Early Bird Registration Ends July 13 for CLEAR's 2026 Annual Educational Conference

Join the Global Regulatory Community in Portland This September

Regulation today is more complex than ever. Across professions and jurisdictions, regulators are navigating workforce challenges, rapidly evolving technologies, changing public expectations, increasing demands for accountability, and the ongoing need to maintain public trust.

How do regulators continue to protect the public while building systems and relationships that are effective, resilient, accessible, and humane?

These questions—and the practical solutions being developed around the world—will be at the center of CLEAR's 2026 Annual Educational Conference (AEC), taking place September 14–17, 2026, in Portland, Oregon.

Early Bird registration is available through July 13, offering attendees the opportunity to secure the lowest conference rates before prices increase.

Communication, Trust, and Leadership When the Stakes Are High

One of the defining themes of this year's conference is the critical role communication plays in effective regulation.

Whether interacting with registrants, complainants, board members, legislators, colleagues, or members of the public, regulators are frequently called upon to navigate difficult conversations where emotions are high, perspectives differ, and outcomes matter.

During the Wednesday Plenary Session, "Tools for Talking When the Stakes Are High," internationally recognized speaker Jillian Morenz will introduce practical strategies drawn from the Crucial Conversations framework. Attendees will learn how to foster productive dialogue, address disagreement constructively, and maintain both relationships and results in challenging situations.

In an era where public trust is increasingly influenced by how institutions communicate and engage, these skills have become essential for regulatory professionals at every level.

Opening Keynote: Regulatory Abundance—Not an Oxymoron

The conference will open with a thought-provoking keynote from Jay Chaudhary, Senior Fellow for Mental Health and Community Wellness at the Sagamore Institute, who will challenge attendees to reconsider a fundamental question facing modern regulation:

Can regulators protect the public while also creating the conditions for greater opportunity, innovation, and access?

In "Regulatory Abundance: Not an Oxymoron," Chaudhary explores the tension between protection and possibility. Regulators play a critical role in safeguarding the public through standards, oversight, and accountability. But as workforce shortages, access challenges, and growing public needs continue to emerge across professions, regulatory leaders are increasingly being asked to consider how systems designed to prevent harm can also enable positive outcomes.

Drawing on his experience leading major behavioral health system reforms in Indiana, Chaudhary will examine what it means to shift the conversation from scarcity to abundance—finding ways to maintain public protection while creating pathways for growth, access, and innovation.

This opening keynote sets the stage for many of the conversations that will unfold throughout #CLEAR2026, challenging attendees to think differently about regulation's role in supporting both public safety and societal flourishing.

About the Speaker

Jay Chaudhary is a strategist, writer, and former public sector leader whose work focuses on mental health, systems change, and the common good. As former Director of Indiana's Division of Mental Health and Addiction, he led a significant transformation of the state's behavioral health system, securing more than $50 million in annual funding, expanding access to care, and improving crisis response services.

Today, Chaudhary advises civic and philanthropic leaders on systems-level change while writing and speaking about policy, culture, community wellbeing, and institutional renewal. His perspective brings a unique lens to the regulatory community, encouraging leaders to consider how effective oversight and expanded opportunity can coexist.

Strengthening Human-Centred Regulation

The conference also explores how regulators can build systems that are not only effective but also responsive to the needs of those they serve and those who work within them.

Highlighted sessions in the Regulatory Administration & Governance track include:

Applying Trauma-Informed Practice Internally and Externally: Protect Your Organization While Protecting the Public

Presenters from Canada and the United States will examine how trauma-informed approaches can strengthen investigations, leadership, organisational culture, and public interactions while supporting staff wellbeing.

Equalizing Power Relations and Anti-Racism in Health Regulation: From Foundational Action to Systemic Evaluation

Speakers from Canada and Australia will share practical lessons on advancing cultural safety, accountability, and equity within regulatory systems.

Linking Rules to Real Life – Narrowing the Regulator/Registrant/Public Gap

Learn how the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland has developed innovative communication strategies that strengthen engagement, accessibility, and trust between regulators, registrants, and the public.

These sessions reflect a broader focus throughout the conference on creating regulatory environments that are fair, transparent, inclusive, and trusted.

Take Your Skills Further with a Pre-Conference Workshop

For those looking to deepen their communication and conflict-management skills, CLEAR is also offering the pre-conference workshop:

De-escalation in Practice: Advanced Skills for Navigating High-Stakes Interactions

Monday, September 14
Additional registration required

Facilitated by Dr. Derek Puddester and Amigo Wade, this highly interactive workshop moves beyond foundational concepts and focuses on applied learning through realistic scenarios, guided role-play, and practical exercises. Participants will strengthen communication techniques, build situational awareness, and practice managing difficult conversations in emotionally charged regulatory environments.

Together, the workshop and plenary session provide a powerful opportunity to strengthen one of the most important competencies in modern regulation: communicating effectively when it matters most.

Register Before July 13 and Save

CLEAR's Annual Educational Conference brings together regulators from around the world to exchange ideas, explore emerging challenges, and learn from innovative approaches across professions and jurisdictions.

With a program focused on communication, trust, leadership, governance, wellbeing, equity, and public protection, the conference offers valuable learning opportunities for regulatory professionals at every stage of their careers.

Early Bird registration ends July 13, 2026. Register now to secure discounted rates and reserve your place in Portland this September.

We look forward to welcoming you to Portland for four days of learning, collaboration, and meaningful conversations about the future of regulation.