, ISOA Ukraine Working Group and Afghanistan Working Group, ISOA Advisory Council

Panel 7B: Women, Peace & Security

Exploring the critical role that women play in securing lasting peace by preventing conflict, promoting peacekeeping, advancing conflict resolution.

• Moderator: Amb. Kelley Currie, Founding Partner, Kilo/Alpha Strategies
• Dr. Sarah Chehab, Senior Research Fellow, Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy
• Dr. Mouza Al Shehhi, Executive Director, UN Women Liaison Office for the GCC
• Hind Alowais, Former Diplomat and Senior Gender Expert
• Howie Lind, President and Executive Director, ISOA

Networking Break and Industry Fair

Foyer

Panel 8

Panel 8A: Contract Augmentation Program Update

Updates on Contract Augmentation Programs from DoD & DoS.

• Moderator: Mick Bednarek, VP Defense, Fluor
• Dana Patterson, Program Manager, AFCAP
• Lamont Woody, Mission Solutions, Fluor
• Rich Troendle, LOGCAP Director (CENTCOM), ASC/401st Army Field Support Brigade
• Rob Tillery, SVP Operations, Amentum

Panel 8B: Practitioners' Perspectives on Peacekeeping & Stability Operations

Regional updates from practitioners on the ground.

• Moderator: Sean Polster, CEO, Lokahi GS
• Dr. Whitney Grespin, Africa Regional Program Lead, Institute for Security Governance, Defense Security Cooperation University
• Julian Setian, President & CEO, SOSi
• Sean Myatt, COO, GPS Gulf
• Jim Schield, Law Enforcement/ Security Consultant, JPS Enterprises

Panel 9

Fraught Freight: Global Supply Chain Issues

How will shocks to global supply chains, including climate change, disrupt the global economy and what solutions are on the table? How can we improve global resilience to the hyperconnected global supply chain?

• Moderator: Mike Young, Executive Director, Europe, V2X
• Tom Strigenz, Director, Federal Sales EMEA, WESCO Anixter
• Guillaume Akbaraly, Operations Director MedSupply Government Services, International SOS
• Madhavi Ayyagari, Executive Director, Mindsbourg MEA
• Greg Forgrave, Product Manager, Government Services, MoveOne

Closing Remarks

Vice Chairman's Closing Reception

Marina Garden