Diplomacy Society: Head of Event

Through writing for The Diplomacy Review and researching geopolitical issues across regions such as Central Asia and Eastern Europe, I’ve developed a strong interest in how spaces like the Diplomacy Society can bring discussions on international affairs beyond the classroom.

Alongside this, I’ve previously organised and led a range of discussion-based events through roles such as Chair of my school’s Debate Club and a committee member in Model United Nations, where I coordinated debates, guided discussions, and helped create spaces for students to engage with complex global issues.

As Head of Events, I’d be particularly interested in building on the society’s existing speaker events by introducing more interactive formats where students can actively engage with ideas, such as policy debates, moderated discussions on current geopolitical developments, and smaller roundtable-style conversations with speakers. My goal would be to create events that not only bring interesting guests to UCL but also encourage meaningful exchange between students interested in international affairs.

I’m running for Head of Events because I want to contribute to the amazing diplomatic opportunities and initiatives organised by the Diplomacy Society and help them continue to grow.

Serving as First-Year Representative this year gave me valuable insight into the committee’s work behind the scenes. I’ve seen firsthand the planning, coordination, and attention to detail required to organise successful events and ensure they run smoothly. This experience has strengthened my understanding of what it takes to deliver meaningful and well-executed initiatives.

I’m eager to maintain and further develop our ongoing events, such as embassy visits, panel discussions, and socials, while also bringing fresh ideas to the table. I believe we can continue expanding our reach and impact by introducing new formats and collaborations that keep members engaged and inspired. As a class representative, I’ve developed strong time management and teamwork skills, both of which are essential for this role. I’m organised, proactive, and committed to following through on responsibilities.

I want to deliver events that, at their core, provide opportunities to stay informed, discuss pressing global issues, network with professionals, engage with diverse perspectives, and deepen our understanding of diplomacy. I am committed to organising events with our members and their interests in mind, ensuring they are relevant, inclusive, and impactful. Not only to inform, but to shape this vibrant community!

I’m running to be one of the next head of events for UCL Diplomacy Society because I want to build upon the hard work of our past committee members in ensuring that the society is the leading place within UCL for exposure to the world of diplomacy. After all, building bridges is a central tenet of the field.

My visions for our events calendar aim to deliver dynamic engagement amongst members and greater access to the professional world.

On the first front, to increase member participation, I plan to organize debate nights where members can clash over contentious issues in a safe environment, providing an avenue to express the strong opinions majority of our members have and producing constructive dialogues in pursuit of more refined policies. 

We are fortunate to listen to several high-profile speakers each year and visit embassies across London. In addition to continuing this, I hope to increase the number of embassy visits and secure other off-campus events such as tours of think tanks and Westminster. 

I worked on the 2024 election campaign of U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and the 2022 campaign of U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA), both of which resulted in victories. I have also written for local news outlets in Washington, frequently interviewing legislators and judges. As a result, I am experienced in the world of diplomacy and well positioned to deliver better experiences for UCL Diplomacy Society. Vote for me and get ready for an action-packed calendar next year!

My name is Naga Karthik, and I'm a first-year BSc Politics and International Relations student at UCL. I'm running for Head of Events because I believe great diplomacy doesn't just happen in lecture halls. It's built through the conversations, connections, and experiences that events make possible. As Deputy Head Girl at Ursuline Academy, I developed the leadership, communication, and organisational skills that event leadership demands. Representing my school, coordinating initiatives, and bringing students together taught me that a well-run event doesn't just inform. It inspires. As a student of international relations, I understand the weight that diplomacy carries. Events within our society are more than socials. They are opportunities to simulate real-world dialogue, invite diverse perspectives, and create a space where students genuinely engage with global issues. I want to bring that intentionality to every panel, workshop, and networking event we host.

I'm passionate about building a programme that is inclusive, intellectually stimulating, and practically valuable for every member. With my background in leadership, representation, and bringing people together, I'm ready to hit the ground running and make the Diplomatic Society's events something our members are genuinely proud of. I'd be honoured to have your support.

Hello, I'm Anusha and I would love to be part of the events team! 

Throughout the year I have enjoyed the visits to the embassies, the speaker events and the panels. I would love to help organise them in the future to ensure that next year people will find the events just as enjoyable and inspiring as they were for me. As part of the events team next year, I would love to directly hear more about which embassies society members would like to go to specifically and which speakers members would feel would be most interesting to hear. I would also like to host more networking and social events to help bring together more people from different degrees who are interested in diplomacy. 

I am very passionate about diplomacy and current affairs and I have taken part in Model UN as well as interning in a geopolitical risk firm. This year, after attending the events, I believe I have a lot to contribute to the team including my experience as general secretary of the Geographical society where I coordinated and organised career panels by reaching out to industry professionals and built a wider network. 

On the Record
BSc Politics and International Relations, UCL (Graduating 2028)
30 Model UN conferences — Secretary General and organiser of KMUN
Founded Delegates on the Horizon — youth education in foreign policy and diplomacy
3x TEDx Speaker
Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge — top 3 India, top 40 worldwide
Debate Club President, Model UN Head
Fluent in English, French, Hindi, Gujarati
Interned in risk analysis, data analytics, digital marketing

The Proposed Agenda - improvements
Ripple — members-only, activating during major world events. Each edition brings together political consultants, economists, humanitarian peacemakers, and voices from opposing sides of a conflict — to understand how global crises trickle down into real lives. Limited seats. Exclusive access. No two editions alike.
Track One — weekly workshops around specific diplomatic career paths: foreign service, international law, political consulting, humanitarian work. Tailored, hands-on, career-ready.
The Diplomacy Review, Real-Time — editorial workshops closing the gap between the world moving and our words catching up.
Bentham Brooks Pipeline — direct access to think tank work and the professionals who do it.
Inter-University Partnerships — UK-wide collaborations for richer editorial, bigger networks, livelier socials.
UCL Diplomacy Ball — annual celebration of this society.
Wednesday Socials — because diplomacy runs on relationships.
Open to your ideas — [email protected]

Dear fellow Diplomacy Society Members, 

My name is Angelica, and I am a Philosophy, Politics, and Economics student. I am excited to run for being Head of Events in the Diplomacy Society! 

I am currently working on three exciting events for the upcoming weeks: 1) In collaboration with our Careers Officer, a careers panel where professionals from the public, private, and academic sectors will share their career paths in International Relations with students; 2) Leading the first panel discussion for the London University Diplomacy Summit, which will focus on intensifying political and societal polarization; and 3) Organizing a visit to the Turkish Embassy. I hope these events will engage, inspire, and provide valuable insights for you, and I look forward to creating similarly engaging (if not even better) events in the coming year. 

After getting to know some of you throughout this past year, I am confident I can continue to collaborate effectively with you and the committee to create meaningful events that support your academic and career goals.  

I look forward to working with you, whether by being your Head of Events or as an active member of the Diplomacy Society. Thank you for considering me – I would love the opportunity to kickstart engaging events with you! 

~ Angelica :) 

Hi everyone!

Have you ever spent months organising a summer school for 150 young economists, many of whom were so brilliant that they genuinely seemed smarter than you? I have. Bringing that project to life meant coordinating documents, inviting leading teachers. Not everyone agreed immediately, and persuading busy experts created new challenges along the way. But solving those problems taught me something important: organising ambitious events genuinely motivates me.

Moreover, as an international student, I know how difficult it can be to build connections among people who may initially have almost NOTHING in common. At first, the only things you might share are a university offer and a second language! Yet over time those connections often become some of the strongest ones. This experience gave me a real interest in bringing people together and creating meaningful networks.

While continuing traditions like embassy visits and panel discussions, as Head of Event I would also place greater emphasis on informal socials that help people connect more naturally. From my side, you could expect:

• Informal events connecting different UCL societies and potentially other universities to help our network keep growing.

• Long-term collaborations with organisations and professionals, including themed panels where several speakers from the same field share different perspectives.

I would be very excited to contribute to the Diplomacy society, hope to see many of you at events next year!

Diplomacy can often feel overwhelming, especially when combined with the responsibilities of university life. That is why, if elected, I would like to introduce Cross-Cultural Evenings, a chillax event where members can explore how diplomacy is shaped by culture, history, politics, and tradition in a social setting. Each session would be run by one or two volunteer members who would present their country’s diplomatic culture and how it shapes the international landscape. This would not only build confidence in public speaking, but also foster a more representative and inclusive environment by highlighting diplomatic diversity.

Alongside introducing new ideas, I will work within the committee to continue and potentially expand existing events. Building on the current embassy visits and panels, we could also incorporate moderated roundtable discussions with experts and officials on key diplomatic concepts, such as sovereignty, which are fundamental to diplomacy yet widely debated. This could broaden our understanding of theoretical perspectives and their real-world implications, while also ensuring the society remains accessible to members from diverse academic backgrounds.

As an elected member, I would also be open to any suggestions for events, so feel free to reach out anytime. My aim is for us to have an outstanding year with many engaging and fruitful events ahead. I hope you all have a great rest of term, and vote Özgür!