SOLD OUT: The Future of the U.S. and Taiwan: A Conversation with Congresswoman DelBene and Taiwanese Representative Hsiao on Trade, Technology, and Security
April 13th, 2023 5:00PM -6:30PM
This event is free for Council members and $10 for non-members.
From trade and investment to security and shared democratic values, Taiwan is an important partner to the United States in a region of critical significance to all aspects of U.S. policy, What are the biggest opportunities and challenges ahead in the bilateral relationship? Join us for a conversation with Congresswoman DelBene and Taiwanese Rep. to the U.S. Bi-khim Hsiao about the future of US- Taiwan relations. This discussion will be moderated by Jacqueline Miller, President and CEO of the World Affairs Council.
Make sure you come at 5 pm to enjoy a glass of wine and connect with other World Affairs Council enthusiasts!
About the Speakers
Congresswoman Suzan DelBene
Congresswoman Suzan DelBene represents Washington’s 1st Congressional District, which includes parts of King and Snohomish Counties. First sworn into the House of Representatives in November 2012, Suzan brings a unique voice to the nation’s capital with more than two decades of experience as a successful technology entrepreneur and business leader.
She serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, which is at the forefront of creating a more equitable tax code, health care reform, trade deals, and lasting retirement security. She serves on the Select Revenue Measures and Trade Subcommittees.
Suzan is Chair-emeritus of the forward-thinking New Democrat Coalition after chairing the coalition in the 117th Congress and is Co-chair of the Women's High-Tech Coalition, Kidney Caucus, and MedTech Caucus. She is also a member of the Pro-Choice Caucus.
Congresswoman DelBene earned her BA in biology from Reed College and started her career in immunology research before earning an MBA from the University of Washington and embarking on a successful career as a technology leader and innovator. Over more than two decades as an executive and entrepreneur, she helped start drugstore.com and served as CEO and President of Nimble Technology, a business software company based on technology developed at the University of Washington. Suzan also spent 12 years at Microsoft, most recently as corporate vice president of the company’s mobile communications business.
Before being elected to Congress, Suzan served as Director of the Washington State Department of Revenue. During her tenure, she proposed reforms to cut red tape for small businesses. She also enacted an innovative tax amnesty program that generated $345 million to help close the state’s budget gap while easing financial burdens on small businesses.
Suzan and her husband, Kurt DelBene, have two children, one grandchild, and a dog named Reily.
Bi-khim Hsiao, Taiwan's Representative to the United States
Representative Bi-khim Hsiao assumed her position as Taiwan’s Representative to the United States in July 2020, after serving as a Senior Adviser to the President at the National Security Council of Taiwan.
Representative Hsiao previously served four terms in the Taiwan Legislature, representing overseas citizens for the first term, and then the constituents of Taipei City and Hualien County through different terms. For many years she was ranking member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and previously the chair of the USA Caucus in the Legislative Yuan.
She began her political career serving as Director of the Democratic Progressive Party International Affairs Department. After Taiwan’s first democratic change of government in 2000, she became an Adviser in the Office of the President, and was international spokesperson for all DPP presidential elections between 2000 and 2012.
Representative Hsiao has taken on numerous leadership roles in international organizations. She was the Chair of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), an organization representing Asian democratic political parties. Between 2005 and 2012, she was elected Vice President on the Bureau of Liberal International (LI), a London-based global political party organization.
She is also a founding Board Member of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy.
Born in Kobe, Japan, Representative Hsiao grew up in Tainan, a city in southern Taiwan. She has an MA in Political Science from Columbia University in New York and BA in East Asian Studies from Oberlin College, Ohio.
The Boeing Company is an underwriting sponsor of all World Affairs Council Community Programs.