AGENDA
GDForum - OCEANIA
Friday 8th December 2023
8am – 10am GMT/UTC
Australian Eastern Daylight Time: 7pm-9pm (GMT+11) New Zealand Time: 9pm-11pm (GMT+13)
8:00 am – 8:05 am
Welcoming participants - GDC Secretariat
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8:05 am – 8:15 am
Opening remarks (keynote speakers)
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Felix Amoako Boampong, Board Member - Global Diaspora Confederation
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Ms. Sarah Lou Arriola, Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, International Organization for Migration (IOM)
8:15 am – 8:20 am
Agenda Forum Overview
8:20 am – 9:20 am
Diaspora hearings on their experiences in building partnerships
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Ephraim Osaghae - Director, Multicultural Professional Bridge (Australia)
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Salut Muhidin - Vice President for PR, Indonesian Diaspora Network (IDN) Global (Australia)
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Pefi Kingi - Founder, Pacificwin Pacific (Australia)
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Ema Tora Vueti - President, Pacific Islands Council QLD Inc.
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Johanna Pitman - CEO, Advance Global Australians (Australia)
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Tofa Amanda Moors Mailei and Bronwyn Williams - Co-Founders and Co-Chairs, Australian Pasifika Educators Network (Australia)
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Loau-Donina Va'a - Chair, Pacific Women's Professional Business Network (Australia)
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Dr Remi Yusuf - Chair, Council of Nigerian Association Presidents in Australia (Australia)
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Kingsley Omosigho - Сommunity Leader/Former Vice President of the Nigerian Association, African Australian Council ACT (Australia)
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Nasim Salakjani - Honorary Member, IranWA (Australia)
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Tim Damianidis - Director, Hellenic Community of Western Australia (Australia)
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Astine Badeyan - Diaspora-Armenia Mentorship Programs Coordinator, Armenian General Benevolent Union (Armenia)
9:20 am – 9:25 am
Regional Closing Remarks
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Anne Pakoa - Founder and CEO, Vanuatu Human Rights Coalition
9:25 am - 9:35 am
Q&A session
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Elnura Omurkulova-Ozierska - Assistant Event Manager, Global Diaspora Confederation
9:35 am Onwards
Networking Session
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Elnura Omurkulova-Ozierska - Assistant Event Manager, Global Diaspora Confederation
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Saturday 9th December 2023
7am – 9am GMT/UTC
Turkiye Time: 10am-12pm (GMT+3)
Japan Standard Time: 4pm-6pm (GMT+9)
GDForum - ASIA
7:00 am – 7:05 am
Welcoming participants - GDC Secretariat
7:05 am – 7:15 am
Opening remarks (keynote speakers)
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Ekanath Khatiwada - Board Member,
Global Diaspora Confederation -
Dejan Keserović - Head of the Governing
Bodies Secretariat, International
Organization for Migration (IOM)
7:15 am – 7:20 am
Agenda Forum Overview
7:20 am – 8:25 am
Diaspora hearings on their experiences in building partnerships
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H.E. Mr. Bhim K. Udas - Founder, Non-resident Nepali Association (Nepal)
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Dr. Rana Dajani - President, Society for Advancement of Science and Technology in the Arab World (USA)
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Shaher Abdullateef - Director, Syrian Academic Expertise (SAE)
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Sara Gawhary - Founder and CEO, Women's Empowerment Research Association (Afghanistan)
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Musa Aziz - Director of Program Development,
INSAN Foundation for Research and Media (Canada) -
David Kpondehou - President, Africa Diaspora Network Japan (Japan)
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Imamudin Hamdard - Founder & Executive Director, Afghanistan Studies & Cooperation Center e.V. (Afghanistan)
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Aimeerim Tursalieva - President, Swiss Kyrgyz Diaspora (Kyrgyzstan)
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Justina Obaoye-Ajala - President, African Diaspora in China Network (China)
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Rachana Shrestha - Executive Director, Mahila (Nepal)
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Gaisu Yari - Project Director, Afghan Voices of Hope Project (USA)
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Aitolgon Boronbaeva - Executive Director, Stowarzyszenie "Danaker" Diaspora of Women from Kyrgyzstan in Poland
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Sanjeev Joshipura - Executive Director, Indiaspora (USA)
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Dr Ameen Talib - Honorary Secretary, AL Wehdah The Arab Association (Singapore)
8:30 am – 8:40 am
Regional Closing Remarks
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Hon Raj Kishor Yadav - Member, House of Representative Federal Parliament of Nepal
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Dr Shaikh Tanveer Ahmed - CEO, HANDS, Pakistan
8:40 am – 8:50 am
Q&A session
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Elnura Omurkulova-Ozierska - Assistant Event Manager, Global Diaspora Confederation
8:50 am Onwards
Networking Session
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Elnura Omurkulova-Ozierska - Assistant Event Manager, Global Diaspora Confederation
GDForum - EUROPE
Friday 8th December 2023
5pm – 7Pm GMT/UTC
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Eastern EuropeanTime: 7pm-9pm (GMT+2)
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5:00 pm – 5:05 pm
Welcoming participants - GDC Secretariat
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5:05 pm – 5:15 pm
Opening remarks (keynote speakers)
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Kazeem Ojoye - Board Treasurer, Global Diaspora Confederation
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Ola Henrikson - Regional Director of IOM’s Regional Office for the EEA, the EU and NATO
IOM UN Migration
5:15 pm – 5:20 pm
Agenda Forum Overview
5:20 pm – 7:00 pm
Diaspora hearings on their experiences in building partnerships
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Abiodun Odunuga - Co-Founder, Friends of Nigeria (France)
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Martin Russell - Founder, Global Diaspora Insights (Ireland)
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Andra-Lucia Martinescu and Catalina Moisescu - Co-Founders, Diaspora Initiative (Luxembourg)
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Shahid Nadeem - President, Austria-Pakistan Association (Austria)
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Saheed Sokunbi - President, Nigerian Scholars in Germany (Germany)
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Enayat Modasser - Head of Programmes/Ex Chairperson, Association of Afghan Healthcare Professionals - UK (UK)
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Lirim Krasniqi - Co-Executive Director, GERMIN (Republic of Kosovo)
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Fridah Ntarangwi - Managing Director, Zidicircle (Netherlands)
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Penelope Kopala - Vice President, UK Federation of Chinese Professionals (UK)
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Vartan Marashlyan - Director/Co-Founder, Repat Armenia Foundation (Armenia)
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Victoria Căpătici - Co-Founder & Outreach Coordinator, Diaspora Connect
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Anila Smørgrav - President, French-Albanian Association “Albania”, Vice-Chair of the Albanian Council of Diaspora (Albania)
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Ahmad Wali Ahmad Yar - Secretary General, Network of Afghan Diaspora Organisations in Europe (Belgium)
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Dr. Violeta Moskalu - CEO, Global Ukraine Foundation (Ukraine)
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Toluwani Akaehomen - Founder, HerGenuityAfrika (Ireland)
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Ioana Dragos - Member, Diaspora Civica Berlin (Germany)
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Dorina Baltag - Founder, Noroc Olanda (Netherlands)
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Walter May - Founder & CEO, GlobalWelsh (UK)
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Patrycja Koziel - Project Coordinator, Foundation for Migrants Good Start in Memory of A. G. Farah (formerly Foundation for Somalia) (Poland)
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Russell Dalgleish - Chair, Scottish Business Network (UK)
7:00 pm – 7:15 pm
Regional Closing Remarks
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Sonila Hysi - General Director, National Diaspora Agency, Republic of Albania
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Katherine Fitzpatrick - Honorary Consul for South West Ireland, British Embassy Dublin
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Liza Gashi - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosovo
7:15 pm - 7:25 pm
Q&A session
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7:25 pm Onwards
Networking Session
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GDAcademy Side Event: The Role of Ethnic Cards in the Context of Diaspora Politics
Speaker: Eugeniusz Kuznicow-Wyszyński, PhDc at the University of Warsaw
Event Type: Pre-recorded video presentation
Venue and Time: To be posted on all GDC Social Media Channels at 8:30 pm GMT
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GDForum - AFRICA and MIDDLE EAST
Saturday 9th December 2023
1pm – 3pm GMT/UTC
West Africa Time: 2pm-4pm (GMT+1)
East Africa Time: 4pm-6pm (GMT+3)
1:00 pm – 1:05 pm
Welcoming participants - GDC Secretariat
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1:05 pm – 1:15 pm
Opening remarks (keynote speakers)
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Maria Luiza Soares - Vice-Chair, Global Diaspora Confederation
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Aissata Kane - Senior Regional Adviser for Sub-Saharan Africa, International Organization for Migration (IOM)
1:15 pm – 1:20 pm
Agenda Forum Overview
1:20 pm – 2:25 pm
Diaspora hearings on their experiences in building partnerships
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Paul Matsvai - CEO, Zimbabwe Diaspora Nation Building Initiative (ZDNBI)
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Dean Mulozi - Executive Director, Zambian Diaspora & Migration Foundation (Zambia)
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Mirana Rajoharison - Co-Founder, Alefa Diaspora (Madagascar)
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Nadine Loza - Founding Director, Egypt Diaspora Initiative (Egypt)
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Abdulrazak Abubakar - President, National Association of Nigerian students South Africa (South Africa)
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Dr Bashir Obasekola - Continental Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (Nigeria)
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Hani Mohamed - Executive Director, Restore Somalia Foundation (Canada)
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Maureen Duru - Founder/Director, The Food Bridge vzw (Belgium)
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Rediate Tekeste - Founder and Executive Director, Ethiopian Diaspora Fellowship (USA)
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Dr Lizzie Bronte - Founder/CEO, Just Like You Global Foundation (Cameroon)
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Nahid Benani - Communication Officer, #Diasporavote! (Belgium)
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Pascale Ramalingum - Co-founder, Liliane and Roland Foundation (Canada)
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Emmanuel Fadipe - Member of Board, African Youth Enlightenment Empowerment and Self- Sustainability initiative (AYEESSi e.V.) (Nigeria)
2:25 pm – 2:40 pm
Regional Closing Remarks
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Einstein Ntim - Diaspora Engagement Lead, Diaspora Affairs Office of the President, Ghana
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Raphaël Capony - Head of Diaspora Programme, DRC Civil Society Engagement, Denmark
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Iveren Ityoikaa - Diaspora Partnership Manager, ASHOKA, Nigeria
2:40 pm - 2:50 pm
Q&A session
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Maria Luiza Soares - Vice-Chair, Global Diaspora Confederation
2:50 pm Onwards
Networking Session
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Maria Luiza Soares - Vice-Chair, Global Diaspora Confederation
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GDForum - SOUTH AMERICA
Sunday 10th December 2023
5pm – 7pm GMT/UTC
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Ecuador Time: 12pm - 2pm (GMT-5)
Brasilia Time: 2pm - 4pm (GMT-3)
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5:00 pm – 5:05 pm
Welcoming participants - GDC Secretariat
5:05 pm – 5:15 pm
Opening remarks (keynote speakers)
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Maria Dolores Delgado Cartay - Board Secretary, Global Diaspora Confederation
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Diego Beltrand - IOM Director General’s Special Envoy for the Regional Response to the Venezuela Situation
5:15 pm – 5:20 pm
Agenda Forum Overview
5:20 pm – 6:10 pm
Diaspora hearings on their experiences in building partnerships
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Juan Pio Hernandez - Executive Director, Plan País (USA)
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Cinzia De Santis - Chairwoman and Founder, Healing Venezuela (Venezuela)
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Juan Carlos Viloria Doria - Vice President, Venezolanos en Barranquilla (Colombia)
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Julián Ferrín - Vice President, Pro Venezuela e.V. (Germany)
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Tomás Páez - President, Observatorio de la Diáspora Venezolana (Venezuela)
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Vladimir Paspuel Revelo - President, Asociación Rumiñahui (Spain)
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Itzel Cuevas Yáñez - President, Red Global MX - Belgium (Belgium)
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Dianela Arroyo Fernandez - Chairwoman of the Commission for Women, Migrant_innenbeirat der Stadt Freiburg (Germany)
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Prof Wael Al-Delaimy - Chair of the Board of Directors, Society for Advancement of Science and Technology in the Arab World (SASTA) (USA)
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William Adrian Clavijo Vitto - Director, Coalition For Venezuela (Colombia)
6:10 pm – 6:20 pm
Regional Closing Remarks
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César Alejandro Vargas Lopez - Founder, EU-LATIN BUSINESS FORUM (Belgium)
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Massimo Trombin - Chapter CEO, Instituto Global da Paz-GPF Brazil (Brazil)
6:20 pm - 6:30 pm
Q&A session
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Maria Dolores Delgado Cartay - Board Secretary, Global Diaspora Confederation
6:30 pm Onwards
Networking Session
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Maria Dolores Delgado Cartay - Board Secretary, Global Diaspora Confederation
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Sunday 10th December 2023
8pm – 10pm GMT/UTC
Eastern Standard Time: 3pm-5pm (GMT-5);
Pacific Standard Time: 12pm-2pm (GMT-8)
GDForum - NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA
and the CARIBBEAN
8:00 pm – 8:05 pm
Welcoming participants - GDC Secretariat
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8:05 pm – 8:15 pm
Opening remarks (keynote speakers)
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Michaël Fontaine - Board Member, Global Diaspora Confederation
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Michele Klein Solomon - Regional Director for Central and North America and the Caribbean, International Organization for Migration (IOM)
8:15 pm – 8:20 pm
Agenda Forum Overview
8:20 pm – 9:40 pm
Diaspora hearings on their experiences in building partnerships
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Sabir Majumder - Cofounder, Ex-President and Board Member, AGAMI inc (USA)
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Raymond Soussa - CEO, Transparently Lebanese (Canada)
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Marianna Elizabeth Tretiak - National Advocacy Committee Chair, Ukrainian National Women's League of America (USA)
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Firmin Backer - President, HRA (USA)
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Omolayo Nkem Oyudo - Director of Programs and Operations, African Diaspora Network (USA)
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Sonia M. Wignall - CEO,
Diaspora Global Foundation (USA) -
Patience Key - President and CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Chamber of Commerce (USA)
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Zebunisa Jilani - President and Founder, Swat Relief Initiative (USA)
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Sihana Bejtullahu - Co-Executive Director, GERMIN (Republic of Kosovo)
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Gordan Jordanov - UMD Macedonia and Europe Director, United Macedonian Diaspora (USA)
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Molina Jean-Louis - Executive Vice President, National Alliance for the Advancement of Haitian Professionals (USA)
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Elizabeth Ngonzi - Founder/CEO, The International Social Impact Institute® (USA)
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Kate Kandiah - Founder and Director, Cayman Connection (UK)
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Natalia Nemyliwska - Director EPIC, Ukrainian World Congress (Canada)
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Rodolfo R. Pou - Chairman, Diaspora & Development Foundation (Dominican Republic)
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Karl Carter - CEO, Snake Nation (USA)
9:45 pm – 9:50 pm
Regional Closing Remarks
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His Excellency Calvin St Juste - Honorary Special Envoy for Investment of St. Kitts and Nevis
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Dr. Aleksandr Gevorkyan - Henry George Chair in Economics, St. John's University (USA)
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Melvin Foote - President, Constituency for Africa
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Consul General Senen T. Mangalile - Consul General, Consulate General of the Philippines in New York
10:05 pm - 10:15 pm
Q&A session
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Leah Midamba - Coordination Team Member, Global Diaspora Confederation
10:15 pm Onwards
Networking session
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Leah Midamba - Coordination Team Member, Global Diaspora Confederation
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Diaspora Training Toolkit
12th December 2023
2pm – 3:30pm GMT
2:00 pm – 2:05 pm
Welcoming – Peter Kwok, GDC Chair
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2:05 pm – 2:20 pm
Introductions and introduction to the Diaspora Organisation Training Portal​
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Leon Isaacs – CEO, DMA Global
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2:20 pm – 2:30 pm
High level findings from the Needs Assessment
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Sarah Hugo – Senior Consultant, DMA Global
2:30 pm – 3:10 pm
Training session on "Towards Financial Sustainability”
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Sarah Hugo – Senior Consultant, DMA Global
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Francine Dove – Regional Manager, Africa, DMA Global
3:10 pm – 3:30 pm
Feedback/Q&A
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Leon Isaacs – CEO, DMA Global
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3:30 pm - 3:35 pm
Closing remarks and next steps
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GDAcademy Side Event: Masterclass On Achieving Diaspora Impact through Partnership Development and Management
Organizer: African Diaspora Network
Speaker: Almaz Negash, Founder & Executive Director of African Diaspora Network
Event type: Webinar
Venue and Time: Online at 4:30 pm GMT
Registration link: https://bit.ly/adnmasterclass2023
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3rd Annual Humanitarian Meeting
13th December 2023
3pm – 4:30pm GMT
3:00 pm – 3:05 pm
Welcome
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Peter Kwok
Chair - Global Diaspora Confederation
3:05 pm - 3:10 pm
Progress on Diaspora Organizations’ Efforts in Humanitarian Assistance and summary of GDC work in 2023
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Abigail Maristela
Unit Lead - Diaspora Engagement Unit
IOM, Washington DC
3:10 pm – 3:25 pm
DEMAC Humanitarian Training
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Béatrice Mauconduit
Project Coordinator - Diaspora Emergency Action & Coordination (DEMAC)
3:30 pm – 3:50 pm
The Global Diaspora Humanitarian Hub: Updates and Future Forward Initiatives
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Elnura Omurkulova-Ozierska
Assistant Event Manager - Global Diaspora Confederation -
Vivian Ibeji Nwakolobi
Project Coordinator - Global Diaspora Confederation -
Tanya Romero-Soriano - Project Management Lead
Global Diaspora Confederation
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3:50 pm – 3:55 pm
Closing remarks
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Raphaël Capony
Head of Diaspora Programme - Danish Refugee Council
Dialogue on Humanitarian Hub Entry Training Formatsing
3:55 pm – 4:20 pm
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Vivian Ibeji Nwakolobi
Project Coordinator
Global Diaspora Confederation
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Elnura Omurkulova-Ozierska
Assistant Event Manager
Global Diaspora Confederation
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Global Diaspora Assembly
14th December 2023
2pm – 3:30pm GMT
2:00 pm – 2:05 pm
Welcome – GDC Secretariat
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2:05 pm – 2:25 pm
GDC Progress and Summary of GDWeek 2023
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Peter Kwok - Chair, Global Diaspora Confederation
Closing Remarks for GDWeek 2023
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Ms. Ugochi Daniels - Deputy Director General for Operations, International Organization for Migration
2:25 pm – 3:00 pm
Global Panel by Diaspora Organizations from six continents
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Moderator: Loksan Harley - Executive Director, Homelands Advisory
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Oceania: Loau-Donina Va'a - Chair, Pacific Women's Professional Business Network (Australia)
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Europe: Anila Smørgrav - President, French-Albanian Association “Albania”, Vice-Chair of the Albanian Council of Diaspora (Albania)
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Asia: Dr. Rana Dajani - President, Society for advancement of science and technology in the Arab world (USA)
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Africa: Dr. Bashir O. Obasekola - Continental Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE)
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South America: Tomás Páez - President, Observatorio de la Diáspora Venezolana (Venezuela)
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Northern and Central America and Caribbean: Firmin Backer - President, Haiti Renewal Alliance (USA)
3:00 pm - 3:05 pm
Wrap up Overview
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Moderator: Loksan Harley - Executive Director, Homelands Advisory
3:05 pm - 3:10 pm
Summary from GDAcademy events held during the GDWeek​
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Omolayo Nkem Oyudo - Director of Programs and Operations, African Diaspora Network (USA)
3:10 pm – 3:15 pm
Introducing the plan for Young Diaspora Summit - GDC University Team​
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Olivia Lang
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Abeer Ladhani
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Gabriel Lagaüzeire
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Emily De Connick
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Catrin Heath
3:15 pm – 3:25 pm
Q&A Session
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John Neugebauer and Hazal Guler - Global Diaspora Confederation
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3:25 pm - 3:30 pm
Closing Remarks of the Global Diaspora Assembly
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Peter Kwok - Chair at Global Diaspora Confederation
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Young Diaspora Leaders Talk
8 young diasporas to be featured all day of December 11, 2023 on GDC social media platforms from 8:00 am GMT onwards.