On the 3 December the official outreach event returns to London, where NATO first met, bringing together policy-makers, universities, think tanks and the public to discuss NATO's future.

King's College London is one of the organisers of 'NATO Engages: Innovating the Alliance', preceding the NATO Leaders' Meeting the following day, alongside the Atlantic Council, GLOBSEC, the Munich Security Conference and the Royal United Services Institute, and in partnership with NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division and the UK Government.

The event, which is also being livestreamed, will bring together reflections on NATO's 70 year history with explorations of the Alliance's future security, including the way the Alliance handles geopolitical uncertainties, changing threats and new opportunities.

The event aims to encourage broader public conversation, offering the opportunity to explore wide-ranging topics from hybrid conflict and cyber security, to shifts in great power competition.

Reaching out

King's contributions are rooted in expanding the reach of the event, inviting participation and offering education and insight to people from across the UK and around the world.

Professor Wyn Bowen, Head of the School for Security Studies at King's, said: "For NATO Engages, one of the main roles played by King's has been leading the work with our partners to build the next generation component of the participant base."

"This has involved working with multiple universities across the Alliance to secure student participation, as well as reaching out to London schools to involve some A-Level students."

"Working with King's Online, and in partnership with the British International Studies Association, we've also produced 9 short educational videos on various aspects of NATO which will be released in the run up to NATO Engages".

Speakers

More speakers are being announced on the NATO Engages website.

Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary-General of NATO

Stoltenberg has been NATO's Secretary-General since 2014, preceding Erna Solberg in the office of Norweigan Prime Minister from 2005-2013.

During his time in office, he has overseen changing geopolitical relationships, with growing tensions between the European Union and Russia, and a rise in incidences of cyber attacks.

Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway

Solberg has been Norway's Prime Minister since 2013, combining her national political responsibilities with a strong commitment to exploring global solutions to development, growth and conflict resolution.

Since 2016, she has co-chaired a UN Advocacy group for the Sustainable Development goals, particularly focusing on access to quality education for all, particularly girls and children in areas of conflict.

Klara Jordan, Executive Director for the EU and Africa, Global Cyber Alliance

Jordan is responsible for developing and sustaining partnerships at the Global Cyber Alliance, an international, cross-sector organisation aiming to eradicate cyber risk and improve connectivity across the world.

She is the nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Cyber Statecraft Initiative.

General André Lanata, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, North Atlantic Council

General Lanata joined the French Air Force in 1981, rising through the ranks to become Chief of Staff of the Air Force in September 2015. He was appointed to his current role in 2018.

For more information and to explore previous NATO Engages events, click here.