Society for International Affairs |
2026 Spring Virtual | Conference Committee Conference Director: Speaker Chairs: AV/Pubs Chair: SIA Board Liaisons: |
DAY ONE: May 11, 2026, 1:00 - 5:00 pm EDT
1:00 | Opening Remarks
Tom Donovan, Northrop Grumman, SIA President
Dave Greenlees, Greenlees Global Advisors LLC, Conference Director
1:15 | Keynote
Michael R. Laychak, Office of the Secretary of War, Under Secretary of War (Acquisition and Sustainment), Director, Defense Technology Security Administration (DTSA)
2:00 | AI Export Controls: Model Weights, Compute, and Advanced Semiconductor Restrictions
As governments move quickly to regulate AI, companies are being asked to navigate a rapidly evolving and often uncertain landscape. This panel will break down the latest controls on model weights, compute thresholds, and advanced semiconductors—and, more importantly, what they mean in practice for compliance, risk management, and business strategy.
Jennifer Maki, Xylem
Sarah Wronsky, Applied Material
Scott Wise, Crowell
2:35 | Q & A
2:45 | Classification Challenges for SaaS, Software, Algorithms, and Emerging Technologies
Immediately following the AI export controls panel, this session will examine the practical challenges of classifying AI systems, SaaS, and advanced software, including navigating jurisdictional boundaries, regulatory ambiguity, and real-world decision-making
Jana Del-Cerro, DLA Piper
Timothy McLaughlin, Honeywell
Dan Goren, Holland & Knight
3:20 | Q & A
3:30 | Break
3:45 | Enforcement Trends and Risk Areas Across DOJ, BIS, DDTC, and OFAC
Enforcement is evolving—and becoming more coordinated across agencies. This panel will explore where regulators are focusing today, what recent cases reveal about emerging risk areas, and how developments such as DOJ’s corporate enforcement policies and the False Claims Act are shaping expectations for compliance programs.
Jae Shin, DDTC
Retired CBP - Invited
OFAC - Invited
BIS Counsel for Industry & Security - Invited
4:50 | Q & A
5:00 | Wrap up & Adjourn
DAY TWO: May 12, 2026, 1:00 - 5:00 pm EDT
1:00 | Opening Remarks
Dave Greenlees, Greenlees Global Advisors LLC, Conference Director
1:05 | Tariffs, Industrial Policy, and Strategic Trade Tools: Section 232, Section 301, and IEEPA
This panel will explore how tariffs and export controls are increasingly being used together as tools of national security and industrial policy. Panelists will break down what this means in practice, including tariff refunds, country-of-origin considerations, and the real-world implications for trade compliance professionals.
Ted Murphy, Sidley
Alex Chinoy, Covington
Nick Baker, Managing Director, Trade & Customs, FTI
2:00 | Q & A
2:10 | Diversion Risk and Supply Chain Visibility: From Policy to Practice
Building on the tariffs discussion, this panel will focus on how companies are putting policy into action—mapping supply chains, identifying high-risk intermediaries, and managing diversion risk in complex, real-world operations.
Todd Sullivan, GD
Marwa Hassoun, TE Connectivity
3:25 | Break
3:40 | Sanctions Compliance in a Multi-Jurisdictional Environment
Sanctions compliance is becoming increasingly complex as jurisdictions take different approaches. This panel will explore how companies navigate overlapping regimes, with a focus on real-world challenges—such as the UK and EU’s leadership in Russia sanctions—and what those divergences mean for global compliance programs.
Jason Prince, Akin
Emanuel Ghebregergis, Special Counsel, Covington Germany
Susan Heidenreich, Frigga Consulting Group
5:00 | Wrap up & Adjourn
DAY THREE: May 21, 2025, 1:00 - 5:00 pm EDT
1:00 | Opening Remarks
Dave Greenlees, Greenlees Global Advisors LLC, Conference Director
1:05 | Universities, Research Partnerships, and Export Controls: Bridging Open Research and Industry Risk
Innovation often begins in open research environments—but that openness can create unexpected export control risk. This panel will explore how export controls apply at the intersection of academia and industry, including the limits of fundamental research and how controls can arise in sponsored or restricted projects. Designed for both research and industry audiences, the discussion will highlight where expectations diverge and what compliance practitioners need to understand when working with research partners.
Ashley Farhat, HRL Laboratories
Cathy Elliott, JPL
Michelle Avallone, Columbia
Kate Stoan, Research Security and Export Controls Leader, Purdue
2:15 | Q & A
2:25 | CMMC 2.0, CUI, and Export Controls: Aligning Cybersecurity and Trade Compliance
As technology moves from open research into controlled environments, expectations around protecting sensitive data increase significantly. This panel will examine how cybersecurity requirements—particularly under CMMC 2.0—intersect with export-controlled technical data, and how companies are addressing implementation challenges across compliance, IT, and security functions.
Michelle Andersen, DEFCERT
Manasi Venkatesh, SAP NS2
John Lash, Gravity Stack
Kim Johnson, 3D Systems
3:20 | Q & A
3:30 | Break
3:45 | Export Controls and M&A: From Due Diligence to Day One Compliance
When technology changes hands, export control risk follows. This session will focus on what compliance practitioners need to know when they are brought into transactions late—and what must happen immediately after closing. Panelists will cover practical approaches to identifying risk, managing authorizations, addressing supply chain changes, and effectively engaging with M&A teams before and after the deal.
Chelsea Thompson, Safran
Lizbeth Rodriguez-Johnson, Reed Smith
Chandler Leonard, Crowell
Becky Hindt, Rockwell Collins
4:50 | Q & A
5:00 | Wrap up & Adjourn