The IPSA-Concordia Summer Institute in Applied Diplomacy Kicks Off with Ambassador Annick Goulet’s Keynote Address

The 2024 IPSA-Concordia Summer Institute in Applied Diplomacy successfully kicked off at Concordia University on 19 August 2024, bringing together prominent speakers, graduate students, young researchers and professionals both onsite in Montréal and virtually via Zoom. 

The first day of the Summer Institute featured morning and afternoon classes as well as a keynote address delivered 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 explored how the role of diplomats has developed in recent years as a consequence of technological advancements, including social media, geopolitical changes, the increase in global challenges, and the growing expectations for transparency and public interaction. Her remarks also underscored the ways in which ICAO, as the global forum of states on international civil aviation, is at the center of all these issues.

Drawing on her extensive experience, Ambassador Goulet also shared her personal journey from journalism to diplomacy, offering a unique perspective on the skills required in both fields. She explained the governance structure of ICAO, describing the functions of the ICAO Council and the decision-making processes that guide the organization’s mission.

The keynote was followed by a lively Q&A session, where students and audience members engaged with Ambassador Goulet, discussing her role at ICAO, the challenges of diplomacy, and current international issues. The day concluded with a cocktail reception, where Summer Institute partners and participants, as well as special guests, had the opportunity to network and continue the conversation in a more informal setting.

The 2024 IPSA-Concordia Summer Institute in Applied Diplomacy, organized by Dr. Elizabeth Bloodgood (Professor of Political Science, Concordia University) and Dr. Kim Fontaine-Skronski (Executive Director, IPSA), offers a mixture of theoretical and applied sessions on all aspects of diplomacy, along with a hands-on applied Diplomacy Lab and the opportunity to interact with some of the world’s leading experts on diplomacy from academic and policy backgrounds. 

The 2024 edition of the Summer Institute will conclude on 29 August.

For more information, please visit the Summer Institute page.