Talking Foreign Affairs has signed an MOU with the United Nations Association of Australia’s Young Professionals Network to develop a Goodwill Ambassador Series. The series will feature interviews with UN Goodwill Ambassadors to discuss critical issues related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

UN Goodwill Ambassadors are distinguished individuals carefully selected from fields such as art, literature, science, entertainment, and sports, who have agreed to help focus global attention on the work of the United Nations. Each UN specialized agency and program has its own goodwill ambassadors who champion causes important to them. Notable examples over the years include Emma Watson (UN Women – Gender Equality) and Liam Neeson (UNICEF – Children’s Rights).

The series will feature interviews with UN Goodwill Ambassadors co-hosted by Adil Cader of Talking Foreign Affairs and a representative from the UNAA’s Young Professionals Program Executive. The goal is to raise awareness of the advocacy work conducted by the UN Goodwill Ambassadors. Alongside releasing interview snippets, the program will include week-long social media awareness campaigns focused on the specific global causes championed by the ambassadors. It will also provide information for young people on how they can get involved and contribute to these efforts.

In a statement about the new partnership with the UNAA, Adil Cader of Talking Foreign Affairs said, “We are excited to partner with a like-minded organization like the UNAA to raise awareness of the SDGs to a global audience. We look forward to working together to display the incredible work done by UN agencies and their Goodwill Ambassadors, raising awareness of key issues and encouraging our audiences to take action.”

Founded in 1946 with the goal of engaging Australians in the work of the United Nations and creating a safer and more sustainable world, the United Nations Association of Australia and its Young Professionals Program have spearheaded numerous UN awareness-raising initiatives related to international peace, human rights, and sustainable development. With state-level and national branches comprising professionals across sectors, the UNAA is committed to educating Australians about the United Nations’ various operations and the importance of addressing global humanitarian and security challenges. The UNAA’s mission is to “Inform, inspire, and engage Australians on the work, goals, and values of the United Nations to create a safer, fairer, more sustainable world.”

UNAA YP Executive Josh Karras stated “The UNAA’s Young Professionals Network is dedicated to engaging and empowering the emerging generation of leaders and Global Citizens. Through our collaboration with Talking Foreign Affairs on the Goodwill Ambassador Series, we aim to empower young people with the critical work of the United Nations, inspiring them to act on global challenges. Some of the UN Goodwill Ambassadors have done some amazing work and we are excited to partner with TFA to deliver this program.”

Talking Foreign Affairs is a start-up initiative that aims to educate and encourage young people to play an active role in foreign affairs and diplomacy and to combat global challenges. Focusing on key themes in current global affairs and humanitarian issues, Talking Foreign Affairs has interviewed over 35 world leaders and now seeks to expand its reach to prominent voices in various professional fields through its new partnership with the UNAA and the Goodwill Ambassador Series.