“Women and Diplomacy: Voices from Around the World” – Ambassadors from around the world and students discuss the future of international diplomacy

Welcome Association Italy (WAI) announces the second edition of the International Roundtable “Women and Diplomacy: Voices from the World,” scheduled for Thursday, October 2, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. at the Jubilee Hall of LUMSA University.

Uniqueness of the initiative

The event stands out in the national scene for three qualifying elements:

1. Intergenerational format: Ambassadors from four continents talk directly with university student delegations who intervene with structured questions at the end of the panel.
2. Narrative approach: in addition to the institutional profile, the speakers share personal life and career stories, offering a human and value-based look at contemporary diplomacy.
3. Concrete outcome: the official conference Proceedings (with written contributions of the speakers) will be published on the WAI website and disseminated to embassies, universities and partner associations.

Carlo Palumbo, WAI Deputy Secretary General: “This is not a traditional conference but a dialogue workshop where diplomatic experience and new generations build languages, solutions and shared values together. This is where the diplomacy of the future is formed.”

Conducting, institutional greetings and language services

• Host: Dr. Andrea Carlo Martinez, journalist and researcher in international relations.
• Institutional greetings: Prof. Francesco Bonini (Rector Magnificus, LUMSA) and Dr. Carlo Palumbo (Deputy Secretary General, WAI).

Panel program and participants

Panel I – Women and Diplomacy: Visions that Open Dialogue
Moderator: Prof. Foad Aodi (AMSI/WAI)
Speakers: H.E. Elena Basile (former Italian Ambassador to Sweden and Belgium); H.E. Mirjana Jeremic (Serbia); H.E. Elif Çomoglu Ülgen (Türkiye)

Panel II – From the African Continent: New Perspectives for Global Diplomacy
Moderator: Dr. Anna Spencer
Speakers: H.E. Nogozene Bakayoko (Ivory Coast); H.E. Cyrille Ganou Badolo (Burkina Faso)

Panel III – Latin America: The Beating Heart of Social Diplomacy
Moderator: Dr. Maddalena Celano
Speakers: H.E. Monica Robelo Raffone (Nicaragua); H.E. Ligia Margarita Quessep Bitar (Colombia); H.E. Mirta Granda Averhoff (Cuba); H.E. Teresa Subieta Serrano (Bolivia at the Holy See)

Panel IV – Asia Between Tradition and Diplomatic Innovation
Moderator: Dr. Michele Afferri (WAI)
Speaker: H.E. Vani Rao (India)

Panel V – Female Leadership in Europe: Experiences and Perspectives
Moderator: Dr. Chiara Cavalieri
Speakers: H.E. Anne Eastwood (Principality of Monaco); H.E. Nita Shala (Kosovo)

Panel VI – Arab Diplomacy and the Mediterranean: A Bridge Between Cultures
Moderator: Dr. Talal Khrais (Assadakah)
Speakers: H.E. Asmahan Abdulhameed Al Toqi (Yemen); H.E. Enas Makkawi (League of Arab States)

Students and the academic community

Delegations from LUISS Women in International Affairs, International Networking Association, European Youth Network, ASVI – Association of Vietnamese Students in Italy, IRIS – International Relations Innovation and Sustainability, Co-mai – Community of the Arab World in Italy, Hortensia Association, representatives from the Pontifical Roman Universities and other universities will participate.

Art and symbol of the event

The work “Hope 2025” by artist Karen Thomas, created for the occasion as a symbol of resilience and female strength in diplomacy, will be presented in the hall.

Expected audience and institutional relevance

The event is widely attended, with the presence of university professors, presidents of associations working in the diplomatic sector, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and representatives of foreign embassies. Structured student participation with dedicated Q&A reinforces the educational dimension and transfer of expertise.