Philon Lecture
Annual lecture and conversation on Mediterranean affairsPhilon Lectures
Expand AllInaugural Alexander Philon Lecture: A conversation with Nicholas Burns
Date: 25th of May, 2021
Speakers:
- Karen Donfried, President, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
-
Ian Lesser, Vice President and Executive Director, Brussels, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
- Alexander Philon, Former Greek Ambassador to the U.S.
- Honorable R. Nicholas Burns, Former Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs
The Second Annual Philon Lecture: The Ukraine War, the Mediterranean and Transatlantic Partnership: A Conversation with Federica Mogherini
Date: 29th of November 2022
Location: Brussels
Speakers:
- Federica Mogherini: Rector of the College of Europe, Director of the European Diplomatic Academy, ad Former High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Former Vice-President of the European Commission
- Ian Lesser: Vice-President of the German Marshall Fund
The Third Annual Philon Lecture: A Conversation with Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis
Date: 13th of November 2023
Location: Brussels
Speakers:
- George Gerapetritis: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece
- Ian Lesser: Vice-President of the German Marshall Fund
About
The Alexander Philon Fund for the Transatlantic Partnership was created in 2021 to honor the diplomatic career of Ambassador Alexander Philon and his contributions to transatlantic cooperation. At GMF, the Fund supports the work of GMF South through the Philon Lecture, an annual lecture and conversation on Mediterranean affairs, alongside support for GMF’s Marshall Memorial Fellows program.
Alexander Philon
Born in Athens, Ambassador Alexander Philon joined the Greek foreign service in 1965 and has served at the Permanent Mission at the United Nations Organisation in New York, at the Embassy in London, as Consul General in Istanbul and Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington DC. He was Ambassador to India (1989-1993), to Turkey (1993-1995) and to the United States (1998-2002). He has also served as Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
After retiring in 2002 he was re-appointed as Ambassador in charge of policy planning and special missions until 2011.
Ambassador Alexander Philon has made extraordinary contributions to Greek diplomacy and, not least to Greek-American cooperation in the context of the transatlantic relationship. This generous gift from Phokion Potamianos honors Ambassador Philon’s work. It also makes a substantial contribution to GMF’s recognized convening and analysis on Mediterranean issues and GMF’s signature leadership program, the Marshall Memorial Fellowships. We are delighted to have this opportunity to work closely with Alexander and Phokion.
Ian Lesser, Vice President, GMF South & Executive Director, Brussels Office, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
