The McKay Interview

The UK's big and current issues at the UN Geneva plus insights into the current status of the UK/EU relationship.

In this episode we discuss:

-Is …

Dan Basse is an acknowledged expert economist on grains, softs and food supply; and he is also a farmer.

In this episode we discuss:

-We discuss the current status of grain crops and global supply
-Crop yields
-The …

A sequel to my "McKay Interview" with David Willey in 2013 about prominent issues in the Vatican. We pick up our conversation from 9 years ago and talk about many things, including:
-David Willey's Italian …

An overview of the current state of the Swiss economy and Swiss business.

In this episode we discuss:

-The recurring problem of a strong, safe-haven currency, namely the Swiss Franc
-The increasing cost of living in …

In this episode we discuss Covid19: where it came from, what the current status of the pandemic is, and what the future holds.

In this episode we …

In this epsiode, General Sir Richard Shirreff, talks about the war in Ukraine.

We cover the following topics:

-Who is wining the war in Ukraine

-Why …

In this epsiode Martin Chungong talks about the GESDA Science Diplomacy Week Open Forum and his role as Geneva Coalition co-Chair.

We cover the …

How the air travel sector in general, and London City Airport in particular, are performing post-pandemic? 

In this episode we discuss:

• I ask …

The future of computing, AI, regulation and many other data-related topics from an industry leader with more than 20 years of experience at Google.

…

A conversation about the importance of communes in the vibrant, bottom-up democracy of Switzerland.

Some of  my questions are:

• Why do we have two …

Ambassador Filipenko explains how her work at the UN & International Organizations, as well as other institutions in "international" Geneva, underpin her country's fight against the illegal invasion.

Some of  my …

We discussion Austria's history, how Austria's sees it future, multilateralism, Austria and United Nations Geneva, Human Rights, Austria's special …

This internationally renowned scientist, highly regarded for his work on bacterial meningitis, discusses his experiences in medical research, the vital significance of vaccines and immunization in public health.

In this …

Discussion of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, scenarios of how the conflict will end, the role that Switzerland and international Geneva could play, …

Insights into Leadership and Kindness as paths to success in organisations. What is the emotional source code? Why is kindness in organisations both …

Ambassador Yvette Stevens of Sierra Leone talks about Africa, Engineering, Women and Energy.

The leader of SWISS International Air Lines in the French-speaking part of Switzerland talks about his company, the state of business coming out of …

Ben Hodges answers questions about strategy and the balance of power in today’s geo-political world.

Some of the points we covered during the …

A radio conversation with best-selling author, travel writer, chocolate-lover and Englishman in Bern.

Some of the questions we covered during the …

François Carrard answers my questions about why the Tokyo Olympics took place in the teeth of a global pandemic; Ideals versus Money -  has Pierre de Coubertin’s vision, as founder of the Modern Olympics in 1896,  been …

Current prospects for UK international trade, especially with Switzerland. Physical attacks on British Members of Parliament. Declining standards of public behaviour in Britain towards MPs. The low esteem in which the …

An in depth view of how the airports sector has been affected by the pandemic and a view from the top of future challenges.

Here are some of the questions I put to my guest:
-What are the things that look large – very …

Amanda Ellis talks to me about Leadership, Sustainability, Greta Thunberg and Youth, Climate Change and many other topics.

The President of the GESDA Foundation, former Chairman & CEO of Nestlé S.A., gives his experienced perspective on a range of issues including GESDA's unique contribution, public/private partnerships, "international" …

Dr Cynthia Cherrey and Professor Mike Hardy on leadership. What are the different types of Leadership? Technology changing the nature of Leadership. …

"John", a Swiss expatriate with over 25 years' experience in aviation, charter, air ambulance, airline, corporate and humanitarian operations. Very …

The Irish Republic's multilateral agenda at the UN Geneva, as well as other matters

Dr David Chikvaidze's reflections on international affairs and some of the big political leaders that he has worked with and observed during his …

Dr. Carol Graham is a well-published authority on happiness, well-being and its converse, Ill-being. The nuances and intricacies of the subject are …

Riel Miller answers many of my questions about the effectiveness of Futures Literacy, including on climate change, racism and the oppression of women.

An ambassadorial overview of the state of bilateral relations between the United Kingdom and the Swiss Confederation.

An update on Covid-19 and the pandemic from one of the world's leading infectious disease epidemiologists almost exactly one year after our first …

Topical issues from the perspective of a successful oil-trading company leader. 

A conversation with Corinne Momal-Vanian, who worked and travelled with Kofi Annan when he was U.N. Secretary-General, about why he was and still is so revered; and the important work of his eponymous Foundation.

Departing Director of GSCP and recently appointed appointed Swiss Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran discusses Swiss values, Swiss neutrality and the delicate balance of the use of "soft power".

After six years in Geneva - an unusually long time - Ambassador Braithwaite shares with me his views on the UK and world trade vis-à-vis the WTO, the …

The Hon. Kent Brown served as a career diplomat for almost thirty years, all over the world for the U.S. Department of State. In this interview, he gives his insights and personal opinion about America today as I ask …

Michael McKay is going to talk to guests over the next few weeks on  how  the world sees America - through the eyes of Americans who have an experience of life outside the United States.

In the second programme, Michael …

Michael McKay is going to talk to guests over the next few weeks on  how the world sees America - through the eyes of Americans who have an  experience of life outside the United States.

In the first programme, Michael …

My Guest today is Michael Møller, known to many of you listening as the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva up until a year or so ago.

Well, you cannot keep a good and energetic man down! And he has …

My topic this time is Privacy. And by that I mean how states, governments, corporations, organisations, businesses and we ourselves as individuals, view things like privacy, secrecy, the characteristic or human quality …

Dr David Hawley  is the Director-General of the International School of Geneva and  Antonia Molnar is a Year 12 Student at the La Châtaigneraie …

A very special guest for the final McKay Interview of  this extraordinary year – one we are probably all glad to see the back  of – the Swiss Ambassador to the United Kingdom, or to give him his  official title in the …

On this week's McKay Interview, Michael talks to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, Tatiana Valovaya.

She discusses the future of the UN in Geneva, how the pandemic is affecting the work of the …

This week Michael McKay speaks to Lorenzo Stoll, Director-General of SWISS International Airlines for the Suisse Romande.

The pandemic has meant …

Michael McKay speaks with Professor Jovan Kurbalija. He is prominent in many important circles in Geneva, in Switzerland and internationally.
He is the Founding Director of DiploFoundation and the Head of the Geneva …

Michael's guest is Karel Leeflang. His bread and butter is in leading large-scale transformations, both as a corporate executive and advisor.

And in describing what he does, jargon words and phrases like “global …

On this week's McKay Interview:
As we are based in Geneva, we are well aware of its long-standing multilateral reputation and its unrivalled position …

Two years ago in Paris, I recorded a roundtable McKay Interview with people whose fingers were very much on the Parisienne pulse. Very recently, in …

This week Michael McKay speaks to Professor Bill Durodie - chair of Risk and Security in International Relations at the University of Bath in the UK.

As Michael discovers, there's a lot more to risk than you may think.

On the return of the McKay Interview after the summer break - no matter where you were on the 4th August, you must surely have been aware of the huge explosion in Beirut. According to Lebanon’s team at the United …

This week, Michael is talking to Bill McCormish. He will  be well-known to many of you. Whether you are Genevois, Christian,  Protestant or just from the UK, you will probably know, or know of, the  Rev. Dr William …

Michael McKay's guest is Professor Didier Pittet. He is  an infectious diseases expert of global reputation and the director of  the Infection …

Jo Hemmings is Michael's guest this week. She is a  celebrated Behavioural Psychologist and a registered member of the  British Psychological Society …

On this week's McKay Interview, Michael speaks to Professor Simon Heffer  from the University of Buckingham in the UK on the media's role in …

Michael's guest this week is the Secretary-General of  the world’s largest police organization, Dr Jürgen Stock, of INTERPOL,  or to give it its full …

The Covid-19 pandemic is the worst in 100 years. Apart  from the great tragedies inflicted upon many, many families all over the  world, it has thrown up a number of conundrums. Puzzles like the  scientific, the …

Michael's guest is a brilliant and very thoughtful  member of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy faculty who has made a  study of global risk and …

On this week's McKay Interview, Michael  speaks to Dr David Heymann, one of the most prominent, contemporary,  epidemiologists in the world.

He also …

Michael McKay's guest this week is Pierre Ruetschi who  has many years of experience in the field of journalism, especially in  “international” Geneva, where he was for many years the Editor-in-Chief  of Geneva’s own …

Many European countries are now lifting lockdowns. The economic impact of the pandemic has been huge - and is still going on.

The  Director-General of the Geneva based International Labour Organisation,  Guy Ryder, …

Michael's guest this week is a distinguished academic and scientist  with more than half a century’s experience of his discipline behind him.  Today is the 30th April 2020 and Dr. Charles Jefford, Professor  Emeritus of …

This is the second in the mini-series,  recorded on the 22nd April, and devoted to a broader and fuller  understanding of the COVID-19 Coronavirus …

In this new COVID-19 series of McKay  Interviews, Michael will be asking different experts their views on the  pandemic and how it will develop - and …

David Bennett, Global Chairman of Sotheby’s Jewellery Division. 9th September 2019

Dame Stephanie "Steve" Shirley CH, British information technology pioneer, businesswoman and philanthropist. 30th July 2018.

Mary Robinson, former President of the Republic of Ireland; former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; and Founder of The Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice. 27th October 2017.

Sir Peter Marshall KCMG CVO, Veteran British Diplomat and formerly UK Ambassador & Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva. 2nd August 2017.

Kate Adie OBE DL, BBC Chief News Correspondent, 1989 – 2003. 1st February 2016

Konji Sebati, the Republic of South Africa’s former Ambassador to Switzerland & Liechtenstein, the Holy See, France, UNESCO and the OECD. This …

Ivan Pictet - on the modern significance of the 200th anniversary of La Restauration genevoise 1814 – 2014 and Geneva joining the Swiss Confederation

Baroness Ariane de Rothschild, Vice-Chairwoman of Edmond de Rothschild Group. 19th February 2014.

Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, Formula 1 Racing Legend. 7th February 2014

David Willey OBE,  the BBC’s Rome Correspondent since 1972. 20 June 2013.