The ACGC 2024 Annual Conference, “Inspiring Action, Inspiring Hope: International Cooperation in a World of Uncertainty,” was held on September 19 and 20, 2024. See below for a recap of the successful 2-day event!
“What can Alberta and Canada do to help shape a brighter, more prosperous, and peaceful world?”
This is the question that influenced many of our activities over the two-day annual conference. Thank you to everyone who joined us in Edmonton for the two days of connection, capacity building, celebration and more!
EVENT DETAILS
Dates: Thursday, September 19 – Friday, September 20, 2024
Location: Edmonton Hotel and Convention Centre (Radisson), 4520 76 Ave NW Edmonton AB, T6B 0A5
Schedule:
Day 1 (Sept 19)
Day 2 (Sept 20)
4:30 PM – 6 PM, Networking Event
6:30 PM – late, 50th Anniversary Gala
9 AM – 3:30 PM, Conference Sessions and Capacity Building
12 PM – 1 PM, Annual General Meeting
SPEAKERS
50th Anniversary Gala (September 19, 6:30 PM – late)
Erum Shazia Hasan (she/her), Keynote Speaker
Erum’s debut novel, We Meant Well was longlisted for the 2023 Giller Prize and finalist for the 2024 Dayton Literary Peace Prize. In it, she explores the complex moral and emotional landscape of International Aid work, asking questions about what it means to be charitable, who deserves what, and who gets the power to decide. Erum has been a sustainable development consultant for the United Nations (United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Environment Programme, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, International Fund for Agriculture and Development, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, among others) for the last 15 years. Prior to this she worked in the Canadian NGO and public sectors. She specializes in climate change adaptation, biodiversity protection, empowering women in natural resources management, and sustainable land management and agriculture.
Inyambo Dance Group, Performance
The cultural dance group from Burundi, known as “Inyambo,” is based here in Edmonton Alberta. They established themselves in 2009 and they are a vibrant ensemble that embodies the essence of Burundian culture through their mesmerizing dance performances and soulful songs.
Annual Conference Sessions & Capacity Building (September 20, 9 AM – 3:30 PM)
Panel Discussion | Navigating Uncertainty: Practical approaches to delivering programming in times of crises
In this panel, ACGC members and community partners spoke to their organizations’ experience
delivering services and managing partnerships locally and globally in difficult political, environmental,
peace, and security contexts. Panellists shared practical approaches they have been using to navigate
uncertainty and continue to deliver critical programming.
Lindsey Machona-Maenzanise (she/her), Panel Moderator
Lindsey Machona-Maenzanise is the current Executive Director of Expand Hope (EH) a respected non-profit organization dedicated to building and strengthening educational infrastructure within marginalized communities globally. For over 5 years, Lindsey has led EH with unwavering passion, courage, and strategic acumen, resulting in the construction of sixteen schools and positively impacting the lives of thousands of children in Guatemala.
Throughout her career, Lindsey has demonstrated not just her ability to lead and manage complex projects, but also her passion for education and gender equality. She is an advocate who knows firsthand that building schools is about more than just brick and mortar – it’s about building futures and empowering communities, a mission she carries into her work.
Panelists
Christina Caouette
CEO of Young Diplomats of Canada
Delmy Garcia Hoyt
Vice President of Sombrilla International
Jack Underschultz
President of Nafasi Opportunity Society
Nabeel Hameed
Alberta Manager of Islamic Relief Canada
Global Affairs Canada “Fireside” Chat | Demystifying Global Affairs Canada (GAC): A look into GAC structure and priorities, with a focus on the Grants and Contributions Transformation Initiative
In this Fireside Chat, we explored GAC’s changing structure and upcoming priorities. We focused on the Grants and Contributions Transformation Initiative (GCTI), and the plans GAC has to continue working alongside Canadian citizens and organizations delivering international assistance programming. This session was moderated by Greg Sowak, M.Ed. (International Projects & Mobility; NorQuest International).
Brandon A. Lee (he/him), Speaker
Brandon A. Lee holds the title of Director General with the Grants and Contributions Transformation Bureau at Global Affairs Canada. He has a strong background in leading innovation and has held several executive positions with national and international governments. Previously, Brandon worked in the private sector as a pioneer entrepreneur in online banking in North America, as well as in large-scale telecommunications management consulting.
Greg Sowak, M.Ed. (he/him), Moderator
Greg Sowak is the Norquest College technical lead on a 4 year CICan Young Africa Works project dedicated to implementing an RPL system in Kenyan Technical Institutions. He also oversees a federally funded (Global skills Opportunity) student mobility program and is leading a new 4 year CICan project in Kenya committed to CBET curriculum development and Gender Equity at Technical Trade Institutions. Greg joined the ACGC Board in 2022 and is currently serving his second term as board member.
Workshop | Practical Approaches to Including Gender Equality in Program Design
In this interactive workshop, Karen Craggs-Milne shared and walked us through an easy-to-use framework (based on the Global Affairs Canada Feminist International Assistance Policy) that can support organizations’ efforts to integrate gender equality considerations into their program review and design.
Karen Craggs-Milne (she/her), Workshop Facilitator
An Obama White House recognized Gender Equality Changemaker, Karen has worked with NGOs globally for over 20 years to design industry leading programs that have successfully secured hundreds of millions of dollars in donor funding and have resulted in measurable impact worldwide. CEO & Founder of Conscious Equality Incorporated, Karen Craggs-Milne is known as THE go-to expert for organizations who are serious about getting social change work right.
Keynote Address and Workshop | Reimagining International Cooperation: Uncovering and challenging hidden assumptions
In the face of global challenges like climate change, geopolitical instability, and rising inequality,
organizations often rely on hidden assumptions when developing strategies and interventions. This
keynote introduced Assumption Mapping, a strategic foresight tool designed to help international cooperation actors identify and challenge the assumptions that shape their work. Participants learned how to surface critical assumptions, evaluate their impact, and explore how to rethink their strategies to better navigate uncertainty and seize emerging opportunities.
Andy Ouedraogo (she/her), Keynote Address & Workshop
Andy Ouedraogo is a Research and Program Officer at Cooperation Canada and is currently navigating the exciting realms of strategic foresight and international development. With a foundation in international relations and global political economy, Andy leads the Global Cooperation Futures Initiative funded by the International Development Research Centre and aimed at reimagining next generation global cooperation.
This event is undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through Global Affairs Canada.
