TACOMA — A symposium at the University of Washington Tacoma will explore the critical role Washington State will play as the United States prioritizes its relationship with the Asia-Pacific region.
The event, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22, at William W. Philip Hall on the UW Tacoma campus, is sponsored by the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, the Pierce Military and Business Alliance, The News Tribune, Topia Technology and the UW Tacoma Chancellor’s Office.
Featured speakers will include Maj. Gen. Jeff Buchanan from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Daniel Malarkey of the Washington State Department of Commerce, Michael Rawding from Deerhorn Advisors and Beth Rivin from the University of Washington.
The discussion will delve into the regional impacts of an historic development in the strategic and commercial interests of the U.S.: the “rebalancing” of our global posture to reflect the growing importance of Asia. The rebalance is a shift in the focus of U.S. power and attention to embrace the Asia-Pacific region, including countries such as China, Japan, India, North and South Korea, Indonesia and Australia.
Washington State already has a long history of commercial, academic and non-governmental engagement across Asia-Pacific. What have we learned that can inform the larger rebalancing? Will the attentions of the other Washington change the existing relationships we’ve worked to develop? What might derail the U.S. effort? These are some of the questions the panelists will address.
The symposium brings together an unusual combination of experts with impressive backgrounds. Maj. Gen. Jeff Buchanan is the deputy commander of the U.S. Army’s I Corps, headquartered at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and a key part of the military’s new Asia-Pacific focus.
Daniel Malarkey is the deputy director of the Washington State Department of Commerce, supporting our trade partnerships throughout Asia-Pacific. He has been a managing partner of ECONorthwest, the CEO and founder of Washington Biodiesel and a marketing executive at Amazon.
Michael Rawding founded Deerhorn Advisors, a consultancy that advises on cross-border activities between the U.S. and Asian countries. He held senior management positions at Microsoft, including CEO of Microsoft Asia.
Beth Rivin is a medical doctor on the faculty of the UW Schools of Law, Medicine and Public Health. She is vice president at Seattle non-profit Uplift International and her research work focuses on global health issues and social disparities.
The symposium is planned to be the first in a series on the subject. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. More information: tacoma.uw.edu/pacific.
What: Views on the Pacific – From Backstage to Center-Stage of International Relations
When: May 22, 2013, 4 – 6 p.m.
Where: William W. Philip Hall, UW Tacoma campus.
Sponsors: Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Pierce Military and Business Alliance, The News Tribune, Topia Technology, UW Tacoma Office of the Chancellor
Free, but registration required – tacoma.uw.edu/pacific
Resources
I Corps official home page – www.lewis-mcchord.army.
Uplift International – upliftinternational.
Export Washington – www.exportwashington.
ContextChina – contextchina.com/ – Seattle-based media company covering China-Pacific Northwest relations