Geneva, Switzerland, 6 March 2012 – The World Economic Forum has
announced its Young Global Leaders (YGLs) for 2012.
The honour, bestowed each year by the Forum, recognizes up to 200
outstanding young leaders from around the world for their professional
accomplishments, commitment to society and potential to contribute to
shaping the future of the world. Past YGLs include Maria Bartiromo,
Anchor, Closing Bell, and Anchor and Managing Editor, Wall Street
Journal Report, CNBC, USA; David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United
Kingdom; Esther Duflo, Professor of Economics, Massachusetts Institute
of Technology, USA; Larry Page, Co-Founder and Chief Executive
Officer, Google, USA; Zhang Xin, Chief Executive Officer, SOHO China,
People’s Republic of China.
Check http://www.weforum.org/news/world-economic-forum-announces-young-global-leaders-2012
For 2012, the Forum has selected 192 YGLs from 59 countries and all
sectors of society (including business, civil society, social
entrepreneurs, politics and government, arts and culture, and opinion
and media). The new class originates from East Asia (38), South Asia
(19), Europe (46), Middle East and North Africa (15), sub-Saharan
Africa (18), North America (37) and Latin America (19).
“In the last few years, the world has seen the biggest recession in
almost a century and we now face daunting global challenges,” said
Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic
Forum. “Recovery and innovation will require new, unique ideas and an
environment where the best minds, ideas and leadership can thrive. The
most important determinant of this will be how we use human talent.
Within the World Economic Forum community, the Young Global Leaders
represent the voice for the future and the hopes of the next
generation. I am particularly proud of this year’s honourees, who I
believe will address the challenges we face in a meaningful way
through fresh thinking and true multistakeholder engagement.”
Drawn from a pool of several thousand candidates, the 2012 YGLs were
chosen by a selection committee, chaired by H.M. Queen Rania Al
Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and they comprise
respected international leaders from business, government and media.
The 2012 YGLs reflect different types of leadership in different parts
of the world and society. They include: Gina Badenoch, Founder and
Chief Executive Officer, Ojos que Sienten A.C. (from Mexico); Eli
Beer, Founder and President, United Hatzalah of Israel (from Israel);
Cesar Conde, President, Univision Networks (from the United States);
Brendan Cox, Director of Advocacy and Policy, Save the Children (from
the United Kingdom); Kate Ellis, Minister for Employment Participation
and Childcare and Minister for the Status of Women (from Australia);
David Hertz, Founder and Managing Director, Gastromotiva (from
Brazil); Dirk Nowitzki, Basketball Player, Dirk Nowitzki Stiftung
(from Germany); Jasandra Nyker, Chief Executive Officer, BioTherm
Energy (from South Africa); Chhavi Rajawat, Sarpanch of Soda,
Municipal Government of Soda (from India); Nisreen Shahin, Executive
Director, Rawabi Foundation (from the Palestinian Territories); Wang
Shuo, Managing Editor, Caixin Media (from the People’s Republic of
China); and Tim Wu, Professor of Law, Columbia Law School (from
Canada/United States).
“It is an honour to be recognized as a Young Global Leader, at a
personal level, but more importantly, in terms of what it means for
Africa. It is exciting to see the extent to which a new generation of
young people from this continent is making global impact and has
global influence. We are truly a new force,” said Sisonke Msimang from
South Africa, Executive Director, Open Society Initiative for Southern
Africa (OSISA).
Another recently selected YGL from the United Kingdom, Niall Dunne,
Chief Sustainability Officer, BT, said: “The next era of human
evolution will be defined by the problem-solving power of networks.
All around us, we see people getting organized and committing
themselves with heart, body and mind to work at the scale of the
problems we all face. The YGL Community is one such network. Becoming
part of it is humbling yet thrilling as it is networks like this, and
our innate ability to get organized and innovate, that will create the
systemic change necessary to sustain and empower every man, woman and
child on the planet.”
A third honouree, Hana Kim, Reverend, Myungsung Presbyterian Church,
Republic of Korea, explains his reaction to becoming a YGL as follows:
“As a faith community leader, I find my calling in improving the
quality of life – health, education and nutrition – of those who are
most victimized by poverty. My academic and ecclesiastical backgrounds
provide a firm conviction that faith communities can help make the
world a better place. Along with fellow YGLs, my hope is that we will
help the world search for revolutionary ways to eliminate poverty.”
The 2012 honourees will become part of the broader Forum of Young
Global Leaders community that currently comprises 713 outstanding
individuals. The YGLs convene at an Annual Summit, which will be held
this year in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on 14-18 April. YGLs are
actively engaged in the community, are integrated into events
organized by the World Economic Forum, and organize events of their
own, as well as launch and lead their own innovative initiatives and
task forces. These activities enable YGLs to learn from and with each
other; build knowledge and engender a better understanding of global
challenges and trends, risks and opportunities; and further enhance
their unique role as leaders within their own organizations, the World
Economic Forum and the broader global community.
“The YGL experience is life changing. It joins this wildly impressive
group of young leaders, with extraordinary minds and talents, who
embrace the spirit of a global family and create this contagious
motivation to make the world a better place,” said Daniel Shapiro (YGL
2008) Founder and Director, Harvard International Negotiation Program,
Harvard Law School, USA. “The YGL programme gives us – the next
generation of leaders – a critical forum within which to collaborate
on global solutions to pressing global problems, ranging from poverty
alleviation to human security. And it’s not just about talk. The YGL
Community has delivered concrete results. It’s an honour to be a part
of this community.”
“One of the unique aspects of the YGL Community is that it is the
first generation of leaders who are truly global citizens; they have
all lived, studied and worked in different countries throughout their
careers,” said David Aikman, Head of The Forum of Young Global
Leaders. “They see themselves as being fundamentally interconnected
and have the cross-cultural leadership skills to be successful in a
globalized world. Thanks to the incredible diversity of the group,
they are able to collaborate across complex systems and build informal
coalitions to facilitate action on the biggest challenges facing the
world today. This entrepreneurial approach to public good is the best
way to move the world forward. We look forward to integrating the 2012
YGLs into our discussions and initiatives.”