8 Billion Possibilities I New Museum, New York

New Museum, New York I 23 September 2018

CONVERSATION HIGHLIGHTS
The first international edition of Expo 2020 Dubai’s World Majlis programme, held in New York City, explored how to unlock Opportunity in a world approaching a population of eight billion people, drawing its topic from the Expo 2020 Dubai Opportunity Pavilion and aligning with one of Expo 2020 Dubai’s three subthemes (alongside Mobility and Sustainability).
Topics of discussion on 23 September included how opportunity is created, how it is hindered and ways in which we can all access it, in addition to the role of technology and value systems, and the significance of collective action in driving forward opportunities. The importance of inspiring action, especially among youth, emerged as a key priority. We can all be agents of change in today’s world, with digital platforms enabling billions to connect and share ideas to create true opportunity.

KEY MESSAGES
• Significant progress has been made to increase access to opportunity – lifting people out of poverty while advancing education and health.
• In a world approaching eight billion people, and which is increasingly shaped by the power of technology, further issues include the mobility of opportunity; the values that we embed in technology and society; and the leadership and political will to implement positive and progressive change.
• The role of youth is central. It is about giving a voice to new generations, enabling them to contribute to and provide solutions for their communities.

Participants

Her Excellency Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimy
UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General, Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau (Host)

Her Excellency Lana Zaki Nusseibeh
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the UAE to the United Nations (Moderator)

His Excellency Majid Al Suwaidi
UAE Consul General in New York

His Excellency Mansour Al Mansouri
Director General, UAE National Media Council

Kim Campbell
Prime Minister of Canada (1993), WLA-Club de Madrid Member

Professor Arun Sundararajan
Robert L. and Dale Atkins Rosen Faculty Fellow, (NYU) Stern School of Business

Chris Anderson
Curator, TED

Joe Cerrell
Managing Director, Global Policy and Advocacy, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Jon Banner
Chief Communications Officer, PepsiCo & President, PepsiCo Foundation

Kehkashan Basu
Founder of Green Hope Youth and Youth Ambassador for the World Future Council

Patrick Chalhoub
CEO, Chalhoub Group and member of the board of the United Nations Global Compact

Dr Seth Berkley
CEO, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

Yousuf Caires
Vice President of Expo Live, Expo 2020 Dubai


Participating Students

AbdAllah Abualreesh Almansoori
Columbia University

Abdulla Alhussam
New York University

Adil Hussein
Columbia University

Fatima Al Hammadi
New York University

Kevin Chalhoub
Stanford University

Lamees Abulkhair
New York University

Lubna Alnasser
Columbia University Medical College

Tasneem Alghamdi
Columbia University