EVENT RECAP: Northern Ireland Emerging Leaders Conference

NCAFP Hosts Inaugural Northern Ireland
Emerging Leaders Conference

November 15, 2024

The National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP) held its inaugural conference for the Northern Ireland Emerging Leaders program in New York City on October 8-9, 2024. This engaging two-day event brought together NCAFP’s Northern Ireland Emerging Leaders with policymakers, experts, and influential figures to explore innovative policy ideas aimed at fostering a more secure and inclusive future for Northern Ireland and beyond.

The conference opened with remarks from Joe Kennedy III, the United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland, who underscored the critical challenges facing the region and stressed the importance of strengthening transatlantic ties. U.S. Congressman Richard Neal, a key figure in Northern Ireland’s peace negotiations, followed with a reflection on America’s role in advancing these vital relationships.

The conference featured engaging panels connecting emerging leaders with prominent figures. Highlights included discussions on human rights policy with Kerry Kennedy, President of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, and healthcare reform with Michael J. Dowling, President and CEO of Northwell Health. The event also included academics and journalists addressing a variety of key issues, along with panel and side events featuring high-level representatives from the British and Irish Consulates in New York.

During the two-day event, leaders presented their final policy papers on critical issues in Northern Ireland that affect global and transatlantic relations. These topics included refugee integration, environmental challenges, early childhood intervention, barriers to women’s political participation, minority language rights, and reforms in education and healthcare. The conference concluded with a guided tour of the United Nations, offering emerging leaders valuable insights into global initiatives as they finalized their policy recommendations.

The conference, while covering a diverse range of topics, highlighted the profound connections between these subjects in shaping a better future—not only for Northern Ireland but for the world at large. As we celebrate over 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement, it is increasingly important to weave these interconnected threads together to contribute to a brighter future for all.

The Northern Ireland Emerging Leaders program is a yearlong transatlantic mentorship program for next generation community leaders and policy practitioners from across the region.

To learn more about the Northern Ireland Emerging Leaders program, CLICK HERE

View highlights from the event below.