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)
April 24, 2025: 2025 China Town Hall – “The First 100 Days: President Trump’s China Policy”
Leading China experts Ryan Hass, director of John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution, Matthew Turpin, visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution, and Lingling Wei, chief correspondent at The Wall Street Journal, will be the featured speakers for CHINA Town Hall 2025, a national conversation on how the U.S.-China relationship affects our communities across the country.
April 24, 2025: China Town Hall- “Let’s Talk About China: What Do We Know & How do We Know It?” with Jonathan Landreth
Join the World Affairs Council of Charlotte on April 24 for a timely and thought-provoking conversation that explores how information about China is gathered, interpreted, and sometimes misunderstood. From state-run narratives to Western media portrayals, academic research to firsthand accounts—this discussion will dive deep into the complexities of understanding modern China while addressing its often tenuous relationship with the United States.
March 31, 2025: WACC Partner Program with Senator Chris Murphy, U.S. Senator and Member of the Foreign Relations Committee, the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and the Appropriations Committee (VIRTUAL)
Join the World Affairs Council of Charlotte as part of a nationwide WAC partnership program on March 31st for a town hall on U.S. Foreign Policy with Senator Murphy and fellow citizens across the nation. We’ll address the massive changes to the State Department, the role of the U.S. in conflicts around the world, and relationships with allies and adversaries alike.
February 4, 2025: Tom Standage, Deputy Editor-In-Chief of The Economist & Editor of “The World Ahead 2025”
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 2025," 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.