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)

July 15th, 2026: WACC Partner Program (Virtual) – The Future of War

What will war look like in a climate-ravaged world? Join WorldNow host Jim Falk for a conversation with Elliot Ackerman, NYT bestselling author and Atlantic contributor on his novel 2084: A Novel of the Future of War. Co-written with Admiral James Stavridis, 2084 imagines a planet fractured between equatorial nations devastated by climate change and wealthier but politically unstable powers like the U.S. and China, the latest in their trilogy following 2034 and 2054.

July 1st, 2026: WACC Partner Program (Virtual) — NATO in a Changing World

Kay Bailey Hutchison, former U.S. Ambassador to NATO and U.S. Senator will draw on her experience representing the United States at NATO during a period of heightened alliance tension and transformation, to offer timely analysis of the current and future U.S.–NATO relationship and the leadership challenges facing the Alliance today.

June 16th, 2026: WACC Partner Program (Virtual) — Inside Iran: Context For Today’s Global Tensions

Join us for a timely and in-depth webinar examining the historical, political, and geopolitical dynamics shaping the current tensions between Iran, Israel, the United States, and the broader Middle East region. As headlines continue to focus on escalating conflict and uncertainty, this discussion aims to provide critical background, regional context, and informed analysis to help audiences better understand the roots of today’s challenges and their global implications.

April 20th, 2026: WACC Partner Program with Steven Cook, Senior Middle East Expert at the Council on Foreign Relations; Ambassador Deborah Jones, U.S. Ambassador (ret.) to Kuwait and Libya; and Beth Sanner, CNN National Security Contributor and former Deputy Director of National Intelligence — “The Iran War: What We Know, What Comes Next”

With the U.S. and Iran now in open conflict and the world’s energy supply under threat, the stakes could not be higher – or more uncertain. Join us on WorldNow with Jim Falk as we sit down with Steven Cook, senior Middle East expert at the Council on Foreign Relations; Amb. Deborah Jones, U.S. Ambassador (ret.) to Kuwait and Libya; and Beth Sanner, CNN National Security Contributor and former Deputy Director of National Intelligence. We’ll explore what’s happened so far in the conflict with Iran, what may happen next, and the war’s long-term impact on the region and beyond.