Please join the Women’s Foreign Policy Group and the World Affairs Council of Orange County for a conversation on sports diplomacy, the ramifications of the World Cup and the 2028 Olympics on the United States, and the role of cities in shaping foreign policy. Hear insights from leading experts on the potential social, political, and economic impacts of these global sporting events, including considerations on human rights.
About Our Speakers:
Dilpreet Sidhu, Deputy Mayor of International Relations, City of Los Angeles
Dilpreet Sidhu serves as Deputy Mayor of International Relations for the city of Los Angeles. She previously served as Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff of the National Security Council (NSC) at the White House during the Biden Administration. Prior to that, she served at the Department of Defense as the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of Defense. She also previously served as the Principal Deputy Executive Secretary at the NSC and was a member of the Biden-Harris transition team. She was the first-ever Director of International Relations for the city of Los Angeles during the administration of Mayor Eric Garcetti. During the Obama Administration, she served on the NSC as Special Assistant to the National Security Advisor. Dilpreet has also worked at the Department of State, including assignments as a Foreign Affairs Officer on the India Desk, Economic Officer in Iraq and India, and Staff Assistant to the Secretary of State. Dilpreet is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations and U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholar in Punjabi. She received her B.A. in English literature and religious studies from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.
Julie Duhaut-Bedos, Diplomat-in-Residence and Interim Director of the USC Center of Public Diplomacy, CEO and Founder of Julinks
Julie Duhaut-Bedos is a seasoned French diplomat with a career spanning more than 20 years across five countries. She served as the Consul General of France in Los Angeles from 2020 to 2024. Following her post, she remained in Los Angeles and was recently appointed Diplomat-in-Residence and Interim Director of the USC Center of Public Diplomacy. She is also the founder and CEO of Julinks, a consulting practice focused on establishing connections and partnerships between the U.S., France, and Europe in the fields of education, research and innovation, culture, sports, and business.
As Consul General of France in Los Angeles, she was a driving force in strengthening French-American relations. Most recently, she actively facilitated the exchange of expertise between Paris and Los Angeles in preparation for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Prior to her tenure in Los Angeles, she served as Deputy Ambassador at the French Embassy in Australia, and she has held influential roles in embassies in Canada, Tunisia, and at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paris.
She holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from Sciences Po Paris and a Bachelor’s in History from Aix-Marseille University. She has been awarded the distinction of Knight in the French National Order of Merit and honored by the City of Los Angeles, the City of Beverly Hills, and the Los Angeles Police Department for her contributions to cultural, economic, and subnational diplomacy. She serves on multiple boards and is an active member of Los Angeles’ vibrant diplomatic and business communities.
About Our Moderator:
Janine Hurty, Director of Development, USC Annenberg
Janine Hurty is the director of development for USC Annenberg and supports the advancement of the USC Center on Public Diplomacy and USC Center for Public Relations. Prior to joining the Annenberg team, Hurty was the director of development for the Lam Family College of Business at San Francisco State University. Her efforts established scholarships, programmatic support, and partnerships to support the college.
In addition to her work in higher education, Hurty enjoyed a career in the nonprofit and political world. As the senior corporate development manager for the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, she created strategic partnerships to ensure those facing food insecurity would receive critical nutritional support. From 2006 to 2016, Hurty built a career in political campaigning, consulting and fundraising working with candidates, PACs, and initiatives from city to federal campaigns. Hurty holds a BA in Political Science from San Diego State University.
