Join us
for the first conference
exclusively dedicated to

Together with communication experts from academia, civil society, business, the diplomatic community, and the United Nations, we explore how communication can strengthen the United Nations, advance solutions to global issues & create a better world for all.

October 21–23, 2026
New York City

Columbia University ∙ School of International and Public Affairs

Columbia World Projects
Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies

CUNY Graduate Center

“The United Nations
cannot achieve its purposes
unless the peoples of the world
are fully informed of its aims and activities.”

UN General Assembly

Resolution 13 (1), 13 February 1946

Organizing & Hosting Institutions

The conference is organized by Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and CUNY’s Ralph Bunche Institute. We thank our hosting partners at Columbia World Projects and the CUNY Graduate Center.

Speakers

Speaker lineup will be updated as confirmations are received.

In high-level discussions, research panels, and workshops, the conference will convene communication experts across sectors: scholars, private sector, the diplomatic community,
and the United Nations.

Learn more about the speakers.

Maher Nasser

United Nations
Director, Outreach Division
Global Communications

La Neice Collins

United Nations
Spokesperson for the 80th President of the UN General Assembly

Stéphane Dujarric

United Nations
Spokesperson for the
UN Secretary-General

Amb. Wolfgang Petritsch

President, Austrian Institute for International Affairs, former High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina and UN Ambassador

Program

Throughout the conference, participants reflect on current communication challenges, learn from past approaches and achievements, and envision new pathways for how communication can build support for the multilateral system and advance solutions to global issues.

Opening & Keynote

High-level United Nations officials and communication experts provide their perspectives on the UN’s communication challenges.

High-Level Discussions

Experts across sectors share and learn from one another’s reflections on the UN’s communication challenges, approaches, and ideas for solutions. Topics include emerging technologies and AI, information integrity, campaigns and social media, and visual communication.

Expert Workshops

Participants can learn from experts on UN communication in hands-on workshops. Workshops will include topics of critical importance to UN communicators, such as crisis communication, media & interviews, or campaign management.

Networking Spaces

Participants will have the opportunity to meet, exchange with each other, and identify collaboration opportunities to jointly communicate for a better world.

Poster & Video Presentation

Selected practitioners and scholars present their insights in the form of visually engaging, large-scale posters or a video during networking events, allowing presenters to gain feedback from UN communication experts and other participants.

∙ ∙ Submit your proposal here ∙ ∙

Research Panels

Scholars and practitioners share their research and exchange insights. Topics include communication aspects that relate to the UN system organizations and the global issues they seek to address.

∙ ∙ Submit your proposal here ∙ ∙

Submit your Proposal

Deadline: 31 May 2026
(11:59 pm Eastern Time / NYC)

Read Submission Guidelines

Download Call for Proposals (PDF)

Submit Proposal (Google Form)

Meet the Organizers

With the support of our collaborators, we are organizing this conference together with colleagues and partners across Columbia University, the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), CUNY Graduate Center, and the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies.

Learn more about the organizers.