Asia Society Gathers Young Leaders in Dhaka for 7th Annual Summit
New York, November 28, 2012 — This year’s Asia21 Young Leaders Summit, the preeminent gathering of young leaders in the Asia Pacific region will be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh on December 7 to 9 at BRAC CDM Savar.
The Summit is an integral component of the Asia 21 Young Leaders Initiative, the Asia-Pacific region’s leading network for emerging leaders under the age of 40 to build relationships, engage in interdisciplinary dialogue and cultural exchange, and develop cooperative responses for addressing shared challenges. Now in its 7th year, this year’s Summit will play host to over 100 of the region’s most accomplished young leaders, representing over 20 countries. Keeping with Asia 21’s cross-sectoral DNA, delegates at this year’s Summit come from a variety of sectors including government, business, civil society, media, and the arts.
With the theme Asia 21 in 2020: Catalyzing Change, Sustaining Impact, participants will delve deeply into a vision for Asia and Asia 21 in the year 2020, assess their roles as civic-minded leaders in the rapidly changing Asia-Pacific landscape, and explore ways to enhance and sustain their collective capacities. Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, State Minister for Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh and Sir Fazle H. Abed, Founder and Chairperson of BRAC will deliver keynote remarks.
Among the prominent young leaders attending the summit include: Ejaj Ahmad, Founder and President of the Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center (BYLC); Claire Chino, Corporate Counsel, Legal Division, Itochu Corporation, Japan; Adam Gilmore, Partner Chief Engineer, Space Shuttle Program at NASA; Aaron Maniam, Director, Institute of Policy Development, Civil Service College, Singapore; Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, an Academy Award and Emmy Award winning documentary filmmaker from Pakistan; Asif Saleh, Senior director of Strategy, Communications and Capacity Division in BRAC and BRAC International; Sandiaga Uno , President & Director, PT Saratoga Investama Sedaya, Indonesia; and Wenchi Yu, Policy Advisor of the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues, the U.S. Department of State.
The Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit is supported by Founding International Sponsor, Bank of America Merril Lynch. Other support comes from the Coca-Cola Company, and local partners include the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, the Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center, and Daily Star.
The Asia Society is an international organization dedicated to strengthening relationships and deepening understanding among the peoples of Asia and the United States. It seeks to increase knowledge and enhance dialogue, encourage creative expression, and generate new ideas across the fields of policy, business, education, arts, and culture.Founded in 1956 by John D. Rockefeller 3rd, the Society reaches audiences around the world through its headquarters in New York and regional centers in Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisrco, Washington, DC, Hong Kong, Seoul, Manila, Melbourne, Mumbai and Shanghai.
Asia Society will be conducting a press conference with secretary Tariq-ul-Islam from the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs at the National press Club in Dhaka on Wednesday, December 5 at 11 am to talk about Asia 21 and the Summit. For questions about covering the press conference or the Asia 21 Summit, please contact Ms. Kathryn Cárdenas at [email protected].