Peyman Pejman

Specialist Speaker Peyman Pejman is a global communications expert, and former Chief of Public Affairs, with experience in more than thirty countries in conflicts and disaster relief.

For more than three decades, Peyman Pejman has travelled the world telling stories and helping organizations communicate with clarity and purpose. With experience spanning some 30 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the United States, he brings the stage a combination of global insight, strategic communications expertise, and old-school journalistic grit.

Before Peyman ever stepped into a UN office or advised a government ministry, he spent nearly 30 years as an award-winning international print and broadcast journalist. His reporting took him everywhere—from the Iranian Revolution and Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon to the Gulf Wars, the Arab Uprising, and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. His bylines and broadcasts appeared in outlets such as The Washington Post, United Press International, The Associated Press, Newsweek, Inter Press Service, Voice of America, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Along the way, he picked up several journalism awards, including recognition for investigative reporting.

Today, he is known just as much for his work behind the scenes as in the field. Over the years, he has served as Chief of Public Affairs, Chief of Public Information, Head of Outreach, and Senior Communications Officer across UN agencies, international tribunals, and humanitarian organizations. Whether he’s designing global communication strategies, leading multicultural teams, training journalists, or advising senior leadership, he brings a steady hand and a storyteller’s instinct to every mission.

His recent work includes consulting with the International Development Law Organization on a nationwide training program for journalists in Mongolia; steering strategic communications for the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center in Bangkok, where he helped translate satellite data and climate science into accessible stories; and supporting UN-Habitat’s messaging on sustainable cities, energy, and transport.

Peyman has also crafted national-level communication strategies in places like Afghanistan, Georgia, Yemen, Iraq, and Syria—often working directly with government ministries, UN leadership, and humanitarian coordinators. His work has helped countries articulate their human rights commitments, tell the story of humanitarian efforts, and build public trust around development initiatives.

An educator at heart, he has taught media and communications at the University of Central Asia and Al-Akhawayn University in Morocco, sharing his experience with the next generation of journalists and communicators.

Peyman holds a Master’s degree in Information Systems from American University and a BA in Political Science from the University of the District of Columbia. A native English speaker, he is also proficient in Arabic, French, and Farsi/Dari, and has a working knowledge of Italian and rudimentary Russian. As a former international journalist and senior UN communicator Peyman covers a vast spectrum of presentation themes. Whether speaking about global media trends, crisis and general communications, international development,  humanitarian storytelling, or the evolving relationship between journalists and public institutions, he brings authenticity, and a lifetime of frontline experience to every stage as host, moderator or as a keynote speaker.

You can contact Peyman Pejman via a Specialist Speakers agent on our international enquiry number in London, +44 [0]204 616 0868 regarding speaking and presentation in both in-person and virtual settings or you can email at info@specialistspeakers.com