11. Women and APEC: Interview with Ms. Karen Knudsen - UHERO

APEC - WOMEN AND THE ECONOMY
Karen Knudsen
UHERO
This article is part of a series featuring
APEC experts, available online at
www.uhero.hawaii.edu/74
Interview with Karen Knudsen,
Director, Office of External Affairs,
East-West Center
What was your involvement in
getting APEC to Hawai‘i?
The President of the East-West
Center Charles Morrison attended
the APEC meeting in Lima, Peru as
an official observer. Having attended
many past APEC meetings as an
official with the Pacific Economic
Cooperation Council (PECC) he
returned to Hawai‘i with the idea
that Honolulu would be the ideal
location when the United States
hosted APEC in 2011.
With Dr. Morrison at the helm,
I was a member of a small East-
West Center team that worked with
members of the Hawai‘i Tourism
Authority, and the offices of the
Governor and Mayor to develop
the proposal.
From the beginning, we knew we
had to position Hawai‘i to make
it stand out as the ideal location
to hold such a prestigious event.
We needed a strong proposal. Being
President Obama’s hometown
was not enough. We had to “sell”
Hawai‘i on its own merit. The decision
makers from Washington,
D.C. were very impressed with the
proposal and what Hawai‘i had to
offer.
Ms. Knudsen is the Director of the Office of External
Affairs at the East-West Center.
ABOUT MS. KNUDSEN
Karen Knudsen directs the East-
West Center’s News and Information
operations, Arts Program,
Associates (alumni) Office, program
representatives in the region,
EWC briefings for government
officials (local, national and international),
and community and
public relations. She was elected in
2006 to a fifth four-year term on
the Hawai‘i State Board of Education
(BOE) and currently serves as
first vice chair of the BOE.
After the announcement was
made that Honolulu would host
APEC, the Hawai‘i Host Committee
was formed and community
leaders from all professions have
worked hard over the past two
years to ensure the success of APEC
2011.
What were some of the other
potential locations?
Los Angeles, San Fransico, and
Chicago, Illinois were initially
under consideration. Selecting
Hawai‘i, I believe, was the right
She has worked in public affairs
at the Hawai‘i State Judiciary and
in public relations at Milici Valenti
Ng Pak DDB Needham Advertising.
She is a former Pacific area
specialist with the Pacific and
Asian Affairs Council and outreach
coordinator for the University
of Hawaii’s Center for Pacific
Islands Studies. She was a Peace
Corps volunteer in Chuuk, Federated
States of Micronesia. She
holds an M.A. in Pacific Islands
Studies from the University of
Hawai‘i.
Ms. Knudsen with APEC Interns, Nicole Cacal
(left) and Kathy Aldinger (right).
choice. Hawai‘i is located at the
very center of the 21 economies
of APEC. Hawaii’s multi-cultural
population and geographic location
in addition to the strong proposal
contributed to its selection as the
site for APEC 2011.
Have you met the President or
First Lady?
No, not directly, but I have met
the former First Lady, Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton. I met her
daughter Chelsea, too.
Interview conducted by Kathy L. Aldinger and Nicole Cacal, UH Mānoa APEC Interns, and does not necessarily reflect the views of UHERO or the University of Hawai‘i.

During the APEC Women and the
Economy Summit (WES) held in
San Francisco this past September,
Secretary Clinton said that by
increasing women’s participation
in the economy and enhancing
their efficiency and productivity,
we can have a dramatic impact on
the competitiveness and growth
of our economies. What are your
thoughts on this and what are
some of the women’s issues that
you know will be addressed or
that you would like to be addressed
during the APEC Summit?
I agree with Secretary Clinton
that women need access to education
and good health care. When
women are secure economically,
their children are well fed and
both mother and child are healthy.
When women know their children
are healthy and safe they are able to
focus their attention on contributing
to society. How can you move
forward when you’re concerned
about your child’s health and wellbeing?
And of course, both sons
and daughters need equal access to
a quality education.
What is your feedback about how
APEC has dealt with women’s issues?
APEC touches on topics that are
concern to women, as well as men.
Climate change, economic issues,
etc., are all issues that affect the
quality of life for women and their
families.
APEC provides a venue for dialogue
and informal discussion in
addition to the formal meetings. In
addition, there are meetings that
happen throughout the year with
the most constructive dialogue that
The East-West Center Arts Program presents
Through Her Eyes:
Ann Dunham’s Field Work in Indonesia
The East-West Center Arts Program is presenting an exhibit highlighting
the work of S. Ann Dunham (1942-1995) in recognition for her work in
the field of economic anthropology which focused on the craft industries
in village Indonesia. Dunham’s anthropological research helped to shape
policies set by the institutions she worked with in Asia, including the Ford
Foundation, USAID, the Asian Development Bank, and BRI, the oldest
bank in Indonesia.
The exhibit is open to the public now to January 8, 2012 at the EWC Gallery
located in John A. Burns Hall (corner of Dole St & East-West Rd.).
The gallery is open
weekdays from 8
a.m. to 5 p.m, Sundays
from noon to 4
p.m., and are closed
on Saturdays and
holidays. For more
information visit:
Ann Dunham with a group of villagers from Lombok Island.
Information regarding the exhibit and photo retrieved from http://arts.eastwestcenter.org/index.html
http://arts.eastwestcenter.org/.
address food safety, health issues,
education, and environmental issues,
etc. All of these relate to or
affect women and their children.
Have you ever visited any of the
APEC economies?
Yes, I have traveled to many of
the APEC economies. Specifically,
I have travelled to Japan, China,
Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia,
Korea, Indonesia, Thailand,
Singapore, Mexico, and Canada.
We see that the East West Center
Gallery is featuring the work of
Ann Dunham. What can you tell
us about Ann Dunham and her
daughter Maya Soetoro-Ng?
We are very proud of the exhibit
because Ann Dunham’s work as an
anthropologist in Indonesia as well
as her work in micro-finance, specifically
her support of women. Her
daughter, Maya helped guide the
exhibition by providing information
about her experience growing
up in Indonesia with her mother.
She has given several lectures about
her mother’s work at the gallery.
Ann Dunham got her Masters
and Ph.D. through the East-West
Scholarship Program. Her dissertation
was 1000 pages and is available
to read at Hamilton Library. Barack
Obama, Sr. received his Masters
through the East-West Scholarship,
as did Lolo Soetoro, Maya’s father.
Maya is an education consultant at
the East-West Center. As you can
see, the East-West Center and the
University of Hawai‘i at Manoa are
very proud of that family.
Maya has written a lovely children’s
book, Ladder to the Moon,
and she is a delightful woman and
mother.
Interview conducted by Kathy L. Aldinger and Nicole Cacal, UH Mānoa APEC Interns, and does not necessarily reflect the views of UHERO or the University of Hawai‘i.