Cincinnati, OH — On the evening of Thursday, September 11, 2025, the Foreign Policy Leadership Council (FPLC) hosted a truly special dinner event at The Literary Club. With the convergence of date, discourse, and distinguished attendees, the gathering proved to be not just informative, but deeply meaningful.
A Night That Resonated
From its opening moments, the event carried significance that went beyond its agenda. Gathering on September 11, a date etched into the American memory, heightened the feeling that the subject matter was not academic abstraction, but part of a larger, urgent conversation about security, resilience, and responsibility.
Following a great introduction by our Board Member, former US Congressman, Mr. Steve Driehaus, our distinguished guest speaker, Dr. Richard J. Harknett, Professor and Director of the Center for Cyber Strategy and Policy at the University of Cincinnati, guided discussions that were as timely as they were powerful. His presentation “Cyber Persistence and International Security: Insights from the Russo-Ukraine Conflict and Kettering Health” shed light on how cyber threats now cut across borders, sectors, and institutions. Listeners were given rare glimpses into how theory, policy, and technology are colliding, and how individuals, communities, and organizations must adapt.
What Made It Exceptional
Several elements combined to make the evening truly exceptional. Dr. Harknett’s remarkable depth of expertise brought an uncommon level of insight. He translated complex cyber-strategy concepts into clear, actionable ideas, leaving attendees with both new knowledge and practical ways to think about cybersecurity in their own lives and work. Equally striking was the relevance of his topic. By linking high-level geopolitical cyber warfare to more local concerns such as infrastructure vulnerabilities, cybercrime, and threats to personal data, Dr. Harknett made the global conversation immediately applicable to everyone in the room.
The timing added an extra layer of meaning. Held on September 11, the event carried the weight of remembrance and reflection. On a date when the nation honors sacrifice and resilience, it felt especially fitting to confront modern threats in cyberspace and to commit ourselves to heightened awareness and preparedness.
Finally, the Q&A and networking sessions created a sense of vibrant community. Attendees from legal, policy, and business backgrounds exchanged ideas freely, leaving not only more informed but also energized and connected.
Looking Ahead
If this event is any indicator, FPLC’s calendar will be rich with indispensable conversations. We’re reminded that our world is changing fast, technologies evolve, threats morph, but our need for shared understanding, strategic thinking, and clear action remains constant.
We encourage everyone who joined us to stay involved, and those who missed it to mark their calendars for what’s next. Expect more evenings that combine expert insight, timely topics, and thoughtful discussion. We look forward to growing the community, widening the conversation, and deepening our collective capacity to face the challenges of today and tomorrow.
Thank you to all who attended, to Dr. Harknett for his outstanding presentation, and to everyone who helped to bring this remarkable evening together. More extraordinary, informative, and impactful events are on the horizon. Stay tuned.
Wendy Cutler is Vice President at the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) and the managing director of the Washington, D.C. office. In these roles, she focuses on building ASPI’s presence in the nation’s capital and on leading initiatives that address challenges related to trade, investment and innovation, as well as women’s empowerment in Asia.
While China is a member of the WTO, at the same time it has developed and pursued its own competing model of globalization, which not only competes with the Bretton-Woods model but is often in violation of the rules governing its membership in the WTO. The best example of the Chinese model of globalization is The Belt and Road Initiative – a long-term plan for regional interconnectivity and dominance in Asia to which China has committed some $8 trillion dollars. Both the WTO and The Belt and Road are facing significant challenges. This session will lay out in broad terms the two Globalizations allowing us to discuss this clash of globalizations and the implications for US foreign and trade policy.