Can the UN ever be really neutral?

This year, the John and Elnora Ferguson Memorial Lecture will be delivered by Sir John Holmes, Former United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.

John and Elnora Ferguson were long-standing and hugely generous supporters of both the University of Birmingham and the United Nations Association of the UK (UNA-UK). This lecture series is a fitting tribute to a remarkable couple. John Ferguson served as Chair of the UNA-UK Board of Directors during the 1970s and early 1980s, while Elnora was President of UNA Central Region until 2008. Elnora was also a significant donor to the University through her work as Chair of the Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust.

Sir John Holmes is Director of the Ditchley Foundation and former UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. A career diplomat, he has served the British government for more than thirty years and has extensive experience on conflict. Sir John joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1973 and served in a wide range of diplomatic roles in New York, Moscow and New Delhi. He has worked on the Lebanon and Middle East peace processes and was awarded a knighthood in 1998 primarily for his role in the Northern Ireland Peace Process and Good Friday agreement. He served as Private Secretary (Overseas Affairs) to John Major and Principal Private Secretary to Tony Blair.

If you would like to attend this lecture, please complete our registration form online, or contact Kylie Morris, Stakeholder Relations Assistant, on 0121 414 8782 to register your interest.