PROTOCOL CONFERENCE SET FOR JULY 5, 2012

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Ambassador Capricia Penavic Marshall to Launch Inaugural Global Chiefs of Protocol Conference
Notice to the Press Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC
July 2, 2012

On Thursday, July 5 at 8:30 am, Ambassador Capricia Penavic Marshall, Chief of Protocol of the United States, will convene the inaugural Global Chiefs of Protocol Conference at the Department of State. For the first time, nearly 100 representatives from nations and organizations on five continents will gather to exchange knowledge and ideas, evaluate and enhance their craft, and strengthen the role of protocol in diplomacy.
Since the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, protocol has played an integral role in modern times in building and maintaining strong bilateral and multilateral diplomatic relationships. This gathering is a unique opportunity to strengthen international practices and make progress toward the goal of greater cultural understanding.
The opening session will include a taped video address from Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton as well as remarks from Deputy Secretary of State Thomas R. Nides and Ambassador Marshall. Individual plenary sessions will focus on hosting international conferences and summits, engaging the diplomatic corps, media and messaging, and ceremonies and traditions.

Confirmed plenary speakers include: David Adler, Founder and CEO, BizBash Media; José Andrés, James Beard Award-winning chef and owner of ThinkFoodGroup; Geoffrey Cowan, President of the Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands; Jill Dougherty, Foreign Affairs Correspondent, CNN; Mike Hammer, Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, Department of State; Carla Hargrove McGill, COO and President, Hargrove; Katty Kay, Anchor, BBC World News America; Jay Newton-Small, Washington Correspondent, TIME; Bryan Rafanelli, CEO, Rafanelli Events; Roxanne Roberts, Reliable Source Columnist, The Washington Post; Alec Ross, Senior Advisor for Innovation, Department of State; and Judy Woodruff, Senior Correspondent, PBS NewsHour.

The event will be held in the Loy Henderson Conference Room at the Department of State. The opening session will be open to the press. The plenary sessions will be closed press.