Global I.q. Minute With Jim Falk

As Ukraine’s second largest city, Kharkiv became a major target at the outset of the Russian invasion in 2022. As of April 2024, reports suggest that almost a quarter of the city has been damaged or destroyed. For the duration of the war, Mayor Ihor Terekhov has led his city through heavy fighting, shelling and missile strikes, and repeated attempts at advancement by Russian troops. For its people’s bravery in repelling Russian forces, the city was designated a Hero City of Ukraine by the Ukrainian government in 2022. The Council welcomes Mayor Terekhov to share his city’s story of resistance. Members with questions should reach out to Jenny Villatoro at jvillatoro@dfwworld.org. ABOUT THE SPEAKER Ihor Terekhov has served as the mayor of Kharkiv in Ukraine since November 2021. In 2007, he was appointed the Deputy Head Governor of Kharkiv Oblast by Arsen Avakov. He became deputy mayor of Kharkiv in 2010 and first deputy mayor in 2015. He was granted the title of Honored Economist of Ukraine. Terekhov graduate

HONOREE – Emily Ramirez Emily Ramirez is a distinguished educator with 13 years of experience cultivating global awareness and academic excellence as a teacher and a Junior World Affairs Council sponsor. She currently teaches AP World History and Mexican American Studies at Lake Highlands High School in the Richardson Independent School District, where she is recognized for her innovative and culturally relevant teaching methods. As the sponsor of Junior World Affairs Council (JWAC) clubs at Lake Highlands High School and previously at Uplift Williams Preparatory, Ramirez has expanded her impact beyond the classroom by fostering global citizenship and leadership among her students. She co-sponsored the creation of the “Global Awareness Speaker Series,” which has brought experts to her campus from fields such as global health, international business, diplomacy, and human rights. Ramirez has also organized a variety of community service initiatives, including drives for refugee families and hands-on events li

Part 3 of 3 of the Inspiring Success Stories: An American Journey. Elaine Agather’s career in the banking industry took off like a rocket. From her entry into banking in Sherman, TX to her dynamic engagement in banking in New York and the global economy, her charisma and willingness to adapt and show up earned her opportunity after opportunity. Her journey is the epitome of the inspired American journey. Today, she is the chairwoman of the Dallas Region, CEO of the central region, and managing director of The Private Bank for JP Morgan Chase & Co. She joins us in 2025 to discuss her career from New York, London, and San Francisco, Elaine’s Eight (i.e. Saddle Your Own Horse), and what it means to be a woman CEO. Agather will close out the CEO series with President & CEO of Hillwood Aviation Matt Byrd. ABOUT THE SPEAKER Elaine Agather is Chairman of the Dallas Region for JPMorgan Chase & Co. She also serves as the Central Region Head and Managing Director of The Private Bank at J.P. Morgan. Elaine joined Ch

Join us for a conversation with Ken Hersh – renowned investor, business leader, philanthropist, and president and CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Center. Ken will share his insights into the art and practice of leadership, drawing on decades of experience at the helm of both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. He will explore how effective leadership transcends industries, how mission alignment drives both financial success and social impact, and how he has cultivated a legacy of truly welcoming and resilient workplace cultures. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a leader who has made his name in the business world without compromising himself or his people. ABOUT THE SPEAKER Since 2016, Ken Hersh has served as president and CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Center, which houses the George W. Bush Library and Museum and the George W. Bush Institute. In 1988, he co-founded NGP Energy Capital Management, one of the nation’s largest natural resources private equity firms which pioneered

The Federal Reserve bank cut to interest rates in October, but officials cautioned about lowering the rates too quickly in recent meetings. Uncertainty with China, the Ukraine-Russia war, and the unrest in the Middle East all impact not only foreign policy but also the domestic economy. The Trump Administration has committed to immediately implement policies impacting tariffs and trade, business and regulations, the national debt, and taxes. What will that impact be and how quickly can we expect to feel it? What are the short and long-term implications to the U.S. economy and consumers? Vice Chairman of Goldman Sachs Robert Kaplan will speak to these questions, discuss the current state of the economy, and offer his 2025 economic forecast on January 29. ABOUT THE SPEAKER Robert Kaplan is vice chairman of Goldman Sachs and a member of the management committee. Kaplan initially joined the firm in 1983 and became a partner in 1990. In 2002, he became vice chairman of the firm with global responsibility for the

2025 Sumners Civics Lecture featuring former U.S. Ambassador to Russia John J. Sullivan; moderated by the Bradford M. Freeman Managing Director of Global Policy, the George W. Bush Institute Igor Khrestin. On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. James Sullivan, U.S. Ambassador to Russia, recalls being awakened in the middle of the night to a prearranged code when Russian troops crossed the border into Ukraine. He had been warning others that this was a possibility. Why had no one taken the whispers seriously? Could this war have been stopped? The geopolitical atmosphere has since shifted; democracies around the world have clamored, reliant on Ukraine successfully keeping Russia at bay. On March 20, join the Council to hear Ambassador Sullivan’s insider perspective. Ambassador John J. Sullivan, former U.S. deputy secretary of state and former U.S. ambassador to the Russian Federation, is a partner in Mayer Brown’s DC and New York offices. His career spans four decades in public service under five U.S. p

Featuring former U.S. Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman and Inaugural Director of AJC Abu Dhabi: The Sidney Lerner Center for Arab-Jewish Understanding Marc Sievers; moderated by Diplomat in Residence in the John Goodwin Tower Center for Political Studies and International Affairs at Southern Methodist University Robert Jordan. Part 4 of 4 in the 2025 International Perspectives Series. How can the past help us predict the future? Can diplomacy make progress despite rising tensions? How will alliances shape the future of the Middle East and the world at large? Join us for Middle East Alliances: What’s in the Crystal Ball with retired Ambassador Marc J. Sievers to explore the complexity of Middle Eastern alliances and learn the path forward to full collaboration. ABOUT THE SPEAKER Ambassador Marc J. Sievers (ret.), inaugural Director of AJC Abu Dhabi: The Sidney Lerner Center for Arab-Jewish Understanding, was a U.S. diplomat for more than 30 years, serving across the Middle East and North Africa, as well

A VIRTUAL event, featuring Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute Paul Salem and moderated by interim CEO of the Council Jim Falk. The first missile strikes of Israel’s operation “Rising Lion” accounted for the most widespread single-day assault Iran has experienced since the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. They targeted Iran’s nuclear program and military encampment sites and killed some of Iran’s most important military leaders and scientists instrumental in their nuclear operations. In response, Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones into the densely populated regions of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. What does this mean for the region and the possibility of a nuclear treaty? What role will the U.S. play in forging negotiations? What is the possibility of nuclear response? Join us for a RealTime Report on Thursday, June 19, featuring senior fellow at the Middle East Institute Paul Salem (joining from Beirut) and moderated by interim CEO of the Council Jim Falk. ABOUT THE SPEAKER Paul Salem is

Liz Brailsford, Marc J. Sievers, and Robert Jordan sit down for a conversation ahead of our event "Middle East Alliances: What’s in the Crystal Ball?"

Liz Brailsford and Ihor Terekhov sit down for a conversation ahead of our event "Kharkiv’s Story: Leadership, War, and the Fight for Democracy."

Liz Brailsford and Cullum Clark sit down for a conversation ahead of our event "The U.S. National Debt: How Does It Affect Foreign Policy?"

Liz Brailsford and Liz Truss sit down for a conversation ahead of our event "A Conversation with Liz Truss: Why Global Leadership Matters."

Liz Brailsford and Jeffrey Toobin sit down for a conversation ahead of our event "The Pardon: The Politics of Presidential Mercy."

Liz Brailsford and David Rohde sit down for a conversation ahead of our International Educator of the Year Awards Luncheon.

Liz Brailsford and John J. Sullivan sit down for a conversation ahead of our event "On the Frontlines: Service to Country, Moscow, and the West’s Global Challenge."

More than half of the world’s countries are democratic and 2024 has become the election year, with 49% of the world’s population going to the voting booth. With a record number of elections being held this year, how do the results abroad affect our upcoming November election? Join the Council in welcoming back Mark McKinnon in conversation with former Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings for the 2024 Mike Rawlings Endowed Lecture Series. ABOUT THE SPEAKER Mark McKinnon is a multifaceted figure known for his roles as a political advisor, advocate for reform, media columnist, and television producer. He is the creator and co-host of Showtime’s acclaimed documentary series The Circus and has worked with President George W. Bush, Senator John McCain, and Bono. Committed to bipartisanship, McKinnon co-founded No Labels and is a board member of Take Back Our Republic, which advocates for electoral reforms. McKinnon is a columnist and served as a governor of the Broadcasting Board of Governors. He attended the University o

Featuring Panelists: Brookings Institution Senior Fellow in Foreign Policy, Center on the United States and Europe Fiona Hill; George W. Bush Institute Executive Director and George W. Bush Presidential Center Vice President David Kramer; Brookings Institution Senior Fellow in Foreign Policy and Fritz Stern Chair at Germany and Trans-Atlantic Relations Constanze Stelzenmüller; Moderated by The Dallas Morning News Vice President and Editorial Page Editor Rudy Bush.

On June 11, Susan Glasser joins us for a discussion about the evolution and future of democracy with Jeremi Suri of the University of Texas. Glasser and Suri will explore the 2024 election with all its implications. Each summer, the leadership of the 90 World Affairs Councils network gather in a different city for networking and professional development. This year the Council was honored to win the bid to host the Council Leadership Meeting, in partnership with the World Affairs Councils of America (WACA). The kickoff for the Council Leadership Meeting is our Susan Glasser program. This is a special opportunity for our members to meet Council leaders from across the nation and the WACA national office and its board – don’t miss it! Join us in giving a hearty Texas “howdy!” to the WAC national network and to featured speaker Susan Glasser at Election Echoes: Tracing the Evolution & Future of Democracy. ABOUT THE SPEAKER Susan B. Glasser is a staff writer at The New Yorker, where she writes a weekly column

The 2024 election has ramifications that extend beyond our border. As the country approaches a Trump vs. Biden rematch, the two candidates have opposite views on foreign policy, particularly on NATO, tariffs, and China. The 2024 election will be consequential for many reasons; however, the current state of European and Eastern volatility makes foreign policy the most crucial issue. Join the Council for the International Perspective Series with George W. Bush Institute Executive Director David Kramer. Part of the International Perspectives Series. ABOUT THE SPEAKER David J. Kramer serves as the Executive Director of the George W. Bush Institute. Prior to joining the Bush Institute, he taught at Florida International University’s Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs, where he also was Senior Fellow in the Václav Havel Program for Human Rights and Diplomacy and Director for European and Eurasian Affairs. Before moving to Miami, Kramer worked in Washington, DC for 24 years, including as

Kosovo is in a fight for state recognition, and next month the Council of Europe will vote to include or exclude Kosovo. Despite the fact that 12 of its 46 member states do not consider Kosovo to be an independent state, the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly has already weighed in, voting 31 to 29 for Kosovo’s inclusion. This membership would be a step forward in their struggle to be recognized as a legitimate nation. Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani recently represented Kosovo in a case at the International Court of Justice, defending the legality of Kosovo’s independence as she has her entire political career. One week prior to the May 16 vote by the European Council, the Council welcomes her to the Fairmont Hotel in downtown Dallas. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of u