Agenda

Mariana Diaz Garcia is an Associate Programme Officer at the CBRN Unit of UNICRI (United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute) in Geneva, where she has worked since 2020 in various roles.

She specializes in international security, with a focus on the Middle East, CBRN threats, and the misuse of technology by extremist groups and organized crime. Her research spans bioweapons, cyberattacks, radicalization, and WMD defense strategies.

Mariana has contributed to organizations such as the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, OSDIFE, ARLIS at the University of Maryland, and the Center for Security and Emerging Technology.

She holds an MA in Modern Middle Eastern Studies from Leiden University and a BA in International Relations from Tecnológico de Monterrey, graduating with First Class Honors. Fluent in Spanish and English, she also has basic proficiency in French and German. 

Heading the UNICRI Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics with more than 19 years of experience in leading multilateral negotiations, developing stakeholder engagement programmes, as well as scientific and technical cooperation, with governments, UN agencies, international organisations, think tanks, civil society, foundations, academia, private industry and other partners on an international level focused on impacts, opportunities and challenges of rapid technological change and innovation on sustainable development. 

Since 2014, Initiated and managed the first United Nations Programme on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. Initiating and organizing a number of high-level events at the United Nations General Assembly, and other international organizations. Finding synergies with traditional threats and risks as well as identifying solutions that AI can contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. He is responsible for initiating and organizing the UNICRI training, educational and mentoring programmes worldwide on AI and Robotics for a wide range of stakeholders. 

He is a member of various of international task forces and working groups advising governments and international organizations on numerous issues related to international security, scientific and technological developments. 

In 2013 Initiated the establishment, and coordinated the work of the United Nations Group of Friends of CBRN Risk Mitigation and Security Governance among permanent missions of the UN in New York. 

Prior to joing UNICRU served as a special projects officer at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) undertaking extensive missions in politically sensitive areas around the globe, and contributed in global anti-terrorism efforts to fight against chemical terrorism. 

Philippe Stoll is a Senior Techplomacy Delegate at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), where he has worked for two decades. He leads engagement with governments, tech companies, start-ups, and academia to safeguard the ICRC’s neutral, impartial operations in an increasingly digital world. His work focuses on ensuring technologies do not further harm people affected by armed conflict.

Philippe previously held roles in digital transformation, data partnerships, and field communication at the ICRC. Before that, he was a journalist for RTS and La Côte. A specialist in humanitarian communication and innovation, he co-created the MOOC Humanitarian Action in the Digital Age and co-published Art and Humanitarian Action: What Is Possible?

He holds Master’s degrees in Economics and Journalism, and contributes to initiatives linking art, technology, and humanitarianism, including Dialogue on Humanity and the Art Humanité Award. He is also a published author on the ethical use of data and messaging apps in humanitarian contexts.

Stéphane Koch is a seasoned expert in information security, digital communication, and online reputation management, with over 20 years of experience. He has served as Executive Vice President and Board Member at ImmuniWeb since 2010, where he helps shape strategic direction. He also owns intelligentzia.net, offering consulting and training in digital risk and communication since 2003.

Koch teaches and advises on media, social networks, and online reputation across several institutions. He has lectured at Haute École de Gestion de Genève (since 2004), HEG Fribourg (since 2003), and SPRI/HES-SO-CAS (since 2010), focusing on digital communication, information security, and economic intelligence. He has also contributed to journalism training at CRFJ since 2005.

Past teaching roles include SAWI - Polycom Lausanne, Université de Genève, Geneva School of Diplomacy, and Ecole de Guerre Économique, where he covered topics such as cyber threats, digital brand protection, and influence strategies.

His core skills include strategic communication, cybersecurity, online reputation, and training in media and digital platforms.

Lennig Pedron has expertise in cybersecurity and emerging technologies applied to the digital trust economy. She works for the EPFL Innovation Park Foundation and is Executive Director of Switzerland's Trust Valley initiative, the Lake Geneva cluster of excellence in digital trust and cybersecurity.

She is co-founder and president of the NGO iCON, based in Geneva, EPFL Innovation Park, Rennes, Brussels, London and Montreal, representing an international community of +100 experts in digital trust, hacking4good, cybersecurity and emerging technologies, which provides outreach to citizens to raise awareness and sensitize civil society to digital literacy (+3,500 people trained). Lennig represents iCON at the Council of Europe. She was a data protection expert for the Swiss Confederation.

She provides advice and training to a wide range of audiences, including police, prosecutors, banks and the younger generation. An international speaker, she gave the opening address at the European Commission's General Assembly (CEN CENELEC). For the past 4 years, she has been a judge for the GCSP 9/12 geopolitics challenge. Lennig is co-author of the book “Les fondamentaux de la gestion de crise cyber”, released in bookshops in June 2022, and wrote the chapter on “crisis communication”. This French-language book, the first of its kind, was co-authored by a dozen international experts from Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Canada and Quebec. Lennig Pedron was awarded the title of “European Woman in Cybersecurity” in 2023 in the Executive Leader category by the Cercle des Femmes en Cybersécurité (CEFCYS).