Councils from across the United States convened in Washington, D.C. to take stock of the world and explore what balance means in this pivotal moment from November 19-21, 2025.

The 2025 National Conference At a Glance

The World Affairs Councils of America hosted the 2025 National Conference focused on The World, On Balance.

For more than a century, World Affairs Councils have been a trusted forum through global change, bringing communities together to make sense of the world, one conversation at a time. Today’s world is in flux. Amid the complexity and uncertainty, there’s opportunity: for renewal, for connection, for leadership. On balance, it’s a moment to lean in, listen harder, and imagine what comes next – together.

Conference Program & Sessions

Please find our 2025 National Conference: The World, On Balance program and session recordings from the full conference held on November 19-21, 2025. The Conference featured more than 30 industry leaders, think tank experts, Council Leaders, Student Scholars, and supporters and friends of the WACA network exploring what balance means in this pivotal moment.

We'll see you soon in D.C. for the
2025 National Conference
0
0
0
0
Days
0
0
Hrs
0
0
Min
0
0
Sec

Registration Pricing

Open September 26 through October 31

$949 | Registration from a Council

Those affiliated with a Council (staff, board, volunteer, member, etc.) WACA National Board Members may also purchase tickets at this rate.

$1,049 | General Public

The general public can register for the $1049 rate.

Open August 1 through September 26

$849 | Registration from a Council

Those affiliated with a Council (staff, board, volunteer, member, etc.) WACA National Board Members may also purchase tickets at this rate.

$765 | Council Group Rate 

Council groups of 4 or more can purchase this rate. Discounts cannot be combined.

$949 | General Public

The general public can register for this rate. Council members may reach out to their Council for a promo code to access the discounted $849 rate.

$775 | Student Rate

Students can register to attend the conference at any time for this discounted rate.

Open through July 31

$699 | First registration from a Council

The Council network is stronger when each Council is able to participate. The first staff or board member who registers will receive the discounted rate of $699 during the early bird period. Please note this is not open to general Council members.

$749 | Registration from a Council

Those affiliated with a Council (staff, board, volunteer, member, etc.) WACA National Board Members may also purchase tickets at this rate.

$675 | Council Group Rate

Council groups of 4 or more can purchase this rate. Discounts cannot be combined.

$849 | General Public

The general public can register for the discounted $849 rate.

$775 | Student Rate

Students can register to attend the conference at any time for this discounted rate.

Schedule

1-4 PM Meeting of the WACA National Board of Directors
6-8 PM 1918 Society Reception & Dinner – invite only
6-6:30 PM Student Scholar Orientation Session – invite only

8 AM-3 PM Leadership Day – Council board and staff members only – registration required
8 AM-4 PM Student Scholar Day – confirmed Student Scholars only
4-5 PM Special Author Conversation (tbd)
5-8 PM Opening Reception & Dinner featuring special award recipients
8-10 PM WACA After Hours

7:30 AM Breakfast available
8 a.m.-12:15 PM Morning sessions
12:30-1:45 PM Plenary Luncheon
2:30-3:30 PM Think Tank Offsite Sessions
4-5 PM Networking Break and Global Ties U.S. Reception – invite only
5-5:45 PM Special Conversation: North American Neighbors
6:30-8 PM Offsite Embassy Reception

8:15-9:15 AM Diplomats Coffee Hour, introducing Embassies to the national Council network
9:30 AM-1 PM Morning sessions
1:15-2:30 PM Closing Luncheon with keynote speaker Walter Russell Mead
3-4 PM WACA National Board Special Activity – invite only

Conference Sessions

Out of Order: The World Order at 80
Out of Order: The World Order at 80
The New Order: Spheres of Influence?
The New Order: Spheres of Influence?
The 2025 Fulcrum: Everything Balances on the Middle East
The 2025 Fulcrum: Everything Balances on the Middle East
The Rebalancing of U.S. Foreign Assistance
The Rebalancing of U.S. Foreign Assistance
Tools to Keep the World Connected
Tools to Keep the World Connected
Special Conversation: North American Neighbors
Special Conversation: North American Neighbors
Forgotten Places
Forgotten Places
Think Tank Offsite Sessions
Think Tank Offsite Sessions
Trade in the Balance: Supply Chains & Tariffs
Trade in the Balance: Supply Chains & Tariffs

Conference Speakers

Amitav Acharya
Amitav AcharyaDistinguished Professor of International Relations, American University
Chidi Blyden
Chidi BlydenPrincipal, Culturally Bound
Katherine Brown
Katherine BrownPresident & CEO, Global Ties U.S.
Courtenay Brown
Courtenay BrownSenior Economics Reporter, Axios
Joyce M. Davis
Joyce M. DavisPresident & CEO, World Affairs Council of Harrisburg
Ramon Escobar
Ramon EscobarSenior Advisor, Milken Institute Finance
Loghman Fattahi
Loghman FattahiU.S. Advocacy Representative, Committee to Protect Journalists
Emily Feng
Emily FengInternational Correspondent, NPR
Amb. Yuri Kim
Amb. Yuri KimFormer U.S. Ambassador to Albania
Suzanne Loftus
Suzanne LoftusAssociate Professor, National War College
Edward Luce
Edward LuceUS National Editor and Columnist, Financial Times
Amb. Brian McFeeters
Amb. Brian McFeetersFormer U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia
Walter Russell Mead
Walter Russell MeadOpinion Columnist, Global View, The Wall Street Journal
Amb. Brian Nichols
Amb. Brian NicholsFormer U.S. Ambassador to Peru & Zimbabwe
Mihaela Papa
Mihaela PapaDirector of Research, MIT Center for International Studies
Ned Price
Ned PriceFormer Spokesperson, U.S. State Dept.
Amb. Alina Romanowski
Amb. Alina RomanowskiFormer U.S. Ambassador to Iraq & Kuwait
Amb. Arturo Sarukhan
Amb. Arturo SarukhanFormer Mexican Ambassador to the U.S.
Jim Sciutto
Jim SciuttoAnchor and Chief National Security Analyst, CNN
Stephen Sestanovich
Stephen SestanovichKennan Senior Fellow for Russian and Eurasian Studies, CFR
Amb. Daniel Shapiro
Amb. Daniel ShapiroDistinguished Fellow, Middle East Security Initiative, Atlantic Council
Jack Sine
Jack SineNational Security Strategist
Alex Vatanka
Alex VatankaSenior Fellow, Middle East Institute
Chris Wallace
Chris WallaceAward-Winning Journalist
Thomas Wright
Thomas WrightSenior Fellow, Talbott Center for Security, Strategy and Tech, Brookings
Mona Yacoubian
Mona YacoubianDirector, Middle East Program, CSIS
Miles Yu
Miles YuChina Center Senior Fellow & Director, Hudson Institute

Accommodations

The 2025 National Conference was be held at the at the
Park Hyatt, Washington D.C. hotel. From the speaker sessions to travel to off-site events, the entirety of the conference was set around Park Hyatt D.C. Hotel.

 

The Student Scholars Program

Through the support of generous donors, WACA proudly provided the room, board, and conference registration for 25 undergraduate students from Council communities through the prestigious and competitive Student Scholars Program.

A Thank You to Our Conference Sponsors

The World Affairs Councils of America is deeply grateful to our generous sponsors for their invaluable support of the 2025 National Conference: The World, On Balance. Your commitment helps bring global dialogue to life and empowers our network to foster informed engagement on international affairs across the country.

Thank you for supporting us in shaping a more connected, thoughtful global community.

Frequently Asked Questions

Your conference ticket includes the opening reception and dinner on Wednesday; the Thursday breakfast, lunch, and reception; the Friday breakfast and lunch; all conference sessions; all leadership sessions (Council staff and board) or offsite visits (Council members).

High school and college students (undergraduate and graduate) with proof of current enrollment are eligible to register for the National Conference at a reduced rate.

It is not mandatory to stay at the Park Hyatt Hotel, but it is highly encouraged. All sessions take place at the Park Hyatt, and off-site visits are planned around distance to-and-from the hotel. Meeting the Park Hyatt room block rate allows WACA to offer the national conference at this year’s price levels.

Guests without a ticket will not be granted entry to the 2025 National Conference in Washington, D.C.

There is not an explicit dress code for the conference, but generally attendees wear business casual for the seminars and business professional for the dinners.

Speakers for the conference will be announced on a rolling basis. Check this page and subscribe to the WACA newsletter for updates!

 

Because many elements of the conference, including think tank visits and receptions, happen off-site, there is not a virtual option for the National Conference. Sessions will be recorded for attendees to view after the conference at the discretion of the speakers.

WACA hopes everyone who registers for the conference will be able to attend; however, we understand that even the most carefully made plans are subject to change. Please see below for the Conference cancellation and refund policy:

  • Conference registration canceled on or before November 1 is refundable but subject to a $50 admin fee.
    Due to the costs of food, beverage, and conference materials, registrants canceling after November 1, are not eligible for a refund.
  • Registration fees may be transferred to another individual; please notify the WACA National Office so we can update our guest list
  • In the event WACA must cancel the conference due to unforeseen circumstances, WACA will refund the cost of registration.
  • The WACA national conference cancellation and refund policies do not cover hotel, airfare, or other reservations made with third parties.

For questions or to cancel registration, please contact Martina Schwartz at mschwartz@worldaffairscouncils.org.

Yes. At the conference, you are entering an area where photography, audio and video recording may occur.

Your entry and presence on the event premises constitutes your consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded and to the release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction of any and all recorded media.