Schedule
Our Advisory Committee is comprised entirely of industry practitioners who have a demonstrated passion for public affairs and advocacy. The Advisory Committee will be tasked to challenge traditional thinking, to recommend topics and presenters that are at the leading edge of innovative advocacy, and to find featured speakers from outside our industry who can offer new and unique perspectives.
Opening Keynote: The Game Has Changed: A Different World for Advocacy
Opening Remarks Cat Proulx (Beekeeper Group) The landscape of advocacy is undergoing a seismic shift. The current administration's impact cannot be understated, and practitioners are reshaping how they engage with policymakers and the public while working to stay true to their organization's mission and values. This dynamic conversation will incorporate expertise from public affairs and […]
Deep Dive Breakout 1: The Evolving Playbook: Navigating Partisanship with a Resilient Advocacy Team
The political landscape is more partisan than ever, changing the rules of engagement. This session delves into the critical task of maintaining an effective advocacy strategy in a divisive environment. Share insights and best practices for balancing neutral advocacy in a non-neutral world, empowering your team to navigate politicization with resilience and strategic foresight.
Deep Dive Breakout 2: Let’s Play Another Round: Building and Sustaining Advocacy Momentum and Impact
In a high-stakes political climate, maintaining advocacy momentum is a continuous game. This session focuses on strategies for converting energetic members into highly trained and sustained advocates. Explore effective engagement and training tactics for grassroots and grasstops advocates, ensuring your advocacy team can adapt to an evolving landscape and maximize long-term impact.
Deep Dive Breakout 3: Building Digital Literacy: Empowering Your Advocates to Spot and Combat False Information
Issue misinformation can derail advocacy efforts, and digital literacy is a crucial defense. The amount of noise that exists can make it difficult for advocates to see the right issue information and be equipped to navigate policy issues. This session focuses on empowering your advocates and Ambassadors with education strategies to effectively spot and combat […]
Lunchtime Speaker: Forging Forward: Leading at Every Level
Join Major Gerald Gangaram as he shares his dynamic leadership philosophy, demonstrating that true leaders are not confined to a specific role or environment. Drawing on his experience leading Apache Helicopter units in Afghanistan and continuing to develop high-performing, mission-driven teams beyond the military, Major Gangaram will illustrate how his principles of courage, resilience, and […]
Deep Dive Breakout 1: Equipping Teams for Rapid Response in a Dynamic Environment
The game of advocacy often calls for a quick draw. This session is dedicated to rapid response planning, preparing your advocacy team to mobilize swiftly and effectively for emerging issues. Learn from real-world scenarios, identify best practices, and understand what organizations did right—and what they wished they'd done—to ensure your team is always ready to […]
Deep Dive Breakout 2: Influencer Impact: Amplifying Advocacy Teams with Champions and Celebrities
Strategic partnerships can be game-changers. This session delves into how advocacy teams can effectively leverage the influence of celebrities, issue champions, and micro/macro-influencers to amplify their message and expand their reach, as well as explore strategies for identifying the right influencers who align with your cause and resonate with your target audience.
Deep Dive Breakout 3: Regulatory Resilience: Navigating the Shifting Agency Landscape
This roundtable discussion offers a frank conversation on how advocacy teams are successfully navigating significant changes within regulatory agencies. Hear how panelists are maintaining and building crucial relationships, adapting strategies, and ensuring teams remains effective amidst evolving governmental structures.
Networking Roundtable Discussions
The networking roundtable discussions allow for attendees to get to know each other by rotating through light hearted ice breaker conversation topics.
Present with Purpose: Strategic Speaking for Government Affairs Professionals
Commanding a room doesn’t require a booming voice or flashy slides—it takes content that resonates and delivery that connects. In this hands-on session built for government affairs professionals, we’ll tackle both. First, learn how to shape your message with clarity, relevance, and strategic intent. Then, explore how to deliver it with presence, confidence, and authenticity. […]