Global Negotiation Conference 2025: "Deep Sea Mining"
Hosted at the University of Zurich
7–11 July 2025
Program & Speakers
The Global Negotiation Conference 2025 will take place 7–11 July 2025 at the University of Zurich. The conference will include workshops and presentations on theoretical and practical aspects of negotiation before culminating in a multilateral simulation.
Please note that more speakers are added as we get closer to the Conference. If you have any questions, please contact gnc@global-negotiation.org
Program
Speakers
Dr. Jack R. Williams
Dr. Jack R. Williams is the President of the Institute for Global Negotiation, a non-profit association based in Zurich that promotes and supports the use of negotiation as an essential tool in building a more equitable, peaceful, and sustainable world. Jack teaches negotiation and conflict resolution at universities across the world including as an Adjunct Professor at Sciences Po Paris, University of Zurich and Leuphana University Lüneburg. He is also an External Consultant leading workshops and courses in various programs for the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). Previously, Jack was an Assistant Professor of International Relations and Acting Dean of the College of International Studies at the American University of Kurdistan in Northern Iraq. Jack received his PhD in Political Philosophy from the University of Zurich, during which time he was a visiting researcher at Princeton University. Jack has also worked as a Junior Research Fellow at the Institute of European and International Economic Law at the University of Bern as well as a Summer Academy and MILE Fellow at the World Trade Institute. Jack is a CEDR-accredited mediator and volunteers as a neighbourhood mediator for Mediation Plus in the United Kingdom.
Fiorella Erni
Fiorella Erni is a seasoned negotiator and crisis management expert with a rich, multifaceted background in both humanitarian aid, diplomacy and entrepreneurship. With experience as a former humanitarian worker in conflict zones for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Fiorella has honed her skills in high-stakes negotiations within complex, high-pressure environments. Her work with the Centre of Competence on Humanitarian Negotiation (CCHN) further refined her expertise in advanced negotiation training for frontline workers and diplomats. Currently, Fiorella is a professional negotiator at Negotiated Resolutions, representing clients in corporate negotiations and offering tailored negotiation training. Through her own company, Stand Tall, she specialises in accompanying women in negotiation, particularly in workplace settings, with the goal of advancing more women to C-suite leadership roles. Fiorella’s academic foundation includes a BA in Social Anthropology and Arabic Literature from the University of Zurich, a Master’s in Conflict and Development from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, and an MBA from Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne. She also holds a diploma in Animal Behavior from the University of Oxford, offering unique insights into human behavior in negotiations.
Maude Pittet Nazareno
Maude Pittet Nazareno is a seasoned humanitarian professional with over 15 years of experience in international organizations. She currently serves as the Project Manager for Pressure Management and Mentoring at the Centre of Competence on Humanitarian Negotiation (CCHN) in Geneva, Switzerland. She is a certified coach, hypnotherapist, graduate in neuro-linguistic programming and IPMA project manager. With a focus on supporting frontline practitioners, Maude has developed expertise in stress management programs for humanitarian negotiators. Her work at CCHN involves organizing workshops and sessions to enhance negotiation skills, particularly in high-pressure situations.
Carlos Alberto Alza
Expert in public policy, governance and human rights. Holds a MSc in Regulation from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), UK, a Law degree from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP), and is pursuing a PhD in Political and Social Sciences at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona. Formerly National Deputy Ombudsman for Public Services and Environment, and Advisor to the Ombudsman. In these roles, he spearheaded the defence of indigenous peoples and vulnerable populations and promoted institutional reforms within the framework of socio-environmental conflicts arising from extractive policies in Latin America. He has experience in the policies, regulation and management of social conflicts, incorporating a human rights-based approach into public policy. He has over 20 years of experience as a national and international consultant, with expertise working with GIZ, UNICEF, CAJ-IOM, IDB, World Bank, Save the Children, UNDP, World Vision, Kené Institute, Kaleidoscope Trust, Acathi, Ministries, and other institutions. He has teaching, research and academic programme management experience in Latin America and Europe. He has been a stagiaire at the European Commission in Brussels and a Visiting Lecturer at University College London (UCL), London. Carlos Alza has also been a speaker at Oxford University, Sciences Po, Paris, Hertie School of Governance, LSE, UCL, Flacso/UNAM, and others. He consults as an expert in inclusion policies, innovation and public policy in Europe and the Commonwealth, serves as Senior Manager of Public Policy and Financing for Innovation, and he is Teaching Fellow in the Barcelona Institute of International Relations (IBEI)/Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona. He is the author of numerous publications in Peru and abroad.
