Convening

14th Annual Meridian Summit

2025 Meridian Summit: Shaping Geopolitical Futures Amid rapidly shifting global dynamics and intensifying geopolitical rivalry, Meridian International Center brought together more than 275 influential leaders from government, diplomacy, and industry for the 2025 Meridian Summit on October 24, 2025. Held at Gallup World Headquarters in Washington, D.C., the summit served as an essential forum for tackling the urgent challenges — and emerging opportunities — confronting the international community.

Attendees tackled topics on great-power competition, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, energy resilience, and economic cooperation; engaging with such speakers as Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross, Rep. Ami Bera (CA-6), Ambassador of Norway Anniken Huitfeldt, Ambassador of the Philippines Jose Romualdez, and The Honorable Dina Powell McCormick, among many others. Bringing together government officials, representatives from 38 embassies, and key voices from the corporate world, the conversations equipped leaders with the perspective and tools needed to navigate the increasingly complex global landscape, while sparking a powerful exchange of insights and strategies.

See more on social: #MeridianSummit READ OUR REPORT Download the Report MAIN STAGE 65 Years of Meridian and the Future of Global Engagement Watch This opening session framed the day’s Summit through the lens of Meridian’s 65-year legacy as a trusted convener across sectors, governments, and borders — and marked the launch of its new Center for State & Local Diplomacy and Center for Technology, Innovation, and Space — offering a forward-looking vision for the evolving architecture of global engagement and the new actors shaping diplomacy in a complex international landscape.

Speakers: T.H. Fred P. Hochberg | Board Chair, Meridian International Center Deborah M. Lehr | Interim CEO, Meridian International Center Power, Influence, and the Evolving International Landscape Learn More Watch As global power dynamics evolved, the United States faced critical choices about how to lead, compete, and cooperate in a rapidly changing world. In this fireside conversation, Rep. Ami Bera, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, explored what U.S. strategic leadership meant in an era of geopolitical uncertainty—from strengthening alliances and securing economic resilience to shaping the norms of emerging technologies.

The discussion set the stage for how America and its partners could navigate shifting global futures with purpose and unity. Speakers: T.H. Ami Bera | U.S. Representative (CA-6) Heather Nauert | Acting Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs and U.S. Department of State Spokesperson (2017 - 2019) (Moderator) From Public Pulse to Global Sentiment Watch Understanding how communities perceived their economic conditions, trust in institutions, and aspirations for mobility provided powerful context for geopolitical shifts.

This data-driven spotlight highlighted exclusive global findings from the Gallup World Poll—tracking hundreds of key indicators across more than 140 countries—revealing trends in sentiment that shaped local, regional, and international agendas. Speaker: Dan Foy | Principal, Global Analytics, Gallup The Leadership Imperative: Trust, Talent, and Technology Learn More WATCH In a world where geopolitical realignments and rapid technological change reshaped influence, the leaders who succeeded were those who could build trust, develop agile talent strategies, and deploy innovation with foresight.

This session mapped the emerging nexus of trust, talent, and technology, exploring what kind of leadership the moment demanded. From cultivating next-generation executives to shaping international talent flows, the discussion examined how companies and countries leveraged workforce strategy as a new form of soft power. Speakers: April Miller Boise | Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Intel Her Excellency Anniken Huitfeldt | Ambassador of Norway to the U.S.

Liz Landers | White House correspondent, PBS News Hour ( Moderator) Tom Monahan | Chief Executive Officer, Heidrick & Struggles Meridian Corporate Leader Award Presentation WATCH Awardee: Mary T. Barra | Chief Executive Officer, General Motors (pre-recorded) Speakers: Natalie Jones | Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Meridian International Center Omar Varg as | Vice President, Head of Global Public Policy, General Motors The New Geography of Industry and Supply Chain Resilience Learn More Watch As technology and increased global competitiveness reshaped multiple industries, manufacturing supply chains underwent a profound evolution.

Companies redefined supply resilience and competitiveness by balancing simplified supply chains with global interdependence. Emphasizing collaboration and agility, this session examined how advanced industry ecosystems—where AI and electrification drove innovation, efficiency, and resilience—shaped the future of manufacturing. It highlighted successes, ongoing challenges, and technological and policy innovations driving resilient, competitive industry development, offering practical lessons and collaborative approaches that fostered sustainable growth and adaptability.

Speaker: Shilpan Amin | Global Chief Procurement and Supply Chain Officer, General Motors Steve Clemons | Editor at Large, The National Interest Building Resilience in U.S. Cybersecurity Learn More Watch With escalating cyber threats from sophisticated adversaries, securing America’s digital infrastructure became a critical national priority. National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross spearheaded an aggressive strategy to unify cyber policy, modernize federal networks, and foster strong collaboration between government and industry.

These efforts included reauthorizing critical cybersecurity legislation, upgrading federal technology, promoting security and privacy by design, and streamlining regulations to enable effective defense. By aligning national capabilities and shaping adversary behavior, the United States aimed to maintain its leadership in cyber resilience and technological innovation, ensuring a robust cybersecurity posture. This conversation explored the complex coordination and policies required to transform national cybersecurity defenses amid evolving digital threats.

Speakers: T.H. Sean Cairncross | U.S. National Cyber Director Kellee Wicker | Vice President of the Center for Technology, Innovation, and Space, Meridian International Center (Moderator) Strategic Assets: Geopolitical Bargaining Chips in a new Global Economy Learn More Watch As energy access, digital infrastructure, and emerging technologies redefined national competitiveness, governments and industries worldwide reassessed the assets that served as leverage in global economic and strategic negotiations.

This session explored how critical resources—such as AI capabilities, energy supply chains, and digital currencies—were deployed as geopolitical bargaining chips to advance economic sovereignty and influence in a complex and rapidly shifting international landscape. Speakers Jarrod Agen | Deputy Assistant to the President and Executive Director, National Energy Dominance Council Jessica Dean | Host, CNN Newsroom (Moderator) Nicole Isaac | Vice President, Global Public Policy, Government Affairs, Cisco T.H.

Summer Mersinger | Chief Executive Officer, Blockchain Association Geoeconomic Confrontations: Sovereignty, Strategy, and Global Cooperation Learn More Learn More In a world defined by rising economic fragmentation and intensifying national interests, countries recalibrated their strategies to safeguard sovereignty and secure advantages in an increasingly complex global economy. As multilateral trade agreements faced strain and protectionist policies grew, this session explored how these shifts reshaped trade relations, investment flows, and market stability worldwide.