Opening Dinner Program
Al Mirqab Ballroom, Four Seasons Hotel Doha, 6:30 – 10PM
Welcome Remarks
Zahra Babar (Center for International and Regional Studies, Georgetown University in Qatar)
Faculty Chair Dr. Edward Kolla (Georgetown University in Qatar)
Opening Remarks
Provost Robert Groves (Georgetown University)
Dean Safwan Masri (Georgetown University in Qatar)
Keynote Address
Dr. Barham Salih, former President of the Republic of Iraq
In Conversation with Dr. Barham Salih
Peter Harling (Synaps Network)
Opening Panel: The Invasion of Iraq and Global Diplomacy
Laila Al-Shaikhli, Moderator (Al Jazeera)
His Excellency Mr. Timmy Davis (Ambassador of the United States to the State of Qatar)
His Excellency Mr. Jonathan Wilks (Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the State of Qatar)
Closing Remarks
Dean Safwan Masri
Zahra Babar
Zahra Babar is Associate Director of Research at the Center for International and Regional Studies at Georgetown University in Qatar.
Faculty Chair Dr. Edward Kolla
Dr. Edward Kolla is an Associate Professor of History at Georgetown University in Qatar. His work sits at the intersection of history, international relations, and law and includes Sovereignty, International Law, and the French Revolution. His areas of expertise are European history and the history of international law. Dr. Kolla’s first book, Sovereignty, International Law, and the French Revolution, examines the impact and effect of the French Revolution on international law, specifically tracing the emergence of popular sovereignty as a justification for claims to territory. This history is critical for understanding the later development of national self-determination. His current major research project is a history of the passport and he presently serves as the Faculty Chairperson in Qatar.
Provost Robert Groves
Dr. Robert M. Groves is the Gerard J. Campbell, S.J. Professor in the Math and Statistics Department as well as the Sociology Department at Georgetown University where he has served as the Executive Vice President and Provost since 2012.
Dean Safwan Masri
Dr. Safwan M. Masri is Dean of Georgetown University in Qatar and Distinguished Professor of the Practice at Georgetown’s Walsh School of Foreign Service.
His Excellency Dr. Barham Salih
His Excellency Dr. Barham Salih served as the 8th president of the Republic of Iraq, presiding from 2018 to 2022, and founder of the American University of Iraq, in Sulaimani. Previously, he served as prime minister of the Kurdistan Region from 2009 to 2012, and from 2001 to 2004.
Peter Harling
Peter Harling is the Founder and Director of Synaps, a Beirut-based consultancy group focused on developing innovative forms of knowledge production on important regional issues. Mr. Harling has spent more than 20 years working across the Middle East as an academic, a journalist, and a political advisor. An expert on conflict prevention, he served with the International Crisis Group for a decade, including as special advisor for the Middle East and as country director for a number of different MENA states. Additionally, in 2013 he served as an advisor to Lakhdar Brahimi, at that time the joint United Nations and Arab League Special Envoy for Syria. Notably, Mr. Harling reported from and on Iraq, for Le Monde Diplomatique before, during, and after the invasion, from 2002 to 2006.
Opening Panel: The Invasion of Iraq and Global Diplomacy
In an engaging interview-style panel, this discussion will highlight the role of diplomacy during and after the invasion of Iraq. Each Ambassador’s unique perspective, derived from their personal experiences in Iraq will provide understanding of the pivotal role diplomats play in during and post conflict situations.
Laila Al-Shaikhli
Laila Al-Shaikhli began her professional TV career with a local TV station in Virginia, USA, in 1991 before joining the BBC World Service in London as a news anchor in 1994. In 1996 she joined the Middle East Broadcasting Center (MBC) and became the first female journalist to present a political show on Arab satellite TV. She later joined Abu Dhabi TV as a news anchor and talk show host in 1999. In 2006 she joined Al Jazeera Media Network as a presenter and later joined AlArab News Channel in Bahrain in 2014. Throughout her career, she has hosted numerous talk shows including Dialogue with the West (MBC), Agenda (MBC), Dunnia (ADTV) and Panorama (ADTV). Ms. Al-Shaikhli has covered international crises, global events and interviewed several Arab and world leaders as well as famous celebrities. She has received several media awards and was chosen as an Ambassador of Good Will to the Comoros Islands in 2008. In addition to her journalism career, she has been a media instructor since 2007 providing training in public speaking, news presenting, and how to talk to the media.
His Excellency Mr. Timmy T. Davis
His Excellency Mr. Timmy T. Davis was confirmed as U.S. Ambassador to the State of Qatar on August 4, 2022.
His Excellency Mr. Jonathan Wilks
His Excellency Mr. Jonathan Wilks assumed his role as the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to Qatar in March 2020. Ambassador Wilks previously served as Ambassador to the Republic of Iraq from 2017 to 2019.