Canadian Ditchley Foundation
SOURCE: Ditchley.com, captured 2020-08-14
See also:
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OpenGovCa.com | local copy [captured 2020-08-14]
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See also [2020-08-11]: BSIA launches high-level panel series with new institutional partner. The Balsillie School of International Affairs announces a new institutional partnership with the Canadian Ditchley Foundation.
The Canadian Ditchley Foundation was formally established in 1981 as an affiliate to the Ditchley Foundation [U.K.], in recognition of the mutual interests of Britain and Canada, and the strong representation that Canada has continued to provide at Ditchley conferences since 1964. It exists to recruit Canadian participants, sponsor their travel and help shape the conference programme. It depends largely on private funds.
The Foundation has a Board of Directors, and a Programme Advisory Committee.
In 2019 the Canadian Ditchley Foundation received a grant of $10,000 from the Donner Canadian Foundation.
Purpose
What Ditchley does and how
The renewal of democratic societies, states, markets and alliances is an urgent priority and action to protect our planet is needed from us all.
Ditchley's approach aims to build new common ground so that we can move toward solutions to complex problems. We believe that change is driven, and managed, by personal relationships, not reports or declarations. We engage local and global communities over time rather than chase headlines. We are not tied to the agenda of any government, political party or commercial interest.
We are dedicated to creating space and time for deep reflection, sharing ideas and making new connections across divides at a time when our systems find this difficult and our challenges are interconnected. In an inspiring place, we enable spirited but respectful discussion across divisions of expertise, geography, generations and political opinion. We work constantly to get better at this, harnessing the power of tradition and innovation in equal measure. No one leaves Ditchley without thinking new things.
We aim to:
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Build networks of people who share our determination to tackle today's challenges.
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Enable better policy making for governments and politicians.
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Deepen journalists' insight, so better informing the public and holding power to account.
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Help company leaders think through their impact and role in society.
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Support scientists and technology leaders in rooting new technologies in sound values.
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Develop emerging talent from all quarters and backgrounds to shape the future.
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Reconnect regions and capitals as well as building international links.
We focus on a range of challenging issues, including:
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Renewing political leadership and vision for the future, creating a new palette of modern options for both left and right, globalists and localists.
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Renewing the US and UK relationship, of which Ditchley is the "spiritual home."
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Renewing the UK's links with Europe after Brexit; and expanding globally.
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Engaging China on shared challenges in a constructive way.
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Making the most of technology and mitigating the risks.
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Renewing the role of business in society and in a sustainable global economy.
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Developing education to meet the challenges of rapid change.
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Sustaining our environment by supporting action on climate change and the UN's SDG 2030 goals.
History: Our Story
Ditchley was founded as a privately-funded charity in 1958 by the philanthropist Sir David Wills in order to support the Transatlantic Alliance between the United States and Europe by bringing decision makers and experts together in a unique and inspiring setting. He was moved to act by painful memories of the Second World War and the dangers of the Cold War. Ditchley Park is an extraordinary place but our story is most of all about people and what they can achieve when they work together.
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The Foundations
The Chairman of the Ditchley Foundation is Jonathan, Lord Hill, formerly EU finance commissioner and Leader of the House and Lords. Previous chairmen have included George, Lord Robertson, former NATO Secretary General and Secretary of State for Defence and Sir John Major, former Prime Minister.
Sir David Wills' daughter Dr Catherine Wills, a member of the Council of Management, and his widow Lady Eva Wills, Life President, remain closely involved in the Foundation after a lifetime of engagement and support. The Foundation is in the shape it is today also because of the commitment and generosity of the late Martin Wills, David's son.
Ditchley's work is guided and supported by:
- the Council of Management, who act as the Foundation's trustees;
- Ditchley's network of Governors;
- Honorary Governors who include many eminent figures;
- American Ditchley;
- Canadian Ditchley;
- the programme committee; and,
- informal thematic networks.
The current Ditchley team is lead by the Director, James Arroyo, OBE.
Ditchley's philosophy
The philosopher Isaiah Berlin was an early supporter of Ditchley and had a strong influence on Ditchley's approach, for example through his conception of liberty [http://faculty.www.umb.edu/steven.levine/courses/Fall 2015/What is Freedom Writings/Berlin.pdf | local copy (pdf)] as a process as well as a state. More pragmatically he wrote a letter that guides Ditchley in framing meetings today, advising that it was important to include "all kinds of apparently irrelevant persons," dreading otherwise "a lot of dull-faced men probably saying it had all been very interesting ..." He stressed the value of leaving space for informal conversations and urged against too many presentations. Advice we still heed. Berlin loved Ditchley, writing, "Moscow, Oxford, Ditchley, Harvard and Washington: each is a kind of legendary world framed within its own conventions."
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The Ditchley Bells -- wisdom, courage and love
David Wills was a very pragmatic idealist and when he set his mind on achieving something he was hard to resist. An example of this was his determination to commemorate the bicentenary of American Independence. He arranged for replicas to be cast of the bells of Westminster Abbey and eventually found them the perfect home in the belfry of the Old Post Office Tower, opposite the White House in Washington. The bells are rung to mark the opening of Congress and other major state occasions. "Courage, wisdom and love" was David Wills' accolade for the American people, engraved on the largest bell. The tower now stands above the Trump International Hotel (occupying the Old Post Office hall) and is an American national monument, maintained by the parks service and open to visitors with extraordinary views of the capital.
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Ditchley people today
Ditchley brings together a unique mix of people from the worlds of politics, technology, finance, academia, the media, the Arts and more. We also enable people at the height of their careers to mingle with young and emerging talent in an informal and egalitarian atmosphere where learning flows in both directions.
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