U.S. Undersecretary for Energy Kristina M. Johnson (Scotland 1991) will give the keynote address at the Fulbright Association 32nd annual conference on Oct. 30. The plenary speaker on Oct. 31 will be Krishna Guha (USA 2003), U.S. economics editor and deputy Washington bureau chief of the Financial Times.

The conference theme “Mutual Understanding amid Global Economic Challenges” has attracted nearly 300 Fulbright alumni and guests, Fulbright Program staff, and representatives from NGOs, higher education, and business to the meeting Oct. 29 to Nov. 1 in Washington, D.C.

“Dr. Johnson and Mr. Guha join other distinguished Fulbright alumni and current grantee speakers who will serve on panels on economics, social entrepreneurship, science and technology, and health care,” said Jane L. Anderson, the Association’s executive director.

“As the foremost global Fulbright alumni event, the Fulbright Association conference features panelists from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Jordan, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, as well as from the United States. Round-table discussion leaders come from Brazil, Germany, Japan, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Togo, and Turkey. There will be poster presenters from Haiti and Pakistan in addition to those from the United States,” Ms. Anderson said. “Our Arts and International Education Task Forces will also include speakers from France, Japan, and Uruguay.

Tim Nohe (Australia 2006), associate professor at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, will perform works from “Sounding Botany Bay, Sounding Gamay” at the conference cultural event to be held at the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory on Oct. 31. He created his composition during his Fulbright grant to explore the sonic environment of one of Australia’s richest cultural attractions.

The Fulbright Association engages current and former Fulbright exchange participants in lifelong experiences that advance international understanding through volunteer service to communities, people-to-people diplomacy, and dialogue on global issues. The Association is recognized for its work as a private, non-profit organization that supports and promotes the Fulbright Program, an international educational and cultural exchange initiative created in 1946 by legislation sponsored by the late Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. There are now over 275,000 Fulbright alumni worldwide.

Thursday, October 29

11:00 a.m.-6 p.m. Conference Registration Opens

• Dolley Madison Ballroom Foyer 7:00-10 p.m. Arts Task Force Sharing Session and Business Meeting
• Dolley Madison Ballroom 7:00-10 p.m. International Education Task Force Sharing Session and Business Meeting
• Mount Vernon Salon

Friday, October 30

8:00 a.m.-6 p.m. Conference Registration

• Dolley Madison Ballroom Foyer 9:00-10:30 a.m. Annual Business Meeting of Members & Fulbright Program Update
  • Marianne Craven
  • Michael McCarry

10:30-10:45 a.m. Break

10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Global Economic Challenges (Panel)

• Dolley Madison Ballroom
  • Moderator: Jane Henrici (Peru 2006), Study Director, Institute for Women’s Policy Research
  • Rodrick T. Miller (Mexico 1999), Managing Partner, The Jiao Group
  • Marwan Muasher (Honorary Co-Chair, Fulbright Commission in Jordan, 2002-2004), Senior Vice President, External Affairs, World Bank
  • Michael G. Plummer (Italy 2000), Eni Professor of Economics, School of Advanced International Studies Bologna, The Johns Hopkins University

12:15-2:00 p.m. Lunch on Your Own

2:00-3:15 p.m. Member-Facilitated Roundtable Discussions Session I

• Dolley Madison Ballroom/Montpelier Salon

3:15-3:45 p.m. Interim between Sessions

3:45 to 5:00 p.m. Member-Facilitated Roundtable Discussions Session II

• Dolley Madison Ballroom/Montpelier Salon

7:00-9:30 p.m. 32nd Annual Banquet & Keynote Address

• Dolley Madison Ballroom
  • Kristina M. Johnson (Scotland 1991),  Under Secretary for Energy

Saturday, October 31

9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Conference Registration

• Dolley Madison Ballroom

9:00-10:30 a.m. Social Entrepreneurship—Inspiring & Implementing Change

• Dolley Madison Ballroom
  • Peter Kellner (Hungary 1992), Founder & Managing Partner, Uhuru Capital Management; Founder & Senior Managing Partner, Richmond Management; Founder, Endeavor
  • Brenna Ruiz-Gordon (USA 2008-2010), Fulbright Fellow, Emerson College
  • Moderator: Suzanne Siskel (Indonesia 1983), President, Fulbright Association; Director, Social Justice Philanthropy, Ford Foundation
  • Diana Wells (Trinidad & Tobago 1995), President, Ashoka
    

10:30-10:45 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Science & Technology for Economic Development

• Montpelier Salon
  • Privahini Bradoo (USA 2006), Vice President, Business Development, LanzaTech
  • Staci Lewis (Barbados 2005), Policy Analyst, Consortium for Ocean Leadership
  • Moderator: Jane L. Anderson, Executive Director, Fulbright Association
  • Cliff Missen (Nigeria 1998), Director, WiderNet Project, University of Iowa

12:30-2:00 p.m. Plenary Luncheon & Address

• Dolley Madison Ballroom
  • Krishna Guha (USA 2003), U.S. Economics Editor & Deputy Washington Bureau Chief, Financial Times

2:15-3:45 p.m. Leveraging Resources for Health

• Montpelier Salon
  • Blair Gifford (Fulbright New Century Scholar 2009-2010), Associate Professor,  International Health Management, Business/Public Health & the Center for Global Health, University of Colorado Denver
  • Vanessa  B. Kerry (United Kingdom 2005), Senior Resident, Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Moderator: Sonya K. Sobrian (Yugoslavia 1987), President, National Capital Area Chapter of the Fulbright Association; Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Howard University College of Medicine

4:00-5:00 p.m. 2009 Selma Jeanne Cohen Fund Lecture

• Dolley Madison Ballroom
  • Laurel Victoria Gray Adjunct Professor, Department of Theatre and Dance, George Washington University; Artistic Director, Silk Road Dance Company

7:00-9:00 p.m. Fulbright Association Cultural Event Reception & Cultural Event at the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory

• Tim Nohe (Australia 2006), Associate Professor, University of Maryland Baltimore County

Sunday, November 1

8:30-10:30 a.m. Conference Registration

• Dolley Madison Ballroom Foyer

9 a.m.-12 p.m. Poster Session Fulbright Experiences: Fields of Engagement

• Dolley Madison Ballroom