Global Speakers Program
Abstract
How the Russian invasion of February 24, 2022 changed perspectives for durable peace in Europe, and what implications it will have for the future order of the World.
A former German Secretary of State and Ambassador to the US looks back at how Berlin misread warning signals and is now preparing for a new era.
Biography
Ambassador Peter Ammon is the only German career diplomat who ever held the positions of German Ambassador to the United Kingdom (2014-2018) as well as Ambassador to the USA (2011-2014) and France (2007-2008).
From 2008 to 2011, Peter was State Secretary of the German Foreign Office (equivalent to Deputy Secretary of State in the US system). After studies in Mathematics and Physics, he received a Ph.D. in Economics from Berlin Free University in 1978. In 2012, he was made a honorary Doctor of Science by the University of Alabama in Huntsville/USA.
During his diplomatic career, Peter focused on supporting German companies operating in foreign markets. He is a strong supporter of free trade and de-regulation, and assisted Chancellors Schröder and Merkel in preparing G7/G8 summits when he was Director-General for Economic Affairs in the German Foreign Office from 2001 to 2007.
Earlier in his career, he had diplomatic postings to Africa (Dakar/Senegal) and India (New Delhi), before he became Chief Speech Writer for the then German President in 1996. Since his retirement in 2018, Peter works as an advisor to German and British consultancies, speaks at foreign policy research conventions and provides commentaries for the BBC. In 2019, Peter became a member of the Council of the British Chamber of Commerce in Germany (BCCG).
Peter is married to Marliese Heimann-Ammon. They have two grown daughters, Ariane and Christina. His personal interests include music, science, and hiking.
Honours: Cross of the Federal Order of Merit (Germany); Officier de la Légion d’honneur (France); Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Portugal); Commander Ordre Bernado O’Higgins (Chile); (hon.) Freeman of the City of London.
Guest Policy
Guests may register in advance for $15 or register at the door for $20. Please arrive at 9:30 am to check in. Advance registration opens one month before each event and closes the Wednesday before each event. There is no cost for WACHH members to attend.
