Aspen UK

Just two weeks before the people of the United States take to the polling stations to vote for their new President, Aspen UK convened an event at the United States Embassy in London to discuss the future of trust in democracy. The expert panel reflects on the recent elections in the UK and globally and look ahead to the critical United States Presidential election. They discuss the role of democracy in today's society, the nature of the threats it faces and what it will take to increase trust in the democratic values shared by the United Kingdom and United States.In this extraordinary year of more than 60 elections around the world the event assessed the extent that disinformation, misinformation and societal polarisation are affecting trust in democracy.  Our discussion highlights where democracies have proved resilient against a backdrop of economic hardship and global uncertainty and the areas where there is work to be done. The discussion is be moderated by Gordon Corera, the BBC's Security Correspondent. The  expert panellists are Polly Curtis (Chief Executive, Demos), Sunder Katwala (Director, British Future), Vivian Schiller (Executive Director, Aspen Digital) and Tim Squirrell (Director of Communications, Institute of Strategic Dialogue). Support the show

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. Support the show

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.Support the show

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.orgSupport the show

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/ Support the show

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 

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. 

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 

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/ 

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/ 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

The food system is responsible for one third of global emissions and it is estimated that livestock farming alone makes up 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions – that's almost as much as the entire transport sector.  But, with technology continuing to advance, will we be able to eat meat sustainably in the future?In this webinar, we explored the revolutionary food technology making its way on to the market with Thin Lei Win in conversation with Jim Mellon, Executive Director of Agronomics. This is the second 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. This event was recorded as part of a live webinar on 10 July 2023.

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 CouncilEmilien Gasc – Climate & Environment attaché at the Delegation of the European Union to the UKHasna Kourda – CEO and co-founder of Save Your WardrobeSafia 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.

After one of the most historic elections in Brazil's history that saw Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva be elected to the presidency, the future direction of the country is in a uncertain place. President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will have to navigate stagnated growth and high crime levels, balance supporting agri-business while preventing deforestation and protecting indigenous peoples, and build unity in an increasingly polarised society.Chargé d'Affaires Melanie Hopkins, United Kingdom Acting Ambassador in Brazil; Richard Lapper, a consultant on Latin America and the author of the book ‘Beef, Bible, and Bullets: Brazil in The Age of Bolsonaro'; Pamella Lessa, Impact Director of the social organisation SEJA; and Dr Carlos Nobre,  Earth System Scientist currently associated with Institute for Advanced Studies, University of São Paolo speak with Michael Stott, Latin American Editor at the Financial Times on the future of Brazil at this historical inflection point. This event was recorded at a live event on 15 November, 2022.

The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on the travel industry. International travel ground to a halt in 2020 as four-fifths of countries around the world closed their borders in an attempt to slow down the spread of the virus. The UN World Tourism Organisation estimates that international arrivals fell by 70-75% in 2020.With border restrictions lifted across the EU and the UK, passenger travel is rapidly ramping up. Airlines and travel carriers are coping with a number of challenges, including increased demand, rising oil prices, staff shortages, flight cancellations, and transition to low-carbon.This event brought together travel industry professionals, consumer advocacy experts, and policymakers to discuss how the EU and UK travel industries are coping with the post-COVID rebound in tourism and how we can better build resiliency for the future. We explored how travel providers can adapt to meet fast rising demand, scale up staffing, and deal with the impact of the war in Ukraine. We also discussed how to protect passengers in times of uncertainty and explore how travel between the EU and UK is changing.What will it take for the travel industry to recover? What steps are airlines and airports taking to minimise the chaos? Can we safeguard against future shocks? How can we create better assurances for consumers protection?This was recorded live on 24 October 2022. Moderator: Ben Clatworthy – Ben is the Transport and Travel Correspondent for The Times and The Sunday Times. Panellists:Rhea Chatterjee – Rhea is the Assistant Section Secretary to the Civil Aviation and Tourism Services Sections of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF).Simon McNamara – Simon is the UK & Ireland Country Manager for the International Air Transport Association (IATA).Bob Schumacher – Bob is the Director of Sales (United Kingdom, Ireland, Israel Jordan, South Africa and Off-line markets) for United Airlines.Pierpaolo Settembri – Pierpaolo is an EU official since 2007, currently working as Head of Unit for Coordination and Planning in the European Commission's Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE).Christopher Snelling – Christopher is Policy Director at Airport Operations Association (AOA)

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 ministerIN CONVERSATION WITH:Ed Williams – President & CEO, Edelman EMEAThis 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). 

The modern educational system is designed around academic performance, university admissions and preparing students for their professional careers. But there is less emphasis on the promotion of the skills associated with facilitating inter-cultural dialogue, such as communication, listening, and openness. And this issue isn't limited to school curricula; classrooms often lack in racial, gender, religious and sexual diversity.Schools and universities represent ideal platforms to encourage the development of intercultural dialogue in society. Embracing different cultures in the classroom is crucial for uniting communities, developing an awareness of different cultural perspectives, and promoting open-mindedness, tolerance, and empathy.This event brought together educators, academics, and non-profit leaders to explore how to enhance intercultural exchange in schools, universities, and curricula. Our discussion focused on how we can devise a curriculum to produce a more well-rounded cultural education of our youth and how we can we bring together students of different cultural backgrounds to learn and exchange experiences together.The Aspen Institute UK, in partnership with the Khalili Foundation, explore these pertinent questions. It is part of the wider World Festival of Cultural Diversity which, in association with UNESCO, is bringing together various intellectual and creative initiatives in collective celebration of our world's cultures.This event was recorded as part of a live broadcast on 27 September 2022. Moderated by: James Westhead - Head of Engagement at Big Society Capital, previously TeachFirst and BBC News correspondentPanel:Victor Adebowale - visiting Professor and Chancellor at the University of LincolnFaiqa Amreen – Head of History at Park View School; Professional Development Specialist at LyftaZulum Elumogo – Zulum Elumogo is a Special Advisor at Freuds Communications; on the Board of Directors for the Fair Education Alliance, Dance Umbrella and the Barbican CentreTariq Modood – Tariq is Professor of Sociology, Politics and Public Policy and founding Director of the Centre for the Study of Ethnicity and Citizenship at the University of Bristol

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.

This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on 18 July 2022. Every space we share – offices, schools, parks, and pubs – ought to be shaped by the cultures of those who design, build, and use them. But there is a worry that people feel alien in what should be familiar and welcoming places, owing to narrowness of thinking in how we design public and civic spaces, and for whom.  This event brings together top architects, urban planners, and policy experts to explore how to make the shared spaces in our cities and communities more welcoming and accommodating to an increasingly diverse public – and ultimately how to make our civic spaces a place for everyone.  The discussion will explore how we can design public spaces – parks, squares, neighbourhoods – to help people of different cultures interact and enjoy each other. How do we bring together people in a multitude of places to celebrate their differences and engage in cultural exchange? How do we preserve, promote, and integrate cultural markers in our cities in a way that celebrates history and diversity? MODERATED BY:  Paul Owens – Paul is Director of BOP Consulting and Founder of the World Cities Culture Forum.  ON THE PANEL:  Shanaz Gulzar – Chair of the Bradford City of Culture Bid 2025 Sunder Katwala – Director of UK think-tank British Future Harriet Wennberg – Executive Director of INTBAU Armstrong Yakubu – Senior Partner at Foster + Partners   

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 2022The 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.