Participant Portal
World in 2050 Innovation Retreat.
This World in 2050 Brain Trust Innovation Retreat is a three-day meeting that will allow the opportunity to connect with fellow Brain Trust members, participate in collective intelligence workshops to help co-create the agenda for 2025 and beyond, and celebrate the end of year together in style. The meetings are held at the iconic Patterson Mansion in Washington, DC — Diplomatic Courier’s de facto embassy. During the retreat, BT members will be considering broad challenges and opportunities to “help the future arrive well” in five megatrends:
1. Exponential Technologies Radically Reshaping the World.
Artificial Intelligence; Privacy; Data ownership; Blockchain; Web3; Quantum.
2. Disruption from Climate Change, Energy Transition Surging.
Clean Energy Innovation; National and Corporate Strategies; Access to Energy.
3. Education, Work Grapple with Next Great Rebalancing.
The Skills Economy; Social and Emotional Learning; Skills Passports; Credentialing.
4. Individual, Societal Wellbeing at Inflection Point.
Social fragmentation; Global Uncertainty; Mental Health; Loneliness Epidemic.
5. Societal, Governance Institutions Under Pressure.
The Weakening of Democracy and the Rule of Law; Rising Inequality.
Post Retreat Resources.
The Global Majority AI Agenda
The Path to Shared Prosperity Is Anchored in Equity and Sustainability
2024 Global Action Forum report
By CAS Strategies
Innovation Retreat Opening Remarks Deck
By Ana Rold
Collective Intelligence Feedback Presentation
By Shane Szarkowski
Photos from the day
2024 DC Holiday Dinner Gala Photos (please credit DC photographer Sam Allen)
2024 Brain Trust Innovation Retreat Photos (please credit DC photographer Marcellus McIntosh)
Agenda
Wednesday, December 11
Arrivals & Check-in | 4:00 pm
The Patterson Mansion
15 Dupont Circle, Washington, DC 20036
Welcome Dinner | 6:00 pm
The Patterson Mansion | Ballroom
Thursday, December 12
All activities will be at the Patterson Mansion Ballroom
• Breakfast & Introductions | 9:00-10:00 am
• Welcome & Setting the Stage | 10:00-10:30 am
• Rethinking Collective Intelligence | 10:30-11:30 am
• Fireside Chat: The New Megatrends | 11:30-12:00 pm
• Lunch & Networking | 12:00-1:00 pm
• Things from the Future | 1:00 pm-3:00 pm
• Report Back: The Next Megatrends | 3:00-4:00 pm
• Closing Remarks & Adjourn | 4:00-4:15 pm
• Group photo | 4:15 pm
• Night at the Museum | 6:00-8:30 pm
Private Curator’s Tour and Dinner with International Arts & Artists
Friday, December 13
Site visit & lunch with our partner | 11:30 am – 2:00 pm
Center for International Private Enterprise
“Empowering Local Businesses for Global Prosperity”
601 13th St. NW Suite 940N | Washington, DC 20005
Hosts:
• Anna Kompanek, Director of CIPE Global Programs
• Stephen Rosenlund, Director of CIPE Associations Development
• Louisa Tomar, Director, CIPE Center for Digital Economy and Governance
• Moderator: Ana Rold, CEO & Founder, Diplomatic Courier & World in 2050
Friday evening, December 13
Annual Holiday Diplomatic Dinner | The Patterson Mansion Ballroom
RESTORING A FRAGMENTED WORLD THROUGH DIPLOMACY
Accelerating Uncommon Collaborations to Advance Peace and Human Wellbeing’
Reception at 6:00 p.m.
Seated Dinner at 6:30 p.m.
Attire: Cocktail or Festive.
Attendees.
The participant list for the event is available in this shared Google Document here. It will be updated regularly as more attendees are confirmed, so please check back for the latest information.
Meet Your hosts.
Ana Rold
Ana C. Rold is an award-winning media executive with a portfolio of print and digital assets reaching five continents and 182 countries. She started her entrepreneurial career as the founder of Diplomatic Courier, the flagship media network and magazine for top diplomats and policy leaders around the world. She co-founded and is a Board Member of Learning Economy Foundation. Her futuristic think tank, the World in 2050 has convened over 25,000 multi-stakeholders in the United States and Europe since 2012. From 2006 to 2022 Ana taught Comparative Politics at Northeastern University, where she led two University delegations to Cyprus and Egypt through the Dialogue of Civilizations program. Previously, she served as senior advisor for governance and sustainability to the Hellenic Group, a senior advisor to Gallup News, and as a publisher to Sodexo Global’s Quality of Life Report. She writes regularly for national and international publications and sits on international steering committees, brain trusts and boards, including the World Web Forum, the Smithsonian Science Education Center, and XPRIZE Foundation.
Shane Szarkowski
Dr. Shane C. Szarkowski is the Editor-in-Chief of Diplomatic Courier and Executive Director of World in 2050. A Marine Corps veteran, he has expertise in energy, security, and state failure. Shane earned his PhD from Oxford Brookes University, studying history, sovereign identity, and intervention in Afghanistan. He has taught courses in political theory, international relations, and U.S. Constitutional law. His career includes roles as Associate Director (Energy) at Bulletin Intelligence and Editor-in-Chief at Charged Affairs. Shane’s global experience spans service in Guantanamo Bay, Latvia, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan, sparking his interest in U.S. security and international affairs.
Logistics.
Venue
Patterson Mansion
15 Dupont Circle NW, Washington, DC 20036
Accommodations
If you have previously indicated you needed accommodations, you will be given a room at the Patterson Mansion. Check in is from 4pm EST on Wednesday, December 11.
Travel
Washington, DC is served by three major airports. We recommend flying into Dulles International Airport (IAD), it will take close to an hour to reach downtown DC via Uber or Metro. If you have any questions regarding travel please email us at DC-CEO@diplomaticourier.org
Additional Readings.
To help you prepare for and shape your conversations during the Innovation Retreat, we’ve compiled a list of recommended readings that offer valuable insights into the topics we’ll be covering.
1. Exponential Technologies Radically Reshaping the World.
2. Disruption from Climate Change, Energy Transition Surging.
3. Education, Work Grapple with Next Great Rebalancing.
4. Individual, Societal Wellbeing at Inflection Point.
5. Societal, Governance Institutions Under Pressure.
Media Kit.
The Media Kit is now available here for participants to share their experience participating in the retreat.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Which days is the retreat scheduled for? Should I attend all days?
The Innovation retreat begins on December 11 with the welcome dinner at 6 pm and culminates in Diplomatic Courier’s annual Holiday Diplomatic Dinner on December 13 at 6pm. For the best experience we recommend attending all events, however, the day’s activities on December 12 are the most important and should not be missed.
If I have any questions, who should I contact?
Please email DC-CEO@diplomaticourier.org for all questions related to travel, hotel accommodations, and the retreat itself and we’d be happy to help.
I have allergies and/or dietary restrictions; who should I contact?
Our menu selections are mindful of most, if not all, of known dietary restrictions. However, if you have any specific dietary restrictions you’d like to make us aware of, please email us about them at DC-CEO@diplomaticourier.org.
What is the attire?
Attire for the retreat is business casual.
For the Holiday Diplomatic Dinner the attire is cocktail or festive.
Can I share content from the retreat?
While the meetings are off the record, we welcome you sharing posts and pictures about your participation without quoting specific people unless they give permission.
We have created a media kit to help you with sharing and content creation.
Where can I go for up to date information?
This participant portal is the best source of information for the retreat.
We will be updating this page with the latest information as it becomes available.
Our Partners.
Thank you to our Partners & Sponsors. The innovation retreat and holiday celebration could not be possible without the support of our institutional partners and their talented staff.
