International Speaker Series

Global perspectives. Conversations that matter.

Hear from international experts, explore the issues shaping our world, and join fellow Vermonters in thoughtful conversation.

Explore upcoming events · Ask about 2027 program announcements

Expert insight. Open conversation.

VCWA brings international experts and Vermont audiences together to explore timely global issues. Our discussions create space for informed questions, different perspectives, and civil discourse.

Past conversations · 2026

A World in Transition: Power, Identity, and Global Change

Our spring 2026 season brought together four virtual discussions on democratic institutions, technological competition, shifting partnerships, and global power. Explore the completed sessions below.

Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, and a Region in Crisis

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?

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

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.

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

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.

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Democracy on the Edge: Power, Instability, and the Fight for the Future

May 28th | 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.

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Past Speaker Highlights

Richard Haass

PRESIDENT, COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
Thomas Friedman

COLUMNIST, THE NEW YORK TIMES
Capricia Penavic Marshall

FORMER CHIEF OF PROTOCOL OF THE U.S.
Bill Mckibben

AUTHOR, ENVIRONMENTALIST, EDUCATOR
Kelley Currie

FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR AT LARGE FOR GLOBAL WOMEN’S ISSUES
Nina Ansary

WOMEN’S RIGHTS ADVOCATE, AUTHOR
Mpanzu Bamenga

LAWYER, DIPLOMAT, ACTIVIST
Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove

COVID-19 TECHNICAL LEAD, WHO
Elizabeth Shackelford

AUTHOR AND FORMER U.S. DIPLOMAT
Sarwar Kashmeri

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SPECIALIST
Tara Kangarlou

AUTHOR, HEARTBEAT OF IRAN
Jim Sciutto

CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT
Shalonda Spencer

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WOMEN OF COLOR ADVANCING PEACE AND SECURITY