HOW DO WE BUILD A STRONGER, MORE EFFECTIVE UN?

GES 2026 is the largest annual gathering of UN supporters in the United States. The UN ready to meet the moment bringing together advocates, policymakers, UN leaders, and emerging changemakers. This isn’t another conference. It’s your opportunity to step into the room where global action begins and connect with the people working every day to shape the future of international cooperation.

This full day summit will be split into two separate sessions

The GES morning session will be held from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm at the Hilton Midtown Hotel.

New York Hilton Midtown Hotel
1335 Avenue of the Americas (6th Ave. at 53rd St.),
New York, NY 10019
Phone: +1 (212) 586-7000

The GES afternoon session will be held from 3:00 pm – 5:45 pm at the General Assembly Hall located within the United Nations Headquarters. Attendees will be able to queue in line for security at the visitor’s entrance/gate located at the corner of 46th Avenue and 1st Avenue.

Please note that attendees must go through security at the UN before entering the building. We encourage attendees to arrive in the queue no later than 2:30pm EST.

INTERGENERATIONAL CONSULTATION FOR GIRLS IN ICT DAY 2026

The UNA-USA Women’s Affinity Group Intergenerational Consultation is uniquely positioned within a pivotal global policy moment—Beijing+30, the launch of Spotlight Initiative 2.0, implementation of the Global Digital Compact, and forward positioning toward CSW71 and the acceleration of the 2030 Agenda.

Importantly, this consultation is a strategic bridge into the UNA-USA Global Engagement Summit, amplifying youth voices, strengthening intergenerational dialogue, and offering a tangible pathway for young leaders to engage in policy-informed, solution-oriented discussions on digital inclusion and safety. It creates an opportunity to translate global frameworks into lived experience, ensuring youth are not only participants, but co-creators of the digital future we are shaping.

Virtual Registration

MORNING SESSION

Hilton Midtown Hotel

7:00 am – 9:30 am Registration/Check In

9:30 am – 10:30 am Opening Plenary

Farah Salim Eck, Managing Director, UNA-USA
Michael Eaton, Executive Director, National Model UN
Will Davis, Director, UN Information Center Washington Office
The Future of Multilateralism:
- Ishaan Shah, Global Lead Next Generation Fellow, Our Future Agenda, UN Foundation
- Rory Mondshein, Coalition for the UN We Need
- Nina Brandt, Chief, Partnerships, Advocacy and Communications, UN Youth Office

10:30 am – 10:40 am Break

10:40 am – 11:30 am Breakout Sessions

Flash Talks: UN Agencies, Programs & Funds
- Moderator: Faith Leslie, Better World Campaign
- UNEP
- UNODC
- UN Women

Career Connex
- Moderator: Rachel McCave, Sr. Associate, Youth Engagement, UNA-USA
- Shawn Gregoire, Founder & CEO, Capstone Tech
- Will Davis, Director, UN Information Center Washington Office

Beyond the Blue Beret: Women’s Leadership in Global Peacekeeping
- Devi Palanivelu, Peace and Security Section, Department of Global Communications, UN
- Lieutenant Colonel Seitebatso Pearl Block, OMA
- Captain Lonnie L. Fields, Jr., United States Navy, Chief, Military Planning, Operations & Analysis Section, United Nations, Office of Military Affairs
- Alban Mendes de Leon, filmmaker, DGC

11:30 am – 11:40 am Break

11:40 am – 12:30 pm Breakout Sessions

Flash Talks: UN Agencies, Programs & Funds:
- Moderator: Madison Peak, Sr. Associate, Community Engagement, UNA-USA
- Elena Bertusi, Partnership Officer, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
- Fern Dunnapar Tilakamonkul, Senior Field Coordinator, The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
- Sarah Craven, Director ad Interim, Division for External Relations, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

US-UN Today & Tomorrow
- Moderator: Maria Amalla, Grassroots Advocacy Manager, UNA-USA
- Vincent Valdmanis, Director, Peace and Security Policy, Better World Campaign
- Jordie Hannum, Executive Direction, Better World Campaign
UNA-USA Blueprint to Think Global, Act Local
- Moderator: Farah Salim Eck, Managing Director, UNA-USA
- Darla Silva, Chief Program Officer, UNICEF
- Marco Fabian Sánchez, Director of Internal Communications, World Central Kitchen

LUNCH ON YOUR OWN AND DOORS OPEN FOR UN HEADQUARTERS SECURITY LINE AT 2:00 PM

AFTERNOON SESSION

UN General Assembly Hall

3:00 pm – 3:40 pm Opening Plenary

Performance by Teeks
Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, United Nations

4:00 pm – 4:30 pm Leveraging the American Decade of Sports for Global Diplomacy

Moderator: Liz Metreaux, Better World Campaign
Rabih El-Haddad, Director, Multilateral Diplomacy Division, UNITAR
David Hollander, NYU Assistant Dean of Real World and Clinical Professor with the Preston Robert Tisch Institute for Global Sport
Rob Placek, Senior Advisor, Office of Sports Diplomacy, U.S. Department of State

4:30 pm – 4:50 pm Building Blocks for the Next Secretary-General

Jarett Lash, 14th UNA-USA Youth Observer to the UN
Desiree Junfijiah, AI and Future Generations Fellow, UN Foundation

4:50 pm – 5:35 pm Bridging the Digital Divide: The Global Digital Compact in Action

Claire Melamed, Vice President, AI and Digital Cooperation Strategy, UN Foundation
Ursula Wyndhoven, ITU Representative to the United Nations
Chris Sharrock, Vice President, UN Affairs and International Organisations, Microsoft

5:35 pm – 5:50 pm Closing Plenary

Paul Presendieu, UNA-USA National Council Secretary and GES Advisory Committee Chair
Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm UNA-USA Affinity Group Happy Hour: Register Here

UNA-USA is thrilled to host all of you at in New York City, especially with the opportunity see all of you at the UN General Assembly Hall igniting those conversations that spark new ideas for the future. By registering for Global Engagement Summit 2026 you will officially become a UNA-USA member and receive access to benefits including unique career development opportunities, real-world advocacy experience, and opportunities to serve as a UNA-USA delegate at high-level UN events. Not to mention discounts on tours of the UN Headquarters in NYC!

HOTEL OPTIONS

Due to a shortened timeline around planning and implementation for GES2026, there are no assigned hotel room blocks at the New York Hilton Midtown. There are other hotel options near-by including Pod Hotels such as Pod 39 and Pod 51. Both of these Pod locations are well located in relation to the UN Headquarters and the Hilton Midtown.

THINGS TO SEE AND DO

Should you spend the weekend visiting New York City and enjoying its many adventure possibilities, here is a list of things to do and see all within the midtown Manhattan area: