Description

Mark your calendar for the 2025 Bay Area-Silicon Valley Summit (formerly the Pacific Summit), the region’s premier business and economic forum. Join hundreds of top executives, elected officials, and thought leaders for an afternoon of insightful discussions on the most pressing issues facing our region’s economy and future. 

Launched in 1971, this exclusive event offers unparalleled networking opportunities with the Bay Area’s most influential decision-makers and innovators. Don’t miss this chance to gain valuable insights and forge meaningful connections that can help shape your business strategy in the coming year. Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, Sutter Health!

Agenda

Welcome (12:30-12:45 p.m.)
• Jim Wunderman, President and CEO, Bay Area Council
• Kristina Lawson, Chair, Bay Area Council; Managing Partner, Hanson Bridgett
• Grace Davis, Senior Vice President and Chief External Affairs Officer, Sutter Health

Can We Get Out of Our Own Way to Build the Things We Need? A Conversation with Abundance Author Derek Thompson (12:45-1:25 p.m.)
Moderation: Available
Introduction: Jennifer Hernandez, Partner, Holland & Knight

It’s created a national sensation for its unvarnished look at how liberal/progressive embrace of process, rules and regulations has made it almost impossible to build anything, from affordable housing to critical transportation and energy infrastructure. In his new book, Abundance, award-winning journalist and author Derek Thompson, along with co-author Ezra Klein, examines how an anti-growth Democrat establishment has crippled our ability to address our biggest challenges. And how it’s undermined confidence that Democrats can lead our nation forward. We’ll hear from Thompson on this failure and what Democrats can do to pull themselves out of the ditch they’ve driven themselves into.

Inside Trump World and What Makes MAGA Tick: A Conversation with Trump Senior Advisor Kellyanne Conway (1:25-2:05 p.m.)
Moderation: Michael Covarrubias, CEO, TMG Partners
Introduction: Available

President Donald Trump has exploded out of the gate of his second term with a staggering and dizzying array of directives, executive orders and other moves aimed at shrinking and dramatically remaking government, reordering global economic power dynamics, punishing opponents and isolating traditional allies. And he’s just getting started. We’ll hear from Kellyanne Conway, one of President Trump’s closest political advisors, on what motivates the President, what more we can expect and what makes MAGA tick.

Higher Education in a Time of Upheaval: A Conversation with Stanford University President Jonathan Levin and UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons (2:05-2:45 p.m.)
Moderation: Janet Reilly, Chair, Board of Regents, University of California
Introduction: Available

Two of the greatest universities on the planet call the Bay Area home and have served as miraculous fountainheads of world-changing discovery, economic opportunity and human progress. And they may be facing some of the most challenging times in their illustrious history, with an anti-intellectual fervor sweeping the nation and criticism of some universities as elite, liberally biased, privileged and out-of-touch with the problems of the world outside their ivory towers. We’ll hear from the top leaders of Stanford University and UC Berkeley about changing attitudes towards higher education, the importance of universities to our region, state and nation, the role of universities as thought leaders and what’s ahead for these bastions of learning and research.

Break (2:45-3:00 p.m.)

Are Our Big Cities Finally Turning the Corner? A Conversation with San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie (invited), San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan (invited), and Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee (invited) (3:00-3:45 p.m.)
Moderation: Kaiser Permanente
Introduction: Available

The Bay Area’s big city downtowns have experienced some of the most dramatic and traumatic changes imaginable since the pandemic turned the world upside down. Even before COVID, rampant homelessness, drugs and crime were already wreaking havoc and raising questions about the future of these great cities. But behind new leadership, there’s a growing sense of optimism that the green shoots of a new era of prosperity are appearing. We’ll talk with the mayors of San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland about their leadership approach, the challenges and obstacles confronting our biggest cities and their outlook for the putting the dark days behind us.

Special Ceremony (3:45-4:15 p.m.)

Can California Still Lead in a Time of Partisan Turmoil? A Conversation with Gov. Gavin Newsom (invited) (4:15-5:00 p.m.)
Moderation: Warner Thomas, CEO, Sutter Health
Introduction: Available

From technology and innovation to climate change and environmental protection, California for many decades has been an undisputed global leader. But the state’s own challenges with homelessness, affordability and government effectiveness have taken their toll. Along with the effects of an increasingly polarized political landscape that has seen a rise in right-wing populist power, California is facing major headwinds. We’ll hear from Gov. Newsom about where California leadership stands, his outlook for the state’s future and what some of the existential hand-wringing on the political left means for California and his future plans.

5-6 p.m.: Reception

Please consider sponsoring today at the highest level. The sooner you commit your sponsorship, the sooner we can begin to showcase your brand. And your sponsorship provides critical support enabling the work the Bay Area Council is doing to advance our great region, grow the economy and develop solutions to our biggest problems.

Space is limited and this event historically sells out.

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Individual tickets will be available closer to the event. For sponsorship opportunities and more information, please contact Senior Vice President Rufus Jeffris.