The Microsoft Government Leaders Forum – Americas

As a way of getting in touch with public, private and non-profit sector that feels committed to the use of ICT in their operations, and as an opportunity for networking and discussion, Microsoft organizes on a yearly basis The Microsoft Government Leaders Forum – Americas.

This year, the Forum took place on 16, 17 and 18 May, in Redmond, Washington.
The Global Foundation for Democracy and Development participated for the first time and was represented by Ms. Natasha Despotovich, Executive Director in the U.S.A.

Among presenters were widely acknowledge personalities as Mr. Brian Mulroney, Former Prime Minister of Canada; Dr. Jerzy Szeremeta, Chief, Knowledge Management Branch, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations; Dr. Jerry Mechling, Professor, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard
University, as well as Steve Ballmer, Chief Executive Officer, Microsoft Corporation; Maggie Wilderotter, Senior Vice President, World Wide Public Sector, Microsoft Corporation, and, of course, Bill Gates, Chairman and Chief Software Architect, Microsoft Corporation.

Rafael Pérez Colon, Regional Manager Government Relations, Microsoft Latin America; Natasha Despotovich, Executive Director, GFDD; David Naranjo, Microsoft; Amrose Ramsahai, General Manageer, Microsoft Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic; Luis Carlos Stoute – Manager for Public Sector, Microsoft Central America and the Caribbean

The panels and discussion groups
revolved around three themes: Socio-Economic Development, Governance and Education. Three working groups led by Dr. Jerzy Szeremeta, Dr. Jerry Mechling and Dr. Robert Mittman simultaneously addressed the three topics. At the end of the last conference day, the groups produced papers that comprised the participants’ positions, concerns and future strategy commitments.

The Forum is particularly valuable as a scenario for the exchange of experiences and a
platform for the replication of best experiences. Practical cases are studied, daily operation challenges are shared, successful solutions are enforced, and permanent collaboration contacts established.

The Global Foundation for Democracy and Development will work closely with Microsoft to support the e-government program in the Dominican Republic, to boost the Microsoft’s Partners in Learning initiative, as well as to implement Unlimited Potential
projects in the country.