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2018 Concordia Annual Summit

SEPTEMBER 24-25, 2018  |  NEW YORK CITY

Taking place on September 24-25, 2018 at the Grand Hyatt New York, the 2018 Concordia Annual Summit was the largest and most inclusive nonpartisan forum alongside the United Nations General Assembly. Bringing together decision-makers and opinion-formers in the public, private and nonprofit sectors, as well as the next generation of partnership-builders, the Annual Summit advanced critical global discussions and transformed conversations into action. As our signature gathering, the 2018 Concordia Annual Summit provided a powerful forum to catalyze action through shared value approaches and social impact objectives.

 
2018 Annual Summit Report

 

 

 
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September 24, 2018

8 am
9 am
10 am
11 am
12 pm
1 pm
2 pm
3 pm
4 pm
5 pm
6 pm
7 pm
8 pm
Main Plenary
Main Plenary
Main Plenary
Registration
8:00 am - 9:00 am
Registration
8:00 am - 9:00 am
Cities & the Private Sector Take the Lead for Refugees & Migrants
9:00 am - 9:40 am
Cities & the Private Sector Take the Lead for Refugees & Migrants
9:00 am - 9:40 am
Location
Main Plenary
Time
9:00 am - 9:40 am
Programming Partner
Open Society Foundations

Session Description

As the international community ratifies the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) and Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) this December, there are robust efforts by the private sector and local governments that illustrate in practice how these international action plans can be implemented. In partnership with the Open Society Foundations, Concordia has worked with business and city leaders to take action in their communities. This world-class panel on welcoming and integration will showcase how leadership from cities and business is integral to establishing meaningful solutions and will point to what’s needed next for a robust response to migration and refugee-related matters.

Speakers

Andrew Liveris: Setting the Stage for the 2018 Concordia Annual Summit
9:40 am - 9:55 am
Andrew Liveris: Setting the Stage for the 2018 Concordia Annual Summit
Ivanka Trump: Empowering the American Worker
9:55 am - 10:20 am
Ivanka Trump: Empowering the American Worker
9:55 am - 10:20 am
Location
Main Plenary
Time
9:55 am - 10:20 am

Session Description

In her role as Advisor to the President, Ivanka Trump has prioritized job creation, economic opportunity, workforce development and entrepreneurship for Americans through the creation of The Pledge to America’s Workers and the National Council for the American Worker. With over 6.9 million job openings in the U.S., it is critical for job opportunities to be shared amongst all Americans to ensure a strong, resilient workforce. In this conversation, Ms. Trump will share her perspective on the value of creating strong career pathways for all Americans, and the importance of economic empowerment of women domestically and globally.

Speakers

Banking on the Americas: New Approaches to Development & Financing
10:20 am - 10:40 am
Banking on the Americas: New Approaches to Development & Financing
10:20 am - 10:40 am
Location
Main Plenary
Time
10:20 am - 10:40 am
Programming Partner
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation

Session Description

As governments recognize that the challenges facing the developing world are too large to be dealt with by public dollars alone, they are increasingly turning to the private sector to help address basic needs like food, healthcare, and electricity. This session explores how development finance is being used to unleash business as a force for good in the world and how public development finance institutions, like the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), are partnering with the private sector to positively impact economies and societies across the hemisphere.

Speakers

Barriers to Cancer Care: the Underreported Story of Unequal Patient Access
10:40 am - 11:10 am
Barriers to Cancer Care: the Underreported Story of Unequal Patient Access
10:40 am - 11:10 am
Location
Main Plenary
Time
10:40 am - 11:10 am
Programming Partner
Lazarex Cancer Foundation

Session Description

All existing cancer therapies and treatments have successfully undergone clinical trials as part of the research process. However, only 5% of patients enroll in clinical trials. Lack of patient participation with adequate racial and ethnic representation leads to an enormous failure rate, delaying and preventing cancer research & development from being approved for the benefit of all cancer patients. Barriers to participation, primarily financial barriers and lack of awareness, must be removed to create inclusive patient enrollment, accelerate the completion of trials, and get new treatments approved for the benefit of all.

Speakers

Presidential Panel: Supporting Economic Resilience of Small Islands and Developing Countries
11:10 am - 11:35 am
Presidential Panel: Supporting Economic Resilience of Small Islands and Developing Countries
11:10 am - 11:35 am
Location
Main Plenary
Time
11:10 am - 11:35 am
Programming Sponsor
Arton Capital

Session Description

Every day the leaders of developing countries are faced with a myriad of problems, from young, growing populations who need jobs to underdeveloped infrastructure, healthcare demands, and the growing impact of climate change. A primary source of growth is attracting foreign direct investment. But after the global economic crash of 2008, who would invest in an off-plan hotel project in the Caribbean or the Balkans? One answer is utilizing citizenship-by-investment programs, which allow individuals who, through no fault of their own, are born in a country whose passport restricts their mobility and freedom. For an investment ranging from $100,000 to more than $2 million, they can invest in citizenship programs that, assuming they are eligible, confer new citizenship and a passport that is altogether more useful. Today, the citizenship industry is worth more than $20 billion annually, with more than 15 countries offering programs, from the USA to Canada, from Saint Lucia to Montenegro. In this exciting panel, moderated by Armand Arton, Founder & President of Arton Capital, we will discuss with the leaders of various countries the benefits of such a program—and what pitfalls to avoid—so that the correct legislation is in place and regulation is not imposed from elsewhere.

Speakers

BREAK
11:35 am - 12:00 pm
BREAK
11:35 am - 12:00 pm
Time
11:35 am - 12:00 pm
HRH Crown Princess of Denmark Flashpoint: Women Mean Business in the Global Economy
12:00 pm - 12:15 pm
HRH Crown Princess of Denmark Flashpoint: Women Mean Business in the Global Economy
Location
Main Plenary
Time
12:00 pm - 12:15 pm

Session Description

Women are economically empowered when they have the skills, resources, access, and opportunity to succeed in the formal economy and the power to make economic decisions for themselves and their families. The barriers that have traditionally kept women relegated to the informal sector are coming down, and more women are now able to enter more substantially into the formal sector and take on more visible roles as entrepreneurs and leaders in their communities and nations. Through innovative partnerships, civil society, government, and the private sector are increasing opportunities for women to achieve economic advancement and security. Learn what is working and what more needs to be done.

Speakers

Social Solidarity: The Path to a More Human World
12:15 pm - 12:20 pm
Social Solidarity: The Path to a More Human World

Session Description

Remarks by Dr. Marianna Vardinoyannis

Speakers

Rt. Hon. David Miliband & H.E. Hassan al Thawadi: World Cup 2022
12:20 pm - 12:45 pm
Rt. Hon. David Miliband & H.E. Hassan al Thawadi: World Cup 2022
12:20 pm - 12:45 pm
Secretary Chao: Partnerships in Transportation
1:05 pm - 1:25 pm
Secretary Chao: Partnerships in Transportation
1:05 pm - 1:25 pm
Benefits in The Gig Economy: The Evolution of Employment
1:25 pm - 1:55 pm
Benefits in The Gig Economy: The Evolution of Employment
1:25 pm - 1:55 pm
Location
Main Plenary
Time
1:25 pm - 1:55 pm
Programming Sponsor
Postmates

Session Description

Internet platforms and online technology have entered uncharted territory over recent years, making the impossible possible and giving consumers more choice and access than ever before. In just a few short years, these advances have transformed everything—from how people move in cities to how water purity can be monitored. However, doing the unprecedented also means facing new challenges, in particular disrupting traditional employment models and a social compact that generations of workers have come to rely on. Both in the United States and internationally, there is a call for a robust examination of how our basic social compact—the premise that if we work hard and do the right thing, we should all be able to get ahead—keeps pace with technological revolutions. From artificial intelligence and automation, to more desegregated work, the future of work can only be examined effectively through cross-sector collaboration: labor unions, technologists, academics, and lawmakers alike must come together to design education and healthcare models, and explore opportunities for upward mobility fit for consumers, workers, and a 21st Century global economy.

Speakers

Flashpoint: Taking Bold Action for Global Change: A Conversation on Tobacco Today and Transformation for Tomorrow
1:55 pm - 2:05 pm
Flashpoint: Taking Bold Action for Global Change: A Conversation on Tobacco Today and Transformation for Tomorrow
Location
Main Plenary
Time
1:55 pm - 2:05 pm

Speakers

Lt. Gen. Cavoli: The Ground Truth on U.S. Army Activities in Ukraine, Georgia & Poland
2:05 pm - 2:25 pm
Lt. Gen. Cavoli: The Ground Truth on U.S. Army Activities in Ukraine, Georgia & Poland
2:05 pm - 2:25 pm
Location
Main Plenary
Time
2:05 pm - 2:25 pm

Session Description

U.S. military involvement in Eurasia has grown in response to Russia's increasingly aggressive behavior towards former Soviet republics. NATO troops have been deployed to Ukraine, Poland, and Georgia, and U.S. troops continue to participate in military exercises to maintain preparedness for any violation of sovereignty by Russia. Join Lt. Gen. Cavoli to learn about realities on the ground and the strategic role of the U.S. military presence in maintaining peace.

Speakers

Flashpoint: Democracy in Thailand
2:25 pm - 2:35 pm
Flashpoint: Democracy in Thailand
Location
Main Plenary
Time
2:25 pm - 2:35 pm

Session Description

Thailand has been ruled by a military junta since a coup in 2014. The result has been a decline in freedoms and democracy, and the degradation of the rule of law at the hands of the military regime. In 2019, for the first time since the coup, voters in Thailand will have the chance to take part in legislative elections. Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, leader of the Future Forward Party, is leading a campaign to disrupt the political status quo, and calls for the restoration of civilian rule and democracy in Thailand. He will discuss the struggle for democracy and the emergence of new political forces in his country, providing a practical view on the work and challenges faced by pro-democracy voices in Thailand.

Speakers

Gov. John Hickenlooper: Realigning the Political Bell Curve
2:35 pm - 3:05 pm
Gov. John Hickenlooper: Realigning the Political Bell Curve
2:35 pm - 3:05 pm
Location
Main Plenary
Time
2:35 pm - 3:05 pm
Programming Partner
Millions in the Middle

Session Description

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper will discuss his record of collaboration for community good in a discussion moderated by Dr. Kerry Healey. Governor Hickenlooper is a great believer that governors, far more than Congress, can revive American democracy, and will discuss the impact progress made at the local and state levels can have for communities coast to coast.

Speakers

BREAK
3:05 pm - 3:30 pm
BREAK
3:05 pm - 3:30 pm
Time
3:05 pm - 3:30 pm
Flashpoint: Building Trust in an Era of Disillusion
3:30 pm - 3:40 pm
Flashpoint: Building Trust in an Era of Disillusion
Location
Main Plenary
Time
3:30 pm - 3:40 pm

Session Description

Trust is at an all-time low. Hollywood has been upended by the #MeToo movement. From Fox News to Facebook, media is under fire for fake news and filter bubbles. And Trump, Brexit, and other nationalist movements are highlighting our political polarization. Noa Gafni, Founder of Trust Collab, is launching a movement to rebuild trust in a complex world. She will be discussing a new framework for trust, as well as what we can do to redefine the current narrative, and how to work on rebuilding trust in society.

Speakers

Brad Smith Flashpoint: Using AI to Help Save Lives
3:40 pm - 3:50 pm
Brad Smith Flashpoint: Using AI to Help Save Lives
Location
Main Plenary
Time
3:40 pm - 3:50 pm

Session Description

Brad Smith, President & Chief Legal Officer of Microsoft, will speak about how artificial intelligence (AI) technologies can have a transformative impact on how we collectively address humanitarian issues. He will explore how NGOs and humanitarian organizations can harness the power of AI to recover from disasters, address the needs of children, protect refugees and displaced people, and promote respect for human rights.

Speakers

President Iván Duque & Ian Bremmer In Conversation
3:50 pm - 4:15 pm
President Iván Duque & Ian Bremmer In Conversation
3:50 pm - 4:15 pm
Bernard-Henri Lévy in Conversation: The Kurds, A Bulwark of Security & Stability
4:15 pm - 4:40 pm
Bernard-Henri Lévy in Conversation: The Kurds, A Bulwark of Security & Stability
4:15 pm - 4:40 pm
Location
Main Plenary
Time
4:15 pm - 4:40 pm
Media Partner
Octavian Report

Session Description

The Kurds are an ancient people who today are surrounded by dictatorships and extremism. Despite this tyranny of geography, Kurdish culture features a moderate Islam, a free and open society, equality for women, and a tolerance for religious and ethnic minorities. At the same time, the Kurds have remained a steadfast ally of the United States and the West, and have been the crucial frontline bulwark against ISIS and other terrorist organizations. The centuries-old quest for a Kurdish homeland has once again come into focus as their geopolitical importance as a force for stability in a turbulent region has been highlighted in recent years. In conversation with The Octavian Report publisher Richard Hurowitz, French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy and American investor Thomas S. Kaplan, Co-Founders of Justice for Kurds, a new Franco-American initiative, explore the role of the Kurds in the Middle East and in building a more just and secure international order.

Speakers

Our Homeland Security: An Assessment in 2018
4:40 pm - 5:00 pm
Our Homeland Security: An Assessment in 2018
4:40 pm - 5:00 pm
Location
Main Plenary
Time
4:40 pm - 5:00 pm

Session Description

From Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York, to General Counsel of the Department of Defense, Secretary Johnson's career has been rooted in public service and equality. Most recently, Secretary Johnson led the Department of Homeland Security where he oversaw the U.S. response to the Ebola crisis, an influx of immigration, and a rise in cybersecurity attacks. In this interview, Secretary Johnson will share his perspectives on the challenges for security in 2018, and the opportunities ahead.

Speakers

Presidential Remarks: H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo
5:00 pm - 5:10 pm
Presidential Remarks: H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo
Senior Staff: Perspectives on Politics
5:10 pm - 5:35 pm
Senior Staff: Perspectives on Politics
5:10 pm - 5:35 pm
Location
Main Plenary
Time
5:10 pm - 5:35 pm

Session Description

The office of a head of state is complex and dynamic. The dedication of the staff operating in the background is a key part of this complexity. Senior staff have major effects on everything from policy implementation to messaging and management. This session will discuss the role of senior staff in shaping the executive office, providing a window into the experience of former senior staff holders and their perspective on the importance of the offices they once held.

Speakers

The Future of Socially Conscious Transportation
5:35 pm - 5:40 pm
The Future of Socially Conscious Transportation
Mental Health is Everyone’s Business
5:40 pm - 5:50 pm
Mental Health is Everyone’s Business
Entrepreneurship & Innovation Across the Americas
5:50 pm - 6:15 pm
Entrepreneurship & Innovation Across the Americas
5:50 pm - 6:15 pm
Location
Main Plenary
Time
5:50 pm - 6:15 pm

Session Description

Representing the most important innovation award in Latin America, the 2018 Innovadores de América Prize recognizes outstanding innovation in business & industry, science & technology, and social development, and works to motivate a generation of innovators across Latin America. This year, in partnership with Innovadores de América and Xcala, Concordia is pleased to showcase the award winners and host a critical conversation on how governments and the private sector can partner to facilitate socially-led solutions to pressing issues across the region.

Speakers

Blockchain Central
Blockchain Central
Blockchain Central
Registration
8:00 am - 9:00 am
Registration
8:00 am - 9:00 am
Why We Should All Care About Blockchain
10:00 am - 10:15 am
Why We Should All Care About Blockchain
Location
Blockchain Central
Time
10:00 am - 10:15 am

Speakers

The First Central Bank Digital Dollar
10:15 am - 10:30 am
The First Central Bank Digital Dollar

Session Description

On September 18th, 2018, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley revealed plans for Barbados to create a national digital payment network. The Island will soon be home to the world's first monetary authority digitally issued fiat currency in collaboration with http://Bitt.com.

Speakers

European Union Blockchain Resolution
10:30 am - 10:40 am
European Union Blockchain Resolution
Blockchain Goes Bigtime: Enterprise Solutions for the Fortune 500
10:40 am - 11:25 am
Blockchain Goes Bigtime: Enterprise Solutions for the Fortune 500
10:40 am - 11:25 am
Location
Blockchain Central
Time
10:40 am - 11:25 am

Session Description

The world’s largest firms are investing in blockchain’s unparalleled potential to transform their business practices. From secure and efficient supply chain management to streamlined payments, corporate giants are at the forefront of blockchain implementation. Join leaders from across the Fortune 500 and the blockchain ecosystem to hear how blockchain is changing our corporate world.

Speakers

Spurring Growth and Innovation from the U.K. to Singapore: Sandboxes, Greenhouses and Everything In-Between
11:25 am - 12:10 pm
Spurring Growth and Innovation from the U.K. to Singapore: Sandboxes, Greenhouses and Everything In-Between
11:25 am - 12:10 pm
Location
Blockchain Central
Time
11:25 am - 12:10 pm

Session Description

Against the backdrop of a nascent technology and regulatory uncertainty, how can jurisdictions continue to encourage new growth and innovation while maintaining adequate consumer protections? Regulatory safe zones - places that financial technology solutions can be safely seeded, fed, and controlled may be one answer. We’ll explore these and other options and whether we should model these off a sandbox, a greenhouse or something else entirely.

Speakers

BREAK
12:10 pm - 1:00 pm
BREAK
12:10 pm - 1:00 pm
Location
Blockchain Central
Time
12:10 pm - 1:00 pm
Supply Chain Solutions
1:00 pm - 1:10 pm
Supply Chain Solutions
Building Digital Solutions - Starting With Australia
1:10 pm - 1:25 pm
Building Digital Solutions - Starting With Australia
Location
Blockchain Central
Time
1:10 pm - 1:25 pm

Speakers

Without Borders, Who Rules? Arbitration and Legal Recourse in a Decentralized World
1:25 pm - 2:10 pm
Without Borders, Who Rules? Arbitration and Legal Recourse in a Decentralized World
1:25 pm - 2:10 pm
Location
Blockchain Central
Time
1:25 pm - 2:10 pm

Session Description

The borderless nature of blockchain technology has posed novel challenges in a world where regulation relies on borders. Governments and legal experts are grappling with changes to existing regulatory frameworks and developing new paradigms to guide the evolution of this technology. Join blockchain advocates and legal minds as they discuss the status quo of blockchain regulation and the future of the legal landscape surrounding this tool.

Speakers

Incentivizing Local Growth Through Decentralized Governance
2:10 pm - 2:20 pm
Incentivizing Local Growth Through Decentralized Governance
Location
Blockchain Central
Time
2:10 pm - 2:20 pm

Speakers

Sanity Check: Lessons Learned from Leading Blockchain Consortia
2:20 pm - 3:00 pm
Sanity Check: Lessons Learned from Leading Blockchain Consortia
2:20 pm - 3:00 pm
Location
Blockchain Central
Time
2:20 pm - 3:00 pm

Session Description

Decentralization is at the core of blockchain’s promise – but it presents distinct challenges, especially when it comes to building a global ecosystem. Listen to some of the leading industry consortia – and how they are working to rationalize the disparate activity, regulation and tech in this space.

Speakers

World Bank Blockchain Bond
3:00 pm - 3:15 pm
World Bank Blockchain Bond
Location
Blockchain Central
Time
3:00 pm - 3:15 pm

Speakers

Blockchain Solutions for Smart Cities
3:15 pm - 4:00 pm
Blockchain Solutions for Smart Cities
3:15 pm - 4:00 pm
Location
Blockchain Central
Time
3:15 pm - 4:00 pm

Session Description

The massive urbanization taking place across the globe provides a wealth of opportunity for the world’s nearly three billion poor. As urbanization changes the very nature of life in the world’s cities, many forward-thinking leaders are seeking tech-based solutions to challenges faced by urbanites. And as blockchain based solutions are combined with AI and other emerging technologies, the opportunities for smarter cities increase dramatically. Hear city leaders and blockchain advocates as they discuss how blockchain fits into the way that tech is revolutionizing urban administration around the globe.

Speakers

Office Hours with Experts
4:00 pm - 4:20 pm
Office Hours with Experts
4:00 pm - 4:20 pm
Time
4:00 pm - 4:20 pm
The Future of Financial Markets
4:20 pm - 5:00 pm
The Future of Financial Markets
4:20 pm - 5:00 pm
Location
Blockchain Central
Time
4:20 pm - 5:00 pm

Session Description

New paradigm or more of the same? Bitcoin and distributed ledger technologies have the promise of disrupting the financial system as we know it, giving rise to an "internet of value" and a monetary system that is outside the control of states and banks. Given the fact that cryptocurrencies are owned by a very small percentage of the population worldwide and the proliferation of large centralized exchanges and OTC desks, how do we ensure wider participation and avoid repeating mistakes of the previous system?

Speakers

In Conversation with Premier Burt
5:00 pm - 5:20 pm
In Conversation with Premier Burt
5:00 pm - 5:20 pm
Strategic Dialogue North
Strategic Dialogue North
Strategic Dialogue North
Registration
8:00 am - 9:00 am
Registration
8:00 am - 9:00 am
Investing in Newcomers and Host Communities
9:45 am - 11:30 am
Investing in Newcomers and Host Communities
9:45 am - 11:30 am
Location
Strategic Dialogue North
Time
9:45 am - 11:30 am
Programming Partner
Open Society Foundations

Session Description

The private sector has long benefited from global migration and understood it as key to business. Recently, it has also responded to calls to engage with migration more holistically, improving the system of human mobility with its core business, investment, voice, and philanthropy. This session goes beyond calls to action witnessed in recent years—many committed to at prior Concordia and Open Society Foundations programming—and explores some of the very real, concrete ways that private sector actors have innovatively applied their core competencies to holistically approach migration and human mobility through sponsorship, impact investing, and corporate activism. This session dives into why and how these companies invested in this work, and what challenges and setbacks they faced. It is a chance to express concerns, hear about lessons learned, and bring together business minds to derive innovative solutions to holistically engaging with migration.

Speakers

BREAK
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
BREAK
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
Time
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
Cities & Global Migration: Leadership, Innovation and Partnerships
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Cities & Global Migration: Leadership, Innovation and Partnerships
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Location
Strategic Dialogue North
Time
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Programming Partner
Open Society Foundations

Session Description

Connecting the growing effectiveness of mayoral activism on migration to the practical policy solutions cities implement on the ground, this session will promote understanding of the increasingly influential role of cities as international actors and as effective leaders, advocates, and innovators on global migration issues. It will highlight the role of cities in developing the UN Global Compact for Migration (GCM) and Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) and their future implementation plans. Featured speakers will discuss the range of challenges faced by mayors in different world regions (Latin America, Africa, North America, and Europe) and showcase innovative solutions that cities and the private sector are pursuing together.

Speakers

BREAK
1:30 pm - 2:00 pm
BREAK
1:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Time
1:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Addressing Inclusivity in Multilateral Decision Making
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Addressing Inclusivity in Multilateral Decision Making
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Location
Strategic Dialogue North
Time
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Session Description

The United Nations 2030 Agenda has created a roadmap for addressing pressing global challenges, with a pathway paved through partnership (SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals). Unfortunately, partnering between the private sector and multilateral institutions remains a challenge. This is in large part due to lingering perceptions about the appropriate role and intentions of the private sector, bureaucratic practices and inflexible frameworks across all stakeholders, and generally insufficient knowledge about how to initiate partnerships within complex organizations and companies alongside a changing international landscape. With key private sector voices continuously excluded from providing meaningful input in partnership development or shaping global regulation, collective opportunities for impact are not being realized. This Strategic Dialogue builds on a set of conversations hosted by Concordia in 2018 on how to strengthen partnerships with the United Nations towards the achievement of the SDGs through enhanced inclusivity.

Speakers

BREAK
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm
BREAK
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Time
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Promoting the Health of Women and Girls Through Collective Efforts
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Promoting the Health of Women and Girls Through Collective Efforts
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Location
Strategic Dialogue North
Time
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Programming Partner
George W. Bush Institute

Session Description

In 2003, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) was signed into law by President George W. Bush. Saving millions of lives worldwide over the last 15 years, PEPFAR has accelerated progress toward controlling and ultimately ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat. Through partnership and engagement worldwide, notable efforts continue. However, despite major gains, especially across the life cycle of women’s health, young women and adolescent girls remain particularly vulnerable. From access to education and health services to curtailing gender-based violence, further work remains in the prevention of HIV/AIDS and cervical cancer. Vital to that effort: collaboration and women leaders. This session aims to examine the importance of strategic partnerships, the value of women’s leadership, and the need for greater investments and advocacy for young women and adolescent girls in the fight against HIV and cervical cancer.

Speakers

Executive Boardroom
Invitation Only
Executive Boardroom
Executive Boardroom
Registration
8:00 am - 9:00 am
Registration
8:00 am - 9:00 am
Millions in the Middle: Surveying the Current Political Landscape
9:30 am - 11:00 am
Millions in the Middle: Surveying the Current Political Landscape
9:30 am - 11:00 am
Location
Executive Boardroom
Time
9:30 am - 11:00 am
Programming Partner
Millions in the Middle

Session Description

Leaders of the bipartisan, good government, independent, and centrist spaces will join together for a roundtable discussion focused on common objectives, challenges, and a collective roadmap for action as a movement. This conversation brings together a range of voices critical to this effort as they work to foster a less divisive and more productive political climate that prioritizes people over any particular political party.

Speakers

Presidential Luncheon
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Presidential Luncheon
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Location
Executive Boardroom
Time
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Presidential Roundtable
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Presidential Roundtable
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Location
Executive Boardroom
Time
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Disaster Preparedness & Community Resilience
4:45 pm - 6:00 pm
Disaster Preparedness & Community Resilience
4:45 pm - 6:00 pm
Location
Executive Boardroom
Time
4:45 pm - 6:00 pm
Programming Partner: Americares
Patron Member: Winrock International

Session Description

Recent disasters illustrate the ever-growing threat from climate change and other shocks to vulnerable communities around the world. While the global community recognizes the importance of preparedness and adaptation, effective community-level resilience requires local action. This session, developed and hosted in partnership with Americares and Winrock International, will address the need for public, private, civil society, and other actors to work together to help local communities become more resilient and economically empowered.

Main Plenary

September 25, 2018

8 am
9 am
10 am
11 am
12 pm
1 pm
2 pm
3 pm
4 pm
5 pm
6 pm
7 pm
8 pm
Main Plenary
Main Plenary
Main Plenary
Registration
8:00 am - 9:00 am
Registration
8:00 am - 9:00 am
Opening Remarks: Honoring 20 Years of Peace in Ireland
9:00 am - 9:05 am
Opening Remarks: Honoring 20 Years of Peace in Ireland
Location
Main Plenary
Time
9:00 am - 9:05 am

Session Description

Between the late 1960s and the late 1990s, the conflict in Northern Ireland claimed over 3,500 lives. With decades of severe violence between Protestants and Catholics, the country was fractured and unstable. In April 1998, after months of negotiations and a missed deadline, Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell chaired the negotiations that led to the end of violence. The Good Friday Agreement provided a framework for unity and political settlement in Northern Ireland when many thought it was unimaginable. In this address, Concordia Leadership Council Member George Mitchell will reflect on the 20th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, the importance of forging a pathway to reconciliation, and the lessons of the Troubles.

Speakers

Secretary Acosta: Perspectives on the Future of Work
9:05 am - 9:25 am
Secretary Acosta: Perspectives on the Future of Work
9:05 am - 9:25 am
Location
Main Plenary
Time
9:05 am - 9:25 am

Session Description

For the first time ever, there are more job seekers in the United States than open jobs. Workers must learn skills to fill these open jobs and meet the needs of a growing economy. How will the U.S. meet the demands of a changing labor market? How will educational institutions, workforce development systems, and the private sector work together to keep pace with the evolving nature of work? How will the U.S. public sector help prepare American students and job seekers to meet employers’ ever- changing needs? U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta will offer insight into how the U.S. is working to prepare the American workforce for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

Speakers

Closing Global Gender Gaps
9:25 am - 9:45 am
Closing Global Gender Gaps
9:25 am - 9:45 am
Location
Main Plenary
Time
9:25 am - 9:45 am
Programming Partner
Women Political Leader's Global Forum

Session Description

While countries around the world have made significant strides towards closing global gender gaps in education and health disparities, gaps in economic participation and political empowerment remain staggering. Join Her Excellency Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta, and Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir, Chair of the WPL, Executive Board and Icelandic Politician for a conversation on global gender gaps, their personal journeys of breaking glass ceilings, and the necessary steps that men and women in the public and private sectors can take towards achieving gender equity. This will include a special focus on preparing the next generation of leaders through support of leadership and economic pathways for young women. This session was designed in partnership with Women Political Leaders Global Forum.

Speakers

Us vs. Them: The Failure of Globalism
9:45 am - 9:55 am
Us vs. Them: The Failure of Globalism
Location
Main Plenary
Time
9:45 am - 9:55 am

Speakers

Ambassador Lighthizer on U.S. Trade Policy
9:55 am - 10:20 am
Ambassador Lighthizer on U.S. Trade Policy
9:55 am - 10:20 am
Location
Main Plenary
Time
9:55 am - 10:20 am
Programming Partner
U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Session Description

Since serving as Deputy U.S. Trade Representative for President Ronald Reagan, Ambassador Lighthizer has been a key figure in U.S. trade policy discussions for the past several decades. In this interview, Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, U.S. Trade Representative, will share insights into the international economy, U.S. trade policy, and public-private partnerships.

Speakers

Beyond A Refugee
10:20 am - 10:53 am
Beyond A Refugee
10:20 am - 10:53 am
Location
Main Plenary
Time
10:20 am - 10:53 am
Programming Partner: UNHCR
Programming Sponsor: H&M Foundation

Session Description

Refugee is a noun. A word that defines a person who has been forced to leave his/her country in order to escape war and persecution. But a refugee is still a person. A mother who wants to work to support her family. A father who wants to buy his daughter school supplies so she can study. A teen who wants to text his friends to meet. Beyond a “refugee”, there is a doctor, a plumber, a teacher. An employee, a customer, a client. A human being. Just like you. Join this plenary session and explore how the private sector can play a pivotal role in helping refugees rebuild the lives they had before fleeing war and persecution. Discover how the world refugee crisis can offer visionary companies and foundations opportunities to learn and invest on sustainable development. To give refugees lives beyond the noun that defines them.

Speakers

Closing Remarks
10:53 am - 10:55 am
Closing Remarks
Leadership Award: H.E. Monica Geingos
10:55 am - 11:05 am
Leadership Award: H.E. Monica Geingos
Location
Main Plenary
Time
10:55 am - 11:05 am

Speakers

Jennifer Lawrence: Fixing Corruption Can Fix Everything
11:05 am - 11:35 am
Jennifer Lawrence: Fixing Corruption Can Fix Everything
11:05 am - 11:35 am
Location
Main Plenary
Time
11:05 am - 11:35 am
Programming Partner
Represent.Us

Session Description

Last year, the Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index downgraded the U.S. from a “full democracy” to a “flawed democracy,” as political extremism rises and faith in public institutions declines. While Washington, D.C. remains gridlocked, there is an unprecedented wave of election, anti-corruption, ethics, and campaign finance reforms advancing in cities and states across the nation. Following in the footsteps of the most transformative movements of the U.S.'s past, grassroots conservatives and progressives are joining ranks to fix this critical issue from the bottom up. Learn about the political corruption problem facing the U.S., and this innovative effort to fix it.

Speakers

BREAK
11:35 am - 12:00 pm
BREAK
11:35 am - 12:00 pm
Location
Main Plenary
Time
11:35 am - 12:00 pm
Flashpoint: Amnesty International
12:00 pm - 12:05 pm
Flashpoint: Amnesty International
Main Plenary
12:00 pm - 12:05 pm

Speakers

Paid Leave Pledge: Uniting Businesses Leading on Leave
12:05 pm - 12:20 pm
Paid Leave Pledge: Uniting Businesses Leading on Leave
Location
Main Plenary
Time
12:05 pm - 12:20 pm
Programming Partner
Panorama Global

Session Description

To make strategic business decisions, leaders must understand how internal policies support both their workforce and their bottom line. Join Panorama, with Nestle and JUST Capital, for a discussion around the importance of measuring the business outcomes of family support policies, and the release of Panorama’s framework to improve paid leave outcomes.

Speakers

Flashpoint: Farmer Income Lab
12:20 pm - 12:30 pm
Flashpoint: Farmer Income Lab
Location
Main Plenary
Time
12:20 pm - 12:30 pm
Patron Member
Mars, Incorporated

Session Description

Millions of people around the world work hard every day producing and selling Mars products. Mars believes every one of them deserves the opportunity to thrive. Marika McCauley-Sine, Global Vice President for Human Rights, will highlight the company’s efforts to advance respect for human rights and help lift smallholder farms out of poverty. She will share early insights from the Farmer Income Lab, a collaborative, think-do-tank that the company launched in 2017 to seek to identify what works in improving smallholder farmer incomes and to act as a catalyst for dialogue and action that will increase impact.

Speakers

Presidential Address
12:30 pm - 12:40 pm
Presidential Address
Main Plenary
12:30 pm - 12:40 pm

Speakers

Ending Modern Slavery: The Power of Collaborative Action
12:40 pm - 1:20 pm
Ending Modern Slavery: The Power of Collaborative Action
12:40 pm - 1:20 pm
Location
Main Plenary
Time
12:40 pm - 1:20 pm
Programming Partner
The B Team

Session Description

Today, approximately 40.3 million people are living in slavery, including 16 million working in the private sector—more than any other time in history. Modern slavery, which disproportionately harms and targets women and girls, generates $150 billion per annum in illicit profits. There is growing concern and interest from business leaders around tackling modern slavery. But, to date, the private sector has been unsuccessful in meaningfully moving the needle to end this horrific practice. If the world is to eliminate slavery once and for all, business must play a crucial role, while working in tandem with government and heads of state. In this conversation, high-level business, government, and civil society leaders will discuss why eradicating modern slavery is good business by outlining the financial and reputational risks that slavery poses, presenting the benefits and opportunities of taking action, and highlighting concrete steps leaders can take to ensure a future of shared prosperity.

Speakers

Collaborating to Advance Human Rights in Supply Chains
1:20 pm - 1:40 pm
Collaborating to Advance Human Rights in Supply Chains
1:20 pm - 1:40 pm
Location
Main Plenary
Time
1:20 pm - 1:40 pm
Programming Sponsor
Walmart

Session Description

Dan Viederman, Managing Director of Humanity United, will moderate a conversation with Jan Saumweber, Walmart’s Senior Vice President for Responsible Sourcing, and Anu George, IJM’s Director of Operations in Delhi. During their conversation, these leaders will discuss the importance of collaboration between NGOs, governments, and the private sector, and the distinct and shared responsibilities that each actor has to address trafficking and forced labor. Based on IJM’s on-the-ground experience, Anu George will recommend actionable steps that NGOs, governments, and the private sector can take to comprehensively and holistically address trafficking and forced labor in countries where it is most prevalent. Jan Saumweber will share Walmart’s collaborative approach to solving complex supply chain challenges like forced labor, including the challenges and opportunity for impact that the company has found in working across sectors. She’ll also highlight priorities for the company as it looks to accelerate and amplify its responsible sourcing efforts moving forward.

Speakers

The Case to Close Rikers
1:40 pm - 1:55 pm
The Case to Close Rikers
Location
Main Plenary
Time
1:40 pm - 1:55 pm

Session Description

Rikers Island, home to a daily population of over 8,000 incarcerated people and the veritable "face" of America's prison and jail system, is poised to close. Which movements in the domestic criminal justice space led to this monumental decision, and what does Rikers Island’s closure mean for incarceration rates in the United States? Stanley Richards, Executive Vice President of The Fortune Society and member of the 27-person blue ribbon commission tasked to examine the future of the Rikers Island jail facilities, is joined by Malika Saada Sarr, Senior Counsel on Civil and Human Rights for Google, to discuss what comes next.

Speakers

USAID Administrator Mark Green: Ending the Need for Foreign Assistance
1:55 pm - 2:20 pm
USAID Administrator Mark Green: Ending the Need for Foreign Assistance
1:55 pm - 2:20 pm
Location
Main Plenary
Time
1:55 pm - 2:20 pm

Session Description

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is re-orienting itself around the concept of "self-reliance," or a country's ability to plan, finance, and implement solutions to solve its own development challenges. In this presentation, USAID Administrator Mark Green will lay out the Agency's new Journey to Self Reliance initiative and the tools that will ensure programs effectively support a country’s development journey so we can move closer to the day that foreign assistance is no longer needed. The presentation will be followed by a conversation between Administrator Green and Concordia CEO Matt Swift.

Speakers

Break
2:20 pm - 2:45 pm
Break
2:20 pm - 2:45 pm
Location
Main Plenary
Time
2:20 pm - 2:45 pm
The Preparedness Challenge: Partnerships for Local Resilience
2:45 pm - 3:20 pm
The Preparedness Challenge: Partnerships for Local Resilience
2:45 pm - 3:20 pm
Location
Main Plenary
Time
2:45 pm - 3:20 pm
Programming Partner
Americares

Session Description

Recent disasters illustrate the ever-growing threat from climate change and other shocks to vulnerable communities around the world. While the global community recognizes the importance of preparedness and adaptation, effective community-level resilience requires local action. This session, developed and hosted in partnership with Americares, will challenge the public and private sectors, and civil society, to work together to advance preparedness at the local level and help high-risk communities become more resilient.

Speakers

Presidential Address: H.E. Jovenal Moïse, President of Haiti
3:20 pm - 3:30 pm
Presidential Address: H.E. Jovenal Moïse, President of Haiti
Location
Main Plenary
Time
3:20 pm - 3:30 pm

Speakers

Petra Nemcova & Frank Giustra: Resilient Response: A Necessary Shift in Disaster-Giving
3:30 pm - 3:35 pm
Petra Nemcova & Frank Giustra: Resilient Response: A Necessary Shift in Disaster-Giving
HRH Princess Lamia Bint Majed Saud AlSaud: How Understanding Saudi Arabia’s Women Can Help Bridge Cultural Divide
3:35 pm - 4:00 pm
HRH Princess Lamia Bint Majed Saud AlSaud: How Understanding Saudi Arabia’s Women Can Help Bridge Cultural Divide
3:35 pm - 4:00 pm
Location
Main Plenary
Time
3:35 pm - 4:00 pm

Session Description

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is undergoing significant modernization with women’s empowerment at the forefront of the reform agenda. Social restrictions have been loosened and bans on cinemas and women driving have been lifted. The Kingdom is now reform-driven and focused on implementing Vision 2030. The session will explore how a more liberal gender agenda can benefit Saudi Arabia, and how local foundations such as Alwaleed Philanthropies are supporting this reform. Looking at the efforts being made, and the progress that has been achieved throughout the years, HRH Princess Lamia and Amb. Dobriansky will discuss how partners can encourage this change, and the areas that should be prioritized to support further progress.

Speakers

Global Education
4:00 pm - 4:05 pm
Global Education
Location
Main Plenary
Main Plenary
4:00 pm - 4:05 pm

Speakers

Flashpoint: Mobile Innovation Hub
4:05 pm - 4:15 pm
Flashpoint: Mobile Innovation Hub
Location
Main Plenary
Time
4:05 pm - 4:15 pm
Patron Member
Winrock International

Speakers

Technology for Social Impact
4:15 pm - 4:30 pm
Technology for Social Impact
Location
Main Plenary
Time
4:15 pm - 4:30 pm
Programming Partner
MIT Solve

Session Description

Join us for a fireside chat as MIT Solve explores the EdTech landscape with Solver team 40K Plus and discover the ways in which they are using technology to bridge the divide between resource-rich and resource-limited communities, ensuring that a path to quality education is accessible to all.

Speakers

Florida Leading the Way on Partnerships
4:30 pm - 4:45 pm
Florida Leading the Way on Partnerships
Whatever Happened to the Inheritors?
4:45 pm - 4:55 pm
Whatever Happened to the Inheritors?
Location
Main Plenary
Time
4:45 pm - 4:55 pm

Session Description

More than 50 years ago, Time magazine awarded their “Man of the Year” not to an individual but to a generation. “The Inheritors” – Americans under 25- were “cushioned by unprecedented affluence and the welfare state” and had “a sense of economic security unmatched in history.” Though it does not grab the headlines, the defining issue of our time may be the generational theft the now-baby boomers are committing against today’s younger generations. Former Senator Tom Coburn will be discussing Pursuit, a project he launched to help young Americans understand and take active ownership in discussions on the national debt, unfunded liabilities, and federal program management – discussions that they must engage in to stem the generational theft and shape a better future.

Speakers

Roger Cohen: Athens Democracy Forum
4:55 pm - 5:00 pm
Roger Cohen: Athens Democracy Forum
Main Plenary
4:55 pm - 5:00 pm

Speakers

Keynote Address
5:00 pm - 5:10 pm
Keynote Address
Location
Main Plenary
Time
5:00 pm - 5:10 pm

Speakers

Flashpoint: Innovate for Good
5:10 pm - 5:20 pm
Flashpoint: Innovate for Good
Location
Main Plenary
Time
5:10 pm - 5:20 pm

Session Description

Businesses face new expectations in the 21st Century. We look to enterprises to create a positive impact in the manner that they source their materials, produce their products, and engage their communities. But is it possible to “do good” and still run a profitable business?

Speakers

Banking the Next Billion via Cryptocurrencies
5:20 pm - 5:30 pm
Banking the Next Billion via Cryptocurrencies
Main Plenary
5:20 - 5:30 PM

Session Description

Companies like Abra are leading the charge in completely rethinking banking from the ground up. Bill will share some insights into what we can expect in the coming years in this exciting and ground breaking industry effort.

Speakers

The CEO Statesmanship Imperative
5:30 pm - 5:45 pm
The CEO Statesmanship Imperative
Main Plenary
5:30 pm - 5:45 pm

Session Description

As the world increasingly looks to the private sector to act as agents for social and economic progress, Laurel Strategies CEO Alan Fleischmann coined the term "CEO Statesmanship" to describe this rapid shift. Fleischmann sits down for a fireside chat with iconic African business leader and philanthropist Strive Masiyiwa to discuss the rising responsibility of CEOs to lead and catalyze change on a global scale.

Speakers

Leadership Council Award
5:45 pm - 5:50 pm
Leadership Council Award
P3 Impact Award Announcement
5:50 pm - 6:00 pm
P3 Impact Award Announcement
Location
Main Plenary
Time
5:50 pm - 6:00 pm
U.S. Department of State Secretary's Office of Global Partnerships
University of Virginia Darden School of Business Institute for Business in Society

Session Description

The P3 Impact Award was created by Concordia, the University of Virginia Darden School Institute for Business in Society, and the U.S. Department of State's Office of Global Partnerships to recognize public-private partnerships (P3s) that are improving communities in the most impactful ways. Now in its fifth year, the award has evaluated hundreds of applications from around the world and amplified trends in cross-sector collaboration. Watch the exciting reveal of the 2018 P3 Impact Award and 2018 P3 Impact Audience Choice Award winners, based on outcomes from the morning’s Strategic Dialogue.

Speakers

Blockchain Central
Blockchain Central
Blockchain Central
REGISTRATION
8:00 am - 9:00 am
REGISTRATION
8:00 am - 9:00 am
REGISTRATION
8:00 am - 9:00 am
REGISTRATION
8:00 am - 9:00 am
REGISTRATION
8:00 am - 9:00 am
REGISTRATION
8:00 am - 9:00 am
REGISTRATION
8:00 am - 9:00 am
REGISTRATION
8:00 am - 9:00 am
REGISTRATION
8:00 am - 9:00 am
REGISTRATION
8:00 am - 9:00 am
Bringing Transparency & Accountability to Advertising through Blockchain Partnerships
9:25 am - 9:45 am
Bringing Transparency & Accountability to Advertising through Blockchain Partnerships
9:25 am - 9:45 am
Location
Blockchain Central
Time
9:25 am - 9:45 am

Speakers

Building the Digital State: A Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Government
9:45 am - 11:00 am
Building the Digital State: A Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Government
9:45 am - 11:00 am
Location
Blockchain Central
Time
9:45 am - 11:00 am

Session Description

To paraphrase Madeleine Albright, many governments are relying on institutions designed in the 18th and 19th centuries and technology from the 20th century to solve the challenges of the 21st century. It's time for an upgrade. The GovOS initiative has the potential to revolutionize how governments - from cities to countries - do business and interact with their citizens. GovOS will provide a framework for modular, interoperable solutions that harness frontier technologies including blockchain and artificial intelligence to create a new government operating system that addresses key government functions. This roundtable will bring together leading thinkers and practitioners to shape the evolution of the GovOS.

Speakers

The Future of Work in the Era of Blockchain
11:00 am - 11:45 am
The Future of Work in the Era of Blockchain
11:00 am - 11:45 am
Location
Blockchain Central
Time
11:00 am - 11:45 am

Session Description

The proliferation of blockchain technology has the potential to fundamentally transform how workers interact with the economy. The peer-to-peer network capabilities of the technology will provide opportunity for workers and provoke new solutions from business and policymakers. Join corporate leaders, blockchain entrepreneurs, and academics as they examine blockchain’s role in the future of work.

Speakers

BREAK
11:45 am - 12:35 pm
BREAK
11:45 am - 12:35 pm
Location
Blockchain Central
Time
11:45 am - 12:35 pm
Future Energy Economy
12:35 pm - 12:45 pm
Future Energy Economy
Democratizing Finance Through Blockchain
12:45 pm - 1:30 pm
Democratizing Finance Through Blockchain
12:45 pm - 1:30 pm
Location
Blockchain Central
Time
12:45 pm - 1:30 pm

Session Description

The global push for financial inclusion as a driver of growth and upward mobility starts with blockchain. At its core, the open-source technology seeks to reduce the role of intermediaries and allow individuals to manage their assets cheaply, securely, and efficiently. Hear from advocates of financial inclusion, blockchain promoters, and industry leaders as they discuss how blockchain empowers individuals around the world to manage their own finances.

Speakers

Identity and Data Privacy in a Digital Era: Can Blockchain Help?
1:30 pm - 2:15 pm
Identity and Data Privacy in a Digital Era: Can Blockchain Help?
1:30 pm - 2:15 pm
Location
Blockchain Central
Time
1:30 pm - 2:15 pm

Session Description

The distributed ledger technology at the heart of blockchain represents a hugely significant advance in information security and privacy. Information moved on open blockchains is distributed on nodes across a wide network, preventing internal and external fraud. Blockchain technology could emerge as a new way to protect personal online data. Join tech leaders and policymakers as they discuss how this technology will impact data protection and privacy moving forward.

Speakers

Crystal Blockchain
2:15 pm - 2:30 pm
Crystal Blockchain

Session Description

Crystal blockchain provides a comprehensive view of the public blockchain ecosystem and uses advanced analytics and data scraping to map suspicious transactions and related entities. Whether it is tracking a bitcoin transaction to a real-world entity, determining relationships between known criminal actors, or surveying suspicious behavior, Crystal can help move your investigation forward. Engineered by the Bitfury Group, this tool is transforming the landscape. Hear why Bitfury founder and CEO Val Vavilov took two years to develop it.

Speakers

BREAK
2:30 pm - 2:45 pm
BREAK
SDGs + Blockchain – How Can Cryptocurrencies Help Achieve the SDGs?
2:45 pm - 3:30 pm
SDGs + Blockchain – How Can Cryptocurrencies Help Achieve the SDGs?
2:45 pm - 3:30 pm
Location
Blockchain Central
Time
2:45 pm - 3:30 pm

Session Description

The accessible nature of blockchain allows those working to implement the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals to devise solutions that expand opportunity for individuals around the globe to succeed. Cryptocurrencies are already proving their worth in attaining SDGs as a transparent and inexpensive way to pay workers, send remittances and cross border payments, and fund socially-conscious startups. Join advocates, social entrepreneurs, and blockchain leaders to hear about the potential social good from the technology.

Speakers

Empowering People
3:30 pm - 3:50 pm
Empowering People
3:30 pm - 3:50 pm
Location
Blockchain Central
Time
3:30 pm - 3:50 pm
BREAK
3:50 pm - 4:00 pm
BREAK
Final Thoughts: Designing the Future with Blockchain
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Final Thoughts: Designing the Future with Blockchain
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Strategic Dialogue North
Strategic Dialogue North
Strategic Dialogue North
Registration
8:00 am - 9:00 am
Registration
8:00 am - 9:00 am
Practicalities of Partnership Building
10:00 am - 11:30 am
Practicalities of Partnership Building
10:00 am - 11:30 am
Location
Strategic Dialogue North
Time
10:00 am - 11:30 am
Programming Collaborators
U.S. Department of State's Office of Global Partnerships, the University of Virginia Darden School of Business Institute for Business in Society

Session Description

This Strategic Dialogue session will bring together organizations that exemplify hands-on experience with partnership building structured to create enduring economic and social value. Participants will discuss best practices and practical experiences related to several common challenges with partnership—first through a workshop focused on the mechanics behind partnership building, and then through a showcase of the 2018 P3 Impact Award Finalists. The full session will address questions such as: What allows partnerships to be sustainable and scaled? What are key governance and organizational features of successful partnerships? And, under what circumstances can partnerships address social issues at scale? The objective of uniting these programmatic elements is to first explore the best practices, rationale for metrics, and common obstacles in partnership formation in order to apply the evidence-based approach to the evaluation of the award finalists. P3 Impact Award judges will deliberate their decision following this session, with the results being announced on the plenary stage later that day. Immediately following this session, audience members will have the opportunity to vote on the first-ever Audience Choice Award for the P3 Impact Finalists.

Speakers

Break
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
Break
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
Time
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
From Millions to Trillion: Scaling Investments for Impact
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
From Millions to Trillion: Scaling Investments for Impact
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Location
Strategic Dialogue North
Time
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Programming Partner
Concordia Innovative Financing Coalition

Session Description

Innovative financing—or the deployment of new funding sources, the enhancement of efficiency in financial flows, the introduction of integrated thinking to reduce risk, and the creation of results-oriented financial instruments—will be critical to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Much remains to be understood and communicated regarding the applicability of various mechanisms, however, and still too much distance stands between private sector financiers and public sector officials. Since 2016, Concordia has hosted discussions about how to close the SDG funding gap through private sector levers. This session will serve as the official launch of the Concordia Innovative Financing Coalition (CIFC) and an opportunity to advance progress around pressing global issues. The CIFC serves as an organizer of Concordia-led discussions related to the deployment, evolution, or establishment of new funding streams directed towards the financing of the SDGs. Concordia will leverage its geographically-diverse programming and membership community to advance both regional-specific funding discussions as well as explore trends within the global ecosystem of innovative financing. The CIFC's first regional focus is on Latin America, with heightened attention to Colombia and SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, and looks to replicate cross-sectoral dialogue in East Africa in 2019.

Speakers

Break
1:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Break
1:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Time
1:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Concordia Africa: Financial Inclusion, Technology, & Data Analysis
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Concordia Africa: Financial Inclusion, Technology, & Data Analysis
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Location
Strategic Dialogue North
Time
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Session Description

With increasing electrification, growth in the telecommunications sector, digitalization, and access to abundant resources, the technology industry is playing an increasingly large role in economic development across Africa. The coalescence of these factors has created a wealth of innovative ideas and opportunities. The African telecommunications sector has been influential in leading the digitalization of the continent, supporting growth in financial inclusion and access to markets. A challenge now lies in determining how best to use cross-sector collaboration to provide direction and sustainability to the waves of technological innovation facing Africa. It is imperative to provide capital for African-led solutions to maximize these opportunities and address the challenges associated with these technological developments. From leveraging financial inclusion to guaranteeing data security and privacy, the issues introduced by a more technologically-advanced Africa bear both uncertainty and the promise of energizing the continent with ideas and innovations made by and for Africans.

Speakers

BREAK
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm
BREAK
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Location
Strategic Dialogue North
Time
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Concordia Africa: Youth Employment & Entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Concordia Africa: Youth Employment & Entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Location
Strategic Dialogue North
Time
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Session Description

The UN has projected that by 2050 the world population will have grown by 2.2 billion people. 1.3 billion of those people will be African. A rapidly-expanding population has obvious implications for the labor force, but it is important to look at the demographic makeup at play as well. In 2010, 63% of Africa’s population was below the age of 25, and according to the International Labor Organization, the number of Africans aged 15-24 will double by 2050. Recent statistics on unemployment among Sub-Saharan young people show an average of 10.8%, yet 70% of working youth in Africa still live below the global poverty line. These stark numbers depict a complex challenge: how do African leaders ensure that job creation for young people keeps pace with the profound continental population growth, while supporting adequate workforce development, entrepreneurship, and productivity in the coming years? Youth employment has the capacity to drive economic development on the continent, making it critical that different sectors work together to improve young people’s access to skills development and financing mechanisms. This Strategic Dialogue will focus on how innovators can catalyze inclusive economic growth and support the development potential of young people to create sustainable and efficient economies across the African continent.

Speakers

Executive Boardroom
Invitation Only
Executive Boardroom
Executive Boardroom
Registration
8:00 am - 9:00 am
Registration
8:00 am - 9:00 am
Location
Executive Boardroom
Concordia Leadership Council Annual Meeting
10:00 am - 11:30 am
Concordia Leadership Council Annual Meeting
10:00 am - 11:30 am
Location
Executive Boardroom
Time
10:00 am - 11:30 am
Roundtable: The Humanitarian Grand Challenge
3:30 pm - 4:15 pm
Roundtable: The Humanitarian Grand Challenge
3:30 pm - 4:15 pm
Location
Executive Boardroom
Time
3:30 pm - 4:15 pm
Programming Partner
USAID / DFID

Session Description

As the length, frequency, and scope of the world’s conflicts increase, it is becoming more difficult to reach affected people in insecure areas with life-saving and life-improving humanitarian assistance. USAID Administrator Mark Green and DFID Secretary of State Penny Mordaunt will discuss how donors are addressing this challenge by supporting, investing, and incentivizing new solutions, and will showcase three finalists from the first round of the Creating Hope in Conflict Humanitarian Grand Challenge who are helping make the delivery of humanitarian assistance in conflict more efficient and effective. Drawing on input from private sector leaders, a moderated conversation will focus on identifying the ways in which the public and private sectors can collaboratively develop and fund more integrated and inclusive solutions and work together to address the barriers that prevent impact and scaled up engagement, particularly in complex emergencies.

Speakers

Main Plenary

MILLIONS IN THE MIDDLE

Concordia and former Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey have partnered to bring Millions in the Middle to the 2018 Concordia Annual Summit in New York City on September 24th 2018. Convening during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Millions in the Middle will bring together the most prominent activists, thought leaders, candidates and funders working in the Bipartisan, Good Government and Centrist spaces. Operating as a Summit within the larger Concordia Annual Summit, Millions in the Middle will offer a day of Roundtable discussions, a networking lunch, and an opportunity to hear from leading centrist candidates.

Featuring Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper as its keynote speaker, the event’s objectives are to discuss common challenges and amplify one another’s impact as a movement. Healey believes that Centrists of all affiliations have an urgent obligation to speak up against today’s politics of division, and that by working beyond traditional party boundaries, there is a pathway to re-unite America around a shared political heritage that cherishes democracy, freedom and equality and advances dignity and opportunity.

This programming will bring together Centrist viewpoints to identify specific trends influencing American politics today, as well as explore at a deeper level what motivates candidates, campaign financiers, and political activists ahead of the 2020 elections. This is a unique opportunity to engage with pragmatic leaders critical to this space about the millions of Americans dissatisfied with today’s political environment, including organizations like SAM, Issue One, No Labels, the Leadership Now Project, and Unite America, as well as Bill Kristol, Director of Defending Democracy Together and editor-at-large of The Weekly Standard.

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Concordia and the Global Blockchain Business Council partnered together to bring  Blockchain Central to the 2018 Concordia Annual Summit in New York City on September 24-25, 2018 during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Blockchain Central was the premier venue during UNGA for all things Blockchain, including blockchain specific programming and a Blockchain Central lounge for networking and demonstrations throughout the conference. Blockchain Central was seen by thousands of attendees at the Concordia Annual Summit. Inclusive programming, including small roundtables, strategic dialogues, and high-level plenary sessions allowed for a range of discussions by the leading voices in this groundbreaking field to create unmatched opportunities for innovators to collaborate with policymakers and business leaders.

Additionally, the Blockchain Central lounge encouraged informal networking across the range of public and private sector attendees at the Summit to better understand the applications and potential of blockchain technology. Blockchain Central allowed partners to engage at the highest levels and explore how Blockchain technology can facilitate more stable and efficient solutions for challenges and opportunities facing companies, institutions, and society.

 

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CONCORDIA LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

Grand Hyatt New York 

109 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017