The Greater Central Asia Initiative at the Institute of Asian Research, UBC and the Centre for Dialogue at SFU are dedicated to bringing together a significant number of diverse scholarly events inviting VIPs, diplomats and practitioners to explore global geo-strategies, geopolitics, geo-economies, cross-cultural negotiation, intercultural communications, women’s empowerment, and other topics. This conference on Cross-Cultural and Intercultural Communication aims to bring together leading academic scientists, researchers and research scholars to exchange and share their experiences and research results on various aspects of cross-cultural and intercultural communication. It also provides a premier interdisciplinary platform for researchers, practitioners, and educators to present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns as well as practical challenges encountered and solutions adopted in the fields of Cross-Cultural and Intercultural Communications.
The importance of interCultural negotiation in trust and reciprocity building, good governance and the role of women in the national building is vital. We can look at the impact of conflict on social and political cohesion in the Afghanistan case and lessons learned since 1978 and explore what the need is for functional political structure in nation building and the role of civil society in good governance.
Today’s international media headlines on Afghanistan mostly address security issues and terrorist attacks. People in Afghanistan are undergoing major difficulties, namely around security and poverty. The Afghan-led peace talks are an admirable process, as the country and the Afghan people deserve, like any other nation, to live in peace and prosperity. We are certain that there is a need for a broader view of the country and open discourse that is not confined to these topics. One should not lose sight of the various shades of Afghan life and culture vis-à-vis fostering cross-cultural and intercultural negation. Afghanistan has a rich cultural history and played an important role as a cradle of culture and art in the region and throughout history.
Speaker Biographies
Welcoming Remarks
Zahir Faqiri Director Greater Central Asia Initiative, UBC
Mr. Faqiri is a Senior Fellow, Faculty Associate / Lead Greater Central Asia, Institute of Asian Research, at the University of British Columbia. Mr. Faqiri has held high positions of professional responsibility overseas ranging from a General Directorate and spokesman to Minister Plenipotentiary-Ambassadorial levels and Hon. Professor. Mr. Faqiri is a graduate of Diplomatic and Strategic Studies Paris- France, and has successfully attended four Fellowship Programs throughout his professional and diplomatic career. Mr. Faqiri has attended many regional and international conferences and gatherings; delivered numerous professional speeches as a guest lecturer at many schools, universities, academic centers, think tanks and scientific institutions. More specifically, whilst holding a Deputy Ambassadorial rank, he has served for a significant tuner of office, as the Minister, deputy Permanent Representative to United Nations Headquarters in New York , Minister Plenipotentiary, Deputy Ambassador to Washington D.C. as well as Deputy Permanent Representatives to UNESCO HQ in Paris and respectively. In his career, Mr. Faqiri, have had managed to enrich his knowledge and experience of the international affairs and to make the best out of it by dynamically taking part in all pertinent conferences and forums of the United Nations and other International Organizations specialized in the fields of Peace, Security, International Development and Global Affairs. Mr. Faqiri is both an academic and a practitioner in the fields of diplomacy, international relations, strategic studies and central Asian history.
Dr. Murali Chandrashekaran Vice-Provost, International, UBC
Dr. Murali Chandrashekaran has been appointed as the Vice-Provost, International for a five-year term, beginning September 1, 2017. Dr. Chandrashekaran, the Fred H. Siller Professor of Marketing and Behavioural Science, is currently Senior Associate Dean, Strategic Partnerships and Global Initiatives, in the Sauder School of Business.
Shashi Enarth Graduate Director for the Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs (MPPGA) program, School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, UBC
Shashi Enarth brings 27 years of experience with a mix of academia, policy research, advocacy and grassroots level development work with vulnerable segments of the communities across two continents and 3 countries. For fourteen of those years, he held leadership positions in two of the best known non-government development organizations in India.
Keynote Speaker
Ambassador Omar Samad
Omar Samad is a Senior Advisor to Dr. A. Abdullah, the Chief Executive of Afghanistan since 2014. Omar Samad is a senior fellow with the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center. He is also the founder and president of Silkroad Consulting L.L.C. Prior to joining the Atlantic Council, Samad was a senior Afghan expert in-residence with the Center for Conflict Management at the US Institute of Peace from January 2012 to January 2013. He also served as Ambassador of Afghanistan to France from 2009 to 2011 and Ambassador to Canada from 2004 to 2009.
Jack Austin, Honorary Professor, SPPGA; Co-Chair, UBC China Council
Jack Austin was a member of the Senate of Canada for 32 years, representing British Columbia and has championed stronger relations between Canada and Asia. In 1971, as the Serving Deputy Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, he was part of the first Canadian trade mission to China. He later served as President of the Canada China Business Council and Co-Chair of the Canada China Legislative Association. Senator Austin was awarded Order of Canada for his contribution in Canada-China relation, and was also instrumental in establishing the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. He serves as an Honorary Professor of IAR, as well as the Co-Chair of the UBC China Council.
Panel Moderator
Paul Evans, Professor, School of Public Policy and Global Affairs
Paul Evans (PhD Dalhousie) has been a professor at the University of British Columbia since 1999 teaching Asian and trans-Pacific affairs. Paul is the Director Emeritus of the Institute of Asian Research.
His academic appointments have been as Assistant, Associate and Professor, Department of Political Science, York University, 1981-97; Director, University of Toronto – York University Joint Centre for Asia Pacific Studies, 1991-96; Visiting Professor, Asia Center, Harvard University, 1997-99; Acting Director, Liu Institute for Global Issues, 2004-5; Director, Institute of Asian Research, 2008-11.
Panelists
Karim Qaumi, Director Partnership Afghanistan-Canada
Mr. Abuzar Ahmadi, MPPGA student, UBC
Miss Hadia Samem, MA student, SFU
Mr.Edris Arib PhD student, Germany
