International Relations Conference

International Relations Conference 2009

‘I think I will remember this conference as one of the turning points of my life.’ Berfu Guven, Turkey.

Delegates at Mansfield College.

The annual ESU International Relations Conference took place at Mansfield College, Oxford from 9-14 August. Held annually for over 40 years, this year’s conference was attended by 34 delegates from 28 countries from South America, Europe and the Far East. This year delegates from Cyprus, Finland, Malta and Turkey were the first to represent their country in the conference. The conference dealt with issues relating to both international relations and to Britain’s international role in the world today. The aim of the Conference was to give participants the opportunity to expand their knowledge of Britain and to widen their outlook on world issues. It also offered a unique opportunity to make individual contacts with people from various fields, cultures and backgrounds all over the world.  

This year delegates enjoyed a few new topics, including one featuring Climate Change given by Dr Laurence Matthews. Other topics discussed included, The 21st Century: The End of Western Dominance, International Trade and Industry, US Politics, British Media and The State of the Arts in Britain Today.

Delegates also enjoyed a trip to Stratford to see the RSC performance of As You Like It, at the Courtyard Theatre.

The English-Speaking Union would like to thank
ESU Cambridge Welland Valley,
ESU Epping Forest,
ESU London,
ESU Oxfordshire,
ESU West Sussex and
ESU York and District
for their very generous sponsorship of the conference and their continued support of the programme.

International Relations Conference 2008

The annual ESU International Relations Conference took place at Oriel College, Oxford 27 July - 2 August.  Held annually for over 40 years, this year’s conference was attended by 26 delegates from 22 countries from South America, Europe, the Middle East and the Far East. 

The conference dealt with issues relating to both international relations and to Britain’s international role in the world today.  The aim of the Conference was to give participants the opportunity to expand their knowledge of Britain and to widen their outlook on world issues.  It also offered a unique opportunity to make individual contacts with people from various fields, cultures and backgrounds all over the world. 

Lord Hunt attended the Conference at a celebratory dinner on the Thursday evening and gave an overview of the English-Speaking Union.  Sir Jeremy Greenstock GCMG, former British Ambassador to the United Nations in New York, opened the conference. Prof. Alan Lee Williams OBE, Chairman, Sir William Beveridge Foundation; Lord Watson of Richmond CBE, Chairman Emeritus, International Council of the English-Speaking Union; Mr Ralph Land CBE, Chairman of Trustees, British Consultancy Charitable Trust; Mr Edward Gould, Deputy Chairman, English-Speaking Union; and Dr Alastair Niven, Principal of Cumberland Lodge, to name but a few, covered topics as diverse as Peace Keeping and Peace Enforcing, International Development, Education in Britain, Parliament and the Parties, The Status of the Arts, Eastern Europe and the EU and The Internet and the Media.  Mrs Valerie Mitchell OBE, Director-General was the Guest Speaker at the Closing Dinner on Friday 1 August. 

The ESU would like to thank The Garfield Weston Foundation, The Swire Charitable Trust, The Drue Heinz Trust, Lloyd George Management, ESU West Sussex Branch and ESU London Branch for their generous sponsorship of the conference.

International Relations Conference 2007

The annual ESU International Relations Conference took place at Oriel College, Oxford from 15-21 July. 32 delegates from 28 countries listened to seminars from experts and business people on issues relating to both international relations and Britain’s international role in the world today.

Lord Hunt addressed delegates at a dinner on Sunday night with an overview of the English-Speaking Union. Sir Leonard Appleyard, Pro-Chancellor, Bournemouth University and Former Ambassador to China and Hungary, opened the conference.

Delegates also enjoyed a trip to Stratford to watch the RSC performance of Macbeth, directed by the award winning Irish director and writer, Conall Morrison.

Speakers including Mark Simmonds MP, Shadow Minister for International Development, Prof. Alan Lee Williams, Director of the Atlantic Council, Lord Watson, Mr Ralph Land Chairman of the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce, Mr Edward Gould and Dr Alastair Niven, Principal of Cumberland Lodge, to name but a few, covered topics as diverse as Peace Keeping and Peace Enforcing, International Development, Education in Britain, Parliament and the Parties, the Status of the Arts, East Europe and the EU and The Internet and the Media. Mrs Valerie Mitchell was the Guest Speaker at the Closing Dinner on Thursday 19 July.

The ESU would like to thank The Oppenheimer Charitable Trust, The Swire Charitable Trust, Rio Tinto plc, ESU Exeter and District Branch, ESU London Branch and The Garfield Weston Foundation for their generous sponsorship of the conference.