PDAA president Mike Schneider served as moderator of the discussion. (Courtesy, Embassy of Sweden)
Update: 23 October 2013: Photos from the event are now online.
Update, 19 October 2013: Joe Johnson reviewed the discussion at this event for Public Diplomacy Council, Swedes, Dutch and Brits Make Their Public Diplomacy … Public.
Just what is public diplomacy, or PD? Can diplomacy even be public? For many countries PD is already an integral part of the way their embassies conduct business around the world. This is especially true in Washington.
Public Diplomacy Alumni Association and Embassy of Sweden joined forces at House of Sweden on Tuesday, October 15 to sponsor a late-afternoon panel discussion of public diplomacy as practiced by three European embassies in Washington. The program featured a panel discussion and a behind-the-scenes look at diplomats at work, shedding light on the role of public diplomacy as they discuss what they do best.
Agenda
4:00 pm
Welcome by Ambassador of Sweden, Björn Lyrvall and introduction of program moderator, PDAA President, Dr. Michael D. Schneider
Public diplomacy overview: Dr. Schneider on current best PD practices and challenges of engaging with U.S. audiences
Panelist
– James Barbour, Press Secretary & Head of Communications, British Embassy
– Ilse van Overveld, Counselor for Public Diplomacy, Press & Culture, Embassy of the Netherlands
– Gabriella Augustsson, Public Diplomacy & Press Counselor, Embassy of Sweden
4:45 pm
Question-Answer/Discussion (30 mins.)
Closing Remarks, Dr. Schneider, PDAA President and Professor at the Washington branch of Syracuse University’s Maxwell School
5:30 pm
Informal reception, including an optional tour of House of Sweden.
House of Sweden is located at 2900 K Street, N.W., on the Potomac River, next to the Washington Harbor complex near the Kennedy Center.
