orangecounty@worldaffairscouncil.org

Home

WACOC Annual General Meeting: Will the Global Economy Survive the US-China Trade War?

Annual General Meeting

Will the Global Economy Survive the US-China Trade War?

Wednesday, September 25th, 2019

A Dinner and Lecture Event

with

Professor Gordon Hanson

Pacific Economic Cooperation Chair in International Economic Relations at UC San Diego

Director of the Center on Global Transformation

Member of the Council on Foreign Relations

Co-Editor of the Journal of Economic Perspectives

Register Here

 

The state of the global economy reaches nearly everyone’s well-being and livelihood in some manner. We are all impacted, whether directly or indirectly, by the health of the integrated global economy and, in turn, each nation’s response further impacts the dynamics of the overall performance and strength of that economy. Recent talk of an upcoming recession spurred by threats of growing trade wars, restless populations and forced immigration, trade treaties dissolving, the EU’s challenges to stay in tack, China’s ongoing currency manipulation and threatened retaliations to President Trump’s own warnings, all serve to raise serious concerns on the future of the US economy as well.

The World Affairs Council of Orange County is very pleased to have as its guest speaker Dr. Gordon Hanson Ph.D. He has served as: Director of the Center on Global Transformation, the Pacific Economic Cooperation Chair in International Economic Relations and as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. After 20 great years at the University of California, San Diego, Professor Hanson will be joining the Faculty of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. A renowned expert on International Trade and Global Economics, he will share with us his views and predictions on the current and future state of the Global Economy as well as the impact of a trade war between the world’s two largest economies the US and China with imposition of Tariffs as a precedent. Certainly the recent worried talk by many of the economic pundits that we are heading toward a recession merits further discussion and in depth explanation. No one is better situated to address these concerns than our guest speaker Dr Hanson. He received his Ph.D. in economics from Massachusetts Institute of Technologies MIT, and a BA from Occidental College.

 

Date:

Wednesday, September 25th, 2019

 

Time:

Reception/Registration: 5:30 pm

Lecture/Dinner: 6:15 pm

 

Location:

Pacific Club

 4110 MacArthur Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92660

 

Price:

Premium Members: $75

General Members: $75

Premium Member Guests: $75

General Member Guests/ Non-Members: $85

Students (with a valid student I.D.): $55

Table of 10: $750 (member rate)

Read more

Annual Trustee Luncheon-2019

*Trustee Only Event*

Date: Sunday, September 15th, 2019

Location: Balboa Bay Club & Resort: 1221 West Coast Hwy, Newport Beach, CA 92663

 

 

All World Affairs Council of Orange County Trustees are invited and requested to attend the Annual Trustees Luncheon of the Council’s Board of Trustees. The Annual Trustees Luncheon is an important tradition of the Council and every Trustee is highly encouraged to attend. You can get involved in the Council’s many initiatives and enjoy the Newport Beach coast all during the same event. 

To Register, you can sign-up through the emails that have gone out to the Trustees, or, you can call our office at (949) 253-5751. Hope to see you there!

Read more

Opportunities and Challenges for Africa in the 21st Century with Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield

REGISTER HERE

 

About Our Speaker: Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield is a Senior Vice President at ASG, where she draws on her long and distinguished career as a U.S. diplomat to help the clients of ASG’s Africa practice. She has focused on Africa during a distinguished career in the foreign service.  Highlights of her service include: assignments in Nigeria, The Gambia, Kenya and Ambassador to Liberia. Her last position before retirement was Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.

After decades of slow growth, Africa has a great chance to follow in the footsteps of Asia. The first great surge of western interest in Africa, dubbed the “Scramble”, occurred in the 19th century, when European colonists carved up the continent and seized African lands. The second great surge came during the “Cold War”, when the Eastern and Western bloc countries competed for the allegiance of newly independent African states. The Soviet Union backed Marxist tyrants while the United States propped up despots who claimed to support capitalism.

In the latest surge of interest, governments and businesses from all over the world are looking for commercial opportunities. Among the attractions are vast natural resources and an abundant supply of low cost workers. A new group of foreign countries, with China taking the lead, is gaining a commercial and strategic foothold across this huge continent comprising of 54 countries.            

Africa’s growing share of the population is one of the reasons the continent is becoming more important. Africa’s current population of about 1.2 billion people is projected to reach 1.7 billion by 2030.  By 2025 the UN predicts there will be more people in Africa than people in China. To say that Africa’s has potential for the next generation would be an understatement.

Thank you to our Promotional Sponsors!

Read more

Under the Influence: How Corporations and Influencers are Shaping Your Choices

This is part 1 of “Faking It: A 3 Part Social Series on Fake News, Misinformation and Media Bias”

How to Keep Your Stories Straight in a Shareable Social World, Hosted by the World Affairs Council of Orange County, your trusted source of information and forum on world affairs. 

Moderated by Brian Calle, Owner, LA Weekly

Speakers: Neel Grover and Ambreen Qamar

Tickets: $25 Includes Appetizers and Drink Ticket

We’ll discuss the moral complexities of companies’ use of advertising to promote their stances on political and social issues, including the companies that have gone so far as to endorse political candidates in their ads. Gain a better understanding of the influence our media consumption has on us and how companies are interacting with their customers. We’ll also touch on the role of social media “influencers” in politics and social issues, with a focus on companies like Patagonia, Gillette, Northface, and Nike.

Register Here!

Read more

An Evening Dinner Event With Professor Raghuram Rajan

Tuesday, June 18th, 2019

An Evening Dinner Event

 

with

 

 

Professor Raghuram Rajan

 

Former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India

 

Former Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund

 

Distinguished Service Professor of Finance at the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago

 

 

Raghuram Rajan is the Katherine Dusak Miller Distinguished Service Professor of Finance at the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago. He was the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India between 2013 and 2016, and also served as Vice-Chairman of the Board of the Bank for International Settlements between 2015 and 2016. Dr. Rajan was the Chief Economist and Director of Research at the International Monetary Fund from 2003 to 2006.

 

Dr. Rajan’s research interests are in banking, corporate finance, and economic development, especially the role finance plays in it. He co-authored “Saving Capitalism from the Capitalists” with Luigi Zingales in 2003. He then wrote “Fault Lines: How Hidden Fractures Still Threaten the World Economy”, for which he was awarded the Financial Times-Goldman Sachs prize for best business book in 2010. His most recent book, “The Third Pillar: How Markets and the State hold the Community Behind” was published in 2019.

 

Dr. Rajan was the President of the American Finance Association in 2011 and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Group of Thirty. In 2003, the American Finance Association awarded Dr. Rajan the inaugural Fischer Black Prize for the best finance researcher under the age of 40. The other awards he has received include the Deutsche Bank Prize for Financial Economics in 2013, Euromoney magazine’s Central Banker of the Year Award 2014 and The Banker magazine’s Global Central Banker of the Year award in 2016. In that year, Time magazine chose Dr. Rajan as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

 

 

 

LOCATION:

 

Center Club

 

650 Town Center Drive, Garden

 

Level, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

 

  Valet Parking: $10 (Best value parking option.)

 

Click here for Center Club parking/valet map

 

 

 

DATE & TIME

 

Tuesday, June 18th, 2019 

 

General/VIP Reception: 5:30pm

 

Dinner/Lecture: 6:00pm

 

 

 

TICKET PRICES:

 

Members Dinner + Program : $65


Premium Member Guests Dinner + Program: $65


General Member Guest/ Non-Members Dinner + Program: $80


Students Dinner + Program: $50


VIP Reception + Dinner + Program: $120

 

 

Books will be available for purchase.

 

 

Register Now!

 

 

 

Thank you to our Promotional Sponsors!


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Read more

“How Asia is Reacting to a Less Dependable United States & More Assertive China” with Former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian Affairs Daniel Russel

*Luncheon Event*

“How Asia Is Reacting to A Less Dependable United States & More Assertive China”

with

Former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian Affairs 

Daniel Russel

 

REGISTER HERE

 

The Trans-Pacific Partnership might be over, but the continual maneuvering of the United States and China towards the rest of East Asia continues.  As the US-China rivalry causes concern in Asia, the response from other countries in the region has created a new dynamic as they adapt to a less dependable America and a stronger, more assertive China.

Daniel Russel served as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs from 2013-2017 and as a major figure in the Obama Administration’s “pivot to Asia.”  He will be joining us to provide insights on:

 

*The changing relationship of America and China

*The reaction of other countries in the Asia-Pacific Region and how they are adapting to the dynamics between the two super powers

*How major economic powers such as Japan, South Korea and Taiwan view the long-term impact of the changes

* Prospects for the negotiations with North Korea over denuclearization

 

Daniel Russel served as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs from 2013-2017. Prior to his appointment as Assistant Secretary, Mr. Russel was Special Assistant to the President and National Security Senior Staff Director for Asian Affairs. While working at the White House, he was a major figure in the Obama Administration’s “pivot towards Asia” strategy.  He also represented the Administration in negotiating with North Korea.

Date: Wednesday, June 5th

Time: 11:30am Reception/ Registration & 12pm Lunch/ Lecture

Location: Prego Mediterranean 2409 Park Ave. Tustin, CA 92782

 

Prices:

Members : $35

Premium Member Guests: $35

General Member Guests: $50

Non-Members: $50

Students: $20

Bundle of 10 Tickets : $350

 

Email us at: orangecounty@worldaffairscouncil.org or

Call us at: (949) 253-5751 for more information

 

Thank you to our Promotional Sponsors!

Read more

World Trade Week with the Irvine Chamber of Commerce

ICC_OC-Trade-Week_Save-the-Date_1

The World Affairs Council of Orange County is partnering with the Irvine Chamber of Commerce for 

Orange County World Trade Week 

 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Steve Wagner – Experian Decision Analytics, Global Managing Director

Program:

Orange County Trade & Export Overview

Export Success Panel

International Resource EXPO: Network and connect with international consuls, chambers, and trade organizations to explore and expand your exporting capacity

 

Date: Thursday, May 16th, 2019

Venue: Irvine Marriott

Time: 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM

For more information click below

World Trade Week 2019

Limited Seating, if our members are interested in attending the event, please contact our office at (949)253-5751 or e-mail us at orangecounty@worldaffairscouncil.org

REGISTER HERE!

Read more

British American Business Council Annual Garden Party

Join the BABC OC and WACOC for the Annual British Garden Party!

REGISTER HERE

Let’s toast to health and happiness!

Enjoy stunning ocean views, live music, Pimms, British tea sandwiches and petite desserts and British charm. 

Date: Sunday, June 2, 2019 

Time: 11am-2:15pm

Location: Montage Laguna Beach 30801 Coast Hwy Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Read more

“Where Do We Go From Here?” by General David Petraeus

World Affairs Council Premium Members have free admission to this event hosted by The Syrian Institute for Progress!

If you are not already a premium Member please contact us to upgrade!

Upcoming Events petraeus

REGISTER HERE!

Read more

“What Next in Saudi Arabia After Khashoggi?” by Ambassador David D. Pearce

*Dinner and Lecture Event*

“What Next in Saudi Arabia After Khashoggi?”

with

 pearce

Ambassador David D. Pearce

Ambassador to Greece (2013-16)

Ambassador to Algeria (2008-11)

Assistant Chief of Mission at the U.S. embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan

Deputy United States Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan

United States Consul General in Jerusalem

The World Affairs Council of Orange County invites you to join us Wednesday, March 13 at 6 pm for a discussion with Ambassador (ret.) David D. Pearce on “What Next in Saudi Arabia After Khashoggi?”  Ambassador Pearce will discuss events leading up to the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and examine the implications of his death for both Saudi Arabia’s internal stability and its external relations.  We encourage you to read Ambassador Pearce’s blogpost on the subject here: https://t.co/hzm8zUmKPi

Now retired to Maine and California, Ambassador David D. Pearce served 35 years at 11 diplomatic postings in the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and Europe, in addition to several Washington tours.  He was U.S. Ambassador to Greece and to Algeria, Assistant Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, and Deputy United States Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.  He is the recipient of numerous State Department awards, two Presidential rank awards for distinguished service, and a U.S. Army Commander’s Award for Public Service, presented by General David Petraeus for his work in Iraq. 

 

A native of Maine, Ambassador Pearce graduated from Bowdoin College in 1972 and received a Master’s degree in journalism from Ohio State University in 1973.  After working as a journalist for nine years, he entered the Foreign Service in January 1982, serving first as a vice consul and political officer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  He has professional proficiency in speaking and reading Arabic, French and Italian.  Elected in 2018 to the U.S. Academy of Diplomacy, he is a member of the American Foreign Service Association; the Association of Diplomatic and Consular Officers, Retired (DACOR); the Middle East Institute; and World Affairs Councils in both Portland, Maine and Orange County, California.  

 

Date: March 13th, 2019

Time: Reception: 6:00 pm/ Dinner& Lecture: 6:30 pm

Location: Caspian Restaurant, 14100 Culver Dr., Irvine, CA 92604

Price: 

Premium Members: $50
Premium Member Guests: $50
General Members: $50
General Member Guests/ Non-Members: $65
Students: $30
Table of 10: $500
Sponsor a Student Ticket & Membership: $50

Email us at: orangecounty@worldaffairscouncil.org or

call us at: (949) 253-5751 for more information

Read more