On Friday, June 13 at 10:30 a.m. ET, the Caribbean Initiative at the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center will host a conversation on the importance of building resilience in the face of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season and other natural disasters.
Last year’s hurricane season took a toll on the United States and the Caribbean alike, exposing their shared vulnerability and need to build resilience in the face of extreme weather events. With the 2025 hurricane season underway—and expected to be an “above-average” season—stronger coordination and cooperation between US cities and Caribbean countries are essential. This event focuses on deepening US-Caribbean partnerships to improve emergency response, strengthen infrastructure, and support long-term resilience across the region.
How can the Caribbean and United States work together to strengthen regional hurricane preparedness, resilience, and recovery? How can addressing shared concerns about natural disasters deepen collaboration between US and Caribbean stakeholders?
This conversation will be broadcast on YouTube, X, and Facebook. To join us virtually, please complete the registration form.
opening remarks

Adrienne Arsht
Executive Vice Chair, Atlantic Council; Founder, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center; Founder, Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative
Atlantic Council
Speakers

Amb. Sarah Ann-Lynch
Former Civilian Deputy to the Commander and Foreign Policy Advisor, United States Southern Command;
Former Ambassador to the Co-operative Republic of Guyana,
United States Department of State

Amb. Roger F. Nyhus
Former Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean
United States Department of State

Gillian Charles-Gollop
Executive Director, Corporate Banking & Sustainable Finance
CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank

Shenique Albury-Smith
Deputy Director of the Caribbean Division
The Nature Conservancy
moderated by

Wazim Mohammed Mowla
Fellow and Lead of the Caribbean Initiative,
Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center
Atlantic Council
*Additional speakers to be announced*
Agenda
10:30 a.m. – 10:35 a.m. | Opening remarks
Adrienne Arsht
Executive Vice Chair, Atlantic Council; Founder, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center; Founder, Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative
Atlantic Council
10:35 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.| Importance of US-Caribbean partnership for hurricane resilience
Amb. Sarah-Ann Lynch
Former Civilian Deputy to the Commander and Foreign Policy Advisor, United States Southern Command; Former Ambassador to the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, United States Department of State
Amb. Roger F. Nyhus
Former Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean
United States Department of State
Gillian Charles-Gollop
Executive Director, Corporate Banking & Sustainable Finance
CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank
Shenique Albury-Smith
Deputy Director of the Caribbean Division
The Nature Conservancy
Moderated by:
Wazim Mowla, Fellow and Lead of the Caribbean Initiative, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, Atlantic Council
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The Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center’s Caribbean Initiative raises awareness on key Caribbean Community (CARICOM) priorities with US and global stakeholders while deepening US engagement with the region around shared interests.
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