Aspen UK

In this episode, University of Sheffield Politics Professor Matthew Flinders chairs a conversation on the future of England. He is joined by Gavin Esler, award-winning writer and BBC journalist; Baroness Helena Morrissey, former CEO of Newton and now lead non-executive director at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; Ella Whelan, author, journalist and co-convener of the 2021 Battle of Ideas Festival; and Justin Audibert, artistic director of the Unicorn Theatre - the UK's leading theatre for children. Together, they discuss the future of the United Kingdom after Brexit; debate federalism and the desire of some UK nations for greater self-determination; and explore the importance of nostalgia in driving change.

This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 21st September 2021. 

In this episode, John Kampfner, award-winning author, broadcaster, commentator and cultural leader guides this conversation on the future of UK-German relations with Jill Gallard, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany; and the German Ambassador to the UK, Andreas Michaelis. They discuss the current state of Germany following the recent election and formation of a coalition government; explore Germany’s role in Europe and the wider world, and discuss the departure of Chancellor Merkel will impact the relationships.

This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 25th October 2021. 

In this episode, Nicola Smith, Asia correspondent for The Telegraph leads a conversation on the future of Taiwan with Bonnie Glaser, director of the Asia Programme at the German Marshall Fund of the United States; Brian Hioe, co-founding editor of New Bloom, an online magazine covering activism and youth politics; Hsin-Huang Michael Hsiao, senior advisor to the President of Taiwan; Chen-wei Lin, chief executive officer of the Institute for National Defense and Security Research; and Heino Klinck, senior advisor to the National Bureau of Asian Research. Together they discuss the growing tensions between Taiwan and China, considering whether or not military conflict is inevitable; explore how younger generations feel about the future of their country; and review how Taiwanese identity has evolved since gaining independence. 

This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 4th October 2021. 

In February 2021, Myanmar's military seized power in a coup against the democratically elected government. The country’s population has since been living under a state of emergency. In this episode, Jonathan Head, South East Asia correspondent for the BBC has a conversation with Zin Mar Aung, Minister of Foreign Affairs for the National Unity Government of Myanmar; Tom Andrews, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar; Stephen Kinnock MP, Shadow Minister for Asia and the Pacific; and Thin Lei Win, co-founder of the The Kite Tales, a non-profit organisation which chronicles the lives and histories of people across Myanmar. They review the current state of the country; explore what governments around the world can do to support the Burmese people; and discuss what impact the situation will continue to have on healthcare, the economy and lives more generally.

This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 15th September 2021. 

It’s 30 years since Ukraine gained its independence, but it is seven years since the Russian occupation of Crimea and eastern regions of the country. In this episode, Natalia Antelava, co-founder of the award-winning news start-up Coda Story, hosts a conversation with Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration; Melinda Simmons, UK Ambassador to Ukraine; Vadym Prystaiko, Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK; Marcin Święcicki, Business Ombudsman in Ukraine; and Yuliya Tychkivska, Executive Director of Aspen Institute Kyiv. They discuss whether Ukraine can expect a closer relationship with the European Union and other allies; explore how trade agreements can help the country’s growth; and consider how important it is that Ukraine begins to move away from fossil fuel and towards alternative energy sources.

This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 28th September 2021 .

In this special episode of the Aspen UK Podcast, Penny Richards is joined by Anthony Scaramucci, host of Mooch FM. They talk about Penny’s unforgettable experiences while working as a foreign reporter at war zones across the world for the BBC. Penny talks about the Aspen Institute’s remarkable ability to “bring people together who fundamentally disagree, to discuss incredibly important topics — and to see how they can effect that change.” In this fascinating chat, Anthony and Penny reflect on how they both live in polarised countries, but how Aspen offers a “comfortable platform” to bridge those divides.

In this special episode, Penny Richards, head of the Aspen Institute UK leads a conversation on the future of Britain after Brexit. She is joined by Lord Peter Ricketts, former British diplomat; Muddassar Ahmed, managing partner at Unitas Communications; and Ella Whelan, freelance journalist and commentator. The panel explore what life without the European Union looks like, as the UK develops new relationships with it’s global neighbours; discuss the influence Brexit will have on both foreign and domestic policy, and its future; and review how the departure from the economic union will change the relationship between diplomats and politicians, and why in many ways Brexit will “never be done.”

In this conversation, Lionel Barber, writer, broadcaster and former editor of the Financial Times talks about the future of ethics with Susan Liautaud, author of The Power of Ethics: How to Make Good Choices in a Complicated World. They discuss why ethics are harder to understand than ever before; explore the role of the media in disseminating information and the increased reliance on big tech; and discuss the importance of ethics in the workplace, and how we can learn to handle misconduct in the office, and at home.

Anand Menon, Professor of European politics and foreign affairs at King's College London leads a discussion on the future of EU-UK relations. He is joined by Sophia Gaston, director of the British Foreign Policy Group; Alyn Smith MP, foreign affairs spokesperson for the SNP; Tom Tugendhat MP, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee; and Ambassador João Vale de Almeida, ambassador of the European Union to the United Kingdom. In this conversation, the panel discusses the current UK-EU relationship; explore changing attitudes towards foreign policy, with ongoing issues of trust and changes in trade agreements; and describe why cooperation may become a “necessity” in the future.  

Matt Mueller, the editor of Screen Daily and Screen International leads a discussion on the future of cinema. He is joined by Phil Clapp, CEO of the UK Cinema Association; Akua Gyamfi, founder and managing director of The British Blacklist; and Anna Smith, film critic and broadcaster. In this panoramic conversation, the panel considers the critical impact Covid-19 has had on the cinema industry, and what this means for its current stability and future prosperity; explore the increased popularity of streaming services; and delve into the ways Hollywood award season has transformed over the years - with increased acknowledgement of diversity and inclusivity.

Jack Parsons, the UK’s chief youth officer leads a discussion about the future for Gen Z. He is joined by Astrid Persson, internal communications and engagement specialist at lululemon; Susan Reynolds, co-founder of LookUp.live; Robert Wigley, author of Born Digital: The Story of a Distracted Generation and chair of UK finance; and Aliyah York, founder of The Pupil Power. In this conversation, the panel review the generation’s relationship with technology, discussing the many issues they face, and how young people can be better protected from these challenges; explore the use of social media, and how it can be used as a platform for young voices to challenge injustice; and stress the importance of opening up the conversation, and removing the stigma surrounding mental health. 

Matthew Flinders, Professor of Politics at the University of Sheffield leads a discussion on the future of the House of Lords. He is joined by Charlotte Carew Pole, director of Daughters’ Rights and Women2Win; Baroness Frances D’Souza, life peer, and former convenor of the cross benches; Lord Timothy Kirkhope of Harrogate, lawyer and life peer; and Professor Meg Russell FBA, director of the constitution unit at University College London. In this conversation, they question whether the House of Lords is a “democratic outrage” or a necessary body; discuss the ongoing issue of equality, and whether it’s an accurate representation of the society it’s supposed to represent; and give their thoughts on the body’s future.

In this conversation, Margaret Heffernan, one of the UK’s most highly regarded thought leaders talks with Gillian Tett, US editor-at-large and chair of the editorial board of the Financial Times about embracing uncertainty. They discuss whether an individual’s past experiences influence their ability to adapt to an uncertain future; reflect on the connection between creativity and unpredictability, and why the nature of the arts industry enables creatives to better deal with unprecedented times; and delve into Margaret's new book ‘Uncharted: How to Navigate the Future,’ which provides the tools needed to face the future with confidence and courage.

Elizabeth Linder, founder and CEO at Brooch Associates leads a discussion on the future of tourism. She is joined by Iván Eskildsen Alfaro, minister of tourism for Panama; Gloria Guevara Manzo, CEO and president at the World Travel and Tourism Council; and Nick Stace, CEO of Saga Travel. In this wide-ranging podcast, they discuss how travel companies have adapted during the pandemic; highlight the need for greater international collaboration to ensure the safety of travellers; explore the issue of sustainability in the sector; and share their insights into the possibility of Covid-19 passports. 

Jamal Majid, senior fashion lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University leads a conversation on the future of fashion. He is joined by Cathy Hackl, a leading tech futurist and global leader; Wayne Hemingway, designer and co-founder of the renowned label ‘Red or Dead’; and Safia Minney MBE, founder of People Tree and pioneer of sustainable fashion. In this stylish conversation, the guests explore the current issues within the fashion industry, including slavery, sustainability and the lack of transparency within fast fashion brands; discuss the development and future of sustainable fashion; the importance of recycling to prevent constant disposal of clothing; and give insight into the future use of technology in fashion.

John Worne, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Linguists leads a conversation on the future of language. He is joined by Casper Grathwohl, president of Oxford Languages and the academic product director at Oxford University Press; Dr Kathrin Kunkel-Razum, editor-in-chief of The Duden Dictionary - the dictionary of the German Language; Professor Aditi Lahiri, professor of linguistics and the director of the Language and Brain Laboratory at the University of Oxford; and Tony Thorne, language consultant at King’s College London, and former director of their Language Centre. In this articulate and precise conversation, the guests explore the massive impact technology and artificial intelligence is having on our language - including the use of emojis, memes and gifs to imitate expression; they discuss the social issues that arise with differences in language, particularly with relation to gender and education; and delve into the connection between neuroscience and language. 

Professor Jim Livesey, vice-president for Research and Innovation at the National University of Ireland Galway leads a conversation on the future of Ireland. He is joined by Lord Paul Bew, professor of Irish Politics at Queen’s University Belfast; Dr Mary Favier, founding member of DoctorsForChoice and Covid-19 advisor at the Irish College of General Practitioners; Caitriona Mullan, independent cross border and regional development expert at the Association of European Border Regions; and Mamobo Ogoro, social psychology PhD candidate at the University of Limerick and Founder of Gorm TV. In this fascinating conversation, they discuss the huge social changes that have occurred recently in Ireland; talk about the healthcare and human rights implications; and share their insights into the economic and political place Ireland holds in the world. And - explore whether future unity for Northern and Southern Ireland is likely.

Anne McElvoy, senior editor at The Economist and head of Economist Radio leads a conversation on the democratisation of culture. She is joined by Professor Sir Nasser David Khalili, globally-renowned scholar, collector and pioneer of cultural philanthropy and Neil MacGregor, art historian, writer, broadcaster, and former director of the National Gallery and the British Museum. In this ground-breaking conversation, they discuss how you make access to culture, in all its senses, available to as many people as possible; and explore the impact of digitisation and how it offers a new horizon for future generations. 

In this episode, Tarun Das, the Chairman of India’s Institute of Economic Growth leads a conversation on India-UK bilateral relations. He is joined by Chandrajit Banerjee, the Director General of the Confederation of Indian Industry; Lord Karan Bilimoria, founder of Cobra Beer; Shobana Kamineni, Executive Vice Chairperson of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited; and Nandita Sahgal Tully, Managing Director at ThomasLloyd Sustainable Infrastructure asset management. 

They discuss whether the pandemic has encouraged emotional engagement and how 2020 was the year that “redefined humanity;” explore the importance of enhancing India-UK trade, with the aim of achieving targets of $100bn by 2030; and explain why it is so important that both countries work together in the areas of climate change, health, defence and security, and trade.

This webinar was held held in collaboration with Ananta Aspen in India

In this episode, Lucy Crompton-Reid, chief executive of Wikimedia UK leads a conversation on the future of libraries. She is joined by Roly Keating, chief executive of the British Library; Ayub Khan MBE, head of libraries and cultural services for Warwickshire County Council; Nick Poole, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals; and Pamela Tulloch, chief executive of the Scottish Library and Information Council. Together they discuss the “powerful” role libraries will play in helping communities recover and rebuild post-Covid, explore the stereotypes of the librarian role and ponder how that can be changed, and examine the ways in which the current goodwill towards libraries can be harnessed in order to gain greater recognition and support from the government.