Pre-event – Thursday, 17th November 2022

Venue: Radisson Golden Sands, Mellieha

The pre-event is dedicated to discussions among policy communities and groups. The programme has been developed in consultation with each policy community.

Track 1: Meeting for Tech Envoys and Ambassadors (by invitation only)

[Room: BR4]

The meeting will take stock of current digital policy processes and reflect on key opportunities and challenges affecting the work of cyber and tech ambassadors (and envoys and other key officials with responsibility for digital issues).

10:00 – 10:30 Welcome

• Dr Jovan Kurbalija, Executive Director DiploFoundation
• Mr Amandeep Singh Gill, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology
• Amb. Balz Abplanalp, Swiss Tech Ambassador in San Francisco
• Amb. Andre Xuereb, Malta’s Digital Ambassador

10:30 – 12:00 Roundtable and discussion on digital geopolitics

• Mr Ljupco Gjorgjinski, frm Chair of the GGE on lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS)
• Mr Vladimir Radunovic, Cybersecurity Director, DiploFoundation

12:00 – 13:00 Networking lunch

13:00 – 14:00 Roundtable and discussion on tech diplomacy

• Mr Martin Rauchbauer, frm Austrian Tech Ambassador in Silicon Valley
• Ms Pavlina Ittelson, Executive Director DiploUS

14:00 – 14:30 Closing

19:00 Departure to Mgarr

19:30 – 21:30 Dinner

Track 2: Meeting on the Future of Online Learning & Diplomatic Training (by invitation only)

[Room: BR3]

11:30 – 12:00 Welcome

• Dr Jovan Kurbalija, Executive Director DiploFoundation

12:00 – 13:00 Networking lunch

13:00 – 15:00 Roundtable and discussion on the future of online learning

• Mr Andrej Skrinjaric, Educational Programmes Director, DiploFoundation

15:00 – 15:30 Closing and group photo of Diplo’s Faculty

19:00 Departure to Mgarr

19:30 – 21:30 Dinner

Day 1 – Friday, 18th November 2022

Venue: Radisson Golden Sands, Mellieha

08:30 – 09:00 Welcome coffee and registration

09:00 – 09:30 High-level opening

[Room: BR1]

• Hon. Ian Borg, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta
• Mr Amandeep Singh Gill, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology
• Mr Brad Smith, President of Microsoft (video-message)

09:30 – 10:15 Setting the scene: The three pillars of digital diplomacy

The role of diplomacy in the digital era is changing: from geopolitical and societal changes in the environment where diplomacy operates, to new issues on diplomatic agendas, to new digital tools aiding the work of diplomats.

This session will set the scene: In light of fast technological advancements, what does the future hold for diplomacy?

• Dr Jovan Kurbalija, Executive Director, DiploFoundation

10:15 – 10:45 Conference photo and coffee break

10:45 – 12:30 Digital governance and cooperation: Towards a Global Digital Compact

[Room: BR1]

Digital governance topics – from privacy and cybersecurity, to e-commerce and data and AI – are firmly prominent on the agendas of the UN, G7, G20, and other diplomatic meetings.

One of the main UN processes relates to the Global Digital Compact, an initiative launched by the UN Secretary-General in 2021, which will outline shared principles for an open, free and secure digital future for all, and which will be agreed at the UN Summit of the Future in 2024.

The session will be an important open consultation on the Compact, which will be facilitated by the UN Tech Envoy. It will reflect on the issues and shared principles which should be addressed by the Compact, and how the diplomatic community can address them.

10:45 – 11:00 Introduction

• Mr Amandeep Singh Gill, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology

11:00 – 11:45 Round-table consultations

#1 Connectivity and accessibility: Two sides of the same coin?

• Mr Danko Jevtovic, Vice-Chair of the Board, ICANN
• Ms Pavlina Ittelson, Executive Director, DiploUS
• Ms Mwende Njiraini, African initiative coordinator, DiploFoundation
• Online consultations: Ms Virginia (Ginger) Paque, Internet Governance and E-diplomacy Coordinator, DiploFoundation

#2 Governing data: Are data spaces an answer to fostering trust, and what guidelines should be in place?

• Amb. Benedikt Wechsler, Head of Division for Digitalisation, Swiss FDFA
• Ms Marilia Maciel, Head of Digital Commerce and Internet Policy, DiploFoundation
• Online consultations: Ms Katarina Bojović, Head of Knowledge Ecology, DiploFoundation
  

#3 AI and other emerging technologies: Innovation or regulation?

• Mr Ljupco Gjorgjinski, frm Chair of the GGE on lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS)
• Ms Ayisha Piotti, Director of AI Policy, ETH Zurich, and Managing Partner, RegHorizon
• Dr Katharina Höne, Director of Research, DiploFoundation
• Online consultations: Ms Anja Dajic, Researcher, AI and Data Lab, DiploFoundation
  

#4 Children and future generations: How can we protect their rights?

• Mr Amandeep Singh Gill, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology
• Mr Ruichuan Yu, Research and Knowledge Management, UNICEF
• Ms Su Sonia Herring, Digital Media and Communications Editor, DiploFoundation
• Online consultations: Mr Yung-Hsuan Wu, Researcher, DiploFoundation

#5 Building capacities and skills: How can a culture of capacity development be incorporated into institutions’ work?

• Amb. Mabel Gomez Oliver, Ambassador of Mexico to Morocco
• Amb. Milan Jazbec, Ambassador, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, and professor of diplomacy
• Mr Andrej Skrinjaric, Educational Programmes Director, DiploFoundation
• Online consultations: Ms Slavica Karajicic, Researcher, DiploFoundation
  

#6 Values and principles: What other issues should the Compact address?

• Dr Walter Fust, frm Ambassador and Director General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
• Mr Lee Hibbard, Bioethics Unit, Council of Europe
• Mr Ammar Hamadien, Senior Advisor, Digital Cooperation Organization
  
• Ms Sorina Teleanu, Director of Knowledge, DiploFoundation
• Online consultations: Ms Andrijana Gavrilovic, Editor, Digital Watch, and Head of Diplomatic and Policy Reporting, DiploFoundation

11:45 – 12:25 Plenary discussion

Moderator:

• Dr Tereza Horejsova, Board Member, Diplo US

12:30 – 13:30 Networking lunch (outdoors weather-permitting)

13:30 – 14:45 Diplomatic processes: The state of play in negotiations

Digital policy topics are negotiated in multiple digital governance processes. For instance, cybersecurity is tackled at the UN and other multilateral working groups. E-commerce negotiations at multilateral and plurilateral fora are often a reflection of what is negotiated in agreements on a regional level. The development of AI principles are often initiated by the private sector.

This session will reflect on the latest policy processes and their current state of play.

Break-out sessions

#1 Cybersecurity: What’s happening at the UN General Assembly’s First and Third Committees, the Open-ended Working Group, and the Programme of Action, and how are developing countries participating in the process? [Room: BR3]

• Mr Isaac Morales Tenorio, Coordinator for Multidimensional Security, MFA Mexico
• Dr Albert Antwi-Boasiako, Director General, Cyber Security Authority, Ghana
• Dr Katherine Getao, frm ICT Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications, Kenya
• Mr Vladimir Radunovic, Director of Cybersecurity and E-diplomacy

#2 E-commerce and trade: How is the landscape of trade agreements changing? [Room BR4]

• Ms Marion Jansen, Director of the Trade and Agriculture Directorate, OECD
• Ms Marilia Maciel, Head of Digital Commerce and Internet Policy, DiploFoundation

#3 Digital development: How can diplomacy facilitate holistic digital inclusion towards the realisation of Agenda 2030? [Room: Swizzles]

• Dr Raymond Saner, Titular Professor at Basel University, Switzerland
• Ms Nanjira Simbuli, Researcher, policy analyst, and strategist
• Dr Katharina Höne, Director of Research, DiploFoundation

14:45 – 15:15 Coffee break (outdoors weather-permitting)

15:15 – 16:25 Emerging technologies: New issues on diplomatic agendas

[Room: BR1]

Advanced technologies are developing fast, fuelling unprecedented opportunities and creating risks. They are also bringing to light old and new issues that will affect their future development, and the impact of technology on society and future generations.

The session will be dedicated to emerging issues, their impact on humanity, and how actors need to approach the fast developments in technology.

Round-tables:

#1 Metaverse: Old wine in new bottles?

• Mr Boris Begovic, Researcher, DiploFoundation
• Ms Andrijana Gavrilovic, Editor, Digital Watch, and Head of Diplomatic and Policy Reporting, DiploFoundation

#2 Cryptocurrencies and fintech: What can governments do to prepare for the digitalisation of the global economy? Are we crypto-ready?

• Ms Hanane Boujemi, Public Policy, Regulatory Affairs MENAT, Meta
• Mr Arvin Kamberi, Crypto expert, DiploFoundation

#3 Getting ready for quantum computing: Innovation or regulation?

• Amb. Prof. Andre Xuereb, Malta’s Digital Ambassador
• Ms Sorina Teleanu, Director of Knowledge, DiploFoundation

#4 Enabling safety, security and accountability: What are the trade-offs?

• Dr Katherine Getao, frm ICT Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications, Kenya
• Dr Albert Antwi-Boasiako, Director General, Cyber Security Authority, Ghana
• Mr Vladimir Radunovic, Director of Cybersecurity and E-diplomacy, DiploFoundation

#5 Ethics and values: How are emerging technologies redefining the core social and ethical pillars of humanity?

• Mr Lee Hibbard, Bioethics Unit, Council of Europe
• Amb. Thomas Schneider, Director of International Affairs, Swiss Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM)
• Dr Jovan Kurbalija, Executive Director, DiploFoundation

#6 Science and tech diplomacy: How are emerging technologies impacting the practice of diplomacy?

• Amb. Alexandre Fasel, Special Representative for Science Diplomacy, Swiss FDFA
• Mr Martin Rauchbauer, frm Austrian Tech Ambassador in Silicon Valley
• Dr Katharina Höne, Director of Research, DiploFoundation

16:30 – 17:00 High-level address: Towards inclusive and informed digital diplomacy

Keynote by:

• H.E. Ignazio Cassis, President of the Swiss Confederation

Speakers:

• Hon. Moctar Yedaly, Minister of Digital Transformation and Innovation, Mauritania
• Ms Olga Algayerova, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
• Mr Amandeep Singh Gill, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology
• Dr Jovan Kurbalija, Executive Director, DiploFoundation

19:00 Departure to Mdina

19:30 – 21:30 Dinner

Day 2 – Saturday, 19th November 2022

08:30 Departure to Aula Magna, University of Malta (Valletta Campus), Valletta

09:30 – 10:30 How can we prepare diplomats for 2032 and beyond?

[Room: Aula Magna]

Today’s diplomats will act substantively differently in 2032. There are many ‘known unknowns’ of 2032. It is certain that AI will automate many ‘white collar’ jobs. The session will focus on various questions on the topic, including: Which diplomatic functions will survive automation? Can we expect to be negotiating with ‘robot diplomats’ in the near future? Will consular services be fully automated? What role will other technologies and applications – virtual reality, metaverse, etc. – play in the conduct of diplomacy? Ultimately, what should we teach today’s students and young diplomats in order to prepare them for the uncertainties of the world after 2030?

Panelists:

• Hon. Moctar Yedaly, Minister of Digital Transformation and Innovation, Mauritania
• Ms Olga Algayerova, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
• Mr Rodney Taylor, Secretary General, Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU)
• Amb. Mabel Gomez Oliver, Ambassador of Mexico to Morocco
• Amb. Amr Aljowaily, Strategic Advisor to the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC)
• Amb. Christopher Lamb, Former Australian Ambassador and Humanitarian Diplomacy Head, IFRC
• Chair for ‘Future Generations’

Moderator:

• Dr Jovan Kurbalija, Executive Director, DiploFoundation

10:30 – 11:00 Coffee break

11:00 – 12:00 Walking tour of Valletta

12:00 – 14:00 Departure to Radisson Golden Sands, Mellieha; seated lunch at the conference venue

14:00 – 14:15 Plenary session preceding three-pillar How-to sessions

[Room BR1]

14:15 – 14:45 How-to sessions – Part I

Break-out sessions

#1 Digital geopolitics: How can we identify strategic trends in technological developments while avoiding pitfalls and hype? [Room: BR3]

• Dr Moritz Vischer, Engineer and Product Manager, Aerospace defence
• Dr Katherine Getao, frm ICT Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications, Kenya
• Ms Sorina Teleanu, Director of Knowledge, DiploFoundation
  

#2 Digital topics: How are countries and the private sector collaborating to tackle the spread of disinformation, hate speech, and other types of unwanted content? [Room BR4]

• Amb. Thomas Schneider, Director of International Affairs, Swiss Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM)
• Mr Richard Werly, Europe Columnist, Blick
• Ms Pavlina Ittelson, Executive Director, DiploUS

#3 Digital tools: How can we ensure effective use of social media, and other emerging online spaces such as the metaverse, in diplomacy? [Room: Swizzles]

• Mr Matthias Lüfkens, Founder and CEO, DigiTips
• Mr Mark McDowell, Country Representative (Myanmar), The Asia Foundation
• Mr Andreas Sandre, Author of Digital Diplomacy and Twitter for Diplomats
• Mr Dylan Farrell, Communications Manager, DiploFoundation

14:45 – 15:15 How-to sessions – Part II

Break-out sessions

#1 Digital geopolitics: How can we deal with risks in the fast-changing world? [Room: BR3]

• Dr Anja Grujovic-Vischer, Economist and Emerging Risk Manager
• Mr Vladimir Radunovic, Cybersecurity Director, DiploFoundation

#2 Digital topics: How can diplomatic negotiations contribute to speeding up the Agenda 2030? [Room: BR4]

• Ms Olga Algayerova, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
• Ms Pavlina Ittelson, Executive Director, DiploUS

#3 Digital tools: How can we organise, manage, and chair hybrid meetings more effectively? [Room: Swizzles]

• Ms Maja Carrieri, Director, Governance Services, World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
• Amb. Amr Aljowaily, Strategic Advisor to the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC)
• Dr Katharina Höne, Director of Research, DiploFoundation

15:15 – 15:45 How-to sessions – Part III

Break-out sessions

#1 Digital geopolitics: How can small and developing countries navigate the emerging digital ‘bipolar world’? [Room: BR3]

• Mr Rodney Taylor, Secretary General, Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU)
• Dr Corinne Casha, Assistant Director Global Issues, Malta’s Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade (MFET)

#2 Digital topics: How should we negotiate digital commons and public goods? [Room: BR4]

• Dr Alex Sceberras Trigona, Permanent Representative of Malta to the World Trade Organization (WTO)
• Dr Jérôme Bellion-Jourdan, Special Coordinator for Negotiation Teaching in MINT, Geneva Graduate Institute
• Dr Jovan Kurbalija, Executive Director, DiploFoundation

#3 Digital tools: How can data and AI be used to enhance diplomatic practice, including strategic planning and diplomatic foresight? [Room: Swizzles]

• Dr Charlotte Lindberg Warakaulle, Director of International Relations, CERN
• Ms Katarina Bojović, Head of Knowledge Ecology, DiploFoundation
• Dr Jovan Njegić, Head of AI, DiploFoundation

15:45 – 16:00 Coffee break

16:00 – 16:30 Plenary wrap-up and final messages

[Room BR1]

19:00 – 21:00 Anniversary reception (Radisson Golden Sands, Mellieha)