Global Security Forum 2025
April 28-30, 2025
The Impact of Non-State Actors on Global Security
This year’s forum centered on the theme: “The Impact of Non-State Actors on Global Security”—a topic of increasing relevance as these actors reshape the geopolitical landscape and challenge traditional notions of sovereignty and governance. The discussions we aim to foster will require voices of influence and experience, and I cannot think of a better person to contribute to these critical conversations than you.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani
Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, State of Qatar
SPEAKERS
Dr. Rachid Aarab
Ass. Professor of International Relations
Joaan Bin Jassim Academy for Defence Studies
Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar
Former Director General, National Intelligence Agency
Republic Of Nigeria
H.E. Francis Adu-Amanfo
Major-General (RTD.)
Accra Initiative
Mr. Hassan Ahmad
Special Advisor
Humanity Matters
LT. Col. Ali Mohammed
Al-Ali
Head of Interpol Qatar
State of Qatar
Dr. Hessa Al Jaber
Chairperson, Es'hailSat-Qatar Satellite Company
Former Minister of Communications
H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi
Minister of State
State of Qatar
Mrs. Nawal Al-Maghafi
Senior Investigations Correspondent
BBC
Dr. Sultan Al-Khulaifi
Senior Researcher
The Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies
H.E. Eng. Abdulrahman Ali Al-Malki
President
National Cyber Security Agency, State of Qatar
Mr. Raed Alsaleh
Minister for Emergency Situations and Disasters
Syrian Government
Ms. Racheal Atley
Coordinator of Political Analysis and Research
UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED)
Dr. Adejoké Babington-Ashaye
Senior Fellow
The Soufan Center
Mr. Peter Bergen
Vice President of Global Studies & Fellows, New America; Center Co-Director and Professor of Practice, Future Security Initiative, Arizona State University
National Security Analyst, CNN
Hon. Marshall Billingslea
Senior Fellow, The Hudson Institute; Former Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing, US Department of Treasury; Former President, Financial Action Task Force
United States of America
Dr. Mohammed Cherkaoui
Professor of Conflict Resolution and Head of the PhD Program
Joaan Bin Jassim Academy for Defence Studies
Dr. Julie Chernov Hwang
Senior Research Fellow
The Soufan Center
Mr. Andhika Chrisnayudhanto
Deputy for International Cooperation
National Counterterrorism Agency of the Republic of Indonesia
Colin P. Clarke
Senior Research Fellow
The Soufan Center
Mr. Steve Clemons
Editor at Large
The National Interest
H.E. Ryan Crocker
Distinguished Chair in Diplomacy and Security
RAND
Dr. Jessica Davis
Visiting Senior Fellow
The Soufan Center
Hon. Timmy Davis
United States Ambassador to the State of Qatar
United States of America
Dr. Serghei Diaconu
Chief of Staff, Prime Minister Office; Director of National Crisis Management Center
Government of the Republic of Moldova
Dr. Thanos Dokos
National Security Adviser
Hellenic Republic
Hon. Sue Eckert
Expert
UN 1267/1988 Monitoring Team
Mr. Richard Engel
Chief Foreign Correspondent
NBC News
H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat
Former Chairperson, African Union Commission; Former Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of Chad
Dr. Usama Fayyad
Executive Director of the Institute for Experiential AI & Chairman of Open Insights
Northeastern University
Dr. Vanda Felbab-Brown
Director – Initiative on Nonstate Armed Actors,Co-Director – Africa Security Initiative, Senior Fellow – Foreign Policy, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology
Brookings Institution
Ms. Joëlle Germanier
Executive Director
Centre of Competence on Humanitarian Negotiations
Dr. Jan (Ken) Gleiman
Professor of Practice, Future Security Initiative, Arizona State University; Senior Fellow, New America Arizona State University
Mr. Armen Grigoryan
Secretary, Security Council of Armenia
Republic of Armenia
Mr. Pekka Haavisto
Member of Parliament
Finland
Mr. Adam Hadley
Executive Director, CBE
Tech Against Terrorism
Mr Jeffrey Hardy
Director-General
Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade
Ms. Hind Hassan
Journalist and Documentary Filmmaker
Independent Journalist
Prof. Fathelalem Hija
Professor of Cyber Security
Joaan Bin Jassim Academy for Defence Studies
H.E. Gibril Ibrahim
Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning
Sudan
Dr. Noor Huda Ismail
Visiting Fellow
RSIS, NTU Singapore
Mr. Elijah J. Magnier
Military and Intelligence Analyst
AL RAI Chief International Coprrespondent and Analyst
Mr. Brian Jenkins
Senior Advisor to the President
RAND Corporation
Dr Marc Owen Jones
Professor
Northwestern University in Qatar
H.E. Dr. Tito Karnavian
Minister of Home Affairs
Republic of Indonesia
Mr. Ilyas Khan
Founder/Vice Chair/Chief Product Officer
Qauntinuum
Mr Rami Khouri
Visiting Fellow
RSIS, NTU Singapore
Ms. Fawzia Koofi
Former member of peace Neogiation with Taliban and Deputy Speaker of Parliment in Afghanistan
Women for Afghanistan
Mr. Ioannis Koskinas
Chief Executive Officer, Hoplite Group; Senior Fellow, New America
Hoplite Group
Mr. Pierre Kraehenbuehl
Director-General
International Committee of the Red Cross
Mr. T Raja Kumar
Former President
Financial Action Taskforce
Mr. Idriss Mounir Lallali
Ag. Director
African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre (AUCTC)
Dr. Erin McFee
Founder & President
Corioli Institute
Ms Mary Ana McGlasson
Associate Professor
Deakin University- Centre for Humanitarian Leadership
Mr. John Miller
Chief of Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst
CNN
Dr. Ibrahim Natil
Associate Professor of IR and Diplomacy
Joaan Bin Jassim Academy
Mr. Wassim Nasr
Journalist and Middle East Specialist, France 24; Senior Research Fellow, The Soufan Center
Dr. Ilan Pappe
Director
The European Center for Palestine Studies and of the Nakba Memorial Foundation
The Right Hon. Mark Pritchard MP
Member of UK Parliament and Vice President OSCE PA
Organisation for Security & Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly
Ms. Anjana Rajan
Former Assistant National Cyber Director
The White House
Dr. Thomas Renard
Director
International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT)
Prof. Candace Rondeaux
Senior Director
Future Frontlines and Planetary Politics, New America; Professor of Practice, Future Security Initiative, Arizona State University
Dr. Daniel Rothenberg
Professor
Future Security Initiative, Arizona State University; Senior Fellow, New America
Ms. Maysaa Shujaa Al Deen
Senior Researcher
Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies
Mr. Leonardo Santos Simao
Under Secretary General and Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations for West Africa and the Sahel
United Nations
Ms. Mariam Shahin
Writer and Documentary Filmmaker
Dr. Clayton Swisher
President
Swisher Empirical Studies
Prof. Harmonie Toros
Professor in Politics and International Relations
University of Reading
Mr. Patrick Tucker
Science and Tech Editor
Defense One
Dr. Ali Vaez
Senior Advisor to the President
International Crisis Group
Ms. Jenifer Vaughan
Spokesperson/Senior Media Adviser
UN Special Envoy for Syria
Ms. Rebecca Weiner
Deputy Commissioner, Intelligence & Counterterrorism
New York City Police Department (NYPD)
Dr. Munir Zamir
Strategic Engagement Director
M+C Saatchi World Services - Middle East