At the Conference
2025 Scheduled Speakers at NY-A
Each year we are privileged to host an array of speakers at our NMUN conferences.
We encourage all delegates, faculty, and guests to take advantage of these unique educational opportunities.
Additional speakers will be added to this page as they are confirmed.
Keynote Speakers
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced on 27 October 2023 the appointment of Felipe Paullier of Uruguay as the first Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs. The United Nations Youth Office was established by the General Assembly to lead the engagement and advocacy for the advancement of youth issues across the United Nations and to promote the meaningful, inclusive and effective engagement of youth, youth-led and youth-focused organizations in the work of the United Nations.
The Secretary-General wishes to extend his appreciation to Jayathma Wickramanayake of Sri Lanka, who has served as the Envoy on Youth since June 2017.
Ms. Wickramanayake’s pivotal role in spearheading Youth 2030: The UN Youth Strategy stands as a testament to her extraordinary efforts in mainstreaming young people’s voices in the work of the UN, especially in decision-making. Her contributions, including her instrumental role in setting up the UN Youth Office, have been invaluable in bringing the voices of youth to the forefront of our mission, inspiring change and hope for future generations.
Dr. Paullier is currently the Director General of the National Youth Institute of Uruguay, a position he has held since 2020. He previously served in various political management positions, including as Deputy Mayor in the Municipality of the CH jurisdiction of Montevideo (2015-2020) and Alternate Counsellor in the Montevideo Departmental Legislative Court (2010-2015). He served as a Clinical Doctor and Paediatric Resident Physician at Pereira Rossell Paediatric Hospital (2017-2020), a Medical Intern in the Administración Nacional de Servicios de Salud del Estado (2015-2016) and as a Research Assistant in the Clinical Research Organization, BdBeq CRO (2012-2014).
Dr. Paullier is a medical doctor specialized in paediatrics. He graduated from the School of Medicine of the Universidad de la Republica Oriental de Uruguay and is currently completing a Master in Business Administration at the Universidad Católica de Uruguay. He is fluent in English and Spanish.
Source: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/profiles/felipe-paullier
H.E. Mr Olivier Maes took up the position of Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the United Nations in New York on 15 July 2021. Before this appointment, Mr. Maes was Director for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg since 1 September 2017.
He was Deputy Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the United Nations in New York from 27 August 2010 to 31 August 2017, a period that included the country’s term as a non-permanent member of the Security Council in 2013-2014.
He was Luxembourg’s Deputy Representative to the Political and Security Committee of the European Union in Brussels from 15 August 2006 to 31 October 2007, after serving as Politico-Military Counsellor and Chair of the Politico-Military Group of the European Union from 1 September 2003 to 14 August 2006.
From 6 April 1999 to 31 August 2003, he was Attaché, Second Secretary and First Secretary in charge of the management of Luxembourg’s official development assistance and cooperation with non-governmental organizations in the Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Maes received a post-graduate diploma from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) in France in 1998, where he undertook a comparative study of democratic transitions in post-communist Europe. He previously received diplomas in political and social sciences from Sciences Po and from the Freie Universität Berlin in Germany in 1996 and 1997.
Born on 23 January 1974 in Nancy, France, he is married to a United Nations staff interpreter and they have two children.
Mara's core competencies include program design and development, organizational capacity strengthening, and multi-sectoral partnership cultivation and collaboration. She has a strong focus on youth workforce development, education, employability, and empowerment. She has successfully managed a diverse portfolio of youth programs in collaboration with partners such as the World Bank, USAID, OCP Foundation, Hilton, Samsung, JP Morgan, Saudi Aramco, the King Khalid Foundation, and hundreds of local NGOs and community-based organizations across the MENA region. Mara brings Arabic language skills and a deep knowledge of the MENA region to UNRWA USA.
She is passionate about advancing the rights and dignity of, and opportunities for, Palestine refugees and promoting a peaceful and prosperous future for the MENA region.
Source: https://www.unrwausa.org/our-people
Delegate Seminar 1:
The Rest of the Story – UNRWA's Work and Next Steps
Delegates, Head Delegates, Faculty, and Guests without a Mission Briefing at this time are encouraged to attend.
Monday, 7 April, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
3rd Floor Hilton Hotel - Trianon Ballroom
Join our keynote speaker from the Opening Ceremony, Mara Kronenfeld, as she delves more deeply into the work of UNRWA USA. There will be time for Q&A.
Mara's core competencies include program design and development, organizational capacity strengthening, and multi-sectoral partnership cultivation and collaboration. She has a strong focus on youth workforce development, education, employability, and empowerment. She has successfully managed a diverse portfolio of youth programs in collaboration with partners such as the World Bank, USAID, OCP Foundation, Hilton, Samsung, JP Morgan, Saudi Aramco, the King Khalid Foundation, and hundreds of local NGOs and community-based organizations across the MENA region. Mara brings Arabic language skills and a deep knowledge of the MENA region to UNRWA USA.
She is passionate about advancing the rights and dignity of, and opportunities for, Palestine refugees and promoting a peaceful and prosperous future for the MENA region.
Source: https://www.unrwausa.org/our-people
Delegate Seminar 2:
Career Opportunities at the UN Secretariat
Discovering the YPP: Alumni Voices and Experiences
Delegates, Head Delegates, Faculty, and Guests without a Mission Briefing at this time are encouraged to attend.
Monday, 7 April, 10:45 – 11:45 p.m.
3rd Floor Hilton Hotel - Trianon Ballroom
The United Nations Secretariat's Office of Human Resources warmly invites you to a special session featuring alumni from the Young Professionals Programme (YPP). This is a unique opportunity to hear directly from individuals who have successfully navigated their way into impactful roles within the UN.
Highlights of the Session:
- Experiences Shared by YPP Alumni: Learn firsthand about the challenges and successes of securing a position at the UN from YPP alumni hailing from various regions around the globe.
- Other Entry Points into the UN: Explore briefly the multiple pathways for joining the UN, including direct applications, the JPO Programme, and registration in the UN Global Talent Pool.
- Live Q&A: Have your questions answered during a live Q&A segment, allowing for a deeper understanding and personal interaction with former YPP participants.
We're waiting to welcome you to this enriching session!
Our YPP alumni are eagerly looking forward to speaking with you, ready to share their invaluable experiences and insights. Don't miss this opportunity to connect and be inspired by their journeys.
Mahmoud Almasri, an Associate Human Resources Officer at the United Nations, specializes in data analytics to enhance diversity and inclusion. His work is informed by his diverse heritage and personal experiences, including fleeing Syria in 2012, winning merit-based full scholarship, and joining the UN through Young Professional Programme. Mahmoud is committed to creating a more equitable world.
Ahmed Toraif, from the Kingdom of Bahrain, is an Associate Human Resources Officer in the Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance at the UN Secretariat. He is serving his initial appointment as part of the Young Professionals Programme (YPP), after successfully passing the examination cycle in the Social Affairs, Social Policy and Development.
Ahmed has a strong background in policy and data analysis, and internal and external communications. He holds an MSc in International Social and Public Policy from the LSE and is passionate about progressive policies that are centered on the material improvement of people's lives and prospects.
All Faculty Interactive Workshop:
Best Practices in Teaching MUN Speeches Faculty Workshop
All Faculty are encouraged to attend.
Monday, 7 April, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
2nd Floor, Hilton Hotel - Morgan
We invite newer and more experienced faculty to an interactive session where some of the peer authors of a forthcoming MUN textbook will facilitate a workshop on ways to teach students how to write and deliver MUN speeches. This will include a short author-led talk on pedagogical approaches and lesson plans, small group breakouts, and a chance for all faculty to share best practices. This workshop is the first in what NMUN hopes is a series of workshops that embraces the short course style used at conferences on the scholarship of teaching and learning. This workshop will include a presentation by Cale Crammer from Santiago Canyon College and be moderated by Chris Haynes from the University of New Haven. Breakout facilitators will include Eric Cox from Texas Christian University, Sarah Duryea from University Erfurt, Joe Scollo from the University of New Haven, and Tina Zappile from Stockton University. Come share your experiences and be a mentor and/or a mentee, gaining additional ideas, approaches, and materials to enhance student learning. The upcoming textbook is entitled Model United Nations: Building Essential Skills for MUN and Beyond (Cognella) and is due for release in August 2025.
Karen J. Vogel Faculty Seminar:
An Insider's Guide to the UN
Faculty, Guests, and Head Delegates not assigned to a committee are encouraged to attend.
Tuesday, 8 April, 3:00-4:00 p.m.
2nd Floor, Hilton Hotel - Morgan
This fireside chat with journalist and author Linda Fasulo is back by popular demand. Join us as Tina Zappile from Stockton University interviews Linda and asks probing questions about pertinent issues before the UN. If you're interested in better understanding the complex world of the United Nations, especially given the current world situation, this seminar is for you! Come learn, from an insider, how the UN works and doesn't work, its strengths and weakness, who the key players are, and how things get done. Linda represents NPR News at the UN as an Independent Correspondent and is author of An Insider's Guide to the UN. There will be time for Q&A.
