Elevating The University of Chicago’s profile among world-leading academic institutions.

On the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, Brian Communications recommended that the University of Chicago’s Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts partner with The Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at Queen’s University Belfast to host a two-day conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland to address the human cost of violent conflict.

Featuring distinguished speakers including former U.S. Senator George Mitchell, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Muzoon Almellehan, The University of Chicago enlisted Brian Communications and its all-star roster of event planners to execute this inspiring and impactful conference in less than three months.

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Father Gary Donegan, Yvette Shapiro, Reverend Harold Good, Monica McWilliams and Lord David Trimble discussed how peace was built in Northern Ireland and debated the negotiations, implementation, leadership and statesmanship required to sustain the harmony.

Lyse Doucet, Sanj Srikanthan, Dr. Jeannie Annan, Dominic MacSorley and Muzoon Almellehan gathered for an insightful conversation about the human impact of the global conflicts that they’ve experienced through their lives and work.

University of Chicago President Robert J. Zimmer welcomed more than 700 attendees to Global Conflict | The Human Impact, a conference convened by the University of Chicago’s Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts and Queen’s University Belfast’s Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice in Northern Ireland to gather international policymakers, academics and leading practitioners to address the human cost of global violence with a focus on the world’s current refugee crisis.

Speakers and VIP guests gathered at Belfast City Hall for a post-conference dinner, which included remarks from Senator George J. Mitchell and a musical performance by Belfast’s own Monaghan Sisters.

During his keynote address at Global Conflict | The Human Impact, former US Senator George J. Mitchell addressed his role in bringing peace to Northern Ireland and the events that led to the Good Friday Agreement 20 years ago. After he discussed the challenges surrounding these proceedings, he asked those who worked hard to bring peace to Northern Ireland to stand for a round of applause.

Building buzz in
Belfast and beyond

Brian Communications also handled various major event logistics such as hotel and venue coordination, VIP and speaker concierge, transportation, event collateral, event programming and much more. Brian Communications also helped cultivate interest among international, national and local media outlets and developed a social media strategy that expanded the reach of the conference throughout Belfast and beyond.

The successful event elevated The University of Chicago’s international presence as a preeminent thought leader on the issues of global conflict and was a tremendous prelude to the Pearson Global Forum, the Institute’s premier annual event.

Conflict is created and sustained by human beings.It is also ended by them.

Senator George J. Mitchell

Through relationships built during the 2015 World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, Brian Communications was able to invite delegation from the University of Chicago to the Pope’s World Meeting of Families in Ireland immediately following the University of Chicago’s two-day conference.