2022 World Affairs Council of the Year
Network of Independent World Affairs Councils of America
“THE WORLD AHEAD 2025: TOP 10 TRENDS TO WATCH”
Monday, December 9, 2024 I 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
After an unprecedented year of elections, new leaders around the globe who have promised change will be expected to deliver in 2025. The world will also be coming to terms with the outcome of America’s elections in November and the implications for global security, trade, and climate policy. New alliances are forming, and old ones are fraying in an increasingly tense and dangerous world. But the adoption of green tech continues to outpace the most optimistic forecasts, even as concerns grow over artificial intelligence and its voracious appetite for chips, energy, water, and data. Tom Standage, Deputy Editor of The Economist and editor of The World Ahead 2025, will consider these and other trends and their implications for geopolitics, business, and culture in the coming year.
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SPEAKER: Tim Douglas (Deputy Editor of The Economist and editor of The World Ahead 2025)
Tom Standage is Deputy Editor of The Economist and editor of its future-gazing annual,
The World Ahead. He joined The Economist as science correspondent in 1998 and was
subsequently appointed technology editor, business editor and digital editor. He is the
author of seven history books, including “Writing on the Wall” (2013), “The Victorian
Internet” (1998) and the New York Times bestsellers “A History of the World in 6 Glasses” (2005) and “An Edible History of Humanity” (2009). His latest book, “A Brief History of Motion”, was published in 2021. Tom studied engineering and computer science at Oxford University and has written for other publications including the New York Times, the
Guardian and Wired, taking a particular interest in technology’s social and historical impact.
Moderator: Tim Douglas (Regional Director of Private Banking at FirstBank)
Tim graduated from Montgomery Bell Academy in 1973 and from Tulane University’s Engineering School in 1977. He received a Master of Arts in International Commerce from the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at The University of Kentucky in December, 1978 – and he then moved to New York City to begin his career in finance. In 1983, he received an Accounting Certificate from NYU’s Stern School of Business.
In 1979, he joined Euro Brokers Harlow as a Eurodollar and Eurodollar CD broker; and he later transitioned to Bankers Trust Company, working in their bond department.
Tim married the former Alison Schmidlapp from Oyster Bay, LI; and in 1985, they moved back to Nashville where they raised three children. He joined Nelson Capital Corporation, a diversified merchant banking firm that advised corporate clients on debt and equity financings. In 1995, he purchased a distributor and fabricator of adhesive products, selling the business to a private equity firm in August, 2008. He then joined Covenant Surgical Partners where he managed surgery centers.
He subsequently entered the insurance industry; and then, FirstBank contacted him and offered him the position of Nashville Market President. He has now been with FirstBank since 2016 where he currently serves as Senior VP and Regional Director of Private Banking.
Tim served as President of Belle Meade Country Club in 2012 where he continues to enjoy playing golf. He started the “Boulevard Bolt,” a Thanksgiving Day run/walk benefitting the Homeless. He has also served on the Board of various civic entities, was on the Board of Zoning Appeals for the City of Belle Meade and City of Forrest Hills – and was elected Commissioner for the City of Forrest Hills.
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As a nonpartisan nonprofit organization, we aim to promote international awareness, understanding, and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world.
OUR VISION:
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