2021 Chronology of Programs and Activities
January 6 - 2021: Perspectives on the Agenda Ahead
Mr. Stephen Hadley, Principal of Rice, Hadley, Gates & Manuel LLC, presented a lecture on issues and anticipated developments for the year ahead.
February 4 - International Trade Policy: What Lies Ahead
Senior Advisor and Scholl Chair in International Business at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) William Reinsch addressed the Council on the 2021 international trade agenda.
March 4 - The Challenges of the Digital Revolution: Implications for Public Policy and Individual Lives
Senior Advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies Glenn Gerstell spoke to the Council about the role of technology in national security, cybersecurity, privacy, and geo-political affairs.
March 16 - CROSSROADS: Challenges & Choices in a Low-Trust World
Leading political strategists and analysts Bruce Mehlman and David Castagnetti presented a lecture on the most pressing issues in the U.S. political system, and the implications for domestic and international policy.
April 28 - Global Health, the Pandemic, and Vaccines: What Have We Learned and What Comes Next?
Assistant Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Stewart Simonson spoke to the Council about the COVID-19 pandemic and its global implications.
May 25 - The New World of Money: Digital Currencies, Bitcoin, and What Lies Ahead?
Executive Vice President of Research and Policy with the Institute of International Finance (IIF) Clay Lowery explained and reviewed issues relating to digital currencies and their implications for government and private institutions.
June 23 - Social Justice, the Environment, and Public Policy: What is the Role for Business?
Executive Vice President of Policy with Business Roundtable Ambassador Kristen Silverberg spoke with the Council about “ESG” and corporate social responsibility.
September 20: The WTO: Current Issues and Developments
Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Angela Ellard spoke with the Council about issues related to international trade and the WTO.
October 1: The Washington Nationals vs. The Boston Red Sox
The Council took a break from politics and foreign policy to host international diplomats for a lecture on baseball (“America’s National Pastime”) and a Major-League game at Washington’s Nationals Park.
2020 Chronology of Programs and Activities
January 9 - 2020: Perspectives on the Agenda Ahead
U.S. National Editor and Columnist at The Financial Times Mr. Edward Luce presented a lecture on issues and anticipated developments for the year ahead.
January 29 - Ambassadors Advisory Board Meeting
The Chair of the Council’s Ambassadors Advisory Board His Excellency Ashok Kumar Mirpuri, Ambassador of Singapore to the United States, hosted a Luncheon Meeting at the Embassy of Singapore. Members of the Ambassadors Advisory Board came together with members of the Council’s Board of Directors to review programs and discuss plans for 2020.
February 20 - Global Development and U.S. Foreign Assistance Programs
USAID Administrator and head of U.S. foreign assistance programs The Honorable Mark Green presented his views to a Council Luncheon Lecture and Discussion Program.
April 9 - The Pandemic: How Government and Industry Can Work Together to Provide Adequate Medical Supplies
The Council hosted a virtual meeting with industry leaders Dr. Trevor Gunn of Medtronic, Inc. and former Chair of ECD Board of Directors; Dr. Karen Phillips and Ms. Cyndy Miller of Medtronic, Inc.; and Dr. Alexandria Goncalves and Mr. Jan-Willem Schejigrond of Philips, to raise awareness on respiratory interventions and how government measures can affect the availability and management of the global supply of these life-saving devices.
May 8 - Pandemic Politics
Leading political strategists and analysts Bruce P. Mehlman and David Castagnetti presented a lecture on “Politics and Policy in the Age of Pandemics,” covering the current and longer-term implications of COVID-19 and the challenges ahead.
June 18 - COVID-19 and Global Political Risk
Chief Executive Officer of Control Risks Nick Allan spoke with the Council about the COVID-19 pandemic and the implications for political risks around the world. Control Risks is based in London and is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading global political risk and strategic consulting firms.
July 22 - Has China Won?
Kishore Mahbubani, Singapore’s distinguished former Ambassador to the United Nations and Founding Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, presented a lecture on his most recent book, Has China Won?
September 14 - The U.S. Presidential Elections
Political writer Charles E. Cook, Jr., Editor and Publisher of The Cook Political Report, spoke to the Council about the 2020 U.S. elections.
October 6 – Diplomats and the U.S. Congress: Working Together to Promote International Understanding
The Council and the Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC) hosted an in-depth discussion on the importance of communication and cooperation between diplomats and the U.S. Congress. Two Members of Congress who have also served as U.S. Ambassadors abroad, Representatives Francis Rooney (R-FL) and Don Beyer (D-VA), spoke about this topic with a group of foreign country Ambassadors and U.S. private sector and NGO representatives.
October 20 –Lessons for Leadership: How Ike Led
Susan Eisenhower spoke to the Council about her new book about her grandfather, U.S. President and General Dwight David Eisenhower, and the enduring qualities of successful leadership.
2019 Chronology of Programs and Activities
January 11 - The World Today: Perspectives on the Global Agenda
Ambassador Thomas A. Shannon, former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, presented a lecture on current global developments.
February 13 - Ambassadors Advisory Board Meeting
The Chair of the Council’s Ambassadors Advisory Board His Excellency Ashok Kumar Mirpuri, Ambassador of Singapore to the United States, hosted a Luncheon Meeting at the Embassy of Singapore. Members of the Ambassadors Advisory Board came together with members of the Council’s Board of Directors to review programs and discuss plans for 2019.
March 15 - International Trade Policy: Perspectives on the Agenda Ahead
Senior Advisor and Scholl Chair in International Business at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) William Reinsch addressed the Council on the 2019 international trade agenda.
April 2 - Navigating an Age of Disruption: Washington in 2019-2020
Two of Washington’s leading political strategists and analysts, Bruce P. Mehlman and David Castagnetti, made a presentation on the political and policy environment in Washington.
May 7 - The National Institutes of Health
The Council took a group of diplomats to visit the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the world’s largest biomedical research institution and the U.S. government’s premiere healthcare and health research facility. Dr. Peter Kilmarx, Deputy Director of the Fogarty International Center, briefed the participants on NIH programs and activities.
May 29 - The Federal Reserve and Current Issues for the U.S. and World Economies
Ambassadors, senior diplomats, and private sector representatives participates in a Special Discussion at the Federal Reserve with Chairman Jerome Powell.
June 5 - The Washington Nationals vs. The Chicago White Sox
The Council took a break from politics and foreign policy to host international diplomats for a lecture on baseball (“America’s National Pastime”) and a victory (6-4) for the World Series champion-to-be Washington Nationals.
July 1 - Africa: Boosting Infrastructure, Investment and Trade
The Ambassador of Egypt to the United States, His Excellency Yasser Reda, hosted a panel discussion and reception focused on Africa and Egypt’s Presidency of the African Union. The panel spoke to almost 70 foreign diplomats and U.S. Representatives. It consisted of Senior Vice President of the World Bank for the 2030 Development Agenda, United Nations Relations, and Partnerships Professor Mahmoud Mohieldin; Ambassador of Mozambique to the United States and Member, ECD Ambassadors Advisory Board His Excellency Carlos dos Santos; President and CEO of the Corporate Council on Africa Dr. Florie Liser; and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Africa and the Middle East Mr. Skip Jones.
September 12 - The Smithsonian National African American History and Culture Museum
The Council took a group of diplomats to tour the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. The visit gave foreign diplomats an opportunity to explore and better understand African American history and culture, and the many and varied contributions African Americans have made to the United States.
September 26 - Globalization, Trade and the Future of Work
Dr. Susan Lund is a Partner at McKinsey & Company and a leader of the McKinsey Global Institute. She addressed the Council on her work regarding global labor markets, financial markets and trade, and the implications for public policy.
October 24 - Information Technology and Innovation: Challenges and Opportunities for Public Policy
As President of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, Dr. Robert Atkinson leads an organization recognized as one of the world’s top thinktanks for science and technology policy. He presented a lecture on critical issues now at the intersection of technological innovation and public policy.
November 20 - Diplomacy: A Tool of First Resort
President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and former Deputy Secretary of State Ambassador William Burns discussed his recent book, The Back Channel, and its lessons and implications for international diplomacy.