Former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan is to open this year’s NAFSA: Association of International Educators’ Annual Conference and Expo in St Louis, USA.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner, who is a long time advocate for human rights, development and peace, will address around 8,000 international educators from 120 countries at the opening plenary on Tuesday, May 28.
“Annan revitalised the United Nations, bringing it closer to the public”
Former Costa Rican President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Oscar Arias and former US Marine and peace activist Rye Barcott are also due to speak at the conference, which runs from May 26-31.
NAFSA’s annual conference is the world’s largest gathering of international education professionals, offering learning and networking opportunities and more than 200 sessions and workshops over four days.
More than 8,400 delegates attended last year’s event in Houston and a similar turnout is expected this year.
Writing in her blog, executive director and CEO Marlene M Johnson said: “We’re thrilled that Annan, former secretary-general of the United Nations, will be the opening plenary speaker… An advocate for human rights, development, and peace, he revitalised the United Nations, bringing it closer to the public by forging ties with civil society, the private sector, and other partners.”
