UK Forum on Cultural Diplomacy
“Strengthening Democracy, Women’s Leadership, Impactful Development and Security”
(London; January 12-15th, 2026)
Forum Speakers
Speakers for the forum will include among others the following dignitaries:
 Tasmina Ahmed-SheikhHead of the UK Forum |
 Ann LindeMinister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden 2019-2022 |
 Ali Ahmad JalaliFormer Minister of the Interior of Afghanistan |
 Amos HaniffAssociate Executive Dean for International and Partnerships at Heriot-Watt University |
 Bamir TopiPresident of the Republic of Albania 2007-12 |
 Baroness Laing of ElderslieMember of the House of Lords (UK) |
 Baroness PrasharMember of the House of Lords (UK) |
 Baroness UddinMember of the House of Lords (UK) |
 Baroness Young of HornseyMember of the House of Lords (UK) |
 Boris TadicPresident of the Republic of Serbia 2004-12 |
 Erkki TomojuaMinister of Foreign Affairs of Finland 2000-07, 2011-15 |
 Gaburici ChirilFormer Prime Minister of Moldova |
 Gjorge IvanovPresident of the Republic of Macedonia 2009-19 |
 Hassan DiabPrime Minister of Lebanon 2020-2 |
 Ivan IvanovExecutive Chairman, International Center Alliance of Civilizations |
 Johan Büser Member of the Swedish Parliament |
 Henry McLeishFirst Minister of Scotland 2000–2001 |
 Hrant BagratyanFormer Prime Minister of Armenia |
 Irina Bokova10th Director-General of UNESCO |
 Ivo JosipovicPresident of Croatia 2010-2015 |
 Jim ShannonMember of the UK Parliament |
 Lisa CameronMember of the UK Parliament 2015-2024 |
 Lord Dafydd WigleyMember of the House of Lords (UK) |
 Lord Richard LayardMember of the House of Lords (UK) |
 Lord Sewell of SandersteadMember of the House of Lords (UK) |
 Mark DonfriedInstitute for Cultural Diplomacy |
 Marvi MemonFederal Minister for Social Protection; Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan 2008-18 |
 Michele Alliot-Marie Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of France 2010-2011 |
 Miguel MoratinosUnited Nations Under-Secretary-General, High-Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations |
 Mladen IvanicChairman of Presidency of Bosnia & Herzegovina 2014-15, 2016-17 |
 Mohammad Haneef AtmarFormer Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan |
 Mohammed OmranFormer Executive Chairman, the Egyptian Stock Exchange |
 Mushahid Hussain SayedFormer Member of the Senate of Pakistan |
 Natalie FleetMember of the UK Parliament |
 Nondas Cl. MetaxasFormer CEO, Cyprus Stock Exchange |
 Nus GhaniDeputy Speaker of the UK House of Commons |
 Rajeeva BandaranaikeChief Executive Officer, Colombo Stock Exchange |
 Rashed Al BaloushiFormer Chief Executive, Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange |
 Rui Duarte BarrosPrime Minister of Guinea-Bissau 2012-14, 2023-25 |
 Sherry RehmanFormer Federal Minister of Climate Change of Pakistan |
 Sitara Ayaz Former Member of the Senate of Pakistan |
 Skinnari Ville Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade of Finland 2019-2023 |
 Supachai Panitchpakdi4th Director-General of the World Trade Organization |
 Toomas Hendrik IlvesPresident of Estonia 2006-2016 |
 Yasmin QureshiMember of the UK Parliament |
 Yossi MekelbergSenior Consulting Fellow, MENA Programme, Chatham House |
 Yves LetermePrime Minister of Belgium 2009-11 |
 Reem AlsalemUN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women and Girls, its Causes and Consequences |
