Distinguished Speaker Series (Virtual)

The World Affairs Council of Charlotte’s Distinguished Speaker Series (Virtual) offers exclusive access to timely, high-level conversations with leading experts in foreign policy, global economics, geopolitics, climate change, and global health.

These virtual events connect our community with the world’s foremost thought leaders, including ambassadors, economists, policymakers, scholars, and scientists, who offer critical insights into the forces shaping our interconnected world. From shifting global alliances and economic uncertainty to emerging health threats and climate challenges, each session delivers context, analysis, and clarity on complex international issues.

Designed to inform and inspire, the series features live Q&A sessions, providing attendees with the opportunity to engage directly with the experts and deepen their understanding of today’s most pressing global issues.

Past speakers include:

  • Tom Standage, Deputy Editor of The Economist and Chief Editor of “The World Ahead”
  • Ryan Crocker, U.S. Career Ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait, and Lebanon (1993-2012)
  • H.E. Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States
  • Jonathan Landreth, Journalist, Writer, and Editor on China-US Media and Culture
  • Philip Coggan, Bartleby Columnist at The Economist
  • Thomas Pickering, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia, India, Israel, El Salvador, Nigeria, Jordan, and the United Nations
  • Herman Cohen, former U.S. Ambassador to Senegal and the Republic of Congo, former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs under George H.W. Bush
  • Graham Allison, Professor of Government at Harvard University, former Assistant Secretary of Defense under President Clinton, and Special Advisor to the Secretary of Defense under President Reagan
  • Nadia Theodore, Consul General of Canada (Atlanta)
  • H.E. Dirk Wouters, Ambassador of Belgium to the United States
  • David Rennie, Beijing Bureau Chief and Chaguan Columnist at The Economist
  • Ambassador Thomas Pickering, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia, India, Israel, El Salvador, Nigeria, Jordan, and the United Nations;
  • Sarah Dawn Petrin, Analyst at the Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute, Humanitarian, and Author of “Bring Rain: Helping Humanity in Crisis”

Distinguished Speaker Series (Virtual)

March 31st, 2026: WACC Partner Program with James Lindsay, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations – “The Best & Worst: 250 Years of U.S. Foreign Policy”

James Lindsay, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, reveals his definitive rankings of the best—and worst—U.S. foreign policy decisions over the past 250 years. Join us on March 31 for WorldNow with Jim Falk as we examine these pivotal moments, their lasting impact at home and abroad, and what they mean for the future of American foreign policy in the century ahead.

March 10th, 2026: WACC Partner Program with Dan Schnur, Political Analyst – “Tensions and Transitions: Change and Uncertainty in a Time of Global Conflict”

Join us on March 10th for this timely discussion as Dan Schnur explores explore the unfolding situation in Iran following recent U.S. and Israeli military strikes and the subsequent formation of an interim leadership council as Tehran begins a constitutional transition process. The discussion will examine how these events have affected regional security, global responses, and broader international dynamics in 2026. 

February 10th, 2026: WACC Partner Program with Yi-Ling Liu, Journalist-in-Residence at the Tarbell Center for AI Journalism and Author of “THE WALL DANCERS: Searching for Freedom and Connection on the Chinese Internet” (Virtual)

Join the World Affairs Council of Charlotte on February 10th for a national WAC program featuring author and journalist Yi-Ling Liu tells the untold story of the Chinese internet. In conversation with Jim Falk on WorldNow, Yi-Ling Liu will offer her perspective on how Chinese citizens have navigated the last 30 years of surveillance and censorship while searching for freedom and connection behind the Great Firewall.

January 28th, 2026: WACC Distinguished Speaker Series with Tom Standage, Deputy Editor of “The Economist” and Editor of “The World Ahead” — “The World Ahead in 2026)

Annually, "The World Ahead" series by The Economist offers a forward-looking perspective on anticipated developments in the upcoming year. Tom Standage, Deputy Editor-In-Chief of The Economist and Editor of "The World Ahead 2026," will provide well-informed predictions, in-depth analyses from foreign policy and current affairs experts, a synopsis of the global economic forecast, and crucial insights into focal issues that are poised to be significant touchpoints in the coming year.