In this episode of Face2Face, we sit down with humanitarian leader Ayman Sorour for a deeply personal and quietly powerful conversation. Ayman reflects on the moments of tragedy he’s witnessed in the field, the losses that stay with you, and the unexpected ways individual acts—small, steady, imperfect—can bend the world toward something better. Together, we explore how impact is built one choice at a time, and why every gesture of care matters more than we think.

Ayman Sorour is founding executive director of Protection Against Armaments and Consequences, a NGO that works on humanitarian disarmament in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) including landmines, cluster munitions, human rights, killer robots, the convention on conventional weapons (CCW).

He has been conducting research for the Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines-Cluster Munition Coalition (ICBL-CMC) on the MENA region since 2000. Sorour wrote and contributed to many publications on law, human rights, landmines, and cluster munitions since 1995. He’s a board member of the governing board of the ICBL-CMC and the African Center for Democracy and Human Rights Studies in Banjul, the Gambia. Sorour holds a BA in Law from Cairo University, human rights diploma from the International Institute for Human Rights (Strasbourg, France), senior mine action managers training from James Madison University (USA).

He speaks Arabic, English, and French.

David Peck is a writer, speaker, and award-winning podcaster who works at the intersection of storytelling, social change, and meaningful dialogue. As the host of Face2Face and former host of Toronto Threads on 640 AM, he has published over 650 in-depth interviews with some of the world’s most compelling thinkers, artists and storytellers, including Viggo Mortensen, Sarah Polley, Raoul Peck, Werner Herzog, Chris Hadfield, David Cronenberg, Gillian Anderson and Wade Davis.

With a background in philosophy and international development, David brings a thoughtful, globally aware perspective to every conversation. He’s a published author and experienced keynote speaker, known for creating spaces where complexity is welcomed and ideas come alive. Whether moderating panels, hosting live events, or speaking on issues ranging from ethics to media, David’s work is grounded in a deep curiosity about people and that he simply loves good conversation and believes it’s one of the best ways we grow, connect, heal and make sense of the world.

For more information about David Peck’s podcasting, writing and public speaking please visit his site here.

F2F Music and Image Copyright: David Peck, ICBL and Face2Face. Used with permission.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Silent Killers, David Peck engages with Izumi Nakamitsu who discusses the importance of hope and collaboration in addressing global challenges. She emphasizes the need for camaraderie and the belief that collective efforts can lead to meaningful change, even if it is incremental. Her optimism stems from witnessing real progress made by individuals and groups working together.

Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu assumed her position as Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs on 1 May 2017.

She has many years of experience within and outside the United Nations system, most recently as Special Adviser Ad Interim on Follow-up to the Summit on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants between 2016 and 2017. She was previously Director of the Asia and the Middle East Division of the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations between 2012 and 2014, and Director of the Department’s Division of Policy, Evaluation and Training, from 2008 to 2012.

Between 2005 and 2008, Ms. Nakamitsu was Professor of International Relations at Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo, where she also served as a member of the Foreign Exchange Council to Japan’s Foreign Minister, and as a visiting senior adviser on peacebuilding at the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Between 1998 and 2004, she was the Chef de Cabinet and Director of Planning and Coordination at the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, based in Stockholm, Sweden.

Earlier in her career, Ms. Nakamitsu was a member of the United Nations Reform Team of former Secretary-General Kofi Annan. She also held positions with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), including within the office of Assistant High Commissioner for Policy and Operations Sergio Vieira de Mello, and in UNHCR field operations in the former Yugoslavia, Turkey and northern Iraq. Ms. Nakamitsu holds a Master of Science degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor of Law degree from Waseda University in Tokyo.

She is married and has two daughters.

David Peck is a writer, speaker, and award-winning podcaster who works at the intersection of storytelling, social change, and meaningful dialogue. As the host of Face2Face and former host of Toronto Threads on 640 AM, he has published over 650 in-depth interviews with some of the world’s most compelling thinkers, artists and storytellers, including Viggo Mortensen, Sarah Polley, Raoul Peck, Werner Herzog, Chris Hadfield, David Cronenberg, Gillian Anderson and Wade Davis.

With a background in philosophy and international development, David brings a thoughtful, globally aware perspective to every conversation. He’s a published author and experienced keynote speaker, known for creating spaces where complexity is welcomed and ideas come alive. Whether moderating panels, hosting live events, or speaking on issues ranging from ethics to media, David’s work is grounded in a deep curiosity about people. At heart, he simply loves good conversation and believes it’s one of the best ways we grow, connect, and make sense of the world.

For more information about David Peck’s podcasting, writing and public speaking please visit his site here.

F2F Music and Image Copyright: David Peck, ICBL and Face2Face. Used with permission.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Silent Killers, David Peck engages with Loren Persi from the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) to discuss the ongoing issues surrounding landmines, disarmament, and the impact on survivors. They explore Loren's journey into activism, the significance of the Landmine Monitor report, and the importance of independent reporting in holding states accountable. The conversation delves into data collection methods, trends in casualties, and the vital role of survivor networks in advocating for change. Ultimately, the episode emphasizes the need for continued awareness and action in addressing the humanitarian crisis caused by landmines.

Loren Persi is the Impact Research Team Leader with the ICBL-CMC Landmine Monitor research team. He has been conducting vital research with the Monitor for over 15 years and has worked specifically on victim assistance issues since 2004.

David Peck is a writer, speaker, and award-winning podcaster who works at the intersection of storytelling, social change, and meaningful dialogue. As the host of Face2Face and former host of Toronto Threads on 640 AM, he has published over 650 in-depth interviews with some of the world’s most compelling thinkers, artists and storytellers, including Viggo Mortensen, Sarah Polley, Raoul Peck, Werner Herzog, Chris Hadfield, David Cronenberg, Gillian Anderson and Wade Davis. With a background in philosophy and international development, David brings a thoughtful, globally aware perspective to every conversation. He’s a published author and experienced keynote speaker, known for creating spaces where complexity is welcomed and ideas come alive. Whether moderating panels, hosting live events, or speaking on issues ranging from ethics to media, David’s work is grounded in a deep curiosity about people. At heart, he simply loves good conversation — and believes it’s one of the best ways we grow, connect, and make sense of the world.

For more information about David Peck’s podcasting, writing and public speaking please visit his site here.

F2F Music and Image Copyright: David Peck, ICBL and Face2Face. Used with permission.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.