The World Affairs Council of Seattle is a non-profit, non-partisan international affairs organization based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1951, it is one of four World Affairs Councils in Washington State and a member of the World Affairs Councils of America. Ian Moncaster, president and CEO since 2001, joined the Council in the middle of a career working with CARE and the Canadian government.
The Council presents over 140 Community Programs each year, featuring leaders in politics, business, academics, and the arts. These events consist of lectures, discussion fora, and symposia aimed at strengthening the links between the greater Puget Sound area and the global community.
In addition to bringing speakers closer to the Seattle public, the World Affairs Council of Seattle runs an International Visitors Program which develops programs for emerging leaders from foreign countries selected by the United States Department of State.
The Seattle World Affairs Council also conducts a program aimed at educators called Global Classroom which develops more than 20 programs annually for teachers to better incorporate international understanding into the classrooms of high schools and junior highs throughout the Pacific Northwest region.[1]
Notable speakers at World Affairs Council events include: