The Embassy of Liechtenstein was the distinguished venue for a reception to welcome the Fall cohort of civic tech superheroes to Washington DC and celebrate the 10th anniversary of the CivicTech movement. It brought together prominent figures from the tech industry, government, and diplomatic community. The event was hosted by H.E. Georg Sparber, with the invaluable leadership of ‘Coach’ Kathy Kemper, Founder and CEO of the Institute for Education, and Dr. R. David Edelman, President of the same institution, who graciously welcomed guests and made remarks.
One of the key highlights of the evening was the presence of Matt Lira, former CEO of RoundTable, who served as Special Assistant to the President for Innovation Policy and Initiatives at the White House Office of American Innovation from 2017 to 2021. He shared critical insights into the legislation, H.R. 39: The TALENT Act, that established the collaboration between the tech and government sectors, underscoring the event’s commitment to bridging these realms.
Additionally, Dr. Gil Alterovitz, the Director of Artificial Intelligence at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and a former White House Presidential Innovation Fellow, offered a unique perspective on integrating technology within government institutions. Dr. Alterovitz presented Coach, the Mayor of Civic Tech, with a signed copy of the first book written using Artificial Intelligence.
The event was graced by the presence of esteemed ambassadors who lent their support to the cause. Their attendance underscored the global significance of the tech-government partnership. In particular, the ambassadors from H.E. Nicole Bintner-Bashkian, Embassy of Luxembourg; H.E. Maguy Maccario-Doyle, Embassy of Monaco; H.E. Zoran Popov, Embassy of North Macedonia; H.E. Petra Schneebauer, Embassy of Austria; and H.E. Maris Selga, Embassy of Latvia, were present, showing their commitment to the mission of the Institute for Education.
At the end of the evening, guests received a signed copy of “Harnessing Serendipity,” a newly released book authored by David Adler, which includes a chapter contributed by Coach Kathy Kemper. This book, filled with inspirational stories from accomplished artists, musicians, diplomats, and thought leaders, promises to be a valuable resource for those seeking inspiration in their respective fields.
The Embassy of Liechtenstein thus became a hub of collaboration, uniting these esteemed figures to underscore the pivotal role of technology in our modern world and the significance of aligning industry and government for a brighter future.
Contributed by Josner Maysonet, IFE Intern
