Jordan Times
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Queen urges Young Global
Leaders to become force of change
AMMAN (JT) — Her Majesty Queen Rania on Sunday called on the world's young
movers and shakers to claim their stake in how the future unfolds, challenging
them to become the dynamic engine of change and global progress.
“For all of us here,” Queen Rania said, “the next 15 years have immediate,
urgent relevance — in all our roles, as business leaders... politicians...
public figures... or perhaps as parents.”
The Queen was addressing a group of 238 young leaders who gathered at the Forum
of Young Global Leaders (YGLs) Inaugural Summit in Zermatt, Switzerland, to
formulate a vision for the world in 2020.
Speaking during the awards ceremony, Queen Rania stressed that YGLs have a moral
responsibility and obligation towards the making of the future.
The Queen encouraged the leaders to work together towards the realisation of
their goals, irrespective of their individual differences, as only then could
they achieve what they have set out to do.
“... Although you come from around the world, and each have different agendas,”
she said, “you're linked by a shared commitment to make tomorrow better for
all... In order to fulfil this commitment, it is imperative that you demand and
promote a high level of ethical integrity and social responsibility in all you
do,” she added.
Queen Rania said the reason the Young Global Leaders initiative is unique is
because it gathers distinguished individuals from the four corners of the world,
regardless of their differences, to engage within one unified platform.
“You are special, and the vision, drive and determination that have made you
successful individuals can be combined to lift the lives of millions around the
world,” she continued.
The 2005 YGLs, all aged 40 or younger, represent 68 countries: 71 from Europe,
63 from North America, 49 from Asia, 19 from the Middle East and North Africa,
19 from sub-Saharan Africa and 17 from Latin America.
They include four heads of state and four future monarchs, 80 CEOs and
founders/entrepreneurs and 12 chairpersons. Women make up 30 per cent of the
group.
The Queen urged YGLs to act as a “network that enables collaboration across
boundaries of culture and concern.”
The Forum of Young Global Leaders, spearheaded by the World Economic Forum, is a
newly formed, unique, multi-stakeholder community of exceptional young leaders,
who share a commitment to shaping the global future. Each year, the forum brings
together 200-300 young leaders, selected out of 8,000 candidates, who are
currently internationally prominent, to serve for a period of five years, and
eventually becoming part of a 1,111-member community by the year 2009.
The 238 leading entrepreneurs, scientists, artists, journalists, economists,
politicians and NGO representatives who have been selected, launched the 2020
Initiative, during the annual WEF meeting in Davos, in January of this year.
The group gathered in the Swiss mountain resort under the theme The World in
2020, to draft strategies to address the most pressing challenges facing the
world today, with a specific focus on five main areas of concern: Poverty,
health, environment, education, global governance and security.
The four-day summit will work on the identification of concrete actions, both
short- and long-term, to translate the aspired vision, and the results will feed
into WEF 2006 in Davos.
As the head of the YGL Nomination Committee, and the only Arab member of the WEF
Foundation Board, Queen Rania also encouraged the YGLs to guide the leaders of
tomorrow in their quest for success.
“I hope you'll extend your influence down as well as up — mentoring and coaching
the young men and women who want to grow up to be you.”
Among the attendees were HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway; Prince Bandar Ben
Khalid Al Faisal of Saudi Arabia and Prince Zeid Raad, ambassador and permanent
representative of Jordan to the UN, amongst other leading representatives.
Earlier on Sunday, Queen Rania attended the YGL Foundation Board meeting,
chaired by WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Professor Klaus Schwab.
The eight-member board discussed the role of the YGLs in global affairs, and
means to involve them in the formulation of policies on the national, regional
and international levels. They also discussed the foundation's governance system
and the signing of statutes.
The Queen also attended the feedback session, where five YGLs briefed the board
members on key outcomes and proposed actions discussed during each workshop
conducted throughout the past four days.
Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the Forum of Young Global Leaders is an
independent, nonprofit organisation, supervised by the Swiss government and
established by Professor Klaus Schwab in 2004. It acts in close cooperation with
the World Economic Forum.