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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260217T180000
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DTSTAMP:20260708T030727Z
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UID:13630-1771351200-1771358400@columbiaclub.org
SUMMARY:Ambassador Series - UN Ambassador of Syria with Rick Grove (Rescheduled!)
DESCRIPTION:SOLD OUT! \nTHE EVENT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO FEBRUARY 17TH WITH A NEW LOCATION: \nOne Grand Central Place\n60 East 42nd Street\nConference Center\nNew York\, NY 10165 \nThe Ambassador Series \nA presentation of the Columbia University Club Foundation\, the Columbia University Club of New York\, and the United Nations Association of New York \nHis Excellency Ibrahim Olabi\nAmbassador\nPermanent Representative of Syrian Arab Republic to the UN \nin conversation with\nRick Grove\nMember of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London and the President and Chairman of the Board of US Friends of the IISS. \nFebruary 17\, 2026 | 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.\n6:00 to 6:30 p.m. | Registration\n6:30 to 7:30 p.m. | Discussion\n7:30 to 8:00 p.m. | Reception \n\n\nAdmission $25++\nIncluding wine and cheese reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\nWe welcome H.E. Ambassador Ibrahim Olabi\, who became the Syrian Arab Republic’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in August 2025. A British-educated lawyer and human-rights professional\, Ambassador Olabi represents a generational shift within Syria’s diplomatic corps under the new government.\nHis first major address to the UN Security Council in September 2025 underscored Syria’s effort to reengage with the international community and chart a new path forward.\nIn early December 2025\, Ambassador Olabi welcomed a full United Nations Security Council delegation to Damascus — the first such visit in fourteen years — which he described as a “historic moment” and a clear signal of international recognition of Syria’s evolving trajectory. He further emphasized that the visit\, and the growing consensus among Council members\, mark a turning point from years of division toward a unified approach that supports reconstruction\, stabilization\, and renewed sovereignty. \nPlease join us this evening for what promises to be a highly informative and timely discussion with H.E. Ambassador Ibrahim Olabi\, as he discusses the forces reshaping Syria’s place in global affairs and what they mean for peace\, reconstruction\, and international cooperation. Amb. Olabi will be joined by Rick Grove\, member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London\, the President and Chairman of the Board of US Friends of the IISS\, and CEO of Rutter Associates LLC. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nH.E. Ambassador Ibrahim Olabi was appointed as the new Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations on 19 August 2025. \nFollowing the fall of the Assad regime\, Mr. Olabi was appointed legal advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs\, where he led Syria’s international legal engagement during a critical transitional period. He was put in charge in engaging with the organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons and its member states to support dealing with the Assad era chemical weapons programme. He advised on human rights resolutions in Geneva\, supported Syria’s re-entry into multilateral forums\, and led legal efforts around the lifting of targeted sanctions. Over the past seven months\, he travelled extensively with the Foreign Minister\, meeting foreign ministers\, presidents\, and senior officials to advocate for Syria’s reintegration and build trust with the international community. \nPrior to his diplomatic appointment\, Mr. Olabi was part of legal teams representing governments and civil society in cases before domestic and international courts\, with a focus on international law and accountability. He also led a global civil society initiative to develop innovative legal strategies for criminal accountability related to the use of chemical weapons in Syria. In that capacity\, he delivered statements at international forums — including an address to the UN Security Council — made numerous media appearances on BBC\, CNN\, Al Jazeera\, Al Arabiya\, The Guardian\, and the Financial Times amongst others\, and travelled across Africa\, Latin America\, Asia\, and Europe to promote justice for international crimes committed in Syria. \nDuring the conflict\, Mr. Olabi was also active inside Syria\, where he provided legal training on international humanitarian law and human rights\, supported documentation of abuses\, and worked closely with local communities and practitioners to build legal capacity under extremely challenging conditions. \nMr. Olabi was called to the Bar in England and Wales at the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple in 2018. \nHe holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Oxford\, an LLM in Security and International Law\, and an LLB from the University of Manchester\, where he was named both Undergraduate and Postgraduate Student of the Year. \nHe is fluent in Arabic and English\, with proficiency in German. \nModerator | Rick Grove \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRick Grove is a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London and the President and Chairman of the Board of US Friends of the IISS.  Rick is CEO of Rutter Associates LLC\, a New York-based financial-markets risk-management consulting firm. He previously was an investment banker and lawyer who has served as CEO of ISDA and worked at Bank of America\, Banque Paribas and Cravath\, Swaine & Moore in New York and London.  He is an expert for PRIME Finance\, a financial-dispute-resolution organization based in The Hague. Rick has served on the US CFTC’s Global Markets Advisory Committee and has testified before the US Congress.  He is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School.
URL:https://columbiaclub.org/event/ambassador-series-un-ambassador-of-syria-with-rick-grove-rescheduled/
LOCATION:One Grand Central Place\, 60 East 42nd Street\, Conference Center\, New York\, NY\, 10165\, United States
GEO:40.7524115;-73.9787419
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=DESCRIPTION:SOLD OUT! \nTHE EVENT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO FEBRUARY 17TH WITH A NEW  \nOne Grand Central Place\n60 East 42nd Street\nConference Center\nNew York NY 10165 \nThe Ambassador Series \nA presentation of the Columbia University Club Foundation the Columbia University Club of New York and the United Nations Association of New York \nHis Excellency Ibrahim Olabi\nAmbassador\nPermanent Representative of Syrian Arab Republic to the UN \nin conversation with\nRick Grove\nMember of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London and the President and Chairman of the Board of US Friends of the IISS. \nFebruary 17 2026 | 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.\n6:00 to 6:30 p.m. | Registration\n6:30 to 7:30 p.m. | Discussion\n7:30 to 8:00 p.m. | Reception \n\n\nAdmission $25++\nIncluding wine and cheese reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\nWe welcome H.E. Ambassador Ibrahim Olabi who became the Syrian Arab Republic’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in August 2025. A British-educated lawyer and human-rights professional Ambassador Olabi represents a generational shift within Syria’s diplomatic corps under the new government.\nHis first major address to the UN Security Council in September 2025 underscored Syria’s effort to reengage with the international community and chart a new path forward.\nIn early December 2025 Ambassador Olabi welcomed a full United Nations Security Council delegation to Damascus — the first such visit in fourteen years — which he described as a “historic moment” and a clear signal of international recognition of Syria’s evolving trajectory. He further emphasized that the visit and the growing consensus among Council members mark a turning point from years of division toward a unified approach that supports reconstruction stabilization and renewed sovereignty. \nPlease join us this evening for what promises to be a highly informative and timely discussion with H.E. Ambassador Ibrahim Olabi as he discusses the forces reshaping Syria’s place in global affairs and what they mean for peace reconstruction and international cooperation. Amb. Olabi will be joined by Rick Grove member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London the President and Chairman of the Board of US Friends of the IISS and CEO of Rutter Associates LLC. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nH.E. Ambassador Ibrahim Olabi was appointed as the new Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations on 19 August 2025. \nFollowing the fall of the Assad regime Mr. Olabi was appointed legal advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs where he led Syria’s international legal engagement during a critical transitional period. He was put in charge in engaging with the organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons and its member states to support dealing with the Assad era chemical weapons programme. He advised on human rights resolutions in Geneva supported Syria’s re-entry into multilateral forums and led legal efforts around the lifting of targeted sanctions. Over the past seven months he travelled extensively with the Foreign Minister meeting foreign ministers presidents and senior officials to advocate for Syria’s reintegration and build trust with the international community. \nPrior to his diplomatic appointment Mr. Olabi was part of legal teams representing governments and civil society in cases before domestic and international courts with a focus on international law and accountability. He also led a global civil society initiative to develop innovative legal strategies for criminal accountability related to the use of chemical weapons in Syria. In that capacity he delivered statements at international forums — including an address to the UN Security Council — made numerous media appearances on BBC CNN Al Jazeera Al Arabiya The Guardian and the Financial Times amongst others and travelled across Africa Latin America Asia and Europe to promote justice for international crimes committed in Syria. \nDuring the conflict Mr. Olabi was also active inside Syria where he provided legal training on international humanitarian law and human rights supported documentation of abuses and worked closely with local communities and practitioners to build legal capacity under extremely challenging conditions. \nMr. Olabi was called to the Bar in England and Wales at the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple in 2018. \nHe holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Oxford an LLM in Security and International Law and an LLB from the University of Manchester where he was named both Undergraduate and Postgraduate Student of the Year. \nHe is fluent in Arabic and English with proficiency in German. \nModerator | Rick Grove \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRick Grove is a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London and the President and Chairman of the Board of US Friends of the IISS.  Rick is CEO of Rutter Associates LLC a New York-based financial-markets risk-management consulting firm. He previously was an investment banker and lawyer who has served as CEO of ISDA and worked at Bank of America Banque Paribas and Cravath Swaine & Moore in New York and London.  He is an expert for PRIME Finance a financial-dispute-resolution organization based in The Hague. Rick has served on the US CFTC’s Global Markets Advisory Committee and has testified before the US Congress.  He is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School.;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=60 East 42nd Street\, Conference Center:geo:-73.9787419,40.7524115
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