e-Conference 2025
Program

Program

All parts of the e-Conference take place online. Links to all sessions (including the keynote) are sent out to registered and accepted participants via email in advance. You can submit your registration application here until February 26.

The keynote is a public event. More details on how to join the keynote will follow soon.

Subscribe to our Newsletter here to stay up to date with the e-Conference and IGN activities.

Overview

Schedule

Day 1: Friday, February 28th 2025

14:30 – 16:00 CET | Opening Session

Introduction to the Conference, the Organizers and IGN, Schedule, and Participants.

Warm-up Questions & Ice Breakers in Break-Out Rooms.

16:00 – 18:00 CET | Session 1

Negotiating the Mind: The Power of Emotional Intelligence and Resilience

Moderated Panel discussion + Q & A; moderated by Dr. Randall Waechter

What can’t be seen but can make or break a negotiation? The answer lies in the power of Emotional Intelligence (EI). This session delves into the crucial role of EI and resilience in negotiations, exploring key domains of EI: recognizing, understanding, and managing both our own emotions and the emotions of others. These skills are essential for effective communication, building trust, and finding solutions in complex and high-stakes negotiations. Our expert panelists – Dr. Fatima Akilu, Dr. Rania Awaad, and Ambassador Piper Campbell – will share practical insights and real-world examples of how emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and resilience shape successful negotiators. The session will cover how emotional regulation helps maintain composure under pressure, stress management supports mental well-being, and strategic empathy develops cooperation and trust, especially in dynamic scenarios. Participants will leave with strategies for improving their emotional intelligence, tips on caring for their mental well-being, and navigating tough negotiations with greater adaptability and confidence.

Dr. Fatima Akilu

Dr. Fatima Akilu is the Executive Director of Neem Foundation. She is a trained psychologist with over 25 years’ experience in the field of mental health, psychology, Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) and communications. Dr. Akilu holds a master’s degree and PhD in Psychology from University of Reading (UK), and was a Former Head of Communication to the Senior Special Assistant to the Nigerian President on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). From 2012 to 2015, Dr. Akilu served as the Director of Behavioral Analysis and Strategic Communications at the Office of the National Security Adviser where she pioneered Nigeria’s first Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) program. Dr. Akilu is a seasoned educationist with over 12 years lecturing experience as an Adjunct Professor of General Psychology at Broome Community College (USA). She is responsible for the implementation of program and strategies as the Executive Director of Neem Foundation and determining the direction of focus of the projects implemented by the organization. She has overseen psychological support services to over 30, 000 survivors of the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast of Nigeria, a region that has been significantly affected by climate change. Alongside this, she currently oversees several conflict responses program across various lake Chad basin region and other parts of the globe.

Amb. Piper Campbell

Ambassador Piper Campbell is the Chair of the Department of Foreign Policy and Global Security at American University’s School of International Service. She also directs AU’s ASEAN and IndoPacific Studies Initiative. She joined AU in 2020 after a distinguished 30-year diplomatic career, which included serving as Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar, Consul General in Basrah, Iraq, and leading the U.S. Mission to ASEAN in Jakarta. In these roles, she navigated complex multilateral negotiations, secured groundbreaking agreements, and fostered economic and security partnerships. Ambassador Campbell also has extensive teaching experience, including at the National Defense University’s National War College and the State Department’s Foreign Service Institute. She retired from the State Department in 2019 with the rank of Minister Counselor, leaving behind a legacy of expertise in East Asian affairs and multilateral diplomacy.

Dr. Rania Awaad

Dr. Rania Awaad, M.D. is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine where she is the Director of the Stanford Muslim Mental Health & Islamic Psychology Lab as well as Stanford University's Affiliate Chaplain and Affiliate Professor of Islamic Studies. In the community, she serves as the President and Co-Founder of Maristan.org, a holistic mental health nonprofit serving Muslim communities, and the Director of The Rahmah Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating Muslim women and girls. In addition, she is faculty of Islamic Psychology at Cambridge Muslim College and The Islamic Seminary of America. She is also a Senior Fellow for Yaqeen Institute and the Institute of Social Policy and Understanding. Prior to studying medicine, she pursued classical Islamic studies in Damascus, Syria, and holds certifications (ijaza) in the Qur’an, Islamic Law, and other branches of the Islamic Sciences. Follow her @Dr.RaniaAwaaid

Dr. Randall Waechter

Dr. Randall Waechter is a cognitive neuroscientist and social entrepreneur dedicated to advancing global health and equity. He co-founded the Caribbean Center for Child Neurodevelopment, focusing on the critical importance of maternal-child health and early childhood neurodevelopment. He believes that equity is the foundation of human rights, health, and well-being. As a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Global Negotiation, Dr. Waechter has over a decade of experience in international cooperation, particularly addressing the systemic inequities between the global north and the global south. He co-launched the UNFCCC St. George's Regional Collaboration Centre, working with the UNFCCC to tackle climate change and empower vulnerable populations.
Driven by a vision of sustainable development through collaboration, Dr. Waechter believes that addressing climate change is one of humanity’s greatest challenges, and only by working together can we secure a future of equity and shared prosperity.

18:30 – 19:30 CET | Keynote Address

Keynote Address + Q & A; moderated by Dr. Vera Hampel

Winnie Kiiza, a distinguished Ugandan politician and advocate for human rights, will share her insights on the intersection of mental health and negotiation. Drawing from her leadership experience, she will provide insightful perspectives on managing stress, fostering resilience, and navigating the complexities of global challenges. Her keynote also explores the importance of mental well-being in leadership, facing challenging obstacles, and preparing the next generation of negotiators to tackle future challenges. The keynote will include a Q&A led by Dr. Vera Hampel.

Winnie Kiiza

Winnie Kiiza is a distinguished Ugandan politician and human rights advocate with over 15 years of public service. She made history as Uganda’s first female Leader of the Opposition (LoP), after representing Kasese District for three consecutive terms. Kiiza played a crucial role in advancing women’s rights, leading to the passage of key legislation, including the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act and the Domestic Violence Act.
A seasoned mobilizer and organizer, Kiiza strengthened the opposition in the Rwenzori sub-region, earning recognition for her leadership and dedication to democratic governance. Kiiza is the founder of the Winnie Kiiza Foundation, an NGO aimed at developing a leadership academy to educate youth and women on democratic values. She also serves as an independent consultant on gender and governance and mentors emerging leaders through organisations like the Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) and the Women’s Democracy Network (WDN).

Dr. Vera Hampel

Vera Hampel is a Principal at Egger, Philips & Partner, a negotiation consultancy in Zurich that is based on the Harvard Concept. She is also an expert in leadership, trained at the Center for Leadership in the Future of Work at the University of Zurich. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Zurich in leadership research, focusing on how leaders can successfully apply emotional intelligence in the workplace. She also holds an M.A. Double Degree in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Marburg and the University of Kent.
In addition to her academic education, Dr. Hampel has a comprehensive background as a systemic consultant, therapist, and mediator, equipping her with various skills in communication and dialogue. In her work, she emphasizes incorporating psychological perspectives and insights, particularly in the context of negotiation, mediation, and leadership development. For her, emotional intelligence is one of the critical skills for navigating the complexities of negotiation dynamics and fostering effective resolutions.

Day 2: Saturday, March 1st 2025

10:30 – 12:30 CET | Session 2

Mental Health Impacts: Gender, Culture, and Indigenous Perspectives in Negotiation Dynamics

Interactive World Café; moderated by Lucas Steinbach

How do gender norms, cross-cultural communication, and Indigenous perspectives shape mental health and negotiation dynamics? This session examines the psychological and power dynamics involved in global negotiations through three distinct lenses: gender dynamics, intercultural dynamics, and power imbalances rooted in Indigenous origin. Representing these areas, three esteemed speakers, Lucia Martelotte, a gender equality advocate; Dr. Raphael Schoen, an expert in cross-cultural negotiation (Schoen Negotiation Institute); and Urooj Fatima, a human rights researcher focusing on Indigenous communities, will lead individual sessions, following the World Café method. This approach involves small group discussions that rotate among topics, allowing participants to share perspectives, exchange insights, and collectively identify strategies. Participants will explore how societal expectations influence emotional expression, how cultural differences shape dialogue, and how historical inequalities impact Indigenous negotiators' experiences. This interactive format fosters knowledge-sharing, skill-building, and practical solution-development, empowering participants to navigate sensitive dynamics more effectively while supporting mental well-being.

Discover the World Café Method:
Step into a vibrant, café-like atmosphere where meaningful conversations spark ideas and drive collaboration. The World Café Method creates an inviting space for participants to engage in small, rotating group discussions focused on key topics. As you move between groups, you’ll share your insights, hear diverse perspectives, and build on collective knowledge. This dynamic approach encourages creativity, connection, and deeper understanding, making it a powerful tool for tackling complex challenges like mental health, power dynamics, and negotiation. Your voice matters, join us to co-create actionable solutions and shape the future of global dialogue!

Lucia Martelotte

Lucia Martelotte is a researcher and advocate with over 12 years of experience promoting gender equality and human rights in the Global South. Her work focuses on political participation, violence against women and girls, women’s economic empowerment, and care policies. She has held leadership roles, including Deputy Executive Director at ELA, Argentina’s leading feminist NGO. She served as Program Coordinator for UN Women Argentina and as a Specialist at the Inter-American Commission of Women, and se develops as consultant for various national and international organizations, including the IDB, ECLAC, UNDP, IDEA and Oxfam, providing expertise in program management, research, advocacy, and capacity-building.

Dr. Raphael Schoen

Dr. Raphael Schoen, CEO of the Schoen-Negotiation-Institute, is a renowned expert in procurement and sales negotiation training, bringing over 16 years of executive experience at Carl Zeiss and Nova Instruments (US, MA). He specializes in strategic supplier management, monopoly negotiation strategies, advanced negotiation techniques, and international negotiation. Dr. Schoen has trained leading German blue-chip companies and governmental institutions. He holds an MBA and a Ph.D. in Negotiations. As a lecturer at top European business schools, including HHL Leipzig, GISMA, CBS, Ecole de Management Grenoble, University of Law London, and the Hertie School of Government, he teaches international negotiations and conducts research on cultural influences in opening offers and cross-cultural negotiation challenges. By combining scientific insights with practical strategies, Dr. Schoen empowers organizations to achieve sustainable success in negotiations.

Urooj Fatima

Urooj Fatima is a High Court Practicing Lawyer from Pakistan, specializing in comparative human rights law, with a focus on indigenous and marginalized communities. As a women's rights researcher, activist, and investigative journalist (with a background in reporting on women and children’s rights), she advocates for vulnerable populations. Urooj collaborates with Human rights commission of Pakistan, Different NGOs, legal teams, and government officials, and teaches human rights at a top Pakistani university. Holding a B.A LLB and LLM degree from the University of Sargodha one of top institute in Pakistan, her dedication to empowering marginalized communities has earned her recognition as a leading voice in human rights.

Lucas Steinbach

Lucas Steinbach is a PhD scholar and researcher at the UC Louvain, specializing in peacekeeping and the use of force implementation in the DR Congo. For the IGN, he coordinates the IGN’s Global Negotiation Conference in 2025. Prior, he hosted the session on Feminisms and Peacebuilding at the IGN e-conference 2024 and participated in the Global Negotiation Conference in 2024. Professionally, Lucas worked as a seminar leader for the ASA Program, as a speaker for the Kolping Network for Refugees and as a research consultant for FEIN Consulting where he focused on intercultural contexts and gender issues. His academic background includes a master’s degree in ‘Security and Terrorism’ from the University of Kent and bachelor’s degree in politics from the Philipps University of Marburg.

12:30 – 13:15 CET | Taking a Breather: Connecting Mind and Body for Negotiation

In this interactive intervention, the President of the Institute for Global Negotiation – Dr. Jack R. Williams – invites participants to engage together in practical strategies for managing stress and connecting mind and body. Afterwards, explore real-life examples of challenging negotiation scenarios and discuss approaches to navigate them effectively.

13:15 – 15:00 CET | Lunchbreak

15:00 – 17:00 CET | Session 3

When Every Second Counts: Challenges in the High-Pressure Dynamics of Crisis Negotiations

Personal Storytelling and Conversation; moderated by Helen Zhang

What happens when a negotiation turns critical? In this session, we’ll go beyond theory to explore the human side of crisis negotiation. From navigating life-and-death situations in law enforcement to managing high-stakes scenarios in other critical fields, our speakers will share personal insights drawn from diverse, real-world experiences. We’ll take an honest look at the challenges negotiators face in high-stakes, long-term conflicts: the pressure to make decisions that will impact lives, the mental toll of managing conflict day after day, and the sometimes-overwhelming task of steering negotiations when emotions are running high. This session will be moderated by Helen Zhang, co-founder of International Intrigue, and will feature Fiorella Larissa Erni, a seasoned humanitarian negotiator and trainer (Negotiated Resolutions), and Niko Orell, Head of Crisis Management at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, who bring a wealth of expertise and firsthand experience. Our experts will share valuable lessons and practical strategies to help cope when parties become irrational or when the process starts to feel like an endless loop. In this session, participants will learn approaches for building collaboration and breaking negative cycles to keep negotiations moving forward. Come prepared to hear compelling stories and gain insights you won’t find in textbooks – about what it takes to handle critical moments and make tough decisions while keeping your head, your health, and your humanity intact.

Fiorella Larissa Erni

Fiorella Larissa Erni is an experienced negotiator and trainer with extensive experience as a humanitarian negotiator in conflict zones. Her academic journey includes research on the social identity of young refugees in Palestinian camps in Lebanon, which she conducted for her Master’s degree. Being fluent in Arabic, Fiorella took on key roles with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), where she served as a protection delegate in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. She also held the position of Head of Sub-Delegation in South Sudan and led an Ebola Emergency Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
As Head of Operations for the Centre of Competence on Humanitarian Negotiation (CCHN), Fiorella researched negotiation practices and trained humanitarian professionals and diplomats engaged in high-stakes negotiations.
Currently, Fiorella freelances as a professional negotiator at Negotiated Resolutions while also working to establish her own vegan fashion brand, seeking to address the root causes of inequality. Known for her hands-on approach, strategic insight, and deep empathy, Fiorella remains dedicated to fostering sustainable, long-term solutions in some of the world’s most challenging contexts.

Niko Orell

Niko Orell is the Head of Crisis Management at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), with over 25 years of experience in crisis management, security policy, and military strategy. A retired Lieutenant Colonel of the Finnish Air Force, he previously served as Commander of the Regional Air Operations Center on Finland’s eastern border. Niko has advised the EU Political and Security Committee, NATO Military Committees, and other organizations on crisis management, conflict prevention, and post-conflict reconstruction. His work spans Europe, Africa, and the Indo-Pacific, involving key roles in EU and UN-led operations, including training missions in the Sahel and crisis response in Mozambique. He is recognized for his expertise in situational awareness, leadership under pressure, and developing strategies for complex crises, establishing him as a respected authority in global security and crisis management.

Helen Zhang

Helen Zhang is the co-founder of Intrigue Media, which produces expert but irreverent briefings on global affairs issues at the intersection of geopolitics, tech, and business. Helen is a 2020 Fulbright Scholar and Master in Public Administration graduate from the Harvard Kennedy School, where she specialized in geo-tech policies. She's an ex-Googler, experienced diplomat, negotiator, Mandarin interpreter, attorney, and public speaker, and an Emerging Tech Fellow at Sydney University.

17:00 – 18:00 CET | Closing Session

Conference Recap and Reflection, and Outlook Towards Future Opportunities.

e-Conference 2025 Program

Program​