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 Presi…

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 U…

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 …

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 …

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/…

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 s…

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 effecti…

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…

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 leade…

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 …

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 ‘Raisin…

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 thi…

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…

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 Ch…

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 su…

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 …

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 integrati…

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 a…

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 i…

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 ca…

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…

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 navig…

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 e…

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 …

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. Barones…

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 …

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 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 togethe…

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 deforesta…

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. Wit…

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 an…

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…

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 cur…

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 o…

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 the…

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 ar…

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 …

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 …

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. T…

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 m…

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 so…

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…

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 pr…

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 ind…

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 …

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 Servi…

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…

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 a…

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 th…

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…