Each year, the World Affairs Council of Charlotte hosts the WACC Speaker Series Program, featuring internationally renowned leaders, authors, and policymakers who provide expert insights into global issues shaping our world. Speakers deliver engaging presentations and panel discussions on a wide range of topics, including geopolitics, U.S. foreign policy, international travel, conflict resolution, world affairs, diplomacy, regional politics, elections, and more.

This program offers a unique opportunity for Charlotte’s business, academic, and civic communities to connect with global thought leaders and stay informed on the most pressing international challenges.

Past speakers include:

• George W. Bush, President of the United States
• Luis Guillermo Solís, President of Costa Rica
• Rick Steves, Best-Selling Travel Author and host of “Rick Steves’ Europe”
• Sergei Khrushchev, Senior Fellow at the Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University
• Talmage Boston, Author of “How the Best Did It: Leadership Lessons From Top Presidents”
• Sophie Delaunay, Executive Director, Doctors Without Borders (U.S.)
• George Friedman, Chairman and Founder of STRATFOR
• Dr. Nina Ansary, Award-winning Author, Historian, Women’s Rights Advocate, Director of the Cambridge Middle East and North Africa Forum Women’s Leadership Initiative at the University of Cambridge, and Former Visiting Fellow at the London School of Economics Centre for Women, Peace and Security
• Carrie Hessler-Radelet, Director of Peace Corps
• Nancy Lindborg, President, US Institute of Peace
• Elaine Sciolino, Paris Bureau Chief for The New York Times and NYT Bestselling Author “The Seine: The River That Made Paris”
• Sarah Dawn Petrin, Analyst at the Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute, Humanitarian, and Author of “Bring Rain: Helping Humanity in Crisis”