Aspen UK: Recent Episodes
Aspen UK
The Aspen UK podcast brings you insightful discussions each week on topics that matter - from climate change and leadership to diplomacy and the arts.
Our conversations showcase the diverse Aspen UK community and the power of dialogue to explore effective solutions to the challenges we face today.
This episode explores the new report launched by the Commission on the Integration of Refugees in March 2024. A week after the launch, we discussed the key findings and policy recommendations with our expert panel of academics, community representatives and people with lived experience. How can we better support the integration of refugees in the UK? What benefits could this bring to the economy? And, what other ways could British society benefit from supporting refugee integration?
This is the final episode in our series ‘Voices from a broken system: Rethinking refugee integration in the UK’ in partnership with the Commission on the Integration of Refugees and the Woolf Institute. Our panel features Dr Edward Kessler MBE, Founder President of the Woolf Institute; Dr Magdalena Walbaum, Research Officer in Social Care at LSE and Adam Yasir, Chairperson of Croydon Refugees and New Communities Forum. This discussion is moderated by Martine Dennis, Host and Executive Producer of the Africa Here & Now podcast.
This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar on 26 March 2024.
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In this Rising Leaders Fellowship podcast takeover, we explore leadership in the context of young professionals working in the climate space. From career transitions to extraordinary opportunities, what does it take to build a career in climate? Who should we learn from? And, what advice would our guests give to those starting out in their climate careers?
This episode is hosted by Alex Urwin, Aspen UK Rising Leader and current Special Assistant to CEO at the Children's Investment Fund Foundation. He is joined by Nisha Krishnan, Community Resilience Partnership Program Manager at the Asian Development Bank; Gabe Malek, Chief of Staff at Fervo Energy and Elise Larkin, Director of Global Economic Recovery at The Rockefeller Foundation.
Find out more about the Aspen UK community of leaders on our website.
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How can leaders foster a collective vision amongst their team members? How can we empower groups to stand up for what they believe in? And, what are the opportunities to drive collective action to tackle difficult problems?
Join Aspen UK as we dive into these questions with two Rising Leaders: Flynn Devine and Katie Hutchinson.
Find out more about the Aspen UK community of leaders here at Aspen.org
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Can leaders make the wrong decisions? How can we lead the way even in difficult situations? And, what can conflict teach us about strong leadership?
In this episode, Penny delves into these questions with two Aspen UK Rising Leaders: Maria Romanenko and Godefroy Harito.
Find out more about the Aspen UK community of leaders: https://www.aspenuk.org/rising-leaders-fellowship-overview/
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Teamwork is a key part of excellent leadership. Achieving success depends on the collective efforts of the entire team, whether you’re launching a comms campaign or performing in a ballet show.
But how should we be leading our teams? Why should we work towards a possibility mindset? And, how should we really define success?
Join Penny Richards as she discusses this topic with two Rising Leaders: Isabelle Brouwers and Stefan Rollnick.
Find out more about the Aspen UK community of leaders here: https://www.aspenuk.org/rising-leaders-fellowship-overview/%20
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Climate finance has huge potential, but it represents a departure from traditional approaches to investment. We need a new approach to how we invest our money, supporting more sustainable business models and implementing net-zero solutions.
In the final episode of our 'Critical Conversations' series with Mars Wrigley UK, we look at the most effective ways to invest in decarbonisation and the role we can all play in investing in a more sustainable future, from individuals to businesses and key finance players.
Our expert panel includes Divyata Ashiya, Partner at Just Transition Capital; Professor Gbenga Ibikunle, Chair of Finance at the University of Edinburgh; Dr Liz Wildman, Global Public Affairs Director for Climate and Circularity at Mars Wrigley UK and Maria Lombardo, Head of Global ESG Advisory team Sustainable Finance at Standard Chartered Bank.
This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar on 29 November 2023.
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From making travel more accessible to investing in artificial intelligence, leaders are paving the way for a better future. But what should we expect from leaders this year? What do recent examples of opportunistic leadership teach us? And how can leaders lean on experts to improve their decision-making?
In our first episode of 2024, Penny Richards explores all this and more with two Aspen UK Rising Leaders: Camilo Pires and Sheherazad Kapadia.
Find out more about the Aspen UK community of leaders here: https://www.aspenuk.org/rising-leaders-fellowship-overview/%20
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From sports to STEM, where can we find unexpected leaders – and what impact do they have? What is servant leadership? And, what can we learn about leadership from our local community?
In this episode, Penny delves into these questions with two Aspen UK Rising Leaders: Scott Forsyth and Alex Bulat.
Find out more about the Aspen UK community of leaders here:
https://www.aspenuk.org/rising-leaders-fellowship-overview/
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How can leaders deal with failure? What can we learn from young people about leadership? And, with the growing impact of climate change being felt by communities globally, how are leaders paving the way for action?
Join Penny Richards as she delves into these questions with Aspen UK Rising Leader, Alexander Urwin and Beatrice Graupner, Aspen Young European Leader.
Find out more about the Aspen UK community of leaders: https://www.aspenuk.org/rising-leaders-fellowship-overview/
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How can leaders support future generations to flourish? Why do we need to invest in young people’s future? And, can we shape policy to ensure the future strength of our communities, environment, economy and society as a whole?
In this discussion, we explored the role of youth empowerment in building a better society. Paul Lindley, author of ‘Raising the Nation’ and ‘How to Build a Better Future For Our Children (And Everyone Else)’ was joined in conversation with two Aspen UK Rising Leaders to discuss this complex topic.
This discussion is brought to you by the Aspen UK Rising Leaders Fellowship: a community of leading young leaders in the UK who are keen to understand their own ethics and values and how these influence their actions and decisions as leaders.
This event was recorded as part of a live webinar on 4 December 2023.
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More and more people are living in our cities and as urban populations grow, so does the need to provide housing. Yet, building homes is often perceived to come at a high price: the destruction of natural landscapes and biodiversity. What are the innovative solutions in this space? And, is there political will to help promote these projects?
In this panel discussion, we were joined by Anis Abou Zaki, Partner in Environmental Design and Sustainability at Foster + Partners; Aileen Evans, CEO of Grand Union Housing Group; Dusty Gedge, International Ambassador for the European Federation of Green Roof and Wall Associations and Jess Kennedy, Climate & Sustainability Associate Director at Arup. The discussion was moderated by Kate Turner, a consultant, working in the space between decarbonisation and the digital sector.
This event was hosted in partnership with Mars Wrigley UK and recorded as part of a live webinar on 6 November 2023.
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Join a Boomer, Millennial, and Gen Zer as they discuss the possible consequences of the unprecedented biggest wealth transfer in history, certain to have a seismic impact on the future of capitalism and society.
Our panel features Ken Costa, a boomer, and two Aspen UK Rising Leaders, a Millennial working in investment management, and a Gen Z-er who is an Economic Advisor in the Department for Transport (UK). Ken Costa is the author of The 100 Trillion Dollar Wealth Transfer, which explores how we will need the wisdom and experience of Boomers – Hindsight – plus the social, ethical and environmental purpose motivating Zennials – Insight – to allow us to work together with Foresight.
This event was recorded as part of a live webinar hosted by the Rising Leaders Fellowship on 27 October 2023.
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Climate change and a growing population are putting an increased strain on our food systems – will bananas and beef burgers become a thing of the past? The speed at which we are adapting is a long way off, but there are promising solutions available.
This discussion convened expert speakers to discuss these solutions. We were joined by Catherine Chong, ESG Advisor; Adele Jones, Executive Director at the Sustainable Food Trust; Jean Moreau, CEO of Phenix and Liv Phoenix, Head of External Affairs at the NFU. This conversation was moderated by Naomi Jones, Corporate Affairs Director at Mars Wrigley UK.
This event was recorded as part of a live webinar on 4 October 2023.
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In recent years, the way we talk about climate change has shifted significantly, influenced both by an increased public awareness of the issue and the imminent need for urgent action. In this discussion, we look at the meaningful ways the stories across our media landscape can drive climate action. The panel discusses innovative methods to weave sustainability into stories, from positive re-framing in the news to micro-messaging in our favourite sitcom shows.
This episode is part of our ‘Critical Conversations’ series with Mars Wrigley UK bringing together pioneers from different technologies looking to build our net-zero and no-carbon future. It features Justin Forsyth, Co-Founder of the Count Us In Campaign; Joi Lee, Head of Editorial at Earthrise Studio; and Dan McDougall, Film Director and Writer. This conversation was expertly led by Juliet Riddell, Head of New Formats at the Financial Times.
This event was recorded as part of a live webinar on 20 September 2023.
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Both the government and the refugee advocacy sector are calling for more safe routes for people seeking asylum to enter the UK. But tens of thousands of refugees continue to arrive by unsafe means every year because they are unable to access safe passage. For this conversation in our series ‘Voices from a broken system: Rethinking refugee integration in the UK’, we will focus on how to ensure safe passage for refugees from different countries looking to find sanctuary in the UK.
Our panel features Jacqueline Broadhead, Director of the Global Exchange on Migration and Diversity at the University of Oxford; Lord David Blunkett, former Home Secretary; David Goodhart, Head of Policy Exchange’s Demography, Immigration, and Integration Unit and Enver Solomon, CEO of Refugee Council. The discussion was moderated by Martine Dennis, international news anchor.
This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar on 7 June 2023.
Solar and wind energy used to be considered speculative, prototype ideas of no-carbon energy solutions. Yet the enormous growth seen in these two forms of renewable energy over the last decade has soared past pessimistic predictions. Off the back of this success, the question for other promising innovations is how can they do the same? How can we apply the lessons learned from the success of solar and wind energy to other innovations? And, what solutions should we be betting on?
This is the first discussion in our new ‘Critical Conversations’ series with Mars Wrigley UK bringing together pioneers from different technologies looking to build our net-zero and no-carbon future. The panel features Steven Lua, CEO at Unitrove; Natasha Patel, Director at Baringa Partners; Gaurav N. Sant, Director of the Institute for Carbon Management at UCLA and Beena Sharma, CEO of CCU International. The moderator is Kate Turner, Sustainability and Innovation Consultant.
This event was recorded as part of a live webinar on 22 May 2023.
In recent years, there has been an increased visibility of social justice movements as a result of social media and global connectivity. But, as the work of social change movements builds momentum, what role can it play in encouraging intercultural diversity. How do social justice actors build more interculturally diverse communities? And how can intercultural exchange between activist groups impact their advocacy work?
For this conversation, we brought together social justice actors from various groups into conversation to discuss everything from collaboration between movements to how to prevent burnout whilst working towards social change.
For the discussion, we were joined by Nathan Law, Hong Kong Activist; Jackie Driver, Strategic Lead for equality, diversity, and inclusion at Greater Manchester Integrated Care and Poku Osei, CEO at Babbasa.
This event was recorded as part of a live webinar on 15 May 2023.
Tackling climate change requires urgent action and the race to reach net zero is on. One single flight from London to New York produces roughly 986 kilograms of carbon dioxide, that’s more than most people in Africa, Asia or South America produce in an entire year. But with everybody’s love for travel and the need for international mobility, how can this industry adapt to help save our planet?
This panel features Christopher de Bellaigue, Author of ‘Flying Green: On the Frontiers of Aviation’; Cait Hewitt, Policy Director at the Aviation Environment Federation; Sergey Kiselev, Chief Business Officer at ZeroAvia; Maja Rosén, Co-Founder of We Stay On The Ground; and Aaron Munetsi, Chief Executive Officer of Airlines Association of Southern Africa.
This event was recorded as part of a live webinar on 25 April 2023.
In recent years, international cooperation has become more important than ever. From coordinating a global strategy to combat COVID-19, to uniting in response to the conflict in Ukraine and collaborating on the road to net zero, the crucial role of diplomacy is clear. But what’s it really like to be an international diplomat and what lessons can we learn from one of Europe’s most successful envoys?
In partnership with the Aspen Institute France, we hosted the Former First Vice President of the European Commission to discuss diplomacy in the 21st century. The Right Honourable Catherine Ashton has had an illustrious political career, from various ministerial roles in the UK to becoming the first woman British European Commissioner. In this conversation, Baroness Ashton joined Jean-Christophe Bas, Acting Executive Director of the Aspen Institute France, to provide insights from her diplomatic career following the release of her new book: And Then What? Inside Stories of 21st Century Diplomacy.
This event was recorded as part of a live broadcast on 17 April 2023.
Art is often seen as a medium for self-expression, a place for artists and creatives to share their personal experiences, and so offers a unique opportunity for cultural exchange. Yet, as we live in increasingly multi-cultural societies, artistic influences and sources are becoming more various and plural – so the urgent question is how do we navigate celebrating other cultures without crossing the line of cultural appropriation? What is the definition of ‘high culture’ in the UK – and is it changing? And how do we ensure artistic work is celebrated and valued equally, regardless of its cultural origins?
This event brings together speakers from across the Arts to discuss how to make space for cultural exchange in artistic expression, along with the nuances, challenges and rewards this may bring. Our discussion will explore a variety of art forms, from visual pieces to music and literature.
This panel features Soheila Sokhanvari, Iranian-born artist; Dr Gus Casely Hayford OBE, inaugural Director of V&A East; Syima Aslam, Founder of the Bradford Literature Festival; Freddie Opoku Addaie, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Dance Umbrella Festival and Roger Wilson, Director of Operations of Black Lives in Music (BLIM). This event was moderated by Waqas Ahmed, Executive Director of the Khalili Foundation and Curator of the World Festival of Cultural Diversity.
This event was recorded as part of a live broadcast on 20 March 2023.
This is the first conversation in our series 'Voices from a broken system: Rethinking refugee integration in the UK' in partnership with the Woolf Institute and the independent Commission on the Integration of Refugees. The discussion will focus on the UK refugee experience. Bringing together refugees from different countries to speak about their experience in the UK, we will hear how their experiences differ and resemble each other, what has challenged them since arriving in the UK, and how they have succeeded in making a home.
The panel features Alina Prokopenko, a Ukrainian refugee living in the UK; Alphonsine Kabagabo, the Director of Women for Refugee Women; Iyad Yousef, a Syrian Data Analyst at the Centre for Metrics; and Mishka Pillay, campaigner and advocate with a focus on refugee rights and immigration detention in the UK. The conversation was moderated by Yasmeen Serhan, staff writer at TIME.
This event was recorded as part of a live broadcast on 15 March 2023.
Despite more content being shared through media outlets than ever before, the issue of whose stories are being told or highlighted in the news remains persistent. There is an ongoing shift towards increased diversity both in the newsroom and in the way we tell news stories, in an attempt to better reflect the society the industry reports. Is there still a way for our media platforms to be used as tools to expose its users to a variety of cultural influences and experiences? What is the best way to tell stories of people from different backgrounds for the audiences at home?
This event brings together industry leaders, academics, and creatives to discuss how our media landscape can best share a more diverse range of stories, art forms, and creative endeavours, moving beyond a surface level ‘diversity’ to creating an environment that facilitates intercultural exchange.
The panel features Marcus Ryder MBE, Head of External Consultancies at the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity; Meera Selva, Chief Executive of Internews Europe; Andrea Medrado, Lecturer at the School of Media and Communication, University of Westminster; and moderator Luba Kassova, journalist, co-Founder of AKAS, and award-winning author of Missing Perspectives of Women in News report series.
This event was recorded as part of a live broadcast on 22 February 2023.
Baroness Casey of Blackstock sat down with Ruth Warder, Co-CEO UK & EMEA Brand Chair at Edelman, to discuss the breakdown of trust in UK society. The conversation explored how this disintegration contributes to the polarisation we are currently witnessing and, most importantly, what measures should be taken to counteract its driving forces.
Baroness Casey is a leading expert when it comes to this topic; a long time independent advisor on social welfare, her previous roles include: Chair of the Ruff Institute of Global Homelessness, Crossbench Peer in the UK House of Lords, former head of the COVID-19 Rough Sleeping Task Force, and leader of the independent review of the Met Police.
This event is part of the Edelman-Aspen Trust Dialogue series put on in partnership with Edelman UK to understand the causes behind the polarisation that we are seeing in society today and, critically, how its driving forces can be countered.
Edelman has studied the dynamic shifts in trust for more than 20 years. Over the last decade their Trust Barometer study, which measures trust in institutions across 28 markets globally, has shown a deepening divide in trust levels between the elite minority in society and the disenchanted majority.
We will be joined by an expert guest for each event and will seek to understand this trust deficit by identifying key issues for public and private institutions, exploring why mistrust is so pervasive and try to identify how trust can be re-built.
This episode was recorded as a live webinar on December 8 2022.
The rise of ‘Circular Fashion’ is defined by a shift by producers and consumers in global fashion value chains to products which retain their value for longer. There is a changing consumer market for circular fashion driven by new government policies, shifts in business practices by producers, and consumer demands that are prioritising responsibly sourced and more sustainable fashion products.
This event explored these steps to reduce the fashion sector’s impacts and what the most effectives tools will be to move towards improving sustainability in the clothes we wear. It was held in partnership with the Netherlands Embassy and the EU Delegation to the UK.
This event was recorded live on November 24 2022 at the National Gallery.
Moderator:
Bella Webb - Sustainability Editor at Vogue Business
Panellists:
Shailja Dubé – Institute of Positive Fashion Programme Lead at British Fashion Council
Emilien Gasc – Climate & Environment attaché at the Delegation of the European Union to the UK
Hasna Kourda – CEO and co-founder of Save Your Wardrobe
Safia Minney - founder of People Tree and Fashion Declares and author of Regenerative Fashion
Distrust has become the default for the public’s trust in government and trust in our political leaders is broken. And after a chaotic few months in British politics, the disconnect between politicians and the electorate only seems to be worsening. Do we need a new type of politics to begin to rebuild trust in government? In this episode, we heard The Rt Hon. Baroness D'Souza CMG in conversation with Hugh Taggart, Co–CEO UK & Ireland, and Global Head of Crisis at Edelman.
This event is part of the Edelman-Aspen Trust Dialogue series put on in partnership with Edelman UK to understand the causes behind the polarisation that we are seeing in society today and, critically, how its driving forces can be countered.
Edelman has studied the dynamic shifts in trust for more than 20 years. Over the last decade their Trust Barometer study, which measures trust in institutions across 28 markets globally, has shown a deepening divide in trust levels between the elite minority in society and the disenchanted majority.
We will be joined by an expert guest for each event and will seek to understand this trust deficit by identifying key issues for public and private institutions, exploring why mistrust is so pervasive and try to identify how trust can be re-built.
The question of how employers can create truly diverse workforces is being asked more and more. From corporate spaces to hospitality, diversity quotas in the recruitment of employees often rely on a tick-box exercise. But once in these spaces, what do organisations do to create a work culture that brings individuals of different backgrounds together in meaningful exchange? And how can such workplaces, which may have in the past been designed to facilitate a narrower group of employees, evolve into an environment that suits the needs of a diverse workforce?
Our experts discuss how employers can recruit and maintain a more diverse workforce, and what are the possible paths to creating an environment respectful of intercultural diversity.
The panel features Marc de Swaan Arons, the Founder of the Institute for Real Growth; Anu Law, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leader at the EY Foundation; Christin Owings, Managing Director and Partner in the People & Organization Practice at BCG in London; Ade Rawcliffe, Group Director of Diversity and Inclusion at ITV; and Esther-Miriam Wagner, Executive Director of the Woolf Institute. Emma Jacobs, Work and Careers Features writer at the Financial Times, moderates the conversation.
This event was recorded as part of a live broadcast on 21 November 2022.
The global transition to a net-zero economy hinges on a strong and trusting relationship between business, government and society. How can institutions, businesses and communities unite to forge a path to a clean global future where prosperity is delivered, but not at the expense of the planet?
KEY EXPERT:
Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP – COP26 President and UK Cabinet minister
IN CONVERSATION WITH:
Ed Williams – President & CEO, Edelman EMEA
This event is part of the Edelman-Aspen Trust Dialogue series put on in partnership with Edelman UKto understand the causes behind the polarisation that we are seeing in society today and, critically, how its driving forces can be countered.
Edelman has studied the dynamic shifts in trust for more than 20 years. Over the last decade their Trust Barometer study, which measures trust in institutions across 28 markets globally, has shown a deepening divide in trust levels between the elite minority in society and the disenchanted majority.
We are joined by an expert guest for each event and seek to understand this trust deficit by identifying key issues for public and private institutions, exploring why mistrust is so pervasive and try to identify how trust can be re-built.
This podcast was recorded live on July 14th 2022.
The global transition to a net-zero economy hinges on a strong and trusting relationship between business, government and society. How can institutions, businesses and communities unite to forge a path to a clean global future where prosperity is delivered, but not at the expense of the planet?
KEY EXPERT:
Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP – COP26 President and UK Cabinet minister
IN CONVERSATION WITH:
Ed Williams – President & CEO, Edelman EMEA
This event is part of the Edelman-Aspen Trust Dialogue series put on in partnership with Edelman UKto understand the causes behind the polarisation that we are seeing in society today and, critically, how its driving forces can be countered.
Edelman has studied the dynamic shifts in trust for more than 20 years. Over the last decade their Trust Barometer study, which measures trust in institutions across 28 markets globally, has shown a deepening divide in trust levels between the elite minority in society and the disenchanted majority.
We are joined by an expert guest for each event and seek to understand this trust deficit by identifying key issues for public and private institutions, exploring why mistrust is so pervasive and try to identify how trust can be re-built.
This podcast was recorded live on July 14th 2022.
Big tech firms have attracted concerns around the world for their anti-competitive conduct. Their ability to stifle competition and innovation, and so maintain their monopoly over technology markets, has been met with increasing criticism in recent years. Across the world, regulators and policy makers have come up with proposals on how to establish a competitive, safe, and fair online environment that also safeguards users’ fundamental rights.
Announced earlier this year, the EU’s new Digital Markets Act (DMA) is legislation designed to make the digital economy open, fair, and contestable. Likewise, the UK’s new Digital Markets Unit (DMU) will look to hold Big Tech companies to account, with the powers to issue fines for not allowing fair competition. Both regulators will seek to curb the power of companies designated as ‘gatekeepers’, based on their market-share and profits. Will it be enough to reign in the technology giants? Are competition authorities and anti-trust regulators adequately prepared to enforce the new regulatory regimes alongside existing antitrust tools? Can the digital economy ever be made open and fair?
This event brought together industry figures, policy-experts, academics, and civil servants to discuss the different regulatory approaches the UK and EU are adopting, and how their respective ambitions compare.
This event was recorded live on October 18 2022.
Moderator:
Tamzin Booth – Partner in the Technology, Media and Telecoms (TMT) sector team at Brunswick Group, and former Technology and Business Editor at The Economist.
Panellists:
Olivier Guersent – Director-General of the Directorate General for Competition at the European Commission.
Amelia Fletcher CBE – Professor of Competition Policy at Norwich Business School and Deputy Director at the Centre for Competition Policy.
Niall Mackenzie – Director, Consumers and Competition at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
Big tech firms have attracted concerns around the world for their anti-competitive conduct. Their ability to stifle competition and innovation, and so maintain their monopoly over technology markets, has been met with increasing criticism in recent years. Across the world, regulators and policy makers have come up with proposals on how to establish a competitive, safe, and fair online environment that also safeguards users’ fundamental rights.
Announced earlier this year, the EU’s new Digital Markets Act (DMA) is legislation designed to make the digital economy open, fair, and contestable. Likewise, the UK’s new Digital Markets Unit (DMU) will look to hold Big Tech companies to account, with the powers to issue fines for not allowing fair competition. Both regulators will seek to curb the power of companies designated as ‘gatekeepers’, based on their market-share and profits. Will it be enough to reign in the technology giants? Are competition authorities and anti-trust regulators adequately prepared to enforce the new regulatory regimes alongside existing antitrust tools? Can the digital economy ever be made open and fair?
This event brought together industry figures, policy-experts, academics, and civil servants to discuss the different regulatory approaches the UK and EU are adopting, and how their respective ambitions compare.
This event was recorded live on October 18 2022.
Moderator:
Tamzin Booth – Partner in the Technology, Media and Telecoms (TMT) sector team at Brunswick Group, and former Technology and Business Editor at The Economist.
Panellists:
Olivier Guersent – Director-General of the Directorate General for Competition at the European Commission.
Amelia Fletcher CBE – Professor of Competition Policy at Norwich Business School and Deputy Director at the Centre for Competition Policy.
Niall Mackenzie – Director, Consumers and Competition at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
This event was recorded as a live broadcast on 30 June 2022.
In the UK, as economic inequality increases, so does public distrust of our economy and its institutions. So, if a more economically equal society is also a more trusting one, what responsibility do our institutions have in rebalancing the system and, consequently, improving trust?
Part of the Edelman-Aspen Trust Dialogue series put on in partnership with Edelman UK, this event saw Miatta Fahnbulleh, Chief Executive at the New Economics Foundation, in conversation with Hugh Taggart, Co-CEO and Global Head of Crisis at Edelman UK. In this timely conversation, Miatta and Hugh explore the role of economic institutions in creating a trusting society, and question how this trust can be promoted in our current polarised climate.
Edelman has studied the dynamic shifts in trust for more than 20 years. Over the last decade their Trust Barometer study, which measures trust in institutions across 28 markets globally, has shown a deepening divide in trust levels between the elite minority in society and the disenchanted majority.
This event was recorded as a live broadcast on 4 May 2022.
Trusted information is the lifeblood of a well-functioning society – are our media models and platforms able to support this? In this conversation, our speakers explore the forces driving trust, and distrust, in the media, between those who write & publish the stories and those who read them.
Part of the Edelman-Aspen Trust Dialogue series put on in partnership with Edelman UK, this event saw Mark Thompson, former CEO of The New York Times Company and Former Director-General of the BBC, in conversation with Ed Williams, President and CEO of Edelman EMEA. Their discussion sought to understand the causes behind the polarisation we see in society today and, critically, how its driving forces can be countered.
Edelman has studied the dynamic shifts in trust for more than 20 years. Over the last decade their Trust Barometer study, which measures trust in institutions across 28 markets globally, has shown a deepening divide in trust levels between the elite minority in society and the disenchanted majority.
The Russian-Ukrainian war has been waging since February 24, with no clear end in sight. The Russian military’s reliance on heavy firepower has caused massive physical destruction, and the cost to Ukraine’s people, infrastructure, and economy has been catastrophic. Having failed to capture Kyiv, Russia has revised its aims – shifting focus in this second phase of the war to the eastern Donbas region. As this next phase intensifies, Ukraine will be even more dependent on Western military aid.
In this special episode, Aspen UK’s CEO Penny Richards joins Andriy Zagorodniuk, the Chairman of the Board of the Center for Defence Strategies, former Minister of Defence of Ukraine; Lesya Vasylenko, Ukrainian MP, Co-Chair of Ukrainian British parliamentary friendship group; Dasha Zarivna, communications advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine; and Anton Drobovych, head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory, who is currently taking part in the battles for Kyiv in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They discuss the current situation on the ground in Ukraine, share their personal experiences over the first 100 days of the war and explain what Ukraine needs from its allies as it continues to resist Russian aggression.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on June 6 2022.
Colombia is recognised for its diverse landscapes, and rich heritage and culture but for years had a reputation for violence and civil unrest. It’s known for its war and peace, with a 50-year civil war officially ending in 2016. Despite this monumental step, Colombia still faces problems, with drug trafficking, illegal armed groups and high levels of internally displaced people. Can Colombia overcome these significant challenges? What will the future look like under the newly-elected President, Gustavo Petro?
In this episode, Pablo Navas, Executive Director of Aspen Colombia is joined by Alejandra Botero Barco, Director of the National Planning Department in the Government of Colombia; Malcolm Deas, Emeritus Fellow at the University of Oxford and Mauricio Rodriguez, founder of Portfolio and former Ambassador to the UK. They discuss how the momentous election of Gustavo Petro, a former guerrilla fighter, will shape Colombia’s economic trajectory, internal security, and standing within Latin America.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on 28 June 2022.
When Russia’s President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in February 2022, he plunged his country and his citizens into an ongoing period of economic decline and global isolation. On day one of the war, he ramped up Russia’s propaganda machine and began conducting country-wide crackdowns on signs of protest and dissent. The government imposed travel restrictions on its citizens, but nearly 4 million Russians were reported to have left the country by early May 2022.
Many of those who have left belong to the generation of outward-looking entrepreneurs and creatives who have lived, worked, or studied outside of Russia in the past – the same people who were driving Russia’s economic and cultural sectors until a few months ago.
Bill Browder, CEO of Hermitage Capital, Head of the Global Magnitsky Campaign, and author of Red Notice and Freezing Order and Nataliya Vasilyeva, Russia correspondent for The Telegraph, join Dr James Rodgers, lecturer at City University in conversation on the future of Russia. They discuss whether Russia is facing a ‘brain-drain, the impact of Western and global sanctions on Russia’s economy and society, and if Russia will ever be able to repair its relations with the rest of the world.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on 22 June 2022.
Are electric cars the key to hitting our green targets? In Europe, the industry has taken off, and in the UK more electric cars were sold in 2020 alone than in the previous decade.
However, according to the Climate Change Committee, the Government’s ambitious plan to cut CO2 emissions by 68 per cent by 2030 will require 46 per cent of the UK’s 35 million cars to be zero-emission vehicles by the same year. Based on 2020 car ownership levels, this would mean replacing around 16.1 million cars with electric vehicles. To achieve this, almost every single one of the approximately 2 million new cars registered in the UK each year would have to be electric over the next nine years (2021). It’s an ambitious target.
Leading industry experts Xavier Brice, CEO of Sustrans; and Professor Dale Harrow, Chair of the Intelligent Mobility Design Centre (IMDC) join Aspen UK's Penny Richards in conversation on the future of transportation, mobility and city infrastructure, as they answer: is there a better and more beneficial path to success than investment in electric cars? Should we instead be investing in trains, buses, and roads – changing the way we travel, as well as updating the vehicles we’re travelling in?
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast at The Good Business Festival on 23 March 2022.
The past two years have been monumental for Big Pharma, yet campaigners continue to highlight the moral ambiguity of profit-making from the discovery, development and marketing of life-saving drugs. Our panellists answer hard hitting questions, including: Has the industry changed for the better, and will these changes stick? Could the industry’s solutions-based model be applied elsewhere? How quickly could we solve the climate crisis or income inequality using this model of public-private partnership, streamlined approval processes, and industry agility?
Join Aspen UK CEO Penny Richards in conversation with Professor Iain Buchan, Associate Pro Vice Chancellor Chair for Innovation at the University of Liverpool, and Danny Sriskandarajah, CEO of Oxfam Great Britain as they discuss the impact of Big Pharma on changing economies and the non-western world, and answer tough questions on the morality of profit-driven healthcare in situations of crisis.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast at The Good Business Festival on 24 March 2022.
The wellness industry is valued globally at a staggering $4.5 trillion. Wellness trends are built on the prevention-not-cure ethos – they remind us of our ability to look after ourselves through lifestyle choices, encourage us to make time for ourselves, and provide innovative and accessible ways to manage the stressful and frightening times we are living through.
However, the monetisation of personal health goals, particularly on a large scale, poses a risk to the physical, mental, and financial wellbeing of the consumer. If insecurities and ailments equal profit – to what extent is the wellness industry designed to highlight and sometimes to invent them? Is the perfect consumer an insecure one?
In this episode, join panellists Hilda Burke, integrated psychotherapist and author of The Phone Addiction Workbook; Sarah Greenidge, Founder of WellSpoken; Sarah Law, nutritionist, health coach and independent consultant for Arbonne; and Jolawn Victor, Chielf International Officer for Headspace as they shed light on the best way for consumers to navigate this industry, options for regulation, and how the industry itself can be incentivised to truly put consumer wellbeing first.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast at The Good Business Festival on 22 March, 2022.
Nearly two decades after the 2003 invasion, Iraq faces a constantly shifting political landscape. Protest movements pushing for civil and democratic rights persist in the wake of fragile state institutions and continued sectarian conflict. The recent election, with its low voter turnout, suggests a disillusionment with the politics and electoral prospects of Iraq.
So what next in the country's efforts to rebuild? How can the international community better support the growth of the Iraqi economy? In the context of continued sectarian disputes, how might an Iraqi parliament look? And after years of turmoil, how can stability be obtained?
Chloe Cornish, Middle East Correspondent at the Financial Times, talks to Ali Al-Baroodi, photographer, writer and lecturer; Mark Bryson-Richardson MBE, UK Ambassador to Iraq; Dr Choman Hardi, poet and scholar of gender and education in Iraq;and Shayan Talabany, Analyst at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, Extremism Policy Unit.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on 8 November 2021
President Putin’s decision to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 has plunged Russia into international isolation. The Russian economy is being hammered by sanctions, increasing numbers of brands and business are halting their operations in the country, and the Russian government has cracked down on anti-war protests and independent media.
In this episode, our panel of young Russian leaders discuss their hopes, fears and ambitions for the future of the country. Giles Whittell, of Tortoise Media, speaks to Anton Barbashin, Editorial Director at Riddle Russia; Ella Rossman, doctoral student at UCL in the school of Slavonic and Eastern European Studies; Tonia Samsonova, former Head of Yandex. Q and former journalist; and Dr Denis Stolyarov, art historian and curator at Pushkin House.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on 3rd May 2022.
Since the swift takeover by the Taliban in August 2021, Afghanistan has faced a deteriorating humanitarian crisis. The economy and public services have collapsed, significant numbers have experienced severe food insecurity, millions have fled the country and millions more remain internally displaced. With the world’s eyes now trained on the war in Ukraine, what does the future hold for Afghanistan?
In this episode, Sana Safi, Senior Presenter for BBC News, speaks to Shaharzad Akbar, Human Rights activist and former Chairperson of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission; Sahar Fetrat, Assistant Researcher with the Women’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch; Mark Logan MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Afghanistan and Shelley Thakral, Afghanistan spokesperson for the World Food Programme. They discuss what the future may look like for minority groups and women under Taliban rule, and consider the ways in which the UK could offer support to Afghanistan.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 25th April 2022.
In this special episode, recorded live in honour of International Women's Day, Deborah Bonetti, Director of the Foreign Press Association and UK Correspondent for QN-II Giorno speaks to Beth Rigby, Political Editor at Sky News; Alison Phillips, deputy Editor-in-chief of the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People; Megha Mohan, BBC World Service's global gender and identity correspondent; Stefanie Bolzen, UK and Ireland correspondent for WELT and WELT am Sonntag; and Suzanne Franks, former BBC TV broadcaster and Professor of Journalism at City, University of London. These leading women in journalism discuss challenges they've faced in the industry and positive steps they've seen in recent years, and reflect on the importance of representation in the field.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 4th April 2022.
Prashant Rao, Global Editor at The Atlantic speaks to Simon Cheng, exiled pro-democracy activist and founder of Hongkongers in Britain; Laurel Chor, Emmy-nominated freelance journalist; Ines Gafsi, Co-Founder of Female Entrepreneurs Worldwide; and Professor Shirley Ze Yu, Director of the China-Africa Initiative at LSE and Senior Practitioner Fellow with the Ash Center of Harvard Kennedy School. These experts from inside and outside of Hong Kong discuss everything from the state of politics and protest to the prospects for business and the economy in a place that operates under the shadow of its Chinese neighbour.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 11th April 2022.
Paul Mason, journalist and film-maker, and author of How to Stop Fascism: History, Ideology, Resistance, speaks to Olya Kudinenko; Founder and Chair of the Board at the Tabletochki Foundation; Yegor Lanovenko, Founder and Chairman of Opora; Olena Sotnyk, Policy Advisor to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine; and Olga Tokariuk, Non-resident Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, these established leaders discuss the prospects for a peaceful solution; the country’s future position in the global order; and the rebuilding of Ukraine.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 28th March 2022.
Following the outbreak of conflict in March 2011, Syria has seen protracted fighting which has given rise to numerous humanitarian, economic and political challenges. In this episode, Ghadi Sary, Managing Partner at Governance House and former BBC News Producer speaks to Chris McNaboe, Field Officer for the Carter Center; Oudai Tozan, Founder of the International Syrian Association for Education Development; Dr. Rim Turkmani, Director of the Syria conflict research programme at LSE; and Dr. Carsten Wieland, a former advisor to the UN Special Envoy for Syria. The panel review the state of conflict in Syria, the impact of the war in Ukraine on international responses to the conflict, and prospects for the country’s future stability.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on 23 March 2022.
Jan Cienski, Senior Policy Editor at POLITICO in Europe, moderates a discussion on the future of Poland. The panel features Dr Stanley Bill, Director of Slavonic Studies at Cambridge University; Professor Katarzyna Pisarska, Chair of the Warsaw Security Forum; Anna Clunes, the UK’s Ambassador to Poland, and Piotr Wilczek, Poland’s Ambassador to the UK. They cover Poland’s humanitarian response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Polish relations with NATO and the EU, and shifts in Polish politics and society.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on 29 March 2022
The EU Delegation to the UK and Aspen UK convene a panel of experts to discuss Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, and the impact it might have on Europe. POLITICO’s Suzanne Lynch is joined by Robert Brinkley, Committee Chair of the Ukraine Forum at Chatham House; Natalie Jaresko, former Ukrainian Finance Minister; Ambassador Matti Maasikas, EU Ambassador to Ukraine; and Professor Joseph Nye, Professor Emeritus at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. The panel discuss how the war has changed the global geopolitical order; the response from Europe, the UK, and the US; and possible solutions for peace. This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on 29 March 2022.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on 28th February 2022.
Elif Shafak, award-winning British-Turkish novelist, joined Alec Russell, Editor of FTWeekend, for a conversation about the future of Turkey, Europe, and the challenges facing democracy today. Recorded four days after Russia launched its all-out invasion of Ukraine, the pair discuss the current state of democracy and rise of authoritarianism across the globe; recent changes in Turkish society and the country’s future prospects; the importance of literature and the arts in times of crises; and how Elif’s experiences in life have shaped her writing.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 26th January 2022.
The deeply rooted transatlantic relationship now faces old and new challenges. With rising autocracy, growing economic insecurity, climate threats, and the rapid development of technology, what is the transatlantic relationship’s role in mitigating these challenges?
The Aspen Institute's International Partners convened the NextGen Network of millennials and Generation Z, from across the United States and Europe, take a deep dive on these questions and others. The group concluded that strengthening democracy, building economic opportunity, increasing sustainability efforts, and focusing on the development of technology will remain crucial for a prosperous transatlantic relationship and democratic world. In their report, Make it Durable: Renewing the Transatlantic Relationship, NextGen members outline their perspectives and provide concrete policy recommendations to today’s leaders. Hear our expert panellists discuss the NextGen report, Make it Durable: Renewing the Transatlantic Relationship, their policy recommendations, and learn about the next generation’s perspectives.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 24th January 2022.
In the battle against climate change, each and every one of us can get involved. Even the smallest individual action contributes to the building of a greener future - but with just 100 companies producing over 70% of CO2 emissions, the role played by our industry leaders is critical. They have a responsibility to mobilise civil society, by leading industry transformation and reinventing norms. Can global industry leaders help guide the behaviour of consumers and workers? With us to answer these questions, we have Paul Polman, business leader, campaigner, and co-author of ‘Net Positive: how courageous companies thrive by giving more than they take’; Enass Abo-Hamed, CO-Founder and CEO of H2GO power ltd; Catherine Howarth, Chief Executive of Share Action; Samata Pattinson, CEO of Red Carpet Green Dress. Tom Heap, BBC presenter and author “39 Ways to Save the Planet”, is moderating the discussion.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 17th January 2022.
Our current food and agriculture system exceeds planetary boundaries: it depletes soil health, contributes massively to greenhouse gas emissions, causes a decrease in biodiversity, and generates large-scale malnutrition. As a reaction, a growing number of companies and start-ups are attempting to revolutionise the way we produce and consume food. Some are turning to cell-cultured meat - meat produced in laboratories which requires fewer resources and land to produce - while others are supporting sustainable local farming, shortening the food supply chains. Our expert panel discusses the upcoming food revolution. Marisa Drew, Chief Sustainability Officer for Credit Suisse, will moderate the discussion between Bernat Añaños Martinez, Co-Founder of Heura Foods; Sedef Köktentürk, Managing Partner and COO of Blue Horizon; Philip Hambling, Head of Food and Farmer for the NFU (National Farmers' Union); Jorge Thomas, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Swaledale Butchers, and Elena Walden, Policy Manager at The Good Food Institute Europe.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 10th January 2022.
Nuclear energy is one of the most controversial forms of alternative energy, and the least understood. Consumers can confuse a fear of nuclear weapons with nuclear energy, and naysayers cite plant explosions or the possibility of a terror attack employing misused nuclear energy materials. Yet advancements in safety measures, regulation and technology have made nuclear energy safer than ever. In this episode, listen to our expert panel break down what is fact and what is fiction when it comes to nuclear energy. Leslie Hook, the Environment and Clean Energy Correspondent for the Financial Times moderates a discussion between Dr Sama Bilbao y León, the Director General of the World Nuclear Association; Zion Lights, activist and Founder of the evidence-based, pro-nuclear energy climate activism group Emergency Reactor; Dr Douglas Parr, Chief Scientist and Policy Director at Greenpeace UK; and Dr Nina Skorupska, Chief Executive of the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 7th December 2021.
Lord Adair Turner, the chair of the Energy Transitions Commission talks with Marisa Drew, chief sustainability officer for Credit Suisse on tackling climate change and the challenges ahead. In this in-depth conversation, Adair answers the question: was COP26 a success or a failure? They discuss the role of policy makers, government and private sectors in this battle; and share the importance of individual consumer choices, and the changes Lord Turner has made to reduce his own carbon footprint.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 30th November 2021.
Carbon offsetting as a solution to the climate crisis faces an inescapable barrier: time, or rather – the lack of it. Philippa Nuttall, environment and sustainability editor at the New Statesman leads this discussion on the role of carbon offsetting. On the panel is Rebekah Braswell, founding member and CCO of Land Life Company; Sabine Frank, executive director at Carbon Market Watch; Tariye Gbadegesin, co-chair, Voluntary Carbon Markets Initiative Steering Committee; Steve Oldham, CEO of Carbon Engineering, a carbon capture technology company; and Ariel Perez, managing partner at Vertree. Together they discuss whether carbon offsetting should have a central role in climate action; reflect on how this will work out in the long term, and share their thoughts on the action that should be taken to combat this globally.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 23rd November 2021.
This conversation is in partnership with Credit Suisse
Budgets vs biodiversity – how can we protect both as tensions rise in the crusade to defend our planet’s natural habitats? Simon Mundy, Moral Money editor at The Financial Times is joined by Sandra Guzman Luna, manager of the Climate Finance Programme at the Climate Policy Initiative; Jojo Mehta, co-founder of Stop Ecocide International; Dr David Obura, founding director of CORDIO East Africa; Oliver Withers, biodiversity lead within the Sustainability Strategy, advisory and finance group at Credit Suisse; and Ana Yang, executive director for the Chatham House Sustainability Accelerator. They discuss how technology and innovation could help dying aspects of natural habitats; explore the issues with holding people to account for their environmental impact; and share the importance of criminal liability and how this “has the potential to change behaviour.”
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 20th October 2021.
South Africa is still recovering from an unprecedented political crisis, in which 300 people lost their lives, and goods worth billions of dollars were looted. This episode assembles South African leaders in business, education, and development, to discuss the future of their country. Andrew Harding, BBC Africa correspondent, hosts the conversation with Emma Dicks, Founder and director of CodeSpace; Professor Adam Habib, Director of SOAS University of London; Nonkululeko Nyembezi, Chairman of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange; and H.E. Nomatemba Tambo, the High Commissioner of South Africa to the UK. They explore what South Africa needs to remedy its ongoing challenges in youth unemployment and education, and how it can participate in the battle against climate change.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 1st December 2021.
Wales is distinct from the rest of the United Kingdom for its strong cultural identity. The Welsh language is spoken and taught across the country to this day, and 2021 marked over a century of Labour Party domination of Welsh politics. In this episode Guto Harri, communications consultant and political commentator, hosts a conversation with Sophie Howe, Future Generations Commissioners for Wales; Mymuna Soleman, spoken-word artist and Founder of the Privilege Café; Dan Tram, Chartered Civil Engineer and Alumnus of the Future Generations Leadership Academy; and Rebecca Williams, Assistant Director of Conservation at the National Trust Wales. They discuss the challenges posed by inequality and climate change; the evolution of diversity of Welsh society; Wales’s world class education and transport policies; and what their country might look like 10 years from now.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 12th October 2021.
Professor Philippe Sands and Frans Timmermans in conversation about our common future. The human rights lawyer and European Commission Executive Vice president for the European Green Deal talk with Penny Richards, managing director of the Aspen Institute in the UK. They discuss the plight of humanity in an age of climate and biodiversity crises, sharing their predictions and fears for the future; explore the increasing pressure on our fundamental values and freedoms from within and without our countries taking into account factors such as social media; and consider why we must use history, and “live with it, not in it.”
This discussion was recorded before COP26.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 12th October 2021.
Robin Lustig, award-winning journalist and broadcaster, leads this discussion on the future of Israel. He is joined by Mira Awad, singer, songwriter, actress, and activista; Amnon Be’eri-Sulitzeanu, co-CEO of The Abraham Initiatives; Alistair Burt, Pro-Chancellor of Lancaster University; and Ohad Zemet, spokesperson of the Embassy of Israel in the United Kingdom. The panel come together to discuss the future of Israel, focusing on what the country, and the communities living within it, will look like ten years from now; share their thoughts on the future of Israel’s relationships with neighbours in the region, including Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip; and predict the future of Israeli relations with Iran, the United States, other Western powers.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 21st September 2021.
In this episode, University of Sheffield Politics Professor Matthew Flinders chairs a conversation on the future of England. He is joined by Gavin Esler, award-winning writer and BBC journalist; Baroness Helena Morrissey, former CEO of Newton and now lead non-executive director at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; Ella Whelan, author, journalist and co-convener of the 2021 Battle of Ideas Festival; and Justin Audibert, artistic director of the Unicorn Theatre - the UK's leading theatre for children. Together, they discuss the future of the United Kingdom after Brexit; debate federalism and the desire of some UK nations for greater self-determination; and explore the importance of nostalgia in driving change.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 25th October 2021.
In this episode, John Kampfner, award-winning author, broadcaster, commentator and cultural leader guides this conversation on the future of UK-German relations with Jill Gallard, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany; and the German Ambassador to the UK, Andreas Michaelis. They discuss the current state of Germany following the recent election and formation of a coalition government; explore Germany’s role in Europe and the wider world, and discuss the departure of Chancellor Merkel will impact the relationships.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 4th October 2021.
In this episode, Nicola Smith, Asia correspondent for The Telegraph leads a conversation on the future of Taiwan with Bonnie Glaser, director of the Asia Programme at the German Marshall Fund of the United States; Brian Hioe, co-founding editor of New Bloom, an online magazine covering activism and youth politics; Hsin-Huang Michael Hsiao, senior advisor to the President of Taiwan; Chen-wei Lin, chief executive officer of the Institute for National Defense and Security Research; and Heino Klinck, senior advisor to the National Bureau of Asian Research. Together they discuss the growing tensions between Taiwan and China, considering whether or not military conflict is inevitable; explore how younger generations feel about the future of their country; and review how Taiwanese identity has evolved since gaining independence.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 15th September 2021.
In February 2021, Myanmar's military seized power in a coup against the democratically elected government. The country’s population has since been living under a state of emergency. In this episode, Jonathan Head, South East Asia correspondent for the BBC has a conversation with Zin Mar Aung, Minister of Foreign Affairs for the National Unity Government of Myanmar; Tom Andrews, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar; Stephen Kinnock MP, Shadow Minister for Asia and the Pacific; and Thin Lei Win, co-founder of the The Kite Tales, a non-profit organisation which chronicles the lives and histories of people across Myanmar. They review the current state of the country; explore what governments around the world can do to support the Burmese people; and discuss what impact the situation will continue to have on healthcare, the economy and lives more generally.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 28th September 2021 .
It’s 30 years since Ukraine gained its independence, but it is seven years since the Russian occupation of Crimea and eastern regions of the country. In this episode, Natalia Antelava, co-founder of the award-winning news start-up Coda Story, hosts a conversation with Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration; Melinda Simmons, UK Ambassador to Ukraine; Vadym Prystaiko, Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK; Marcin Święcicki, Business Ombudsman in Ukraine; and Yuliya Tychkivska, Executive Director of Aspen Institute Kyiv. They discuss whether Ukraine can expect a closer relationship with the European Union and other allies; explore how trade agreements can help the country’s growth; and consider how important it is that Ukraine begins to move away from fossil fuel and towards alternative energy sources.
In this special episode of the Aspen UK Podcast, Penny Richards is joined by Anthony Scaramucci, host of Mooch FM. They talk about Penny’s unforgettable experiences while working as a foreign reporter at war zones across the world for the BBC. Penny talks about the Aspen Institute’s remarkable ability to “bring people together who fundamentally disagree, to discuss incredibly important topics — and to see how they can effect that change.” In this fascinating chat, Anthony and Penny reflect on how they both live in polarised countries, but how Aspen offers a “comfortable platform” to bridge those divides.
In this special episode, Penny Richards, head of the Aspen Institute UK leads a conversation on the future of Britain after Brexit. She is joined by Lord Peter Ricketts, former British diplomat; Muddassar Ahmed, managing partner at Unitas Communications; and Ella Whelan, freelance journalist and commentator. The panel explore what life without the European Union looks like, as the UK develops new relationships with it’s global neighbours; discuss the influence Brexit will have on both foreign and domestic policy, and its future; and review how the departure from the economic union will change the relationship between diplomats and politicians, and why in many ways Brexit will “never be done.”
In this conversation, Lionel Barber, writer, broadcaster and former editor of the Financial Times talks about the future of ethics with Susan Liautaud, author of The Power of Ethics: How to Make Good Choices in a Complicated World. They discuss why ethics are harder to understand than ever before; explore the role of the media in disseminating information and the increased reliance on big tech; and discuss the importance of ethics in the workplace, and how we can learn to handle misconduct in the office, and at home.
Anand Menon, Professor of European politics and foreign affairs at King's College London leads a discussion on the future of EU-UK relations. He is joined by Sophia Gaston, director of the British Foreign Policy Group; Alyn Smith MP, foreign affairs spokesperson for the SNP; Tom Tugendhat MP, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee; and Ambassador João Vale de Almeida, ambassador of the European Union to the United Kingdom. In this conversation, the panel discusses the current UK-EU relationship; explore changing attitudes towards foreign policy, with ongoing issues of trust and changes in trade agreements; and describe why cooperation may become a “necessity” in the future.
Matt Mueller, the editor of Screen Daily and Screen International leads a discussion on the future of cinema. He is joined by Phil Clapp, CEO of the UK Cinema Association; Akua Gyamfi, founder and managing director of The British Blacklist; and Anna Smith, film critic and broadcaster. In this panoramic conversation, the panel considers the critical impact Covid-19 has had on the cinema industry, and what this means for its current stability and future prosperity; explore the increased popularity of streaming services; and delve into the ways Hollywood award season has transformed over the years - with increased acknowledgement of diversity and inclusivity.
Jack Parsons, the UK’s chief youth officer leads a discussion about the future for Gen Z. He is joined by Astrid Persson, internal communications and engagement specialist at lululemon; Susan Reynolds, co-founder of LookUp.live; Robert Wigley, author of Born Digital: The Story of a Distracted Generation and chair of UK finance; and Aliyah York, founder of The Pupil Power. In this conversation, the panel review the generation’s relationship with technology, discussing the many issues they face, and how young people can be better protected from these challenges; explore the use of social media, and how it can be used as a platform for young voices to challenge injustice; and stress the importance of opening up the conversation, and removing the stigma surrounding mental health.
Matthew Flinders, Professor of Politics at the University of Sheffield leads a discussion on the future of the House of Lords. He is joined by Charlotte Carew Pole, director of Daughters’ Rights and Women2Win; Baroness Frances D’Souza, life peer, and former convenor of the cross benches; Lord Timothy Kirkhope of Harrogate, lawyer and life peer; and Professor Meg Russell FBA, director of the constitution unit at University College London. In this conversation, they question whether the House of Lords is a “democratic outrage” or a necessary body; discuss the ongoing issue of equality, and whether it’s an accurate representation of the society it’s supposed to represent; and give their thoughts on the body’s future.
In this conversation, Margaret Heffernan, one of the UK’s most highly regarded thought leaders talks with Gillian Tett, US editor-at-large and chair of the editorial board of the Financial Times about embracing uncertainty. They discuss whether an individual’s past experiences influence their ability to adapt to an uncertain future; reflect on the connection between creativity and unpredictability, and why the nature of the arts industry enables creatives to better deal with unprecedented times; and delve into Margaret's new book ‘Uncharted: How to Navigate the Future,’ which provides the tools needed to face the future with confidence and courage.
Elizabeth Linder, founder and CEO at Brooch Associates leads a discussion on the future of tourism. She is joined by Iván Eskildsen Alfaro, minister of tourism for Panama; Gloria Guevara Manzo, CEO and president at the World Travel and Tourism Council; and Nick Stace, CEO of Saga Travel. In this wide-ranging podcast, they discuss how travel companies have adapted during the pandemic; highlight the need for greater international collaboration to ensure the safety of travellers; explore the issue of sustainability in the sector; and share their insights into the possibility of Covid-19 passports.
Jamal Majid, senior fashion lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University leads a conversation on the future of fashion. He is joined by Cathy Hackl, a leading tech futurist and global leader; Wayne Hemingway, designer and co-founder of the renowned label ‘Red or Dead’; and Safia Minney MBE, founder of People Tree and pioneer of sustainable fashion. In this stylish conversation, the guests explore the current issues within the fashion industry, including slavery, sustainability and the lack of transparency within fast fashion brands; discuss the development and future of sustainable fashion; the importance of recycling to prevent constant disposal of clothing; and give insight into the future use of technology in fashion.
John Worne, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Linguists leads a conversation on the future of language. He is joined by Casper Grathwohl, president of Oxford Languages and the academic product director at Oxford University Press; Dr Kathrin Kunkel-Razum, editor-in-chief of The Duden Dictionary - the dictionary of the German Language; Professor Aditi Lahiri, professor of linguistics andthe director of the Language and Brain Laboratory at the University of Oxford; and Tony Thorne, language consultant at King’s College London, and former director of their Language Centre. In this articulate and precise conversation, the guests explore the massive impact technology and artificial intelligence is having on our language - including the use of emojis, memes and gifs to imitate expression; they discuss the social issues that arise with differences in language, particularly with relation to gender and education; and delve into the connection between neuroscience and language.
Professor Jim Livesey, vice-president for Research and Innovation at the National University of Ireland Galway leads a conversation on the future of Ireland. He is joined by Lord Paul Bew, professor of Irish Politics at Queen’s University Belfast; Dr Mary Favier, founding member of DoctorsForChoice and Covid-19 advisor at the Irish College of General Practitioners; Caitriona Mullan, independent cross border and regional development expert at the Association of European Border Regions; and Mamobo Ogoro, social psychology PhD candidate at the University of Limerick and Founder of Gorm TV. In this fascinating conversation, they discuss the huge social changes that have occurred recently in Ireland; talk about the healthcare and human rights implications; and share their insights into the economic and political place Ireland holds in the world. And - explore whether future unity for Northern and Southern Ireland is likely.
Anne McElvoy, senior editor at The Economist and head of Economist Radio leads a conversation on the democratisation of culture. She is joined by Professor Sir Nasser David Khalili, globally-renowned scholar, collector and pioneer of cultural philanthropy and Neil MacGregor, art historian, writer, broadcaster, and former director of the National Gallery and the British Museum. In this ground-breaking conversation, they discuss how you make access to culture, in all its senses, available to as many people as possible; and explore the impact of digitisation and how it offers a new horizon for future generations.
In this episode, Tarun Das, the Chairman of India’s Institute of Economic Growth leads a conversation on India-UK bilateral relations. He is joined by Chandrajit Banerjee, the Director General of the Confederation of Indian Industry; Lord Karan Bilimoria, founder of Cobra Beer; Shobana Kamineni, Executive Vice Chairperson of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited; and Nandita Sahgal Tully, Managing Director at ThomasLloyd Sustainable Infrastructure asset management.
They discuss whether the pandemic has encouraged emotional engagement and how 2020 was the year that “redefined humanity;” explore the importance of enhancing India-UK trade, with the aim of achieving targets of $100bn by 2030; and explain why it is so important that both countries work together in the areas of climate change, health, defence and security, and trade.
This webinar was held held in collaboration with Ananta Aspen in India
In this episode, Lucy Crompton-Reid, chief executive of Wikimedia UK leads a conversation on the future of libraries. She is joined by Roly Keating, chief executive of the British Library; Ayub Khan MBE, head of libraries and cultural services for Warwickshire County Council; Nick Poole, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals; and Pamela Tulloch, chief executive of the Scottish Library and Information Council. Together they discuss the “powerful” role libraries will play in helping communities recover and rebuild post-Covid, explore the stereotypes of the librarian role and ponder how that can be changed, and examine the ways in which the current goodwill towards libraries can be harnessed in order to gain greater recognition and support from the government.
In this episode, Natalie Lue, writer for the website, Baggage Reclaim, one of the most-read dating and relationship websites in the UK, leads a conversation on the future of dating. She is joined by Paul Carrick Brunson, co-host of Married at First Sight UK and Celebs Go Dating; Monica Anderson, associate director of research at the Pew Research Center and Charly Lester, founding chief executive of The Dating Awards. Together they discuss the impact Covid-19 has had and continues to have on the dating landscape, as current relationships are redefined and dating is forced to become predominantly virtual; examine the cultural evolution around online dating - how the once frowned upon approach to meeting people has now become the norm; and delve into the influence of swipe culture, how it has caused people to treat each other like “commodities rather than humans,” and whether personalities are forgotten in favour of looks…
What does the future hold for the Commonwealth, home to 2.4 billion people? Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda; Nondumiso Hlophe, a Queen’s Young Leader and Commonwealth Young Achiever; Rt. Hon. Sir Donald McKinnon, former secretary general of the Commonwealth, and one time New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister; and Professor Philip Murphy, director of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies join Joel Kibazo, former spokesperson at the Commonwealth Secretariat, in a conversation. Together they share their frustrations with the Commonwealth, discuss the value it brings, particularly to island nations and in times of crises, and explore what the Commonwealth means to people today.
Matthew Flinders, Professor of Politics at the University of Sheffield and founding director of the Sir Bernard Crick Centre and leads a conversation on the future of the Union. He is joined by John Lloyd, contributing editor at the Financial Times; Andrew Wilson, former Member of the Scottish Parliament, and founding partner at Charlotte Street Partners; Iain MacWhirter, author and political commentator for the Herald; and Ruth Dudley Edwards, historian and writer. In this in-depth conversation, they debate the evolution of the union, explore what an independent Scotland would look like and discuss the impact Covid-19 and Brexit have had on public opinion towards the union.
Since the pandemic started, many of us have become increasingly conscious of our work areas, living spaces and the world around us. In this episode, Amy Frearson, editor-at-large for Dezeen leads a discussion on the future of architecture. She is joined by Mark Dytham, co-founder of Klein Dytham Architecture; Peter Exley, upcoming President of the American Institute of Architects; Maria Smith, director of sustainability and physics at Buro Happold; and Armstrong Yakubu, senior partner at Foster + Partners. They discuss how the way we look at, and appreciate buildings has changed over the last year, stress the critical role architects need to play in shaping the future, and examine the impact the growing polarisation of politics has on architecture.
Celia Ouellette, founder and CEO of the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ) leads a conversation on the future of justice. She is joined by Chris Daw QC, lawyer, writer, broadcaster, and legal commentator; Abimbola Johnson, defence barrister and legal commentator; Ali Niaz, UK Advocacy Coordinator at RBIJ and co-founder of BPureSounds; and Professor Richard Susskind OBE, author, founder of Remote Courts Worldwide, chair on the Oxford Internet Institute board and president of the Society for Computers and Law. They examine how technology can transform our justice system and what can be done to avoid bias, explore how we should be investing for the future and discuss what really needs to be at the heart of the criminal justice system.
In this episode, Kenza Bryan, money reporter at The Times and The Sunday Times leads a discussion on the future of cash. She is joined by Natalie Ceeney CBE, chair of Innovate Finance; Jeni Mundy, managing director UK and Ireland at Visa; and Paddy Greene, head of policy at Which?. In this in-depth conversation, they explore the relationship between cash and financial exclusion, explain how the pandemic has accelerated the move from cash to digital payments, examine the role digital payments can play in helping people become more financially included, and discuss what the United Kingdom can learn from the Nordic model.
A conversation with some of the world’s top experts on disinformation - how hate has been weaponized and fear spread. Arisha Michelle Hatch, vice president and chief of campaigns at Color Of Change; Sasha Havlicek, founding CEO of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue; Peter Pomerantsev, senior fellow at the SNF Agora Institute and Co-Director of the Arena Initiative; and Ethan Zuckerman, director of the Institute for Digital Public Infrastructure are led by Ed Williams, president and CEO of Edelman EMEA and chairman of Aspen UK. In this in-depth conversation, they discuss how social media platforms have been used to weaponize hate and disinformation, explore the problem of “not knowing”, and examine the Republican Party’s use of disinformation in the recent US Presidential election.
In this episode, Ed Vaizey, business adviser and member of the UK House of Lords leads a discussion on the future of employment. He is joined by Mete Coban MBE, chief executive of My Life My Say and Labour councillor for Stoke Newington; Mark Flanagan, education partner manager at Epic Games; Cathy Hackl, futurist, speaker and author; and Esther O'Callaghan OBE, principal co-founder at Hundo.careers. In this in-depth conversation, they discuss the crucial role young people need to have in rebuilding society post-Covid, explore how the world of work will adapt to present opportunities we may never have imagined and stress the importance of having greater flexibility in education.
Gordon Corera, the BBC’s Security Correspondent, leads a conversation on the future of intelligence and security with Sir John Scarlett, former Chief of MI6; Professor Sir David Omand, former Director of GCHQ; and Elisabeth Braw, visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. In this in-depth discussion, they question whether we should rethink the definition of ‘security’ in light of the Covid-19 crisis, stress the importance of the US-UK special relationship and explore the threat China poses to the future of British intelligence.
Matthew Price, presenter and correspondent for NBC News leads a conversation on the future of journalism. He is joined by Polly Curtis, managing director for PA Media, the UK’s news agency; Lorna Hughes, editor of the Sunday Mail for the Scottish Daily Record; Anna Mallett, CEO of ITN; and Meera Selva, director of the journalism fellowship programme at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. In this in-depth conversation, they share what gives them hope for the future of the industry, discuss the challenges journalism faces to be accessible to different audiences, and stress the importance of trusted, impartial news during a time of national crisis.
In this episode, Peter Jukes, author, dramatist and screenwriter leads a discussion on the future of data and democracy. He is joined by Carole Cadwalladr, author and investigative journalist; Damian Collins MP, Conservative MP for Folkestone and Hythe since 2010; Kyle Taylor, founder and director of Fair Vote UK; and Alicia Wanless, co-director of the Partnership for Countering Influence Operations at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. In this in-depth conversation, they describe the significance of the Cambridge Analytica revelation, discuss the tech giants and their impact on democracy, and explore possible strategies to provide better protection in the future.
Rachel Smolkin, executive editor of CNN Politics chairs a conversation on the future of women in US politics. She is joined by Samantha K. Dravis (R), attorney and public affairs consultant; Denise Gitsham Jones (R), attorney and public affairs consultant who served in President George W. Bush’s Administration; Johanna Maska (D), host of ‘Pod is a Woman’ and CEO of Global Situation Room; and Darienne Page (D), also host of ‘Pod is a Woman’ and former White House ROTUS (Receptionist of the United States). Together they discuss the role the gender gap in US politics will play in the election, pay tribute to the late Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsburg and stress why women must take off their ‘political jerseys’ and support each other against sexism.
In this episode, Vanessa Griffiths, deputy director of Sustainable Business at the Environment Agency leads a conversation on the future of the countryside with Minette Batters, President of the National Farmers Union; Mark Bridgeman, President of the Country Land & Business Association; Beccy Speight, Chief Executive for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds; and Crispin Truman, Chief Executive of Campaign to Protect Rural England. Together they explore the solutions for a sustainable rural future, stress the value of the countryside and discuss how the coronavirus pandemic has made people think differently about the urban-rural divide.
In this episode, Marcus Brigstocke, comedian, actor and broadcaster leads a panel on the future of comedy. He is joined by fellow comedians Stephen K Amos, Simon Evans and Elf Lyons. Together they describe what the Government could be doing to support performers and their industry, discuss why they believe people’s attitudes towards the arts will be “revitalised” post-Covid, and explore how the growing discussion of ‘wokeism’ and political correctness will impact the future of comedy.
A fascinating chat about the future of cities with some of the top experts in the field - Aziza Akhmouch, Head of the Cities, Urban Policies and Sustainable Development division of the OECD; Kulveer Ranger, former head of the Digital London Office; and Yael Selfin, chief economist at KPMG in the UK are in conversation with Andrea Coleman from Bloomberg Philanthropies. They discuss whether Covid is marking the end of the golden age of cities, debate the impact of Covid on accessibility and mobility within city transport systems, and question the forecasted v-shaped recovery of the global economy.
In this episode, Dave Haslam, DJ and Author of Life After Dark: A History of British Nightclubs and Music Venues, leads a panel on the future of nightlife. He is joined by Marti Burgess, owner of Lakota (Club) and chair of the Bristol @ Night Panel; Shain Shapiro, CEO of Sound Diplomacy; and Rebecca Swarray aka DJ Mix-Stress, the founder and curator of RebeccaNeverBecky. In this discussion, they explore the huge economic benefits of nightlife, stress why the Government needs to recognise its importance, and discuss how the pandemic has forced club owners to pivot and find new ways to use their venues.
In this episode, Baroness Rosie Boycott, chair of Feeding Britain and board member of the Food Foundation; Arif Husain, chief economist and director of research, assessments and monitoring at the United Nations World Food Programme; and Tim Smith, chair of the UK’s Trade and Agriculture Commission join Arthur Potts Dawson, chef and sustainable food innovator for a conversation on the future of food. Together they share their concerns about the lowering of food standards after Brexit, discuss what the cost will be to food systems around the world If we don’t respond to the 270 million people that are left hungry, and describe the role Government’s need to play to support our food systems.
Beirut and its people have still not recovered from the enormous blast that killed 190 people and injured thousands in August 2020. In this episode, Zeina Arida, director of the Sursock Museum in Beirut; Omar Christidis, founder and CEO of Arabnet; Mohamad Kantar, co-founder of Impact Lebanon; and Dr. Zeina Mohanna, board member of Amel Association International discuss the future of Lebanon. The conversation is led by Ghadi Sary, managing partner at Governance House. Together they discuss the explosion, the ongoing economic crisis, civil unrest, changes in regional alliances, and impact of Coronavirus - and reflect whether Lebanon can survive in the form we know it now.
In this episode, Lord Richard Allan, former Director of Policy in Europe for Facebook; Dr Victoria Nash, deputy director of the Oxford Internet Institute and Tessy Ojo, CEO of The Diana Award talk to Stephen Balkam, CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute about the future of online safety. Together they discuss the role of parents, teachers and children in keeping themselves safe online and being “good digital citizens”, explore the three P’s - policies, practices and parenting, and describe whether over time they have become more optimistic or pessimistic towards our safety online.
A cultural conversation in partnership with Brunswick Arts.
In this episode, Richard Ovenden, Bodley's Librarian at the University of Oxford and Philippe Sands, author and renowned international lawyer talk about the preservation of knowledge with Caroline Daniel, partner at the Brunswick Group. They discuss why archives matter, explore the lengths individuals and governments go to to destroy records, and describe the idea of a ‘memory tax’ and how it could be a helpful intervention for libraries to better manage data.
In this episode we discuss the future of ethical capitalism with Sir Ronald Cohen, a preeminent international philanthropist, venture capitalist, private equity investor, and social innovator. He is joined by Gillian Tett, co-founder of the Financial Times’ Moral Money, Chair of the FT Editorial Board in the US, a columnist, author and philanthropist. They discuss how Covid-19 and the current political upheaval is changing the debate around impact investing, not just for companies, but for investors, lawyers and accountants; explore the role of governments in developing impact projects and companies; and consider how advancements in technology have enabled a more dependable measurement of environmental and social impact.
In this conversation, Angie Hobbs, professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy at the University of Sheffield and Mary Ann Sieghart, visiting fellow of All Souls College, Oxford and former Assistant Editor at The Times discuss the ethical challenges of Covid-19. They explore the ethical frameworks that could have been used to decide how the government dealt with the Covid-19 pandemic, stress the importance of protecting both future and older generations, and discuss whether the government has the same duty of care to non-residents as residents.
In this episode, Michael Eisner, former chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company is in conversation with Alan Yentob, BBC TV executive, producer and presenter. They discuss the importance of technology and the impact it has had, and will continue to have, on our ability to communicate, Michael shares the advice he would give to a young person trying to make it in the entertainment industry. They also talk about why “persistence is the key”, and explore whether cable television is coming to an end as streaming continues to prevail.
In this episode we discuss the future of feminism with Professor Rosie Campbell, director of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London, Helen Lewis, staff writer at The Atlantic and author of Difficult Women: A History of Feminism in 11 Fights and Philippa Thomas, presenter at BBC World News. Together they discuss whether progress towards greater gender equality will be sidelined as the world recovers from the economic impact of this pandemic, explore whether there is such a thing as toxic feminism, and describe why we must continue to draw attention to gender pay gap information.
Never has international cooperation been needed more but in an increasingly connected world are some foreign policies becoming less connected, and are some individual nations closing in on themselves? In this episode, Baroness Catherine Ashton, former EU Foreign Affairs Minister; Brett Bruen, president, Global Situation Room and Tom Fletcher, visiting professor at New York University and former Foreign Policy Adviser explore the future of diplomacy with Suzanne Raine, affiliate lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. Together they describe what diplomacy means to them and discuss the importance of language when diplomats and world leaders are communicating with the public.
This episode is in collaboration with UK Youth
How do young people think the future is going to plan out for them? In this episode, Ndidi Okezie, CEO of UK Youth leads a conversation on the future for youth. She is joined by Olivia Disley of Wigan Youth Zone, Ty Goddard, director of the Education Foundation, Jermain Jackman, singer, songwriter and co-chair of Hackney Young Futures and Ella Robertson, managing director of One Young World. They describe what the government needs to do to support their young people, explore why we should be thinking specifically about the impact of the pandemic on young people, and stress the importance of youth clubs.
With so much at stake in our world the future direction of our leading political party is crucial. Lord Daniel Finkelstein, journalist, politician and The Times columnist leads a conversation on the future of Conservatism. He is joined by Sir Iain Duncan Smith, MP for Chingford & Woodford Green; Amber Rudd, former MP and Home Secretary, and Nick Timothy, former adviser to Theresa May and author of ‘Remaking One Nation: The Future of Conservatism’. They discuss whether there is a future for small state Conservatism, describe why Brexit led to the loss of Conservative voters, and explore the challenges that the party faces before the 2024 General Election.
In this episode, a group of renowned innovators and entrepreneurs discuss the future of innovation. Led by Toby Coppel, the co-founder of Mosaic Ventures, they also include Sherry Coutu CBE, founder and chair, Founders4Schools and founder of the Scaleup Institute; Brent Hoberman CBE, co-founder and executive chairman of the Founders Forum, and Rob Chapman, CEO of Founders Intelligence. Together they discuss how to drive innovation and explore how technology can change the way people learn.
As many of us are adjusting to a new normal work life, will working from home be one of the lasting legacies of the coronavirus pandemic? In this episode, Omar Abbosh, former chief executive of communications, media and technology at Accenture and Jonas Prising, chairman and CEO of the ManpowerGroup talk to Heather Landy, executive editor of Quartz about the future of work. They discuss the importance of collaboration, explore global differences in the labour market, and describe the impact that technology has had on our ability to work remotely.
In this episode, we discuss the future of relations with China with Isabel Hilton, CEO of The China Dialogue Institute; Lord Peter Mandelson, Chairman of Global Counsel, Former EU Trade Commissioner and First Secretary of State; and Simon Shen, International Relations scholar. They are in conversation with Rosie Blau, Editor of 1843 Magazine and former China Correspondent at The Economist. Together they discuss how China’s relationship with the UK and the rest of the world has been affected by coronavirus, describe the increased tensions with China and explore whether Britain can have a voice on the West’s relationship with China in the 21st Century.
In this episode, former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright joins Aspen UK’s Chairman Ed Williams for a conversation on democracy during and after Covid-19. They discuss international systems, whether Covid-19 is driving a further nail in the coffin of multilateralism, describe America's role in the world and explore where we can find the next generation of global leaders.
Madeleine’s latest book is Hell and Other Destinations: a 21st Century Memoir (2020).
In this episode we discuss the future of learning with Andria Zafirakou MBE, the winner of the Global Teacher Prize in 2018; Sam Butters, CEO of the Fair Education Alliance; Simon Nelson, CEO of Futurelearn; and Vikas Pota, Honorary Lecturer at UCL Institute of Education. They are in conversation with Amy Baker, the CEO of the PIE (Professionals in International Education) discussing what the current educational landscape looks like, sharing their individual perspectives on the future of learning and describing a growing trust between government and teacher to prepare students for a fast-changing world.
Are you happy? A simple question that many of us are still unable to answer without some ambiguity. In this conversation Professor Lord Richard Layard, economist and best-selling author of “Can We Be Happier?” (2020) talks about the evidence base for positive psychology with BBC news presenter, executive coach, and psychology researcher Philippa Thomas. Together they discuss how society can be made happier, describe the role of organisations and schools in building wellbeing, and explore whether it would be problematic if someone was too happy, to the point of being naive.
Since the murder of George Floyd many communities have been reflecting on both individual and systemic racism. In this special conversation, we talk with a panel of emerging black leaders from different walks of life about changes that can and should be made across sectors in the UK including politics, technology and finance. Dayo Okewale, chief of staff at the House of Lords, leads the discussion between Ijeoma Okoli, executive director at JPMorgan; Poku Osei, founder and CEO of Babbasa; Claudine Adeyemi, lawyer and founder of the Student Development Co.; and Alain ‘Fusion’ Clapham, director of the creative agency Industry In The Streets.
In this episode Bill Browder, founder and CEO of Hermitage Capital Management and author of ‘Red Notice’ and Sir Anthony Brenton, former UK Ambassador to Moscow talk about engagement with Russia. With Caroline Wyatt, BBC news presenter and former Moscow correspondent they talk about the global Magnitsky Justice Campaign, analyse Putin’s regime, and discuss why it is important for the UK to have a good relationship with Russia.
In this discussion, Paul Lindley OBE, founder of Ella’s Kitchen, Amy Clarke, chief impact officer at Tribe Impact Capital and Mike Barry co-chair of CGF Sustainability Steering Group explore the future of ethical business, moderated by David Bentley, CEO of Porter Novelli. Together they discuss how the covid-19 crisis will help businesses have a more ‘human lens’ on what is ethical, and describes introducing new measures of success for companies, governments and society to aspire to.
A cultural conversation in partnership with Brunswick Arts.
In this episode, Hartwig Fischer, director of the British Museum and Olafur Eliasson, artist and founder of Studio Olafur Eliasson talk to Caroline Daniel, partner at Brunswick about the future of things. Together they describe what ‘things’ mean to them and why they matter, explore why objects have many voices and stories to share, and discuss the extent to which the crisis will accelerate the digitalisation of culture.
As the deadline approaches for the UK government to decide on whether they will ask for an extension to Brexit negotiations, the discussion of the future of EU relations couldn’t be more crucial. In this episode, Marta Dassù, Senior Advisor for European Affairs at the Aspen Institute Italia and the former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, moderates a conversation between Anthony Gardner, former US Ambassador to the EU and Ambassador João Vale de Almeida, EU Ambassador to the UK and former EU Ambassador to the UN. Together they discuss whether a deal is possible, explore the implications of a no-deal Brexit, and describe the importance of the UK-US special relationship, and that between the EU and the US.
A cultural conversation in partnership with Brunswick Arts.
John Wilson, Presenter and Producer of BBC Radio 4 ‘Front Row’, moderates a conversation on the future of live performance. He is joined by Tamara Rojo CBE, Artistic Director and Lead Principal Dancer of the English National Ballet, John McGrath, Artistic Director & Chief Executive of Manchester International Festival and The Factory, and Gillian Moore, Director of Music at the Southbank Centre. Together, they deliberate what the creative industries need to survive and thrive after the pandemic, explain why people need to become “lighter” on their feet to find new ways to express artistic freedom and spirit, and discuss whether we will see a cultural flourishing from the ‘underground’.
In this episode, one of Britain’s leading contemporary historians, educationalists, political authors and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Buckingham, Sir Anthony Seldon talks to James Blitz, former journalist at the Financial Times about the hierarchy of personal growth. Together, they consider the education system and why we should also seek skills and intelligence outside of the classroom, they explore the differences between knowledge, understanding and wisdom, and discuss how institutions can “learn from past mistakes” to improve future decision making.
In this episode, Kathy Gilsinan of the Atlantic leads a discussion on the future of migration and refugee protection. She is joined by Matthew Saltmarsh, senior external relations officer at UNHCR; Rita Dayoub, founder, Health Workers at the Front Line; Sanj Srikanthan, CEO of Shelterbox; and Jacob Warn, campaign coordinator at Europe Must Act. They discuss their concerns with the current Covid-19 crisis on top of the refugee crisis, describe the future of funding, and the roles that migrants can play if they are given the opportunity to work and contribute to their host societies.
As we begin to imagine life on the other side of lockdown, the issue of the future of live music is something that is beginning to concern us. In this episode, producer and broadcaster Jez Nelson explores this issue with singer, songwriter and activist Angélique Kidjo; composer, conductor and arranger of The Heritage Orchestra Jules Buckley; chairman of The Recording Academy, Harvey Mason Jr.; and director of Serious, David Jones. Together they discuss the immediate impact this crisis has had on the music industry, describe the practicalities of live music events with social distancing measures in place and explore whether the lockdown has triggered a new era of creativity for artists.
In this episode, Yara Bayoumy, National Security Editor at The Atlantic leads a discussion on the future of international institutions with Lord Mark Malloch Brown, former Deputy Secretary-General and Chief of Staff for the UN and Sir Malcolm Rifkind, former Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary. Together they debate the role that institutions such as the United Nations and the World Health Organisation should play in the current Covid-19 crisis, explore how they can build authority and legitimacy, and discuss how this unforeseen experience has put governments in a “hugely better position” to react to future pandemics.
In this episode, Isabel Berwick, work and careers editor at the Financial Times talks to Amy Webb, founder and CEO of the Future Today Institute about privacy, technology and foresight. Together they explore the effects of covid-19 on current technology trends and the impact it will have on work, discuss what it would take for us to be certain about the future, and stress why we must become comfortable with uncertainty.
Join us in this episode where Tom Heap, broadcaster and presenter of the BBC’s Countryfile, leads a conversation on the future of climate change between Zoe Cohen of Extinction Rebellion and Jules Kortenhorst, CEO of the Rocky Mountain Institute. Together, they discuss whether this extraordinary time will bring threats or opportunities for limiting climate change and debate what more needs to be done by corporations, governments and the public.
In this episode, Jamie Mcdonald of Generosity Inc and GivingTuesday leads a conversation on the future of volunteering with Tiger de Souza, volunteering, participation and inclusion director at the National Trust, Mary-Ellen McTague, co-founder of The Creameries, Paul Reddish, CEO of Volunteering Matters and Karl Wilding, director of Public Policy and Volunteering at NCVO. Each guest represents a different point of view on volunteerism in the UK, when brought together for this discussion they explore how communities have responded to the current crisis, describe the role of volunteer management and discuss how we enable people to find ways that they can help others.
In this episode, Robin Lustig, journalist and broadcaster, and Kalypso Nicolaidis, professor of International Relations at the University of Oxford explore the topic of sacrifice in ancient mythology. Together, they discuss what the lens of history and ancient mythology can teach us about the unprecedented times that we are currently living in, and describe how the story of this pandemic should be told in years to come.
In this episode we debate the future of museums with Dr Tristram Hunt, director of the V&A Museum, Diane Lees, director general of the Imperial War Museum and Mark Urban, diplomatic editor at BBC Newsnight. Together they explore why this topic is crucial to culture and society, describe what changes have been made to ensure that the history and knowledge within museums remains accessible to the public, and explore what can be done to ensure their future safety.
In this episode, journalist and TV presenter, Jon Snow, moderates a discussion about what Britain will be like after the Covid-19 crisis. He is joined by Margaret MacMillan, emeritus professor of International History at Oxford University and Anand Menon, professor of European Politics and Foreign Affairs at King’s College London, and the Director of the UK in a Changing Europe Project, to discuss why it is important that we learn from this pandemic and stress the importance of having international leadership.
In this episode, Mark Thompson, CEO of the New York Times and Ed Williams, CEO of Edelman EMEA and chairman of Aspen UK, question whether Covid-19 has rebuilt the broken trust between politicians, the media and the public or made it worse. Together, they assess how political language is being used during the pandemic and the emergence of conspiracy theories, explore how Trump's handling of the crisis could impact the US election and describe what traditional media may look like if it survives this unprecedented period.
In this first episode, Ed Williams, the Chairman of Aspen UK and CEO of Edelman EMEA is joined by Sir John Sawers, former chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), to discuss how Covid-19 will change international politics, business and security. Together they describe the possible impacts on emerging economies, assess the importance of sophisticated western leadership and discuss the need for a collective approach to relationships with China.