February 26, 2024

On February 25th, the French-American Foundation hosted a distinguished Policy Soirée at Greenberg Traurig, featuring Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, alongside esteemed speakers including Ambassador Nicolas de Rivière and Marc Lacey. The event, graciously hosted by our Chairman Ed Wallace, offered profound insights into the pressing global challenges of today, highlighting the UN’s critical role and efforts in international diplomacy. The engaging discussions led by Dujarric, de Rivière, and Lacey provided attendees with a deeper understanding of the complexities facing the world stage, underscoring the Foundation’s dedication to promoting meaningful dialogue on key international issues.

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About the speakers:

Stéphane Dujarric is the Spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres. He was appointed to this position in February 2014 by the previous Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon.

As Spokesperson, Mr. Dujarric provides information to the global media on the activities of the Secretary-General and the entire United Nations system, through daily live-streamed briefings, official statements, media interviews and off-the-record conversations. He and his team advise the Secretary-General and other senior UN officials on their media interactions, and coordinate interviews and briefings with media outlets around the world.

Mr. Dujarric began his career with the United Nations 22 years ago as an Associate Spokesperson. After serving as chief spokesperson for former Secretary-General Kofi Annan from 2005 to 2006, he led communications teams in senior roles across the UN system. As Director of News and Media, he oversaw the UN’s television, radio and photo operations, and as Director of Communications for the United Nations Development Programme, he helped to tell the UN’s story around the world. Prior to joining the United Nations, Mr. Dujarric worked for ABC television news for almost ten years as a journalist and producer in New York, London and Paris.

Born in France, Mr. Dujarric is a graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in Washington DC. He graduated from United Nations International School (UNIS) in 1983 and previously served 8 years on the Board of Trustee.

Nicolas de Rivière will take office as Ambassador, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations in New York on 8th July 2019.

A graduate from the “Condorcet” class of French Ecole nationale d’administration (ENA), Nicolas de Rivière was previously Director General of Political and Security Affairs at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (2014-2019). He also served as Assistant Secretary for United Nations, International Organizations, Human Rights and Francophonie (2011- 2014) and Deputy Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations in New York (2009-2010).

Vice-President of EADS-Astrium in 2001-2002, Nicolas de Rivière then served in the offices of two Foreign Ministers: first, as Counselor for Economic Affairs, Asia and North America in the office of Dominique de Villepin (2002-2004), then as Counselor for International Economic issues, Asia and Americas in the office of Michel Barnier (2004-2005).

Nicolas de Rivière has also served at the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations in New York (2005-2010) as well as in Washington (1997-2001) and The Hague (1994- 1997). Nicolas de Rivière was conferred the insignia of Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur in July 2015.

Marc Lacey is the managing editor of The New York Times. In two decades at The Times, he also served as assistant managing editor, national editor, weekend editor, deputy foreign editor and a correspondent based in Washington, Nairobi, Mexico City and Phoenix.

Previously, he worked at the Los Angeles Times, Buffalo News and Washington Post. He participated in coverage of the Los Angeles riots in 1992 and the Northridge earthquake in 1994, both of which won Pulitzer Prizes for spot news reporting. A graduate of Cornell, he started in journalism at the Cornell Daily Sun, where he was editor in chief.