The finalists of the V International Contest "Leader of Public Diplomacy" have been determined
The semi-final stage of the V International Contest "Leader of Public Diplomacy" has concluded. This year, over 300 representatives from different regions of the world - Europe, Asia, Africa, the Arab world, Latin America, and other regions - competed for the right to advance to the final.
A Contest That Is Becoming an International Community
The International Contest "Leader of Public Diplomacy" is being held by the World Peoples Assembly for the fifth time. Over the years, it has become a platform for identifying and supporting individuals who do not just talk 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 main value of the contest lies in its participants: public leaders, experts, heads of organizations and projects, and representatives of professional and civil communities who know how to build dialogue between people of different countries and cultures, forge new connections, and turn public diplomacy into a real tool for international interaction.
Over the years of its existence, the contest has supported public diplomats from 63 countries worldwide. Its task is not only to identify the best but also to give participants the opportunity to present their projects to the expert community, exchange best practices, gain recognition, and find partners in other countries.
In 2026, the contest is being held for the first time using a multi-level model that includes country-level and regional stages, culminating in an international final. This new format has significantly expanded the project's geography and allowed us to see public diplomacy in all the diversity of its national and regional practices.
Country-level stages took place, in particular, in Uzbekistan, Spain, Japan, Germany, Australia, India, France, Tunisia, and other countries. Regional stages brought together participants from different parts of the world. In Latin America and Africa, the award ceremonies were held as part of the World Public Summits.
More Than 50 Experts Worked with Participants
A special role at all stages of the contest belonged to the expert community. More than 50 experts joined the jury of the country and regional stages and, over several months, worked closely with the participants, familiarized themselves with their activities, and evaluated their projects, initiatives, and professional and public contributions.
These experts are representatives of different countries and professional spheres, united by the understanding of how crucial it is today to have people capable of creating a space of trust and cooperation where official diplomacy is often insufficient.
The contest has become not only a contest of projects but also a space for professional communication. Its participants gained the opportunity to present their initiatives at the international level, learn from the experience of colleagues from other countries, and become part of a forming global community of public diplomacy leaders.
That is why the conclusion of the semi-final is not just about identifying the best. The community of public diplomacy leaders has been enriched with new names — and for the World Peoples Assembly, this is one of the most important results of the contest.
Finalists
The following participants have advanced to the final stage:
Miguel Suárez del Cerro — Spain
Victoria Tolstova — Japan
Bakhtiyar Khodzhaniyazov — Turkmenistan
Al-Najem Azzam Adnan — France
Dr. Abdeslam Boutayeb — Morocco
Rashad Bilimoria — Australia
Karlind Govender — South Africa
Marlyse Rosine Demgne Ndjenga — Cameroon
Olga Nikolaevna Chizhik — Russia
Muhamed Bassam Abdul Rahman — Lebanon
Sahar Zaman — India
Adriana Viera — Brazil
Castellione Tadeo — Argentina
Alexandra Troyan — Thailand
Carolina Gaspar — Mexico
Ekpomé Jean-Louis Brou — Côte d'Ivoire
Andrey Kovalev — Germany
Ivan Ivanov — Kyrgyzstan
Jean-Jacques Lukusa — Democratic Republic of the Congo
Olesya Dreglya — Moldova
Olga Bazelyuk — Tunisia
Bogdan Dragomir — Romania
Salah Ashummari — Iraq
Elena Kovardakova — Kazakhstan
Natalia Bogdanova — Panama
Matar Daud — Palestine
Rosni Zahari — Malaysia
Shirin Abidova — Uzbekistan
Najla Hammad — Jordan
Al-Hussein Mohamed Hussein — Syria
Marina Kholodenova — Italy
Each of them represents not only their country but also their own unique experience in public diplomacy — concrete actions, projects, and practices through which new connections arise between people, organizations, and states.
The Next Meeting - in Moscow
All finalists have been invited to Moscow for the events of the final stage of the contest, which will take place during the days of the Second World Public Assembly.
The final stage will be more than just a time for competitive trials. Above all, it is an opportunity to meet in person, learn about each other's projects, find like-minded individuals and partners, discuss new international initiatives, and together continue building a community of people for whom public diplomacy has become part of their professional activity and personal responsibility for the future.
The Second World Public Assembly will be held in Moscow on September 18–19, 2026. Its theme is "A New World: Values That Unite."
For the finalists, the contest program will begin on September 17, so the events of the final stage will cover the period from September 17 to 19.
We congratulate all the finalists and thank everyone who has walked this long path with the contest: the participants, organizers of the country-level and regional stages, jury members, experts, and partners.
But we especially want to say thank you to those who participated in the contest, even if they did not make it to the list of finalists this time. Participation itself is already a contribution to the development of public diplomacy. Behind every application are real deeds, new connections, ideas, and a willingness to work for mutual understanding between people and countries.
The community of public diplomacy leaders has grown. It has welcomed new countries, new projects, and, most importantly, new names.
Ahead lies Moscow, the final, and new meetings.
We look forward to welcoming the finalists, contest participants, partners, and friends at the Second World Public Assembly!
Registration is available on the official website of the World Peoples Assembly: https://world-assembly.org/events.
The contest may be coming to an end, but the collaboration continues. A leader of public diplomacy is not a title for a single day. It is the ability to unite people and turn dialogue into joint action.