Aspen UK

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 15 March 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 4th 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 11th April 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 the 28th 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 23 March 2022.

The 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.

Elif Shafak, award-winning British-Turkish novelist, joined Alec Russell, Editor of FTWeekend, for a conversation about the future of Turkey, Europe, and the challenges facing democracy today. Recorded four days after Russia launched its all-out invasion of Ukraine, the pair discuss the current state of democracy and rise of authoritarianism across the globe; recent changes in Turkish society and the country’s future prospects; the importance of literature and the arts in times of crises; and how Elif’s experiences in life have shaped her writing.

This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on 28th February 2022.

The deeply rooted transatlantic relationship now faces old and new challenges. With rising autocracy, growing economic insecurity, climate threats, and the rapid development of technology, what is the transatlantic relationship’s role in mitigating these challenges?

The Aspen Institute's International Partners convened the NextGen Network of millennials and Generation Z, from across the United States and Europe, take a deep dive on these questions and others. The group concluded that strengthening democracy, building economic opportunity, increasing sustainability efforts, and focusing on the development of technology will remain crucial for a prosperous transatlantic relationship and democratic world. In their report, Make it Durable: Renewing the Transatlantic Relationship, NextGen members outline their perspectives and provide concrete policy recommendations to today’s leaders. Hear our expert panellists discuss the NextGen report, Make it Durable: Renewing the Transatlantic Relationship, their policy recommendations, and learn about the next generation’s perspectives. 

This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 26th January 2022. 

In the battle against climate change, each and every one of us can get involved. Even the smallest individual action contributes to the building of a greener future - but with just 100 companies producing over 70% of CO2 emissions, the role played by our industry leaders is critical. They have a responsibility to mobilise civil society, by leading industry transformation and reinventing norms. Can global industry leaders help guide the behaviour of consumers and workers? With us to answer these questions, we have Paul Polman, business leader, campaigner, and co-author of ‘Net Positive: how courageous companies thrive by giving more than they take’; Enass Abo-Hamed, CO-Founder and CEO of H2GO power ltd; Catherine Howarth, Chief Executive of Share Action; Samata Pattinson, CEO of Red Carpet Green Dress. Tom Heap, BBC presenter and author “39 Ways to Save the Planet”, is moderating the discussion.

This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 24th January 2022.

Our current food and agriculture system exceeds planetary boundaries: it depletes soil health, contributes massively to greenhouse gas emissions, causes a decrease in biodiversity, and generates large-scale malnutrition. As a reaction, a growing number of companies and start-ups are attempting to revolutionise the way we produce and consume food. Some are turning to cell-cultured meat - meat produced in laboratories which requires fewer resources and land to produce - while others are supporting sustainable local farming, shortening the food supply chains.  Our expert panel discusses the upcoming food revolution. Marisa Drew, Chief Sustainability Officer for Credit Suisse, will moderate the discussion between Bernat Añaños Martinez, Co-Founder of Heura Foods; Sedef Köktentürk, Managing Partner and COO of Blue Horizon; Philip Hambling, Head of Food and Farmer for the NFU (National Farmers'​ Union); Jorge Thomas, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Swaledale Butchers, and Elena Walden, Policy Manager at The Good Food Institute Europe.

This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 17th January 2022.

Nuclear energy is one of the most controversial forms of alternative energy, and the least understood. Consumers can confuse a fear of nuclear weapons with nuclear energy, and naysayers cite plant explosions or the possibility of a terror attack employing misused nuclear energy materials. Yet advancements in safety measures, regulation and technology have made nuclear energy safer than ever. In this episode, listen to our expert panel break down what is fact and what is fiction when it comes to nuclear energy. Leslie Hook, the Environment and Clean Energy Correspondent for the Financial Times moderates a discussion between Dr Sama Bilbao y León, the Director General of the World Nuclear Association; Zion Lights, activist and Founder of the evidence-based, pro-nuclear energy climate activism group Emergency Reactor; Dr Douglas Parr, Chief Scientist and Policy Director at Greenpeace UK; and Dr Nina Skorupska, Chief Executive of the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology.

This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 10th January 2022.

Lord Adair Turner, the chair of the Energy Transitions Commission talks with Marisa Drew, chief sustainability officer for Credit Suisse on tackling climate change and the challenges ahead. In this in-depth conversation, Adair answers the question: was COP26 a success or a failure? They discuss the role of policy makers, government and private sectors in this battle; and share the importance of individual consumer choices, and the changes Lord Turner has made to reduce his own carbon footprint.

This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 7th December 2021.

Carbon offsetting as a solution to the climate crisis faces an inescapable barrier: time, or rather – the lack of it. Philippa Nuttall, environment and sustainability editor at the New Statesman leads this discussion on the role of carbon offsetting. On the panel is Rebekah Braswell, founding member and CCO of Land Life Company; Sabine Frank, executive director at Carbon Market Watch; Tariye Gbadegesin, co-chair, Voluntary Carbon Markets Initiative Steering Committee; Steve Oldham, CEO of Carbon Engineering, a carbon capture technology company; and Ariel Perez, managing partner at Vertree. Together they discuss whether carbon offsetting should have a central role in climate action; reflect on how this will work out in the long term, and share their thoughts on the action that should be taken to combat this globally.

This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 30th November 2021.

Budgets vs biodiversity – how can we protect both as tensions rise in the crusade to defend our planet’s natural habitats? Simon Mundy, Moral Money editor at The Financial Times is joined by Sandra Guzman Luna, manager of the Climate Finance Programme at the Climate Policy Initiative; Jojo Mehta, co-founder of Stop Ecocide International; Dr David Obura, founding director of CORDIO East Africa; Oliver Withers, biodiversity lead within the Sustainability Strategy, advisory and finance group at Credit Suisse; and Ana Yang, executive director for the Chatham House Sustainability Accelerator. They discuss how technology and innovation could help dying aspects of natural habitats; explore the issues with holding people to account for their environmental impact; and share the importance of criminal liability and how this “has the potential to change behaviour.”

This conversation is in partnership with Credit Suisse
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 23rd November 2021.

South Africa is still recovering from an unprecedented political crisis, in which 300 people lost their lives, and goods worth billions of dollars were looted. This episode assembles South African leaders in business, education, and development, to discuss the future of their country. Andrew Harding, BBC Africa correspondent, hosts the conversation with Emma Dicks, Founder and director of CodeSpace; Professor Adam Habib, Director of SOAS University of London; Nonkululeko Nyembezi, Chairman of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange; and H.E. Nomatemba Tambo, the High Commissioner of South Africa to the UK. They explore what South Africa needs to remedy its ongoing challenges in youth unemployment and education, and how it can participate in the battle against climate change. 

This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 20th October 2021.

Wales is distinct from the rest of the United Kingdom for its strong cultural identity. The Welsh language is spoken and taught across the country to this day, and 2021 marked over a century of Labour Party domination of Welsh politics. In this episode Guto Harri, communications consultant and political commentator, hosts a conversation with Sophie Howe, Future Generations Commissioners for Wales; Mymuna Soleman, spoken-word artist and Founder of the Privilege Café; Dan Tram, Chartered Civil Engineer and Alumnus of the Future Generations Leadership Academy; and Rebecca Williams, Assistant Director of Conservation at the National Trust Wales. They discuss the challenges posed by inequality and climate change; the evolution of diversity of Welsh society; Wales’s world class education and transport policies; and what their country might look like 10 years from now.

This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 1st December 2021.

Professor Philippe Sands and Frans Timmermans in conversation about our common future. The human rights lawyer and European Commission Executive Vice president for the European Green Deal talk with Penny Richards, managing director of the Aspen Institute in the UK. They discuss the plight of humanity in an age of climate and biodiversity crises, sharing their predictions and fears for the future; explore the increasing pressure on our fundamental values and freedoms from within and without our countries taking into account factors such as social media; and consider why we must use history, and “live with it, not in it.”

This discussion was recorded before COP26.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 12th October 2021.

Robin Lustig, award-winning journalist and broadcaster, leads this discussion on the future of Israel. He is joined by Mira Awad, singer, songwriter, actress, and activista; Amnon Be’eri-Sulitzeanu, co-CEO of The Abraham Initiatives; Alistair Burt, Pro-Chancellor of Lancaster University; and Ohad Zemet, spokesperson of the Embassy of Israel in the United Kingdom. The panel come together to discuss the future of Israel, focusing on what the country, and the communities living within it, will look like ten years from now; share their thoughts on the future of Israel’s relationships with neighbours in the region, including Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip; and predict the future of Israeli relations with Iran, the United States, other Western powers.

This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 12th October 2021.