The 2024 IPSA-Concordia Summer Institute in Applied Diplomacy A Success

The 2024 edition of the IPSA-Concordia Summer Institute in Applied Diplomacy, held in a hybrid format in Montréal and virtually from 19-29 August 2024, proved to be a resounding success. The Summer Institute was offered in person, though students who wished to take non-credit courses were given the option of attending via Zoom.

Keynote Address by Ambassador Annick Goulet

The 2024 IPSA-Concordia Summer Institute in Applied Diplomacy successfully kicked off at Concordia University on 19 August 2024, featuring a keynote address by H.E. Annick Goulet, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). 

In her address, titled Navigating Modern Diplomacy: ICAO, Aviation's Global Forum, Ambassador Goulet discussed the significant shifts in the diplomatic landscape driven by globalization, technological advancement, and the growing demand for public engagement. She emphasized the need for diplomats to adapt and expand their skill sets to navigate the complexities of today's international political landscape. She also highlighted the influence of technology, especially social media, on the way diplomats engage with the public and communicate on the global stage.

The keynote address also provided a closer look at ICAO's role as a global forum for international civil aviation. Ambassador Goulet explained the governance structure of ICAO and the decision-making processes that guide its mission. She also shared insights into how the organization addresses the intersection of global geopolitical conflicts and the aviation industry's adoption of new technological tools. Drawing on her extensive experience, Ambassador Goulet also shared her journey from journalism to diplomacy, offering a unique perspective on the skills required in both fields.

Summer Institute Program

The 10-day intensive program included theoretical and policy-oriented seminars, together with a hands-on Diplomacy Lab where participants formed teams to work on case studies and present policy recommendations on the following topics: 

• Advancing Global Sustainability Through Digital Governance, presented by Micheline Ayoub, Director of Future Earth Canada Hub and Affiliate Assistant Professor at the Department of Geography, Planning and Environment at Concordia University;
• Fighting Online Extremism and Violence Against Immigration, presented by Elizabeth Bloodgood, Associate Professor at the Department of Political Science at Concordia University and Co-organizer of the IPSA-Concordia Summer Institute in Applied Diplomacy; and
• Advancing SDGs in the Arctic in Tense Geopolitical Times, presented by Sarah Cox, Director of the Intergovernmental and International Relations Directorate at the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, and Canadian Head of Delegation to the Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG) at the Arctic Council. 

On 27 August, IPSA Executive Director, Kim Fontaine-Skronski, and former Canadian Ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Don Stephenson, presented a session on Trade Negotiations, Past and Present. Dr. Fontaine-Skronski lectured on the WTO and its mandate from a historical perspective, while Mr. Stephenson shared his valuable experience as a negotiator with the WTO and other organizations. 

Participants also had the opportunity to engage with representatives from Concordia University, Oxford University, Future Earth, Lawyers without Borders, and the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador, among others. Additionally, they visited the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) offices in Montreal, the only UN specialized agency based in Canada.

The 2024 edition concluded on 28 August with the participants’ presentations as part of the Diplomacy Lab, followed by a dinner. 

Guest Lecturers 2024
*in order of appearance

• Elizabeth Bloodgood, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Political Science, Concordia University
• Micheline Ayoub, Executive Director, Future Earth
• H.E. Annick Goulet, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
• Natalia Grincheva, Arts Management, Lasalle College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore
• Frédéric Letullier, Head Conference Services, ICAO
• Véronique Lamontagne, Executive Director of Lawyers without Borders, former Director of the Office of International Relations of the City of Montreal and Senior Advisor and co-founder of the Mayors Migration Council
• Yolanda Spies, Director of the Diplomatic Studies Programme, University of Oxford
• Chief Ghislain Picard, Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador
• Geoffrey Kelley, Former Québec Minister for Indigenous Affairs, 2014-2018
• Kyle Matthews, Executive Director of the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (MIGS) at Concordia University
• Sarah Cox, Director, Circumpolar Affairs & Head of Delegation, SDWG, Arctic Council, Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
• Delphine Ducasse, Legal Officer, Canadian Mission to the World Trade Organization, Global Affairs, Canada
• Sean Clark, Consul & Senior Trade Commissioner, Consulate General of Canada in Denver
• Mathieu Ouimet, Professor at Laval University and Executive Director of the International Francophone Network on Scientific Advice (Réseau francophone international en conseil scientifique)
• Tomas Hatala, PhD Candidate, Carleton University
• Corneliu Bjola, Associate Professor of Diplomatic Studies, University of Oxford
• Kim Fontaine-Skronski, Affiliated Professor, Department of Political Science, Concordia University, and Executive Director, IPSA
• Don Stephenson, Former Canadian Ambassador to the WTO

Student Testimonials on Ambassador Annick Goulet's Keynote

In her remarks, H.E. Annick Goulet provided an insightful account of her career in Global Affairs Canada and her recent appointment as head of the Canadian delegation at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). She shed light on some of the changes in the world of diplomacy, including the impact of technological innovations (from long letters to Twitter posts) and the rise of new actors. 

Thank you to our guest speaker for an enlightening session. Ambassador Goulet's extensive experience in the foreign service since 1999 provided a unique perspective on the ever-evolving diplomatic landscape, particularly in adapting to technological advancements. Hearing her firsthand experiences during times of conflict and change was invaluable, offering a deeper understanding of modern diplomacy. 

From journalist to diplomat, her journey was incredible to hear. I learned so much about how diplomacy has changed from the end of the 20th century until today. Ambassador Goulet emphasized the growing significance of diplomacy in not only state affairs but also in other organizations, given the complexities and goals that demand exceptional expertise.

H.E. Annick Goulet described the changing complexities and pressures faced by key international political actors and challenges, parallel trends in disinformation campaigns as well as the ways in which states interact with one another. This was presented to illustrate the unique challenges that students of diplomacy will face in the future.