Event Reports

• More with Less? AI and health care

  Jacob West (HF 2014-15) considered the potential for AI in healthcare.

• How National is the National Interest?

  Anthony Cary CMG considers what is in the national interest?

• Where Next for Russia?

  Sir Laurie Bristow offered a brief assessment of what motivated the Russian government to invade Ukraine in February 2022 and the consequences of their actions.

• Lord Norman Warner – Can the NHS be Saved?

  Lord Norman Warner shares suggestions for saving the NHS.

• Sara Nathan – Refugees in the UK– Getting Behind the Myths

  In the midst of media scare stories and political weaponisation of refugees, how do we get to the truth about the impact of refugees on the UK.  Why is there such political antipathy, when on an individual level families have been very welcoming to refugees from Ukraine in recent months.

• The Rise of China; What consequences for Britain?

  Charlie Parton, former diplomat, shared his expertise as a Sinologist, on UK/China relations.

• Professor Koen Lenaerts – Court of Justice of the European Union Contribution to EU Integration

  Professor Lenaerts outlines the role of law in supporting European Integration

• Can we deliver Sustainable Food Production?

  Professor John Pickett explains the wide range of biochemical research to address this issue.

• American Democracy in the Balance, Thomas Mann

  Tom Mann explains how American Democracy is under pressure

• What Is At Stake at COP26?

  As the UK prepares to host COP 26, William laid out the key issues that need to be addressed.

• COVID and the prospects for Mental Health

  As vaccines offer hope for controlling the pandemic, Mary and Parashar, Harkness Fellows and NHS consultant psychiatrists, review the impact of Covid-19 on mental health.

• Justin Russell – From ‘Advise, Befriend and Assist’ to ‘Assess, Protect and Change’ – some reflections on the history and future of the probation service.

  Justin Russell, Chief Inspector of Probation, charted the changing focus of probation since its inception as a national service.

• Britain’s Uncertain Media Future, Dame Frances Cairncross

  In 2018 Dame Frances Cairncross was commissioned by the government to lead an independent review into the future of the UK News Industry. She highlighted the current challenges to a Harkness audience in November.

• 2020 US Presidential Election – What is at Stake for International Relations?

  In the weeks before the US election, Sir David Manning considers the impact of the result on International Relations.

• Covid-19: a positive legacy for health outcomes and equity? Derek Feeley, immediate past President of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement

  In our first ever on-line Talk, Derek shared lessons from the IHI response to help the US healthcare industry survive the Covid-19 pandemic.

• The City after the crisis and Brexit: Will bankers ever be respected again? Sir Howard Davies, Chairman, Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc

  Sir Howard traced the impact of the financial crisis on our trust in bankers and the financial sector.

• Higher Education: a crisis of confidence? Sir David Bell KCB – Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, University of Sunderland

  Sir David gave us an optimistic view about the future of Universities, highlighting their key role in society.

• Origins of the Royal Academy of Arts – John Entwistle OBE

  Fellows and guests learned about the origins of the Royal Academy, and how this famous institution and its post-graduate teaching school, known as The Schools, came into being.

• What are the consequences of Britain leaving the EU? Professor Robert Hazell CBE

  Noting that Brexit is both a political and constitutional crisis, Professor Hazel guided his audience through the constitutional issues raised by Brexit.

• Turkey’s Middle East and Wider Foreign Policies

  Sir David shared his analysis of the changes in Turkey’s foreign policy.

• Living Longer; a Blessing or a Curse? Dr Anna Dixon

  Dr Anna Dixon spoke about increased life expectancy and the steps society and individuals need to take to enhance the quality of those extra years.

• Sir David Omand

  Sir David Omand considered the issues surrounding the ethics of digital intelligence and offered suggestions for a code of ethics.

• Visit to Spencer House

  Harkness Fellows and their guests had a private conducted tour of the beautifully renovated Spencer House

• Sir Brian Hoskins

  Sir Brian Hoskins, Director of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change, gave an update on current issues in climate change.

• Sir Richard Dalton

  Sir Richard, a British diplomat for 36 years, spoke to Fellows on 14 March about Iran’s regional policies and the nature of Iran as a state.

• Sir Terry Farrell

  Sir Terry Farrell (HF 1962) gave the Harkness Fellows Annual Lecture in November 2017.

• Visit to West Horsley Place

  Harkness Fellows and their guests were delighted with the chance to see this house at a key stage in its development.

• Alex Beard

  Which would you think is the more daunting job, Deputy Director at the Tate or Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House? Alex Beard gave some unexpected answers in a talk to HFs.

• Sir Paul Nurse

  Sir Paul Nurse, President of the Royal Society, Director of the Francis Crick Institute in London, and 2001 Nobel Prize winner in physiology, spoke to the HFA on four great ideas of biology on 26 February 2014