NEW YORK – The Concordia Summit concluded on September 19 with the continuation of the informative and vital program as well as the presentation of awards to deserving recipients. Leadership Awards were presented to David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee and to Kathy Calvin President and CEO of the United Nations Foundation on Day 2 of the Summit.
Paul Bulcke- Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nestlé received the Leadership Award on the first day of the Summit.
John Koudounis Chief Executive Officer of Calamos Investments introduced Miliband, noting the wonderful work being done to help refugees around the world. Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO introduced Calvin and said that we need leaders to leave no one behind in the efforts to reach the UN development goals.
Calvin thanked the co-founders of the Concordia Summit Nicholas Logothetis and Mathew Swift and said that she drew inspiration from Ted Turner and his pledge of $1 billion to the UN 20 years ago. She quoted Turner who spoke about the interconnected world and the UN is where people come together to solve the world’s problems, walking away doesn’t fix anything.
During the discussion on the Future of the Free World Order John D. Negroponte, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and U.S. Director of National Intelligence, noted that the things the Trump administration said they were going to do have not come to pass, so he is more optimistic about the future. He added that Trump gave a good speech at the UN.
In the same discussion, former Prime Minister of Greece George Papandreou spoke about the “America First” idea, noting that we would all put our countries first, but it is better when we work together. Papandreou questioned whether we are living up to our own values of liberal democracy and noted that the issue of money in politics must be dealt with. He said that we need to cooperate to deal with discontent over globalization and adherence to our values is the key.
John S. Koudounis CEO of Calamos Investments and a member of the Concordia leadership council, spoke from the private sector perspective, pointing out that he is optimistic about the future for Europe and Greece especially. He noted that he and John Calamos, Founder, Chairman, and Global CIO, have put their money where their mouth is with one of the biggest recent investments in Greece. Koudounis observed that in spite of rumors about the current government, they found them very cooperative throughout the process.
In the Maximizing Global Impact: The Role of U.S. Philanthropy in International Development, David Simas, CEO of the Obama Foundation mentioned Sofia Kouvelaki, Executive Director at the HOME Project and the work helping refugees by reaching out to the community. The HOME Project was set up by the Libra Group in response to the global refugee crisis.
Former U.S. Representative Jane Harman, now the first female Director, President, and CEO of the Woodrow Wilson Center, spoke with her friend Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the IMF, on the topic Beyond the Glass Ceiling: Women’s Leadership and Economic Empowerment as Key Drivers of Global Development.
The U.S. Department of State Secretary’s Office of Global Partnerships (S/GP), Concordia, and the University of Virginia Darden School of Business Institute for Business in Society (IBiS) created the P3 Impact Award to recognize public-private partnerships (P3s) that are changing our world in the most impactful of ways.
The P3 Impact Award went to the Bangladesh Sanitation Marketing Systems for their continuing efforts to improve sanitation in Bangladesh and the Audience Award went to Accenture and Upwardly Global for their work helping skilled immigrants and refugees find jobs according to their skills.
The Summit ended with thoughts and prayers going out to the people of Mexico as news of the devastating earthquake reached the attendees. Colombia singer Carlos Vives said his heart went out to Mexico. He then spoke about his foundation Tres La Perla and performed for the appreciative audience.
Many in attendance expressed their appreciation for the Concordia Summit and looked forward to next year.
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