Since 2004, our most notable speakers have included UN leaders and senior staff, celebrities, and other luminaries from civil society and the private sector.

Meet the speakers who will join us at the 27th Session of the Youth Assembly in New York City.

Featured Speakers at the 27th Session of The Youth Assembly

António Guterres

Secretary General of the United Nations (video)

Sir Tony Blair

Former Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (video)

María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés

Fellow of the Robert Bosch Academy, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador and Former President of the UN General Assembly

Chris Williams

Director of New York Office, UN-Habitat

Robert Skinner

Deputy Director and Chief of Partnerships and Global Engagement, UN Department of of Global Communications

Brighton Kaoma

Global Director, United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network Youth (SDSN-Youth)

Dilip Chauhan

Deputy Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Innovation, New York City Office of International Affairs

Daniel Obst

President & CEO, AFS Intercultural Programs

Amalie Ferdinand

Chair of Board of Trustees, AFS Intercultural Programs

Explore the full programs and speaker list

The 27th Session of The Youth Assembly will cultivate a global network of young leaders and changemakers through exchange, education, action and impact. We will focus on four core areas where there are urgent challenges and exciting potential for young people to take action:

  • Youth: peace and politics, education and climate action
  • Global Health: mental health and Covid-19, effects on marginalized populations
  • Global Citizenship: leadership and resilience in today’s world
  • Digital Cooperation and Inclusion: technology and artificial intelligence
Explore the full program
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Who speaks at the Youth Assembly?

Past Youth Assembly speakers include former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, former UN Youth Envoy Ahmad Alhendawi, incumbent UN Youth Envoy Jayathma Wickramanayake, Presidents of the UN General Assembly, former UN Youth Champion Monique Coleman, American economist Jeffrey Sachs, Indian-American socio-political activist Arun Gandhi, and youth activists such as Alexandria Villasenor, Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, and Amani Al Khatahtbeh.

Explore past events