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
911±¬ÁÏÍølcome Remarks by USF Leadership
9:10-9:30 AM
Keynote Remarks by Alex Kelly, Secretary of Commerce, Florida Department of Commerce
9:30-10:30 AM
Moderator
Raul Alfonso, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Port Tampa Bay
Fireside Chat
Alex Kelly, Secretary of Commerce, Florida Commerce Department
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
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)
Chia Yuan Wang - Invited, President, Gerdau Long Steel North America
Foreign Direct Investment Sponsor
12:00-12:30 PM
Lunch & Expo
12:30-12:50 PM
911±¬ÁÏÍølcome 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
