Conversation Changers: The Mirage of Diplomacy: Navigating the New Phase of the Iran Conflict

Eric is the Editor-in-Chief of The China-Global South Project, bringing over 30 years of journalism experience across global newsrooms, including CNN, FRANCE 24, and the BBC World Service. His career spans reporting, production, and newsroom leadership in the United States, Europe, Africa, and Asia. He notably served as General Director of FBNC, Vietnam's largest all-business cable TV channel, becoming the first foreigner to lead a national Vietnamese media company. Eric holds a bachelor's degree in East African history from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master's in International Public Affairs with a focus on Chinese foreign policy from the University of Hong Kong. Eric is a Salzburg Global Fellow.

Martin Weiss became the ninth president of Salzburg Global in August 2022. Leveraging Salzburg Global's long history, Martin is leading Salzburg Global to have future influence and impact on today and tomorrow's leaders. Martin's career has championed personal and professional exchanges to create a more equitable and peaceful world.

Before this appointment, Martin served as Austrian Ambassador to the US between November 2019 and July 2022. He had also served as Ambassador to Israel (2015-19), Director of the Press and Information Department of the Foreign Ministry (2012-15), and Ambassador to Cyprus (2009-12). Martin also held several postings in the United States. Martin started as a Human Rights Attaché for the Austrian Mission to the United Nations in New York in 1991 before taking on the positions of Political Counselor, Counselor for Congressional Affairs and Public Diplomacy, and later Director of the Austrian Press and Information Service at the Austrian Embassy in Washington, and as Austrian Consul General in Los Angeles (2004-09). Martin holds a law degree (equivalent to JD) from the University of Vienna and a Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Virginia (UVA).