Ditchley Park
September 2023
Following on from an introduction to policy surrounding the '3Ds' at the Windsor Castle, our second Future Leaders retreat focused on the link between development and security, health interventions, and the role of development in supporting trade. We were joined by a range of senior speakers from politics, policy, diplomacy and academia.
In Conversation with The Rt Hon Baroness Ruth Davidson
The Rt Hon Baroness Ruth Davidson, former leader of the Scottish Conservative Party spoke with CGP’s Ryan Henson about doorstepping and making the case for UK Aid, devolution, not becoming “lobby fodder” and being a woman in politics.
Development Finance 101 - an introduction to British International Investment
Andrew Palmer, Director of Global Affairs at British International Investment (BII), and Beth Miller, Global Affairs Adviser at BII, gave the Future Leaders an insightful overview of development finance and the positive impact of BII’s investments in the face of a growing SDG funding gap.
Fireside chat with Alastair Campbell
Tony Blair’s former spokesman and strategist, Alastair Campbell, spoke with CGP’s CEO Ryan Henson about British soft power, leadership, the role of the MP as educator, how to run a successful political campaign, “persivilience”, and much more.
The Transatlantic Relationship: the UK and US as a Force for Good
Sir Peter Westmacott, former British Ambassador to the United States, explored the current state of the UK-US relationship and how the upcoming US election will impact America’s foreign policy decisions.
Reception and Dinner with Lord Peter Ricketts and Rt Hon Victoria Prentis KC MP, Attorney General
During the course of the evening drinks reception and dinner, we heard from Lord Peter Ricketts, former UK National Security Adviser, and Rt Hon Victoria Prentis MP, who highlighted Britain’s leading efforts to help the persecution of Russian war crimes in Ukraine.
Virtual visit with the Mines Advisory Group (MAG)
The Mines Advisory Group (MAG) took the Future Leaders on a virtual visit to Cambodia, Sri Lanka, and Laos to see the transformative impact of MAG’s demining programmes in the region and hear from their teams on the ground.
The UK as a Health and Science ‘Superpower’
Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert, co-developer of the Oxford AstraZeneca covid vaccine, and Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, CEO of UK Research & Innovation, spoke about science as a collective endeavour, short-termism in the science community, and the need to use new language when talking about science with children.
In Conversation with the Rt Hon Lord Peter Mandelson
The Rt Hon Lord Mandelson, former European Trade Commissioner and First Secretary of State, reflected on the global “battle for ideas”, UN voting patterns, the Global South, the dangers of protectionism, and the importance of having ideas of your own as a politician.
Understanding and Confronting Global Challenges with Sir Mark Lyall-Grant
Sir Mark Lyall-Grant, former National Security Adviser, led an interactive session with the candidates based on COBRA crisis scenarios.
Gambling on Development, with Stefan Dercon CMG
Stefan Dercon CMG, Professor of Economic Policy at the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government and former Chief Economist at DfID, analysed the conflicting degree of progress on eliminating poverty in different parts of the world and shed some light on the need for local commitments when it comes to foreign aid.