The Ambassador Series
The Ambassador Series is a showcase hosted by the United Nations Association of New York, offering a unique opportunity for UNA members and the public at large to engage with these distinguished players on the international stage, as they share their perspectives and insights from the wealth of their experience in diplomatic practice and accomplishment.
What is an Ambassador?
An ambassador is a country’s highest-ranking diplomatic representative abroad, entrusted with promoting and protecting their nation’s interests in foreign capitals. They serve as the official voice of their government, navigating complex international issues — from peace and security to trade, human rights, and environmental cooperation — through negotiation, diplomacy, and strategic engagement. Ambassadors lead their diplomatic missions, coordinate their teams, and build trust with foreign governments to find constructive, mutually acceptable solutions to global challenges. Their role demands deep policy expertise, diplomatic skill, and a strong commitment to ethical conduct.
What is a Permanent Representative?
A Permanent Representative holds ambassadorial rank but is accredited not to a government, but to an international organization such as the United Nations. These officials — often called “UN ambassadors” — serve as their country’s chief voice within the UN system.
At the United Nations, Permanent Representatives play a central role in shaping global policy and decision-making. They regularly report back to their home governments on UN developments, advocate for national positions on resolutions and budgets, and engage in negotiations that influence international cooperation and action.
The Ambassador Series
The Ambassador Series is a signature UNA-NYC program that brings seasoned diplomatic leaders to the community for in-depth conversations about global affairs. Through these events, members and the public have the rare opportunity to hear firsthand from ambassadors and Permanent Representatives who shape international policy and practice. These discussions illuminate the art of diplomacy, the complexity of global challenges, and the strategic thinking required to balance national and universal interests. We invite you to join these presentations, bringing your questions and curiosity, to gain insight into why these diplomatic voices matter and how their work impacts our shared world.
____
Read "Qualifications of an Ambassador" by Ambassador Francis de Laboulaye
THE AMBASSADOR SERIES | PAST INVITATIONS
2 0 2 6
January 26
Ambassador Ibrahim Olabi
Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations
2 0 2 5
September 29
H.E. Stan Oduma Smith
Permanent Representative of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas to the United Nations
May 13
H.E. Jérôme Bonnafont
Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations
March 11
H.E. Lise Gregoire-van Haaren
Permanent Representative of Netherlands to the United Nations
2 0 2 4
June 3
The Honorable Robert Rae
Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations
2 0 2 3
November 15
H.E. Mr. Osama Abdelkhalek
Permanent Representative of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the UN
May 24
H.E. Ambassador Elina Kalkku
Permanent Representative of Finland to the United Nations
2 0 2 0
July 29
THE AMBASSADOR SERIES | SPECIAL EDITION
The Virtual UN:
Innovation and Remote Diplomacy in the Era of Covid19
H.E. Ambassador Mari Skåre
Chef de Cabinet to the President of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly
Mr. Atul Khare
Under-Secretary-General for UN Operational Support
H.E. Ambassador Katalin Bogyay
Permanent Representative of Hungary to the UN
H.E. Ambassador Kaha Imnadze
Permanent Representative of Georgia to the UN
March 3
Ambassador Adela Raz
Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the UN
2 0 1 9
November 6
Ambassador Maria Theofili
Permanent Representative of Greece to the UN
May 20
Ambassador Valentine Rugwabiza
Permanent Representative of the Rwanda to the UN
2 0 1 8
October 24
Ambassador Karen Pierce
Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the UN
May 29
Ambassador Christoph Heusgen
Permanent Representative of Germany to the UN
January 17
Ambassador Cho Tae-yul
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the UN
2 0 1 7
June 14
Ambassador François Delattre
Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations
2 0 1 6
February 23
Ambassador Rodolfo Reyes Rodríguez
Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations
2 0 1 5
November 19
THE AMBASSADOR SERIES | SPECIAL EDITION
Prevent, Combat, and Eradicate:
Illegal Trade in Wildlife
Ambassador Charles Thembani Ntwaagae
Permanent Representative of Botswana to the UN
Ambassador Heiko Thoms
Deputy Permanent Representative of Germany to the UN
Deputy Do Hung Viet
Deputy Permanent Representative of the Mission of Viet Nam to the UN
May 13
THE AMBASSADOR SERIES | SPECIAL EDITION
Southeast Asia in the International Arena
Ambassador Kyaw Tin
Permanent Representative of Myanmar to the United Nations
Ambassador Desra Percaya
Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the United Nations
Ambassador Karen Tan
Permanent Representative of Singapore to the United Nations
2 0 1 4
October 1
Ambassador Mary Elizabeth Flores Flake
Permanent Representative of Honduras to the United Nations
April 21
Ambassador Thomas R. Pickering
U.S. Ambassador to Russia, India, Israel, El Salvador, Nigeria, and Jordan
January 14
Ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo
U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations
2 0 1 3
March 14
Ambassador Masood Khan
Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations
January 14
Ambassador Christopher R. Hill
U.S. Ambassador to Irag, Republic of Korea, Poland, and Macedonia
2 0 1 2
March 28
THE AMBASSADOR SERIES | SPECIAL EDITION
A Modern Evolution: The Role of the EU in Global Affairs
Ambassador Thomas Mayr-Harting
Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations
Ambassador Anne Anderson
Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations
Ambassador Luis Alfonso de Alba Góngora
Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations
Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri
Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations
Ambassador Carsten Staur
Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations
January 24
Ambassador Namik Tan
Turkish Ambassador to the United States
2 0 1 1
September 14
Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti
Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations
February 17
Ambassador Vanu Gopala Menon
Permanent Representative of Singapore to the United Nations
2 0 1 0
June 10
Ambassador Cesare Ragaglini
Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations
2 0 0 9
May 28
Ambassador T. Hamid Al-Bayati
Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations
February 19
Ambassador Gabriela Shalev
Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations
2 0 0 8
December 3
Ambassador Heraldo Munoz
Permanent Representative of Chile to the United Nations
October 29
Ambassador Maged A. Abdelaziz
Permanent Representative of Egypt to the United Nations
April 9
Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad
United States Ambassador to the United Nations
2 0 0 7
June 11
H.E. Mr. Dan Gillerman
Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations
January 18
Ambassador Martin Palous
Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the United Nations
2 0 0 6
December 14
Ambassador Ellen Margrethe Løj
Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations
March 1
Ambassador Munir Akram
Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations
May 25
Ambassador Gunter Pleuger
Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations
2 0 0 5
February 17
Ambassador Judith Mbula Bahemuka
Permanent Representative of Kenya to the United Nations
January 12
Ambassador Ahmad Kamal
President and CEO, Ambassadors Club at the United Nations
2 0 0 4
September 27
Ambassador Allan Rock
Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations
2 0 0 3
January 16
Ambassador Richard N. Gardner
Former U.S. Ambassador to Italy and Spain
