The 2022 Sedona Forum
For the first time, the 2022 Sedona Forum took place both virtually and in-person, giving friends of the McCain Institute a front-row seat to conversations about the world’s most pressing issues from high-level panels featuring top experts and policymakers from around the world and on both sides of the aisle.
With the theme “Strategic Competition,” the Sedona Forum 2022 focused strongly on Russia’s assault on Ukraine, as well as China’s version of democracy and approach to human rights. Speakers included Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, U.S. Special Operations Commander General Richard Clarke, former U.S. Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper, World Food Kitchen CEO Nate Mook, a bipartisan delegation of 16 U.S. senators and members of Congress, U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai, FBI Director Christopher Wray and many more experts, policymakers, humanitarians and defenders of democracy.
The Sedona Forum also partnered with The Washington Post to call attention to our joint efforts to ensure democracy does not die in the darkness.
from around the world
represented among speakers
#Sedonaforum2022 Hashtag Stats
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM:
VIRTUAL: American Leadership at Home and Abroad
At the 2022 Sedona Forum, Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) joins CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent Major Garrett to talk about the shifting role of Congress in promoting democracy and American leadership abroad.
12:30 PM – 1:10 PM:
VIRTUAL: The Changing World Order and How to Navigate Times Ahead
At the 2022 Sedona Forum, Ray Dalio, Chairman of Bridgewater Associates joins Mi-Ai Parrish, Sue Clark-Johnson Professor for Media Innovation and Leadership for a discussion about how to prepare for what is next in an uncertain and shifting world order.
1:10 PM – 2:00 PM:
VIRTUAL: Exploring the Impact of the U.S. Pullout of Afghanistan on Human Rights and the Future of Democracy Promotion
At the 2022 Sedona Forum, Chairman of the Senate Relations Committee Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) joins former U.S. Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman Greta Holtz and former Afghan Ambassador to the United States Roya Rahmani for a panel discussion on the future of U.S. efforts to promote democracy and human rights abroad after last year’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. McCain Institute Senior Director for Human Rights and Democracy Programs Paul Fagan moderates the discussion.
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM:
VIRTUAL: The Intersection of Migration and Human Trafficking
At the 2022 Sedona Forum, Neha Misra of The Solidarity Center, Tim Roemer, Director of the Arizona Department of Homeland Security and Jessica Caplin, a Protection Officer with the UN Refugee Agency currently working with Ukrainian migrants, discuss the intersection of migration and all forms of human trafficking. McCain Institute Senior Director for Combatting Human Trafficking Programs Kristen Abrams leads the discussion.
3:00 PM – 3:50 PM:
VIRTUAL: Navigating Critical Humanitarian Work in a Changing World
At the 2022 Sedona Forum, Neha Misra of The Solidarity Center, Tim Roemer, Director of the Arizona Department of Homeland Security and Jessica Caplin, a Protection Officer with the UN Refugee Agency currently working with Ukrainian migrants, discuss the intersection of migration and all forms of human trafficking. McCain Institute Senior Director for Combatting Human Trafficking Programs Kristen Abrams leads the discussion.
3:50 PM – 4:40 PM:
VIRTUAL: McCain Global Leaders on the Frontlines: Local Leaders Fighting Global Crises
At the 2022 Sedona Forum, McCain Global Leaders Advisory Council Member Michelle Bekkering join McCain Global Leaders Nino Dolidze of Georgia and Tomas Martinaitis of Lithuania to discuss their frontline roles in organizing grassroots efforts, public policy, digital tools, and more as they work to provide stability in their home countries and globally. Gray TV White House Correspondent and McCain Institute Media Fellow Jon Decker moderates.
2:45 PM – 2:55 PM:
Welcome
Rick Davis, Chairman, McCain Institute Board of Trustees
Sen. Mark Kelly, (D-AZ)2:55 PM – 3:00 PM:
Theme Setting
Julie Bishop, Former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australia
3:00 PM – 3:45 PM:
China’s Ukraine Problem: The West’s Diplomatic Unity
Introduction by Sunny Cheung, Hong Kong Democracy Council
Adm. Harry Harris, USN (Ret.)
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, (D-MN)
Moderator: Dan Twining, President, International Republican Institute
3:45 PM – 4:15 PM:
Future of American Innovation and Competitiveness
Introduction by Wai Wai Nu, Founder and Executive Director, Women Peace Network
Evan Spiegel, CEO of Snap Inc.
In conversation with:
Rick Davis, Chairman, McCain Institute Board of Trustees
4:15 PM – 4:45 PM:
Forced Labor and Global Supply Chains
Introduction by Catherine Chen, CEO, Polaris Project
Amb. Katherine Tai, United States Trade Representative
In conversation with:
Sophie Otiende, CEO, Global Fund to End Modern Slavery
4:45 PM – 5:15 PM:
The FBI’s Role in Defending American Democracy: Innovating with Intelligence and Leading in Law Enforcement
Christopher Wray, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation
In conversation with:
Col. Chris Costa, USA, (Ret.)
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM:
The Sedona Forum Leadership Dinner
Welcome by Governor Doug Ducey, State of Arizona
Welcome by Dr. Michael Crow, President of Arizona State University
Courage and Leadership Award
Introduction and Presentation by the McCain Family
Vladimir Kara-Murza, Chairman, Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom Accepted by Yevgeniya Kara-Murza
Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv, Ukraine Accepted virtually
Keynote Conversation:
Gen. Mark Milley, USA, 20th Chairman, The Joint Chiefs of Staff
In conversation with:
Dr. Michael Crow, President of Arizona State University
8:45 PM – 9:30 PM:
NIGHT OWL: Planning for the Post-Putin World
Yevgeniya Kara-Murza, Translator, Free Russia Foundation
Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Founder, Open Russia, Russian Anti-War Committee
Amb. Kurt Volker, Senior International Advisor, BGR Group
Moderator: Josh Rogin, Columnist, The Washington Post
8:35 AM – 8:40 AM:
Opening by Rick Davis and Amb. Cindy McCain
8:40 AM – 8:45 AM:
A Message From The McCain Institute’s New Executive Director, Dr. Evelyn Farkas
8:45 AM – 9:15 AM:
Virtual Conversation with President Poroshenko
Rep. Adam Kinzinger, (R-IL)
In virtual conversation with:
President Petro Poroshenko, Former President, Ukraine
9:15 AM – 10:00 AM:
Protecting U.S. Democracy’s Elections Systems and Infrastructure Against Cyber Attacks
Introduction by Alberto Ibarguen, President & CEO, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Dr. Michael Crow, President of Arizona State University
Sue Gordon, Former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence
Rep. Adam Kinzinger, (R-IL)
Moderator: Sue Halpern, Journalist, The New Yorker
10:00 AM – 10:45 AM:
Space: The Final Frontier
Virtual Introduction by Victor Glover, Captain, USN, NASA Astronaut
Kari Bingen, Chief Strategy Officer, Hawkeye 360
Sen. Mark Kelly, (D-AZ)
Rep. Mike Waltz, (R-FL)
Moderator: Christian Davenport, NASA and Space Industry Reporter, The Washington Post
11:15 AM – 11:45 AM:
Carbon Border Adjustments
Sen. Bill Cassidy, (R-LA)
Dr. Mohammed Chahim, Member of the European Parliament
Moderator: Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, (D-RI)
11:45 AM – 12:15 PM:
Security Challenges in a Contemporary Environment
Introduction by Jack McCain
Gen. Richard Clarke, USA, USSOCOM
In conversation with:
Richard Fontaine, CEO, Center for a New American Security
12:30 PM – 1:15 PM:
“A Cause Greater Than” Discussion: Forced Migration and Food Security
Virtual Introduction by Sen. Chris Coons, (D-DE)
Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R-SC)
Amb. Cindy McCain, UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture
Nate Mook, CEO, World Central Kitchen
Moderator: Josette Sheeran, Executive Chairman, The McCain Institute
1:30 PM – 2:00 PM:
One on One Conversation with Dr. Mark Esper
Sec. Mark Esper, Former Secretary of Defense, John S. McCain Distinguished Fellow
In conversation with:
Peter MacKay, Former Minister of National Defence, Canada
2:00 PM – 2:40 PM:
National Security Strategy in an Era of the Russia/China Axis
Christine Abizaid, Director, National Counterterrorism Center
Rep. Adam Smith, (D-WA)
Sen. Dan Sullivan, (R-AK)
Moderator: Douglas Lute, former U.S. Ambassador to NATO
2:40 PM – 3:20 PM:
The Putin Paradox: Pariah or President?
Introduction by Arvydas Anusauskas +interpreter, Defence Minister of Lithuania
David Kramer, Managing Director, Global Policy, The Bush Institute
Rep. Tom Malinowski, (D-NJ)
Elisa Massimino, Executive Director, Human Rights Institute, Georgetown University Law Center
Moderator: Josh Rogin, Columnist, The Washington Post
3:20 PM – 4:00 PM:
National Security and the Impact of Technology
Introduction by Nick Rasmussen, Executive Director, Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism
Sen. Roy Blunt, (R-MO)
Sen. Joni Ernst, (R-IA)
Rep. Elissa Slotkin, (D-MI)
Moderator: Shane Harris, Journalist, The Washington Post
4:00 PM – 4:45 PM:
Mid-Term Mania
Introduction by Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, McCain Institute Board of Trustees
David Axelrod, Director, The University of Chicago Institute of Politics
Rick Davis, Chairman, McCain Institute Board of Trustees
Moderator: Hannah Vaughan Jones, CNN International