2024 Conference
Giraffe Camp
We proudly celebrate, support, and educate the whistleblower community. As part of our expanding mission, we now extend our efforts to embrace the families and children of whistleblowers, recognizing that they too play an important role in this journey. Please see our children's itinerary below, and know that families are welcome to join either schedule that best suits their needs.
Wednesday
September 11
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. - Library of Congress
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Remembering the Workers of September 11 While Protecting Today's Workforce
Lunch and Learn for congressional staff arranged by Senator Grassley's Office Capitol Visitor Center - Room: 215 (Limited Seating - Invite only)
Commemorate the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks at the Pentagon, World Trade Center, and the crash in PA. Hear stories of employees who survived that day and the legislative initiatives employees support to make speaking up at work safer.
Jacqueline Garrick, WoA Founder - Opening Remarks
Ed Schrank, USMC, Ret. National Anthem & Moment of Silence
Tom Devine, Workplace Legislation Overview
Captain Karlene Pettit, Retired, Delta, AIR 21
Francesca Graham, Walk the Talk Foundation, Military Whistleblowers
Jacqueline Garrick, WoA Legislation Overview Closing Remarks
Lunch is served
1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - Capitol Hill Tour (optional)
THURSDAY
September 12
8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. - Continental Breakfast
8:45 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. - Opening Ceremony
US Navy Band Woodwind Quintet & Army Continental Color Guard Honor Guard Company 4/3 BN
National Anthem - Ed Shrank
9:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. - Welcome Remarks
Jackie Garrick, WoA Founder
Introduce Whistle-words campaign
Senator Grassley remarks
9:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. - Keynote: Still Standing
Karlene Petitt, Retired Delta Pilot
9:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. - Whistleblower Laws and Legal Processes - Who Gets What?
Tom Devine, Government Accountability Project - Federal employees and their rights
Richard Condit & Cleveland Lawrence III, Mehri & Skalet - Private sector protections and rewards
Brian Knowles, International Human Rights Attorney, Boeing
Benjamin Calitri - Associate at Kohn, Kohn, & Colapinto
Gina Poserina - Whistleblower Attorney for Kreindler & Associates
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. - Box Lunch - WoA Business Meeting
Meet Dobby from Giraffe Conservation Foundation & Video
Giraffe Award Winners Announced
Announce Be A Giraffe Contest
1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Ashley N. Tease - Office of Special Counsel
1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. - US Government Resources, Referrals and Rightdoing
John Witty, House Whistleblower Ombuds Office - Working with elected officials
Ted Radway, VA OAWP
Jared Smith & Howard Arp, GAO
2:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. - Break
2:45 p.m.- 4:30p.m. - Overcoming Adversity - Restoration and Resilience
Jackie Garrick - Peer Support Skills
Mildred Mohammed - Facing Adversity in the Public Domain
Francesca Graham - Walk the Talk Foundation, Institutional Betrayal
Christian Greene - Family Resilience
Edward Schrank - Fighting for Benefits
4:30 p.m. - 5:00p.m. - Intro to National Whistleblower Day Recognition
5:00 - 6:00pm - Rose Garden Advocacy Walk to the White House Fence (Live Stream)
FRIDAY
September 13
7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. - Breakfast Day 2 Welcome
8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. - Global Imperative - Whistleblower Rights & Protections
Dr. Jyoti Kukreja, India
Dr. Shweta Mehrotra, India
Louise Portas, UNODC, Whistleblower Resolution
Mr.Vladimir Radomirovic, Serbia
Narayan Adhikari, Accountability Lab - Nepal
Oksana Bronevytska, Foundation for Institutional Development, Liviv, Ukraine
Chido Unumah - Africa
Pamela Forward - President of Whistleblowing Canada Research Society
Jorge R. Martínez Rivera- Whistleblower Chile
Carlos Jaico, Founder/CEO, Centurum Iustitia, Peru
Mr. Aris Danikas, Liberty of Speech, Greece
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Box Lunch Meeting
WPA Certification - Christian Greene
Documentary Preview Rebekah Jones and Josh Fox
12:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. - Staying Calm and Grounded While Doing the Right Thing
Ted Blickwedel - Author | Whistleblower | Former VA VET Center Counselor | LICSW, MSW, M.Ed. | LtCol, USMC, Retired
Dr. Bob Bray - LCSW, PhD - Psy, Thought Field Therapy Expert