Halifax, Nova Scotia — As part of its important community outreach in Nova Scotia, Halifax International Security Forum will be holding a public panel discussion on international affairs tonight at Saint Mary’s University.

The discussion takes place the day before the Halifax International Security Forum begins its three-day annual conference at the Westin Nova Scotian Hotel.

“The goal of the Forum is to start conversations between decision-makers and opinion-leaders from around the world that help shape foreign policy,” said Peter Van Praagh, President of the Halifax International Security Forum. “Our partnership with Dalhousie and Saint Mary’s ensures that tomorrow’s leaders have a voice in those discussions.”

The panel, entitled Discord, Disruptions, Disorder: A World Without International Institutions, will take place on Thursday, November 15th from 7PM to 9PM in the McNally Theatre Auditorium of Saint Mary’s University at 923 Robie Street. The discussion will be moderated by Mercedes Stephenson, Host of The West Block on Global News, and Kenan Rahmani, an advisor to Syrian civil society organizations, most notably The White Helmets; Ayman Mhanna, Executive Director of the Samir Kassir Foundation in Beruit; Antonio Ramalho da Roche, Professor of International Relations at the University of Brasilia; and Daouda Sembene, former Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund.

“As a city with a truly global outlook, Halifax is a fitting site for this esteemed gathering of thinkers and problem solvers,” said Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, President and Vice-Chancellor of Saint Mary’s University. “We are extremely proud to host this year’s very timely public debate over the future of our global institutions.

“Our Forum partnership allows students to hear directly from international actors with hands-on experience who are tackling many of the issues that they are discussing in class,” said Richard Florizone, President of Dalhousie University. “We are honoured to be part of this year’s event and look forward to hosting another panel at Dalhousie in 2019.”

The Halifax International Security Forum is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Washington, DC.  The Forum is made possible by the generous support from its partners, including the Government of Canada, and the Halifax Canada Club.

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For more information, please contact:
Robin MacLachlan, Communications Manager
Halifax International Security Forum
(613) 294-6128

Cale Loney, University Communications Officer, External Affairs
Saint Mary’s University
(902) 420-5051

Marla Cranston, Communications Officer, Faculty of Arts
Saint Mary’s University
(902) 818-9988