2024 AGENDA
9:40 – 9:42 OPENING CEREMONY
9:42 – 9:50 KEYNOTE ADDRESS
H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, State of Qatar
9:50 – 9:55 HIGH LEVEL REMARKS
H.E. Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani, Prime Minister, Republic of Iraq (V)
9:55-10:00 INTERLUDE
10:00-10:30 MINISTERIAL FIRESIDE CHAT
H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State of Qatar
Moderator: Mr. Steve Clemons, Host and political commentator, The Bottom Line, Al Jazeera English
10:30 – 11:00 MINISTERIAL FIRESIDE CHAT
H.E. K. Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and
Minister for Law, Republic of Singapore
Moderator: Mr. Ali Velshi, Host of “Velshi” and Chief Correspondent for MSNBC, and a weekly economics contributor to NPR’s “Here and Now.”
11:00 – 11:10 HIGH LEVEL REMARKS
Mr. Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, United Nations
11:10 – 11:20 COFFEE BREAK
11:20 – 11:50 FIRESIDE DISCUSSION
Mr. Paul Abbate, Deputy Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Moderator: Mr. John Miller, Chief of Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst, CNN
11:50 – 13:00 PANEL
Theme: What’s Next for the Middle East?
Sponsored by New America
The conflict in Gaza has spread throughout the entire Middle East, leading some analysts to suggest that what’s playing out right now can already be classified as a regional war. Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” spans Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and beyond. This panel will discuss what Iran actually wants, whether its proxy strategy is effective, and what happens next in the Middle East.
Moderator: Mr. Peter Bergen, Vice President of Global Studies and Fellows at New America; CNN National Security, Analyst
Dr. Ali Vaez, Senior Advisor to the President and Project Director, Iran, International Crisis Group
Dr. Elisabeth Kendall, President of Girton College, University of Cambridge
Ms. Mina Al-Oraibi, Editor in Chief, The National
COL Gianni Koskinas (ret.), CEO, Hoplite Group
Dr. Ronen Bergman, Staff Writer, The New York Times Magazine
13:00 – 13:30 FIRESIDE DISCUSSION
Theme: The international threat landscape in an
evolving geopolitical environment.
Ms. Christine Abizaid, Director, National Counterterrorism Center
Moderator: Mr. John Miller, Chief Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst, CNN
13:30 – 14:45 LUNCH
14:45– 15:55 PANEL
Theme: The Implications of Gaza War and October 7th
The war in Gaza has impacted different regions of the world in different ways. Accordingly, media coverage has also varied, analyzing many narratives that see the war through particular lenses shaped by unique historical circumstances. This panel will discuss the public discourse surrounding the war in Gaza and how media coverage shapes perceptions, while also influencing dialogue at multiple levels, from local to national to global.
Moderator: Mr. Mark Mazzetti, Washington Investigative Correspondent, New York Times
Ms. Diana Buttu, Lawyer and Legal Analyst, Former spokesperson for the Palestine Liberation Organization
Mr. Gideon Levy, Columnist and Member of Editorial Board, Haaretz
Mr. Rami Khouri, Director of Global Engagement, American University of Beirut
Ms. Mariam Shahin, Writer and Filmmaker, Director of ‘Looting the Holy Land’ and ‘Gaza Fixer 2’
Mr. Jonathan Lord, Senior Fellow and Director Middle East Security Program Center for a New American Security
16:30-18:00 SIDE EVENT
Theme: Global Dialogue on Conflict Resolution: International Cooperation and Solutions to Complex Security Challenges, Invite Only
8:30 – 09:00 PRESIDENTIAL FIRESIDE CHAT
H.E. Paul Kagame, President, Republic of Rwanda
Moderator: Mr. Steve Clemons, Host and political commentator, The Bottom Line, Al Jazeera English
9:00 – 9:30 MINISTERIAL FIRESIDE CHAT
H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson, African Union Commission
Moderator: Ms. Folly Bah Thibault, Principal Presenter, Al Jazeera English
9:30- 9:40 HIGH LEVEL REMARKS
Ambassador Ahmed Abubakar, Director General, National Intelligence Agency, Federal Republic of Nigeria
9:40 – 9:50 COFFEE BREAK
9:50 – 10:20 DISCUSSION: The Current Geopolitical Landscape in Africa
Description: This discussion will examine the geopolitical landscape in Africa in which more outside actors, both state and non-state, are involved and wherein African regimes, and their opponents, have more options.
His Excellency Professor Robert Dussey,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration, and Togolese Abroad, Togolese Republic
Ambassador J. Peter Pham, Distinguished Fellow, Atlantic Council
10:20 – 10:30 HIGH LEVEL REMARKS
Ambassador Roger Carstens, Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, U.S. Department of State
10:30 – 11:40 PANEL
Theme: The Impacts of Hostage-Taking by State and Non-State Actors
The practice of hostage-taking has become a more frequently employed tactic of state and non-state actors alike. Global power shifts have created hurdles for those advocating for hostages and wrongful detainees, while also expanding opportunities for international cooperation. Speakers in this session will present the challenges, explore ways to more effectively support hostages and their families, and share lessons learned and best practices that can inform critical national and international efforts to stem this pernicious crime.
Moderator: Mr. Adam Goldman, Journalist, New York Times
COL Christopher P. Costa (ret.), Former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council; Board of Directors, The Soufan Center
Ms. Liz Hirsh Naftali, Victim Advocate
Mr. Rajiv Maan, Director, Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Ambassador Roger Carstens, Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Dr. Julie Sunday Assistant Deputy Minister, Consular, Security and Emergency Management, and Senior Official for Hostage Affairs, Canada
11:40 – 11:50 HIGH LEVEL REMARKS
Dr. Thanos Dokos, National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of Greece, Hellenic Republic
11:50 – 12:20 FIRESIDE CHAT
General Austin S. Miller (ret.),Former Commanding General of U.S. Joint Special Operations Command and Senior Fellow, Combating Terrorism Center at West Point
Moderator: Ms. Brianna Keilar, Co-Anchor, “CNN News Central”, CNN
12:20 – 12:30 HIGH LEVEL REMARKS
H.E. Mohammed Sahib Al-Darraji, Prime Minister Advisor, Republic of Iraq (Attending as a personal representative of H.E Prime Minister of Iraq)
12:30 – 12:40 HIGH LEVEL REMARKS
Theme: Countering Terrorism in the Context of Strategic Competition
Mr. Andhika Chrisnayudhanto, Deputy for International Cooperation, National Counter-Terrorism Agency, Republic of Indonesia
12:40 – 13:10 FIRESIDE CHAT
Theme: Local repercussions of geopolitical events and threats,
changing security landscape and its challenges
Moderator: Dr. Karen Greenberg, Director, Center on National Security, Fordham Law
Ms. Rebecca Weiner, Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism, New York City Police Department
13:10 – 14:20 LUNCH
14:20 – 15:20 PANEL
Theme: Africa and the Global Counterterrorism Agenda
Sponsored by CTED Global Research Network
The surge of terrorist activity in parts of the African continent, particularly in conflict areas in the Central Sahel and West Africa, and mounting concerns about the spread of terrorism into coastal west African States, have placed terrorism in Africa firmly on the global counter terrorism agenda. This year at the Global Security Forum, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate will convene a panel, comprising of members of its Global Research Network and partners, to discuss the impact of a range of trends impacting the terrorist threat in Africa. These trends will include: border security and immigration; great power dynamics; energy and resources; adoption of new technology; and flows of illicit drugs and finance from Latin America.
Moderator: Dr. David Scharia, Chief of Branch, United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate
Hon. Djibrill Bassolé, former Foreign Minister, Burkina Faso
Mr. Idriss Mounir Lallali, Deputy Director, African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism
Dr. Anneli Botha, Extraordinary Professor of Practice, North-West University
Ms. Ornella Moderan, Independent Researcher for Sahel and West Africa, Global Initiative Expert Network
15:20 – 16:20 PANEL
Theme: The Proliferation of and Growing Strength of Non-State Actors
From private military companies to proxy groups, non-state actors have proliferated across the globe and are used by states to accomplish foreign policy objectives under a veneer of plausible deniability. This panel will focus on the spread and growth of non-state actors, analyzing Iran’s ‘Axis of Resistance,’ the Wagner Group, and a range of other terrorists, insurgents, and militias, assessing the increasingly prominent role they have assumed in modern statecraft and geopolitics.
Moderator: Dr. Colin P. Clarke, Senior Research Fellow, The Soufan Center
Ambassador Nathan Sales, Former Acting Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, US Department of State; Senior Fellow, The Soufan Center
Dr. Thomas Renard, Director, International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT) – The Hague
The Hon. Marshall Billingslea, Former Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing at the United States Department of the Treasury; Senior Fellow, The Hudson Institute
Dr. Amira Jadoon- Assistant Professor, Clemson University, College of Behavioral, Social, and Health Sciences
17:00 – 19:00 SIDE EVENT
Ali Velshi- Small Acts of Courage, Book Signing, Open to Public
19:00 – 20:00 SIDE EVENT
Sponsored by the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), Global Research Network, Invite Only
8:30 – 8:40 HIGH LEVEL REMARKS
H.E. Ali Ihusaan, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Republic of Maldives
8:40 – 9:10 MINISTERIAL FIRESIDE CHAT
Ambassador Timmy Davis, United States Ambassador to the State of Qatar, USA
Moderator: Mr. Ali Velshi, Host of “Velshi” and Chief Correspondent for MSNBC, and a weekly economics contributor to NPR’s “Here And Now.”
9:10 – 9:40 FIRESIDE CHAT (V)
Ambassador Robert C. O’Brien, Former National Security Advisor
Co-Founder & Chairman, United States American Global Strategies
Moderator: Mr. Steve Clemons, Host and political commentator, The Bottom Line, Al Jazeera English
9:40 – 10:10 DISCUSSION: Interdependency in a Multipolar World
Description: This discussion will explore the complexities of interdependency and strategic competition in a multipolar world.
Moderator: Andrew Oros, Professor of Political Science, and International Studies; Director, International Studies Program Washington College
Amb. Bilahari Kausikan, Former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore
10:10 – 10:15 COFFEE BREAK
10:15 – 10:45 IN CONVERSATION: What are the Geopolitical Implications of the War in
Gaza?
Description: This discussion will analyze the fallout from the war in Gaza and assess the impact of the conflict on regional dynamics.
Mr. Wadah Khanfar, President, Al Sharq Forum
Dr. Ilan Pappe, Director, European Centre for Palestine Studies, University of Exeter
10:45 – 10:55 HIGH LEVEL REMARKS
Theme: The Crossroads of Peace Project and Regional Security
Mr. Armen Grigoryan, Secretary, Security Council of Armenia office of the Prime Minister.
10:55 – 11:25 FIRESIDE DISCUSSION
Moderator: Ms. Sarah Muscroft Chief of Response Support Branch, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN- OCHA)
Brigadier Mubarak Sherida Al Kaabi, Commander of Qatar International Search and Rescue Group.
11:30 – 12:30 PANEL
Theme: Threats to Human Security in the Global South
The devastating impact of climate change, forced migration, food insecurity, sexual and gender-basedviolence, and other threats to human security present major obstacles to countries in the Global South. In regions like the Sahel in sub-Saharan Africa and in Central and South Asia, these issues intersect and can exacerbate one another, presenting governments with a Herculean challenge. This panel will discuss what steps the international community can take to help prevent instability in crucial regions throughout the Global South.
Moderator: Dr. Lyla Kohistany, Former counterterrorism analyst in Afghanistan, NATO, SOF, Senior Fellow, The Soufan Group
H.E. Hekmat Karzai, Chairman, Centre for Conflict and Peace Studies
Mr. Wassim Nasr, Journalist, France 24, Senior Research Fellow, The Soufan Center
Dr. Adejoké Babington-Ashaye, Former Senior Consultant, The World Bank, Senior Research Fellow, The Soufan Center
Ms. Naureen Chowdhury Fink, Executive Director, Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT)
12:30 – 13:30 PANEL
Theme: The Security Implications of Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies
This session will discuss artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies and how their further integration into society could impact global security. What are the implications for autonomous weapons, nuclear stability, and the laws of war? This panel will discuss these issues and others, debating if and how AI should be regulated and whether the quest to dominate AI will lead to a modern-day arms race.
Moderator: Mr. Bradley Peniston, Executive Editor, Defense One
Ms. Anjana Rajan, Assistant National Cyber Director, The White House
Ms. Helen Zhang, Deputy Chief of Staff at the Office of Eric Schmidt
Dr. Marc Owen Jones, Associate Professor in Middle East Studies, and Digital Humanities at Hamid bin Khalifa University
Dr. Ahmad Antar, Harvard University Instructor, specializing in the convergence of digital transformation and sustainability, Founder of Digital Emissions
13:30 – 14:40 LUNCH
14:40 – 15:40 PANEL
Theme: Energy Security and Economic Interdependence in an Era of Global Competition
The wars in Ukraine and Gaza, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other shockwaves to the international system have exposed the vulnerability of energy and supply chains, leading to political instability in the West and some countries to pull back from globalization. New economic partnerships, ambitious trade routes, and the energy transition will reshape alliances and have a significant impact on geopolitics.
Moderator: Dr. Carolyn Kissane, Associate Dean and Clinical Professor, Center for Global Affairs, New York University
Mr. Ali Wyne, Senior Research and Advocacy Advisor, U.S.-China, International Crisis Group
Dr. Neil Quilliam, Associate Fellow Middle East & North Africa Programme Chatham House
Dr. Thomas Juneau, Associate Professor, University of Ottawa
Ms. Heidi Crebo-Rediker, General Partner, America’s Frontier Fund and Adjunct Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations
Gaza?