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The Best Government Conferences of 2022

This is the eighth year we’ve made this list of the best government conferences for you. Here, you’ll find brand new trainings, symposia, summits, forums, expos, seminars, workshops, conventions and conferences, as well as established events that might be new to you. If you work in federal, state or local governments, you’ll discover events worth checking out.

While we understand that it’s tempting to get back to normal, as of the publication of this article, the COVID–19 pandemic is still very much happening. Some events in 2022 are entirely virtual or offer a hybrid of online and in-person participation. Other conference organizers have decided to host in-person events, and many of those already have strict vaccine requirements to attend or may announce health restrictions as the date gets closer.

Although we’ve included in-person events in this list, we urge you to follow the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the health authorities at home and at your travel destination. As the year unfolds, the CDC’s guidelines may change.

This list of the best government conferences will let 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 2022. Since most of these events are annual, if you can’t attend one this year, keep it on your radar for 2023.

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.

Jump to: February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November

January

Homeland Security Week

January 27 – 28, 2022 | Washington, D.C. (no health requirement information yet available)

Homeland Security Week brings together more than 250 individuals, from DHS officials, industry executives, elected officials and academia to discuss the challenges at the forefront of homeland security operations, policy and procurements. Key themes include: border management and surveillance; cyber security; critical infrastructure; processing, exploiting and disseminating intelligence and ISR platforms; and counter terrorism and safe cities. Organized by Institute for Defense and Government Advancement (IDGA).

February

RSA Conference

February 7 – 10, 2022 | San Francisco, CA (proof of vaccination required) | #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. Attendees will gain actionable insights from hundreds of traditional and immersive sessions, collaborate and share different perspectives with peers that will spark new approaches, and see the latest technology.

Esri Federal GIS Conference

February 8 – 9, 2022 | Washington, D.C. (proof of vaccination required) | #FedGIS

Attendees from across government agencies gather at the Esri Federal GIS Conference to hear how agencies are using GIS to power deeper understanding for more effective solutions. Registration is complimentary for federal government employees and nongovernmental organization (NGO) personnel.

Net Inclusion

February 15 – 17, 2022 | Portland, OR (proof of vaccination required) | #NetInclusion2022

Net Inclusion gathers hundreds of digital inclusion community practitioners, advocates, academics, internet service providers and policymakers. Interactive sessions will cover local, state and federal policies impacting digital equity as well as digital inclusion best practices from across the country. NDIA is working to live stream the entire conference to accommodate people unable to travel or who miss registration.

Association of Government Accountants (AGA) National Leadership Training (NLT)

February 23 – 24, 2022 | virtual and Washington, D.C. (proof of vaccination or negative COVID test required)

The NLT provides development 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 peers and learn from the top financial management leaders and industry experts.

March

Public Sector CIO Academy: California

March 2022 date not yet announced | Location to be announced | #govtechlive

This invitation-only event is designed for California’s senior-level technology executives to improve their management and business skills and to develop IT leaders of the future. It’s developed by and for government by Government Technology, which hosts other events around the country.

Conference of the Global Council for Science and the Environment (GCSE)

March 8 – 10, 2022 | Virtual | #GCSE2022

Formerly the NCSE Annual Conference, the GCSE Conference is a forum for interdisciplinary learning and collaboration to shift our global climate strategy. It provides opportunities to leverage positive tipping points to accelerate climate action and achieve our collective goals for people and the planet.

National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) Just Economy Conference

March 8 – 10, 2022 | Washington, D.C. (no health requirement information yet available) | #JustEconomy

The NCRC’s Just Economy Conference is a national event for community, policy, government, business and foundation leaders who work for fairness in lending, housing and business. Sessions will be packed with tactics to bring back to your neighborhood and to make all Americans equal parts of the formula for national success.

South by Southwest (SXSW)

March 11 – 20, 2022 | Austin, TX (no health requirement information yet available) | #SXSW

The SXSW Conference provides an opportunity for global professionals at every level to participate, network and advance their careers. Featuring a variety of tracks that allow attendees to explore what’s next in the worlds of film, culture, music and technology, SXSW proves that the most unexpected discoveries happen when diverse topics and people come together.

Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) Conference

March 17 – 19, 2022 | Cleveland, OH (no health requirement information yet available) | #WiCyS2022

The Women in Cybersecurity Conference brings together industry, students, educators, government and research for knowledge sharing, networking, mentoring and recruiting. WiCyS is a nonprofit organization and community of engagement, encouragement and support for women in cybersecurity.

American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) Annual Conference

March 18 – 22, 2022 | Jacksonville, FL (proof of vaccination required) | #ASPA2022

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.

International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE)

March 21 – 24, 2022 | Las Vegas, NV (no health requirement information yet available) | #IWCE2022

IWCE helps critical communications professionals leverage emerging technologies to create a safer, more efficient and more interconnected world. It features hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the latest products and trends in the industry. Attendees include industry professionals including government and military, public safety (law enforcement, fire service, emergency medical and 911), utility, transportation and business enterprise.

Nonprofit Technology Conference (NTC)

March 23 – 25, 2022 | Virtual | #22NTC

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.

National Council on Public History (NCPH) Annual Meeting

March 23 – 26, 2022 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada (proof of vaccination required) | May 4 – 6, 2022 | Virtual | #NCPH2022

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.

Federal Managers Association (FMA) National Convention and Management Training Seminar

March 27 – 30, 2022 | Alexandria, VA (no health requirement information yet available)

FMA advocates for excellence in public service through effective management and professionalism. The national convention provides an opportunity to discuss how FMA can promote great work in the federal government.

Government Social Media Conference & Expo (GSMCON)

March 29 – 31, 2022 | Virtual and Dallas, TX (no health requirement information yet available) | #GSMCON2022

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.

Digital Government Institute’s (DGI) E-Discovery, Records & Information Management Conference

March 31, 2022 | Virtual

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 and requirements, policy updates and changes, and examples of successful electronic records and e-discovery programs. It’s free for government professionals.

April

Association of Government Accountants (AGA) PIO/CFO Summit

April or May 2022 date not yet announced | Location to be announced

The AGA Performance Improvement Officer/Chief Financial Officer Summit (PIO/CFO Summit) focuses on the emerging policies that impact and call for greater collaboration between the federal financial management community, evaluators and the broader evidence community. Join the hundreds of federal PIOs, CFOs and other federal officials, managers and analysts. Free for AGA members who work for government.

AcademyHealth Health Datapalooza and National Health Policy Conference (NHPC)

April 4 – 5, 2022 | Arlington, VA (proof of vaccination required) | #NHPC22

This event explores how health data and policy innovation are an integral part of all efforts to transform health care. Attendees share work, exchange ideas, collaborate and tackle the most critical health issues facing the United States today.

Smart Cities Connect Conference and Expo

April 4 – 7, 2022 | Columbus, OH (no health requirement information yet available) | #smartcitiesconnect

Smart Cities Connect is a conference, exposition and accelerator of smart city innovation in North America. It delivers networking and educational opportunities with a focus on city leaders and their priorities. Working closely with the technology community, Smart Cities Connect brings together a collection of intelligent systems providers for energy, infrastructure, networks, data management, urban mobility, citizen engagement and governance solutions.

Open Data Science Conference (ODSC) East

April 19 – 21, 2022 | Boston, MA (no health requirement information yet available) | #ODSCeast

ODSC East is an applied data science conference. Speakers include core contributors to many open source libraries and languages. Attend ODSC East and learn the latest AI and data science topics, tools and languages from some of the best and brightest minds in the field.

GEOINT Symposium

April 24 – 27, 2022 | Aurora, CO (no health requirement information yet available) | #GEOINT2022

This annual gathering is for those working in geospatial intelligence. It provides training, education and professional development to attendees, including government personnel, intelligence officers, members of the military and industry specialists. Hosted by the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF).

National Public Employer Labor Relations Association (NPELRA) Annual Training Conference

April 24 – 28, 2022 | Portland, OR (no health requirement information yet available) | #NPELRA2022

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.

The AIIM Conference

April 27 – 29, 2022 | Denver, CO (no health requirement information yet available) | #AIIM22

Join information professionals from across the globe and discover best practices, current trends and top issues facing the information management industry.

May

Wonder Women Tech (WWT) Summit

May date not yet announced | Location to be announced | #WWT2022

The WWT Summit highlights, educates and celebrates women and underrepresented innovators in STEAM industries (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math). This event features CEOs, C-Suites, CDO’s, innovators and government leaders. Programming is geared towards empowering women, girls, people of color, LGBTQ, the underrepresented and diverse communities. WWT hosts other conferences.

GITEC Emerging Technology Conference

May 1 – 3, 2022 | Annapolis, MD (no health requirement information yet available)

The Government Information Technology Executive Council (GITEC) Emerging Technology Conference examines the cutting-edge technology enabling the federal government to modernize its IT infrastructure. It provides government, academic and private industry attendees with an opportunity to learn, collaborate and network with IT subject-matter experts in the federal space. This conference is hosted by the Advanced Technology Academic Research Center (ATARC). GovLoop is an event partner.

National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) Midyear Conference

May 1 – 3, 2022 | Forest Heights, MD (no health requirement information yet available) | #NASCIO22

NASCIO conferences are designed for state IT leaders. NASCIO 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.

Training Officers Consortium (TOC) Annual Institute

May 1 – 4, 2022 | Wilmington, DE (no health requirement information yet available)

The TOC Annual Institute provides professional development and networking opportunities to the federal training community and human resource professionals.

Broadband Communities Summit

May 3 – 5, 2022 | Houston, TX (no health requirement information yet available) | #bbcsum22

The Broadband Communities Summit features telecommunications trends in broadband technologies for communities. Attendees include community leaders, multifamily property owners and network builders and deployers interested in the building, managing, marketing and monetizing of high-speed broadband technologies and services.

National Rural Health Association’s (NRHA) Health Equity Conference

May 10, 2022 | Albuquerque, NM (no health requirement information yet available)

The Health Equity Conference offers attendees the opportunity to meet with peers and experts who share 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. It is the nation’s largest rural health conference. NRHA hosts other events throughout the year, including the Health Equity Conference.

National Association of Government Communicators (NAGC) Communications School

May 10 – 12, 2022 | Louisville, KY (no health requirement information yet available) | #NAGC2022

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.

National Rural Health Association’s (NRHA) Annual Rural Health Conference

May 10 – 13, 2022 | Albuquerque, NM (no health requirement information yet available) | #NRHA2022

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.

NextGen Government Training Virtual Summit

May 11, 2022 | Virtual | #NextGenGov
The NextGen Summit is now free for attendees and provides a place to cultivate and enable the absolute best next generation of government. Whether you’re Gen Z just entering the government workforce, 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 May 11 and Sept. 21 summits inspire federal, state and local govies to be positive change ambassadors. Attendees can earn CPE credit and participate in sessions that are aligned to OPM’s Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs). GovLoop is the summit host.

Blockchain Expo North America

May 11 – 12, 2022 | Santa Clara, CA (no health requirement information yet available) | #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.

IoT Tech Expo North America

May 11 – 12, 2022 | Santa Clara, CA (no health requirement information yet available) | #IoTTechExpo

IoT Tech Expo brings together key industries from across the globe to explore the latest innovations within the Internet of Things and covering the impact IoT has on many industries including transport, logistics, government, energy and more, The event is co-located with three events covering cybersecurity and cloud, blockchain and AI, and big data, with 13,000 attendees expected to attend.

Association for Talent Development (ATD) International Conference & Exposition

May 15 – 18, 2022 | Orlando, FL (no health requirement information yet available) with a virtual option | #ATD2022

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.

Federal Information Systems Security Educators Association (FISSEA) Conference

May 18 – 19, 2022 | Location to be announced | #FISSEA2022

The FISSEA Conference elevates the general level of information security knowledge for the federal government and federally related workforce. It also serves as a professional forum for the exchange of information and improvement of information systems security awareness and training programs throughout the federal government.

Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) Bid & Proposal Con

May 22 – 25, 2022 | Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (no health requirement information yet available) | #APMP2022

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.

June

Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Annual Conference

June 5 – 8, 2022 | Austin, TX (no health requirement information yet available) | #GFOA2022

Thousands of public finance professionals gather each year for this conference to hear from leading practitioners, recognized industry experts, researchers and peers about how to effectively prioritize the current needs of communities and prepare for any future challenges.

National Civil Rights Conference

June 20 – 21, 2022 | Baton Rouge, LA (no health requirement information yet available)

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.

July

Federally Employed Women (FEW) National Training Program (NTP)

July 2022 to be announced | Location to be announced

This event trains federal, state, local and military workers for personal and professional career growth. The week-long training program has over 100 specialized courses on a variety of topics; including, EEO, HR, IT, Project Management, Management and Leadership. 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.

National Homeland Security Conference

July 11 – 14, 2022 | Cleveland, OH (no health requirement information yet available) | #NHSC2022

The National Homeland Security Conference brings together over a thousand homeland security, law enforcement, fire and emergency management professionals, federal agencies, nonprofit agencies, business owners, universities and decision-makers to learn about emerging trends in homeland security and see the new equipment and technology available to support their mission.

Esri User Conference

July 11 – 15, 2022 | San Diego, CA (no health requirement information yet available) | #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. Also check out the Esri Federal GIS Conference (FedGIS).

Points of Light Conference

July 13 – 15, 2022 | Lake Buena Vista, FL (no health requirement information yet available) | #PointsOfLight22

The Points of Light Conference is a global convening of nonprofit, government, business and civic leaders who connect, collaborate, gain and share the knowledge and resources needed to galvanize the power of people to create change.

International Personnel Assessment Council (IPAC) Conference

July 17 – 20, 2022 | San Diego, CA (no health requirement information yet available) | #IPAC2022

A collaborative environment for human resource professionals to learn about trends and best practices in recruitment and merit-based assessment practices and to work through input/output (I/O) related challenges.

World Congress

July 17 – 20, 2022 | Chicago, IL (no health requirement information yet available) | #NCMAwc

Professionals in contract management, procurement and acquisition attend this event hosted by the National Contract Management Association (NCMA). World Congress offers breakout sessions relevant to all career levels, engaging main stage speakers and many networking events.

Association of Government Accountants (AGA) Professional Development Training (PDT)

July 17 – 20, 2022 | 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. Participants will gain skills and knowledge toward more effective leadership, performance in a cost-constrained environment, solutions to shared challenges and best practices.

AHEAD Conference, Equity & Excellence: Access in Higher Education

July 18 – 22, 2022 | Cleveland, OH (no health requirement information yet available)

The AHEAD Conference may be 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.

Annual Conference on Independent Living

July 25 – 28, 2022 | Location to be announced | #NCIL2022

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.

League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) National Convention & Exposition

July 25 – 30, 2022 | San Juan, Puerto Rico (no health requirement information yet available) | #LULAC22

The LULAC National Convention & Exposition draws over 15,000 participants including top leaders from the government, business and the Latino community. Attendees discuss issues, set policies and elect the organization’s national leaders.

August

Federal Dispute Resolution (FDR) Training

August 8 – 11, 2022 | Phoenix, AZ (no health requirement information yet available) | #FDRtraining

The FDR Training helps attendees resolve workplace disputes and avoid situations that lead to complaints, ultimately reducing costly litigation for your agency. There are over 60 workshops and sessions that address the latest regulations and best practices to resolve EEO, HR, LR, ER, ADR and legal issues.

DEF CON Hacking Conference

August 11 – 14, 2022 | Las Vegas, NV (no health requirement information yet available) | #DEFCON

DEF CON is one of the world’s largest and longest-running 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.

GMIS MEETS Conference

August 21 – 24, 2022 | Philadelphia, PA (no health requirement information yet available) | #GMISMEETS

GMIS International is a community of public sector IT professionals. Each year, over 200 government IT leaders, vendors and speakers gather at GMIS MEETS Conference for four days of collaboration, networking and educational opportunities.

September

International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Annual Conference

September 17 – 21, 2022 | Columbus/Franklin County, OH (no health requirement information yet available) | #ICMA22

The ICMA Annual Conference for local government managers and staff has been going strong for more than 100 years. It offers an abundance of educational, information-sharing and networking tools to help you manage your community in today’s complex environment.

Grace Hopper Celebration

September 20 – 23, 2022 | Location to be announced | #GHC22

The Grace Hopper Celebration is the world’s largest gathering of women technologists. Produced by the Anita Borg Institute and presented in partnership with the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM), the celebration brings together women in computing for discussions of research and career interests, networking and mentoring, an open source day and more. Conference presenters are leaders in their respective fields, representing industry, academia and government.

NextGen Government Training Virtual Summit

September 21, 2022 | Virtual | #NextGenGov
The NextGen Summit is now free for attendees and provides a place to cultivate and enable the absolute best next generation of government. Whether you’re Gen Z just entering the government workforce, 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 May 11 and Sept. 21 summits inspire federal, state and local govies to be positive change ambassadors. Attendees can earn CPE credit and participate in sessions that are aligned to OPM’s Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs). GovLoop is the summit host.

October

American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) National Conference

October 6 – 8, 2022 | Palm Springs, CA (no health requirement information yet available) | #AISESNC22

The AISES National Conference focuses on educational, professional and workforce development for Indigenous peoples in STEM. Attendees include American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and First Nation high school students, college students, educators and professionals, including representatives from Tribal Nations, Tribal enterprises and Indigenous-owned businesses. The conference also includes the largest college and career fair in the U.S. for Indigenous students and professionals.

GLMA Annual Conference on LGBTQ Health

October 19 – 22, 2022 | San Francisco, CA (no health requirement information yet available) | #GLMA2022

GLMA’s Annual Conference is the premier, interdisciplinary LGBTQ health conference and the world’s largest scientific gathering devoted to LGBTQ health issues and concerns. It educates practitioners, policy advocates, educators, administrators, researchers and students about the unique health needs of LGBTQ individuals and families.

Imagine Nation ELC

October 23, 2022 | Location to be announced | #ELC2022

The American Council for Technology and Industry Advisory Council’s (ACT-IAC) 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. It also provides a neutral ground where government and industry can work together as true partners.

November

American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting & Exposition

November 6 – 9, 2022 | Boston, MA (no health requirement information yet available) | #APHA2022

The APHA Annual Meeting & Exposition is where public health professionals convene, learn, network and engage with peers. Next year’s theme is “150 Years of Creating the Healthiest Nation: Leading the Path Toward Equity.” 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. Save the dates for future APHA annual meetings.

UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26)

November 7 – 18, 2022 | Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt (no health requirement information yet available) | #COP27

COP26 brings together over 30,000 delegates, including heads of state, climate experts and campaigners to agree on coordinated action to tackle climate change.

Not Yet Scheduled

The dates for these events have not been announced:

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.

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

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