Speakers Series and Other Programs

Each year the Vermont Council on World Affairs presents expert speakers on topics relating to global affairs. Past speakers have included: Professor William Beeman of Brown University, leading expert on Iran; John Holden, President of the U.S.-China Relations Committee; retired CIA Station Chief Haviland Smith, an expert on U.S. Intelligence and Counter terrorism; Gordon Robison, journalist and expert on the Middle East; veteran diplomatic correspondent Barrie Dunsmore, Eric Hanson of Hanson investment Management, an expert on China and Taiwan, and many more.

The VCWA Ambassador Series, 2001-2010

The ongoing Ambassador Series hosts serving and retired ambassadors from around the globe who come to Vermont to meet with members from the community, business and academia. Past speakers have included:

• Ambassador Sung-Chul Yung  of South Korea (2001)

• Ambassador Juan Carlos Vignaud of Argentina (2002)

• Ambassador Ron Spiers, Career Ambassador and former Undersecretary General of the United Nations (2004, 2005)

• Ambassador William Harrop, former U.S. Ambassador to Kenya and Israel

• Ambassador Barbara Masekela of South Africa (2005)

• Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong of China (2006)

• Ambassador Dennis Hays, former U.S. Ambassador to Suriname (2007)

• Ambassador Madeleine Kunin (2007, 2008)

• Ambassador Pekka Lintu of Finland (2008)

• Ambassador Aziz Merkouar of Morocco (2009)

• Ambassador Peter Galbraith, former United Nations Special Envoy to Afghanistan and former Ambassador to Croatia (2010)

• Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen of Denmark (2010)

• Ambassador Jeffrey Lunstead, former U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka (2010)

• Ambassador Wegger Christian Strømmen of Norway (September 2010)

• Ambassador Jon Huntsman, U.S. Ambassador to China (October 2010)

The Global Symposium is a large event that brings well-known figures to Vermont. Past presenters include New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich and Lester Brown, President of the Earth Policy Institute.

The VCWA also presents cultural and other programs, including in cooperation with other area organizations. Click here for the VCWA community partner films of the 2010 Green Mountain Film Festival.

See Upcoming Events for information on current programs.