Munich Young Leaders 2024

Before joining the Foreign Relations Committee in the United States Senate, Maggie Dougherty worked as Senior Policy Advisor to Nikki Haley, former US Ambassador to the United Nations. Her work focuses on international organizations, democracy, refugees, global criminal justice and human rights.

In her eyes, the biggest challenge in international relations today is the rise of authoritarianism, because autocratic leaders are using technology to actively undermine open, democratic societies. In addition to governments, media, and civil societies, she sees possible solutions in Young Leaders: they can form networks to share best practices to combat threats to democracy. Also, Young Leaders can support democratic grassroots movements around the world.

Maggie Dougherty is most looking forward to hearing the other Munich Young Leaders’ perspectives on the challenges of our time, as they all bring unique insights from their varied experiences.

As Project Manager at the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue in the Northeast Asia region office, Qiyang Niu manages and designs discussions aimed at reducing tensions and mitigating risks in major China-related conflict issues. He is also currently pursuing a PhD at Tsinghua University in Beijing, where he works as Fellow at the Center for International Security and Strategy, focusing on arms control and non-proliferation issues.

Qiyang Niu sees the biggest challenge in today’s international relations in the escalating intensity of major power rivalry, which not only has a direct impact on the parties involved, but also exerts a pervasive influence on the course of global politics. Constructive dialogue is urgently needed to address this issue – not only among nations, but also among individuals.

He is looking forward to forging new friendships at the Munich Young Leaders, as he is certain that these connections will pave the way for further opportunities and collaborations on international security issues.

Gustavo Orozco is not only Security Strategy Advisor to the Mayor of Cali in Colombia, but also the founder of Objetivo Cero, a citizens’ group dedicated to political control and mobilization against crime. As an expert on citizen security and counterterrorism, he is a constant contributor to national media outlets and has been invited by the UN as the only Latin American to speak at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the UN’s central body for drug policy.

He sees the issue of borders as the biggest current challenge for international relations. Migration has become a contentious matter between and within states, threatening coexistence, regional stability and even national security. He considers the demand to consequently close borders as populist and unrealizable and finds shunning migration to please public opinion dishonest. The Global South, meanwhile, must work to stop the loss of its local talent.

As a Munich Young Leader, Gustavo Orozco is particularly excited to learn more about security challenges in other corners of the world and exchanging best practices and ideas with the other participants in the program.