The WACA 2019 National Conference: The 8 Forces Reshaping the Global Economy
Dates: November 6-8, 2019
Location: The Mayflower Hotel, Washington, DC
Please visit the official 2019 National Conference website to view the official agenda and learn about Conference speakers and sessions.
Click here to watch video recordings of the 2019 National Conference
Click here to view photos from the 2019 National Conference – you may just see yourself!
The annual WACA Conference, taking place every autumn in our nation’s capital, brings World Affairs Council leaders and members together with top government officials, diplomats, business executives, innovators, journalists, experts, educators, students and interested citizens to convene and engage on the most pressing global issues and policy choices impacting our lives.
The benefits to attending the premier three-day world affairs event – in its fourth decade – include:
Expert opinions, timely insights, and audience dialogue about the United States’ role in the world
Access to extraordinary speakers, thought leaders, and ambassadors available for local Council programming
Bipartisan, diverse, and inclusive perspectives on the issues
Visits to think tanks and embassies; networking receptions and dinners
Professional development, leadership training, mentoring, and peer-to-peer networking
2019 Conference Sessions
Tuesday, November 5
1918 Society Dinner: American Foreign Policy in a Shifting World Order
Wednesday, November 6
Ambassadors Luncheon: 30 Years On: The Fall of the Berlin Wall and the Global Order; Award: WACA’s Inaugural International Service Award presented to The Honorabel James A. Baker, III
Think Tank Off-Site Briefings
Student Scholars & Young Professionals Reception
Annual Membership Meeting
Awards Dinner and Keynote Program: AI: How We Will Learn, Work, and Live With Dignity; Awards: 2019 WACA Chairman’s Individual Award presented to Lise Falskow, President and CEO of Alaska World Affairs Council, and 2019 Council of the Year presented to the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth (President and CEO James Falk accepted); A Touch of Sicily: Performance by Sicilian composer and pianist Corrado Neri
Thursday, November 7
Global Ties U.S. Members Meeting
Trade and the EU
The SHE Economy
The Corporation and the Future of Capitalism
Great Decisions Luncheon: China’s Grand Strategy
Climate Change and Food Insecurity
The Economics of Disinformation
Chinese Embassy Reception: 40 Years of China-U.S. Diplomatic Relations
Friday, November 8
Are We Entering an Illiberal Era? The Challenge to Liberal Democracy
Leadership Day Professional Workshops
2019 Conference Speakers
Sec. James A. Baker, III
61st U.S. Secretary of State
Vivienne Ming
Exec. Chair & Co-Founder, Socos Labs
Secretary Chuck Hagel
24th U.S. Secretary of Defense
Amanda Bennett
Director, Voice of America
Phil Karsting
Interim President and CEO, WFP USA
Sarah Chen
MP, The Billion Dollar Fund for Women
Ralf Fücks
MD, Center for Liberal Modernity
Amb. Kristen Silverberg
Executive VP, Business Roundtable
Richard Stengel
Former U.S. Under Secretary of State
Melissa D. Ho
SVP, Fresh Water and Food, WWF U.S.
John Hughes
VP, Albright Stonebridge Group
Wendy Cutler
VP, Asia Society Policy Institute
Peter Baker
Chief White House Corr., NY Times
Judith Samuelson
Vice President, The Aspen Institute
Karen Kornbluh
Director, The German Marshall Fund for the U.S.
Anna Tunkel
Global Initiatives Head, APCO Worldwide
Richard Kraemer
President, U.S.-Europe Alliance
Kimberly Flowers
Director, CSIS
Susan Schram
Senior Partner, SP Consulting
Juliane Schäuble
U.S. Correspondent, Der Tagesspiegel
Bart Oosterveld
Director, Atlantic Council
Elizabeth Rosenberg
Senior Fellow, CNAS
Tomas Baert
Head of Trade & Agriculture, EU-U.S.
Yaya J. Fanusie
Adjunct Senior Fellow, CNAS
Paul Salem
President, Middle East Institute
Salman Ahmed
Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment
Thomas Wright
Director, Brookings Institution
Karlyn Bowman
Senior Fellow, AEI
Sarwar Kashmeri
Fellow, Foreign Policy Association
Damir Marusic
Exec. Editor, The American Interest
Rozlyn Engel
President, WAC New Jersey
Hung Tran
Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council
Neil Bhatiya
Associate Fellow, CNAS
Stephen Wertheim
Co-Founder, Quincy Institute
Giovanna De Maio
Visiting Fellow, Brookings Institution
Celia Belin
Visting Fellow, Brookings Institution
Michael E. O’Hanlon
Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
Chinese Embassy Reception
40 Years of China-U.S. Relations
Corrado Neri
Composer and Pianist
