“Geopolitics, Leadership and Values” Aspen Public Lecture

Aspen Institute España will host, in collaboration with the Deusto University, the first edition of the “Geopolitics, Leadership and Values” Aspen Program in Bilbao, Spain. The program will take place from February 18th to February 20th, 2026 with a seminar and a public lecture. During the seminar, there will be a Public Lecture on February 19th from 3 to 8:30 pm.

Public Lecture Schedule

3 to 3:20 pm – Institutional welcome

3:20 to 4:20 pm – Keynote: Michael Ignatieff, Professor at the Central European University (CEU) and winner of the 2o24 Princess of Asturias Award for Social Sciences.

4:20 to 4:35pm – Break

4:35 to 5:50 pm – First Roundtable: The Birth of a Geopolitical Europe

Hugo Dixon, Journalist, Entrepreneur and Commentator-at-large for Reuters

Natalie Jaresko, Former Minister of Finance of Ukraine, Managing Director at EY Parthenon and Chairperson of Aspen Institute Kyiv

David Rennie, Geopolitics Editor of The Economist

Moderated by: Fiona Maharg-Bravo, Aspen España Fellow and Partner at Brunswick Group

5:50 to 6:20pm – Coffee break

6:20 to 7:35 pm – Second Roundtable: The New DNA of the European Integration: Democracy and Security

Sonia Alonso, Associate Professor of the Social Sciences and Humanities Department at the University of Deusto
Justin Gest, Professor of Policy and Government at George Mason University and Aspen España Fellow
Ignacio Urquizu, Associate Professor of Sociology at the Complutense University of Madrid, externo consultant for Metroscopia and Aspen España Fellow

Moderated by: Pablo García-Berdoy, European Public Affairs Lead at LLYC and Member of the Aspen Institute España Board of Trustees