Each year, 100 new members between the broad ages of 25 and 35 will join the programme. Members attending the Inaugural Summit in Belfast and Dublin represent England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, the United States, Canada, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Poland, Romania, Turkey, Norway, Greece, Mexico, Kosovo, Cyprus, Finland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland.  It is our hope to involve participants from other countries across Europe over the lifetime of the Network.

Each member has already made significant contributions to their chosen professional field, and show vast potential for future leadership. A few examples include:

• Zakir Karim of Portugal is the co-founder of two organizations that promote dialogue between Muslims, Jews, Catholics, Hindus and others, and also sits on the Lisbon Islamic Community’s board.
• Host of “The Truth with Jeff Johnson” on Black Entertainment Television (BET), Jeff Johnson has travelled around the world to interview political figures and highlight social issues.
• Jose Castellanos serves as a sergeant in the Los Angeles Police Department and aims to build racial tolerance, equality and understanding through gang violence prevention.
• Maire O’Neill of Ireland, named the 2007 British Female Inventor of the Year, leads the cryptography research group at the Institute of Electronics, Communications and Information Technology at Queen’s University, Belfast.
• Amar Bakshi is a contributor to Washington Post’s Post Global web site, an experiment in global, collaborative journalism, a running discussion of important issues among dozens of the world's best-known editors and writers.

The target group for incoming Transatlantic Network 2020 participants are young professionals between the ages of 25 and 35 who have already distinguished themselves in their careers and will likely be in the vanguard of leadership in 2020.

Diversity of opinion, an entrepreneurial professional background, previous international experience and demographic make-up are all essential components to facilitating a dialogue that represents the rising generation of North American and European leaders.

If you are interested in becoming a participant, or know someone who might be suitable, please visit the website frequently for updates on the next yearly recruitment round or contact us at TN2020@britishcouncil.org to express your interest.

You can also keep track of TN2020 news and events on our Facebook page.  

Based on market research commissioned by the British Council in North America and Europe, a majority of the citizens of Europe and North America desire a stronger transatlantic relationship.  There is also a surprising level of agreement on the most important issues facing our generation.  In an open-ended question, respondents to our survey in seven of nine countries (Canada, Germany, UK, Ireland, Poland, Spain and USA) agreed that the environment is the most important area of concern, and cited war, poverty and religious conflict as additional concerns.

Ultimately, as Transatlantic Network 2020 progresses, its members will identify their top areas of concern and design projects to address these issues.  

Network members who attended the Berlin Launch Workshop in March 2008 helped shape the programme‘s agenda, including brainstorming the topic of transatlantic conflict and cooperation for the Inaugural Summit. Conflict in Northern Ireland, in the transatlantic relationship and globally will be explored, and the origin, nature and evolution of cooperation will be studied.

Members at the summit in Ireland and Northern Ireland will have a say in the programme’s future, including the themes of future events.

The annual summit is the featured event of the Network’s activity. However, the participants will be encouraged to use the relationships established at the summit to initiate group and individual projects which the British Council and its partners will help to facilitate.

Many of the members have been in regular contact via email and phone since the Berlin launch, and  a few have already set their own transatlantic projects into motion:

• While conducting research for a book on transatlantic relations and policy toward Muslims in the West, Marietje Schaake from the Netherlands contacted Jose Castellanos, a Los Angeles police officer.  Jose arranged for Marietje to interview LA police chief William Bratton about his police force’s approach to cross-cultural sensitivities.  Mr. Bratton took her on a helicopter patrol of the city, where they spoke about the similarities and differences between his force and Dutch police methods.
• American Amar Bakshi is exploring the possibility of creating a documentary in partnership with British newspaper The Guardian on Americans’ and Europeans’ views of one another, incorporating commentary from his fellow Transatlantic Network 2020 members.  
• Canadians David Noble and Peter MacLeod are teaming up with Bethan Jenkins, youngest member of the Welsh Parliament, on an environmental project.  

The British Council, the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, is funding Transatlantic Network 2020.  However, The British Council relies on support from outside organisations and corporations seeking to invest in a powerful, self-sustaining network of young leaders who will foster fresh approaches and strategic solutions to long-term, critical global issues. The British Council is open to building robust relationships with partners in global business, the media, advocacy groups, think tanks, academia and organizations in other fields.

Interested organisations are invited to contact our Partnerships Manager Rebecca Zylberman: rebecca.zylberman@britishcouncil.org

Dublin and Belfast symbolize progress through collaboration. Often referred to as a bridge between Europe and North America, largely because of their unique geographic location and the special historical and contemporary ties that exist between the continents, they were fitting venues for the inaugural summit.

Berlin, host of the Launch Workshop in March 2008, is at the heart of a changing Europe and has been critical to the transatlantic relationship for centuries.

Next year’s meeting will be held in the United States.  We intend to alternate the summits’ locations between Europe and the United States.  

The British Council is the United Kingdom’s organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities.  We have offices in 110 countries worldwide where we operate English teaching centres and implement regional and global programs like Transatlantic Network 2020.  The British Council is registered as a charity (not-for-profit organisation) in England, Wales and Scotland and operates at arms length from the UK government.

For more information, please visit our website at www.britishcouncil.org

The transatlantic relationship has been one of the world’s most important in addressing political, cultural and social issues, yet is currently frayed. Research commissioned by the British Council signalled that a majority of Americans and Europeans want a healthier transatlantic relationship, marked by closer ties and better cooperation on international issues, despite existing strains. There is remarkable agreement on both sides on the most urgent issues to address: the environment, war and conflict, poverty and economic inequality rank as top in most countries. The defining challenges of the coming generation – such as climate change, ethnic and religious conflict, war and terrorism, and economic fairness – will require greater involvement from citizens of the world to address successfully.

Transatlantic Network 2020 provides a forum for young leaders from Europe and North America to address these and other issues jointly, thereby bringing a new energy to the transatlantic relationship.

Press releases will be made available in our press room. All inquiries may be directed to:

Ireland and Northern Ireland:
Jonathan Stewart
Norwich Union House
7 Fountain Street
Belfast
BT1 5EG
United Kingdom
Telephone +44 (0)28 90248220 ext 253
E-mail jonathan.stewart@britishcouncil.org

England, Scotland and Wales:
Ellen Miller
10 Spring Gardens
London
SW1A 2BN
United Kingdom
Telephone +44 0207 389 4939
E-mail ellen.miller@britishcouncil.org

Rest of Europe:
Jonathan Brennan
Rue du Trône / Troonstraat 108
1050 Brussels
Belgium
Telephone +32 (0)2 227 08 56
E-mail jonathan.brennan@britishcouncil.org

United States:
Carrie Annand
3100 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, D.C.
USA
Telephone +1 202 588 7837
E-mail carrie.annand@britishcouncil.org