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.
day 1 & 2 ∙ Oct 21 & 22 ∙ Columbia university, The forum
Speakers
Keynotes and Plenary Discussion Panels
Speaker lineup will be updated as confirmations are received.
In high-level plenary discussion panels, interdisciplinary experts across sectors — scholars, private sector, the diplomatic community, and the United Nations — will explore topics such as information integrity, communication & AI, social media and campaigns, and visual communication & design.
United Nations
Director, Outreach Division
Global Communications
United Nations
Spokesperson for the 80th President of the UN General Assembly
United Nations
Spokesperson for the
UN Secretary-General
Joel P. Christensen
CUNY Graduate Center, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
UN Women
Director for Global Communication & Advocacy
Aleksandra Saša Gorišek
United Nations
Head of Civil Society
and Academic Impact
Jean-Marie Guéhenno
Columbia University, former UN USG for Peacekeeping Operations
Better World Campaign, Executive Director for Communications
Debbie Millman
School of Visual Arts, Chair and Founder of the MA in Branding; Podcast host of “Design Matters”
United Nations Foundation,
Chief Communications and Marketing Officer
former World Meteorological Organization
Chief of Strategic Communications
President, Austrian Institute for International Affairs, former High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina and UN Ambassador
Gillian Sorensen
former UN Assistant Secretary-General for External Relations; Honorary Chair of the Sorensen Center for International Peace
day 3 ∙ Oct 23 ∙ cuny graduate center
Speakers
Roundtables and Workshops
Speaker lineup and workshop topics will be updated as confirmations are received.
In workshops and roundtables, experts will discuss emerging and
enduring communication challenges and opportunities
for United Nations organizations.
Miami University of Ohio,
Associate Professor of Strategic Communication
United Nations
Spokesperson for the
UN Secretary-General
Patrick Durgin-Bruce
Founder, Ultravirgo
Dr. Zhao Alexandre Huang
Gustave Eiffel University (France),
Associate Professor of Communication
Dr. Di Zhang
Renmin University of China,
Professor at the School of Journalism and Communication
Dr. R.S. (Rhonda) Zaharna
American University, Washington D.C., Professor Emerita in the School of Communication
Prof. Adam Peruta
Syracuse University, Newhouse School of Public Communications, Program Director, Advanced Media Management M.S.
Dr. Eric Gordon
Boston University,
Director, Center for Media Innovation & Social Impact, Faculty in the College of Communication
Dr. Jack Durrell
United Nations University Centre for Policy Research (UNU-CPR), Head of Communications
Anuradha K. Herath
City College of New York, Adjunct Lecturer; Former Director General International Affairs, Sri Lanka Prime Minister’s Office
Stéphanie Fillion
Editor-in-Chief, Envoy magazine; United Nations correspondent
Dr. Mengxiao Zhu
Full Professor and Funding Chair of ICA China Chapter
Expert Facilitators
Expert facilitator lineup will be updated as confirmations are received.
Throughout the conference, experts working at the intersection of communication and the United Nations will facilitate exchanges among participants during research panels and workshops.
Nina Brandt
United Nations Youth Office
Chief of Partnerships, Advocacy and Communications
Ramu Damodaran
Permanent Observer of the University for Peace and former Chief for UN Partnerships and Public Engagement and first Chief of the UN Academic Impact
Patrick Durgin-Bruce
Founder, Ultravirgo
Bijan Farnoudi
Founder of The Coms Network and Former Head of Communications, Kofi Annan Foundation
Nancy Groves
UN Environment Programme
Chief of Digital Strategy
James Holtje
Columbia University, SIPA
Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
Martin Nesirky
former Director of the UN Information Service in Vienna and Spokesperson for former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Jesús Vicente
International Telecommunication Union
Head of Visual Identity and Graphic Design
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.
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.
FEATURING
Art & Design
Based on a joint project between Prof. Yann Toma, Prof. Daniel Naujoks, and Dr. Stefan Tschauko, the conference will feature an exploration of
The Impact of Art & Design
on International Cooperation
Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
Professor of Visual Arts
Artist-Observer at the United Nations;
Chair, Art & Design Committee
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.
Dr. Stefan Tschauko, Creator & Chair
Adjunct Assistant Professor, SIPA
Visiting Scholar, Ralph Bunche Institute
Executive Committee; Interim Director, Ralph Bunche Institute
Lecturer, Baruch College-CUNY
Executive Committee; Faculty Director, U.N. Partnership Initiative
Lecturer in International and Public Affairs, SIPA
Co-Chair, Review Committee; Associate Professor of International Communication, Université du Québec à Montréal, Canada
Co-Chair, Review Committee; Executive Director of Marketing and Communications; UF College of Journalism and Communications;
Vice President, AIGA
Chair, Operations Committee; Managing Director, United Nations Association USA (UN Foundation)
Dr. Peter J. Hoffman
Chair, Programming Committee; Senior Fellow, Ralph Bunche Institute, CUNY Graduate Center
Our Sponsors
We thank our sponsors for their generous contributions.
Our Collaborators
We are very grateful for the support of our collaborators.
Additional collaborators
Columbia / SIPA
International Security and Diplomacy
Technology Policy and Innovation
ICA ∙ Public Diplomacy & International Relations
ISA ∙ International Communication Section
ISA ∙ ISA-UNAI Collaboration Committee
Keep Me Informed
We will keep you posted on speakers and program details.