Speaker Series

Each year, the World Affairs Council of Charlotte recruits internationally renowned government leaders, authors and policy makers for the Speaker Series Program.

Selected speakers present on diverse topics related to global economic crisis, energy policy and climate change, current events, global health, national and global security, foreign policy, public diplomacy and international affairs.

Past speakers include:

  • President Luis Guillermo Solís, President of Costa Rica
  • George W. Bush, former President of the United States
  • Chuck Hagel, former U.S. Secretary of Defense
  • Alan Krueger, former Chairman of President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers
  • Tom Ridge, former Secretary of Homeland Security
  • General David Petraeus, former Commander, US CENTCOM
  • Sergei Khrushchev, Senior Fellow at the Watson Institute for International Studies (Brown University) and son of the late Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev
  • Major General Michael J. Kingsley, Chief of Staff, United States Africa Command (AFRICOM)
  • Rafael Espada, former Vice President of Guatemala
  • Rick Steves, travel guru and host of Rick Steves’ Europe
  • Carrie Hessler-Radelet, Director of the Peace Corps
  • David Rothkopf, CEO and Editor of the Foreign Policy Group and author of “National Insecurity: US Foreign Policy Making in an Age of Fear”
  • Robert Walker, President, The Population Institute
  • Russell Gold, Senior Energy Reporter for the Wall Street Journal and author of “The Boom: How Fracking Ignited the American Energy Revolution and Changed the World”
  • George Friedman, Founder and Chairman of Stratfor and author of “Flashpoints: The Emerging Crisis in Europe”
  • Sophie Delaunay, Executive Director, Doctors Without Borders (U.S.)
  • Timothy Beardson, author of “Stumbling Giant: The Threats to China’s Future”
  • Shibley Telhami, world-renowned expert on the Middle East and author of “The World Through Arab Eyes: Arab Public Opinion and the Reshaping of the Middle East”
  • Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, former Minister of Defense, Former Minister of Economics & Technology of the Federal Republic of Germany
  • Adrian Wooldridge, Management Editor, The Economist

Speaker Series Events

October 3, 2024: WACC Speaker Series Panel with Dean Shelly Rigger (Davidson College) & Tate Nurkin (Atlantic Council)

Join the World Affairs Council of Charlotte on October 3 for an exclusive luncheon featuring two renowned experts on U.S.-China relations: Dean Shelley Rigger of Davidson College and Tate Nurkin, a leading authority on defense and Indo-Pacific security. This in-depth presentation will examine China's expanding global role, including its growing economic and political influence, military modernization, and technological advancements.

September 25, 2024: WACC Speaker Series with Talmage Boston, renowned litigator and author of “How the Best Did It: Leadership Lessons From Our Top Presidents”

Join us for an inspiring WACC Speaker Series luncheon featuring Talmage Boston, renowned author of "How the Best Did It: Leadership From Our Top Presidents," on September 25. Discover the secrets behind the leadership styles of America’s most influential presidents and how their principles can be applied to modern leadership challenges. Talmage Boston will share captivating insights and powerful lessons from his extensive research, making this a must-attend event for anyone looking to enhance their leadership skills.

September 24, 2024: WACC Private Dinner with Talmage Boston, renowned litigator and author of “How the Best Did It: Leadership Lessons From Our Top Presidents”

Join us on September 24 for an intimate WACC Private Dinner featuring Talmage Boston, the esteemed author of "How the Best Did It: Leadership From Our Top Presidents." This special event, limited to just 24 participants, offers a unique opportunity to explore the leadership styles of America’s most influential presidents.

April 9, 2024: Annual China Town Hall — WACC Distinguished Speaker Series with Dr. Shelley Rigger, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty | Brown Professor of Asian Politics at Davidson College(Virtual)

Join the World Affairs Council of Charlotte and the National Committee on U.S. - China Relations on Tuesday, April 9 at 5:30 p.m. ET for a virtual discussion with Dr. Shelley Rigger, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty and Brown Professor of Asian Politics at Davidson College on China-US relations followed by a for a nationwide live stream event at 6:30 p.m. ET with a Q&A with Kurt Campbell, nominee for Deputy Secretary of State. He will examine the challenges and opportunities for both countries as they confront the most critical issues of the 21st century.