A practical, transatlantic experience for public affairs professionals navigating how artificial intelligence and emerging technology are changing the way organizations advocate, communicate and make decisions. Washington, D.C. registration for the December 3 FutureProof.PA program.
Artificial intelligence is changing more than the tools public affairs professionals use. It is reshaping how teams monitor policy, understand stakeholders, develop strategy and demonstrate value across their organizations.
FutureProof.PA brings together practitioners from the United States and Europe to examine what these changes mean for the profession and how public affairs teams can respond with greater confidence, creativity and responsibility.
Not just another theoretical AI conference, FutureProof.PA is a working laboratory where participants can examine real-world applications, learn from organizations already adapting and build a practical roadmap for their teams.
Who It Is For
Built for people turning possibility into practice.
FutureProof.PA is designed for public affairs professionals responsible for helping their teams understand, evaluate and implement new technologies. It will bring together practitioners working across government affairs, advocacy, grassroots engagement, communications, policy and political affairs.
Participants will represent corporations, associations, nonprofits, consulting firms, agencies and technology providers from both sides of the Atlantic.
Whether you're well along your AI journey or just beginning to explore its possibilities, you'll gain practical insights and candid peer perspectives on adopting AI responsibly and effectively.
Leaders from these organizations are preparing to attend
MicrosoftGoogle Public PolicyAmazon PolicyMeta Public AffairsIBM Government RelationsCisco Government AffairsThoughtworksDeloitteAccentureMcKinsey & CompanyBCGMicrosoftGoogle Public PolicyAmazon PolicyMeta Public AffairsIBM Government RelationsCisco Government AffairsThoughtworksDeloitteAccentureMcKinsey & CompanyBCG
Featured voices
The people shaping what comes next.
This event will bring together public affairs leaders, policy experts, strategic innovators and technology practitioners who are actively navigating AI-driven change.
Featured voices will share what their organizations are testing, where they are finding value and what they have learned about implementation, governance and risk. Together, they will help translate rapid technological change into practical considerations for public affairs teams.
Joshua CanterFounder, Above Public Affairs
Emily M. DickensChief Administrative Officer, SHRM
Kelly Monahan, Ph.D.Future of Work & AI Advisor, Keynote Speaker, Best-Selling Author
Michael O’BrienVP, Global Public Affairs, Business Software Alliance
Chris PerryFounder, CEO, Andus Labs
Jefferson StovallFounder, Captain Tomorrow
The agenda
One global conversation. Two rooms. A day built for action.
FutureProof.PA will take place simultaneously in Washington, D.C. and Brussels, creating a shared transatlantic experience with perspectives from both markets.
Select sessions will connect the two locations in real time, while regional discussions, workshops and networking will allow participants to explore the issues most relevant to their own operating environments.
The day will progress from understanding the larger shift to examining practical applications and ultimately to helping participants determine what comes next for their teams.
December 3, 2026 · Washington, D.C.
Understanding AI's Impact on Public Affairs
All agenda times are listed in East Coast time (EST).
Future Proof.PA is not an introduction to generative AI, a parade of tools or a conference about writing faster. It is a working session on how AI is changing public affairs strategy, operations, talent and the value of human expertise.
9:00–9:45 am
Shared DC-Brussels Opening Session
Public Affairs in an Agentic and Fragmented World
Speaker: Chris Perry, Founder, CEO, Andus Labs
AI is moving quickly from a tool people use on individual tasks to systems capable of taking on more complex work with greater autonomy. Our opening keynote will explore what these advances mean for organizations, professionals and the future of public affairs, including how leaders can separate meaningful change from the hype and make smart decisions amid rapid technological development.
9:45–10:30 am
Shared DC-Brussels General Session
The Transatlantic AI Playbook for Public Affairs
For global organizations, there is no single AI operating environment. U.S. and European perspectives come together to examine how organizations navigate different rules and expectations. We’ll also address where global teams can share AI capabilities and knowledge rather than recreating the same solutions in every market.
10:30–10:45 am
Networking Break
10:45–11:45 am
Applied Round One: Demonstrations
Lab A: From Prompt to Workflow to Agent
Speaker: Joshua Canter, Founder, Above Public Affairs
See how a recurring public affairs task evolves from a one-off prompt into a more structured and automated process. Then apply the same progression to your own work to identify where automation adds value and which tasks would benefit from a reusable workflow or AI agent.
Lab B: Turn Your Documents into an AI Knowledge Resource
Speaker: Michael O’Brien, VP, Global Public Affairs, Business Software Alliance
Public affairs teams accumulate years of valuable institutional knowledge, much of it scattered across documents that are difficult to search or connect. Learn how to turn a collection of policy positions, advocacy materials, research and meeting notes into an AI knowledge resource that makes material more accessible while keeping answers grounded in trusted sources.
11:45 am–12:45 pm
Lunch Session
Future Forward: What's Next in AI for Public Affairs
AI is evolving quickly, and so are the tools, capabilities and choices available to public affairs teams. In a 20-minute lightning round, leaders working at the intersection of AI and public affairs technology will explore emerging capabilities, the realities of implementation and where the field is headed. The lightning round will be followed by hosted table discussions, giving attendees the rest of the lunch hour to continue the conversation in smaller groups.
12:45–1:30 pm
General Session
From Pilot to Practice: How AI Adoption Really Happens
Three public affairs teams. Three real implementation stories. Speakers will unpack what worked, what did not, and what they wish they had known before they started.
1:30–1:45 pm
Networking Break
1:45–2:45 pm
Applied Round Two: Decision Clinics
Lab A: Build, Buy or Customize?
Speaker: Jefferson Stovall, Founder, Captain Tomorrow
Not every AI problem needs a new product or a custom build. But how do you avoid unnecessary technology purchases and overengineered solutions? Working through a realistic use case, participants will weigh several possible paths and recommend the approach they think the organization should take.
Lab B: Responsible AI in Practice
Responsible AI is straightforward in principle and much harder in practice. We’ll walk through how to tackle public affairs scenarios in which broad AI policies don’t provide an obvious answer, then identify where sensible guardrails should be drawn.
2:45–3:00 pm
Networking Break
3:00–4:00 pm
Applied Round Three: Case Workshops
Lab A: Strategic Planning Simulation
Should you outsource your strategic planning to AI? Probably not, but AI can help you make it better. Learn how to use it to pressure-test an advocacy strategy, looking for assumptions, blind spots and vulnerabilities that deserve closer examination. We’ll also demonstrate why using AI well is as much about evaluating its advice as it is generating content.
Lab B: From AI Idea to Adoption
Speaker: Kelly Monahan, Ph.D., Future of Work & AI Advisor, Keynote Speaker, Best-Selling Author
If your most promising AI projects never get far enough to prove whether they work, you might have a “failure to launch” problem. This session will explore what it takes to get a credible pilot off the ground when the challenge is not the technology, but securing the internal support and evidence needed to move forward.
4:00–4:15 pm
Networking Break
4:15–5:00 pm
General Session
How AI Will Reshape the Public Affairs Team
Speaker: Emily M. Dickens, Chief Administrative Officer at SHRM
As AI takes on more routine knowledge work, the roles and skills that distinguish public affairs professionals will need to evolve. Our closing panel will consider the impact on team structure, career development and leadership, as well as the factors that make the human advocate or communicator more important than ever.
5:00–6:30 pm
Evening Reception
Tentative agenda subject to changes
What You Will Take Away
Leave with a clearer path forward.
FutureProof.PA is designed to help participants return to their organizations better prepared to evaluate opportunities, manage risks and lead through continued change.
Attendees will leave with:
A stronger understanding of how AI is affecting modern public affairs
Practical examples from organizations implementing new technology
Tools and frameworks that can be adapted to their work
Greater confidence evaluating platforms, vendors and potential use cases
New perspectives from practitioners in the U.S. and Europe
A peer network for continued learning and exchange
Most importantly, participants will leave prepared to approach AI with curiosity and sound judgment, not fear.
Location
Washington, D.C.
The Washington experience will bring together public affairs practitioners for a full day of shared learning, hands-on exploration and transatlantic conversation.
Location: AT&T Forum 601 New Jersey Ave NW Washington, D.C. 20001
Join the people preparing public affairs for what comes next.
FutureProof.PA is designed for professionals who are actively shaping, modernizing or supporting public affairs functions. To create a focused learning environment and ensure strong alignment among participants, attendance is application-based.
Complete the short application with information about your role, organization and interest in the program. The Public Affairs Council team will review submissions based on the intended audience, program fit and available capacity. Selected applicants will receive instructions for completing registration.
Members
$699
Non Members
$899
Submitting an application does not guarantee attendance.
This event will be held simultaneously in Washington, D.C. (US) and Brussels (Belgium). You can register for your preferred location or attend virtually if a hybrid option is available.
Nonmembers
Join the Public Affairs Council today and save by registering at the member rate. Contact our membership team for information about joining. Questions? Contact us at 202.787.5950.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation deadline for full refund is November 15. Cancellations received between November 16 and November 26 will be charged a $200 administrative fee. Cancellations received after November 27 will receive a 50% refund. No refunds or credits will be granted after December 1.
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