At the Conference
2026 Scheduled Speakers at NY-B
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
Melissa Fleming was appointed UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications in September 2019. She leads the UN’s Department of Global Communications, which informs global audiences about the state of the world and engages them to build support for the work and goals of the United Nations.
In this role, Ms. Fleming oversees the Department’s strategic and crisis communications operations, including its multilingual news and digital media services, public outreach programmes, and global campaigns. Under her leadership, the UN Department of Global Communications developed the UN Global Principles for Information Integrity, a blueprint for healthy information ecosystems.
Previously, Ms. Fleming served 10 years at the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) as Spokesperson for the High Commissioner and Head of Global Communications. Prior to that, she was the Spokesperson and Head of Media and Outreach at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). She earlier headed Press and Public Information at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and before that, served as Public Affairs Specialist at Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty. She also worked as a journalist.
Ms. Fleming is a TED speaker, the author of the book, A Hope More Powerful than the Sea, and the host of the award-winning UN podcast, Awake at Night. She has published widely on strategic communications and is a frequent public speaker at universities and conferences.
She holds a Master of Science in Journalism from the College of Communication, Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts in German Studies from Oberlin College.
Source: https://www.un.org/en/department-global-communications/head-of-department
Ambassador Mike Waltz was sworn in as the 32nd U.S. Representative to the United Nations on September 20, 2025. Ambassador Waltz is a Colonel in the U.S. Army, a combat-decorated Special Forces officer, the former National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump, a former Congressman and small business owner, an author, and a proud father.
In 2018, Waltz became the first Green Beret to be elected to Congress. In this role, he served as a subcommittee Chairman on the House Armed Services Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, and Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Waltz served in this capacity until he was sworn in as President Trump’s National Security Advisor on January 20th, 2025.
The Ambassador has served his country his entire life. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute with Honors, has served over 26 years in the U.S. Army, retiring at the rank of Colonel. After being commissioned as an Army lieutenant, Ambassador Waltz graduated Ranger School and was selected for the elite Green Berets, serving worldwide as a Special Forces officer with multiple combat tours in Afghanistan, the Middle East and Africa. For his actions in combat, he was awarded four Bronze Stars, including two for Valor.
Ambassador Waltz’s leadership continued in the Pentagon as a defense policy director for two Secretaries of Defense. He then went on to serve in the White House as a senior policy advisor. The Ambassador’s experiences as a soldier and a policy staffer inspired him to write the book, “Warrior Diplomat: A Green Beret’s Battles from Washington to Afghanistan,” and USA Today Bestseller “Hard Truths: Think and Lead Like a Green Beret,” the proceeds of both continue to benefit veterans charities.
After serving in active duty and before being elected to Congress, Ambassador Waltz proudly built a small business that quickly grew to over 400 employees and was repeatedly listed in the Inc. 500 index as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America.
As a former Fox News Channel contributor, the Ambassador provided expert commentary on foreign policy, defense, and business issues to viewers around the world.
Ambassador Waltz has a daughter in college and a baby boy. He is married to Dr. Julia Nesheiwat, a combat veteran who served in the first Trump administration as his Homeland Security Advisor.
Source: https://www.un.org/en/department-global-communications/head-of-department
Delegate Seminar 1:
Navigating Negotiations on Women’s Rights at the UN
Delegates, Head Delegates, Faculty, and Guests without a Mission Briefing at this time are encouraged to attend.
Tuesday, 7 April, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
3rd Floor Hilton Hotel - Trianon Ballroom
Join us at this interactive session. We will hear from Stéphanie Toschi, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the UN. She will share her experiences and insights on how negotiations on women’s rights at the United Nations actually occur. Attendees will be encouraged to share their thoughts and ask questions during the Q&A session.
Delegate Seminar 2:
Career Opportunities at the UN Secretariat
Delegates, Head Delegates, Faculty, and Guests without a Mission Briefing at this time are encouraged to attend.
Tuesday, 7 April, 10:45 – 11:45 a.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.
All Faculty Interactive Workshop:
Best Practices in AI Use at NMUN
All Faculty are encouraged to attend.
Tuesday, 7 April, 3:00-4:30 p.m.
2nd Floor, Hilton Hotel - Morgan
Join your colleagues for this faculty panel discussion on the promises and challenges of AI use at NMUN from a faculty perspective. Efforts will be made to not only share the newly formulated NMUN policy but to also identify challenges and improvements. We hope to brainstorm and share best practice solutions. Panelists and audience members will be encouraged to share their ideas.
Karen J. Vogel Faculty Seminar:
From Machetes to Algorithms: Patterns, Predictions, and the Prevention of Genocide in the Modern World
Faculty, Guests, and Head Delegates not assigned to a committee are encouraged to attend.
Wednesday, 8 April, 3:00-4:00 p.m.
2nd Floor, Hilton Hotel - Morgan
Join Zachary A. Karazsia for an interactive discussion on his recent book, Genocide in the Modern Age: State-Society Relations in the Making of Mass Political Violence (published with the Routledge Studies in Genocide and Crimes against Humanity series). He will address: does the rise of artificial intelligence and global surveillance technologies represent a fundamental shift in the nature of genocide and mass political violence atrocities? Or will these tools simply be new manifestations of an age-old scourge? This interactive seminar will examine some of the disturbing trends that have emerged over the last 125 years by drawing on historical and contemporary case studies from his recent book and on-going research. It will conclude with a brief discussion of the prospect of genocide and mass political violence in the digital age. Join the conversation by preparing your questions in advance for the Q&A portion.
