Finalists of the 5th International Leader of Public Diplomacy Competition have been Determined

The semi-final stage of the V International Competition "Leader of Public Diplomacy" has finished. This year, over 300 representatives from various regions of the world — Europe, Asia, Africa, the Arab World, Latin America, and beyond - competed for the right to advance to the finals.

A Competition That Is Becoming an International Community

The International Competition "Leader of Public Diplomacy" is held by the World Peoples Assembly for the fifth time. Over the years, it has become a platform for identifying and supporting individuals who not only speak about international cooperation but actively create it every day through their projects and initiatives — in culture, education, science, business, media, sports, volunteering, youth work, and other fields.

The competition's greatest asset is its participants: public leaders, experts, heads of organizations and projects, representatives of professional and civic communities who know how to foster dialogue among people from different countries and cultures, forge new connections, and transform public diplomacy into a tangible tool for international interaction.

Over its history, the competition has supported public diplomats from 63 countries worldwide. Its mission is not only to identify the best but also to give participants the opportunity to present their projects to the expert community, exchange practices, gain recognition, and find partners in other countries.

In 2026, the competition is being held for the first time under a multi-level model that includes country-level and regional stages and an international final. The new format has significantly expanded the project's geographic reach and showcased the full diversity of national and regional public diplomacy practices.

Country-level stages were held in Uzbekistan, Spain, Japan, Germany, Australia, India, France, Tunisia, and other countries. Regional stages united participants from different parts of the world. In Latin America and Africa, award ceremonies took place within the World Public Summits.

Over 50 Experts Worked with Participants

A special role at all stages of the competition belonged to the expert community. More than 50 experts served on the juries of the country-level and regional stages and, over several months, worked with participants, reviewed their activities, evaluated projects, initiatives, and their professional and civic contributions.

These are representatives of different countries and professional fields, united by the understanding of how crucial it is today to have people capable of creating spaces of trust and cooperation where official diplomacy is often insufficient.

The competition has become not only a contest of projects but also a space for professional networking. Its participants gained the opportunity to present their initiatives on an international level, learn from the experiences of colleagues from other countries, and become part of a growing global community of public diplomacy leaders.

That is why the conclusion of the semi-finals is not just about selecting the best. The community of public diplomacy leaders has welcomed new names — and for the World Peoples Assembly, this is one of the most significant outcomes of the competition.

Finalists

Based on the results of the semi-final selection, the following have advanced to the international final:

• Miguel Suárez del Cerro — Spain

• Victoria Tolstova — Japan

• Bakhtiyar Khojaniyazov — Turkmenistan

• Al-Najem Azzam Adnan — France

• Dr. Abdessalam Boutaeb — Morocco

• Rashad Bilimoria — Australia

• Carlind Govender — South Africa

• Marlies Rosine Demgne Ndjenga — Cameroon

• Olga Chizhik — Russia

• Mohamed Bassam Abdul Rahman — Lebanon

• Sahar Zaman — India

• Adriana Viera — Brazil

• Castiglione Tadeo — Argentina

• Alexandra Troyan — Thailand

• Carolina Gaspar — Mexico

• Ekpomé Jean-Louis Brou — Côte d'Ivoire

• Andrey Kovalev — Germany

• Ivan Ivanov — Kyrgyzstan

• Jean-Jacques Lukusa — DRC

• Olesya Dreglya — Moldova

• Olga Bazelyuk — Tunisia

• Bogdan Dragomir — Romania

• Salah Ashumari — Iraq

• Elena Kovardakova — Kazakhstan

• Natalia Bogdanova — Panama

• Matar Daoud — Palestine

• Rosni Zahari — Malaysia

• Shirin Abidova — Uzbekistan

• Najla Hamad — Jordan

• Al-Hussein Mohamed Hussein — Syria

• Marina Kholodenova — Italy.

Each of them represents not only their country but also their own experience in public diplomacy — concrete deeds, projects, and practices through which new ties emerge between people, organizations, and states.

Next Meeting - in Moscow

All finalists are invited to Moscow for the final stage events, which will take place during the Second World Public Assembly.

The final stage will not only be a time of competitive challenges. Above all, it is an opportunity to meet in person, get to know each other's projects, find like-minded people and partners, discuss new international initiatives, and continue building a community of people for whom public diplomacy has become both a professional pursuit and a personal commitment to the future.

The Second World Public Assembly will be held in Moscow on September 18–19, 2026. Its theme is "New World: Values That Unite."

For finalists, the competition program will begin as early as September 17, so the final stage events will cover the period of September 17–19.

We congratulate all finalists and thank everyone who has traveled this long journey together with the competition: participants, organizers of country-level and regional stages, jury members, experts, and partners.

But we especially want to thank those who took part in the competition, even if they did not make it to the finals this time. Participation alone is already a contribution to the development of public diplomacy. Behind every application are real actions, new connections, ideas, and a readiness to work for mutual understanding between people and nations.

The community of public diplomacy leaders has grown. It has gained new countries, new projects, and, most importantly, new names.

Ahead — Moscow, the finals, and new encounters.

We look forward to welcoming finalists, competition participants, partners, and friends of the World Peoples Assembly to the Second World Public Assembly!

Registration is available on the official website of the World Peoples Assembly.

May the competition come to an end, but may cooperation continue. Because a Leader of Public Diplomacy is not a title for a day. It is the ability to bring people together and turn dialogue into shared action.