How are emerging technologies reshaping the landscape of disarmament and non-proliferation? The 4th annual ACONA Conference brings together leading experts and emerging voices to explore the critical intersections of technology, security, and diplomacy. The one-day conference is open to the public and will feature Katrín Gunnarsdóttir (Iceland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs), Christine Keung (Venture Partner at J2 Ventures), and Tong Zhao (Senior Fellow at the Nuclear Policy Program at Carnegie China) – among others.
The Conference marks the end of the 2024/2025 ACONA Fellowship. More information on the program can be found here.
When: May 23, 2025, 9 am – 6.30 pm
Where: The Nordic House in Reykjavík | The conference will be streamed.
Please register for in person participation using this online form. Please register for online participation using this online form.
Program
09:00 – 09:20 Opening Remarks
- Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector | University of Iceland
- Arvid Bell (Chair of ACONA Executive Board), CEO | Negotiation Task Force
- Pia Hansson (Chair of the Conference and member of ACONA Executive Board), Director of the Institute of International Affairs | University of Iceland
09:20 - 09:30 Spotlight Session: Private Sector and Arms Control
- Christine Keung, Venture partner | J2 Ventures
09:30 – 10:45 Panel: “Tech for War or Tech for Peace? Science, Innovation, and Emerging Technologies in a New Geopolitical Era”
- Christopher Ford, Founding Director of the Center for Strategic Competition | MITRE Corporation
- Christine Keung, Venture partner | J2 Ventures
- Erlingur Erlingsson, Defence expert and former Icelandic diplomat
- Sibylle Bauer, Director of Studies, Armament and Disarmament | Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
Moderator: Christopher Daase (Member of ACONA Executive Board), Deputy Director | Peace Research Institute Frankfurt
11:00 - 11:45 Panel: ACONA Innovation Roundtable
- Mariana Budjeryn (Member of ACONA Executive Board), Senior Research Associate | Belfer Center, Harvard Kennedy School
- Sascha Hach (ACONA Associate), Researcher | Peace Research Institute Frankfurt
- TBA, ACONA Fellow '25 (Negotiation Award Winner)
- TBA, ACONA Fellow '25 (Policy Memo Award Winner)
Commentator: Darius Rahimi, Head of the Nuclear Arms Control, Non-proliferation and Disarmament Division | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Federal Republic of Germany
11:45 - 12:00 Conference Address
- Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Foreign Minister | Iceland
12:45 - 14:15 Panel: “Lessons Learned from History: The Path Toward Cooperation During the Cold War”
- Togzhan Kassenova, Senior Fellow | Center for Policy Research, University of Albany
- Rósa Magnúsdóttir, Professor of History | University of Iceland
- Pavel Palazhchenko (Member of ACONA International Advisory Board), Head of the International Relations and PR Department | The Gorbachev Foundation
- Nicholas Wheeler, Professor of International Relations | University of Birmingham
Moderator: Mariana Budjeryn (Member ofACONA Executive Board), Senior Research Associate | Belfer Center, Harvard Kennedy School
14:30 - 15:45 Politics Panel: “Negotiation, Leadership, and Trust in Times of Crisis”
- Philipp C. Bleek, Professor in Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies | Middlebury Institute of International Studies
- Darius Rahimi, Head of the Nuclear Arms Control | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Federal Republic of Germany
- Nikolai Sokov, Senior Fellow | Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation
- Tong Zhao (ACONA Associate), Senior Fellow | Carnegie Endowment for Peace, China
Moderator: Nicole Deitelhoff, Executive Director | Peace Research Institute Frankfurt
15:45 - 16:00 Closing Remarks
- Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, President of Iceland (2016–2024), Professor of History, University of Iceland, and Chair of the Board, Institute of International Affairs
16:00 - 17:30 Closing Reception