SPECIAL EVENT & GUEST SPEAKER –
Wednesday, October 1st from 7PM-8PM

Lessons from the Edge:
A conversation with former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Her Excellency Marie Yovanovitch

Ambassador Marie YovanovitchAmbassador Marie Yovanovitch will join the Foreign Policy Leadership Council by a special Zoom Conference Presentation from 7PM-8PM the evening of Wednesday, October 1st, 2025.

The Ambassador is author of a best-selling memoir, Lessons from the Edgeand is a Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, as well as at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University.

Board Member Mr. Joe Dehner, founding President of the Cincinnati Kharkiv Sister Cities Program, will lead the conversation about Ukraine, Russia, and other matters over her career as a Foreign Service Officer.

Former FPLC speaker Madeline Albright hailed Lessons from the Edge as “essential reading for current policymakers, aspiring public servants, and anyone who cares about America’s role in the world.” The memoir includes a report of her support for a Cincinnati Sister Cities delegation caught in the turmoil of recent years in Ukraine.

NOTE: This will be a Zoom only conference for attendance by FPLC members and guests. There is NO CHARGE, but advance registration is required. Zoom link access information will be sent to you upon completing the registration process.

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Tom Perriello

An Unforgettable Evening with Tom Perriello

What an incredible night! Our May 28 Special Event featuring Tom Perriello was nothing short of a resounding success. From the moment he took the stage, Tom captivated the room with his energy, passion, and down-to-earth presence. An eloquent storyteller and a brilliant political mind, he brought big ideas down to human level – thought-provoking, personal, and deeply relevant.

Tom’s mix of real-world experience, insight, and heart created an atmosphere where everyone felt inspired to learn more and think deeper. We easily could have stayed another 2–3 hours listening to his – some incredible – stories and asking questions!

Adding even more value to the evening was Tom’s friend and former Congressman, Mr. Steve Driehaus, who served as a gracious host and skillful moderator. Steve’s thoughtful questions and insightful commentary highlighted key moments from Tom’s service as the U.S. Envoy to Sudan and the Great Lakes Region of Africa. His personal experiences in Africa and Middle East and his contributions enriched the conversation and helped frame the global context in a way that deeply resonated with our audience.

The Q&A session was particularly powerful – an honest, thoughtful exchange that made the evening feel more like a meaningful conversation than a lecture. It’s clear: nights like these are what build real understanding and community.

And this is just the beginning! We have a whole pipeline of exciting, high-impact events coming your way. If you loved this event (or wish you hadn’t missed it!), we strongly encourage you to stay connected by subscribing to our newsletter and becoming an active member.

The Complicated Case of Iraq – An Inside Look into the Challenges of Democracy Building

What’s it like in Iraq today? How is it to live in the the Republic of Kurdistan and Erbil, thought by some to be the world’s longest continually inhabited city? Is democracy taking hold there as America considers continuing military withdrawal from the country?

Join us for a live discussion from Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq with Steve Driehaus.

Wednesday, April 21 @ 12PM (Noon) EST

Steve DriehausSteve Driehaus is Resident Senior Director in Iraq for the National Democratic Institute (NDI). He manages 16 Iraqi and other nationals who design and implement programs to support Iraqi democracy. NDI focuses on strengthening political parties, professionalizing offices and staff of Parliament Members, empowering women and youth to engage in the political process, and election monitoring.

Before joining NDI, Steve was President of Good Government Group, LLC, a consulting firm in the intersection of public policy, community engagement and economic development.  Steve was Executive Director of Cincinnati Compass, a regional initiative advocating on behalf of immigrants. Previously Steve served as Country Director for the Peace Corps in Morocco, after 4 ½ year service for Peace Corps Swaziland, and 2 years in Senegal after graduation from Miami. Steve is a former U.S. Congressman (2009-11) and an 8-year Ohio Representative.

When not overseas, Steve and his wife, Lucienne, reside in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Current Economic and Political Challenges of the European Union

Please join us for an FPLC special event with Mr. Marius Hirte, the Director of Competitiveness for the General Secretariat of the Council (GSC) at the European Union.

Thursday, March 4, 2021
@ 6PM EST US

Marius HirteMr. Hirte will be joining us from his office in Belgium for sharing with our members a dynamic and timely presentation on the “The Current Economic and Political Challenges of the European Union”, a very important topic part of today’s global socio-economic and political context, especially following the many changes the past year of 2020 brought to the world landscape and to the European Union in particular.

Mr. Hirte holds an Advanced Degree in Political Studies from “Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)“ in Belgium and from “Université de Nancy” in France with a specialization in European Studies. He also holds a Master of Science Degree in International Relations from the University of Bucharest, Romania.

Prior to his current tenure leading the Office of Competitiveness, Mr. Hirte managed GSC’s Office for Environment, Education, Youth, Culture, Audio-Visuals and Sports (EYCS), as well as GSC’s Office of the Environment. He is the former Deputy Permanent Representative of Romania to the European Union and the former Deputy Head of the Permanent Mission of Romania to the European Union in Brussels.

The event will be will be presented as a LIVE WEBINAR, moderated by the FPLC Board President, Dr. James Buchanan and by FPLC Secretary, Mr. Joe Dehner, Esq.

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