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2023 NATO Youth Summit

On June 5, young people from NATO member nations and beyond joined a transatlantic conversation at the 2023 NATO Youth Summit, which took place online, as well as in Brussels and Washington, D.C. This year's summit was entitled "NextGen Freedom & Security."

Organized by NATO and William & Mary, the event provided participants in-person and online with the opportunity to engage, build links, enhance understanding, exchange views and explore how NATO addresses challenges that the next generation sees as critical to their security. The issues covered ranged from disinformation to the latest technologies, and from climate change to national defense. 

{{youtube:large:center|Clw9dKNb_Lw,Watch the replay of the Brussels portion of the 2023 NATO Youth Summit.}}

{{youtube:large:center|mvnBUyQp2RQ,Watch the replay of the the Washington, D.C. portion of the 2023 NATO Youth Summit.}}

Agenda

Agenda

Please note the times and order of these programming blocks are subject to change.

A two-column table for organizational purposes.
Brussels (CET)

Master of Ceremonies [Brussels]: Dr. Kira Allmann ‘10, Senior Digital Strategy Officer, Manchester City Council; Incoming Director of Partnerships & Communications, Global Research Institute, William & Mary

09:45 - 10:00

Pre-Opening Welcome

10:00 - 10:05

Welcome & Introduction

10:05 - 10:25

Tackling Bullies – Of All Sizes

Standing up to bullies - a theme not just for young people, but something NATO has witnessed in Russia's unprovoked attack on Ukraine in its continuation of its bullying of its neighbors.

  • Martina Ptáčková, Fighter and Trainer, Hand to hand combat and Kickboxing
  • Moderator: Kira Allmann
10:25 - 10:45

Diversity & Diplomacy

  • David Quarrey CMG, UK Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Council
  • Moderator: Kira Allmann
10:45 - 11:25

Discussion: Space, Technology, and Security
Panel organized with Friends of Europe

  • Thomas Dermine, Belgian State Secretary for Scientific Policy, Recovery Programme and Strategic Investment
  • David Eagleson, Policy Fellow, Pinsker Centre
  • Pauline Warnotte, Senior Legal Advisor, International Committee of the Red Cross Delegation to the EU, NATO and the Kingdom of Belgium
  • Moderator: Juraj Majcin, Program Manager for Peace, Security and Defense at Friends of Europe
11:25 - 11:45 Tackling Hybrid Threats
11:45 - 11:50

Gaming Challenge: NATO vs. the EU

  • Robin El Kady, Data Scientist, Information Environment Assessment Team, NATO HQ
  • Uldis Elksnitis, Information and Communication Officer, European External Action Service
11:50 - 12:00

DROG Disinformation Game: How To Go Viral

12:00 - 13:00

Lunch Break

13:00 - 13:30

Climate Change & How It Changed My Life

Climate change is a threat multiplier and NATO has put tackling the security effects of climate change at the heart of its forward-looking agenda.

13:30 - 14:15

Discussion: What Does Resilience Mean for Young People?
Panel in cooperation with the Young Thinkers Initiative of the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS)

  • Dominik Juling, Postgraduate Student at LSE; Young Thinker, CEPS
  • Laura Lisboa, Space Officer, NATO Defence Investment Division; Young Thinker, CEPS
  • Cédric LombaertsAttaché European Affairs, Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Young Thinker, CEPS
  • Sofia Romansky, Researcher, The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS); Young Thinker, CEPS
  • Moderator: Dylan Macchiarini Crosson, Researcher, EU Foreign Policy, CEPS
14:15 - 14:30

Coffee Break

14:30 - 15:00

Fireside Chat with the President of the Czech Republic

15:00 - 15:30

Witness History: How Disinformation Doesn’t Go Away

Disinformation is not a victimless crime. It is designed to undermine institutions and values. Today, disinformation continues to weaken support for those fighting for their freedom.

15:30 - 16:00 (CET)/9:30 - 10:00 (EDT)

A Conversation With the NATO Secretary General 

This conversation will officially close the Brussels portion and open the Washington, D.C. portion of the NATO Youth Summit.

Washington, D.C. (EDT)

Master of Ceremonies [D.C.]: Colleen Grace ’23, President, Ivy League Veterans Council; William & Mary

10:00 - 10:10 Welcome Remarks
10:10 - 10:15

Reflections from the U.S. Mission to the United Nations

  • S. Douglas Bunch ’02, J.D. ‘06, Public Delegate of the United States to the 77th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations
10:15 - 10:55

Diplomacy Through Sports: A Conversation With Leaders On & Off the Field

  • Nadia Nadim, Forward, Racing Louisville Football Club
  • William Smith ’14, Founder and Executive Director, LEAD Edu
  • Moderator: Jill Ellis ’88, L.H.D. ’16, National Soccer Hall of Fame; President, San Diego Wave, National Women’s Soccer League; Former Coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team
10:55 - 11:00

Presentation of the NATO Women, Peace, and Security Award

  • Irene FellinSpecial Representative for Women, Peace and Security, NATO
  • CAPT Kathleen T. Jabs, USN (ret.), Special Assistant to the President for Military & Veteran Affairs, William & Mary
  • Jill Ellis '88, L.H.D. '16, National Soccer Hall of Fame; President, San Diego Wave, National Women's Soccer League; Former Coach of the U.S. Women's National Team
11:00 - 11:30

Defending Freedom with Allies

11:30 - 11:45 Networking Break
11:45 - 12:00

The U.S. Is Not Just In NATO: It Is the Core of NATO

  • Ben Wheeler, Content Creator, D1Wheeler
  • Facilitator: Colleen Grace '23, President, Ivy League Veterans Council; William & Mary
12:00 - 12:30

Countering & Deterring Adversarial Threats: Russian Invasion of Ukraine

  • George Barros '19, Geospatial Intelligence Team Lead and Russia Analyst, Institute for the Study of War
  • Her Excellency Oksana Markarova, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United States
  • Moderator: Elina Beketova, Democracy Fellow, Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA)
12:30 - 13:00

Leveraging Data to Strengthen Democracy and Security

Video message by Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President, Microsoft

13:00 13:05

Message from the NATO Deputy Secretary General

13:05 - 13:40

Break for Boxed Lunch

  • Everyone will return to their seats for a working lunch
13:40 - 14:05

Activity: How To Be an OSINT Expert

  • Andrew Eaddy, Co-Founder, Third Image Media
  • John Fowler, Co-Founder, International Intrigue; former Australian diplomat
  • Michael Hilliard, Conflict Journalist, Host of The Red Line; Communications Director, The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs
14:05 - 14:40

Countering Disinformation

  • Hayden BassettM.A. '13, Ph.D. '17, Director, Cultural Heritage Monitoring Lab; Research Associate, Smithsonian Institution; Adjunct Lecturer, William & Mary
  • Ben DubowCTO and Founder, Omelas; Nonresident Fellow, Democratic Resilience, Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA)
  • Rear Admiral John F. Kirby, USN (ret.), Coordinator for Strategic Communications, National Security Council
  • Moderator: Megan Hogan ’21, Eranda Rothschild Foundation Junior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics; Founder, DisinfoLab, William & Mary
14:40 - 14:55

Networking Break

14:55 - 15:30

Video Presentations

By Council on Strategic Risks & NATO Allied Command Transformation 

  • Elsa Barron, Research Fellow, Center for Climate and Security (CSS), Council on Strategic Risks (CSR)
  • Michelle Ramirez, University of Alaska Fairbanks
  • Luisa Freutel, Staff Officer (Strategic Issues and Engagement), Headquarters Supreme Allied Commander Transformation
  • Lieutenant Colonel ITA, Andrea Martorana, Staff Officer (Strategic Engagement and Coordination), Headquarters Supreme Allied Commander Transformation
  • Guido Buccardi, Sciences Po Paris
  • Lorenzo Cavallon, Sciences Po Paris
  • Pablo Lopez Ortiz, Universidad de Navarra
  • Kirellos Abdel Miseih, King's College London
15:30 - 16:00

Serving the Mission in the Private Sector: Lessons from Government Service to Google

16:00 - 16:30

Diplomatic Approaches to Security 

16:30 - 17:00

The Everyday Practice of Democracy

  • The Honorable Elizabeth Jones, Former Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, U.S. Department of State
  • Alexa Dominique Pascual, Women’s Empowerment Activist and Young Advocate
  • The Honorable Russell E. Travers ‘78, Senior Advisor, Office of Intelligence and Analysis, Department of Homeland Security; former Acting and Deputy Director, National Counterterrorism Center; and former Deputy Director of Homeland Security, National Security Council
  • Moderator: Professor Teresa Longo, Senior International Officer, William & Mary
17:00 - 17:05

Announcement of 2023 WMGIC x NATO Countering Disinformation Challenge

17:05 - 17:15

Reflections from NATO Allied Command Transformation

17:15 - 17:20

Closing Poll

  • Colleen Grace '23, President, Ivy League Veterans Council; William & Mary
17:20 - 17:30 Closing Remarks
Closing Reception
2023 NATO Youth Summit Graphic

Social Media Toolkit

Join in the conversation during the 2023 NATO Youth Summit using the images and suggested posts in our social media toolkit.

Institutional Partners

American Academy of Diplomacy LogoCEPA LogoCEPS LogoDEF LogoFriends of Europe LogoGlobally LogoNational Press Club LogoNational Security Innovation Network Logo

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