Special submission from Jennifer Campbell, editor of Diplomat International Canada 

Diplomat International Canada magazine’s relaunch last Thursday attracted a broad range of diplomats and Ottawans alike — and even a few loyal Vancouver-based friends of new owner Abdel Karim Awwad, who also lives in the B.C. city.

Awwad plans to spend plenty of time in Ottawa, however, as he relaunches the magazine and expands its coverage to include diplomatic communities, as well as business and industry across the country.

A businessman who has worked for luxury brands, such as BMW and Audi, and also in protocol for the royal family of Jordan, Awwad was a regular reader of the magazine even before he emigrated to Canada from Jordan in 2021. He bought it from former owner Donna Jacobs in December 2024 and relaunched it in May, with plans to revamp the website, as well. In his remarks, he shared his hope that the magazine serves as a bridge-builder between Canada and the world.

Special guests included Goldy Hyder, president and CEO of the Business Council of Canada, which represents business leaders across the country, and Sueling Ching, president and CEO of the Ottawa Board of Trade, which represents the Ottawa business community.

Goldy Hyder, president and CEO of the Business Council of Canada, delivered brief remarks at the relaunch celebration of Diplomat International Canada magazine, held at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Photo by  Mohammed J. Alsaber

Invited guests seen at the Fairmont Château Laurier for the relaunch celebration of the Ottawa-based Diplomat International Canada magazine. Photo by  Mohammed J. Alsaber

Abdel Karim Awwad, the new owner of Diplomat International Canada magazine, and Sueling Ching, president and CEO of the Ottawa Board of Trade, at the relaunch of the Ottawa-based Canadian magazine dedicated to content on foreign diplomacy. Photo by  Mohammed J. Alsaber

The event at the Fairmont Château Laurier featured a red carpet, media wall, three-part jazz trio, and many copies of the latest edition, which has been completely redesigned and modernized in terms of its print quality and size, standing at a current 148 pages.

Saudi Arabian Ambassador Amal Almoalimi — the first woman ambassador the kingdom has ever sent to Canada — is the subject of the cover story in the magazine. She spoke at the launch after being introduced by Diplomat’s long-time editor, Jennifer Campbell, who also described her editorial vision for the relaunched magazine, and introduced her colleague, Ulle Baum, the magazine’s director of public relations and its Ottawa event photographer.

German Ambassador Matthias Luettenberg, who alternates the role with his wife, Tjorven Bellmann, in eight-month rotations, was also in attendance, as were several other heads of missions and deputies, including Moroccan Ambassador Souriya Otmani, who is dean of the Ottawa diplomatic corps. Diplomat food writer Margaret Dickenson chose to spend her 80th birthday at the event, and when Awwad wished her a happy birthday from the podium, the crowd spontaneously broke into a rendition of “Happy Birthday.”

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Abdel Karim Awwad, the new owner of Diplomat International Canada magazine, and its food columnist Margaret Dickenson at the magazine relaunch celebration, held at the Fairmont Château Laurier. Photo by Mohammed J. Alsaber. 

Malcolm McKechnie, former Chief of Protocol, at the relaunch of the Ottawa-based Canadian magazine dedicated to diplomacy, held at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Photo by  Mohammed J. Alsaber

From left, Diplomat magazine photographer and director of public relations, Ulle Baum, editor Jennifer Campbell and Laurence Schaller, director of government and diplomatic sales at the Fairmont Château Laurier. Photo by  Mohammed J. Alsaber

Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Canada,  Amal Almoalimi, at the relaunch of Diplomat International Canada magazine. Photo by  Mohammed J. Alsaber

From left, Abdel Karim Awaad, Spanish Ambassador Alfredo Martinez Serrano, Saudi Arabian Ambassador Amal Almoalimi and Portuguese Ambassador Antonio Leāo Rocha at the relaunch celebration of Diplomat International Canada magazine, held at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Thursday, May 29, 2025.   Mohammed J. Alsaber