Reinventing the Architecture for Peace: Catalysing Citizens, Coalitions, and Capital
October 9-10, 2026
Day 1: October 9, 2026, 6pm-8:30 pm, Room FSS 4007, Social Sciences Building, University of Ottawa
6:00 Registration and Networking
6:30 pm Welcome, Land Acknowledgement, and Dinner
7:00 pm Keynote Address 1: Reinventing the Architecture of Peace: How We Got Here and What Must be Done
Keynote Remarks: Peggy Mason, President, Rideau Institute, G78 Board Member and former Canadian Ambassador for Disarmament to the United Nations
Host and Moderator: Kizzann Sammy, President, Kochi Consulting, G78 Board Member and Advisor to UN Women’s Caribbean Office
7:45 pm Moderated Q+A and Discussion
8:15 pm Thank You and Adjournment
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Day 2: October 10, 2026, 8 am-5:30 pm, Room 4007, Social Sciences Building, University of Ottawa
8:00 am Registration, Networking, Coffee, Tea and Light Breakfast
8:30 am Welcome, Land Acknowledgement, Housekeeping, and the Agenda for the Day
9:00 am Keynote Address 2: Reinventing the Architecture for Peace: The Five Global Hinge Points of the Mid-21st Century
Keynote Remarks: Dan Smith, Senior Fellow, United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, Blogger, Consultant and former Director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
Host and Moderator: Leah Darbyson, Researcher and G78 Executive Committee Member
9:45 am Moderated Q+A and Discussion
10:10 am Thank You and Closing
10:15 am to 10:30 am Break
10:30 am Panel 1: Women’s Peacebuilding Strategies: Experiences from Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine, and Iran
Panelists: Evelyn Namakula Mayanja, Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies, Carleton University. Zeina Mohanna, Executive and Administrative Board Member, Amel Association, Lebanon. Anna Vogt, Director, Advocacy and Public Policy, Mennonite Central Committee.
Host and Moderator: Sylvie Lemieux, G78 Board Member and CNANW Board Member
11:20 am Moderated Q+A Discussion
11:55 am Thank You and Closing
12:00 pm-1:00 pm Lunch Break
1:00 pm Keynote Address 3: Reinventing the Architecture for Peace: Creating a Peace Agenda for Canada
Keynote Remarks: Lloyd Axworthy, Former Foreign Minister of Canada
Host and Moderator: Susan Tanner, G78 Vice-Chair and Human Rights Advocate
1:45 pm Moderated Q+A and Discussion
2:10 pm Thank You and Closing
2:15 pm Panel 2: New Politics, New Peacebuilding: A Conversation with Leaders and Scholars of Youth-Led Peace Organizations and Political Movements
Panelists: Alimi Salifou, Co-Chair, ImPACT Coalition for Future Generations, Nigeria, Danielle Kamtie, World Bank Water Champion; Co-Founder, African Youth Parliament for Water; Global Policy and Advocacy Leader; WPSN-C steering committee member. Francois Zankih, Policy Practitioner for Peace, Human Rights and Democracy
Host and Moderator: Kaima Chuka-George, Doctoral Student in International Development, University of Ottawa.
3:00 pm Moderated Q+A and Discussion
3:30 pm Thank You and Closing
3:30 pm to 4:00 pm Break
4:00 Wrap-up Session
Summary of insights and directions from conference deliberations by the Chief Rapporteur and team of Student Rapporteurs from Carleton and Ottawa universities. Comments from participants.
Host and Moderator: Richard Harmston, G78 Board Secretary and Chair, Peace and Security Working Group
5:15 pm Next Steps, Thank You and Closing
5:30 pm Adjournment of the Conference
Contact: Richard Harmston, Chair, Peace and Security Working Group and Board Secretary, Group of 78; E-mail: richardharmston@gmail.com. Maude Stephany, Executive Secretary, Group of 78; Email: group78@group78.org