This year’s Conference will focus on global challenges where business, philanthropy and government have clear positive roles to play — both separately and collectively. Program tracks, teed up by plenary panels and analyzed deeply during Working Group sessions will consider methods for combating large-scale social problems — from cleaning up supply chains, to strengthening health systems, to mobilizing private capital flows for development. And chronic and acute challenges, such as modern-day slavery, disease outbreaks and extreme weather events, will be studied so as to understand the ways in which business, government and philanthropic prevention and response strategies can be applied and potentially combined.
Throughout the Conference, the unique pressures on and requirements of each sector will be acknowledged, as will the need for communication and coordination among them. But most importantly, all of the conversations will begin with the assumption that regardless of one’s profession, positions of authority or source of expertise, each individual can play a role — and that role may be one of disruptor, decision maker or both.