(All speakers confirmed unless otherwise noted)
Tourism’s New Day (Thursday, 3:00-4:00)_
Moderator: Caroline Racine, Choice Hotel International
Speaker 1: Patrick Delatour, Minister of Tourism (invited)
Speaker 2: Bruce Poon Tip, Gap Adventures
Speaker 3: Dominique Carvonis, dfc Consults
Speaker 4: John Weis/Mike Ronan, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
Description: Despite certain competitive metrics, Haiti has experienced a significantly underdeveloped tourism sector for more than two decades. While basic infrastructure and marketing problems exist, there is also the potential for Haiti to compete for traditional vacation business in addition to new opportunities in voluntourism and educational tourism. Our experts profile projects both large and small, and what is needed in order for Haiti to finally fulfill its potential in the tourism space.
Agriculture’s Compelling Argument (Thursday 3:00-4:00pm)
Moderator: Leonie Hermantin, Lambi Fund
Speaker 1: Julien Destorel, Agrimart
Speaker 2: Brian McElroy, Filmmaker, ‘The Road to Fondwa”
Speaker 3: Steve Vetter, Partners of the Americas
Speaker 4: Marc-Antoine Noel
Description: Our experts will review the opportunities in export for mangos and oranges, along with other crops + discuss plans to make Haiti self-sustainable for food production over term.
Media’s Role and Responsibility (Thursday, 11:00am-12:00 pm)
Moderator: Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald
Speaker 1: David Adams, PODER
Speaker 2: Benno Schmidt
Speaker 3: Yves Colon, Internews
Description: Media is great at covering the big story. But what is media’s larger role in supporting and improving communications for a sovereign nation attempting to get back on its feet after the worst human catastrophe in the Western Hemisphere in over 200 years?
The Current State of Haiti’s Banking and Financial Sector(Wednesday 5:00 pm- 6:00pm)
Moderator: Mitchell Strauss, OPIC
Speaker 1: Gladys Coupet, Citigroup
Speaker 2: Frantz Toussaint, IDB
Speaker 3: Dr. Lesly Kernisat- SIMACT
Description: Our experts will not only give us a snapshot of Haiti’s current banking and financial sector, but explain how capital can flow more freely (increased lending)
Solving Property Rights (Wednesday, 5:00pm- 6:00pm)
Speaker: Jesse Keenan, Adorno & Yoss
Speaker: Elda James, Law Offices of Elda James
Description: Without adequate property right (clear title), it is difficult to impossible to attract substantial financial capital from aboard for land-based projects. What is the path and practical steps needed to develop a stronger legal and administrative system regarding property rights?
New Education Initiatives (Wednesday 2:30pm- 3:30)
Moderator: Phillip Caputo, Happy Hearts Foundation
Speaker 1: Conor Bohan, H.E.L.P
Speaker 2: Steve Hardgrave, Grey Ghost Ventures
Speaker 3: Major Joseph Bernadel, The Haitian League
Description: Our experts discuss both public and private education models in other countries, and how Haiti may learn from those other education models in order to develop a stronger, more flexible educational system. In addition, current efforts are profiled, including H.E.L.P.’s initiative with partner Columbia University.
Examination of Insurance Issues (Wednesday, 3:45pm- 4:45pm)
Speakers/Moderator: Olivier Barreau (AIC) + Rod Morris (OPIC)
Olivier Barreau of Alternative Insurance Company (AIC) was selected as entrepreneur of the year for his unique insurance business model. See how Olivier and the rest of the industry are coping after the Western Hemisphere’s most devastating human catastrophe in the last 200 years, and Haiti’s most expensive financial catastrophe ever. Can Haiti succeed in what is historically a challenge area (insurance) for Caribbean nations?
Public Private Partnerships as a Catalyst for Jobs Growth (Thursday 11:00am- 12:00pm)
Moderator: Erin Mote, CHF International
Speaker 1: Walker Morris – Clinton Foundation
Speaker 2: Tim Duncan, T2
Speaker 3: Jose Westin, Caterpillar
Speaker 4: Brian Hayes, Bel Soley
Description: CHF’s is one of the largest international NGOs in Haiti, leading a $104 million USAID infrastructure construction and jobs creations program as well as a new $21 million OFDA emergency response program. What are the key elements to facilitating successful public-private partnerships that result in job creation? How can private sector models sustain job-creating PPP initiatives in the wake of the disaster and over time? What special considerations are there for conflict-affected environments? Private sector panelists will provide practical insights on building sustained, win-win relationships that show long term potential for economic revitalization.
Review of Housing and “Structure Surge” Thursday (1:45pm- 2:45pm)
Moderator: Eddie Argenal, CHF International
Speaker 1: Cameron Sinclair, Architecture for Humanity
Speaker 2: Peter Haas, IADG
Speaker 3: Minister of Haitian Government (Invited)
Speaker 4: Frank McKinney, Frank McKinney Foundation
Description: The Housing stock has been demolished. Over 1,000,000 Haitians lives under tarps and other temporary structures and the government has recently proposed the program labeled ‘structure surge’ as a vision of the near-term solution. Hear the experts discuss both near-term and longer-term solutions to this critical element of daily life for Haitians
Microfinance’s Growth Story (Wednesday 3:45pm- 4:45pm)
Moderator: Jonathan Lewis, MicroCredit Enterprises
Speaker 1: Anne Hastings, Fonkoze
Speaker 2: Andrew Oerke, Greater Caribbean Energy & Environment Foundation (GCEFF)
Speaker 3: Jennifer Schmidt, FINCA
Description: Microfinance has posted a huge growth over the past decade with a loan portfolio reaching $57.7 million in 2008 for about 146,000 borrowers with an average loan size of $400 according to MicroFinance Information eXchange. Listen to the experts discuss how microfinance can continue to support economic growth, especially in rural settings.
Decentralization: The urban to rural shift (Thursday, 5:30pm- 6:30pm)
Speaker: Michele Duvivier Pierre-Louis, formerly Prime Minister of Haiti
Description: Port au Prince was built to sustain 250,000 inhabitants. However, pre-earthquake estimates of 3,000,000 residents overwhelmed the infrastructure of the city on a daily basis. Given the unsustainability of this model, what are solutions that will allow for proper cultural, economic and environment population shift to more rural settings in the coming years?”
Renewable Energy’s Opportunity (Friday, 8:30am-9:30am)
Moderator: Richenda Van Leeuwen, consultant (formerly Good Energies)
Speaker 1: Jerry Butler, Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum
Speaker 2: Lumas Kendrick, IDB
Speaker 3: Alex Georges, Enersa
Speaker 4: Dan Schnitzer, EarthSpark
Description: Haiti’s energy grid was less than optimal pre-earthquake, and now finds itself in a extremely limited functional state. However, there now exists a tremendous opportunity to redesign the grid along a sustainable basis. Come learn how Haiti could potentially and eventually leapfrog its Caribbean neighbors’ inadequate energy infrastructures and what it will take to get there.
Maximizing Efficiencies and Effectivenesss( Thursday, 8:30am- 9:30am)
Moderator: TBD
Speaker 1: Steve Vetter, Partners of the Americas
Speaker 2: Hugh Locke, Yele Haiti (invited)
Speaker 3: Leslie Voltaire, UN Special Envoy for Haiti (invited)
Description: With over 10,000 NGO’s operating in Haiti (2nd highest per capita in the world next to India), Haiti receives great support from non-governmental organizations. However despite these efforts, inefficiencies and a lack of communication amongst the organizations abound.
How can the true collective power of NGO’s be realized? Our experts start by discussing the establishment of a national registration system.
Building a Transparent Haiti-#1 (Legal & Financial)(Thursday, 8:30am- 9:30am)
Speaker: Ahpaly Coradin, Coradin Law Group
Speaker: Elda James, the Law Offices of Elda James
Description: Without transparency and accountability, investors will flee. How can Haiti change and adapt during rebuilding in order to develop a more transparent and accountable financial and legal system? Our panels of experts discuss the right path.
‘Small is beautiful’ (Thursday, 9:45am- 10:45am)
Moderator: TBD
Speaker 1: Dr. Bernier Lauredan, the Haitian League
Speaker 2: Josephine Legros, the Haitian League
Speaker 3: Brian McElroy, Filmmaker, “The Road to Fondwa”
Description: Instead of waiting for FDI to arrive, Haiti will be rebuilt significantly by micro-entrepreneurs supported by their own creativity and determination to succeed. See how Haitians and Haitian-Americans have plans to create businesses throughout Haiti, and get inspired to start your own.
Lack of access to clean water, the human rights and health repercussions in Haiti (Thursday, 11:00am-12:00pm)
(Sponsored by The Samuel-Family Foundation)
Moderator: David Ewing Duncan, Journalist and Award-winning biotech writer
Speaker 1: E. Benjamin Skinner, author and modern slavery expert
Speaker 2: Pradip Bardham, Int’l Center for Diarrhea Disease Research, Special cholera envoy for the Centers for Disease Control
Speaker 3: Kim Samuels-Johnson, poverty scholar
Speaker 4: Lisa A. Conte, CEO, Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Description: Our experts come from around the world, but will discuss (by example in Haiti) how clean water is the basis of sustainability + the repercussions for health and human rights when accessible clean drinking water does not exist.
SMEs as jobs creator (Wednesday, 2:30pm- 3;30pm)
Moderator: Randall Kempner, ANDE
Speaker 1: Dr. Laura Hartman, Depaul University
Speaker 2: Regine Barjin
Speaker 3: Richard Coles, Multitex
Description: SMEs represent a large and critical growth opportunity for Haiti’s economy. Several projects to support SME growth will be outlined, including Zafen.org , which is a non-profit partnership between Fonkoze, the Haitian Diaspora (represented by the Haitian Hometown Association), DePaul University and the Vincentian Family. The project responds to the immediate need of small and medium-sized businesses to access capital in order either to get back into business or to allow their businesses to respond to the changing demand of the post-quake economy.
Reforestation: Vital and Sustainable (Thursday, 1:45pm- 2:45pm)
Moderator: Roger Frank, i3 Advisors
Speaker 1: Roger Frank, i3 Advisors
Speaker 2: Andrew Oerke, Greater Caribbean Energy & Environment Foundation (GCEEF)
Speaker 3: Leonie Hermantin, Lambi Fund
Description: Decades ago, Haiti was a lush and welcome island paradise with 60% of its original forest covering its lands and mountainous region. Today by some estimates, 95% of Haiti’s forests are gone- fertile soil and bedrock have been destroyed and mountains are now reduced to bedrock. The current situation will only get worse as long as charcoal and low productivity agriculture are the only opportunities for poor farmers. Learn from the experts of projects that are currently helping reverse the trend, and how more is desperately needed.
Haiti’s Pioneers of Prosperity- Fostering a Culture of Entrepreneurship (Thursday, 11:00am- 12:00pm)
Moderator: Michael Fairbanks, Seven Fund/OTF Group
Speaker 1: Oliver Barrau, Alternative Insurance Company
Speaker 2: Kurt Jean-Charles, Solutions SA
Speaker 3: Mathias Pierre, Gama
Description: The seminar profiles the SEVEN Fund and OTF Group’s entrepreneurship awards program, Pioneers of Prosperity, with a focus on the top three firms from Haiti. This includes profiles of the firms pre-earthquake and post-earthquake activities.
Corporate Responsibility (Thursday, 1:45pm-2:45pm)
Moderator: Francois Gullaume, Haitian-American Chamber of Commerce
Speaker 1: Mike Ronan/John Weis, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
Speaker 2: Bernard Fils-Aime, Trilogy
Speaker 3: Stephen Jordan, BCLC
Description: Learn how corporations invested in Haiti plan to not only continue their investments, but also contribute in a socially responsible manner to the rebuilding of Haiti.
Building a Transparent Haiti- #2 (Media & Government))(Thursday 9:45am- 10:45am)
Moderator: David Adams, PODER
Speaker 1: Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald
Speaker 2: Benno Schmidt
Speaker 3: Yves Colon, Internews
Description: Both media & government have a responsibility to the people. This is true in every country around the world, not just Haiti. However, our panelists discuss the particular issues and difficulties Haiti faces in building a new and transparent government & media.
Telecom’s New Opportunities (Thursday, 3;00pm-4:00pm)
Moderator: Mike Singh, Telkom Caribe
Speaker 1: Maarten Boute, Digicel
Speaker 2: Robin Padberg, Trilogy
Speaker 3: representative from Harris Communications (invited)
Speaker 4: Chris Taylor, Tropical Telecom
Description: The telecom sector exhibited strong growth in the pre-earthquake years.
Our experts give an overview of the current state of the industry, as well as commenting on what new growth opportunities exist in cellular and satellite.
Sustainable Haiti: Company Profile (Friday, 9:45am-10:45am)
Workshop by John Rosser, Sustainable Haiti
Description: John Rosser outlines the role Sustainable Haiti intends to play in supporting post-conference commitments and plans in the building of Haiti 2.0
Family Health on $2 a Day (Wednesday, 3:45pm- 4:45pm)
Moderator: TBD
Speaker 1: Dr. Paul Farmer, Partners in Health (invited)
Speaker 2: Craig Courtney, GAIN
Speaker 3: Eric Doubt, Healing Hands International
Speaker 4: Herve Sabin, Rural Health Project
Description: For the poorest of the poor, even simple health decisions are a challenge and even sometimes mean the difference between life and death. Come learn what needs to done to improve health care for those living on $2 a day or less, and understand how significant progress is being made in other parts of the world- lessons that can be applied with Haitian families in this critical area.
Social Venture Capital as a Tool for Growth (Thursday, 3:00pm- 4:00pm)
Moderator: Jonathan Lewis, MicroCredit Enterprises
Speaker 1: Aaron Rose, Rose Global Advisors
Speaker 2: Phillipe Saint-Cyr, Venture Capitalist
Speaker 3: Roger Frank, i3 Advisors
Speaker 4: Raoul L. Thomas, CGI Capital Holdings
Description: Social venture capital should become an integral part of Haiti’s rebuilding effort.
Our panel has experience investing around the world. Learn from the experts–investors and social venture capitalists–on what Haiti needs to do to position itself in order to attract increased social venture capital and other investments
Social Entrepreneurship in Post-Earthquake Haiti (Thursday 4:15pm- 5:15pm)
Moderator: Demian Pasquarelli, FAVACA
Speaker 1: Dr. Robert Maguire, FAVACA
Speaker 2: Aaron Rose, Rose Global Advisors
Speaker 3: Marc Roger, Sodade Inc
Description:
- How can we more effectively support social entrepreneurship in Haiti?
- What kind of technical assistance is needed to jumpstart entrepreneurship in the rural areas, to invest in education (i.e. Haiti Volunteer in Education Corps) and to develop the agriculture sector (i.e. a Civilian Corps)?
- Which models for social investment from other countries might apply to Haiti?
- What is the current situation in Haiti and what successful entrepreneurial projects can we build on (i.e. Port Salut)?
A Shared Vision for Haiti’s Economic Recovery – The Role of Entrepreneurs and SMEs (Thursday, 8:30am- 9:30am)
Moderator: Rob Henning, Director, OTF Group
Speaker 1: Mathias Pierre, Fondation Etre Ayisyen
Speaker 2: Gladys Coupet, Country Director, Citigroup; Coordinator, Presidential Working Group on Competitiveness
Speaker 3: Julie Kenneday, Pioneers of Prosperity
Description: Haiti’s post-earthquake economic recovery must have both a strong economic growth component and social equity in the form of the inclusion of SMEs and micro-enterprises in the recovery effort. This panel will focus on how Haiti’s Presidential Working Group on Competitiveness is designing a plan to address these two goals.
PADF (Thursday, 5:30pm-6:30pm)
Speaker 1: John Sanbriano, Pan-American Development Foundation
Speaker 2: Jimmy Jean-Louis, Actor and Pan-American Development Foundation Ambassador
Description: PADF works with national and local government entities, community organizations, and national and international NGOs in their eight in-country offices. With more than twenty-five years of experience in Haiti, PADF works in priority areas such as employment generation; natural disaster reconstruction and community preparedness; agricultural development and natural resources management; rural and urban community-driven development and civil society strengthening; anti-trafficking in persons and human rights protection; and cross-border cooperation among Haitian and Dominican NGOs and municipalities. Come learn more about PADF and Haiti.
Diaspora’s Moment (Friday 8:30am- 9:30am)
Moderator: Francois Guillaume, Haitian-American Chamber of Commerce
Speaker 1: Frantz Toussaint, IDB
Speaker 2: Edwin Paraison, Minister of Haitians Living Abroad
Speaker 3: Harry Fouche, Chairman of the Consortium for Haitian Empowerment
Speaker 4: Jonas Georges, All Nations Presbyterian Church
Description: In 2009, the Diaspora worldwide contributed $1.3b in transfer funds to Haiti- an enormous sum by any measure. However, the Diaspora remain less than fully engaged in rebuilding Haiti’s economy on an individual and collective basis. Learn the reasons why and how the Diaspora can become a vital supporting force in jumpstarting Haiti’s new economy.
Tourism 2: Hosted by Wilfrid Belfort, Haiti Tourism Development, Inc. (Wednesday 5:00pm- 6:00pm)
Speakers: Wilfrid Belfort and Max Masscre of Haiti Tourism Development, Inc.
Children: Building Hope for Their Future (Friday 8:30am- 9:30am)
Moderator: Irwin Redlener, Columbia University + Children’s Health Fund (invited)
Speaker 1: Eric Doubt, Healing Hands International
Speaker 2: Sharon Saxelby, Friends of the Orphans
Speaker 3: Malye Gelin-Adams, CARE
Speaker 4: Herve Sabin, Rural Health Project
Description: The statistics are stunning: 50% of the population in Haiti is 18 and younger and 38% are 14 years old or younger. Haiti’s future is clearly with its children. But how can children overcome such a devastating event like the earthquake in their personal lives and relationships, and begin to see and believe in a better future? Our experts talk about the challenges, and what is necessary to bring about a brighter tomorrow.
Media #2- Representing Voices Unheard Media’s Role and Responsibility (Friday 9:45am- 10:45am)
Moderator: Gary Pierre-Pierre, the Haitian Times
Speaker 1: David Adams, PODER
Speaker 2: Benno Schmidt
Speaker 3: Yves Colon, Internews
Description: In Haiti, 50% of the population live on less than $2 a day. As well, 50% of the population is 18 and younger and 38% are 14 years old or younger. The handicapped are disregarded and not treated with full respect. The poor have few outlets for expression. What is media’s continuing role to represent these critical groups from Haiti’s future- citizens who do not currently have full voice?
Technology Leapfroging for Development: Mobile Remittances, Branch-less Banking and the Next Generation Financial Services (Friday 9:45am- 10:45am)
Moderator: representative from Grameen Foundation
Speaker 1: Maarten Boute, Digicel
Speaker 2: Dr. Raul Hinojosa, CEO SF Technologies and Professor, UCLA
Speaker 3: Edwin Phanord, Global Managing Director at RTX Technologies Partners, Haiti
Speaker 4: Juan Carlos Lozada, Founder and General Manager of OPTIMA, Technology Developer & Platform Lead at Microsoft Mexico.
Description: There exists stunning statistics on mobile banking in other parts of the world: By some estimates, 57% of all banking transactions in Kenya were performed by mobile phone. This rate is significantly higher than any other fully developed country. Learn from experts how Haiti can leap ahead of more developed nations in mobile banking and next generation financial service, and how a tremendous economic growth opportunity awaits.
Manufacturing #2 (Thursday 1:45pm- 2:45pm)
Special note: A second panel on manufacturing will be conducted and led by Richard Coles of Multitex.
Maritime Transportation Logistics:
Moderator: representative from Southcom (invited)
Speaker 1: Jay Brickman, Crowley (invited)
Speaker 2: Eduoard Baussan
Speaker 3: Munir Mourra, Haitian-American Chamber of Commerce
Speaker 4: representative from Seaboard Freight
Description: TBD
Sustainable Celebrity: How Artists and Celebrities Can Remain A Force For Good (Friday, 11:00pm- 12:00pm)
Speakers: A Panel of Celebrities and Artists including Jimmy Jean-Louis (Heroes) and Richard Morse
Description: Many artists and celebrities are actually like the rest of us: They rally behind a cause while it is in the headlines, but then as the press coverage fades- so too can fade the interest in that particular cause.
In the case of Haiti, these artists and celebrities have demonstrated their unwavering commitment to Haiti, and continue to support the rebuilding of Haiti. Learn from them their commitment and how other artists and celebrities can remain a force for good in Haiti.
PLENARY: (Wednesday, 10:00am- 11:30am)
“Rocket Fuel” for Haiti:
Launching a Nation into Global Networks of Investment, Industry and Trade
Speakers: Ashraf Ghani, Dambisa Moyo, and Paul Romer
Poverty is the exclusion from networks of productivity. This Plenary will focus on how to create a culture of innovation that connects Haiti to high value networks, emphasizes the self-determination of Haitians, and discussed entrepreneurs as a solution to poverty. This discussion will be moderated by Michael Fairbanks who has a decade of experience as senior advisor to President Paul Kagame inside the world’s most successful reforming nation, Rwanda; and feature the latest insights and results from thought leaders and practicioners from around the world.
