Private Dinner

Throughout the year WACC offers exclusive opportunities for small group discussion time with our renowned speakers, experts and foreign dignitaries at our Private Dinners.

Past private dinners include the following:

  • Robert Walker, President of the Population Institute
  • Col. Mark Mykleby, USMC, Ret., Senior Fellow, Smart Strategy Initiative at the New America Institute
  • Russell Gold, Wall Street Journal journalist 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”
  • Lyle Goldstein, Professor and Author of “Meeting China Halfway: How to Defuse the Emerging US-China Rivalry”
  • Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, German Federal Minister of Defense (2009-2011); German Federal Minister of Economics & Technology (2009)
  • H.E. Ashok Kumar Mirpuri, Ambassador of Singapore to the U.S.
  • Carrie Hessler-Radelet, Director of Peace Corps
  • Matthew Bishop, Globalization Editor at The Economist 

Private Dinner Events

April 14th, 2026: WACC Private Dinner with the Honorable Elaine F. Marshall, North Carolina Secretary of State

The World Affairs Council of Charlotte will host an exclusive private dinner with the Honorable Elaine F. Marshall, North Carolina Secretary of State, on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 for a conversation on the role of foreign direct investments, global business, and international engagement in shaping North Carolina’s economic future. Guests will hear directly from Secretary Marshall and have the opportunity to ask questions during a discussion on how global connections continues to drive economic growth and opportunity across the state.

March 12th, 2026: WACC Private Dinner with General (Ret.) Paul Nakasone, U.S. Army Four-Star General, Founding Director of Vanderbilt University’s Institute of National Security, Former 3rd Commander of the United States Cyber Command and Director of the NSA

The World Affairs Council of Charlotte will host an exclusive, off-the-record private dinner with General (Ret.) Paul M. Nakasone on March 12, 2026, limited to just 24 guests. General Nakasone led U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency from 2018 to 2024, overseeing America’s cyber defense during a period of escalating global threats. Now Founding Director of Vanderbilt University’s Institute of National Security, he continues to shape national dialogue on cybersecurity and emerging technologies. This intimate dinner offers rare, direct access to General Nakasone’s insights on the cyber challenges defining today’s global security environment.

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.

October 29, 2025: WACC Private Dinner with Candace Rondeaux, Senior Director, Future Frontlines and Planetary Politics; Professor of Practice, Arizona State University, and Author of “Putin’s Sledgehammer: The Wagner Group and Russia’s Collapse into Mercenary Chaos”

The World Affairs Council of Charlotte is honored to host renowned expert Candace Rondeaux, Senior Director of Future Frontlines and Planetary Politics at Arizona State University, Professor of Practice, and author of "Putin’s Sledgehammer: The Wagner Group and Russia’s Collapse into Mercenary Chaos." Rondeaux will offer a compelling analysis of how Russia’s growing dependence on paramilitary forces signals a broader shift in modern warfare. She will explore the global implications of this mercenary strategy, highlighting its destabilizing impact in regions such as Ukraine, Africa, and the Middle East, and what it may signal for the future of international conflict and great power rivalry. Drawing on her groundbreaking research and firsthand reporting, Rondeaux will lead a thought-provoking discussion on the intersection of authoritarian power, irregular warfare, and global security. This private, off-the-record dinner provides a rare opportunity for attendees to engage with her directly.