Amid increased globalization and volatility, our Global Affairs & Security Speakers are distinguished political and defense experts who examine international relations, the keys to risk management and the opportunities against any 21st century threat.
Paul Whelan
<p>Sharing never-before-told anecdotes, Paul Whelan recounts his harrowing journey as a hostage in Putin’s Russia—enduring human rights abuses while fighting for freedom and justice from behind enemy lines.</p><p>On December 28, 2018, Paul Whelan was traveling in Russia for a friend’s wedding when he was framed for espionage and arrested in his hotel room.
Isaac Stone Fish
<p>Widely known as one of the world’s foremost authorities on Asia and geopolitical risk, Isaac Stone Fish breaks down the complexities of U.S.-China relations and reveals what the geopolitical and national security landscape will look like post-2024 Election.</p><p> As Founder and CEO of a business intelligence firm focused on geopolitical risk, Isaac Stone Fish provides corporations with critical political analysis, due diligence, data, and risk-assessment to quantify the ties between corporations, individuals, and China.
Jeffrey Engel
<p>Widely considered the leading presidential historian of his generation, Jeffrey Engel connects America’s past with our present, helping our nation find a way forward by bringing history to life with humor and insight. </p><p>Today’s problems are nothing new. The United States has faced wars, pandemics, and political division before. While history is an imperfect guide to enacting a better future, it’s the best guide we have. It’s also a guide both for, and full of, people.
Garry Kasparov
Considered the greatest chess player that ever lived, Russian world champion Garry Kasparov shares insights on strategy, innovation, leadership, and risk.
Garry Kasparov is widely regarded as the greatest chess player in history, becoming the youngest world champion ever at 22 in 1985 and spending twenty years as the world’s top-rated player. His legendary matches against the IBM supercomputer Deep Blue in 1996 and 1997 made him a central figure in artificial intelligence and the evolution of the human-machine relationship.
Ari Fleischer
<p>A political communications expert who served in the White House and Congress, Ari Fleischer provides an in-depth look at the Biden Administration, the 2024 elections, foreign policy, and the failures of the mainstream media. </p><p>As former White House press secretary, Ari Fleischer was the primary spokesperson for President George W. Bush and delivered the daily White House press briefings from 2001 to 2003.
Willis Sparks
<p>Drawing from his expertise in US and foreign policy, Willis Sparks offers insight on geopolitical trends, sharing strategies for businesses to position themselves for success in the global marketplace. </p><p>Willis Sparks is a thought leader on the risks, opportunities, and trends created by current geopolitical conflicts and political developments in major emerging market countries.
Dr. Pippa Malmgren
<p>Dr. Pippa Malmgren is a digital diviner: she uses years of experience at the highest levels of geopolitics and industry to identify the trends that others might miss in a turbulent landscape. </p><p>Weaving signals together to paint a compelling landscape that gives audiences confidence to navigate turbulence and opportunity, Pippa makes the world economy exciting.
Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch
<p>The former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine and bestselling author of the memoir <i>Lessons from the Edge </i>shares insights on the region and the current crisis as well as experiences from her 33-year career in the U.S. Foreign Service.</p><p>Marie Yovanovitch served three times as U.S. Ambassador, most recently in Kyiv as the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine. Previously, she served as U.S. Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic (2005-2008) and the Republic of Armenia (2008-2011).
General Lori Robinson (Ret.)
<p>The most senior military woman ever to serve in the U.S. Department of Defense, four-star General Lori Robinson speaks on leadership, overcoming obstacles, and the most pressing U.S. national security issues today.</p><p>General Lori Robinson was the first woman to be nominated and confirmed as a combatant commander. She retired in 2018 having served as Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and Commander, U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM). In that role, she led the soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and civilians from the U.S.
Ambassador Scott Brown
<p>From the global economy, war in Ukraine, and U.S.-China relations to the 2024 elections and the increasing polarization of America, former Ambassador Scott Brown helps audiences consider what’s next and what the impact on business and the economy will be.</p><p>An established conservative leader and strong believer in collaboration, Senator Brown rose to national prominence when he succeeded Ted Kennedy as the first Republican elected to the U.S Senate from Massachusetts in more than 40 years.