About us

An international forum for strategic discussion

Wilton Park organises over 60 events a year in the UK and overseas, bringing together leading representatives from the worlds of politics, diplomacy, academia, business, civil society, the military and the media.

We focus on issues of international security, prosperity and justice. Our meetings provide a neutral environment where conflicting views can be expressed and debated openly and calmly, allowing acceptable compromise and resolution to be achieved.

Our priorities include:

• Conflict prevention, resolution and state building
• Defence and security
• Global economy
• Human rights, good governance and faith
• Multilateral institutions, key countries and regions
• Sustainable development and the environment

Download more details on our priorities

Encouraging innovation in global thinking

Events provoke lively debate and promote inclusivity among the policy makers and opinion formers who participate at our events. Participant numbers are limited to ensure that everyone has the chance to share their views, and discussions are non-attributable to encourage frank exchanges and open dialogue.

Our highly experienced programme teams regularly recreate the unique style and atmosphere of our events at alternative venues around the world. We also hold shorter events at central London locations, such as our 90 Minute Dialogues, Wilton Park Address and Jubilee Dialogues.

Our 2-3 day meetings give participants time and space to share and assess each other’s ideas in a secluded residential setting, programmes which include small working groups as well as roundtable discussions and opportunities for informal networking.

Developing a worldwide expert network

The key to our strength is the wide range of participants who regularly convene at our events. Our international network and strong relationships with government give us an insight into the most topical issues and the engagement of a diverse blend of experts to discuss them.

We encourage and facilitate ongoing high level collaboration which shapes the agenda and pushes forward international policy. We document and evaluate our conferences, producing final reports for our participants. We develop strategic, intellectual and financial partnerships with like minded organisations to focus on bringing people together to resolve global issues.

Building on our heritage

Our first discussions took place in 1946, with leading British figures and prominent Germans focusing on how to restore democracy in post-war Germany. Our reputation as a world leading discussion centre has grown over nearly seven decades, as we continue to pursue our original objective: to address and resolve global challenges.

In 2016, we celebrated 70 years of Wilton Park and 65th years at Wiston House, a Elizabethan manor house in the South Downs National Park where we hold the majority of our residential meetings. As part of this celebration we published a gallery of images on Flickr.

Wilton Park has been a not-for-profit executive agency of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office since 1991.