About the Conference
As the mandate of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres approaches its conclusion in December 2026, the international community is beginning to reflect on the leadership, priorities and qualities required to guide the Organisation through one of the most challenging periods in its history.
The United Nations faces a complex international environment marked by geopolitical tensions, armed conflicts, climate change, technological disruption, growing inequalities and declining trust in multilateral institutions. At the same time, it remains a cornerstone of the international rules-based order and an essential platform for international cooperation.
The appointment of a new Secretary-General provides an important opportunity for Member States, civil society, academia and young people to reflect on the future of multilateralism and the leadership needed to strengthen the United Nations.
Against this backdrop, the Conference will bring together former and current senior UN officials, diplomats, government representatives, academics, youth leaders and civil society representatives for an inclusive dialogue on the future of UN leadership after 2026. Discussions will address the evolving role of the Secretary-General, the priorities and qualities expected of the next leader, and the challenges facing the Organisation in an increasingly fragmented international system.
Portugal occupies a unique position in this debate. Having provided the current Secretary-General and maintaining a longstanding commitment to multilateral diplomacy, Portugal is well placed to convene an international dialogue on the future of the United Nations and the renewal of confidence in multilateral cooperation.
The Conference will also highlight the contribution of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) to international peace, sustainable development and global governance, while providing young people with a platform to share their vision for the future of the United Nations.
We invite you to join us in Lisbon for this timely and important conversation. Come and be part of the dialogue on the future of the United Nations, hear from leading international voices, and contribute to a shared reflection on the leadership and multilateralism the world will need in the years ahead.
Programme
09:00 AM – 10:00 AM – Registration
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM – Opening Ceremony
- Ricardo Ramos Pinto, President, Instituto Superior de Ciências Sociais e Políticas da Universidade de Lisboa (ISCSP)
- Mário Parra da Silva, Secretary-General, United Nations Association Portugal
- Aziel Goulandris, Secretary-General, World Federation of United Nations Associations
10:30 AM – 10:50 AM Coffee Break
10:50 AM – 11:00 AM – UN leadership: navigating the future, transformation and responsibility.
- Ana Martinho – Ambassador, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – The Future of UN Leadership
- Teodora Mileska, Young Leader for the SDGs, United Nations
- Tiago Serras Rodrigues, Director of Multilateral Policy Services, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Vasco Malta, Chief of Mission, IOM Portugal
- Moderation: Carla Costa, Professor, Instituto Superior de Ciências Sociais e Políticas da Universidade de Lisboa (ISCSP)
12:00 AM – 13:00 – PM The UN We Want: Youth Expectations for the Future
- António Pedro Pinho, United Nations Foundation
- Filipa Pinheiro, Participant, 2nd Edition of Model UN ISCSP
- Francisco Garcia, President, Portuguese National Youth Council
- Lars Westra, Former EU Youth Delegate to the United Nations
- Odara Brito, Participant, 2nd Edition of Model UN ISCSP
- Moderation: Henrique Gussul, Alternate Member of the Board of Directors, United Nations Association Portugal
13:00 PM – 2:30 PM – Lunch
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM – Reimagining the United Nations: What Role for the CPLP?
- Ana Semedo, Ambassador of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau to Portugal
- Tito Mba Ada, Ambassador of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea to Portugal
- Juliano Féres Nascimento, Permanent Ambassador of Brazil to the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP)
- José António Delgado, First Counsellor of the Embassy of Cabo Verde in Portugal
- Moderation: Andrea Valente, Professor at the Institute of Social and Political Sciences, University of Lisbon (ISCSP)
3:30 PM – 3:50 PM – Performance by Tuna Académica do ISCSP
3:50 PM – 4:20 PM Closing Ceremony
- Luís Natal Marques, President, United Nations Association Portugal
- Ana Isabel Xavier – Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation