Conference Speakers

Opening Speaker
Lauren Fortgang, Co-Founder and Director of Never Again Coalition

Lauren Fortgang has spent over fifteen years working on human rights issues, including conflict and atrocity prevention. She is the Co-Founder and Director of Never Again Coalition (NAC), and also oversees policy, community programming and partnerships for NAC in both the US and abroad. Never Again Coalition seeks to prevent and end mass atrocities by building a better understanding of how they occur. They work to repair harm and affect change to prevent further mass atrocities in our countries of focus: Sudan, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burma and Bangladesh.

Through her work, Lauren is part of the Prevention and Protection Working Group and on World Oregon's Program Advisory Committee. In addition to her work with the Never Again Coalition, she is also co-owner of Le Pigeon and Canard restaurants in Portland, Oregon. And prior to her work with NAC, she was a professional pastry chef for over a decade.

Closing Speaker
Dara Yin, US Department of State Diplomat in Residence - Northwest (Alaska, Oregon, Washington)

Dara Yin is a Foreign Service Officer with nearly 20 years of experience at the U.S. Department of State, including his first three years as an IT Specialist. Dara’s latest assignment was in Warsaw, Poland.  In Warsaw, he led a team working on supporting Ukraine and refugees from Ukraine.  Dara also coordinated U.S. efforts to promote democratic values, human rights, and social inclusion of minority groups.  His other foreign assignments include Vietnam, Colombia, India, and North Macedonia.   

Dara grew up in Beaverton, Oregon.  He attended Portland State University and George Washington University.  Before joining the Department of State, he worked for Multnomah County in Oregon as an applications developer.  After high school, Dara served in the U.S. Army at Fort Lewis, Washington.  He is married to another Foreign Service Officer and has three children.