IPDS Event 16 Mar 2026

Only Woman in the Room: Women in Diplomacy and Leadership

The month of March reminds us that conversations about women’s leadership are an opportunity to reflect on how institutions evolve, how representation shapes decision-making, and how women continue to influence diplomacy, governance, and global cooperation.

This webinar, Only Woman in the Room: Women in Diplomacy and Leadership, was organised by the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPDS) and The Diplomatic Insight. It captures something that statistics alone cannot measure: the lived experience of being the sole female voice at a negotiating table, in a cabinet chamber, or inside a diplomatic mission.

Date: Monday, 16 March 2026, 2:00 PM (Pakistan Standard Time)
Format: Online (Zoom)

The panel

The panel brought together women from the front lines of development, traditional diplomacy, humanitarian action, and professional protocol:

Ms. Van Nguyen, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP Pakistan
Ms. Naela Chohan, Former Ambassador of Pakistan
Ms. Pernille Ironside, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan
Ms. Catalina Bora, Founder of the Institute of Etiquette and Protocol
Dr. Nikoletta Hosso, President of the Organization of International Protocol Professionals

The programme also featured Dr. Farhat Asif, President of IPDS, and Irsa Khalid, Managing Editor of The Diplomatic Insight.