Holiday Open House
2025-12-17 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | World Affairs Council of Connecticut, 1049 Asylum Ave, Hartford, CT, 06105, United States
You’re invited to a fun and festive happy hour open house with fellow World Affairs Council members, board of directors, and special guests. Featuring festive drinks and snacks, and – above all – the chance to connect, discuss everything that happened in the world this year, and meet a new connection at the Council. We can’t wait to see you there.
The Details
When: Wednesday, Dec. 17 | 5:00PM – 7:00PM
Where: World Affairs Council Office, 1049 Asylum Ave, Hartford, CT
Tickets: No charge, RSVP Required
Free Parking on site | Festive Refreshments and light bites
RSVP

Stay Globally Involved
Renew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

Support global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities - or learn more on our website.

Venezuela and the U.S.: What Comes Next?
2025-12-09 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Webinar
Gunboat diplomacy, armed conflict, or all-out regime change? As tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela continue to rachet up, all outcomes and more seem to be on the table.
The U.S. has declared an armed conflict with Venezuela, increased military pressure in the Caribbean, and accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of heading Cartel de los Soles, recently declared to be a foreign terrorist organization. Simultaneously, President Trump has indicated an openness to talks with his Venezuelan counterpart.
Is the U.S. headed towards war with Venezuela?
Former Ambassador to Venezuela, Charles Shapiro, joins us to unpack everything we know about the potential of further U.S. military action and what could come next.
A career foreign service officer with 34 years of service, Amb. Shapiro held a number of senior positions at the United States Department of State including Ambassador to Venezuela, Acting Assistant Secretary for the Western Hemisphere, and Coordinator for Cuban Affairs.
The Details:
When: Tuesday, Dec. 9 | 7:00PM – 8:00PM ET
Where: Zoom Webinar
Tickets: No charge, suggested $20 donation
Reserve your spot today

Featuring
Ambassador Charles Shapiro
Ambassador (ret.) Charles Shapiro is a senior advisor at the Pendleton Group, co-founder of Art of Diplomacy Tours, and a Professor of Practice at the Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Tech.
A career foreign service officer with 34 years of service, Shapiro held a number of senior positions at the United States Department of State including Ambassador to Venezuela, Acting Assistant Secretary for the Western Hemisphere, and Coordinator for Cuban Affairs.
In 2011 Shapiro became the president of the Institute of the Americas, a think tank at the University of California San Diego. In 2014 he became president of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta. While at the World Affairs Council, he taught international business in the Executive MBA program at the Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University.
Shapiro’s op-eds have been published in the Toronto Star, Efecto Cocuyo, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Atlanta Business Chronicle, the Miami Herald, the San Diego Union Tribune, and the Los Angeles Times.
Moderated by

Megan Clark Torrey
CEO, World Affairs Council of Connecticut
Megan Clark Torrey is the CEO of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut. In 2016, she founded the Global Security Forum – a globally recognized forum for defense and security hosted annually in Hartford, CT.
In 2022, Megan participated in the Secretary of Defense Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC93), and in 2023 was nominated by Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro to be the first U.S. Navy Community Ambassador to Connecticut.
Before joining the Council in 2003, she worked with UNESCO’s International Year for the Culture of Peace at its headquarters in Paris and the UN International Training & Research Institute for the Advancement of Women. Megan holds two degrees in International Relations and Diplomacy.

Presented by

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

Support global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities - or learn more on our website.

Stay Globally Involved
Renew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.

Second Monday with CTWAC | December
2025-12-08 18:00 - 19:30 | McCarter & English, Two Stamford Plaza, 281 Tresser Blvd, 11th Floor, Stamford, CT, 06901, United States
Join fellow World Affairs Council members and friends in conversation over dinner on the issues impacting our world. Connect and engage with others, share your thoughts, and explore how we can secure our global future.

The Details:
When: Monday, December 8th | 6-7:30PM
Where: McCarter & English, LLP | Two Stamford Plaza – 281 Tresser Blvd, 11th Floor, Stamford, CT 06901
Tickets: $15 Members, $25 Non-members | Registration required
Space is limited
Reserve your spot today

Upcoming Second Mondays:
December 8th - Global Inequality & its Impacts on Societal Stability
*Topics will be announced 1 week prior to events.

Past Second Mondays:
2025
November 10th - Nuclear Deterrence in the Age of Drones
October 13th - A New Era of U.S. Foreign Policy
September 15th - Counterterrorism or Extra-Legal Killings: When Do Strikes on Non-State Targets Cross the Line?
June 9th - What's at stake in the India-Pakistan conflict?
May 12th - So many elections - what do they all mean?
April 28th (Special Edition) – Sudan’s Civil War & Sub-Saharan Africa after USAID
April 14th - The Future of Immigration Policy
March 10th - NATO's Uncertain Future
February 10th – The End of USAID?
January 13th – Greenland, the Panama Canal, and The Future of Immigration Policy
2024
December 9th – A Rebalancing in the Middle East and the Taiwan Question
November 12th – Foreign Policy in a New Administration
October 14th – The World After the U.S. Election
September 30th – Worldwide Efforts to Battle - or Embrace - Disinformation
July 15th – The Climate Crisis & Global Instability
June 10th – Potential Flash Points - How is the U.S. positioned and what happens next?
May 20th – Democratic Systems at a Crossroad
April 8th – War in Gaza: How did we get here?
March 11th – Western Consensus on Ukraine: What’s Next?

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

Support global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities.

Stay Globally Involved
Renew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.

The World Ahead 2026
2025-12-08 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Webinar
Each year, The Economist publishes The World Ahead series: an informed prediction of the major themes that will dominate the coming year. Spanning topics from politics to technology to sociology and more, this series edited by Tom Standage is as ambitious as it is awe-inspiring.
On December 8, Standage rejoins the Council to discuss his publication’s analysis for 2026. In conversation with Jim Falk, host of WorldNow.
Join us to unpack all of the trends that will define 2026 – from a possible AI bubble and global climate policy controversies to evolving global conflicts, problems for Europe, and China’s rise.
The details:
When: Monday, December 8 | 12:00PM ET
Where: Zoom Webinar | Registration required
Tickets: No charge, RSVP required
Reserve your spot today

Meet the Economist
Tom Standage is deputy editor of The Economist and editor of its future-gazing annual, “The World Ahead.” Standage directs the newspaper’s digital strategy and the development of new digital products and is the author of seven history books, including Writing on the Wall (2013), The Victorian Internet (1998), and A History of the World in 6 Glasses (2005). He studied engineering and computing at Oxford University and has written for other publications including the New York Times, Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, and Wired.

Meet the Host

Jim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe, NM, he is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk, Jim produces and hosts The Forum, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

Support global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities.

Stay Globally Involved
Renew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.

Add to calendar

Model United Nations 2025
2025-12-05 - 2025-12-06 | University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Ave, West Hartford, CT, 06117, US
The CTWAC Model United Nations brings together over 1,100 Connecticut high school students to engage in debate and diplomacy, preparing them to become our future leaders.
The Council’s MUN program is exclusively student-run, offering students opportunities to take leadership positions and negotiate with peers. Students experience the inner workings of diplomacy as they tackle global controversies, navigate crisis scenarios, debate solutions, and draft resolutions. Delegates also have the opportunity to travel to the UN Headquarters in New York, meet diplomats from the countries they’ll represent, and discuss timely issues with the policymakers currently working to solve them.
The World Affairs Council of Connecticut’s Model UN began in 1952 at Hartford Public High School and is now one of the largest and longest continuously running Model UN programs in the world. In its 73 years, the program has impacted over 55,000 students across Connecticut.

Learn more about the CTWAC Model UN program and how to get involved here.

Participating Connecticut Schools

Sponsors

Roz & Alan Spier

Model UN’s impact on the students:
“I learned new skills every year I participated, and though this was my last year with MUN, the skills I’m walking away with are ones that I will carry with me forever.”
“Through MUN, I was able to craft my own opinions on our world’s pressing issues and work to create a resolution to solve them.”
“Model UN gave me a place to learn more about the world, while also giving me an outlet to better my public speaking skills and my research skills.”

About the World Affairs Council of Connecticut
The World Affairs Council of Connecticut (CTWAC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization founded in 1924. Through community engagement and collaboration, the World Affairs Council of Connecticut creates experiences that explore critical global issues and promote a greater understanding of the world. Learn more about what we do here and how you can get involved. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

[SOLD OUT] Hon. Kevin Rudd, Australia's Ambassador to the U.S. and 26th Prime Minister | GSF2025
2025-11-18 17:30 - 19:00 | Mark Twain House & Museum, 351 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT, 06105, United States
This event is sold out. Please contact us at (860) 241-6118 with special requests.
Join us for an exclusive off-the-record conversation with the Honorable Kevin Rudd, Ambassador of Australia to the U.S., 26th Prime Minister of Australia, and former President of the Asia Society, at the signature event of the 2025 Global Security Forum Series.
Ambassador Rudd will offer expert insight on the future of the U.S.-Australia alliance, security and economic cooperation through AUKUS, relations with China, and Australia’s role on the global stage. This is a rare opportunity to engage directly with one of the world’s most respected voices in international affairs.
Moderated by CNN’s Jim Sciutto, chief national security analyst and anchor of The Brief with Jim Sciutto.
The Details
When: Tuesday, November 18th | 5:30pm – 7:00pm ET
Where: Mark Twain House, Hartford CT
Tickets: $40 General Admission | $30 CTWAC Member Admission
Reserve your spot today

Introducing: GSF2025 All-Access Pass (CTWAC Members Only)
Your ticket to all upcoming in-person and virtual GSF2025 events (excluding dinners and private events) - for just $99. Click the button below to unlock this member-exclusive offer.
GSF2025 All-Access Pass

Unlock special member pricing for all GSF2025 events by becoming a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut today. Join on our website or select the membership add-on during checkout.
Not sure if you're a member? Call us or reach out to Abby Noyes at noyesa[@]ctwac.org.

With Special Guests
H.E. The Hon. Dr. Kevin Rudd AC
Ambassador of Australia to the U.S. and 26th Prime Minister of Australia
HE the Hon Dr Kevin Rudd AC is Australia’s Ambassador to the United States of America, taking up his posting in Washington in March 2023.
Ambassador Rudd served as Australia’s twenty-sixth Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010, then as Minister for Foreign Affairs, before a second term as Prime Minister in 2013. He was Member for Griffith in the Australian Parliament from 1998 to 2013.
Since leaving government, Ambassador Rudd has resided in the United States where he is recognised as a leading analyst of China. In 2015, he became inaugural President of the Asia Society Policy Institute in New York. In 2020, he was appointed President and CEO of the Asia Society globally and, in 2022, he founded the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis.
Learn more about Ambassador Rudd here.

Jim Sciutto
CNN’s chief national security analyst & anchor of The Brief with Jim Sciutto
Sciutto reports and provides analysis on all aspects of U.S. national security including foreign policy, the military, intelligence community and the State Department.
Throughout his career, he has reported from more than 50 countries across the globe including dozens of assignments from inside Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran, as well as multiple assignments in Ukraine and the Middle East. Sciutto has also served as chief of staff and senior advisor to the U.S. Ambassador to China, Gary Locke.
Sciutto is the author of four books, including the New York Times Bestseller, The Return of Great Powers: Russia, China and the Next World War, which examines the breakdown of a decades-old international order among the world’s strongest powers.

This event is part of the Global Security Forum Series 2025 (GSF2025). GSF2025 is evolving to reach a growing number of attendees and to host more international and national leaders than ever before. GSF has expanded from a one-day gathering into a dynamic series of in-person and virtual events throughout Fall 2025. Learn more and find the full schedule here.
The theme of GSF2025 is Unraveling Order. We explore the edge of uncertainty – the threats that emerge when norms collapse and the opportunities that arise when power shifts. GSF2025 gathers the world’s top leaders and minds to ask: when certainty collapses, what comes next?

Thank you to GSF2025 Sponsors
Become a GSF2025 Sponsor by contacting Council CEO Megan Torrey at mctorrey@ctwac.org. Unlock exclusive access, increased visibility, and shape the future of global security.
GSF2025 Series Sponsorship Package (PDF)

GSF2025 Presenting Partners

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

The New Global Disorder with Ambassador Michael McFaul
2025-11-12 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Webinar
Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul joins us on WorldNow with Jim Falk to explore the global rise of autocracy, new challenges posed by an assertive Russia and China, and an increasingly insular America – and what it all means for democracy and security in a changing world.
In Autocrats vs. Democrats, Ambassador McFaul makes the case for democracy and defines the threats posed by China, Russia, and America’s shift to isolationism to the global international order as we know it.
Join us November 12th to hear exclusive insight from Ambassador McFaul, the leading Russia and Eurasian affairs expert, on his forthcoming book and his vision of American leadership on the world stage.
The details:
When: Wednesday, November 12th | 7:00pm-8:00pm Eastern / 6pm Central
Where: Zoom Webinar
Tickets: No charge | RSVP Required
Reserve your spot today

Meet the Author
Ambassador Michael McFaul
U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation (2012-2014)
Ambassador McFaul is a Professor of Political Science, Director of Freeman Spogli Institute & Hoover Senior Fellow all at Stanford University. He is also an international affairs analyst for NBC News.
Previously, he served in the Obama administration as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Russian and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council at the White House (2009–2012) and then as U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation in (2012-2014). He has authored several books, including, most recently, the New York Times bestseller From Cold War to Hot Peace: An American Ambassador in Putin’s Russia.

Meet the Host
Jim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe, NM, he is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk, Jim produces and hosts The Forum, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

About the Book
Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America, and the New Global Disorder by Michael McFaul
A bold, clear-eyed look at how the autocracies of China and Russia are challenging the current global order, and how America’s future depends on successfully confronting this threat.
The rise of China, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the reelection of President Donald Trump have reinforced a gloomy yet growing consensus: the old global order has ended, and a new Cold War has begun.
In this sweeping account of great power competition between the United States, China, and Russia over the past three centuries, Michael McFaul—former ambassador to Russia and international affairs analyst for NBC News—argues persuasively that today’s challenges require fresh thinking, not constrained by distant memories of the Cold War or the nationalist dreams of MAGA.
One of the preeminent thinkers on American foreign policy for decades, McFaul crafts a new grand strategy for America in this age of global disorder. Acknowledging how Xi’s China, Putin’s Russia, and Trump’s America are upending the current international system, Autocrats vs Democrats makes the case against America’s retreat from the world, detailing why:

Russia’s disruptive ambitions should not be underestimated.
China’s capabilities should not be overestimated.
Trump’s shift toward isolationism and autocracy will weaken America’s place in the world.

At once a clarion call for American diplomacy and a forceful rebuttal of the Trump administration’s policies, Autocrats vs Democrats provides a nuanced assessment of the China and Russia threats, as well as a bold vision for renewing America’s leadership on the world stage.
Pre-order a copy of Autocrats vs. Democrats, coming October 28th, 2025

Hosts & Partners
WorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, Global Santa Fe, and the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth.

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

Support global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities.

Stay Globally Involved
Renew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.

Second Monday with CTWAC | November
2025-11-10 18:00 - 19:30 | McCarter & English, Two Stamford Plaza, 281 Tresser Blvd, 11th Floor, Stamford, CT, 06901, United States
﻿Join fellow World Affairs Council members in conversation over dinner on the issues impacting our world. Connect and engage with others, share your thoughts, and explore how we can secure our global future.

The Details:
When: Monday, November 10th | 6-7:30PM
Where: McCarter & English, LLP | Two Stamford Plaza – 281 Tresser Blvd, 11th Floor, Stamford, CT 06901
Tickets: $15 Members, $25 Non-members | Registration required
Space is limited
Reserve your spot today

Upcoming Second Mondays:
November 10th - Nuclear Deterrence in the Age of Drones
December 8th - *Topic TBA
*Topics will be announced 1 week prior to events.

Past Second Mondays:
2025
October 13th - A New Era of U.S. Foreign Policy
September 15th - Counterterrorism or Extra-Legal Killings: When Do Strikes on Non-State Targets Cross the Line?
June 9th - What's at stake in the India-Pakistan conflict?
May 12th - So many elections - what do they all mean?
April 28th (Special Edition) – Sudan’s Civil War & Sub-Saharan Africa after USAID
April 14th - The Future of Immigration Policy
March 10th - NATO's Uncertain Future
February 10th – The End of USAID?
January 13th – Greenland, the Panama Canal, and The Future of Immigration Policy
2024
December 9th – A Rebalancing in the Middle East and the Taiwan Question
November 12th – Foreign Policy in a New Administration
October 14th – The World After the U.S. Election
September 30th – Worldwide Efforts to Battle - or Embrace - Disinformation
July 15th – The Climate Crisis & Global Instability
June 10th – Potential Flash Points - How is the U.S. positioned and what happens next?
May 20th – Democratic Systems at a Crossroad
April 8th – War in Gaza: How did we get here?
March 11th – Western Consensus on Ukraine: What’s Next?

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

Support global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities.

Stay Globally Involved
Renew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.

Conversation with H.E. Esteban Moctezuma Barragán, Ambassador of Mexico to the U.S. | GSF2025
2025-11-06 17:30 - 19:00 | Studio A at CT Public, 1049 Asylum Ave, Hartford, CT, 06105, United States
We’re thrilled to be joined by H.E. Esteban Moctezuma Barragán, Ambassador of Mexico to the U.S., for this special edition of the 2025 Global Security Forum Series. We’ll discuss everything from the transformation of U.S.-Mexico relations to the impact of tariffs and remittance taxes, and the future of security cooperation.
Thursday, November 6 | 5:30-7:00pm
Studio A, World Affairs Council, Hartford, CT
Tickets: $40 General Admission | $25 CTWAC Member Admission
Reserve your spot today

Introducing: GSF2025 All-Access Pass (CTWAC Members Only)
Your ticket to all upcoming in-person and virtual GSF2025 events (excluding dinners and private events) - for just $99. Click the button below to unlock this member-exclusive offer.
GSF2025 All-Access Pass

Unlock special member pricing for all GSF2025 events by becoming a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut today. Join on our website or select the membership add-on during checkout.
Not sure if you're a member? Call us or reach out to Abby Noyes at noyesa[@]ctwac.org.

About the Ambassador
H.E. Esteban Moctezuma Barragán
Ambassador of Mexico to the U.S.
Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mexico to the United States of America by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. He was ratified by the Senate of the Republic in February 2021 with 115 votes in favor of 116 attending senators.
He was secretary of public education since 2018. A former Senator, he also previously served as Secretary of Social Development; Secretary of Interior; and more. He was responsible for implementing the autonomy of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (1994).
In civil society, he served as Executive President of Fundación Azteca (2001-2018); as well as many more community organizations dedicated to public health and education. Ambassador Moctezuma has been a columnist for several Mexican newspapers and has written several books.

This event is part of the Global Security Forum Series 2025 (GSF2025). GSF2025 is evolving to reach a growing number of attendees and to host more international and national leaders than ever before. GSF has expanded from a one-day gathering into a dynamic series of in-person and virtual events throughout Fall 2025. Learn more and find the full schedule here.
The theme of GSF2025 is Unraveling Order. We explore the edge of uncertainty - the threats that emerge when norms collapse and the opportunities that arise when power shifts. GSF2025 gathers the world’s top leaders and minds to ask: when certainty collapses, what comes next?

Thank you to GSF2025 Sponsors
Become a GSF2025 Sponsor by contacting Council CEO Megan Torrey at mctorrey@ctwac.org. Unlock exclusive access, increased visibility, and shape the future of global security.
GSF2025 Series Sponsorship Package (PDF)

GSF2025 Presenting Partners

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

Edible Economics: A Hungry Economist Explains the World
2025-11-03 15:00 - 16:00 | Zoom Webinar
Presented by the World Affairs Council of Alaska
What do okra, chocolate, and economic theory have in common? Join the Alaska World Affairs Council for a thought-provoking conversation with renowned economist and bestselling author Ha-Joon Chang as he explores the surprising connections between food, economics, and global change.
Drawing from his latest work, Edible Economics, Chang uses the stories behind everyday foods to illuminate big questions about globalization, climate change, inequality, and the future of capitalism. Through humor, insight, and real-world examples, he challenges conventional thinking and offers fresh ways to understand the forces shaping our world.
This is not your average economics talk — it’s a global feast for curious minds.
When: Monday, November 3rd | 3pm-4pm Eastern
Where: Zoom Webinar

About the Speaker
Ha-Joon Chang is a Distinguished Research Professor of economics, as well as Co-director of CSST (Centre for Sustainable Structural Transformation) and of DLD (Development Leadership Dialogue) at SOAS University of London. Previously he taught at the Faculty of Economics at the University of Cambridge (1990-2022). In addition to numerous journal articles and book chapters, he has published 17 authored books (five co-authored) and 11 edited books (seven co-edited). His main books include The Political Economy of Industrial Policy (1994), Kicking Away the Ladder (2002), Bad Samaritans (2007), 23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism (2010), Economics: The User’s Guide (2014), and Edible Economics (2022). His writings have been translated and published in 46 languages and 48 countries. Worldwide, his books have sold around 3 million copies. Chang has advised numerous international organizations, national governments, civil society organizations, and corporations (both private-sector and public). He is currently a member of CDP (Committee for Development Policy), the highest advisory body of the United Nations on development issues, as well as committees overseeing or advising other international organizations, academic bodies, and charitable organisations. Chang is the winner of the 2003 Gunnar Myrdal Prize and the 2005 Wassily Leontief Prize.

About the Moderator
Lise Kristiansen, born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, serves as the Norwegian Honorary Consul for Alaska and Advisor to the Alaska World Affairs Council. From 2007 to 2023, she was President and CEO of the Alaska World Affairs Council, where she developed high-impact programs featuring more than 450 world leaders, including diplomats, NATO commanders, policymakers, public officials, presidents, and royalty.
Lise has been recognized for her leadership and civic contributions, including being named one of Anchorage’s Top 40 Under 40, inducted into the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce Athena Society, and honored as Leader of the Year by the National World Affairs Councils of America — selected from 94 council leaders nationwide.
A frequent speaker on Arctic and international affairs, Lise has shared her expertise both nationally and internationally. In recognition of her contributions to Norway-Alaska relations, she was awarded the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, Knight 1st Class, by the King of Norway.
Lise has a passion for sports and music, including playing the piano, and has participated in 6 Ironman Triathlons including the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. During her free time, you can often find her on a nearby pickleball court.

Hosted By

Unraveling Order with David Sanger: Russia, China, & the U.S. | GSF2025
2025-10-22 19:00 - 20:00 | Mark Twain House & Museum, 351 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT, 06105, United States
RSVP Today
With geopolitical tensions and global uncertainty on the rise, we’re thrilled to bring back David Sanger, Chief White House & National Security Correspondent for The New York Times, for this special event of the 2025 Global Security Forum Series.
A four-time GSF fan-favorite, David is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of New Cold Wars: China’s Rise, Russia’s Invasion, and America’s Struggle to Defend the West. He has been a member of three teams that won the Pulitzer Prize, including in 2017 for international reporting about Russia’s effort to manipulate the presidential election.
Join us on October 22nd at the historic Mark Twain House and hear from one of the top experts in foreign policy and global security.

Wednesday, October 22nd | 7:00-8:00pm | Mark Twain House, Hartford, CT
Doors open 6:30pm
Tickets: $55 General Admission | $40 Member Admission
The first 8 people to register will win a free copy of one of David’s books
Reserve your spot today

Unlock special member pricing for all GSF2025 events by becoming a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut today. Join on our website or select the membership add-on during checkout.
If you are a federal employee who is furloughed, you are invited to attend this event free of charge. Contact Abby Noyes at noyesa[@]ctwac.org to RSVP.

Introducing: GSF2025 All-Access Pass (CTWAC Members Only)
Your ticket to all upcoming in-person and virtual GSF2025 events (excluding dinners and private events) - for just $99. Click the button below to unlock this member-exclusive offer.
GSF2025 All-Access Pass

Featuring
David Sanger
Chief White House and National Security Correspondent, The New York Times
David E. Sanger is the White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times and the bestselling author of The Inheritance, Confront and Conceal, and The Perfect Weapon. He has been a member of three teams that won the Pulitzer Prize, including in 2017 for international reporting about Russia’s effort to manipulate the presidential election. A contributor to CNN, he also teaches national security policy at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

This event is part of the Global Security Forum Series 2025 (GSF2025). GSF2025 is evolving to reach a growing number of attendees and to host more international and national leaders than ever before. GSF has expanded from a one-day gathering into a dynamic series of in-person and virtual events throughout Fall 2025. Learn more and find the full schedule here.
The theme of GSF2025 is Unraveling Order. We explore the edge of uncertainty - the threats that emerge when norms collapse and the opportunities that arise when power shifts. GSF2025 gathers the world’s top leaders and minds to ask: when certainty collapses, what comes next?

Thank you to GSF2025 Sponsors
Become a GSF2025 Sponsor by contacting Council CEO Megan Torrey at mctorrey@ctwac.org. Unlock exclusive access, increased visibility, and shape the future of global security.
GSF2025 Series Sponsorship Package (PDF)

GSF2025 Presenting Partners

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

The Threat of Nuclear Anarchy with Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins | GSF2025
2025-10-20 12:00 - 12:40 | Zoom Webinar
Nuclear risks are rising. At the same time global nonproliferation efforts are unraveling. A Harvard taskforce has just warned of a new “era of nuclear anarchy.”
As the temperature of the nuclear threat heats up, we sit down with Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, former Undersecretary of State for Arms Control & International Security Affairs (2021-2024). Join us for an inside look at these new – and old – threats.
The Details
When: Monday, October 20th | 12:00pm – 12:40pm ET
Where: Zoom Webinar
Tickets: No charge, RSVP required | Suggested $20 Donation
Reserve your spot today

Introducing: GSF2025 All-Access Pass (CTWAC Members Only)
Your ticket to all upcoming in-person and virtual GSF2025 events (excluding dinners and private events) - for just $99. Click the button below to unlock this member-exclusive offer.
GSF2025 All-Access Pass

With Special Guest
Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins
Former Undersecretary of State for Arms Control & International Security Affairs (2021-2024)
As the under secretary of state for arms control and international security from 2021 to 2024, Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins oversaw three bureaus: Arms Control, Deterrence and Stability; International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN); and Political-Military Affairs. In May 2023, Secretary of State Antony Blinken named Jenkins, the first African American to serve as an under secretary of state, as the department’s lead on implementation of AUKUS, the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Jenkins served as special envoy for cooperative threat reduction programs in the ISN bureau from July 2009 until January 2017. She coordinated U.S. government efforts alongside international programs that prevent non-state actors from developing chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons. She was the State Department’s lead for the President’s Nuclear Security Summits and the U.S. representative to the G7 Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction, and she led diplomatic efforts to promote the Global Health Security Agenda. She was the 2016 ISN nominee for the Secretary of State’s Award for Excellence.
From its inception in 2017 until April 2021, Jenkins was the founder, executive director, and board chair of Women of Color Advancing Peace and Security. From 2005 to 2009, she was the program officer for U.S. foreign and security policy at the Ford Foundation. She also served as counsel on the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9/11 Commission).
Jenkins was a legal adviser to the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. She has been an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law School, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, George Washington University, the University of Virginia, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Minnesota. Jenkins designed and led arms control simulations at Stanford University. Jenkins is a retired U.S. Naval Reserve officer.

This event is part of the Global Security Forum Series 2025 (GSF2025). GSF2025 is evolving to reach a growing number of attendees and to host more international and national leaders than ever before. GSF has expanded from a one-day gathering into a dynamic series of in-person and virtual events held throughout Fall 2025. Learn more and find the full schedule here.
The theme of GSF2025 is Unraveling Order. We explore the edge of uncertainty - the threats that emerge when norms collapse and the opportunities that arise when power shifts. GSF2025 gathers the world’s top leaders and minds to ask: when certainty collapses, what comes next?

Join the Community
With continuous breaking global news, Council membership allows you to understand it all. Members gain lower-cost and exclusive access to discussions with foreign and local leaders, events with experts and opposing views, and - most essentially - a community of engaged people like yourself.
Become a member or renew today and unlock member benefits for the entire 2025 Global Security Forum Series.

Thank you to GSF2025 Sponsors
Become a GSF2025 Sponsor by contacting Council CEO Megan Torrey at mctorrey@ctwac.org. Unlock exclusive access, increased visibility, and shape the future of global security.
GSF2025 Series Sponsorship Package (PDF)

GSF2025 Presenting Partners

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

Second Monday with CTWAC | October
2025-10-13 18:00 - 19:30 | McCarter & English, Two Stamford Plaza, 281 Tresser Blvd, 11th Floor, Stamford, CT, 06901, United States
Join fellow friends and members of the World Affairs Council over dinner on the issues impacting our world. Connect and engage with others, share your thoughts, and explore how we can secure our global future.

The Details:
When: Monday, October 13th | 6-7:30PM
Where: McCarter & English, LLP | Two Stamford Plaza – 281 Tresser Blvd, 11th Floor, Stamford, CT 06901
Tickets: $15 Members, $25 Non-members | Registration required
Space is limited
Reserve your spot today

Upcoming Second Mondays:
October 13th - A New Era of U.S. Foreign Policy
November 10th - *Topic TBA
December 8th
*Topics will be announced 1 week prior to events.

Past Second Mondays:
2025
September 15th - Counterterrorism or Extra-Legal Killings: When Do Strikes on Non-State Targets Cross the Line?
June 9th - What's at stake in the India-Pakistan conflict?
May 12th - So many elections - what do they all mean?
April 28th (Special Edition) – Sudan’s Civil War & Sub-Saharan Africa after USAID
April 14th - The Future of Immigration Policy
March 10th - NATO's Uncertain Future
February 10th – The End of USAID?
January 13th – Greenland, the Panama Canal, and The Future of Immigration Policy
2024
December 9th – A Rebalancing in the Middle East and the Taiwan Question
November 12th – Foreign Policy in a New Administration
October 14th – The World After the U.S. Election
September 30th – Worldwide Efforts to Battle - or Embrace - Disinformation
July 15th – The Climate Crisis & Global Instability
June 10th – Potential Flash Points - How is the U.S. positioned and what happens next?
May 20th – Democratic Systems at a Crossroad
April 8th – War in Gaza: How did we get here?
March 11th – Western Consensus on Ukraine: What’s Next?

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

Support global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities.

Stay Globally Involved
Renew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.

The Great Emu War: An Emusical Comedy and Private Reception
2025-10-09 18:30 - 21:30 | The Terris Theatre, 33 North Main Street, Chester, CT, 06412
In this special partnership between the Council and Goodspeed Musicals, you’ll not only get to see a hilarious comedy about the war between Australia and a flock of emus (that actually happened!), but you’ll also join a private Council reception and meet and greet with the writers behind the show.
The Great Emu War: Remember that one time that the Australian government sent their army with machine guns to wage war on emus in Western Australia? Neither do most people…but when Edith, the headstrong warbler, and her flock begin to feed on the wheat of local farmers–the humans take up arms against Australia’s favorite feathered friends. Think of it as Cats, but with emus. It’s the most emusing 90 minutes you’ll have in any theatre–don’t miss it!
Thursday, October 9 | 6:30pm | The Terris Theatre, Chester, CT
Schedule:
6:30pm | Private Council Reception and Meet and Greet with Writers
7:30pm | Show Start Time: The Great Emu War
9:00pm | Talk Back with Creatives Behind the Show

Registration Directions:

Click October 9 at 7:30pm show
In the Passcode Field, enter the passcode: [REDACTED]
You’ll unlock special seating and pricing (aqua colored)
Choose your seats
Proceed to checkout and we’ll see you at the show!

In Partnership With

Join the Community
With continuous breaking global news, Council membership allows you to understand it all. Members gain lower-cost and exclusive access to discussions with foreign and local leaders, events with experts and opposing views, and – most essentially – a community of engaged people like yourself.
Become a member or renew today.

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

Special Intelligence Briefing with LTG Robert Ashley, 21st Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency | GSF2025
2025-10-07 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Webinar
﻿You’re invited to a member-exclusive live intelligence briefing with LTG Robert Ashley, U.S. Army (Ret.), 21st Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, moderated by MG Garrett Yee, U.S. Army (Ret.).
General Ashley will share high-level insights on global threats from Iran-Israel tensions to the future of Ukraine, and from emerging technologies to what national security leaders are watching most closely. Limited audience Q&A will follow this closed-door-style Zoom webinar.
Don’t miss the return of these two top intelligence leaders and GSF fan-favorite speakers. RSVP today.
When: Tuesday, October 7th | 7:00pm – 8:00pm ET
Where: Zoom Webinar
Tickets: No charge for members*
Reserve your spot today

*This event is exclusive to current members of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut and GSF Presenting Partners.
Not a member?
Become a member of the World Affairs Council today in order to access this special briefing by selecting the Membership & Virtual Ticket Combo during registration. Or join on our website and consider our additional levels, including for students, young professionals, your household, or your business, at ctwac.org/membership/

Introducing: GSF2025 All-Access Pass (CTWAC Members Only)
Your ticket to all upcoming in-person and virtual GSF2025 events (excluding dinners and private events) - for just $99. Click the button below to unlock this member-exclusive offer.
GSF2025 All-Access Pass

Featuring
LTG Robert Ashley, U.S. Army (Ret.)
21st Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency; CEO, Ashley Global Leadership and Security
Lieutenant General Robert P. Ashley, Jr. retired from the U.S. Army November 2020 after over 36 years of activity duty service as an intelligence officer. He assumed his last duty position on 3 October 2017 when he became the 21st Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).
LTG Ashley formerly served as the Army Deputy Chief of Staff, G-2, where he was the senior advisor to the Secretary of the Army and Army Chief of Staff for all aspects of intelligence, counterintelligence and security. He has commanded at the company, battalion, squadron, and brigade levels with six combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as a squadron, brigade commander, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence (J-2). Other key assignments include the Director of Intelligence, United States Army Joint Special Operations Command; the Director of Intelligence, United States Central Command; the Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence, International Security Assistance Force and Director of Intelligence, United States Forces, Afghanistan; and Commanding General and Commandant United States Army Intelligence Center and School Fort Huachuca, AZ.
LTG Ashley has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Appalachian State University, a master’s degree in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University (formerly known as the Defense Intelligence College) and a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. LTG Ashley is the CEO of Ashley Global Leadership and Security (LLC).

Moderated By

MG Garrett Yee, USA (Ret.)
Vice President, General Dynamics Information Technology
Garrett Yee currently serves as a Vice President within the Defense Division at General Dynamics Information Technology.
Prior to GDIT, Garrett served in the U.S. Army retiring as Major General. In his final assignment with the Army, Garrett served at the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) where he helped to lead a global organization of approximately 8,000 military and civilian personnel who plan, develop, deliver, and operate joint, interoperable, command and control capabilities and a global enterprise infrastructure in direct support of the president, secretary of defense, joint chiefs of staff, combatant commanders, Department of Defense components, and other mission partners across the full spectrum of operations.
Prior to his assignment at DISA, Garrett served as the Military Deputy to the Army CIO/G-6 and Senior Information Security Officer in the Office of the Chief Information Officer (CIO)/G6, Headquarters, Department of the Army in the Pentagon. Garrett holds a bachelor’s degree from Santa Clara University, a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College, and a Master of Business Administration degree from Golden Gate University.

This event is part of the Global Security Forum Series 2025 (GSF2025). GSF2025 is evolving to reach a growing number of attendees and to host more international and national leaders than ever before. GSF has expanded from a one-day gathering into a dynamic series of in-person and virtual events throughout Fall 2025. Learn more and find the full schedule here.
The theme of GSF2025 is Unraveling Order. We explore the edge of uncertainty - the threats that emerge when norms collapse and the opportunities that arise when power shifts. GSF2025 gathers the world’s top leaders and minds to ask: when certainty collapses, what comes next?

Join the Community
With continuous breaking global news, Council membership allows you to understand it all. Members gain lower-cost and exclusive access to discussions with foreign and local leaders, events with experts and opposing views, and - most essentially - a community of engaged people like yourself.
Become a member or renew today and unlock member benefits for the 2025 Global Security Forum Series.

Thank you to GSF2025 Sponsors
Become a GSF2025 Sponsor by contacting Council CEO Megan Torrey at mctorrey@ctwac.org. Unlock exclusive access, increased visibility, and shape the future of global security.
GSF2025 Series Sponsorship Package (PDF)

GSF2025 Presenting Partners

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

Celebrating 250 Years of the U.S. Navy | GSF2025
2025-09-24 18:00 - 20:00 | Studio A at CT Public, 1049 Asylum Ave, Hartford, CT, 06105, United States
﻿﻿Join us for a special evening as we celebrate 250 years of the U.S. Navy. We’re thrilled to welcome you to a memorable gathering with senior Navy leadership and a special opportunity to meet the crew of the USS Hartford in her namesake city.
You’ll have the chance to meet the people behind the uniform. You’ll also hear directly from Rear Admiral Ryan M. Perry, Navy Chief of Information, about the evolution of the role of the U.S. Navy and the course the Navy is charting for the future of national and global security.
The USS Hartford is a Los Angeles-class, nuclear-powered fast attack submarine – the class that forms the backbone of the Navy’s submarine force. She was first commissioned in 1994 at the Naval Sub Base in Groton, CT, and deployed for 6 months in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Come learn about the history of the U.S. Navy and meet the people who are shaping the future. Reception includes specialty American & international bites and refreshments.
The Details
When: Wednesday, September 24th | 6:00pm – 8:00pm ET
Where: Studio A, CTWAC Office | 1049 Asylum Ave, Hartford CT
Tickets: $45 General Admission | $35 CTWAC Member Admission
Reserve your spot today

Unlock special member pricing by becoming a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut today. Join on our website or select the membership add-on during checkout.
Not sure if you're a member? Call us or reach out to Abby Noyes at noyesa[@]ctwac.org.

With Special Guest
Rear Admiral Ryan M. Perry
U.S. Navy Chief of Information
Rear Adm. Ryan M. Perry is a native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is a 1997 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and holds a master's degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College and is accredited in public relations and military communication.
A career public affairs officer (PAO), Perry has served as force PAO for Naval Special Warfare; fleet PAO for U.S. Third Fleet; special assistant (public affairs) to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and deputy PAO to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Learn more about Rear Admiral Perry here.

This event is the Opening Event of the Global Security Forum Series 2025 (GSF2025). GSF2025 is evolving to reach a growing number of attendees and to host more international and national leaders than ever before. GSF will expand from its traditional form of a one-day gathering into a series of over 10 in-person and virtual events held throughout Fall 2025. Learn more and find the full schedule here.
The theme of GSF2025 is Unraveling Order. We will explore the edge of uncertainty - the threats that emerge when norms collapse and the opportunities that arise when power shifts. GSF2025 gathers the world’s top leaders and minds to ask: when certainty collapses, what comes next?

Thank you to GSF2025 Sponsors
Become a GSF2025 Sponsor by contacting Council CEO Megan Torrey at mctorrey@ctwac.org. Unlock exclusive access, increased visibility, and shape the future of global security.
GSF2025 Series Sponsorship Package (PDF)

GSF2025 Presenting Partners

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

Support global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities - or learn more on our website

Global Security Forum 2025 Series | Unraveling Order
2025-09-24 - 2025-11-21
You’re invited to the GSF2025 Series. Throughout the Fall, national and international leaders will be addressing the Council community in a new, dynamic series of in person and virtual events. Join us to go behind the headlines on the issues reshaping our world.
GSF2025: Unraveling Order explores the edge of uncertainty – the threats that emerge when norms collapse and the opportunities that arise when power shifts. We gather the world’s top leaders and minds to ask: when certainty collapses, what comes next?

Introducing: GSF2025 All-Access Pass (CTWAC Members Only)
Your ticket to all upcoming in-person and virtual GSF2025 events (excluding dinners and private events) – for just $99. Click the button below to unlock this member-exclusive offer.
GSF2025 All Access Pass

GSF2025 Events
Celebrating 250 Years of the U.S. Navy | September 24, 2025, Hartford
Special Intelligence Briefing with LTG Robert Ashley, 21st Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency | October 7, 2025, Virtual
The Threat of Nuclear Anarchy with Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins | October 20, 2025, Virtual
Unraveling Order with David Sanger: Russia, China, & the U.S. | October 22, 2025, Hartford
A Conversation with the Ambassador of Mexico | November 6, 2025, Hartford
The New Global Disorder with Ambassador Michael McFaul | November 12, 2025, Virtual
Keynote: China's Rise and the World Order with Hon. Kevin Rudd, Australia's Ambassador to the U.S. and 26th Prime Minister | November 18, 2025, Hartford

Join the Community
With continuous breaking global news, Council membership allows you to understand it all. Members gain lower-cost and exclusive access to discussions with foreign and local leaders, events with experts and opposing views, and - most essentially - a community of engaged people like yourself.
Become a member or renew today and unlock member benefits for the entire 2025 Global Security Forum Series.

GSF2025 Sponsors

Become a GSF2025 Sponsor by contacting Council CEO Megan Torrey at mctorrey@ctwac.org. Unlock exclusive access, increased visibility, and shape the future of global security.

GSF2025 Presenting Partners

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

Second Monday with CTWAC | September
2025-09-15 18:00 - 19:30 | McCarter & English, Two Stamford Plaza, 281 Tresser Blvd, 11th Floor, Stamford, CT, 06901, United States
Join fellow World Affairs Council members in conversation over dinner on the issues impacting our world. Connect and engage with others, share your thoughts, and explore how we can secure our global future.

The Details:
When: Monday, September 15th | 6-7:30PM
Where: McCarter & English, LLP | Two Stamford Plaza – 281 Tresser Blvd, 11th Floor, Stamford, CT 06901
Tickets: $15 Members, $25 Non-members | Registration required
Registration is on a “first-come” basis and is limited to 20 participants.
Reserve your spot today

Upcoming Second Mondays:
September 15th - Counterterrorism or Extra-Legal Killings: When Do Strikes on Non-State Targets Cross the Line?
October 13th - *Topic TBA
November 10th
*Topics will be announced 1 week prior to events.

Past Second Mondays:
2025
June 9th - What's at stake in the India-Pakistan conflict?
May 12th - So many elections - what do they all mean?
April 28th (Special Edition) – Sudan’s Civil War & Sub-Saharan Africa after USAID
April 14th - The Future of Immigration Policy
March 10th - NATO's Uncertain Future
February 10th – The End of USAID?
January 13th – Greenland, the Panama Canal, and The Future of Immigration Policy
2024
December 9th – A Rebalancing in the Middle East and the Taiwan Question
November 12th – Foreign Policy in a New Administration
October 14th – The World After the U.S. Election
September 30th – Worldwide Efforts to Battle - or Embrace - Disinformation
July 15th – The Climate Crisis & Global Instability
June 10th – Potential Flash Points - How is the U.S. positioned and what happens next?
May 20th – Democratic Systems at a Crossroad
April 8th – War in Gaza: How did we get here?
March 11th – Western Consensus on Ukraine: What’s Next?

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

Support global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities.

Stay Globally Involved
Renew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.

A Tale of Two Kings: Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the Future of Power in the Middle East
2025-09-09 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Webinar
Join us to learn about the two most consequential leaders shaping the future of the Middle East. RSVP now.
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman – de facto ruler of one of the wealthiest states in the Middle East – has positioned himself as a transformative leader. His rule is defined by economic and social change, a close relationship with President Trump, and concerns about human rights abuses and power consolidation.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II leads one of the region’s most economically challenged countries with a steady hand and traditional approach. His rule is characterized by alliance building and cautious political reform, while also stifling political opposition.
Join us on WorldNow with Jim Falk for an inside look at two very different yet consequential leaders who are shaping the future of the Middle East – and redefining what it means to be king in the 21st century. With Pulitzer Prize-Winner Karen Elliot House, author of The Man Who Would be King: Mohammed bin Salman and the Transformation of Saudi Arabia and Aaron Magid, author of The Most American King: Abdullah of Jordan.
The details:
When: Tuesday, September 9th | 7:00pm-8:00pm Eastern / 6pm Central
Where: Zoom Webinar
Tickets: No charge | RSVP Required
Reserve your spot today

Meet the Authors
Karen Elliott House is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist with nearly five decades of experience covering Saudi Arabia. She is also a former executive of Dow Jones & Company and former chair of the Rand Corp. Her deep expertise informs her latest book, The Man Who Would Be King: Mohammed bin Salman and the Transformation of Saudi Arabia, which draws on more than half a dozen in-depth interviews with the Crown Prince himself. House spent over 30 years at The Wall Street Journal, serving as a reporter, editor, and ultimately publisher. She resides in Princeton, New Jersey.

Aaron Magid is a former Amman-based journalist and the author of the recently published The Most American King: Abdullah of Jordan. His analysis on the Hashemite Kingdom has appeared in Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Al-Monitor, the Atlantic Council, France 24, Al-Jazeera, and the Middle East Institute. He hosts the podcast On Jordan. He obtained a Master's Degree in Middle Eastern Studies from Harvard University.

Meet the Host
Jim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe, NM, he is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk, Jim produces and hosts The Forum, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

About the Books
The Man Who Would Be King: Mohammed Bin Salman and the Transformation of Saudi Arabia by Karen Elliot House
Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and former Wall Street Journal publisher, Karen House has gained unprecedented insights into Saudi Arabia and its controversial leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman through her more than forty years of experience covering the Arab kingdom.
House reveals a leader who, like Peter the Great, is a reformer determined to modernize his kingdom but also an autocrat who jails political opponents and rival princes to assure his grip on power. Drawing on extensive interviews with the Crown Prince, his royal relatives, and his inner ring of advisors, The Man Who Would Be King explains in full what shaped the man who is reshaping Saudi Arabia. It is an unprecedented and much needed in-depth portrait of the leader who, at only thirty-nine, will be a major player on the world stage for the next half century.
Get a copy of The Man Who Would Be King on Bookshop.org to support your local bookstore.

The Most American King: Abdullah of Jordan by Aaron Magid
The first comprehensive biography on Jordan's King Abdullah, The Most American King details Abdullah's rise to power, survival amid protests from Jordanians, and his efforts to cement an alliance with Washington.
Aaron Magid, a former Amman-based journalist, charts Abdullah's path to power from a Massachusetts prep school to a British military academy to the throne, and reveals how Abdullah has remained in power for over a quarter century. While leaders nearby were ousted during the 2011 Arab Spring protests, Abdullah survived the wave of discontent. Drawing on interviews with over 100 of King Abdullah's classmates, former Jordanian ministers, and CIA directors, The Most American King offers a thorough account of this key Arab leader.
Get a copy of The Most American King.

Hosts & Partners
WorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, Global Santa Fe, and the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth.

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

Support global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities.

Stay Globally Involved
Renew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.

U.S. Strikes on Iran with Steven Cook
2025-07-01 12:00 - 12:30 | Zoom Webinar
RSVP today
In the last week, the U.S. struck nuclear facilities across Iran and coordinated a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran, after more than a week of the two sides exchanging attacks on military sites and cities.
Dr. Steven Cook from the Council on Foreign Relations joins us live to answer all of your questions including:

Did U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites achieve their objective?
Can we expect the conflict between Israel and Iran to escalate?
Is the U.S. at risk of entering an intractable conflict in the Middle East?
What comes next for Israel, Iran, and the U.S.?

Bring your questions or submit them early to the Council team and join us live on Tuesday, July 1 from 12-12:30pm as we discuss all the breaking developments in the Israel-Iran conflict.
The Details
When: Tuesday, July 1 | 12:00PM – 12:30PM ET
Where: Zoom Webinar
Tickets: No charge, suggested $20 donation
RSVP today

Support global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities.

Featuring
Steven Cook | Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies, Council on Foreign Relations
Steven A. Cook is an expert on Arab and Turkish politics as well as U.S.-Middle East policy. Cook is the author of False Dawn: Protest, Democracy, and Violence in the New Middle East; The Struggle for Egypt: From Nasser to Tahrir Square, which won the 2012 gold medal from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy; and Ruling but Not Governing: The Military and Political Development in Egypt, Algeria, and Turkey. Cook is also the author of the recently published, The End of Ambition: America’s Past, Present, and Future in the Middle East.

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

Support global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities - or learn more on our website.

Stay Globally Involved
Renew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.

Empty Vessel with Ian Kumekawa: The Story of the Global Economy in One Barge
2025-06-24 19:00 - 19:30 | Zoom Webinar
In his newly published Empty Vessel, Harvard economic historian Ian Kumekawa tells the history of the global economy through a single barge: which throughout the 20th century served as a floating prison, military barracks, housing for migrant workers, serviced offshore oil rigs, and anything else the market demanded.
Ian Kumekawa joins us on WorldNow with Jim Falk to explore the making and offshoring of the modern global economy – from mass incarceration, tax havens, and fossil fuel extraction to military power and deregulation. We’ll also discuss what the story reveals about the global economy today and the administration’s increased use of offshore prisons, tariffs, and economic nationalism.
“Kumekawa gives us a ‘barge’s-eye view’ of what his protagonist witnessed…tracing how the vessel became a passive yet essential participant in a rapidly changing world. Empty Vessel joins a growing shelf of books about the new forms that globalization is taking” – Jennifer Szalai, New York Times

The Details:
When: Tuesday, June 24th | 7:00PM – 7:30PM ET
Where: Zoom Webinar
Tickets: No charge, suggested $20 Donation | RSVP Required
Reserve your spot today

About the Book
Empty Vessel: The Story of the Global Economy in One Barge by Ian Kumekawa
The rise of globalization and financialization as seen from a barge—one Swedish barge, to be exact, built in 1979
What do a barracks for British troops in the Falklands War, a floating jail off the Bronx, and temporary housing for VW factory workers in Germany have in common? A single barge that served all three roles.
Empty Vessel follows the many lives of a barge—from floating jail to troopship—revealing how a single vessel housed soldiers, prisoners, and migrant workers, playing a role in mass incarceration, tax havens, military power, and fossil fuel extraction. Kumekawa has crafted an astounding, narrative-driven microhistory in which the forces of globalization converge on one barge, exposing the infrastructure behind the political economy of the late 20th century.
Kumekawa connects the barge’s different uses with shifts in the global economy, demonstrating how the Vessel came to represent tax havens, exploited labor forces, free banking zones, Thatcherism, Reaganomics, and mass incarceration. The result, as Eric Klinenberg puts it, is “a brilliant, unforgettable tale of our modern times.”
Get a copy of Empty Vessel on Bookshop.org to support your local bookstore.

Meet the Author

Ian Kumekawa is a historian of economic thinking and capitalism at the Center for History and Economics at Harvard University and a Lecturer at MIT. He is the author of The First Serious Optimist (2017), which examines the intellectual origins of welfare economics and won the Joseph J. Spengler Prize. He hails from Clinton, CT and now lives in Boston. Learn more about Ian here.

Meet the Host
Jim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe, NM, he is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk, Jim produces and hosts The Forum, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Hosts & Partners
WorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, Global Santa Fe, and the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth.

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

Support global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities.

Stay Globally Involved
Renew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.

The Diplomat + Luminary Award 2025
2025-06-10 18:00 - 20:00 | Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main Street, Hartford, CT, 06103, United States
This event is sold out. For last-minute accommodations, please contact our office at (860) 241-6118.
Honoring Donald Allan, Jr., President & CEO of Stanley Black & Decker with the Luminary Award
Mark your calendar for an unforgettable evening of international connection at The Diplomat. Hartford’s most anticipated global event brings together over 50 Consuls General and Ambassadors to connect with Connecticut’s business, government, and community leaders.
For the first time ever, this year The Diplomat will host the iconic Luminary Award. The Council is proud to recognize Donald Allan, Jr., President & CEO of Stanley Black & Decker, as the 2025 Luminary Award Recipient for his global impact and innovative leadership.
RSVP today to be part of this exclusive international event – where diplomacy meets community, and the world meets Connecticut.
Secure your spot now | Learn more about becoming a sponsor

The 2025 Luminary Award
Donald Allan, Jr.
President & CEO, Stanley Black & Decker
The Council is thrilled to award the 2025 Luminary Award to Donald Allan, Jr., President and CEO of Stanley Black & Decker for his global leadership in industry and innovation.

The Details
When: Tuesday, June 10th | 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Where: The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art | Hartford, CT
Tickets: $99 Members | $125 Non-Members | $250 Patron
RSVP today

*You may call us to RSVP at (860) 241-6118 to pay directly and avoid ticket processing fees.
Unlock this special member pricing by becoming a member of the World Affairs Council today. Join on our website or add the membership add-on to your ticket during checkout.

With Representations from

Sponsored by
Support global engagement in Connecticut by becoming a sponsor. Learn about sponsorship opportunities for The Diplomat 2025 here.

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

Stay Globally Involved
Become a member or renew today. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.

Second Monday with CTWAC | June
2025-06-09 18:00 - 19:30 | McCarter & English, Two Stamford Plaza, 281 Tresser Blvd, 11th Floor, Stamford, CT, 06901, United States
Join fellow World Affairs Council members in conversation over dinner on the issues impacting our world. Connect and engage with others, share your thoughts, and explore how we can secure our global future.

The Details:
When: Monday, June 9th | 6-7:30PM
Where: McCarter & English, LLP | Two Stamford Plaza – 281 Tresser Blvd, 11th Floor, Stamford, CT 06901
Tickets: $15 Members, $25 Non-members | Registration required
Registration is on a “first-come” basis and is limited to 20 participants.
Reserve your spot today

Upcoming Second Mondays:
June 9th - What's at stake in the India-Pakistan conflict?
Jul 14th - *Topic TBA
*Topics will be announced 1 week prior to events.

Past Second Mondays:
2025
April 28th (Special Edition) – Sudan’s Civil War & Sub-Saharan Africa after USAID
April 14th - The Future of Immigration Policy
March 10th - NATO's Uncertain Future
February 10th – The End of USAID?
January 13th – Greenland, the Panama Canal, and The Future of Immigration Policy
2024
December 9th – A Rebalancing in the Middle East and the Taiwan Question
November 12th – Foreign Policy in a New Administration
October 14th – The World After the U.S. Election
September 30th: Worldwide Efforts to Battle - or Embrace - Disinformation
July 15th: The Climate Crisis & Global Instability
June 10th: Potential Flash Points - How is the U.S. positioned and what happens next?
May 20th: Democratic Systems at a Crossroad
April 8th: War in Gaza: How did we get here?
March 11th: Western Consensus on Ukraine: What’s Next?

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

Support global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities.

Stay Globally Involved
Renew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.

[SOLD OUT] Canada, Mexico, & U.S.: The Future of North America
2025-05-20 17:30 - 19:00 | Studio A at CT Public, 1049 Asylum Ave, Hartford, CT, 06105, United States
﻿This event is SOLD OUT. Please call us at (860) 241-6118 if there are any questions/concerns.
A Conversation with Consuls General of Canada and Mexico
Are major shifts in U.S. policy pushing our neighbors to the north and south away? Or will this reordering create pathways for a more productive and secure North American neighborhood?
Join us for a conversation with Consuls General representing Mexico and Canada on their view of a new relationship with the United States. We’ll discuss everything from the impact of tariffs and border and migration policy to increasingly hostile rhetoric between the leaders of these traditional allies, partners, and neighbors.
Featuring Consul General Tom Clark, Consul General of Canada in New York and Consul General Alberto Fierro, Consul General of Mexico in Boston.
Doors open 5:30pm for mingling and light reception. RSVP today.
The Details
When: Tuesday, May 20 | 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Where: Studio A, World Affairs Council of Connecticut | 1049 Asylum Ave, Hartford, CT
Tickets: $35 General Admission | $25 Member Admission | SOLD OUT
Reserve your spot today

Support global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities.
Become a member today to unlock special member pricing for events like these all year.

Featuring
Tom Clark |Consul General of Canada in New York
Prior to being appointed Consul General in New York by Prime Minister Trudeau, Tom Clark served as Chair of Global Public Affairs, one of the largest public affairs and strategic communications firms in Canada. His private sector clients included senior executives in Canada and internationally who sought public policy and strategic communications advice on key business and investment decisions. He was a frequent speaker to business groups and associations across the country as well as a sought after advisor to governments, both in Canada and abroad.
Prior to his work in the business community, Consul General Clark was one of Canada’s most respected broadcast journalists. During his 45 year career, he was posted as Bureau Chief to Washington DC and China, in addition to working in more than 30 countries, including tours in eight active war zones. His work earned him numerous awards in both Canada and the United States. Mr. Clark is a licensed pilot who has flown extensively in Canada’s north. He is married to Jane Clark and has three daughters.

Alberto Fierro-Garza | Consul General of Mexico in Boston
A Mexican career diplomat since 1993, he previously was the head of the splendid Cultural Institute of the Mexican Embassy in Washington, D.C. He was the Consul of Mexico in Orlando, FL and in St. Paul, MN. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he served as Director General for Educational and Cultural Cooperation and as Deputy Director General for North America. Alberto was Director General for International Affairs at the National Council for Culture and the Arts of Mexico. He served also as Director of the Social Promotion Department at Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City. He holds a BA in Sociology from that university and a Masters in Latin-American History from Georgetown University. He lives with his husband David, his companion for more than 26 years.

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

Support global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities - or learn more on our website.

Stay Globally Involved
Renew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.

Second Monday with CTWAC | May
2025-05-12 18:00 - 19:30 | McCarter & English, LLP, One Canterbury Green 201 Broad St, Stamford, CT, 06901, United States
Join fellow World Affairs Council members in conversation over dinner on the issues impacting our world. Connect and engage with others, share your thoughts, and explore how we can secure our global future.

The Details:
When: Monday, May 12th | 6-7:30PM
Where: McCarter & English, LLP | One Canterbury Green 201 Broad St, Stamford, CT 06901
Tickets: $15 Members, $25 Non-members | Registration required
Registration is on a “first-come” basis and is limited to 20 participants.
Reserve your spot today

Upcoming Second Mondays:
April 28th (Special Edition) – Sudan’s Civil War & Sub-Saharan Africa after USAID
May 12th – *Topic TBA
June 9th
*Topics will be announced 1 week prior to events.

Past Second Mondays:
2024
March 11th: Western Consensus on Ukraine: What’s Next?
April 8th: War in Gaza: How did we get here?
May 20th: Democratic Systems at a Crossroad
June 10th: Potential Flash Points - How is the U.S. positioned and what happens next?
July 15th: The Climate Crisis & Global Instability
September 30th: Worldwide Efforts to Battle - or Embrace - Disinformation
October 14th – The World After the U.S. Election
November 12th – Foreign Policy in a New Administration
December 9th – A Rebalancing in the Middle East and the Taiwan Question
2025
January 13th – Greenland, the Panama Canal, and The Future of Immigration Policy
February 10th – The End of USAID?
March 10th - NATO's Uncertain Future
April 14th - The Future of Immigration Policy

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

Support global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities.

Stay Globally Involved
Renew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.

Human Scale: A Conversation with Lawrence Wright | WorldNow
2025-05-06 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Webinar
In his new political thriller The Human Scale, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Lawrence Wright tells the story of an Israeli cop and a Palestinian-American FBI agent who join forces to solve the murder of an Israeli police chief in the West Bank – set against the backdrop of the decades-long Israel-Palestine conflict.
Wright joins us on WorldNow to discuss how his novel, which concludes on October 8th, 2023, underscores the human cost of this longstanding conflict. As he writes at the end of the book: “One cannot hope for an end to the strife without acknowledging the separate histories that each side claims.”
A staff writer at The New Yorker, Wright has spent decades reporting from the Middle East as a journalist, playwright, and novelist. He won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11, his acclaimed nonfiction account of the rise of Al-Qaeda.
“The politics in this book are impossible to ignore; indeed, they’re the point. Wright is thorough in his recounting of key elements of the conflict.” – The New York Times

The Details:
When: Tuesday, May 6th | 7:00PM – 8:00PM ET
Where: Zoom Webinar
Tickets: No charge, Suggested $20 Donation | RSVP Required
Reserve your spot today

About the Book
The Human Scale by Lawrence Wright
In this sweeping, timely thriller, a Palestinian American FBI agent teams up with a hardline Israeli cop to solve the murder of the Israeli police chief in Gaza—from the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Looming Tower and The End of October.
In his historically accurate novel, Lawrence Wright tells the story of the decades-long Israel-Palestine conflict through richly-drawn characters: a Palestinian-American FBI agent, an anti-Arab Israeli police officer, family members with ties to Hamas, religious leaders, corrupt cops, and militants on both sides. Through these intersecting lives, Wright weaves an intricate tapestry that culminates in the devastating Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
More than a thriller, Wright’s novel explores the complex history between Israel and Palestine, revealing the tragic human scale of this long-standing conflict and offering a nuanced perspective on a tragedy that continues to shape the region and the world.
Get a copy of The Human Scale on Bookshop.org and support local bookstores.

Meet the Author
Lawrence Wright is an author, screenwriter, playwright, and staff writer for The New Yorker magazine.
He is the author of eleven nonfiction books. His book about the rise of al-Qaeda, “The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11” (Knopf, 2006), was published to immediate and widespread acclaim. It won numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction. It was made into a series for Hulu in 2018, starring Jeff Daniels, Alec Baldwin, and Tahar Rahim.
Wright has published four novels, “Noriega: God’s Favorite” (Simon and Schuster, 2000) which was made into a Showtime movie starring Bob Hoskins; “The End of October” (Knopf, 2020), a bestseller about a viral pandemic that came out right at the beginning of COVID; “Mr. Texas” (Knopf, 2023), which has been optioned as a limited streaming series; and his most recent novel, “The Human Scale,” released in the spring of 2025.
In 2006, Wright premiered his first one-man play, “My Trip to Al-Qaeda,” at The New Yorker Festival, which led to a sold-out six-week run off-Broadway. It was made into a documentary film of the same name, directed by Alex Gibney, for HBO.
Wright wrote and performed another one-man show, “The Human Scale,” about the standoff between Israel and Hamas over the abduction of an Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit. The Public Theater in New York produced the play, which ran for a month off-Broadway in 2010, before moving to the Cameri Theater in Tel Aviv. Many of the ideas developed in that play later evolved into the novel of the same name, published 15 years later.
In addition to his one-man productions, Wright has written five other plays that have enjoyed productions around the country, including “Camp David,” about the Carter, Begin, and Sadat summit in 1978; and “Cleo,” about the making of the movie “Cleopatra.”
Wright is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Society of American Historians, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He also serves as the keyboard player in the Austin-based blues band, WhoDo.
Meet the Host
Jim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe, NM, he is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk, Jim produces and hosts The Forum, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Hosts & Partners
WorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut in partnership with Global Santa Fe.

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

Support global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities.

Stay Globally Involved
Renew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.

Tariffs & Trade | With H.E. Jovita Neliupšienė, Ambassador of the EU to the US
2025-05-01 15:00 - 17:00 | Studio A at CT Public, 1049 Asylum Ave, Hartford, CT, 06105, United States
Escalation or Negotiation? The world watches as the U.S. and the European Union enter a period of increasingly tense trade relations. As tariffs and trade uncertainty escalates, how will the global economy respond? How will this affect businesses here in Connecticut?
Join us for an urgent seminar on tariffs and trade, featuring a panel discussion with Connecticut business leaders on how they are dealing with the tariffs, followed by a special keynote discussion.
As the global economy faces growing uncertainty, we are thrilled to be joined by H.E. Jovita Neliupšienė, the Ambassador of the EU to the U.S. We’ll discuss the impact of tariffs on the global economy, Europe’s vision for global leadership, and the future of the U.S. relationship with Europe amid escalating tensions.
The bloc is Connecticut’s top trading partner – with $5.6 billion in annual exports to the EU. This event is not to be missed.
The Details
When: Thursday, May 1st | 3:00pm – 5:00pm
Where: Studio A, World Affairs Council of Connecticut | 1049 Asylum Ave, Hartford, CT
Tickets: $25 General Admission | RSVP required
Reserve your spot today

With your ticket, join us for one or both event sessions

In Partnership With

Agenda
3:00pm | Session I
Panel Discussion with CT Business Leaders Addressing Tariff Impacts
Featuring:
- Lutz Labisch | President & CEO, TRUMPF Inc
- Paul Lavoie | Chief Manufacturing Officer, State of Connecticut
- Nik Delic | President and CEO, New England Airfoil Products (NEAP)
- Anna McGovern | Managing Director, The Pondview Group, LLC
- Jody Paviglionite | Director of Supply Chain, Mott Corporation
- Dr. Craig Calvert | Assistant Professor-in-Residence, University of Connecticut | Operations and Information Management
Break
Refreshments, European specialty bites, and networking
4:00pm | Session II
Keynote Discussion with H.E Jovita Neliupšienė, Ambassador of the European Union to the United States

About the Ambassador
H.E. Jovita Neliupšienė
Ambassador of the European Union to the United States
Jovita Neliupšienė became the Ambassador of the European Union to the United States on January 1, 2024. Before that, she was a Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania from September 2022, where she was responsible for the coordination of European Affairs, European bilateral and regional issues, as well as national sanctions coordinator.
From 2020-2022, she was Vice Minister of Economy and Innovation of Lithuania, tasked with investment and export promotion, international cooperation, including policy coordination of state-owned enterprises, as well as chairing the interagency commission for export control.
In 2020, she held the post of Chancellor and State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania. This position included responsibility for staff coordination, legal and consular affairs. Between 2015-2020, she served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the EU. These years were marked by the migration crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
From 2009-2015, she worked as an advisor and chief foreign policy advisor to the President of the Republic of Lithuania Ms. Dalia Grybauskaite. She was responsible for foreign policy coordination, inter-institutional relations, as well as the role of sherpa/EU advisor, and in this respect took a leading position in preparing and coordinating the Lithuanian presidency of the EU Council in 2013. In 2014, she was awarded the State Decoration Order "For Merit to Lithuania" Commander's Cross. Read the Ambassador's full bio here.

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

Support global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities - or learn more on our website about available opportunities.

Stay Globally Involved
Renew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.

Fourth Monday with CTWAC | Special Edition
2025-04-28 18:00 - 19:30 | McCarter & English, LLP, One Canterbury Green 201 Broad St, Stamford, CT, 06901, United States
Join fellow World Affairs Council members in conversation over dinner on the issues impacting our world. Connect and engage with others, share your thoughts, and explore how we can secure our global future.
By popular demand – we’re adding a second discussion group this month to cover all that’s happening in the world. RSVP today.

The Details:
When: Monday, April 28th | 6-7:30PM
Where: McCarter & English, LLP | One Canterbury Green 201 Broad St, Stamford, CT 06901
Tickets: $15 Members, $25 Non-members | Registration required
Registration is on a “first-come” basis and is limited to 20 participants.
Reserve your spot today

Upcoming Second Mondays:
April 28th (Special Edition) – Sudan’s Civil War & Sub-Saharan Africa after USAID
May 12th – *Topic TBA
June 9th
*Topics will be announced 1 week prior to events.

Past Second Mondays:
2024
March 11th: Western Consensus on Ukraine: What’s Next?
April 8th: War in Gaza: How did we get here?
May 20th: Democratic Systems at a Crossroad
June 10th: Potential Flash Points - How is the U.S. positioned and what happens next?
July 15th: The Climate Crisis & Global Instability
September 30th: Worldwide Efforts to Battle - or Embrace - Disinformation
October 14th – The World After the U.S. Election
November 12th – Foreign Policy in a New Administration
December 9th – A Rebalancing in the Middle East and the Taiwan Question
2025
January 13th – Greenland, the Panama Canal, and The Future of Immigration Policy
February 10th – The End of USAID?
March 10th - NATO's Uncertain Future
April 14th - The Future of Immigration Policy

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

Support global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities.

Stay Globally Involved
Renew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.

What's Next for the Congo?
2025-04-24 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom Webinar
On January 23, M23 rebels launched an offensive on Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, reigniting a conflict that has plagued the Great Lakes region and drawn in neighboring African countries since the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Now, on the brink of another multinational Congo War, the region and the world wait to see what comes next.
Join us for a timely discussion with a former UN representative from the region on the latest in the crisis, how we got to this point, and paths to peace in Congo and the Great Lakes Region. We’ll also explore the global implications of the flaring-up of this decades long conflict.
Featuring H.E Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja, former Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of Congo to the UN (2022-2023) and scholar activist at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
The Details:
When: Thursday, April 24th | 6:00pm ET – 7:00pm ET
Where: Virtual | Zoom Webinar
Tickets: No charge, Suggested $20 Donation | RSVP for zoom link
Register Today

Please consider making a small donation in support of this program. We rely on your support to connect our communities with the world and make global education accessible to all. Thank you for being part of our global community.

About the Speaker
Professor Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja, professor Emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is a Congolese scholar-activist and diplomat. He previously served as the Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of Congo to the United Nations from 2022 until 2023.
Before his posting he had been a professor in the Department of African, African American and Diaspora Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, since 2007. He was concurrently interim Executive Director of the African Governance Institute in Dakar, Senegal, from 2009 to 2010, as well as Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) between 2005 and 2007, and Director of the Oslo Governance Centre from 2002 to 2005.
In 1991, having lived in exile for 17 years, Professor Nzongola returned to his homeland -- then called Zaire -- and participated in the Congolese Sovereign National Conference the following year as one of its seven scholars of international renown. Professor Nzongola was also diplomatic advisor to Prime Minister Etienne Tshisekedi from 1992 to 1993 and First Vice-President of the National Election Commission in 1996.
He holds a doctoral degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a master's degree in diplomacy and international commerce from the University of Kentucky and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Davidson College. He is the author of The Congo from Leopold to Kabila: A People's History, (2002).

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

Support global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities - or learn more on our website about available opportunities.

Stay Globally Involved
Renew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.

Second Monday with CTWAC | April
2025-04-14 18:00 - 19:30 | McCarter & English, LLP, One Canterbury Green 201 Broad St, Stamford, CT, 06901, United States
Join fellow World Affairs Council members in conversation over dinner on the issues impacting our world. Connect and engage with others, share your thoughts, and explore how we can secure our global future.

The Details:
When: Monday, April 14th | 6-7:30PM
Where: McCarter & English, LLP | One Canterbury Green 201 Broad St, Stamford, CT 06901
Tickets: $15 Members, $25 Non-members | Registration required
Registration is on a “first-come” basis and is limited to 20 participants.
Reserve your spot today

Upcoming Second Mondays:
April 14th - *The Future of Immigration Policy
May 12th- *Topic TBA
*Topics will be announced 1 week prior to events.

Past Second Mondays:
2024
March 11th: Western Consensus on Ukraine: What’s Next?
April 8th: War in Gaza: How did we get here?
May 20th: Democratic Systems at a Crossroad
June 10th: Potential Flash Points - How is the U.S. positioned and what happens next?
July 15th: The Climate Crisis & Global Instability
September 30th: Worldwide Efforts to Battle - or Embrace - Disinformation
October 14th – The World After the U.S. Election
November 12th – Foreign Policy in a New Administration
December 9th – A Rebalancing in the Middle East and the Taiwan Question
2025
January 13th – Greenland, the Panama Canal, and The Future of Immigration Policy
February 10th – The End of USAID?
March 10th - NATO's Uncertain Future

Mission Partners

Mark & Linda Caplan
Donna Collins
Susan & Peter G. Kelly

Support global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities.

Stay Globally Involved
Renew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
