Our Achievements - Why Wilton Park Now?

The need for Wilton Park remains as pressing now as it has for the entire 60 years of its existence. 

Our approach has become increasingly important in a world that requires the opportunity for frank, discreet dialogue and discussion.  

Wilton Park’s relationship with the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office gives us a close understanding of the current issues and pressures on international diplomacy.  Equally we are sufficiently independent to be able act as a neutral convener for the frank discreet dialogues which are crucial for progress on global issues.

Our task is not to prepare and present opinions of our own. 

Rather it is to enable opinion formers and policy makers from across the world calmly to address issues of dispute and conflict.  We create the opportunity for progress.  

The emergence of America as a single super power; the rise of China; the relationship of Russia with an increasingly large and economically formidable European Union; the heavy responsibilities of the United Nations in peacekeeping and building; the global focus on human rights and developing the capacity for good governance and justice; the threat of climate change; the challenges of the millennium development goals and the need to relieve poverty across the world; and following the financial crisis, the re-structuring of global prosperity and growth. 

These are all challenges which Wilton Park faces month in month out, year in year out. 

Over 3,000 people a year attend Wilton Park conferences in the heart of the British countryside in West Sussex.

These numbers will grow as Wilton Park undertakes activities in other locations across the world.

Among our community of alumni we number heads of government, senior ministers and international figures from the worlds of diplomacy, business, academia and NGOs. 

Over the coming few years, we will use new technology not only to provide additional platforms for our core work, but also to enable this community of alumni to communicate with each other more effectively. We aim to enable them to become a forceful power for good in an uncertain world.