In 2020, the Lower Mekong Initiative was upgraded and expanded to the Mekong-U.S. Partnership (MUSP). A flagship initiative of the Partnership is the MUSP Track 1.5 Policy Dialogue series, which includes seven virtual and in-person dialogues between 2021 and 2023 focusing on key policy and sustainability challenges facing Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. This discussion will launch the summary report to share takeaways and policy recommendations from the 3rd Policy Dialogue, which was held as a deep-dive on needs and opportunities related to economic, human, digital, and environmental connectivity.
Keynote Speakers
Jung H. Pak, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multilateral Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Dr. Jung H. Pak is Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multilateral Affairs and for Global China issues. She also serves as Deputy Special Representative for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Prior to arriving at State, she was a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, where she focused on Korean Peninsula issues, East Asia regional dynamics, and transnational threats.
Keo Chhea, Ambassador to the United States of America, Royal Embassy of Cambodia
Panelists
Natalie Shahbol, Program Officer, Free-Flowing Rivers Initiative, WWF
Natalie Shahbol is a Program Officer for the Free-Flowing Rivers Initiative at the World Wildlife Fund based out of Washington D.C. Prior to joining WWF, she worked as an ORISE Research Participant with the Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. She holds an M.S. in Environmental Science and Management from University of California, Santa Barbara and a Bachelors in Environmental Science from University of California Los Angeles.
Yan Naung Oak, Founder, Thibi
Yan Naung Oak is the founder of Thibi, a consultancy specialising in data visualisation and human centered design. Yan was part of the founding team at Phandeeyar, Myanmar’s first and leading innovation hub, and helped build their social impact and data programs from 2015-2018. He is heavily involved in open data and data journalism initiatives. Yan has a BA in Physics and Economics from Middlebury College and an MSocSci in Economics from the National University of Singapore.
Stephanie Fischer, Technology Policy Analyst, U.S. Department of Transportation Volpe National Transportation Systems Center