The Best Government Conferences of 2019 [UPDATED]

This is the fifth year we’ve made this list for you. You’ll find brand new trainings, symposia, summits, forums, expos, seminars, workshops, conventions, and conferences worth checking out as well as established events that might be new to you. If you work in federal, state, or local government, you’ll discover events you cannot do without.

This list of the best government conferences will help you plan ahead and advocate for those precious professional development dollars. We’ve dug deep to find the dates for as many events as we can to help you have a great 2019. (For the best conferences of 2020, check out our latest post here!)

As a bonus for the social media savvy, the listings include event hashtags, when available, for those who can’t attend but want to participate in the virtual conversations.

January

National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) National Conference and Global Forum
January 7 – 10, 2019 | Washington, D.C. | #NCSE2019
The NSCE conference explores the opportunities and challenges for sustainability at the convergence of built, natural, social, and cyber infrastructure. More than 1,000 leaders in science, technology, government, business, civil society, and education gather to consider cutting-edge issues, explore new technology and best practices, identify research priorities, and recommend solutions for policy and practice.

Association of Government Accountants (AGA) Financial Systems Summit (FSS)
January 10, 2019 | Washington, D.C. or virtual | #FSS2019
The FSS unites federal financial managers and private sector executives to discuss the near-term and future prospects of federal financial management systems in a budget-constrained environment. The summit will provide new insights into the burgeoning federal financial systems modernization strategy over the coming decade and beyond.

Esri Federal GIS Conference
January 29 – 30, 2019 | Washington, D.C. | #FedGIS
The Esri Federal GIS Conference provides government professionals insight to help navigate their missions and ultimately save time and money. Attendees learn more about products, solutions, and services related to ArcGIS software that can improve collaboration, deliver better services, and meet current mandates. The conference is free for federal government and NGO personnel. Also check out the Esri User Conference (EsriUC).

February

AcademyHealth National Health Policy Conference (NHPC)
February 4 – 5, 2019 | Washington, D.C. | #NHPC19
At the NHPC, leading health care decision makers and policy experts use the latest evidence to inform the most critical issues and immediate policy priorities in United States health care. This event puts policy insights and perspectives from diverse sectors of health and health care decision-making into context with the latest evidence and examples from science and practice.

Federal Networks Conference
February 25 – 26, 2019 | Washington, D.C.
This conference brings together senior decisionmakers from defense and civil agencies to share their latest plans for how they will design, purchase, and operate their networks, as well as the IT services that these networks enable and deliver.

Public Sector CIO Academy: California
February 25 – 26, 2019 | Sacramento, CA | #govtechlive
If you can score a spot at this invitation-only event, you’ll meet C-level professionals addressing the most important policy, management, and leadership issues surrounding the future of digital government and the role of the public sector CIO in the State of California. Developed by and for government by Government Technology, which hosts other events around the country.

Association of Government Accountants (AGA) National Leadership Training (NLT)
February 27–28, 2019 | Washington, D.C. or virtual
The NLT provides developing and training to help government financial professionals excel as leaders in today’s competitive market. It’s an opportunity to share best practices, find solutions to shared challenges, network with your peers, and learn from the top financial management leaders and industry experts.

March

International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE)
March 4 – 8, 2019 | Las Vegas, NV | #IWCE2019
IWCE is a venue for communications technology professionals in the working world. It features hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the latest products and trends in the industry. Attendees are a diverse group of industry professionals including government and military, public safety (law enforcement, fire service, emergency medical and 911), utility, transportation, and business enterprise.

RSA Conference
March 4 – 8, 2019 | San Francisco, CA | #RSAC
RSA Conference is a cybersecurity event that brings together professionals from all sides of the field—CISOs to security engineers—to give attendees the perspectives and insights needed to conquer looming risks and leave hackers in the dust. Over five days, attendees have access to comprehensive educational sessions as well as the chance to network and meet with other professionals in the field.

American Association for Budget & Program Analysis Spring Symposium
March 6, 2019 | Washington, D.C.
Government work is good work even when the funding is uncertain and the mission is huge. AABPA take a fresh look at what public sector employees do and why they do it. Speakers and panels explore the challenges of public service and the important role of budget and program analysis in government decisions. AABPA also holds a symposium in the fall.

American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) Annual Conference
March 7 – 12, 2019 | Washington, D.C. | #ASPA2019
The ASPA Conference showcases state-of-the-art practices used in modern public and nonprofit administration while exploring new approaches and opportunities for continued innovation. It brings together public administrators, scholars, and students from across the discipline.

South by Southwest (SXSW)
March 8 – 17, 2019 | Austin, TX | #SXSW
SXSW is a series of conferences and festivals that offer a convergence of original music, independent films, and emerging technologies. SXSW Interactive features a government and politics track that focuses on areas related to government policy on all levels as well as privacy issues on both the personal and corporate level. Specific topics include policy and civic engagement on the local, state, and federal level; the relationship between government and technology; big data tracking; and surveillance concerns.

Federal Managers Association (FMA) National Convention and Management Training Seminar
March 10 – 13, 2019 | Alexandria, VA
Federal Managers Association (FMA) advocates excellence in public service through effective management and professionalism. The national convention provides an opportunity to discuss how FMA can promote excellence in the federal government.

National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) Annual Conference
March 11 – 13, 2019 | Washington, D.C. | #JustEconomy
The NCRC conference gathers community nonprofits, policymakers, government officials, small businesses, media, and academia to focus on how we can create a more just economic framework to improve the lives of American families, our workers, our older adults, our children, and our environment, while strengthening global access to credit and capital.

ACT-IAC Acquisition Excellence
March 12, 2019 | Washington, D.C. | #AE2019
At Acquisition Excellence attendees discover the latest developments and best practices on acquisition and get tangible strategies for procurement success.

National Environmental Justice Conference and Training Program
March 13 – 15, 2019 | Washington, D.C. | #nejc2019
Three days of interactive training sessions showcase voices of experience, research, discussions, and thought-provoking dialogue. The program addresses the needs and challenges of communities, governments, municipalities, tribes, and others with an interest in environmental justice.

Nonprofit Technology Conference (NTC)
March 13 – 15, 2019 | Portland, OR | #19NTC
The Nonprofit Technology Conference (NTC), hosted by the Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN), is the nonprofit sector’s signature technology event. It assembles thousands of the best and brightest nonprofit and public sector professionals from around the world. Together, they collaborate, innovate, and discover new ways to spark change with technology.

Climate Leadership Conference
March 20 – 22, 2019 | Baltimore, MD | #TheCLC
The Climate Leadership Conference convenes a global audience of climate, energy, and sustainability professionals to address climate change through policy, innovation, and business solutions. It is an opportunity to collaborate with peers, learn from experts, and together, navigate the latest climate and energy solutions.

The AIIM Conference
March 26 – 28, 2019 | San Diego, CA | #AIIM19
Join 600 information professionals from across the globe and discover the best techniques for managing your organization’s information from the world’s top experts.

Federal Information Systems Security Educators Association (FISSEA) Conference
March 27 – 28, 2019 | Gaithersburg, MD | #FISSEA2019
FISSEA is a volunteer organization run by and for federal information systems security professionals with an interest in awareness, training, education, and certification. The FISSEA Conference assists federal agencies in strengthening their employee security training and awareness programs.

National Council on Public History (NCPH) Annual Meeting
March 27 – 30, 2019 | Hartford, CT | #ncph2019
NCPH’s annual meeting is for professionals, students, faculty members, and anyone else interested in public history, and attracts academic historians, federal employees, archivists, museum workers, and teachers. The conference provides professional development, networking, and community connections.

Digital Government Institute’s (DGI) E-Discovery, Records & Information Management Conference
March 28, 2019 | Washington, D.C.
As the volume of digital information continues to grow, the scope of electronic records management has expanded exponentially and is an increasingly critical issue, particularly as it relates to providing secure storage, access, and retrieval of government records. At this DGI event, government and industry experts discuss technology solutions, requirements, and policy updates and changes, and review examples of successful electronic records and e-discovery programs. Free for government professionals.

April

Smart Cities Connect Conference and Expo
April 1 – 4, 2019 | Denver, CO | #smartcitiesconnect
The Smart Cities Connect Conference and Expo, co-located with the US Ignite Application Summit, convenes 400+ global city leaders, representing 250+ cities and communities to advance citizen engagement, improve citizen life, and to enhance partnership opportunities between innovative technology and solution providers.

Government Social Media Conference & Expo (GSMCON)
April 2 – 4, 2019 | Nashville, TN | #GSMCON
GSMCON attendees can collaborate with a network of city, county, state, and local social media managers, learn strategy and technique from experts and peers, and maximize their program to bring value to citizens. You can also catch Government Social Media’s regional trainings.

National Public Employer Labor Relations Association (NPELRA) Annual Training Conference
April 7 – 11, 2019 | Scottsdale, AZ | #NPELRAduck
NPELRA provides progressive labor relations advice that balances the needs of management, and the public interest. The Annual Training Conference is open to supervisors, managers, or representatives of management in the public sector, not representing any union.

Broadband Communities Summit
April 8 – 11, 2019 | Austin, TX | #bbcsum19
The Broadband Communities Summit features telecommunications trends in broadband technologies for communities. It attracts broadband system operators, network builders, and deployers of all kinds. Many of the country’s major property owners and real estate developers attend the summit each year, along with independent telcos and cable companies, municipal and state officials, community leaders, and economic development professionals.

Othering & Belonging Conference
April 8 – 10, 2019 | Oakland, CA
The Othering & Belonging conference aims to elevate work nationally and globally in “othering and belonging”—a lens for defining structural exclusion and inclusion, and an analytical and applied framework that can be used to design and advance institutions, narratives, and policies that support a more fully inclusive “we.”

Transforming Local Government Conference
April 9 – 12, 2019 | Reno, NV | #TLG2019
This event, hosted by the Alliance for Innovation, attracts participation from local governments that are seeking new and innovative ways to connect people, information, and ideas that support their efforts to be the best communities in which to live, work, and prosper.

Advanced Learning Institute’s (ALI) Strategic Government Communications for Public Affairs
April 16 – 18, 2019 | Washington, D.C. | #ALI_GovComms
This event can expand your reach and gain the involvement—and trust—of your audience by using more compelling and relevant digital communications to relay your messages and information more effectively. Hear how other government agencies are using strategic storytelling, visual content, mobile communication strategies and measuring their results to advance agency missions and engage audiences.

Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) Homeland Security Conference and Federal Identity Forum & Exposition (FIFE)
April 22 – 24, 2019 | Washington, D.C. | #AFCEAHomeland & #FedID xxx FIX
The AFCEA Homeland Security Conference brings together the people in charge of ensuring mission success for open discussion. The conference will be co-located with the AFCEA FIFE, an outreach and collaboration-building event between the federal government and the worldwide identity community. The two events share an exhibit hall but operate separately.

GITEC Emerging Technology Conference
April 28 – 30, 2019 | Annapolis, MD
Formerly the GITEC Summit, the refreshed and refocused GITEC Emerging Technology Conference examines the cutting-edge technology enabling the federal government to modernize its IT infrastructure. This new conference hosted by ATARC-GITEC will provide government, academic, and private industry attendees with an opportunity to learn, collaborate, and network with IT subject matter experts in the federal space.

Professional Services Council (PSC) Annual Conference
April 28 – 30, 2019 | White Sulphur Springs, WV
The conference addresses the most important legislative and regulatory issues related to acquisition, business, and technology facing the government professional and technology services industry. Must be a PSC member to attend.

Training Officers Consortium (TOC) Annual Institute
April 28 – May 1, 2019 | Norfolk, VA
The TOC Annual Institute provides professional development and networking opportunities to the federal training community and human resource professionals.

Open Data Science Conference (ODSC) East
April 30 – May 3, 2019 | Boston, MA | #ODSCeast
The Open Data Science Conference gathers attendees, presenters, and companies that are working on shaping the present and future of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and data science. It is one of the largest gatherings of professional data scientists. ODSC has two events in the United States: ODSC East and ODSC West. Registration discounts may be available to government employees.

May

National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) Midyear Conference
May 5 – 8, 2019 | National Harbor, MD | #NASCIO19
NASCIO conferences are the go-to events for state IT leaders. It hosts both a mid-year event each spring and a larger annual conference each fall, which give state CIOs and members of their staff the opportunity to come together with many private-sector solution providers for education and networking.

YTH Live: the youth + health + tech conference
May 5 – 6, 2019 | San Francisco, CA | #ythlive
YTH Live is the premier conference for trailblazing technology that advances youth health and wellness. Each year the brightest minds in youth advocacy, public health, government, and tech gather at YTH Live to showcase what works, share ideas and learnings, and launch new collaborations. Connect with vibrant thinkers, makers, and doers, and use what you learn to improve the lives of the youth you serve.

AGA and AFFIRM’s CFO/CIO Summit
May 7, 2019 | Washington, D.C.
The Association of Government Accountants (AGA) and the Association for Federal Information Resources Management (AFFIRM) host this educational event on the intersection of policies and management issues that impact CFOs and CIOs and how they are working together to improve efficiency and transparency, reduce risk, and strengthen their workforce. Free for individuals who work for government.

National Rural Health Association’s (NRHA) Annual Rural Health Conference
May 7 – 10, 2019 | Atlanta, GA | #NRHA2019
The Rural Health Conference is for anyone with an interest in rural health care, including rural health practitioners, hospital administrators, clinic directors and lay health workers, social workers, state and federal health employees, academics, community members, and more. It is the nation’s largest rural health conference. NRHA hosts other events throughout the year, including the Health Equity Conference.

National Rural Health Association’s (NRHA) Health Equity Conference
May 7, 2019 | Atlanta, GA
The Health Equity Conference offers attendees the opportunity to meet with peers and experts who share the an interest in health equity issues in rural America. This conference is designed for those who are dedicated to bringing quality health care and services to the underserved and often under-represented U.S. rural population. NRHA hosts other events throughout the year, including the Annual Rural Health Conference.

Graduate School USA Federal Workforce Development Conference
May 9, 2019 | Washington, D.C.
Federal Workforce Development Conference is designed to provide participants with information on how to help their agencies achieve their missions through innovative solutions. The event is free.

Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) National Leadership Training Program
May 13 – 16, 2019 | Huntsville, AL
A destination for training in leadership, diversity, inclusion/EEO, and career advancement and management. Open to all federal employees. Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) is a nonprofit representing the civilian and military Asian Pacific American (APA) employees in the federal and D.C. governments.

Granicus National Summit
May 15, 2019 | Washington, D.C. | #GranicusSummit19
The 2019 Granicus National Summit is a gathering for federal, state and local government officials interested in using technology to better improve the citizen experience. Attendees will learn, share and witness how seamless digital solutions help government actively reach, inform, and engage citizens for a better civic experience through hands-on breakout sessions and informative government use cases.

Association for Talent Development (ATD) International Conference & Exposition
May 19 – 22, 2019 | Washington, D.C.
The ATD International Conference & Exposition provides the knowledge, strategies, and solutions needed to effectively attract, develop, and retain top talent. You’ll gain insights into the latest trends, best practices, and new solutions for designing, delivering, implementing, and measuring learning programs.

Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada Annual Conference
May 19 – 22, 2019 | Los Angeles, CA | #GFOA2019
Thousands of public finance professionals gather each year for this three-day conference to share ideas, develop technical and managerial skills, view new products, and network with peers.

SMILE Conference
May 20 – 22, 2019 | Houston, TX | #SMILEcon
The SMILE Conference is an event that trains police in the use of social media for community outreach, event management, and investigations. It attracts an international audience of police social media practitioners, including PIOs and their supervisors, investigators, and crime analysts. Attendees typically are 65% sworn and 35% civilian.

Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) Bid & Proposal Con
May 20 – 23, 2019 | Orlando, FL | #APMP2019
The world’s largest event for proposal, bid, tender, capture, business development, and graphics professionals, including government contracting. Attendees learn about tested information, proven strategies, and best practices to help capture, write, produce, manage proposals and increase win rates.

Igniting Innovation Conference and Awards
May 23, 2019 | Washington, D.C. | #IgnitingInnovation19
Igniting Innovation is an annual event that showcases innovations to improve services to citizens and government operations.

Code for America Summit
May 29 – 31, 2019 | Oakland, CA | #CfASummit
The Code for America Summit is a roll-up-your-sleeves conference that brings together government innovators, civic-minded technologists, and entrepreneurs to tackle big problems to deliver government that works in a digital age.

June

GEOINT Symposium
June 2 – 5, 2019 | San Antonio, TX | #GEOINT2019
The annual gathering for those working in geospatial intelligence. Provides training, education, and professional development to thousands of attendees, including government personnel, intelligence officers, members of the military, and industry specialists. The host, the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) also hosts the GEOINT Community Week each fall.

National Disability Rights Network’s P&A/CAP Annual Conference
June 3 – 7, 2019 | Baltimore, MD | #NDRN2019
The Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System and Client Assistance Program (CAP) Annual Conference is an event for anyone who supports meaningful choice, empowerment, and independence for all people with disabilities. Attendees build skills, and also renew and deepen their commitment to equality for people with disabilities.

Summit on Government Performance & Innovation
June 5 – 6, 2019 | Minneapolis, MN | #govlive
The Summit on Government Performance & Innovation is a policy and leadership event focused on strategies and technologies that will enable government to deliver better services, engage residents and improve government outcomes in their communities. The event is organized by Governing magazine, which also hosts other summits on infrastructure and public/private partnerships, financial leadership, and health and human services.

Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Public Affairs and Government Summit
June 6 – 8, 2019 | Detroit, MI | #pagprsa
This summit focuses on the multi-disciplinary interests of communicators who hold public affairs roles in the private and NGO sectors, as well as in local, state, or national government bodies, and the military. The event features informative sessions on topics including social media, crisis management, the use of polling to define messaging, public record requests, and best practices for issue advocacy campaigns.

Society of American Indian Government Employees (SAIGE) National Training Program
June 10 – 13, 2019 | Niagra Falls, NY
SAIGE hosts this annual training featuring workshops and professional development opportunities for all government employees. The program has trainings in American Indian and Alaska Native topics, including government-to-government relations and Federal Indian Law. It includes a program for veterans and a youth leadership track.

Key Executive Leadership Conference
June 12, 2019 | Washington, D.C. | #KeyLeadershipConference2019
This is an opportunity to explore principles, industry trends, and best leadership practices by talks given by exceptional leaders in the field from the federal government and public sector as well as non-governmental and nonprofit organizations. The conference is provided by the School of Public Affairs Key Executive Leadership Programs at American University.

Government Fleet Expo & Conference
June 17 – 20, 2019 | New Orleans, LA | #GFX2019
At this conference, public fleet professionals can have real conversations with their peers about daily challenges, get public fleet-specific training, and access the latest vehicles and technology in the exhibit hall. It provides an opportunity to learn from the industry’s top public fleet professionals from across the country, connect and share ideas, and learn new strategies for efficiency, increasing ROI, and cutting costs.

M-Enabling Summit
June 17 – 19, 2019 | Washington, D.C. | #mEnabling19
The M-Enabling Summit is dedicated to dedicated to promoting accessible and assistive technology for senior citizens and users of all abilities. It connects leaders in government, private sector and industry, academia, and nonprofit organizations to advance discussion and decisionmaking at the intersection of mobile technology, aging disability, and policy in the United States and abroad.

National Civil Rights Conference
June 17 – 18, 2019 | Birmingham, AL
The National Civil Rights Conference features workshops, artistic productions, sessions, tours, vendors, networking opportunities, and other activities focusing on civil rights, social justice and human dignity.

dg.o Conference: Digital Government Society (DGS) International Conference on Digital Government Research
June 18 – 20, 2019 | Dubai, UAE | #dgo2019
The dg.o conference is a forum for presentation, discussion, and demonstration of interdisciplinary research on digital government, political participation, civic engagement, technology innovation, applications, and practice.

ServiceUnites: Conference on Volunteering and Service
June 18 – 20, 2019 | St. Paul, MN | #ServiceUnites
People who care about the future of volunteer service convene at Points of Light’s annual conference to work together to increase the number of volunteers in the world and the impact of the work they do. It is the largest service-related convening of nonprofit, government, business, and civic leaders in the world.

National Association of Government Communicators (NAGC) Communications School
June 25 – 27, 2019 | Arlington, VA | #NAGC2019
The Communications School provides networking opportunities and practical educational sessions to help government communicators increase their skills. It attracts a mix of federal, state, and local government communication leaders.

Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP) National Education Conference & Expo (NEC)
June 25 – 27, 2019 | Detroit, MI | #SGMPNEC
The National Education Conference (NEC) is the largest annual event in the government meetings industry and is where government professionals from across the country come together for education, resources and networking.

July

Esri User Conference
July 8 – 12, 2019 | San Diego, CA | #EsriUC
The Esri User Conference has long been a favorite at GovLoop. It’s a conference designed for users of the Esri platform and for those who want to learn more about geographic information systems (GIS), data visualization, and other geospatial applications. Be sure to check out the Esri Federal GIS Conference (FedGIS).

AHEAD Conference, Equity & Excellence: Access in Higher Education
July 9 – 13, 2019 | Boston, MA
The AHEAD Conference is sponsored by the Association on Higher Education and Disability, but the topics are not just related to higher education. There is a heavy emphasis on diversity, disability, policy, technology, current trends and issues as they relate to the law and disability. Those presenting are leaders in their fields, and have included professionals from the Department of Justice, the Office of Civil Rights, and others.

League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) National Convention & Exposition
July 9 – 13, 2019 | Milwaukee, WI | #LULAC19
The LULAC National Convention draws over 15,000 participants including top leaders from the government, business, and the Latino community. The LULAC Federal Training Institute (FTI), which provides a range of training for government employees and those interested in pursuing a career in public service, is part of the LULAC National Convention. The goal of the LULAC FTI is to begin the transfer of knowledge by experienced leaders to those in public service.

International Personnel Assessment Council (IPAC) Conference
July 14 – 17, 2019 | Minneapolis, MN | #IPAC2019
A collaborative environment to learn about trends and best practices in recruitment and merit-based assessment practices, and to work through I/O related challenges.

Association of Government Accountants (AGA) Professional Development Training (PDT)
July 21 – 24, 2019 | New Orleans, LA or virtual
AGA’s Professional Development Training brings together top financial officials in federal, state and local government, as well as from academia and the private sector, for valuable training and networking.

Annual Conference on Independent Living
July 22 – 25, 2019 | Washington, D.C. | #NCIL2019
The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) conference attracts grassroots advocates, government representatives, and people from major organizations that work to advance independent living and the rights of people with disabilities.

Federally Employed Women (FEW) National Training Program (NTP)
July 22 – 26, 2019 | Philadelphia, PA
This event trains federal workers for personal and professional career growth. FEW maps every training session to the guidelines of the Office of Personnel Management’s Senior Executive Service, Executive Core Qualifications (Leading Change, Leading People, Results Driven, Business Acumen, Building Coalitions) and the underlying fundamental core competencies.

Drupal GovCon
July 24 – 26, 2019 | Bethesda, MD | #drupalgovcon
Drupal GovCon brings together people from all over the country who use, develop, design, and support the Drupal platform with a focus in government. Drupal GovCon features presentations on the cutting edge of the current state of Drupal and how to leverage your skills to better serve your community.

Next Generation of Government Training Summit
July 25 – 26, 2019 | Washington, D.C. | #NextGenGov
The NextGen Summit is a place to cultivate and enable the absolute best next generation of government. Whether you’re a millennial just entering the government workforce or a manager tasked with retaining and developing talent, or a seasoned public servant looking for new resources or challenges, the NextGen Summit is where you want to be. The two-day summit inspires federal, state, and local govies to be positive change ambassadors.

World Congress
July 28 – 31, 2019 | Boston, MA | #NCMAwc
Over 2,000 professionals in contract management, procurement, and acquisition attend this event hosted by National Contract Management Association (NCMA). World Congress offers 100+ breakout sessions relevant to all career levels, engaging main stage speakers, as well as many exciting networking events. Attendees receive 20 CPE/CLP credits.

EEOC’s EXCEL Conference
July 30 – August 1, 2019 | Atlanta, GA | #EEOCEXCEL
The EXCEL Training Conference, sponsored by the EEOC’s Training Institute, is a national training conference for federal and private sector EEO managers, supervisors, practitioners, HR professionals, attorneys and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) specialists looking to gain knowledge for making tough HR decisions.

August

Blacks In Government (BIG) National Training Institute (NTI)
August 5 – 8, 2019 | Dallas, TX
The National Training Institute (NTI) is attended by public servants across the federal, state, and local government levels. It is designed to elevate the day-to-day work performance of government employees to include methods on how to recognize and embrace a leadership role in the thrust of government transformation.

DEF CON Hacking Conference
August 8 – 11, 2019 | Las Vegas, NV | #DEFCON
DEF CON is one of the world’s longest running and largest hacker conventions. Government security researchers, cyber staff, developers, IT employees, and law enforcement join black and white hat hackers at this conference to better understand the significant vulnerabilities facing public and private sector technology, systems, and products.

Federal Dispute Resolution (FDR) Training
August 12 – 15, 2019 | Philadelphia, PA | #FDRtraining
The FDR Training helps attendees resolve workplace disputes and avoid situations that lead to complaints, ultimately reducing costly litigation for your agency. FDR 2019 offers 60+ workshops and sessions addressing EEO, HR/LR/ER, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Legal Issues and more.

Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) Annual Conference
August 18 – 21, 2019 | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | #IPAC2019IAPC
The IPAC Conference showcases cutting-edge best practices, models, and collaborative efforts that have achieved excellence in public service delivery, governance, and policy development. Attracts attendees from across Canada working at all levels of government and the public sector as well as representatives from Indigenous governments and institutions, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and academia.

930gov
August 20, 2019 | Washington, D.C. | #930gov
930gov is a free, one-day, multi-track conference and trade show where government technical communities gather to connect, exchange, and gather ideas in one location from thought-leaders from each community. It is held in conjunction with other events, including the Cyber & IT Security Conference and the IT Modernization Conference. Organized by Digital Government Institute, which hosts other conferences for public sector IT professionals.

Energy Exchange
August 20 – 22, 2019 | Denver, CO | #EnergyExchange2019
The Energy Exchange is the Federal Energy Management Program’s event that brings together subject matter experts from a wide range of technical disciplines to share their knowledge of government best practices with the federal energy management community. The Energy Exchange actively supports the development of federal energy efficiency champions by offering a comprehensive selection of training sessions and a technology-focused trade show.

National Information Officers Association (NIOA) Annual Training Conference
August 25 – 28, 2019 | Clearwater Beach, FL | #NIOA2019
NIOA Training Conference organizes and trains public information officers (PIOs) through workshops, seminars, and case presentations by PIOs who have handled some of the biggest news events of our time. The gathering also offers opportunities to meet and network with professional peers from across North America.

September

United States Conference on AIDS (USCA)
September 5 – 8, 2019 | Washington, D.C. | #USCA
The USCA is the largest conference on AIDS in the nation. It is hosted by National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC), a nonprofit that leads with race to urgently fight for health equity and racial justice to end the HIV epidemic in America.

GLMA Annual Conference on LGBT Health
September 11 – 14, 2019 | New Orleans, LA | #GLMA2019
GLMA’s Annual Conference is the premier, interdisciplinary LGBT health conference and the world’s largest scientific gathering devoted to LGBT health issues and concerns. It educates practitioners, policy advocates, educators, administrators, researchers, and students about the unique health needs of LGBT individuals and families.

African American Federal Executive Association (AAFEA) Annual Training Workshop
September 16 – 18, 2019 | College Park, MD | #AAFEA15ldw
The AAFEA Training Workshop focus on the programs, policies, practices, and processes that promote career-enhancing opportunities and the fundamental competencies needed to become and succeed as a member of the Senior Executive Service (SES). Designed for federal and military professionals with experience at the GS-13 and above levels.

Professional Services Council (PSC) Tech Trends Conference
September 16, 2019 | Washington, D.C.
The PSC Tech Trends Conference is an opportunity to hear from senior government officials and engage on the top IT issues facing the federal government. At this half-day conference, you’ll be the first to hear the results of PSC’s survey of federal IT and cybersecurity leaders and gain insights on how to help the government deliver more effective mission results through technology adoption and innovation.

National Image’s National Training Program
September 17 – 19, 2019 | Las Vegas, NV
Provides government employees, including those involved in the management of Hispanic employment and outreach programs, the education and skills necessary to reach their full leadership potential and to fully manage their employment programs. Includes a career fair for federal agencies to talk to attendees, students, and the public about government employment opportunities.

Association of Government Accountants (AGA) Internal Control & Fraud Prevention Training (IC&FPT)
September 18 – 19, 2019 | Washington, D.C. or virtual | #Fraud19
The IC&FPT gives attendees ways to find solutions and make a difference in the workplace and the government finance profession. The agenda includes a range of timely and valuable information including fraud detection, data analytics, improper payments, and risks with government payment cards.

National Association of Government Web (NAGW) Professionals Annual Conference
September 18 – 20, 2019 | Salt Lake City, UT | #NAGW2019
Designed for local government web professionals, the NAGW conference focuses on the professional development opportunities for programmers, designers, developers, managers, PIOs, CIOs, and government technology professionals at all levels of experience.

IPMA-HR International Training Conference & Expo
September 22 – 25, 2019 | Miami, FL | #IACP2019
Whether you are new to human resources, or in a senior human resources position, the IPMA-HR International Training Conference & Expo can help you stay current in the ever-changing field of human resources.

National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) Annual Conference
September 23 – 26, 2019 | Tampa, FL
The NATOA Annual Conference is the premier event for local government IT, government access programmers, and communications and cable decisionmakers.

UN Climate Summit
September 23, 2019 | New York City, NY | #COP24
The UN Climate Summit will mobilize political and economic energy at the highest levels to advance climate action that will enable implementation of many of the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It will seek to challenge states, regions, cities, companies, investors and citizens to step up action in six areas: energy transition, climate finance and carbon pricing, industry transition, nature-based solutions, cities and local action, and resilience.

Data Driven Government
September 25, 2019 | Washington, D.C. | #PAWGOV
Data Driven Government, formerly known as Predictive Analytics World for Government (PAWGOV), is focused on helping government executives to share and discuss emerging trends and best practices of how government agencies are currently using data analytics to enhance mission outcomes. A practically-focused, vendor-neutral conference, Data Driven Government advances the deployment of analytics and data science within federal, state, and local government to reduce fraud, waste, and abuse, automate manual processes, and drive smarter decisions by extracting actionable insights from the vast quantities of data within government agencies.

PLAIN: The International Plain Language Conference
September 25 – 27, 2019 | Oslo, Norway | #plain2019
The PLAIN Conference shows different aspects of how clear communication is beneficial for society, companies, users, democracy or justice. Plain language experts and participants from other relevant areas of expertise present their knowledge about information design, technical writing, usability, user experience, and more.

National Center for Public Performance (NCPP) Public Performance Conference
September 26 – 27, 2019 | Boston, MA | #NCPP2019
The NCPP Public Performance Conference convenes government and nonprofit performance professionals and academics to emphasize the use of data to improve efficiency and efficacy of public services. The conference features multiple research-oriented panels designed to convey the latest in public performance scholarship so that practitioners can apply it in their own organizations.

October

National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) Annual Conference
October 13 – 16, 2019 | Nashville, TN | #NASCIO19
NASCIO conferences are the go-to events for state IT leaders. It hosts both a mid-year event each spring and a larger annual conference each fall, which give state CIOs and members of their staff the opportunity to come together with many private-sector solution providers for education and networking.

Out & Equal Workplace Summit
October 14 – 17, 2019 | Washington, D.C. | #OESummit
The Out & Equal Workplace Summit convenes attendees to share strategies and best practices to create workplace equality, inclusive of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions. The event attracts executives, human resource professionals, leaders, and individuals working at their company, government agency, or organization to create a workplace free of discrimination.

National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) Annual Conference
October 16 – 19, 2019 | Los Angeles, CA | #NASPAA2019
The NASPAA annual conference features speakers and breakout sessions on current public affairs education issues.

Imagine Nation – ELC
October 20 – 23, 2019 | Philadelphia, PA | #ImagineNation2019
ATC-IAC’s Imagine Nation – ELC offers an experience designed to spark the imagination, inspire bold thinking and fresh ideas, foster collaboration and dialogue, and spotlight the newest and most relevant technology. The conference brings together forward-thinking agencies and companies focused on improving mission delivery, and offers neutral ground where government and industry can work together as true partners.

International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Annual Conference
October 20 – 23, 2019 | Nashville, TN | #ICMA19
The ICMA annual conference for local government managers and staff has been going strong for over 100 years. It offers an abundance of educational, information-sharing, and networking tools to help you manage your community in today’s complex environment. Save the dates for the future ICMA annual conferences.

Open Data Science Conference (ODSC) West
October 29 – November 1, 2019 | San Francisco, CA | #ODSCwest
The Open Data Science Conference gathers attendees, presenters, and companies that are working on shaping the present and future of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and data science. It is one of the largest gatherings of professional data scientists. ODSC has two events in the United States: ODSC East and ODSC West. Registration discounts may be available to government employees.

PSC’s Vision Federal Market Forecast Conference
October 29 – 30, 2019 | Falls Church, VA | #PSCvision19
The Vision Federal Market Forecast addresses the defense, civilian, and federal IT markets. It is where industry and government convene to present and discuss the results of the Vision Federal Market Forecast, which delivers insights from hundreds of government executives, think tank experts, congressional staff, and Wall Street analysts who take part in non-attribution interviews, providing a concise, quantifiable assessment of the budgets, programs, priorities, and issues in a rapidly changing environment.

November

American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting & Expo
November 2 – 6, 2019 | Philadelphia, PA | #APHA2019
The APHA Annual Meeting & Exposition is where public health professionals convene, learn, network, and engage with peers. Conference participants attend to strengthen the profession of public health, share the latest research and information, promote best practices, and advocate for public health issues and policies grounded in research.

GAIN: Grow Accelerate Innovate Network
November 12, 2019 | Falls Church, VA | #GAINConf
GAIN focuses on the latest hot topics that all government marketers are facing. Attending this collaborative and informative event will grow your government marketing knowledge while helping you to accelerate and innovate your government marketing planning. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with marketing peers from federal, state, and local government as well as vendors. Organized by Government Marketing University. GovLoop has been a strategic partner of this event.

Blockchain Expo North America
November 13 – 14, 2019 | Santa Clara, CA | #BlockchainExpo
Blockchain Expo brings together thousands of delegates across key industries for two days of content from leading brands embracing and developing cutting edge blockchain technologies.

International LGBT Leaders Conference
November 13 – 16, 2019 | Washington, D.C. | #LGBTQLeaders19
Hundreds of LGBTQ elected officials, leaders, and advocates from across the world come together for the International LGBTQ Leaders Conference. The conference includes three days of networking and skills building to strategize the year ahead in the movement for equality.

oSTEM’s National Conference
November 14 – 17, 2019 | Detroit, MI
The oSTEM Annual Conference brings together diverse students and professionals from various STEM fields in the interest of professional development and the creation of safe and inviting places to study and work in the sciences.

Behavior, Energy, and Climate Change (BECC) Conference
November 17 – 20, 2019 | Sacramento, CA | #BECC2019
The BECC conference focuses on understanding the behavior and decision-making of individuals and organizations and using that knowledge to accelerate our transition to an energy-efficient and low-carbon future.

Salesforce’s Dreamforce
November 19 – 22, 2019 | San Francisco, CA | #DF19
A massive conference for users of Salesforce’s CRM platform and tools, with over 150,000 in-person attendees. In addition to the general sessions relevant to any Salesforce user, the conference also has several sessions designed specifically for government and public sector organizations.

ARNOVA’s Annual Conference
November 21 – 23, 2019 | San Diego, CA | #arnova19
The ARNOVA conference is designed to create a public conversation on, as well as opportunities for presenting research about, pressing issues and vital opportunities facing the voluntary or nonprofit sector. It is both a showcase for the best and most current research, as well as a seed bed from which new research is born.

Adobe Digital Government Technology Conference
November date TBA, 2019 | Washington, D.C. | #AdobeGovCon
Adobe Digital Government Technology Conference is an opportunity for federal, state, and local government agencies to reimagine citizen and employee experiences through Adobe solutions. Join public sector digital technologists, government leaders, and Adobe solution experts for an event filled with solution-focused breakout sessions, government initiative-focused keynote presentations, expert panels, and an interactive networking hall. Adobe also hosts the Digital Government Symposium.

December

Government Video Expo and Government Learning Technologies Conference (GLTS)
December 3 – 5, 2019 | Washington, D.C. | #gvexpo
The Government Video Expo features a broad range of production, post-production, streaming, display, and delivery technologies, providing information to media professionals working for federal, state and local government, law enforcement, education, nonprofits, and publicly-funded institutions. The Government Learning Technologies Conference features presentations on instructional design, cognitive science, gamification and game-based learning, video design for distance learning, LMS integration, 508 Accessibility Compliance, assistive technologies, and more.

Council on Governmental Ethics Laws (COGEL) Conference
December 15 – 18, 2019 | Chicago, IL
The COGEL Conference is an opportunity to network with top professionals in the fields of governmental ethics, freedom of information, elections, lobbying, and campaign finance.

Not Yet Scheduled

The dates for these events have not been announced:

• Asian American Government Executives Network (AAGEN) Leadership Workshop
  Usually held in summer. | Location TBA
• Cloudera Government Forum | Usually held in winter. | Location TBA
• Global Partnerships Week | Usually held in spring. | various locations | #GPW2019
• International Open Data Conference (IODC) | Held every two years. Next June 3 – 5, 2020. | Nairobi, Kenya | #IODC20
• National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE)’s FedCon | Held every two years. Next August 30 – September 1, 2020. | Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ
• National Association of the Deaf (NAD) Biennial Conference | Held every two years. Next July 15, 2020. | Chicago, IL | #2019NAD
• New Partners For Smart Growth Conference | Held every two years. Next in 2020. | Location TBA | #npsg
• Partnership for Public Service Service to America Medals (SAMMIES) | Usually held in fall. | Washington, D.C. | #SAMMIES2019
• Symantec Government Symposium | Usually held near the end of the year. | #symgovsym
• Women in Municipal Government (WIMG) Summer Conference | Held in summer. | Location TBA

Other government events?

You’re out in the world discovering fantastic events for government workers all the time. What other events and conferences should be included on this list? Add your suggestions in a comment at the end of this post—we might just add them when we update this list of government conferences to attend in 2020.

Lauren Girardin is a marketing and communications consultant, freelance writer, and speaker based in San Francisco. She helps organizations, foundations, and companies with a conscience engage their communities and tell their stories. Her website is laurengirardin.com and you can connect with her on Twitter at @girardinl.