Where to from here?

U.S. Ambassador Scott Brown shares his journey from Colonel to Ambassador.

Ambassador Scott Brown will share the learnings from his lengthy leadership history as a political leader, attorney, political commentator and National Guardsman. Known as the most bipartisan senator during his time in the U.S Senate - Ambassador Brown has a unique perspective on where the opportunities are, and what the next steps will be, for the US-NZ Relationship.

Biography

As the U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and the Independent State of Samoa, Scott Brown is a prominent U.S. political leader, attorney, and National Guardsman with an extensive history of public service.

After three years of service in the U.S. Senate, Ambassador Brown became the U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand in 2017. During his time as an elected official, he worked extensively on sex offender, child trafficking and other law enforcement issues to keep children and families safe.

Serving in the enlisted and officer ranks of the Massachusetts and Maryland National Guard, Brown retired as a Colonel after 35 years of service, the last four of which he served as the Deputy to the Chief Counsel to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau at the Pentagon.

Ambassador Brown worked as an attorney for Nixon Peabody, LLP, Boston, MA. He served on the Board of Directors and as an Advisor to Kadant, Inc., Westford, MA and as an advisor to 1st Alliance Lending, LLP, East Hartford, CT, an organization aimed at helping low income citizens keep their homes. He was an Advisor to SkyBridge Capital, New York, NY and to Ron Terwilliger Housing Foundation, Vienna, VA, and served as a board member for the USA Triathlon Foundation introducing youth to the sport of triathlon. He traveled extensively speaking before colleges, businesses, trade associations, and financial and government advocacy groups globally.

During his term in New Zealand, Ambassador Brown focused on combatting terrorism, China’s expansion in the Indo-Pacific region, enhancing trade opportunities, strengthening the U.S. – NZ security partnership and the Five Eyes relationship in New Zealand, expanding cooperation in the Antarctic and Space, and human, drug and child trafficking prevention. During his tenure – he was instrumental in passing the Kiwi Act, developing internships for Kiwis at NASA, and lead delegations of NZ business to the United States expanding U.S. – NZ economic relations and cooperation in tech and innovation. The Ambassador led the Embassy through several crises including the Christchurch mosque attack, the White Island volcano eruption, and the COVID-19 pandemic including the repatriation of American citizens from the region

An avid triathlete and musician, Ambassador Brown competed in the World Triathlon Championships in Switzerland and played guitar for the fifth time with Hall of Fame Inductees Cheap Trick while they toured in Australia. Ambassador Brown and his wife Gail have been married for 34 years and have two daughters, Ayla, a singer/songwriter and morning co-host of Country Channel 102.5 in Boston, and Arianna, a veterinarian working in private practice in Portsmouth/New Hampshire. Ambassador Brown earned a B.A. from Tufts University and a J.D. from Boston College Law School. He has Honorary Doctorates from Lasell College (Humanitarian Letters) and Nichols College (Public Administration).

Reflecting on his roles in leadership and his journey through the U.S. political scene, join us on Thursday 3 December for a thought-provoking lunch with this unique and distinguished speaker.