BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Tennessee World Affairs Council - ECPv6.13.1//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.tnwac.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Tennessee World Affairs Council
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/Chicago
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0600
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:CDT
DTSTART:20260308T080000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0600
TZNAME:CST
DTSTART:20261101T070000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260115T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260115T190000
DTSTAMP:20260507T134322
CREATED:20251117T181218Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260128T164953Z
UID:47203-1768500000-1768503600@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:The influence and expansionist drive of China in Serbia and the threat to Western security (Webinar)
DESCRIPTION: \n  \n\n \nThe influence and expansionist drive of China in Serbia and the threat to Western security\nJoin us for a timely webinar with Miroslav Ivica Emejdi\, German Senior Police Commissioner and security policy expert\, as he explores China’s growing influence and expansionist ambitions in Serbia—and why it matters for Western security. \nDrawing on his recent book\, Emejdi will explain how the Balkans are often misunderstood or overlooked by Western policymakers and have become a key battleground where Beijing\, Moscow\, and Brussels compete for power and strategic direction. \nHe will discuss how historical miscalculations and slow Western responses have allowed rivals to gain ground\, and why Serbia—an EU accession candidate—is far more important than many realize. With insights recognized by senior European and UN officials\, Emejdi offers a clear warning: understanding Serbia’s geopolitical role is essential to safeguarding the West’s ability to meet future global challenges. \nThis is a must-attend program for anyone interested in global affairs\, European security\, or great-power competition. \n \nThursday\, January 15\, 2026 I 12:00pm – 1:00pm\n \nView Recording\n  \n  \n\n \nFeatured Speaker: Miroslav Ivica Emejdi (German Senior Police Chief Commissioner)\n \nMiroslav Ivica Emejdi is a Senior Police Chief Commissioner in Germany with long-standing experience in state security\, counterterrorism\, and the fight against organized crime. Over two decades of service\, he has worked in specialized units addressing extremism\, politically motivated violence\, and international law enforcement cooperation. \nIn recognition of his role in the investigation following the 2011 Islamist terrorist attack that targeted U.S. Air Force Airmen\, he received a personal commendation from the four-star General commanding U.S. Air Forces in Europe.International EngagementEmejdi is an alumnus of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). He has also been a featured speaker at national and international security institutions\, including intelligence services\, and at a multinational counterterrorism forum hosted by U.S. Army Europe. His career reflects a strong transatlantic dimension and a deep engagement at the intersection of European and American security concerns.Author and AnalystHe is the author of ‘Key Country Serbia – How Misjudgments Weaken the West’ (ibidem / Columbia University Press\, forthcoming 2026). The book analyzes Serbia and the wider Western Balkans as pivotal but often underestimated regions in Western security architecture\, highlighting how Russian and Chinese influence challenge Western strategies. He is also working on a forthcoming book on the Albanian Mafia and its transnational connections\, including links to Latin America\, United States and Europe’s security architecture. His work analyzes how overlooked regions and criminal networks shape the stability of the West. He has also been interviewed by Germany’s leading professional journal on criminology.Areas of ExpertiseEmejdi’s expertise covers geopolitics\, transnational organized crime\, and the strategic competition of great powers. His analyses connect ground-level security realities with broader strategic questions facing NATO\, the European Union\, and the United States. In his presentations\, he emphasizes why close transatlantic cooperation is indispensable in addressing these challenges. \nFeatured Moderator: Mark Reese (President & CEO\, Suhbat LLC)\n \nMark Reese is a Central Asia specialist with 30 years of experience\, having spent a significant amount of time in the region. As a Peace Corps volunteer in 1994\, he witnessed the immediate turmoil of the post-Soviet era and the emergence of new states where leaders tried to chart new paths. He’s currently focused on teaching and education development in Central Asia and the United States. \nHis passions also extend to sharing Uzbeki literature with the world\, presenting several works to Nashville during the Southern Festival of Books in early October. His effort to promote the Uzbek language and culture\, including his English translation of Oʻtkan Kunlar\, earned him Uzbekistan’s Presidential Order of Doʻstlik. \nPreviously\, Mark led translation and cultural advisement activities for government and private industry clients in Afghanistan and the United States. As Founding Director for the Center for Regional Studies at the United States Naval Academy\, he developed a comprehensive midshipman education program. \n  \n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/how-china-is-expanding-its-influence-in-europe/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.tnwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/TNWAC-1-15-2026-Horizontal-Updated.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260121T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260121T190000
DTSTAMP:20260507T134322
CREATED:20251117T174839Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260122T233125Z
UID:47198-1769014800-1769022000@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:The power of the Olympic brand and the geopolitics of global sport
DESCRIPTION:  \n \n\n \nWith the 2026 Milan–Cortina Olympic Winter Games just weeks away\, the Olympics are once again at the center of global attention. \nBut what most people see on television is only the surface. \nBehind the athletes and ceremonies is one of the most powerful global brands in the world—shaping diplomacy\, national image\, corporate strategy\, and geopolitical influence in ways few fans ever see. \nOn January 21\, Terrence Burns will be speaking at the Tennessee World Affairs Council Distinguished Speaker Series Luncheon about the power of the Olympic brand and the geopolitics of global sport—what’s really happening behind the scenes\, why it matters now\, and what Milan–Cortina reveals about the future of the Games. \nIf you’re interested in global affairs\, international business\, or how soft power actually works\, I hope you’ll join us. \n————– \nWednesday\, January 21\, 2026 I 11:00am-1:00pm\n* Luncheon Event *\n  \nVenue:  \nPinnacle Financial Partners \n21 Platform Way South 23rd Floor \nNashville\, TN 37203 \n  \n– \n\n \nFeatured Speaker: Terrence H. Burns (Chairman and Owner\, T. Burns Sports Group\, LLC)\n \nTerrence H. Burns is a seasoned international sports and Olympic marketing executive with over 30 years of experience in marketing communications\, brand management\, and sponsorship marketing. As the Chairman and Owner of T. Burns Sports Group\, LLC\, based in Nashville\, TN\, he specializes in global sports consulting\, working with high-profile clients such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC)\, United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee\, and bids for major events like the Salt Lake City 2034 Winter Games\, Saudi Arabia 2034 FIFA World Cup\, and Doha 2030 Asian Games. His career highlights include contributing to six winning Olympic bids (Beijing 2008\, Vancouver 2010\, Sochi 2014\, PyeongChang 2018\, Los Angeles 2028\, Salt Lake City 2034) and two FIFA World Cup bids (2018\, 2026).
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/the-power-of-the-olympic-brand-and-the-geopolitics-of-global-sport/
LOCATION:Pinnacle Financial Partners\, 21 Platform Way South - 23rd Floor\, Nashville\, TN\, 37203\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.tnwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/TNWAC-1-21-2026-STD-Horizontal-1.png
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR