How do decision makers navigate the moral tensions of seeking peace in a world shaped by violence and instability? Join Rowan Williams, Nick Carter, and Catherine Ashton for a panel discussion on the ethics of peacebuilding in times of conflict.
From diplomatic negotiation to military strategy, the panel will examine how idealism and compromise intersect in public life. What does an ‘ethical peace’ look like in practice? And what sacrifices does it demand from those in leadership?
Chaired by Rageh Omaar, this conversation offers public servants and all those interested in public ethics a rare opportunity to reflect on the human, political, and spiritual costs of peace.
The Rt Revd and Rt Hon the Lord Williams of Oystermouth FBA FRSL FLSW was elected as the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury in 2002, serving until 2012, having previously served as Bishop of Monmouth and Archbishop of Wales. From 2013 to 2020 he was Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge. Bishop Rowan is one of the church's most respected theological and spiritual voices, and is the author of numerous works including most recently Discovering Christianity: A Guide for the Curious (SPCK).
The Rt Hon the Baroness Ashton of Upholland LG GCMG was the first High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (2009-2014), the European Union's foreign policy chief. Recognised across the world for her contribution to diplomacy, she has led negotiations including the April 2013 agreement between Kosovo and Serbia. A Labour member of the House of Lords, Baroness Ashton has served in a number of different roles including Leader of the House of Lords, Lord President of the Council, and First Vice-President of the European Commission. In 2023 she published And Then What? Inside Stories of 21st-Century Diplomacy (Elliott & Thompson).
General Sir Nick Carter GCB CBE DSO was Chief of the Defence Staff from 2018 to 2021, serving in this role as the principal military adviser to the Prime Minister, the National Security Council, and the Secretary of State for Defence, and the Head of the UK Armed Forces. Prior to this, he served as the Chief of the General Staff, professional Head of the British Army. Sir Nick has overseen operations at every level of command including in Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Sir Nick is a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and a member of Westminster Abbey Institute's Council of Reference.
Rageh Omaar is ITV's International Affairs Analyst. A distinguished journalist, broadcaster, and news anchor, Rageh was a BBC world affairs correspondent, globally recognised for his reporting from Iraq during the second Gulf War. He later moved to Al Jazeera and then ITV where he has been special correspondent, international affairs editor, and a presenter of ITV News at Ten. He has presented numerous television documentaries and he published an account of his experience in Iraq in Revolution Day: The Real Story of the Battle for Iraq (Penguin).
