Presentations & Speeches

Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, delivered her annual state of the global economy speech in the JFK, Jr. Forum at Harvard Kennedy School followed by a discussion with Nicholas Burns, Goodman Family Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations and Lawrence Summers, Charles W. Eliot University Professor and President Emeritus at Harvard University. In her address, Madame Lagarde quoted President John F. Kennedy stating that “the time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.” Mme. Lagarde adapted this statement to the economy, expressing that while our economy is currently experiencing an upswing, now is the time for reform. We must be proactive, not reactive. Additionally, Mme. Lagarde spoke about the importance of fighting corruption and climate change, empowering women, and addressing inequality. 

Madame Lagarde's speech was the inaugural event of the new Economic Diplomacy Initiative (EDI) - a joint program of the Future of Diplomacy Project and the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at the Harvard Kennedy School. EDI is co-chaired by Professors Burns and Summers, and aims to provide Harvard students with a sound understanding of the critical importance of economic diplomacy in a globalized world; specifically, the negotiation of agreements between multiple countries and multiple stakeholders.  

Professor John P. Holdren gave the keynote lecture opening a two-day international congress at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, which was organized by the University’s Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment on the topic of "Building Resilience to Climate Change." 

Dr. John P. Holdren gave the 11th Annual Wheeler Lecture for the Quissett Harbor Preservation Trust in Falmouth, Massachusetts, on July 23, 2017.

Hui Zhang presented "Thoughts on China’s Nuclear Reprocessing Policy" at the Conference of Assessing the International Nuclear Agenda, June 16-17, 2017, in Beijing.

The last couple of years have seen mixed progress in non-proliferation, arms control, and disarmament. On the positive side, we can applaud the Ministerial-level Nuclear Security conference in December 2016 and actions emanating from that.

Nicholas Burns urges graduates to defend against rising populism in Europe and around the world during commencement at the American University of Paris. 

Ambassador Nicholas Burns in Paris on May 23, 2017 receiving and honorary degree and delivering the Commencement address to the American University of Paris class of 2017. He reminds graduates to "believe in the beauty, the power and the truth of our democratic way of life."

On May 18, Professor Burns delivered the 2017 Commencement Address to the Salem State University School of Graduate Studies in Salem, Massachusetts. His speech had themes of hope and service. He left them with two messages and calls to action: that we must never forget who we [the United States] really are as a people—a nation of immigrants; and that the graduates before him raise us up and build a better and stronger and more hopeful America.

On May 8, 2017 Farah Pandith spoke to the 2017 graduating class of Mount Saint Mary’s University. Below is her commencement speech, which illuminates the power of lifting up all voices in Our world.

Full remarks by former U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Samantha Power Honoring New York Review of Books Founder Bob Silvers on April 26, 2017.