Risk, Danger, and How we see Africa: How do we get it right?

Maj. Gen. (Ret) Jami Shawley

Topic: Risk, Danger, and How we see Africa: How do we get it right?
Date: WEDNESDAY, April 22, 2026
Place: Irondequoit Country Club: 4045 East Ave. [14618]
Time: 6:00 Cocktails; 7:00 Dinner; 8:00 Speaker Presentation followed by Q and A
Cost: $60 per person ($62 if paying online), buffet style. Cash Bar
Dinner: Buffet style – 2 protein options, 1 vegetarian option

***Registration Policy: For reservations, please email MemberServices@WACROC.org and remit payment ($60/pp) to: WACR, PO Box 25462, Rochester, NY 14625 OR
go to Meeting Registration – World Affairs Council of Rochester (wacroc.org) and register on-line ($62/pp to cover bank fees) no later than April 15, 2026..

Since the mid-20th-century African independence movements, Americans have tried to understand how to interact with sovereign African nations: where to travel as tourists, what to explore for research, how to be helpful through charities and NGOs, and when to intervene in security struggles and political upheaval. Risk and reward, return on investment, and responsible tourism have proven difficult to assess, given the dire potential consequences of getting it terribly wrong. Yet, for decades, many have used a “There be dragons” medieval approach — we don’t know much about it, so it must be very dangerous. As it turns out, Africa is largely knowable, and there are more helpful ways to navigate the unknown. We’ll discuss some of the mystery of Africa as it rises in power, opportunity, and political influence, and how U.S. government and private engagements change the math, making it less mysterious, more understandable, and giving you tools to put your resources into managing real risks rather than imagined ones.

Jami Shawley is an experienced executive leader with expertise across U.S. government defense, national security, foreign policy, infrastructure, and development sectors. Major General Shawley recently retired from the U.S. Army, having most recently served in both Defense Policy and as the Acting Senior Director for Africa Policy at the National Security Council, following an extended tenure as the Commanding General of the U.S. Combined Joint Task Force in the Horn of Africa, headquartered in Djibouti. MG Shawley maintains strong ties to many security communities across Africa and is a strategic advisor to multiple enterprises building out investments and operations across the continent. She leverages years of experience as a principal decision-maker in high-risk, complex, and ambiguous environments and provides rare insight into the risk calculus of private enterprises, government security, international development and nongovernmental organizations, and private security stakeholders.

In addition to strategic and risk advisory roles, MG Shawley currently guest lectures at George Washington University in the National Security Studies Program, with Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, and as a Senior Fellow with the Joint Forces Staff College. She serves as a private and nonprofit board member, strategic advisor, corporate leadership development faculty member, keynote speaker, and executive consultant.