Organized by PA530 Master of Public Administration (MPA) candidates under the guidance of Ronald Aguon, Assistant Professor of Public Administration, with the support of Dr. Roseann Jones, Dean of SBPA and Dr. Ron McNinch, Assistant Professor of Public Administration.
 
The conference arrives at a pivotal moment for the region. The theme, Peacebuilding in the Indo-Pacific: Exploring Pathways to Achieving & Sustaining Peace & Avoiding Conflict, reflects a commitment to honoring cultural narratives while confronting urgent geopolitical realities.
 
With Guam, the Philippines, South Korea, and Japan occupying strategic positions in the Indo-Pacific, the conference will examine rising tensions surrounding Taiwan’s sovereignty and the broader need for visionary leadership and regional cooperation.
 
Acting Governor Joshua Tenorio will deliver opening remarks.
 
Keynote Address
The keynote will be delivered live online on behalf of General Edward M. Año, National Security Adviser and Director-General of the National Security Council (NSC) of the Philippines, by Major General Cornelio H. Valencia, Jr., Assistant Director General for Planning and Knowledge Management Service and newly appointed NSC Spokesperson.
 
His address, “Peace and Partnership in the Indo-Pacific: A Regional Outlook and Strategic Leadership in Navigating Regional Tensions,” will offer insights into the evolving security landscape and the importance of regional collaboration.

Featured Speakers

• Dr. Jonathan E. Malaya, Special Adviser to the NSC, Office of the President of the Philippines

  Topic: “The Role of Education, Dialogue, and Intergenerational Mentorship in Cultivating Peace as a Lived Practice”

• Dr. Chung Chieh, Assistant Professor, Graduate Institute of International Affairs and Strategic Studies, Taipei, Taiwan

  Topic: “The Economic, Political, Environmental, and Human Impact of Military Conflict in the Indo-Pacific”

Panel Discussions
Two panel sessions will explore current geopolitical tensions and pathways to sustainable peace:

Panel 1: Education, Policy, and Civic Engagement in Sustaining Peaceful Societies

• Dr. Robert Underwood, UOG President Emeritus
• Speaker Frank F. Blas, Jr., 38th Guam Legislature
• Dr. Ansito Walter, Associate Professor of Public Administration

• Nicole A. Calvo, Development and Program Manager, Pacific Historic Parks

Panel 2: Leadership, Resilience, and the Real Costs of Conflict in the Indo-Pacific

• Congressman James Moylan
• Dr. Roseann Jones, Dean, UOG School of Business and Public Administration
• Attorney Robert Gregory Perez Cruz
• Chirag Bhojwani, Interim Director, UOG Regional Center for Public Policy
• Robert Celestial, President, Pacific Association for Radiation Survivors

Open Invitation
The Indo-Pacific Peace Conference is open to the public and welcomes scholars, government leaders, students, survivors, educators, peacebuilders, policymakers, military representatives, private citizens, and other stakeholders committed to fostering peace in the region.