From 21-23 September 2009, the Graduate Institute’s Centre for International Governance (CIG) and the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterrey, California, played joint host to the Global Security Challenges Roundtable, which took place at the US Mission to the United Nations in Geneva as part of the Centre’s multistakeholder facilitation platform.

This event focused on contemporary Global Security Challenges. Over a two-day period, participants discussed and exchanged views on non-traditional security issues, focusing on economy, energy, and human security, cyber-security and critical infrastructure protection. Debates focused on cross-cutting challenges, which could become opportunities to learn across sectors and disciplines. The Centre’s wide ranging expertise and experience meant that it was able to ensure participation by an audience drawn from a wide diversity of backgrounds which contributed to enriching the exchange of experiences. The event therefore brought together renowned academics, experts from international organisations, as well as former members of the US Navy.

Keynote speakers at the event included Mr. Talal Abu Ghazaleh, Chairman and founder of the Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organisation, Mr. Doug Griffiths, Chargé d’affaires with the US Permanent Mission to the United Nations and other International Organisations, and H.E. Ambassador Luzius Wasescha, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the World Trade Organisation. They were joined by Professors Andrew Clapham and Giacomo Luciani from the Graduate Institute along with several other eminent experts and specialists. A report of this event will be published in the near future.

The Monterrey-based Naval Postgraduate School was founded 100 years ago in 1909. It was intended to provide graduate education for naval officers. From an original focus on marine and naval engineering, today its programmes also include Business Studies, Information Sciences and International Studies among others. In addition it features several research centres and institutes.

The mission of the Graduate Institute’s Centre for International Governance is to build the capacities of interested parties to improve their efficiency and ability to function in an increasingly complex and changing environment. It works on mandates from institutions to improve their performance and their understanding of international governance. It acts as a secretariat, convening meetings and issuing policy briefs to prepare, facilitate and improve multi-stakeholder negotiation processes. It also functions as an interactive exchange platform to enhance best practices and innovative ideas for new solutions to governance issues through meetings, workshops and conferences.

	For more information on the activities of the Centre for International Governance, please visit http://graduateinstitute.ch/cig
	For more information about the Naval Postgraduate School, please visit http://www.nps.edu/