This year’s Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado held particular significance, marking the 75th anniversary of the Aspen Institute’s founding. I had the privilege of attending on behalf of Aspen UK, alongside our Vice-Chair, Pierre Mercier, and in the company of representatives from the Institute’s 13 other International Partners around the world.
While the Ideas Festival itself offered its usual array of incredible sessions, ranging from artificial intelligence and democracy to climate, creativity, and leadership, a dedicated programme was also convened for the International Partners and to reflect on the Institute’s milestone year.
In a special seminar for the international delegation, we explored the origins of the Aspen Institute and the values that continue to shape its mission across continents today. Founded in post-war 1949, the Aspen Institute began as a bold experiment in values-based leadership. The Institute’s first convening, held in Aspen, brought together business leaders, artists, and thinkers to consider the ethical dimensions of a free and just society.
What began as a single seminar has since grown into a global network, rooted in the belief that open, civil dialogue which is anchored in timeless texts and grounded in real-world action, can help societies navigate complexity and challenge. That spirit continues to guide the work of Aspen’s International Partners, from Mexico to India, Germany to Japan, and from the UK to Kenya.
During our time together, we shared ideas for deepening collaboration across the international network and with Aspen US programmes. We reflected on the unique contribution each partner makes in its local context, and on the power of convening globally to learn from one another. In an age marked by polarisation, disinformation, and profound societal divides, Aspen’s mission to bring people together – across borders, sectors, and perspectives – is more essential than ever.
As we look ahead to the next 75 years, we at Aspen UK are more committed than ever to cultivating the kind of leadership that our world urgently needs: grounded in values, open to difference, and courageous enough to ask the difficult questions.
Olly Chapman
Executive Director, Aspen UK