City Diplomacy on the Rise
Brian Hanson talks with Penny Abeywardena and Henri-Paul Normandin about cities' diplomatic agendas.
Play Podcast
As cities grow in size and power, local governments are increasingly shaping their own diplomatic agendas independent from national governments. New York City's Commissioner for International Affairs Penny Abeywardena and Montréal's Director of International Relations Henri-Paul Normandin join Deep Dish to discuss the rise of city diplomacy.
About the Guests
Penny Abeywardena
Former Commissioner for International Affairs, New York City
Penny Abeywardena has held leadership roles in philanthropy, government, and multilateral institutions for more than 20 years. She is a contributing columnist at Forbes on leadership strategies. Her contributions have been recognized and celebrated by the United Nations and the World Economic Forum, among others. She was recently appointed to the rank of Knight in France’s National Order of Merit.
Henri-Paul Normandin
Director, International Relations, City of Montréal
In his current role, Henri-Paul Normandin spearheads innovative urban diplomacy on local and global issues. Former ambassador of Canada to Haiti and ambassador and deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, Normandin has been involved in diplomacy, peace and security, governance, human rights, and sustainable development in Asia, Africa, and the Americas for over thirty years.
Brian Hanson
Former Vice President, Studies
Brian Hanson served as the vice president of studies at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. He managed the Council's research operations and hosted the Council's weekly podcast, Deep Dish on Global Affairs.