It all begins with civil discourse.
Maybe you want to learn more about the world. Maybe you want to connect with others in Vermont. Or maybe you have a unique perspective you want to share with the world. Whatever the reason, joining in civil discourse with others from around the globe can make all the difference.
VCWA International Speaker Series
The VCWA’s International Speaker Series aims to foster an awareness of global issues by promoting civil discourse through timely discussions with international experts. We do this through partnering with NGOs, corporations, government agencies and individuals to arrange timely discussions on critical international topics.
Registration for our 2026 International Speaker Series is open!
Read on below to learn more and register.
The Vermont Council on World Affairs' 2026 International Speaker Series, A World in Transition: Power, Identity, and Global Change, invites you to join us to make sense of a world in motion. Across four virtual sessions, we'll examine the forces reshaping our global order, the contest between democratic ideals and authoritarian pressures, the fierce competition driving technological innovation, the realignment of trade and borders closer to home, and the emergence of new voices and power centers on the world stage.
April 16th | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm | Virtual
Tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran have escalated sharply, raising the risk of broader regional conflict and renewed volatility in global energy markets, with the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for roughly a fifth of the world's oil, at the center. As events unfold, this moment offers a critical window into the forces shaping what comes next. What strategic objectives are driving U.S. and Israeli actions, how is Iran responding, and what does this crisis reveal about shifting alliances, deterrence, and the future of American engagement in the region?
April 30th | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm | Virtual
As the United States recalibrates its role in Africa and China expands its influence, African governments are making consequential decisions about their partnerships and place in the international order. This session examines the strategic competition reshaping the continent and how African nations are asserting agency in determining their own futures.
May 28th | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm | Virtual
From dairy farms to advanced manufacturing, Vermont sits at the intersection of America's most consequential trade relationships, where the stakes of U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico relations are visible in local fields and factory floors. This session brings together voices from agriculture, manufacturing, and foreign policy to examine how a fracturing North American partnership affects the people and industries closest to the border.
May 14th | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm | Virtual
Artificial intelligence is reshaping the balance of power between the U.S. and China, with competition now centered on technology, national security, and global influence. This session examines how AI is being used in surveillance and the military, why platforms like TikTok raise data security concerns, and how the U.S. government, businesses, and national security experts are responding.
June 11th | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm | Virtual
Democracy is under pressure worldwide, and in regions like the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe, the shift away from authoritarian rule is far from guaranteed, with reforms stalling, institutions weakening, and progress reversing quickly. This session examines why some democratic transitions succeed while others fail, what role civil society can realistically play, and what is at stake for U.S. foreign policy and global stability.
Past Speaker Highlights
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Richard Haass
PRESIDENT, COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
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Thomas Friedman
COLUMNIST, THE NEW YORK TIMES
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Capricia Penavic Marshall
FORMER CHIEF OF PROTOCOL OF THE U.S.
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Bill Mckibben
AUTHOR, ENVIRONMENTALIST, EDUCATOR
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Kelley Currie
FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR AT LARGE FOR GLOBAL WOMEN’S ISSUES
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Nina Ansary
WOMEN’S RIGHTS ADVOCATE, AUTHOR
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Mpanzu Bamenga
LAWYER, DIPLOMAT, ACTIVIST
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Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove
COVID-19 TECHNICAL LEAD, WHO
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Elizabeth Shackelford
AUTHOR AND FORMER U.S. DIPLOMAT
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Sarwar Kashmeri
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SPECIALIST
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Tara Kangarlou
AUTHOR, HEARTBEAT OF IRAN
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Jim Sciutto
CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT
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Shalonda Spencer
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WOMEN OF COLOR ADVANCING PEACE AND SECURITY
Past VCWA Speaker Series
“I firmly believe that individuals have the right, if not the responsibility, to help shape U.S. foreign relations. The VCWA provides us with a platform to be citizen diplomats. Whether welcoming Ambassadors to our state, hosting international visitors, or learning about the global impacts of climate change or immigration policy; we can practice citizen diplomacy.”
— Peter Clavelle, Board Member