A presentation of the United Nations Association of New York,
the Columbia University Club Foundation,
and the Columbia University Club of New York
The Ambassador Series
His Excellency Ibrahim Olabi
Ambassador
Permanent Representative of Syrian Arab Republic to the UN
in conversation with
Stéphanie Fillion
French Canadian reporter on foreign affairs based at the UN
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Monday, 12 January 2026 | 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
6:00 to 6:30 p.m. | Registration
6:30 to 7:30 p.m. | Discussion
7:30 to 8:30 p.m. | Reception
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The Penn Club of New York
30 West 44th Street
New York, NY 10036
Admission $30
Including wine and cheese reception
* This is a UNA Members Only Event *
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As venue capacity is limited, early registration is encouraged.
Event admission is final, there will be no refunds.
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Registration for this event coming soon
For the next event in our acclaimed Ambassador Series, we welcome H.E. Ambassador Ibrahim Olabi, who became the Syrian Arab Republic’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in August 2025. A British-educated lawyer and human-rights professional, Ambassador Olabi represents a generational shift within Syria’s diplomatic corps under the new government. His first major address to the UN Security Council in September 2025 underscored Syria’s effort to reengage with the international community and chart a new path forward.
In early December 2025, Ambassador Olabi welcomed a full United Nations Security Council delegation to Damascus — the first such visit in fourteen years — which he described as a “historic moment” and a clear signal of international recognition of Syria’s evolving trajectory. He further emphasized that the visit, and the growing consensus among Council members, mark a turning point from years of division toward a unified approach that supports reconstruction, stabilization, and renewed sovereignty.
Please join us this evening for what promises to be a highly informative and timely discussion with H.E. Ambassador Ibrahim Olabi, as he discusses the forces reshaping Syria’s place in global affairs and what they mean for peace, reconstruction, and international cooperation. Amb. Olabi will be joined by UN correspondent and foreign affairs reporter Stéphanie Fillion.
H.E. Ambassador Ibrahim Olabi was appointed as the new Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations on 19 August 2025.
Following the fall of the Assad regime, Mr. Olabi was appointed legal advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, where he led Syria’s international legal engagement during a critical transitional period. He was put in charge in engaging with the organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons and its member states to support dealing with the Assad era chemical weapons programme. He advised on human rights resolutions in Geneva, supported Syria’s re-entry into multilateral forums, and led legal efforts around the lifting of targeted sanctions. Over the past seven months, he travelled extensively with the Foreign Minister, meeting foreign ministers, presidents, and senior officials to advocate for Syria’s reintegration and build trust with the international community.
Prior to his diplomatic appointment, Mr. Olabi was part of legal teams representing governments and civil society in cases before domestic and international courts, with a focus on international law and accountability. He also led a global civil society initiative to develop innovative legal strategies for criminal accountability related to the use of chemical weapons in Syria. In that capacity, he delivered statements at international forums — including an address to the UN Security Council — made numerous media appearances on BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya, The Guardian, and the Financial Times amongst others, and travelled across Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Europe to promote justice for international crimes committed in Syria.
During the conflict, Mr. Olabi was also active inside Syria, where he provided legal training on international humanitarian law and human rights, supported documentation of abuses, and worked closely with local communities and practitioners to build legal capacity under extremely challenging conditions.
Mr. Olabi was called to the Bar in England and Wales at the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple in 2018.
He holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Oxford, an LLM in Security and International Law, and an LLB from the University of Manchester, where he was named both Undergraduate and Postgraduate Student of the Year.
He is fluent in Arabic and English, with proficiency in German.
Moderator | Stéphanie Fillion
Stéphanie Fillion is a New York-based reporter specializing in foreign affairs and human rights and a United Nations correspondent. Her work was published in outlets like Forbes, Foreign Policy, Radio-Canada, La Stampa and the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun.
She has a master's degree in journalism, politics and global affairs from Columbia University and a BA in political science from McGill University.
In recent years, her UN coverage received two UN Correspondent Association awards as well as a Gracie award from the Alliance for Women in Media.
She writes in French, English and Italian.
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