Conference Programme

We are excited to invite you to register to attend all or part of the Next Century Foundation’s five-day Healing the Nations conference this summer from Monday, July 13th to Friday, July 17th 2026.

This conference is held in cooperation with The POLICY STUDIES ORGANIZATION Washington.

All times noted are in British Summer Time (BST). Those sessions that will be ON THE RECORD are clearly indicated, but all other sessions will be OFF RECORD. There will be no charge for those who wish to attend. Sessions will be conducted via Zoom. There are separate links for each session, please refer to the links under each section for registration and attendance. Each conference session will last two hours. We anticipate a productive, open discussion. You will need to register in advance for these meetings and identify the sessions you wish to attend. The following are the sessions confirmed thus far.

THE ENVIRONMENT: Is the USA environmental Policy destroying the world?

THIS SESSION IS ON THE RECORD

Day 1: Monday, 13th July 2026 from 6 pm to 8pm BST (1 pm Washington D.C., EDT)

Opening Speakers:

• Daniel I. Gutierrez-Sandoval, Executive Director, Policy Studies Organization, Washington DC (t.b.c.)

This session will focus on the evolving role of the United States as a lead nation on the environment, and assess its broader self promoting strategies under the Trump administration.

This is the Registration link for the Environment that you will need

IRAQ: Prospects for Political Stability

Day 2: Tuesday, 14th July 2026 from 12 noon to 2 pm BST (7 am Washington D.C., EDT)

Opening Speaker:

• Dr Ali al Mamouri, Research Fellow at Deakin University. Previously strategic communication advisor to the Iraq prime minister from 2020 to 2022 (t.b.c.)
• Karrar N Hamed, Tikrit University (t.b.c.)

Chair:

• Jaafar el Ahmar, Former Senior Journalist with Al-Hayat Newspaper; head of the Next Century Foundation in the United Kingdom

The focus of this conference session will be to examine the current stability of Iraq and explore potential pathways towards a more promising future.

This is the Registration link for IRAQ for those not already registered

SYRIA: Democratisation and Reconstruction in a Divided Nation

Day 2: Tuesday, 14th July 2026 from 3 pm BST / 10 am EDT for two hours

Opening Speaker:

• Ammar Waqqaf, Founder and Director of Gnosos (@TheGnososView), an Organisation Expressing Stakeholder Opinion in Syria and the Middle East (t.b.c.)

Chair:

• Dr Neil Partrick, Senior Fellow, The Next Century Foundation (t.b.c.)

This session will examine the prospects for democratization in Syria following President Al-Sharaa’s assumption of leadership, and discuss the challenges of rebuilding the nation amidst ongoing sectarian conflict.

This is the Registration link for SYRIA for those not already registered

THE USA AND IRAN: Prospects for Rapprochement

THIS SESSION IS ON THE RECORD

Day 2: Tuesday 14 July 6.00 pm BST London / 1 pm EDT Washington

Opening Speakers and Chair:

• William Morris LL.D., Secretary General, The Next Century Foundation
• Daniel I. Gutierrez-Sandoval, Executive Director, Policy Studies Organization, Washington DC

This session will explore current prospects for stability and rapprochement between the USA and Iran.

This is the Registration link for USA and Iran that you will need

A MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS for ISRAEL and PALESTINE: Can there be Peace and Reconstruction for war torn Gaza and the West Bank

Day 3: Wednesday 15 July 12.00 noon London / 7 am Washington

Opening Speaker:

• Hillel Schenker, co-editor, The Palestine-Israel Journal (t.b.c.)

This session will examine the prospects for governance in Gaza following the war, and discuss the challenges of rebuilding the Gaza Strip in the aftermath of conflict.

This is the Registration link for GAZA for those not already registered

UKRAINE, RUSSIA AND USA: The Outlook for a Durable Peace

THIS SESSION IS ON THE RECORD

Day 3: Wednesday 15 July 3 pm BST / 10 am EDT: UKRAINE AND RUSSIA AND USA

Opening Speakers:

• Professor Sergei Medvedko, Moscow University
• Daniel I. Gutierrez-Sandoval, Executive Director, Policy Studies Organization, Washington DC

The war in Ukraine continues to pose significant threats to regional and global stability. Peace continues to elude us. This session will discuss possible avenues for achieving a durable peace.

This is the Registration link for UKRAINE for those not already registered

SUDAN: Grappling with Fragility and Division

Day 3: Wednesday 15 July 6.00 pm BST London / 1 pm EDT Washington: SUDAN

Opening Speaker:

• Ms Kholood Khair, Sudanese political analyst and the founding director of Confluence Advisory (t.b.c.)

With a conflict spanning more than four decades, Sudan’s long-standing turmoil raises questions about its potential resolution. This conference session aims to analyse Sudan’s delicate political situation and explore tangible measures that can be taken to pave the way for lasting peace.

This is the Registration link for SUDAN for those not already registered

AFGHANISTAN: Bringing Reform and Rapprochement

Day 4: Thursday 16 July 12 noon London / 7 am Washington: AFGHANISTAN

Opening Speaker and Chair:

• Hojat Fazly, the CEO of Harakat, one of the few NGOs that has successfully navigated the major political transition in Afghanistan since August 2021, and continues to play a pivotal role in the country’s economic landscape. (t.b.c.)
• William Morris LL.D., Secretary General, The Next Century Foundation

This event will look deeper into the issue of political malaise in Afghanistan. There is still no international rapprochement with the government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, and the people of Afghanistan continue to face severe economic and humanitarian challenges.

This is the Registration link for AFGHANISTAN that you will need

LEBANON: Regional Tensions with Israel

Day 4: Thursday 16 July 3 pm BST / 10 am EDT: LEBANON

Opening Speakers, statements and chair:

• Dr. Elias Jradi, independent Lebanese member of Parliament and ophthalmologist (t.b.c)
• Jaafar el Ahmar, Former Senior Journalist with Al-Hayat Newspaper; head of the Next Century Foundation in the United Kingdom

Lebanon’s internal challenges are deeply intertwined with the regional conflicts involving Israel. This session will examine Lebanon’s precarious position amidst these tensions and consider prospects for stability.

This is the Registration link for LEBANON for those not already registered

YEMEN: Resolving the Political Paralysis

Day 4: Thursday 16 July 6.00 pm BST London / 1 pm EDT Washington: YEMEN

Opening Speaker and chair:

• Principal speaker Dr Abdul Galil Shaif, the chairman of FOSY (Friends of South Yemen) and the former chairman of the Aden Free Zone Public Authority in Yemen (t.b.c.)
• William Morris LL.D., Secretary General, The Next Century Foundation (Chairperson)

This event will look deeper into the issue of political malaise in Yemen. There is still no international rapprochement with the various parties that are responsible for the governance of Yemen, and the people of Yemen continue to face severe economic and humanitarian challenges.

This is the Registration link for YEMEN that you will need

HONOUR IN WAR / RIGHTS OF THE SEA: The Outlook for a more principled approach to conflict

THIS SESSION IS ON THE RECORD

Day 5: Friday 17 July 12 noon London / 7 am Washington: HONOUR IN WAR / RIGHTS OF THE SEA

Opening Speakers:

• William Morris LL.D., Secretary General, The Next Century Foundation

A meeting to discuss the issue of honour in war, including collateral damage and terrorism and targeted assassination and the use of drones.

This is the Registration link for HONOUR IN WAR for those not already registered