World Economic Forum (Geneva)
11 March 2008
press release
Genveva — The World Economic Forum announced today the Young Global Leaders for 2008. This honour is bestowed each year by the World Economic Forum to recognize and acknowledge the top 200-300 young leaders from around the world for their professional accomplishments, commitment to society and potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world. The Young Global Leaders 2008 include 121 business leaders, as well as leaders from government, academia, the media and society at large from 65 countries. The new class represents all regions, including East Asia (64), Europe (58), Middle East and North Africa (12), North America (45), South Asia (24), sub-Saharan Africa (21) and Latin America (21).
"The World Economic Forum is a true multistakeholder community of global decision-makers. We need the Young Global Leaders to be a voice for the future in the global thought process and as a catalyst for initiatives in the global public interest," said Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum.
Drawn from a pool of almost 5,000 candidates, the Young Global Leaders 2008 were chosen by a selection committee of 31 eminent international media leaders, including Thomas H. Glocer, Chief Executive Officer, Reuters, United Kingdom; Arthur Sulzberger, Chairman and Publisher, The New York Times, USA; Robert Thomson, Publisher, Dow Jones & Company and The Wall Street Journal, USA; and Hisashi Hieda, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Fuji Television Network, Japan. The selection committee is chaired by H.M. Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
The Young Global Leaders 2008 nominated from sub-Saharan Africa represent eight countries and include Natalie Du Toit, Athlete and Ability Rights Activist, South Africa; Joseph Kabila, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo; Kola Karim, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Shoreline Energy International, Nigeria; Mugo Kibati, Group Chief Executive Officer, East African Cables, Kenya; and Tumi Makgabo, Manager, Communications, 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee, South Africa, among others.
"One of the greatest challenges we have on the African continent is the general lack of understanding from the world of who we are and what the complexities are that shape [us]. The YGLs, I believe, will afford the opportunity to engage other nominees around giving a more balanced perspective and view of Africa. This will come through highlighting and providing a platform to showcase the solutions that are being found on the continent to the challenges we face. I view the network as a partnership on this journey and a vehicle to sustainable change for the better, and development for our people by our people," said Makgabo.
The current community of Young Global Leaders represents over 60 countries and includes Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Co-Founders of Google, USA; Crown Prince Haakon of Norway; Malvinder M. Singh, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Ranbaxy Laboratories, India; Hiroshi Nakada, Mayor of Yokohama, Japan; Kumi Naidoo, Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer, Civicus-World Alliance for Citizen Participation, South Africa; Nicky Newton-King, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, JSE, South Africa; Omar Bin Sulaiman, Governor, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), United Arab Emirates; Muna Abu Sulayman, Director, Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Al Saud Foundation, Saudi Arabia; Carlos Danel, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Banco Compartamos, Mexico; and Jack Ma Yun, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Alibaba Group, People's Republic of China.
"The Young Global Leaders community has greatly facilitated my ability to reach out to civil society organizations, foundations, private sector actors and government representatives in the pursuit of a more just world," said Naidoo.
"It is our belief that this community of committed individuals can actually change the status quo. They are not only a preview of what effective, collaborative leadership in the 21st century might look like, they are actually putting it into practice today," said David Aikman, Senior Director and Head of The Forum of Young Global Leaders. "It is our privilege to work with such inspirational leaders and to bring them together in a global network that builds their insights and skills even further, providing them with a global platform to tackle the key challenges of our generation."
Established in 2004 by Professor Klaus Schwab, The Forum of Young Global Leaders is a unique, multistakeholder community of the world's most extraordinary young leaders, who dedicate a part of their time to jointly addressing global challenges and who are committed to devoting some of their knowledge and energy to collectively work towards a better future. As part of their engagement, the Young Global Leaders give their time to task forces to initiate, develop and drive innovative solutions on important, globally-oriented issues, including health, education, the environment, global governance and security, and development and poverty.
Read the full list of young African leaders here
Editors' note: In addition to the 21 Sub-Saharan young leaders named by the WEF in this statement, two leaders were named from Morocco.
The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas.
Incorporated as a foundation in 1971, and based in Geneva, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum is impartial and not-for-profit; it is tied to no political, partisan or national interests. (http://www.weforum.org)
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