Speakers and Topics

An abundance of speakers from near and far, a plethora of topics, a never-ending wellspring of ideas have been shared with our members right here in Western Massachusetts. Some of our noted events have included:

His Excellency Sir Q. Ketumile Masire
Former President of Botswana
“Developing Sustainable Leadership in Africa”

Ambassador L. Bruce Laingen
Presdient Emeritus, American Academy of Diplomacy
"What Would it Take to Achieve Rapprochement with Iran?"

Ambassador Phyllis Oakley
Former Assistant Secretary of State
“Does Rising Anti-Americanism Matter?”

Ambassador Harry G. Barnes
Former US Ambassador to India, Romania & Chile
“Resolving Deeply Embedded Conflicts”

Ambassador Mark G. Hambley
Former US Ambassador to Lebanon & Qatar
“Mullahs, Martyrs & Oil:  Is the US Getting on Track in Iraq?”

Ms. Juliette Kayyem, Esq.
Undersecretary for Homeland Security, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
"Homeland Security:  Sustaining Interest Five Years Later"

Dr. Adeyinka Banwo
Department of History, University of Ilorin (Nigeria)
"Oil, Politics & Environment in Nigeria"
Instant Issues Brown Bag Series

Mr. Av Harris
Capital Reporter, WNPR--Connecticut Public Radio
"The Emerging GLOCAL News Beat:  Covering International Issues in Our Own Backyard"
Instant Issues Brown Bag Series

Dr. Javier Corrales
Associate Professor of Political Science, Amherst College
"Is Latin America Turning Anti-US:  A Review of Recent Elections"
Instant Issues Brown Bag Series

Mr. Robert Zucker
Director of Sales--Asia, Spalding
"Counterfeiting in China:  A Micro Look at a Macro Problem"
Instant Issues Brown Bag Series

Ms. Tala Dowlatshahi
US Representative of Reporters without Borders
“Freedom of the Press: The Global Clampdown on Access to Information”

Mr. Hugo Restall
Editor of Far Eastern Economic Review
“Why India is Poised to Overtake China”
Instant Issues Brown Bag Series

The Honorable François Gauthier
Consul General of France
Mr. Robert D. Ward
Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment
Mr. Philip Rice
Organization for International Investment
PANEL  “Insourcing:  Foreign Companies, American Jobs”

Dr. Dennis Yasutomo
Professor of Government & East Asian Studies at Smith College
“Iraq—Japanese Style”
Instant Issues Brown Bag Series