Upcoming Events

March 3rd, 2026: WACC CEO Series with Kurk Wilks, President and Chief Executive Officer of MANN+HUMMEL

The World Affairs Council of Charlotte is pleased to welcome Kurk Wilks, President and Chief Executive Officer of MANN+HUMMEL, as a featured speaker in our CEO Series on March 3, 2026. As the global leader of a German-headquartered company with more than 21,000 employees across 80+ locations worldwide, Mr. Wilks offers a unique perspective on German–U.S. economic ties, transatlantic leadership, and managing complex global operations in an increasingly interconnected world.

March 3rd, 2026: WACC CEO Series with Kurk Wilks, President and Chief Executive Officer of MANN+HUMMEL2026-01-07T14:14:20-05:00

February 13th, 2026: YPWACC International Career Panel

Join The Young Professionals of the World Affairs Council of Charlotte, UNC Charlotte’s Office of International Programs, and the UNC Charlotte Career Center for the opportunity to attend in person, network, and hear several professionals discuss the international elements of their careers in the higher education, business, government, and nonprofit sectors. 

February 13th, 2026: YPWACC International Career Panel2026-02-11T12:23:15-05:00

February 4th, 2026: YPWACC Drink About It Series –> The Transformative Power of Art

On February 4th, the Young Professionals of the WACC will host the next installment of our Drink About It program series at Lost Worlds Brewing Charlotte in Midtown. This moderated panel discussion will explore the transformative power of art across cultures and borders and examine how artistic expression shapes global perspectives, challenges assumptions, and fosters connection in an increasingly interconnected world.

February 4th, 2026: YPWACC Drink About It Series –> The Transformative Power of Art2026-02-02T13:25:17-05:00

February 3rd, 2026: WACC Ambassadors Circle Series with H.E. Francisco António Duarte Lopes, Ambassador of Portugal to the United States

Join the World Affairs Council of Charlotte for a WACC Ambassadors Circle Series luncheon with H.E. Francisco António Duarte Lopes, Ambassador of Portugal to the United States, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. Ambassador Duarte Lopes will discuss Portugal’s foreign policy priorities, its strategic partnership with the United States, and its role in today’s evolving global landscape, including Atlantic security, transatlantic cooperation, trade, technology, and leadership within the European Union, offering attendees a clear and forward-looking perspective on Portugal’s global engagement and the opportunities ahead for strengthening U.S.–Portugal collaboration.

February 3rd, 2026: WACC Ambassadors Circle Series with H.E. Francisco António Duarte Lopes, Ambassador of Portugal to the United States2026-01-30T10:53:14-05:00

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.

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)2026-03-04T14:54:40-05:00

November 18, 2025: WACC Voyagers Club Dinner with Dr. Tomislav Longinović, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of Slavic, Comparative Literature and Visual Culture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Visiting Professor at Harvard University, and Award Winning Author, “The Future of International Education: Virtualizing the World”

Join the World Affairs Council of Charlotte’s Voyagers Club on November 18 for an extraordinary evening of conversation, cuisine, and curiosity as we welcome Dr. Tomislav Longinović, one of today’s most thought-provoking voices in global education, literature, and cultural studies. A renowned scholar and award-winning author, Dr. Longinović explores identity, language, and cultural transformation in a rapidly globalizing world. His upcoming talk, “The Future of International Education: Virtualizing the World,” will examine how technology, AI, and digital learning are reshaping cross-cultural exchange, redefining global citizenship, and expanding access to education beyond borders.

November 18, 2025: WACC Voyagers Club Dinner with Dr. Tomislav Longinović, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of Slavic, Comparative Literature and Visual Culture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Visiting Professor at Harvard University, and Award Winning Author, “The Future of International Education: Virtualizing the World”2025-11-17T09:00:26-05:00

November 11, 2025: An Exclusive Evening with Rick Steves, best-selling travel author and host of public television’s “Rick Steves’ Europe” and public radio’s “Travel with Rick Steves

Prepare to be transported on a cultural journey filled with captivating tales of exploration, thought-provoking global insights, and the secrets to unlocking the wonders of our world. The World Affairs Council of Charlotte is thrilled to present an unforgettable evening with the one and only Rick Steves, the iconic, best-selling travel author and beloved host of Rick Steves’ Europe on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.

November 11, 2025: An Exclusive Evening with Rick Steves, best-selling travel author and host of public television’s “Rick Steves’ Europe” and public radio’s “Travel with Rick Steves2025-11-17T09:00:34-05:00

November 6, 2025: WACC Private Dinner with H.E. Urban Ahlin, Ambassador of Sweden to the United States

Join the World Affairs Council of Charlotte for an exclusive private dinner with H.E. Urban Ahlin, Ambassador of Sweden to the United States, on Thursday, November 6. As the world navigates challenges including the war in Ukraine, climate leadership, and Sweden’s recent accession to NATO, Ambassador Ahlin will provide valuable insight into his country’s foreign policy priorities, democratic values, and evolving partnership with the United States.

November 6, 2025: WACC Private Dinner with H.E. Urban Ahlin, Ambassador of Sweden to the United States2025-08-18T14:43:27-04:00

November 6, 2025: WACC Ambassadors Circle Series with H.E. Urban Ahlin, Ambassador of Sweden to the United States

Ambassador Urban Ahlin will offer valuable insight into the evolving political and security landscape of Europe, the Nordic region, and the broader transatlantic alliance. He will discuss Sweden’s historic decision to join NATO, the significance of that move for regional and global security, and how it reflects Sweden’s deepening commitment to collective defense in the face of mounting geopolitical uncertainty. With global attention centered on the war in Ukraine, rising tensions with authoritarian regimes, and urgent calls for climate leadership, Ambassador Ahlin will explore how Sweden is navigating these challenges through diplomacy, multilateral engagement, and its role as a bridge between Europe and North America.

November 6, 2025: WACC Ambassadors Circle Series with H.E. Urban Ahlin, Ambassador of Sweden to the United States2025-11-17T09:00:41-05:00

November 5, 2025: WACC Partner Program — Tamar Shapiro, Author of the Novel “Restitution and Urban Development Expert”

Tamar Shapiro’s debut novel Restitution tells the story of two American siblings who return to their mother’s East German hometown, from which their mother and grandparents fled in the 1950s, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, only to uncover long-buried family secrets and reckon with the meaning of home, memory, and loss. As we mark the 35th anniversary of German reunification in 2025, the novel offers a timely reflection on how the legacies of division and exile continue to shape both nations and families. The discussion will reflect on Restitution, Shapiro’s experiences living and working in eastern Germany, and her journey from a career in law and community development to fiction, through which she continues to explore how individuals and communities seek restitution – whether via legal frameworks, civic engagement, or the power of storytelling.

November 5, 2025: WACC Partner Program — Tamar Shapiro, Author of the Novel “Restitution and Urban Development Expert”2025-10-27T10:26:57-04:00
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