California recently led a joint trade mission to Ukraine and Poland in partnership with the State of Washington. The trade mission emphasized practical support for small U.S. exporters while strengthening state-to-state and people-to-people relationships, highlighting the growing role of subnational diplomacy in international engagement. Working alongside federal and international partners, California and Washington demonstrated how state governments can contribute constructively to transatlantic cooperation. 

Join the Pacific Council on Tuesday, February 3, at 8 am PT to explore key takeaways from the mission and what they signal for future state-led engagement in the region. Attendees will hear from Emily Desai, Chief Deputy Director, California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, The Honorable Kushneruk Dmytro, Consul General of Ukraine in San Francisco, and Patricia Utterback, International Trade and Investment Representative for Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India, California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). 

Why it’s important:

• California actively engages in subnational diplomacy in areas including climate strategy, trade, and cultural exchange. 
• Subnational investment in the region allows California to play a role in supporting Ukraine’s rebuilding needs and Poland’s modernization efforts. 

Please send questions in advance to events@pacificcouncil.org.

To register for this webinar, visit the Zoom Registration Page.

Guest Speaker

Emily Desai was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to serve as the Chief Deputy Director at the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). Under the direction of the GO-Biz Director, Emily oversees all aspects of the organization, which is responsible for the state’s economic strategy. Prior to her time at GO-Biz, Emily served the U.S. Congress as a Senior Project Manager for international affairs, trade, and national security at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, where she led high-impact reports, testimonies, and briefings for Congressional leaders to act on emerging regulatory challenges. Emily was appointed by Secretary Gina Raimondo to serve on the U.S. Investment Advisory Council and appointed by Ambassador Katherine Tai to serve on the Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. She is a 2024 U.S. Presidential Leadership Scholar.

Emily grew up in Arizona and graduated summa cum laude and with honors from the University of Arizona. She has a Master’s in Public Policy from U.C. Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy.

Guest Speaker

The Honorable Kushneruk Dmytro is the Consul General of Ukraine in San Francisco. His consular district includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Dmytro was born on January 16, 1983, in Odesa, Ukraine. He graduated and received his master's degree in international law from the Institute of International Relations of Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University and from Odessa National Law Academy.  

Mr. Kushneruk joined the diplomatic service in 2006, having worked at different posts at the President’s Office. In 2012-2014, Mr.Kushneruk was posted as Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations in New York. In 2014-2020, Mr.Kushneruk served as Deputy Chief of Protocol to the President of Ukraine. Dmytro Kushneruk was appointed Consul General of Ukraine in San Francisco in July 2020.

Mr. Kushneruk holds the diplomatic rank of Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Envoy of the First class. He is married and has two children.

Guest Speaker & Moderator

Patricia (Tricia) Utterback serves as the International Trade and Investment Representative for Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India at the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). She advances California’s global economic ties by supporting export opportunities for California companies and attracting foreign direct investment to the state. Tricia brings nearly a decade of international trade and government experience, including roles in global market entry consulting and state-level economic and emergency coordination. She holds a B.A. from the University of California, San Diego, and an M.Sc. in Diplomacy, Business, and Trade, with distinction from Loughborough University, London.

 

To register for this webinar, visit the Zoom Registration Page.