ICLEI Secretary General appointed chair of World Economic Forum's Council on Urbanization
Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), has appointed Konrad Otto-Zimmermann, Secretary General of ICLEI, to serve as Chair of the Global Agenda Council on Urbanization 2010.
The World Economic Forum created the Network of Global Agenda Councils in 2008, which comprises Councils on the foremost topics in the global arena. Each Council convenes 'leaders in thought' from academia, government, business and other fields to capture the best knowledge on each key issue and integrate it into global collaboration and decision-making processes.
"In light of his thought leadership in this area, I could not think of a better person to nominate as Chair of this Council," says Schwab.
Otto-Zimmermann has been a Member of the Global Agenda Council on Urban Management since 2008. He also served on the Steering Board of the World Economic Forum's SlimCity Initiative and took active part in the Forum's Summits in Davos, Switzerland and will participate in the Tianjin, China, Summit in September 2010.
About the Network of Global Agenda Councils
As multi-stakeholder groups formed to advance knowledge and collaboratively develop solutions to the most crucial issues on the global agenda, the Councils represent transformational innovation in global governance. Specifically, the Councils:
- monitor key trends,
- identify global risks,
- map interrelationships and
- address knowledge gaps
- put forward ideas and recommendations to address global challenges
Each of the Global Agenda Councils, comprised of 15 to 20 Members, serve as an informal advisory board to the World Economic Forum and, through the Forum, to the international community. The Councils represent the world’s foremost integrated ‘intelligence’ network of innovative thinking and ideas exchange on global issues. Established two years ago, the Network of Global Agenda Councils has already demonstrated its importance as a much-needed catalyst for improved global cooperation on key issues.
The Global Agenda Councils are now integrated in the Global Agenda Partnership, which unites the world’s most relevant experts, including business and government leaders, in an ongoing, comprehensive and co-creative process to monitor and address global, regional and industry challenges.
Council Members meet virtually and at the Summit on the Global Agenda in the United Arab Emirates. The 2010 Summit, held in partnership with the United Arab Emirates represented by the Government of Dubai, will take place from 29 November to 1 December 2010.
During the three-day Summit, over 700 participants will engage in interactive workshops and sessions to set priorities based on the most compelling ideas to improve the state of the world. The outcomes of the Summit will be integrated into the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2011 in Davos-Klosters for further discussion and action.