Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan among speaker line-up
The annual FTWeekend Festival: US Edition is returning to Washington DC on Saturday, 4 May to explore the theme, where curious minds meet.
The Festival will feature four stages – Big Ideas of 2024, Tech & Future, Life & Culture and HTSI – each hosting a series of panels, fireside chats and workshops. Leading FT journalists will explore new ideas and diverse topics alongside a distinguished lineup of world-renowned experts.
The main stage, Big Ideas of 2024, will host the following sessions:
- Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and author, journalist and historian Anne Applebaum on the global challenge of democracy in 2024 with FT editor Roula Khalaf and FT contributing editor Kim Ghattas;
- US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in conversation with FT US national editor and columnist Edward Luce;
- Director of the National Economic Council S. Lael Brainard on the state of global economics with FT chief economics commentator Martin Wolf;
- Actor Bradley Whitford on his life and career in Hollywood with FT US national editor and columnist Edward Luce;
- Poland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Radek Sikorski and Brookings Institution senior fellow Fiona Hill on the war in Ukraine and averting the growing fears of a wider conflict with FT foreign editor Alec Russell;
- Clinical psychologist and climate activist Margaret Klein Salamon and author and political scientist Ruy Teixeira on climate action in the age of green backlash with FT associate editor and business columnist Pilita Clark; and
- Host of FT News Briefing Sonja Hutson presides over a quiz with FT Weekend editor Janine Gibson and host of Unhedged Ethan Wu.
“The FTWeekend Festival aims to reinvigorate conversations around a host of thorny topics and fresh ideas,” said Janine Gibson, FT Weekend editor. “We're presenting a global perspective to the Washington stage, fostering a space for thought-provoking dialogue and learning.”
In line with the Festival theme, the Tech & Future stage will welcome experts for panel discussions on the US-China tech race, smart investing and artificial intelligence. Speakers include Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Technology & National Security National Security Council at The White House, Tarun Chhabra, and Google AI researcher and author Blaise Agüera y Arcas.
The Life & Culture stage will examine topics ranging from gut health and community economics to the art of thriller writing, featuring a one-on-one conversation with acclaimed author Marilynne Robinson.
Highlighting the best of the FT’s luxury lifestyle magazine, the HTSI stage will explore how to look amazing at every age with makeup artist and Westman Atelier founder Gucci Westman, how to rewild the world with conservationist Kristine Tompkins, as well as how to host, style and meditate with leading lifestyle experts.
For more information and to register for in-person or online access to the FTWeekend Festival: US Edition, please visit: usftweekendfestival.live.ft.com/home.
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For more information, please contact: Leah Graf | leah.graf@ft.com
About the Financial Times
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