Featured Events
November 12, 2026: Joint WorldQuest / Academic WorldQuest 2026 (In Memory of Pierre Lipton)
On November 12, the World Affairs Council of Charlotte will gather at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown for a joint evening of Academic WorldQuest and WorldQuest as high school students and adult teams play side by side, testing what they know about the world. This year's competition is held in memory of Pierre Lipton, who lived that very arc: first as an Academic WorldQuest competitor for Myers Park High School, and later as a WorldQuest player with the Charlottans.
October 15th, 2026: WACC Global Business Series with Brian Znotins, Senior Vice President of Network ​Planning for American Airlines
Brian Znotins knows the strategy behind Charlotte's rise as a global gateway better than almost anyone. As American Airlines' Senior Vice President of Network Planning, he oversees the route decisions that have made CLT the airline's second-largest hub powering approximately 90% of the airport's flights to over 170 destinations. Last year CLT handled about 53.6 million passengers and more than 570,000 aircraft operations, landing it 7th busiest globally for total aircraft movements and 35th for passenger traffic; numbers that put real weight behind connecting the Carolinas (and Charlotte) to the world.
October 8th, 2026: WACC CEO Series with Vimal Kapur, Chairman and CEO of Honeywell Technologies
The World Affairs Council of Charlotte is pleased to welcome Kurk Wilks, President and Chief Executive Officer of MANN+HUMMEL, as a featured speaker in our CEO Series on March 3, 2026. As the global leader of a German-headquartered company with more than 21,000 employees across 80+ locations worldwide, Mr. Wilks offers a unique perspective on German–U.S. economic ties, transatlantic leadership, and managing complex global operations in an increasingly interconnected world.
September 22nd, 2026: WACC Speaker Series with Michael O’Hanlon, Senior Fellow, Director of Research for the Foreign Policy Program, Inaugural Holder of the Philip H. Knight Chair in Defense and Strategy at the Brookings Institution, and Author
Join the World Affairs Council of Charlotte for a luncheon on Tuesday, September 22 with Michael O'Hanlon, Senior Fellow and Director of Research for the Foreign Policy Program at the Brookings Institution and author of To Dare Mighty Things: U.S. Defense Strategy Since the Revolution. Drawing on 250 years of American military history, O'Hanlon examines how the U.S. has waged war, sustained peace, and projected power.
Upcoming Events
Video Highlights
WACC in the News
Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins (WFAE): Journalist David Sanger Discusses the Changing U.S. Role on the Global Stage Listen Now
Union County Public Schools: A School Counselor’s Trip Abroad Shapes How She Supports Students at Home. Read Now
Inside UNC Charlotte: UNC Charlotte Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber honored with World Citizen Award. Read Now
Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins (WFAE): Foreign Adversaries Sow Division in Local Communities, Including North Carolina, Report Says. Listen Now
Roll Call: An Election That’s Bigger Than One Country. Read Now
City of Charlotte: Mayor Lyles To Present 26th Mayor’s International Community Awards. Read Now
Charlotte Observer: It’s Time to Meet Your Neighbor Across the World, says Rick Steves. It Starts with Travel. Read Now
Charlotte Ledger: Rick Steves is Traveling with a Mission. Read More
Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins (WFAE): Getting to Know Travel Extraordinaire Rick Steves. Listen Now
Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins (WFAE): A Conversation with Fiona Hill — Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and the White House’s former top Russia adviser. Listen Now
Atrium Health: Dr. Derek Raghavan Reflects on Upcoming Retirement. Read Now
FOX 46 Charlotte:Â Retired Lieutenant General in Charlotte Gives Insight Into Russia-Ukraine War. Watch Now (YouTube)
WFAE: Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins — Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Ben Hodges, former Commanding General US Army Europe and Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA). Listen Now
WFAE: Delays Push Carolina Theatre Project To 2022, Hotel Coming Later. Read More
Charlotte Business Journal: Top Execs at Atrium Health, Wake Forest Discuss Why the Combination Made Sense. Read More
Charlotte Business Journal:Â President of Truist Financial Emphasizes Focus on Community Impact, Innovation at Charlotte Luncheon. Read More
WFAE:Â The President’s Finger Is The Only One On ‘The Button.’ Listen Now
WFAE: Charlotte MLS Team President Talks Atlanta Rivalry, Big Tepper Sports Plans. Read More