Menu
Log in

World Affairs Council Hilton Head


2024/2025 Distinguished Speaker Series

The Distinguished Speaker Series, our principal program, usually takes place on the first and third Fridays of each month at the First Presbyterian Church – October through May.  Speakers come from around the globe who are known for their international experience in government, business, military affairs and academia. International speakers are supported by our Global Speakers Program

Meetings are hosted at First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head. Programs start at 10:00 AM with the featured speaker addressing the audience for approximately 50 minutes, followed by a Q & A session. Programs end at 11:30 AM. The Council is a 501 (c) 3, nonpartisan educational organization that takes no political position on the topics presented.

Download the 2024-2025 Speaker Program Calendar (PDF) 

See who came last season in 2023-2024: 2023 2024 Speaker Program Calendar


2024/2025 Distinguished Speaker Series

Date Presenter Topic
10/4/2024 Brian Katulis Foreign Policy Challenges for the Next
President
10/18/2024 Aaron David Miller Israel and Palestine: What’s in the Future
for Their Relationship?
11/1/2024 Jennifer Rasamimanana** The U.S. and Morocco: 200 years of Peace and Friendship
11/15/2024 Gonul Tol Erdogan’s Recipe for Turkey: Autocracy or
Reform?
11/22/2024 Mohammed Tabaar The Politics of Islam in U.S.-Iran Relations
12/6/2024 Adam Szubin Trends in International Terrorist Funding
1/10/2025 Mona Yacoubian Is Peace Possible in the Middle East?
1/24/2025 Ajay Chhibber Making India an advanced Country by 2047:
What Will It Take?
2/7/2025 Emily Harding Bytes vs. Bullets: How Technology is
Changing Warfare
2/21/2025 Barbara Slavin Risks and Opportunities in Iran-U.S. Foreign Policy
3/7/2025 Emma AshfordDoes the U.S. Have a Foreign Policy Grand Strategy?
3/21/2025 Leonardo Villalon What Can We Learn from The Sahel - Africa
South of the Sahara
4/11/2025 Kotaro Shiojiri** Political Challenges and Opportunities for the U.S., Japan, and Beyond
5/2/2025 Elizabeth Beavers How the U.S. Defense Budget Shapes
Policy and our Global Reputation


**Made possible by the Global Speakers Program


Sponsors

Ambassador Level 2023-2024

  • Bob & Lynn Burt (2)
  • Peter & Pam Cooper
  • Arno & Liz Dimmling
  • Steven and Barbara Walters Doehrman 
  •  Jim Irwin & Margaret McManus
  • Les & Michele Janka 
  • Barbara Johnson
  • Toney Mathews
  • Anne & Bill Millhaem
  • Cindy Petitt
  • Lori & David Wellinghoff
  • Georgia & Henry West
  • Lee & Ruth Wilwerding

Diplomat Level 2023-2024

  • Elizabeth & Thomas Belenchia
  • Jan Cooper & Ray Marcinowski (2)
  • Lynn & Tom Cordy
  • John & Lesley Gilbert (3)
  • Lesley Green 
  •  Suzanne Joyce & Tom Tomfohrde (2)
  • Cindy & Ron Latin (2)
  • David & Lisa Long
  • Rick & Sue Mitchell (2)
  • Peter Spreadbury 

Sea Pines Real Estate

Community Foundation of the Lowcountry

The Cypress of Hilton Head


Jolley Law Group



Video Archives

Video Archives for past Speaker Meetings are available through the Members Only page. You must be logged into your account as a member of World Affairs Council to access this page. 


World Affairs Council of Hilton Head

Office: 32 Office Park Rd. Ste. 209, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

Mail: PO Box 22523, Hilton Head Island, SC 29925

843-384-6758  |  execdirector@wachh.org

Member, World Affairs Council of America


Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software