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 Stan O. Smith
Ambassador
Permanent Representative of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas to the UN
in conversation with
Stéphanie Fillion
French Canadian reporter on foreign affairs based at the UN
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Monday, 29 September 2025 | 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 *
Not a member? Sign up here
As venue capacity is limited, early registration is encouraged.
Event admission is final, there will be no refunds.
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Note: registration will open closer to event date
Join us for this event in our acclaimed Ambassador Series, when we will host an evening of discussion with Ambassador Stan Oduma Smith, the Permanent Representative of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas to the United Nations, who will be joined by UN correspondent and foreign affairs reporter Stéphanie Fillion.
Ambassador Stan Oduma Smith is the Permanent Representative of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas to the United Nations since March 2022.
Prior to this role, he served as a personal assistant to Prime Minister Perry Gladstone Christie from 2018 to 2021, providing strategic support and facilitating diplomatic engagements.
Before that, he held positions as Ambassador-at-Large and head of the Legal Division in the Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2015 to 2017, contributing to United Nations teams focusing on human rights and providing general foreign policy development support.
Ambassador Smith has been involved in several significant events and initiatives. He hosted a meeting on water scarcity as part of the United Nations Water Conference, addressing the issue of water scarcity which affects the Bahamas.
He also addressed the UN General Assembly, advocating for a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index to help countries like the Bahamas access financing to address water scarcity and climate change .
Ambassador Smith has represented the Bahamas in various capacities, including formalizing diplomatic relations with countries such as Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, and the Solomon Islands.
He has also participated in panels and conferences, such as the keynote event “Building A New Momentum Towards the 2030 Deadline for the SDGs.”
Ambassador Smith's career began in 2005 when he practiced law in Barbados until 2015.
He earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s University in Canada and is a graduate of the University of the West Indies Law School.
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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