Attending the Aspen Institute’s Will We Ever Trust the News Again? seminar offered University of Otago student Brennan McLennan a unique opportunity to explore the challenges of media, technology, and public trust through dialogue with international experts. In his article, he reflects on how engaging with diverse perspectives and immersive discussion can deepen understanding of complex, rapidly evolving issues.

Leaders from across business, government, and community sectors gathered at Taramea in Queenstown for our inaugural Debugging Decision Making roundtable, a day focused on how decisions are made, and the quality of the thinking behind them. 

2025 was marked by transformational growth, deepened collaboration, and meaningful opportunities across the Aspen Institute International Partners global network. The 2025 report highlights key milestones and shared achievements that continue to strengthen our network and expand collective impact worldwide.

As economic and national security converge, this Lookout explores leadership, trade realignment and decision-making, and how New Zealand can strengthen its position in a shifting global order.

As the global order shifts from shared norms to strategic competition, security and prosperity are no longer separate conversations. At the recent Aspen NZ closed-door Security Dialogue in Auckland, business and policy leaders examined what this new environment demands of New Zealand - and of those responsible for leading within it.

As 2025 winds down, we’d like to thank everyone who has taken part in Aspen NZ’s work this year - our participants, partners, supporters, directors, and the wider Aspen community. This Summer Review reflects on the people and programmes that shaped the past six months, and the conversations that carry into 2026.

What does it mean to trust the news in an age of AI, fractured attention, and declining public confidence? For Te-Rina Isaáko a youth leadership scholarship opened the door to three days of rigorous dialogue, challenge, and connection at the 2025 Socrates Seminar in Queenstown. In this reflection, she shares what it was like to step into a global conversation on media, trust, and leadership, and why youth voices are a necessary part of it.

How can democracy and journalism hold their ground in a world shaped by AI, speed, and information overload? Drawing on her experience as a systems thinker and sustainability practitioner, Katherine Short reflects on the 2025 Socrates Seminar. Her essay explores trust, accountability, and the enduring need for human judgement at the heart of democratic life, as technology reshapes how information is created, shared, and consumed.

Following his participation in the recent Aspen NZ Socrates Seminar, Alexander Plimmer considers the implications of declining trust in the news and what open dialogue can offer in navigating an increasingly fragmented information environment.

As we head into 2026, three forces are setting the pace: geopolitical realignment, rapid technological change, and an information environment where trust is harder to secure. These pressures make one thing clear - outcomes improve when decision capability and dialogue keeps up.  Across New Zealand, from corporates to community organisations, the message is the same: we need stronger, more confident decision makers who can handle complexity. This edition looks squarely at that challenge.

Welcome to The Lookout. This month we explore how nations and communities are building resilience in a time of rapid change, from shared security challenges across the Tasman, to migration debates that shape public understanding and reflect the experiences of the people at their centre.

As global risks grow more complex, the Aspen-Otago National Security Forum 2025 brought together leading experts from New Zealand, Australia, Asia, and the US to explore how shifting geopolitics, emerging technologies, and social cohesion are reshaping regional resilience, and why collective awareness and action are key to national security.

Archie Ritchie, Aspen NZ scholarship recipient, shares how the recent Global Changemakers Workshop in Bogotá offered space to reimagine migration as a deeply human journey of courage, dignity, and connection, and how it deepened his understanding of leadership and cooperation on the global stage.

Welcome to The Lookout. This month we examine China’s growing influence in South-East Asia, reflect on the future of the global order, and pay homage to the leadership of one of our founding Trustees and Chair.

A changing of the guard: Sir Donald McKinnon concludes his roles as Trustee and Director, but continues with Aspen NZ as Co-Patron, celebrating his legacy of leadership and wisdom guiding Aspen NZ’s mission and shaping dialogue across generations.

Welcome to The Lookout. This month, we explore the escalating threats in cyberspace, the potential of AI to tackle one of humanity’s most urgent challenges, and the enduring impact of visionary leadership.

Welcome to The Lookout. This month, we look at what it takes to keep our footing in a world of shifting power, overlooked essential workers, and the power of the 'commons' to guide us through rough waters.

We are excited to announce the Aspen NZ youth alumni scholarship recipient for the 2025 Global Changemakers Workshop, being held in Bogotá, Colombia this October.