Past Events

Community Programs has a legacy of providing diverse programming in the Greater Seattle community. Programs range from the Global Leadership Series, to expert lectures, to personal luncheons, round-table discussions, and off-the-record briefings.

The World Affairs Council’s Global Leadership Series provides a forum for leading innovators who have improved or revolutionized global perspectives and practices.  Recent Global Leadership Series speakers include:

2009-10

  • Nicholas Kristof, two-time Pulitzer Prize Winner, author, and New York Times Editorial Columnist

2008-09

  • General David Petraeus, Commander of the U.S. Central Command
  • Paul Krugman, Nobel Laureate Economist and New York Times Op-Ed Columnist
  • Valdis Zatlers, President of Latvia

2007-08

  • Levy Mwanawasa, President of Zambia
  • Jeffery Sachs, Economist and Special Advisor to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon
  • John Bruton, Former Prime Minister of Ireland

Community Programs also organizes events with experts on a variety of global issues in a lecture format.  Recent speakers who have lectured for World Affairs Council audiences include:

  • Ray Suarez, Senior Correspondent, PBS NewsHour
  • Paul Collier, Professor of Economics, Oxford University
  • Lisa Shannon, Founder of Run for Congo Women
  • David Kilcullen, Former Senior Counterinsurgency Advisor to General David Petraeus and General Stanley McChrystal
  • Patrick Awuah, Founder and President, Ashesi University
  • Peter Woicke Former Board Chair, International Save the Children Alliance and Former Managing Director, World Bank
  • Aba Ackun Current Board Chair, Ashesi University Foundation and Regional Credit Risk Manager at Accion International, Ghana
  • Araba Amuasi, Operations Manager, Village of Hope Orphanage, Ghana
  • Nandan Nilekani, Founder, Infosys,  India
  • Damibisa Moyo, Author and Economist
  • Aaron S. Williams, United States Peace Corps Director
  • Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Author and Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute
  • Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations
  • Rick Steves, Travel Writer and Public Radio and Public Television Host
  • Brian Concannon, Director of the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti

Lastly, intimate events give attendees the chance for one-on-one interaction and better engage the speaker. Recent examples of individuals who have been distinguished guests at off-the-record briefings for World Affairs Council members, dinners, or luncheons include:

  • Eva Shinagel, Senior Civilian Representative to Task Force Wolverine in Afghanistan
  • Samir Sumaida’ie, Iraqi Ambassador to the United States
  • Daniel Griswold, Director of the Center for Trade Policy Studies at the Cato Institute
  • Thomas Graham, Former Assistant to President George W. Bush on Russian Affairs
  • Eugene Rumer, Senior Fellow, Institute for National Strategic Studies
  • Sheilah Kaufman, Turkish Cuisine Specialist and Food Writer