Global Initiative

The Economic Club’s Global Initiative offers members, many of whom represent businesses with extensive global interests, the opportunity to enjoy the best and most informative international programming. The Club presents from global companies based outside the United States and representatives of governments from other nations. (Pictured Above: His Excellency Ron Dermer, Ambassador of Israel to the United States; His Excellency Yousef Al Otaiba, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United States; and His Excellency Abdulla R. Al Khalifa, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United States, is interviewed by Economic Club Chairman David Rubenstein on November 16, 2020.)

Past Speakers

Recent international speakers have included: 

• Her Excellency Rosemary Banks, Ambassador of New Zealand to the United States
• His Excellency Daniel Mulhall, Ambassador of Ireland to the United States
• His Excellency Ron Dermer, Ambassador of Israel to the United States; His Excellency Yousef Al Otaiba, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United States; and His Excellency Abdulla R. Al Khalifa, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United States
• Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management, Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars
• Peter Altmaier, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Federal Republic of Germany
• His Excellency David MacNaughton, Canadian Ambassador to the United States
• Akio Toyoda, President and Member of the Board of Directors, Toyota Motor Corporation
• His Excellency Juha Sipilä, Prime Minister of the Republic of Finland
• His Excellency Gérard Araud, Ambassador of France to the United States
• His Excellency Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of the State of Israel
• His Excellency Sir Kim Darroch, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore
• Dr. Oh-Hyun Kwon, Vice Chairman & CEO, Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd.
• His Excellency Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez, President of the Republic of Panama
• His Excellency Peter Wittig, Ambassador of Germany to the United States
• His Excellency Juan Manuel Santos Calderón, President of the Republic of Colombia 
• Bob Dudley, Group Chief Executive, BP plc
• Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars Division
• Dr. Jim Yong Kim, President, The World Bank Group
• Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board, Toyota Motor Corporation
• The Honorable Robert B. Zoellick, President, The World Bank Group
• The Right Honourable Tony Blair, Former British Prime Minister  

Diplomatic Advisory Council

A key part of the Global Initiative is cooperation with the diplomatic community. Ambassadors are regularly invited to attend Signature events and encouraged to host Executive Conversations.

The Economic Club has established a Diplomatic Advisory Council to raise the Club’s international visibility and assist in reaching out to speakers from other countries. His Excellency Ashok Mirpuri, Ambassador of Singapore, is the Chair of the Council.

• Chair - H.E. Ashok Mirpuri, Ambassador of Singapore
• H.E. Roya Rahmani, Ambassador of Afghanistan
• H.E. Arthur Sinodinos, Ambassador of Australia
• H.E. Jean-Arthur Régibeau, Ambassador of Belgium
• H.E. Kirsten Hillman, Ambassador of Canada
• H.E. Motaz Mounir Zahran, Ambassador of Egypt
• H.E. Mikko Hautala, Ambassador of Finland
• H.E. Dr. Emily Haber, Ambassador of Germany
• H.E. Daniel Mulhall, Ambassador of Ireland
• H.E. Armando Varricchio, Ambassador of Italy
• H.E. Koji Tomita, Ambassador of Japan
• H.E. Salem Al-Sabah, Ambassador of Kuwait
• H.E. Rosemary Banks, Ambassador of New Zealand
• H.E. Juan De Dianous, Ambassador of Panama
• H.E. Jacques Pitteloud, Ambassador of Switzerland

Global Partner

The Club’s Global Initiative is supported by seven sponsors at the Global Partner level – Chevron Corporation, CTIA, Daimler AG, Delta Air Lines, Marriott International Inc., Octagon, and Raytheon Technologies.