Annual Gala Awards Dinner & 32nd Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference

Save the Dates!

November 12-13, 2024

The Ronald Reagan Building International Trade Center
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004

 


Tuesday, November 12, 2024

5:30 – 6:45 P.M. --- Registration, Cocktail Reception & Entertainment by Maestro of the Oud, Mr. Muath Edriss and accompanying musicians. Exclusive Mawlawi Dance (Sufi Whirling Meditation) Performance by Mr. Khaled Al Mawlawi, Director and Founder of Zina Krupp Foundation for Sufi and Andalusian Production.

7:00 P.M. --- Welcoming Remarks & Recognition of Board, Special Guests, and Sponsors

Speaker:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President and CEO
National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations

7:10 P.M. --- Dinner Service Begins with a National Council Programs Video

7:20 P.M. --- Remarks by the National Council's Internship Program Dr. John Duke Anthony Award Recipient

Introduction:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President and CEO
National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations

Speaker:
Ms. Sarah Dodd
Award Recipient
Southern Nazarene University
Majoring in History, Minor in Theology
Class of 2025

8:15 P.M. --- Welcome and Introduction of Keynote Speaker 

Introduction:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President and CEO
National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations

Speaker:
Dr. Abderrahim Foukara
Washington D.C. Bureau Chief, Al Jazeera and host of its flagship television program Min Washington [“From Washington”]

8:40 P.M. --- Addressing Global Humanitarian Challenges - The Work of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief)

&

Presentation of the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relation's Global Humanitarian Achievement Award to the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief)

Introduction:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President and CEO
National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations
Speaker/Award Recipient:

H.E. Dr. Abdullah A. Al Rabeeah
Advisor to the Royal Court and Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief)

9:15 P.M. --- Gala Closing Remarks 

Speaker:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President and CEO
National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations

9:00 – 10:00 P.M. --- Dessert Reception, Networking, and Entertainment
Guests to proceed to Atrium Hall for dessert, networking, and Oud entertainment.


Wednesday, November 13, 2024

8:00 – 8:45 A.M. --- Registration, Networking, and Coffee, Tea, and Light Breakfast

8:45 – 9:00 A.M. --- Welcome & Introductions

Speakers:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President & CEO
National Council on U.S.–Arab Relations

Mr. John E. Pratt
Chairman, Board of Directors
National Council on U.S.–Arab Relations

Ms. Allyson McKithen
Vice President, International Programs, TCMA
Ronald Reagan International Trade Building

9:00 – 10:15 A.M. --- Global Outlook: What’s Next for the United States, the Arab Region, and the World?

Introduction:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President & CEO
National Council on U.S.–Arab Relations

Moderator:
Mr. Chris Whipple 
Author, Journalist, Documentary Filmmaker, and Former Producer for CBS News 60 Minutes

Speakers:
Dr. Abderrahim Foukara
Washington D.C. Bureau Chief, Al Jazeera and host of its flagship television program Min Washington [“From Washington”]

Ms. Judith Miller
Adjunct Fellow, Manhattan Institute, Contributing Editor, City Journal, and Former Reporter, The New York Times

Mr. Charles Glass
Author, Journalist, Broadcaster, and Publisher

10:15 - 11:00 A.M. --- The Future of Education in the Arab World 

Introduction of Opening Session Speaker:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President & CEO
National Council on U.S.–Arab Relations

Opening Session Speaker:
HRH Prince Abdulaziz Bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Chairman, Arab Gulf Programme for Development-AGFUND

Moderator:
Dr. Fadi Hilani
Senior Academic and Research Fellow-in-Residence
National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations

Speakers:
Dr. Mohammed Zakari
President, Arab Open University

Mr. Ghassan Hitto
Co-Founder, Chairman, and President of the Syrian Forum

11:00 – 11:30 A.M. --- Future Challenges to Global Heath 

Introduction:
Ms. Paige Peterson
Member of the Board of Directors, National Council on U.S. Arab Relations

Moderator:
Dr. Jay A. Levy
Professor in Residence, Department of Medicine;
University of California, San Francisco

Speaker:
Dr. Laurie Garrett
Journalist and Author,
Polk, Peabody, and Pulitzer Prize Awardee
Former Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations

11:30 - 12:30 P.M. --- Regional Dynamics and the United States, Part I

Introduction:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President & CEO
National Council on U.S.–Arab Relations

Moderator:
Col. Abbas Dahouk (U.S. Army Ret.)
Board Member, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations; Principal, Hyphen Point LLC

Speakers:
Mr. Timothy A. Lenderking
U.S. Special Envoy to Yemen, U.S. Dept. of State

H.E. Cheikh Samy Gemayel
Member of the Parliament, Republic of Lebanon

Ms. Nada al Hajjri
President, Yemen Information Center; Managing Director, Alternative Tracks Consulting

Ms. Shukriya Bradost
Non-Resident Scholar
Middle East Institute

12:30 – 1:00 P.M. --- NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY
Note to All Guests – Please clear room and proceed to Atrium Hall so conference staff can set ballroom for luncheon. This time is set aside for networking and personal conversations.

1:00 – 2:45 P.M. --- Luncheon Keynote Remarks

Luncheon Keynote Speakers:

Presentation of the National Council on U.S. – Arab Relations, Lifetime Achievement Award to Mr. Leo A. Daly III, FAIA, RIBA, FRAIA, Chairman, LEO A DALY: In recognition of Mr. Daly’s continuous commitment to foster international relations throughout his 60-year architecture career.
Award to be presented by Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt and accepted by Mr. Edward G. Benes, PE, JD, Chief Executive Officer, LEO A. DALY.

HRH Prince Turki Al Faisal
Chairman, King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;
Former Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, and to the United States;
Former Director General, General Intelligence Directorate, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

H.E. Mohammed Abou El Enein
Deputy Speaker of the Egyptian Parliament; Cleopatra Group Chairman and Founder; Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean Honorary President

2:45 - 3:00 P.M. --- Challenges and Opportunities for the Next Administration in North Africa

Introduction:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President & CEO
National Council on U.S.–Arab Relations

Speaker:
Dr. William Lawrence
Director of the North Africa Area Studies and Senior Academic Fellow
National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations

3:00 - 3:30 P.M. --- A Fireside Chat with Mr. Javier Garcia and Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt "When People are Hungry, Send in Cooks - Not Tomorrow, Today"

Introduction:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President & CEO
National Council on U.S.–Arab Relations

Speaker:
Javier Garcia
Co-Chair and Treasurer, World Central Kitchen (Founded by Chef Jose Andres)

3:30- 4:30 P.M. --- Regional Dynamics and the United States Part II 

Introduction:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President & CEO
National Council on U.S.–Arab Relations

Moderator:
Dr. Thomas Mattair
Middle East Historian and Scholar; Former Executive Director of the Middle East Policy Council

Speakers:
Ambassador (Ret.) James Jeffery
Former Ambassador to Iraq and Turkey & Former Special Envoy to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS 

Dr. Hussein Ibish
Senior Resident Scholar, Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington

The Right Honorable Dr. Mona Makram Ebeid
Distinguished Lecturer, American University in Cairo;
Former Member of Parliament and Senator, Egypt

4:30 - 5:30 P.M. --- One-on-one Conversation with General David Petraeus (U.S. Army Ret.)

Introduction:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President & CEO
National Council on U.S.–Arab Relations

Moderator:
Ms. Raghida Dergham
Founder and Executive Chairman, Beirut Institute
Columnist, Annahar Al Arabi and The National 

Speaker:
General David Petraeus (U.S. Army Ret.)
Partner, KKR, Chairman, KKR Global Institute

5:30 - 6:20 P.M. --- Screening of "Confessions From A War," a documentary film about the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) and lessons about reconciliation 

Introduction:
Ms. Paige Peterson
Member of the Board of Directors, National Council on U.S. Arab Relations

Speakers:
Mr. Jerome Gary
Producer, "Confessions From A War", Chairman, Visionaire Media & the MENA Media Fund

Ms. Seema Matin
Senior Advisor for Private Sector Outreach, U.S. Department of State

6:20 - 6:30 P.M. --- Conference Closing Remarks 

Speaker:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President and CEO
National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations