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Conference Agenda

At the International Summit on Borders conference, you will hear from visionary security leaders from across the globe as they address pressing issues and delve into front-page topics impacting trade, travel, and transnational security.

Below are the sessions that took place at the 2020 Virtual Conference. Please check back this winter for updated information.

Tuesday, September 29

11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Welcome Remarks

 

International Summit on Borders Co-Chairs:

  • Robert Bonner, Principal of Bonner ADR & Consulting; former CBP Commissioner
  • Tony Smith, CBE, Chairman, International Border Management & Technologies Association (IBMATA); Managing Director, Fortinus Global; Former Director General, U.K. Border Force
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Setting the Scene: Threats, Trends, Challenges and Opportunities Impacting Border Agencies

This panel will “set the scene” for the conference, discussing current threats, trends, challenges, and opportunities facing national border agencies worldwide, as well as private sector actors engaged in cross-border commerce and travel.  The panel will discuss not only current and over-the-horizon threats presented by terrorist groups, transnational organized crime, cyberhackers, and infectious diseases, among other things, but also discuss broader global issues, including the rise of migration and refugee flows, the evolution of the global economy, technological change, environmental drivers, legal and constitutional issues, and political and geopolitical factors, including the rise of populist backlash against “globalism,” immigration, and free trade.

 

Moderator:

  • Seth Stodder, Partner, Holland & Knight; former Assistant Secretary for Policy, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Panelists:

  • Thomas L. Friedman, Pulitzer Prize Winning Author and Foreign Affairs Columnist, New York Times
  • Laurie Garrett, Pulitzer Prize winning writer, Columnist for Foreign Policy, Science Contributor for NBC and author of several books including The Coming Plague: Newly Emerging Diseases in a World Out of Balance
  • Alejandro Mayorkas, Partner, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr LLP; Former Deputy Secretary, United States Department of Homeland Security; Former Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

 
12:15 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. Live Q&A
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

The Creation of the Department of Homeland Security: A Dialogue with a Former Secretary

This dialogue with the first and founding Homeland Security Secretary will discuss creation of the Department of Homeland Security, the largest re-organization of the U.S. government in half a century, and the story behind the scenes. Secretary Ridge will disuss the original conception ofthis new department of government and contrast this with how it has worked. Has it met original expectations? Expect a critical assessment of the pros and cons of this department or ministry of homeland security that arose from the ashes of 9/11.

 

Moderator:

  • Robert Bonner, Principal of Bonner ADR & Consulting; former CBP Commissioner

Panelist:

  • Tom Ridge, First Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Live Q&A
1:45 – 2:45 p.m.

Sponsor Networking Rooms

Special thanks to our sponsors who helped ensure the success of this event. Be sure to visit with them in the networking rooms to chat with fellow conference attendees and learn more about our sponsors’ unique missions, products or solutions.
4:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.

COVID-19: Pandemics and Border Controls, Lessons to be Learned—Preparing for the Next Pandemic

This session will address to what extent and how well border screening and controls were used by various nations in an attempt to control and slow down the spread of COVID-19 within their countries.  The Panel will focus on what the optimal counter-pandemic border screening strategy would be and how and why it needs to be in place before the next pandemic strikes. Once optimal border screening methodologies are understood and developed, the Panel will suggest how this strategy can be globalized through multinational, reciprocal agreements.

 

Moderator:

  • Martyn Dunne, Former Director General, Ministry for Primary Industries New Zealand; Former Head of NZ Customs Service; Former Chair WCO; Former NZ Ambassador to Australia

Panelists:

  • Kevin McAleenan, Chairman, Pangiam; Former Acting Secretary of Homeland Security; Former Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
  • Michael Pezzullo, Secretary, Department of Home Affairs, Australia
  • Dominik Schnichels, Director for Customs Policy, DG TAXUD
  • Christine Stevenson, Chief Executive and Comptroller New Zealand Customs Service
5:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Live Q&A

 

Wednesday, September 30

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Seamless Travel: A Way Forward

A discussion building upon the IBMATA call for action for Border Agencies to adopt a set of international standards for expedited border clearance, using mutual recognition agreements to facilitate the movement of pre-vetted passengers. What will the Border of the Future look like? What will the Border Officer of tomorrow be doing, and what new skills will they need? How can we motivate Border Agencies worldwide to collaborate with each other, and with the private sector, to develop a new model of border control that is safe and secure, but is able to cope with ever increasing numbers of passengers at our borders?

 

Moderator:

  • Tony Smith, CBE, Chairman, International Border Management & Technologies Association (IBMATA); Managing Director, Fortinus Global; Former Director General, U.K. Border Force

Panelists:

  • Mark Crabtree, Capabilities Planning Director, Home Office, UK Border Force
  • Diane Sabatino, Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customer & Border Protection (Confirmed)
  • Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, World Travel & Tourism Council
  • Olivier Onidi, Deputy Director General, Home Affairs, EU Commission
11:00 – 11:15 a.m. Live Q&A
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Use of Big Data and Data Analytics for Smarter Border Control

The panel will focus on how big data, data analytics and artificial intelligence are facilitating the cross-border movement of goods and people, while adding more security against threats ranging from terrorism, transnational organized crime, human smuggling, unlawful migration and pandemics.

 

Moderator:

  • Jim Canham, Managing Director, Border Services, Accenture

Panelists:

  • Marwan Alomair, Head of Decision Support, Saudi Customs
  • Donald Conroy, Executive Director, National Targeting Center (NTS), U.S. Customs & Border Protection
  • Krum Garkov, Executive Director, eu-LISA
  • Lars Karlsson, Managing Director, KGH Global Consulting; Former Director World Customs Organization and Swedish Customs
12:15 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. Live Q&A
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

eCommerce: Illicit and Counterfeit Goods

Building on the work of the WCO, the international trade community and Governments, the panel will provide an update on what has been accomplished and key deliverables that should be pursued.

 

Moderator:

  • Doug Browning, Principal, D.M. Browning & Associates, LLC

Panelists:

  • Sabine Henzler, Director for International Affairs, DG TAXUD
  • Dana Lorenze, Senior Vice President Global Customs, Expeditors
  • Norman T. Schenk, Vice President, Global Customs Policy & Public Affairs, UPS
  • Brenda Brockman Smith, Executive Assistant Commissioner, Trade, U.S. Customs & Border Protection
1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Live Q&A
1:45 p.m.

Sponsor Networking Room
Conference Adjourns

Agenda as of 9/25/20; subject to change