August 21, 2025

The BEARR Trust warmly invites you to join our 2025 Annual Lecture, generously hosted by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) at their headquarters in Canary Wharf (5 Bank St, London E14 4BG) on Tuesday, 14 October 2025, at 6pm.

This year, the event will take the form of a discussion between Bobo Lo, international relations expert and author, and Kadri Liik, journalist and political analyst, on the subject of “is it all over for the rules-based international order?” It will be moderated by Sir Roderic Lyne, Patron of The BEARR Trust and former British Ambassador in Moscow (2000–2004).

Following the lecture, a reception will provide an opportunity to continue the conversation and connect with fellow attendees with an interest in the field.

All proceeds from the lecture will go towards BEARR’s work supporting grassroots civil society organisations in the field of health and social welfare in the countries of Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus. The funds raised will also support the work of our Ukraine Community Resilience Fund.

To attend, please secure your place by booking a ticket via Eventbrite by 9 October.

Kindly note that the event venue requires us to submit the full names of every attendee for security clearance. Therefore, each ticket order must correspond to a single individual, and separate orders should be made for multiple attendees, providing each person’s full name.

Please arrive at the EBRD from 5.30pm on Tuesday 14 October for a prompt 6pm start.

All participants will be required to present a valid form of photo ID upon arrival. Entry will not be permitted without it.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Please note that this event will not be live streamed. The lecture will be recorded and released publicly on our website and YouTube channel at a later date. If you would like early access to the recording, please contact our Information and Administration Officer at info@bearr.org.

About the Speakers

Dr Bobo Lo is an independent international relations analyst. Formerly, he was Head of the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House and Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Moscow. Dr Lo has written a number of books, including A Wary Embrace: What the China–Russia Relationship Means for the World; Russia and the New World Disorder; and Axis of Convenience: Moscow, Beijing and the New Geopolitics. His latest book, The Disorderly Society: Rethinking Global Governance in an Age of Anarchy, will come out in November this year.

Kadri Liik is an independent analyst based in Estonia. She has been a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations since 2012. Her research focuses on Russia, Eastern Europe, and the Baltic region. Before joining ECFR, Liik was the director of the International Centre for Defence Studies in Estonia from 2006 until 2011, where she also worked as a senior researcher and director of the Centre’s Lennart Meri Conference. Throughout the 1990s, Liik worked as a Moscow correspondent for several Estonian daily papers. She was also the host of “Välismääraja”, a current affairs talkshow at Raadio Kuku in Tallinn.

Booking

BEARR’s lectures are open to all and free to attend. However, the annual lecture is BEARR’s main fundraising event. We are therefore asking guests for a suggested donation of £20 per person, £10 for full-time students and jobseekers, or more if you are able.

You must register your attendance on Eventbrite by 9 October.

• If you wish to donate but are not eligible for Gift Aid, please make your donation through Eventbrite – this will ensure your registration and you do not need to further register for a free ticket.
• If you wish to donate and are eligible for Gift Aid, please register for a free ticket through Eventbrite and then make your donation via our CAF Donate Page here.
• If you are not able to make a donation, please register for a free ticket on Eventbrite.

More information on how to find the EBRD here.

If arriving via Canary Wharf underground station, please use the West Exit to Jubilee Plaza.

If you have a disability, require any additional support to ensure your participation in the event, or have any other questions, please contact BEARR’s Information and Administration Officer Valdone Sniukaite on info@bearr.org.