2005 was heralded as a historic year for international development and an unrivalled opportunity for the UK government to provide leadership at the G8 summit at Gleneagles, through the UK Presidency of the EU, at the MDGs Summit in New York and at the WTO Hong Kong Ministerial.

What was achieved? How can the momentum be sustained and what are the major issues and challenges that lie ahead? This ODI and APGOOD series seeks to answer such questions.

Introducing the final three meetings of this series, Simon Maxwell, Director of ODI said:

'I’m delighted to announce a series of three public meetings, with speeches by Gareth Thomas, Andrew Mitchell and Lynne Featherstone. These meetings will bring to a close our series with APGOOD on ‘What’s Next in International Development?’

'With a change in Prime Minister imminent, they could not be timed better to reflect on the lessons of the past ten years and the challenges for the future. I’m especially pleased that all three major parties have agreed to contribute at such a senior level.'

'Our ‘What’s Next?’ series has been running intermittently since the beginning of last year. Our themes have ranged over the economics and politics of globalisation, the link between development and foreign policy, the future of the UN and the EU, and the changing landscape of aid. Speakers so far have included: Hilary Benn, Kemal Dervis, Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Don McKinnon, among others.

'With the mid-point of the MDGs this year, and with the G8 imminent, the time is right to think strategically about the future of international development. I very much hope you will come to hear our distinguished speakers and join in our conversation.'