2026 International Business Forum
Forum Program
Program Schedule
Check back for speaker updates.
8:00-9:00 AM
Registration, Breakfast & Expo
Breakfast Sponsor
9:00-9:10 AM
Welcome Remarks by Moez Limayem, USF President
9:10-9:30 AM
Keynote Remarks by Alex Kelly, Florida Secretary of Commerce
9:30-10:30 AM
Moderator
Raul Alfonso, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Port Tampa Bay
Fireside Chat
Alex Kelly, Florida Secretary of Commerce
Michael Simas, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Florida Council of 100
Keynote Speaker & Fireside Chat Sponsor
10:30-10:45 AM
Coffee & Networking Break
10:45 AM-Noon
Panel Discussion
Foreign Direct Investment: Global Companies, Local Growth
Moderator
Madison Lawson, Vice President of International Investment, SelectFlorida
Speakers
Jonathan Abreu, Director of Supply Chain in Global Operations, OPSWAT
Jo茫o Roberto Amador Consultant/Advisor at EVERA and former Head of EVERA North America
Tobias Borawski, Managing Director, Astaras (Germany)
Nicholas Coucoules, Vice President of Programs, CAE USA (Canada)
Martin Palmeri, Managing Director, Head of Operations for the Americas, MUFG (Japan)
Foreign Direct Investment Sponsor
12:00-12:30 PM
Lunch & Expo
12:30-12:50 PM
Welcome by Jane Castor, Mayor, City of Tampa
Luncheon Remarks by Patrik Hansson, Chief Revenue Officer, AquaFence (Norway)
12:50-1:30 PM
Moderator
Mitchel Allen, Senior Vice President of Economic Development, Tampa Bay Economic Development Council
Fireside Chat
Jennifer Crabtree, President, Tampa Medical & Research District
Patrik Hansson, Chief Revenue Officer, AquaFence (Norway)
Lunch Speaker & Fireside Chat Sponsor
1:30-2:30 PM
Expo
Expo Exhibitors
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