On 7 November 2019, the Geneva Center for Security Policy (GCSP) held its third Global Alumni Networking Night (GANN), which took place in 32 cities across the globe and for the first time in The Hague. The event was hosted at the residence of His Excellency Dr Heinz Walker-Nederkoorn the Ambassador of Switzerland in the Netherlands. Dr Daniel Trottier and PhD Candidate Rashid Gabdulhakov represented Erasmus University in this gathering.
Rooting back to the Geneva Summit of 1985, when the Swiss government established an executive course in security for the government officials, the GCSP is a unique foundation that successfully addresses the ever-evolving global security challenges. With the alumni community of over 8,200 members in 167 countries, the GCSP brings together policymakers, diplomats, practitioners, academics, business professionals and NGOs to learn from each other and to change the world “one classroom at a time”, by crafting custom solutions for security. These interactions, of course, spread far beyond the boundaries of the GCSP headquarters in Geneva.
PhD Candidate Rashid Gabdulhakov is an alumnus of the GCSP where he completed the Leadership in International Security course and received a Master of Advanced Studies Degree in International and European Security. Rashid took the initiative to coordinate the local gathering of the GCSP alumni and friends in the Netherlands. The Embassy of Switzerland in the Netherlands kindly supported the gathering.
During the reception, GCSP alumni and friends had the chance to network and to establish a dialogue between the academics, the practitioners, and the diplomats. The discussion centred around three pressing topics that participants identified as most relevant: cyber security; climate and environment; gender and inclusiveness. Dr Daniel Trottier and Rashid Gabdulhakov had the chance to spotlight the NWO supported project on Digital Vigilantism as the non-conventional pillar of cyber security.
Event organisers are grateful to Eleni Theodorou – Private Advisor; Elza Metopishvili from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons; Nahid Jafarov from the Wake Up Political Movement; Matt Luna from the Institute for Environmental Security; Christopher Rose from the NATO Support and Procurement Agency; and to Jean Yves Ndzana Ndzana from the University of Leiden for their active participation in the reception.
Additional gratitude is expressed to Matteo Fachinotti - Head of Military Affairs at the Swiss Embassy; Mirko Zambelli - Deputy Head of Mission at the Swiss Embassy; and His Excellency Dr Heinz Walker-Nederkoorn – Ambassador of Switzerland in the Netherlands, for their hospitality and networking opportunities.
All event participants are grateful to the Head of Community Engagement at the GCSP Ms Isabelle Gillet for the support and coordination of this exciting event.
