The McCain Institute Washington Forum Agenda
December 5, 2024
Democracy, Human Rights, & Leadership in Action
The McCain Institute Washington Forum will convene global leaders, experts, and humanitarians for a daylong forum to identify solutions to the most pressing challenges impacting human and planetary health. The forum theme, “Democracy, Human Rights & Leadership in Action,” will highlight the McCain Institute’s work to counter rising authoritarianism, an erosion of democratic norms, growing violations of human rights, and a lack of principled, character-driven leadership at home and abroad. Inspired by the maverick spirit of Senator John McCain, the forum will place a strong emphasis on harnessing innovation and collaboration to meet these challenges head-on.
8:45 A.M.
Welcome Remarks from Dr. Evelyn Farkas, Executive Director, McCain Institute
with taped remarks from President Michael Crow, President, ASU
9:00 A.M.
Brand Video
9:10 A.M.
Keynote
- Leopoldo Lopez, Venezuelan Opposition Leader, Pro-Democracy activist
9:30 A.M.
US Policy Towards Russia
David Kramer, Executive Director, George W. Bush Institute
Matt Zweig, Senior Director, FDD Action
Brian Whitmore, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center
- Steve Beigun, Senior Vice President, Global Public Policy, Boing
Moderator: Karen Donfried, Director, Congressional Research Service
10:15 A.M.
Human Rights in an Age of Great Power Competition
- Elliott Abrams, Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations
- Dan Twining, President, International Republican Institute
- Olivia Enos, Senior Fellow Human rights, Hudson Institute
- Peter Berkowitz, Tad and Dianne Taube Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution
Moderator: Corban Teague, McCain Institute
11:00 A.M.
Hostage Affairs Update
- Roger Carstens, Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs
- Sia Namazi, Former Hostage
11:45 A.M.
Keynote Speaker
- Kurt Campbell, 22nd US Deputy Secretary State
Moderator: Amna Nawaz, Co-Anchor PBS News Hour
12:15 P.M.
Lunch
1:15 P.M.
Fireside Chat – Ukraine
- Nate Mook, Special Advisor on Ukraine, McCain Global Leaders Council Member
- Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States
1:45 P.M.
The Next Generation of Democracy Defenders
- Sunny Cheung, Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief
- Daria Minsky, Leader from Belarus
- Abby Finkenauer, US Special Envoy for Global Youth Issues
Moderator: Scott Nemeth, McCain Institute
2:30 P.M.
Fireside Chat w/ Sarah Longwell, CEO Longwell Partners & Rusty Bowers, Former AZ Speaker of the House
Moderator: Paul Fagan, McCain Institute
3:00 P.M.
Defenders in Action: Protecting People and the Planet
- Alfred Brownell, Chair Human Rights, Environmental Activist
- Melanie Greenberg, Managing Director, Peacebuilding, Humanity United
Moderator: Kirk Herbertson, Senior Policy Advisor, EarthRights International
3:45 P.M.
Chat with Ian Urbina, Director, Outlaw Ocean Project and Kristen Abrams, McCain Institute