Aspen UK

In this episode, former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright joins Aspen UK’s Chairman Ed Williams for a conversation on democracy during and after Covid-19. They discuss international systems, whether Covid-19 is driving a further nail in the coffin of multilateralism, describe America's role in the world and explore where we can find the next generation of global leaders. 

Madeleine’s latest book is Hell and Other Destinations: a 21st Century Memoir (2020).

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In this episode we discuss the future of learning with Andria Zafirakou MBE, the winner of the Global Teacher Prize in 2018; Sam Butters, CEO of the Fair Education Alliance; Simon Nelson, CEO of Futurelearn; and Vikas Pota, Honorary Lecturer at UCL Institute of Education. They are in conversation with Amy Baker, the CEO of the PIE (Professionals in International Education) discussing what the current educational landscape looks like, sharing their individual perspectives on the future of learning and describing a growing trust between government and teacher to prepare students for a fast-changing world. 

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Are you happy? A simple question that many of us are still unable to answer without some ambiguity. In this conversation Professor Lord Richard Layard, economist and best-selling author of “Can We Be Happier?” (2020) talks about the evidence base for positive psychology with BBC news presenter, executive coach, and psychology researcher Philippa Thomas. Together they discuss how society can be made happier, describe the role of organisations and schools in building wellbeing, and explore whether it would be problematic if someone was too happy, to the point of being naive. 

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Since the murder of George Floyd many communities have been reflecting on both individual and systemic racism. In this special conversation, we talk with a panel of emerging black leaders from different walks of life about changes that can and should be made across sectors in the UK including politics, technology and finance. Dayo Okewale, chief of staff at the House of Lords, leads the discussion between Ijeoma Okoli, executive director at JPMorgan; Poku Osei, founder and CEO of Babbasa; Claudine Adeyemi, lawyer and founder of the Student Development Co.; and Alain ‘Fusion’ Clapham, director of the creative agency Industry In The Streets.

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In this episode Bill Browder, founder and CEO of Hermitage Capital Management and author of ‘Red Notice’ and Sir Anthony Brenton, former UK Ambassador to Moscow talk about engagement with Russia. With Caroline Wyatt, BBC news presenter and former Moscow correspondent they talk about the global Magnitsky Justice Campaign, analyse Putin’s regime, and discuss why it is important for the UK to have a good relationship with Russia. 

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In this discussion, Paul Lindley OBE, founder of Ella’s Kitchen, Amy Clarke, chief impact officer at Tribe Impact Capital and Mike Barry co-chair of CGF Sustainability Steering Group explore the future of ethical business, moderated by David Bentley, CEO of Porter Novelli. Together they discuss how the covid-19 crisis will help businesses have a more ‘human lens’ on what is ethical, and describes introducing new measures of success for companies, governments and society to aspire to.

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A cultural conversation in partnership with Brunswick Arts. 

In this episode, Hartwig Fischer, director of the British Museum and Olafur Eliasson, artist and founder of Studio Olafur Eliasson talk to Caroline Daniel, partner at Brunswick about the future of things. Together they describe what ‘things’ mean to them and why they matter, explore why objects have many voices and stories to share, and discuss the extent to which the crisis will accelerate the digitalisation of culture.

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As the deadline approaches for the UK government to decide on whether they will ask for an extension to Brexit negotiations, the discussion of the future of EU relations couldn’t be more crucial. In this episode, Marta Dassù, Senior Advisor for European Affairs at the Aspen Institute Italia and the former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, moderates a conversation between Anthony Gardner, former US Ambassador to the EU and Ambassador João Vale de Almeida, EU Ambassador to the UK and former EU Ambassador to the UN. Together they discuss whether a deal is possible, explore the implications of a no-deal Brexit, and describe the importance of the UK-US special relationship, and that between the EU and the US.

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A cultural conversation in partnership with Brunswick Arts.

John Wilson, Presenter and Producer of BBC Radio 4 ‘Front Row’, moderates a conversation on the future of live performance. He is joined by Tamara Rojo CBE, Artistic Director and Lead Principal Dancer of the English National Ballet, John McGrath, Artistic Director & Chief Executive of Manchester International Festival and The Factory, and Gillian Moore, Director of Music at the Southbank Centre. Together, they deliberate what the creative industries need to survive and thrive after the pandemic, explain why people need to become “lighter” on their feet to find new ways to express artistic freedom and spirit, and discuss whether we will see a cultural flourishing from the ‘underground’. 

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In this episode, one of Britain’s leading contemporary historians, educationalists, political authors and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Buckingham, Sir Anthony Seldon talks to James Blitz, former journalist at the Financial Times about the hierarchy of personal growth. Together, they consider the education system and why we should also seek skills and intelligence outside of the classroom, they explore the differences between knowledge, understanding and wisdom, and discuss how institutions can “learn from past mistakes” to improve future decision making.

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