Washington, D.C. – The 10th International Government Relations Forum successfully brought together top policymakers, thought leaders, and experts from nine countries to address pressing global challenges in governance, security, and economic development. This high-level event featured distinguished speakers, including Kateryna Odarchenko, Paolo von Schirach, Duvi Honig, Maryna Ovtsynova, Serhii Kolisnyk, Sebastian Bonneau, and Robert Ilatov, alongside key contributors Ruslan Antoniuk, Stephen Blank, Peter Huessy, Jason Shelton, Fred Turner, Adeoye Owolewa, Licy do Canto, Soeren Haar, Richard Horowitz, Eric Ellman, Charles Sills, Jim Carter, Kendall Coffey, Frank Ahrens, Mendel Banon, and Ezra Friedlander.
Discussions focused on geopolitical stability, policy innovation, and international cooperation. Experts analyzed strategies to strengthen global security, navigate the evolving landscape of government relations, and promote economic resilience.
Kateryna Odarchenko, Partner at SIC Group USA LLC and President of the Institute for Democracy and Development “PolitA,” opened the forum by emphasizing its role in fostering collaboration between government, business, and civil society. Paolo von Schirach, President of the Global Policy Institute, underscored the importance of effective government relations in today’s rapidly shifting political and economic landscape. “Government relations are not just about advocacy—it is about fostering informed dialogue between policymakers and stakeholders to create policies that are both practical and sustainable,” he noted.
Kateryna Odarchenko
Speakers addressed the impact of recent elections on U.S. government relations, regulatory reforms in lobbying and transparency, and best practices in global policy coordination. Jason Shelton, Fred Turner, and other participants analyzed shifts in the U.S. policy landscape, while Robert Ilatov shared insights into regulatory frameworks in Israel.
Duvi Honig discussed shifts in the U.S. administration’s approach to commerce and the evolving relationship between government and business. Adeoye Owolewa emphasized that while legislation may appear strong on paper, its real-world implementation often presents challenges. A key takeaway was the necessity of maintaining open dialogue between the public and private sectors to ensure effective policymaking and sustainable economic growth.
Paolo von Schirach, Jim Carter, Maritza T. Adonis, J.D, Adeoye Owolewa, Dayna Keene, Licy Do Canto, Karolina Rankovic
Maryna Ovtsynova highlighted civil society’s role in governance through research-driven advocacy and policy innovation. Discussions also underscored the importance of international partnerships in addressing modern security and economic challenges.
The forum concluded with a call for stronger cooperation between governments, businesses, and civil society to develop policies that are not only well-conceived but also effectively executed in practice.
Full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7fc_ZLhTeo&t=5440s
Organizers & Partners:
Global Policy Institute (GPI): a Washington-based think tank dedicated to addressing pressing global challenges through in-depth research and analysis. With a strong focus on global affairs, economics, and international relations, GPI aims to provide actionable insights that inform policy decisions and shape public discourse.
BAY Atlantic University: a non-profit university in Washington, DC that offers higher education programs to domestic and international students. Bay Atlantic University undergraduate and graduate programs are taught by a first-class faculty of “scholar-practitioners”. They are all seasoned professionals and policy experts –be it in government, international institutions or the private sector.
IGAPA (International Association for Government Affairs Professionals): a leading international association for public affairs professionals, established in 2018. A project of the Institute for Democracy and Development “PolitA,” it aims to develop a transparent dialogue between state, business, and society.
SIC Group USA: International consulting firms specializing in political consulting, political technologies, public relations, GR, and anti-crisis communications.
Eric Ellman, Maryna Ovtsynova, Don Erickson, Richard Horowitz
The Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce: International consulting firms specializing in political consulting, political technologies, public relations, GR, and anti-crisis communications. The company has a proven record of success, with over 30 election victories, 50 successful anti-crisis projects, and 100 PR campaigns and projects in the USA, EU, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe.
Institute for Democracy and Development “PolitA”: organization that conducts educational, analytical, and policymaking projects in the fields of democracy development, awareness campaigns and advocacy for meaningful social changes.
Mendel Banon & Frank Ahrens
Media Partners:
Chief Data Officer Magazine, The Epoch Times, The Twist News, AN17 Local News, Spas of America, Swanodown, Lenta.ua, 97.5 The Bear.
Technical assistance: Pavlo Dumanskyi
Mendel Banon, Frank Ahrens Kseniya Tarasenko, Kendal Coffey, Dina Shaikhislam