2026 International Speaker Series

Africa Rising: Investment, Innovation, and a Continent Redefining its Own Story

Africa is the world's youngest continent, over 60% of its population is under 25, and its nations are making increasingly deliberate choices about who they partner with, on what terms, and toward what future. As the United States has pulled back from diplomatic, development, and security commitments across the continent, China has moved aggressively to fill the void through infrastructure investment and political influence.

But the more compelling story may be what African governments, entrepreneurs, and civil society are building independent of either power: regional institutions, technological leapfrogging, and a demand for a seat at the table where their futures are decided. This session examines the U.S.-China competition for influence in Africa — and asks whether that framing itself misses the point.

Neighbors at a Crossroads: Trade, Borders, and North American Futures

From Vermont dairy farms to advanced manufacturing corridors along the Canadian border, Vermont sits at the intersection of America's most consequential trade relationships. As tariffs reshape supply chains, immigration policy disrupts agricultural labor, and energy interdependence complicates diplomacy, the stakes of U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico relations are no longer abstract; they're visible in Vermont fields and factory floors.

This session brings together voices from agriculture, advanced manufacturing, and foreign policy to examine how a fracturing North American partnership affects the people and industries closest to the border.

The U.S.-China Tech Race: National Security in the Age of AI

As artificial intelligence reshapes the global balance of power, the U.S.-China rivalry has moved from trade floors to server farms. This session examines the national security dimensions of technological competition, from AI-enabled surveillance and military applications to data vulnerabilities exposed by platforms like TikTok.

Our panel will explore how the U.S. government, private sector, and research institutions are responding to a technological competition with profound implications for American security, sovereignty, and strategic advantage.

From Authoritarianism to Aspiration: Democracy’s Fragile Frontier

This session examines countries navigating the difficult and often incomplete transition away from authoritarian rule, with a focus on the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe.

Our panel will explore what democratic reform actually looks like on the ground, what makes transitions succeed or stall, and what the U.S. and international community can do to support civil society in these regions.