Upcoming ACFR Europe Program Launch
The 2026 High- Level Conference
A landmark gathering of thought leaders, policymakers, and practitioners charting the future of transatlantic cooperation on governance, peace, and sustainable development.
Transatlantic Cooperation
July 31, 2026
08:00 AM ET • Virtual
The 2026 conference brings together leading experts, policymakers, and practitioners to explore innovative approaches to shared challenges in governance, peace, security, and sustainable development. Through strategic dialogue and collaborative problem-solving, we will chart pathways for strengthened transatlantic cooperation and institutional partnerships.
This year's conference emphasizes the critical importance of building resilient institutions, advancing democratic governance, and fostering sustainable development in an era of rapid global change. Participants will engage in substantive discussions on policy innovation, institutional reform, and the future of European-African partnerships.
Meet Our Speakers
Get to know the passionate voices behind our events, each bringing unique experience and expertise.
Opening Remarks
Dr. Jean Narcisse Djaha
Dr. Jean Narcisse Djaha is a senior global executive and strategic advisor operating at the highest levels of corporate diplomacy, multilateral engagement, and global strategy. As Global Executive Chair of the African Council on Foreign Relations (ACFR) and Global Chair of Foreign Relations at ACFR Global, he leads cross‑border initiatives that strengthen institutional resilience, elevate executive decision‑making, and shape the strategic posture of organizations navigating geopolitical complexity.
A Distinguished IR Scholar and Ivorian Disruptive Author, Dr. Djaha is recognized as the Father of the Market‑Made World Order (MMWO)—a pioneering paradign that redefines how corporations, governments, and multilateral institutions compete and collaborate in a world driven by markets, technology, and systemic disruption. His work also advances the AIEO, a new architecture for influence and executive order in the 21st century.
He is the author of several groundbreaking books, including Market Power & The New Geopolitical CEO (2026), The Incoming Market Made World Order (June 2026), Geopolitics of AI (Feb. 2026).
Keynote Speaker
Ambassador (Retried) Charles Ray
Charles Ray retired from the US Foreign Service in 2012 after a 30-year career. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, he spent 20 years in the US Army, retiring with the rank of Major. During his army career, he did two tours in Vietnam, served in Military Intelligence, Special Operations and Public Affairs, with assignments in Germany, Korea, Vietnam, and Panama, as well as several posts in the United States.
He currently teaches three online graduate courses for Arizona State University, on the geopolitics of Africa and the Indo-Pacific and the International Affairs and Leadership program’s Capstone course.
He is a member of the American Foreign Service Association, a fellow of the American College of National Security Leaders, a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy, a member of the board of the Cold War Museum, and a member of the Association of Black American Ambassadors.
Secure Your Seat
Join leading policymakers, diplomatic delegates, and academic researchers in shaping the next generation of co-equal institutional partnerships. Registration is open for both virtual and in-person delegates.
