Cross Community Prayer Service and Breakfast organised by the Queen’s Chaplaincies (Catholic Chaplaincy, Queen's University Belfast)
The focus of the world is set to be on Belfast when global political leaders past and present will arrive to mark the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement (B/GFA) in April.
Former President of the United States, President Bill Clinton, and the Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast, Secretary Hillary R. Clinton, are among the first global leaders to be announced as participants in an international conference to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement at Queen’s University.
Speaking ahead of the event, Former U.S. Secretary of State and Queen’s University Chancellor Hillary Clinton, said:
“Northern Ireland and Queen’s University are both close to Bill’s and my heart. It’s fitting that such a unique event will take place at Queen’s. The University makes a significant impact on the world through its outstanding research and innovation.
“I am proud to host this conference, which will bring together civic leaders who have contributed to peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.”
The three-day conference will be hosted by Queen's University Belfast in partnership with the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils, the Council on Competitiveness, Women in Business, Politics in Action, Commission for Victims and Survivors and the Lyric Theatre as well as Hillsborough Castle, where supporting events will also take place, including a programme for schools.
President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's University, Professor Ian Greer said: “This signature event to mark the anniversary of the Agreement offers the opportunity to reflect upon and recognise the achievements of 25 years ago, which has led to significant progress in Northern Ireland, delivering greater prosperity and a safer and more inclusive society. We also want to look forward to how we address the major issues impacting society today so we can build on the current peace over the next 25 years. We look forward to an insightful event.”
The conference will have four themes:
- Celebrating the achievements of those who signed the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement (GFA).
- Recognising the role of women in peace building.
- Amplifying the voice of the next generation of young leaders.
- Creating a dialogue that proposes and considers social and economic solutions to the major issues that will impact the region over the next 25 years.
“This conference provides a great opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement 25 years on. Bringing together young people, business leaders and global political leaders past and present, this forum will provide a chance for architects of the Agreement and those benefiting from the Northern Ireland it helped to create to discuss progressing peace and prosperity. I look forward to supporting this event and collaborating with a number of partners as the Northern Ireland Office delivers its own ambitious programme of activity throughout the anniversary year.”
Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris, MP
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
“On 10 April 1998, negotiators in Belfast agreed 'a truly historic new beginning.' 25 years on, we are grateful that Queen's University will host this important conference, to offer a moment of reflection on the peace and on remaining challenges. It brings together people from these islands, and further afield, to consider how we can work together into the future, to fully deliver the potential of the Good Friday Agreement. I look forward to these conversations, in the full spirit of 'partnership, equality and mutual respect', which the Agreement highlights."
Micheál Martin TD, Tánaiste
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence
Please note: other major figures contributing to these events will be announced nearer to the conference date.
Day One, Reflect
17 April 2023
Day One of the conference includes three panel discussions with the architects of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement in 1998: the UK and Irish governments, local political leaders from 1998; and the Guarantors (former UK, Irish and US Administrations).
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8.00am
Prayer Service
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Plenary: Part one - Whitla Hall
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9.30am
Welcome and housekeeping
Host Andrea Catherwood Opening Speeches - Professor Ian Greer
- President and Vice-Chancellor, Queen’s University Belfast
- Secretary Hillary R Clinton
- The Chancellor, Queen’s University Belfast
Address - Keynote to be announced
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10.15am
Panel 1: Building Bridges - The Two Governments
Chair Professor Mary McAleese, Former President of Ireland Panel - Paul Murphy
- The Rt Hon The Lord Murphy of Torfaen, former Minister of State and former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
- Tim O’Connor
- Former senior Irish Diplomat and former Secretary General to the President of Ireland
- Liz O’Donnell
- Former Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Irish Government
- Jonathan Powell
- Former Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister of the UK
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Plenary: Part two - Whitla Hall
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1.35pm
Panel 2: Building Peace - The Parties
Chair Ambassador Nancy Soderberg, Former Deputy National Security Advisor and former Ambassador at the United Nations Panel Session 1
- Gerry Adams
- Former President, Sinn Fein
- Mark Durkan
- Former deputy First Minister and former Leader, Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP)
- Reg Empey
- The Lord Empey Kt OBE, former Leader, Ulster Unionist Party (UUP)
- Professor Monica McWilliams
- Co-founder of the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition
Session 2
- John Alderdice
- The Lord Alderdice, former Leader, Alliance Party
- Gary McMichael
- Former Leader, Ulster Democratic Party (UDP)
- Ian Paisley Jnr MP
- Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)
- Dawn Purvis
- Former Leader, Progressive Unionist Party (PUP)
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3.05pm
Panel 3: Guaranteeing Peace - The Guarantors
Chair - Secretary Hillary R. Clinton
- Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast, former Secretary of State and former Senator
Panel - Professor Bertie Ahern
- Former Taoiseach of Ireland
- President William J. Clinton
- Former President of the United States
- Others to be announced
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4.30pm
Close
Day Two, Renew
18 April 2023
Day Two of the conference will open with keynote addresses from senior government figures and other leaders followed by a recording of 'The Rest is Politics' podcast.
The afternoon will be dedicated to a number of academic panel sessions delivered by The Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at Queen's University. These panels will discuss themes including Rights and Social Justice, Peacebuilding, Legacy, The Dynamics of Peace and Conflict, and The Impact on Victims.
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9.00am
Welcome and Housekeeping
Host Donie O’Sullivan Introduction Professor Ian Greer, President and Vice-Chancellor, Queen’s University Belfast -
9.10am
Opening
Keynote Speech
TBA
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11.45am
The Rest is Politics Podcast
Recording of the Rest is Politics Live with Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart and Guests.
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1.00pm
Lunch
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The Senator George J. Mitchell Institute - Panel Sessions
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2.00pm
Mitchell Institute Panel: Rights and Social Justice
Chair Professor Kieran McEvoy, Queen’s University Belfast Panel - Professor Christine Bell
- Professor Colin Harvey
- Professor Christopher McCrudden
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2.00pm
Mitchell Institute Panel: Peacebuilding
Chair Professor Fiona Magowan, Queen's University Belfast Panel - Professor Dominic Bryan
- Professor Gladys Ganiel
- Professor Rory Montgomery
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2.00pm
Mitchell Institute Panel: Legacy
Chair Professor Louise Mallinder, Queen's University Belfast Panel - Professor John Brewer
- Dr Anna Bryson
- Professor Michael Maguire
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2.00pm
Mitchell Institute Panel: The Dynamics of Peace and Conflict
Chair Professor Richard English, Queen's University Belfast Panel - Professor Chris Blattman
- Professor Roger Myerson
- Dame Louise Richardson
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2.00pm
Mitchell Institute Panel: The Impact on Victims
Chair Dr Cheryl Lawther, Queen’s University Belfast -
Collaborative Events
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10.00am
The Voice of Tomorrow - Politics in Action
- 18 April
- Peter Froggat Centre
Politics in Action will bring over 200 young people from across the island and from different parts of our education system to Queen's University to present their ideas about what peace means to them.
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1.30pm
Cancer Knows No Borders
- PFC Lecture theatre
Theme: Health - How the Good Friday Agreement helped save thousands of lives on the island of Ireland and delivered international impact in cancer research and care.
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6.00pm
Victims Stories
Film focusing on the stories of eight victims of the "Troubles " in Northern Ireland and England with no political or sectarian agenda.
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7.00pm
Media in Conflict and Peace
Media event facilitated by Tara Mills and William Crawley.
A celebration of journalism and the role the media has played during The Troubles, through the peace process and through to the present day. Contributors will include journalists, editors, producers and political communications strategists.
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7.00pm
The Seamus Heaney Centre Presents... Hope
- The Seamus Heaney Centre
Day Three, Reimagine
19 April 2023
Day Three will be hosted in association with the CBI NI and the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils.
Northern Ireland Vision 2050 will focus on enhancing the economic prospects of Northern Ireland, and will include addresses from senior government officials and panel discussions with both local and global business leaders.
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8.30am
Premiere of ‘The Agreement’ Breakfast Event
- Queen's Film Theatre
Premiere of the “The Agreement” documentary with a panel session.
Chair - Trevor Birney
- Producer, Director and Founder of Fine Point Films
Panellists - Alastair Campbell
- Former Director of Communications, Downing Street
- David Kerr
- Former Special Advisor to the First Minister and Director of Communications UUP
- Professor Monica McWilliams
- Co-founder of the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition
- Dawn Purvis
- Former Leader, Progressive Unionist Party
- Others contributors to be announced
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11.35am
Introduction
From Professor Ian Greer
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11.45am
Keynote address
Opening Remarks
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12.00pm
Panel 1: Northern Ireland – A Place to Invest
Chair - Angela Magowan
- Regional Director, CBI
Panel - Chris Conway
- CEO, Translink
- Gillian McAuley
- President NI Chamber of Commerce
- Steve Orr
- CEO, Catalyst
- Elvenna Graham
- Chair of Tourism NI
- Celine McStravick
- NICVA
- Joe O’Neill
- Belfast Harbour
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1.10pm
Break
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1.40pm
Keynote Address
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2.00pm
Panel 2: Global Northern Ireland
Chair - The Honourable Deborah Wince-Smith
- President and CEO, Council of Competitiveness, USA
Panel - Joan Gabel
- President, University of Minnesota
- Dr Steven Ashby
- Director, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
- Josh Parker
- CEO, Ancora
- Sarah Friar
- CEO, Nextdoor
- Congressman Richard Neal
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3.15pm
Keynote Address
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3.40pm
Keynote Address
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4.00pm
Keynote Address
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4.30pm
Conclusion of the Conference
By Professor Ian Greer
Collaborative Events
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Agreement | A Lyric Theatre Production
- Saturday 25 March - Saturday 22 April 2023
In this major new play, Owen McCafferty examines the negotiations leading up to the Good Friday Agreement and weaves real drama out of this complex, momentous and landmark moment for Northern Ireland.
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Historic Royal Palaces
- 19 April
- Hillsborough Castle
A programme of events delivered by Historic Royal Palaces will focus on Hillsborough Castle's historic place in the politics of Northern Ireland as a place that inspires worlds and minds to meet.
Diplomatic credentials are no longer required to gain access to this fascinating place of political history and they look forward to welcoming people from across the island of Ireland to their public events in April.
For further information and to register for these events please visit their website.
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Women in Business International Voices of Leadership
in association with the Chief Executives' Club at Queens- 18 April
Women in Business will bring together a line-up of inspiring international speakers to explore the theme of Leadership – the importance of embracing inclusivity, making your voice heard and looking at the essential strategies to develop as an impactful leader.
View event details, list of speakers and register for a ticket
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Cancer Knows No Borders
The Agreement 25 Cancer Showcase event will celebrate the past successes which led the island of Ireland to take its place on the global cancer research stage and also look to the future and how the best minds on the island of Ireland, can significantly contribute to a world without cancer.
Limited spaces available. Register here » -
The Voice of Tomorrow - Politics in Action
- 18 April
- 10.00am
- Peter Froggat Centre
Politics in Action will bring over 200 young people from across the island and from different parts of our education system to Queen's University to present their ideas about what peace means to them.
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Victims' Stories
- 18 April | 6pm - 9pm
- Peter Foggatt Centre, Lecture Theatre 0G/007
Victim’s Stories focuses on the stories of eight victims of the "Troubles " in Northern Ireland and England with no political or sectarian agenda.
This important film, which has been shown in the UK, Irish and EU Parliament Buildings, will be screened in the Peter Foggatt Centre, Lecture Theatre 0G/007, Queen’s University Belfast on Tuesday 18th April as part of the Queen’s University ‘Agreement 25: Reflect, Renew and Reimagine’ conference. Doors open 6pm.
Following the screening, there will be a Q&A with family members who feature in the film.
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Northern Ireland Vision 2050
- 19 April
- Morning Conference
A morning conference hosted in association with the CBI NI and the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils. Northern Ireland Vision 2050 will focus on enhancing the economic prospects of Northern Ireland and will include addresses from senior government officials and panel discussions with both local and global business leaders.
Invitation only. For further information please contact brenda.carabine@qub.ac.uk
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