World Culture Festival - Celebrating Life
Agenda: Day 1
8.00 AM to 8.50 AM |
- Registration |
|
9.00 AM to 10.15 AM |
- Inaugural Session |
Welcome by Emcee:
- Mr. Christoph Glaser, Board Member, International Art of Living Foundation, Switzerland
- Dr. Ajay Tejasvi, Senior Leadership Expert and Program Manager, The World Bank, United States of America
Lighting of the Inaugural Lamp
- Mr. Christoph Glaser, Board Member, International Art of Living Foundation, Switzerland
- Dr. Ajay Tejasvi, Senior Leadership Expert and Program Manager, The World Bank, United States of America
Welcome Remarks:
- Mrs. Rajita Kulkarni, President, World Forum for Ethics in Business
- Mr. Mahesh Gupta, Member, Organizing Committee, World Culture Festival
Inaugural Session Speakers:
- H.E. Mr. Michael A.S. Adhin, Vice-President of Suriname, Suriname
- Hon. Mr. Arun Jaitley, Union Minister of Finance, India
- Hon. Ms. Linda Cathrine Hofstad Helleland, Minister of Culture in Norway
- Hon. Mr. Akhilesh Yadav, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, India
- Hon. Mr. Ryszard Czarnecki, Vice President of The European Parliament, Belgium
- Hon. Mr. Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping, India
- Mr. Michael S. Perlis, President and CEO of Forbes Media LLC, United States of America
- Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Global Humanitarian and Founder, Art of Living
10.20 AM to 11.20 AM |
- Plenary Session |
Creating a Peaceful World of Tomorrow: The Geopolitical Economic and Social Imperatives
Politics is at the core of development. Though natural and human resources are important, what seems to matter most is how governments manage those resources. The role of governance is critical to whether a country makes economic and social progress or not. Achieving community goals requires leaders who won’t trip over their egos and who can resist seeking to become the leader of all leaders. An interdependent demographic, economic and social environment calls for leaders who can relate as peers to other leaders in other institutions worldwide. This session will invite world leaders to share their thoughts on how to bring communities and countries together for a sustainable world of the future.
Speakers:
- H.E. Mr. Kamal Thapa, Deputy Prime Minister, Nepal
- Hon. Mr. Hildebrando Tapia Samaniego, Vice-President - Andean Parliament, Peru
- H.E. Mr. Jigme Yoser Thinley, Former Prime Minister, Bhutan
- H.E. Mr. Dominique de Villepin, Former Prime Minister, France
- H.E. Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of Nigeria, Nigeria
- H.E. Mr. Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, Former Prime Minister , Pakistan
- Hon. Mr. Alojz Peterle, Former Prime Minister, Slovenia and Member of the European Parliament
Moderator:
- Mr. Arnab Goswami, Indian Journalist, Editor-in-Chief, News Anchor, Times Now and ET Now, India
11.20 AM to 11.25 AM | - WCF Theme Song | |
11.25 AM to 12.00 PM | - Coffee & Tea-Break |
12.00 PM to 1.30 PM |
- Deep Dive: Concurrent Break-Out Sessions |
Deep Dive I: Boundaryless Nations
Boundaryless Nations are today both a myth and a reality. At the beginning of the human evolution, there were no boundaries or limitations. But today, while we are global digitally and economically, politically we are still national. Making national borders porous is still seen as a threat to individual security. The problems like climate change, global warming, and ozone layer depletion are of common concern and have already brought the people of this planet together. While boundary less growth, good will, compassion and care are seen as positives of this, there is also an equal abundance of the opposite that has spread easily. Managing this energy has become a major challenge for the governments of the world. This deep dive invites leaders to share their experiences of managing these paradoxes for a synergistic and symbiotic approach to human development.
Speakers:
- Hon. Mr. Ayoob Kara, Member of the Knesset, Deputy Minister for Regional Affairs, Israel
- Hon. Ms. Petra De Sutter, Member of Belgian Senate, Belgium
- Hon. Mr. Yonadam Kanna, Member of Iraqi National ssembly, Iraq
- Hon. Dr. André Hahn, Member of Parliament, Germany
- Hon. Mr. Jo Leinen, Member of European Parliament, Germany
- Hon. Mr. Bob Blackman, Member of Parliament, United Kingdom
Moderator:
- Mr. Harshavardhan Neotia, Chariman, Ambuja Neotia Group, India
12.00 PM to 1.30 PM | - Deep Dive: Concurrent Break-Out Sessions |
Deep Dive II: Current and Farsighted
The paradigm of successful leadership demands maximum attention on the current landscape with a watchful eye on what’s coming in the future. Rapidly changing technology and a shrinking world is compelling leaders to anticipate trends and megatrends like never before. The increasing interdependencies in economies and societies are weaving together fortunes of institutions and nations. In this deep dive, we will invite leaders to share how they are able to be deep-rooted in the now, yet have the ability to pursue a farsighted vision for themselves and their institutions.
Speakers:
- Hon. Mr. Matthew Offord, Member of Parliament, United Kingdom
- Hon. Mr. Nirj Deva, Member of European Parliament, United Kingdom
- Hon. Prof. G.L. Peiris, Former Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka
- Mr. G M Rao, Executive Chairman & M.D., GMR Group, India
- Mr. Kishore Biyani, Chairman, Group CEO, Future Group, India
- Mr. Amit Dalal, Executive Director, Tata Corporation, India
- Dr. Sanjay Pradhan, Vice-President for Leadership, Learning and Innovation, The World Bank Group, United States of America
Moderator:
- Mr. Aadesh Goyal, Global CHRO, Board Director, Community Service - Tata Communications Transformation Services Limited (TCTS), India
12.00 PM to 1.30 PM | - Deep Dive: Concurrent Break-Out Sessions |
Deep Dive III: Dynamic and Peaceful
Leadership is a process of mobilizing a diverse group of people towards a common goal. Dynamism, ambition and even aggression can be cornerstones of a successful leadership action. How then can one maintain inner calm, peace and tranquility? This deep dive aims to ideate and reflect on how leaders can achieve a balance between outer dynamism and inner peace. It will also reflect on how individual peace can become the basis for societal peace and personal dynamism can lead to sustainable nation building.
Speakers:
- Hon. Mr. Deshbandhu Karu Jayasuriya, Speaker of the Parliament, Sri Lanka
- Hon. Mr. Frank Heinrich, Member of Parliament, Germany
- Hon. Ms. Neena Gill, Member of EU Parliament, West Midlands, United Kingdom
- Mrs. Fulvia Ferragamo Visconti, Board member Salvatore Ferragamo S.p.A., Non-Operative Head for Accessories and Furniture Design, VP Ferragamo Finanziaria S.p.A., Italy
- Mr. Sutirtha Bhattacharya, Chairman & CMD, Coal India Limited, India
- Mr. Samarth Bedi, Executive Director, Forest Essentials, India
Moderator:
- Mr. Nikhil Sen, Managing Director, UNIBIC Biscuits India Pvt. Ltd., India
12.00 PM to 1.30 PM | - Deep Dive: Concurrent Break-Out Sessions |
Deep Dive IV: Global and National
The times when nations were able to exist as islands by themselves has far gone by. The world is becoming more interdependent as boundaries are thinning and populations are moving. Seamless information and knowledge transfer is flattening and equalizing the world, at the same time, events and happenings are strengthening the quotient of national pride. How then can we ensure that the need for national identification is addressed while the notion of global citizenship is nurtured? This deep dive invites innovative thinkers to reflect on ways to attend to this paradox.
Speakers:
- Hon. Prof. Herman De Croo, Minister of State, Member of Parliament, Belgium
- Hon. Ms. Dace Melbārde, Culture Minister of Latvia, Latvia
- Hon. Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Ninth Secretary General of Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Turkey
- Hon. Ms. Sherry Rehman, Member of Senate and Vice President of People’s Party, Pakistan
- Hon. Mr. Shailesh Lakhman Vara, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work & Pensions, United Kingdom
- Hon. Mr. Geoffery Van Orden, Member of The European Parliament, United Kingdom
- Hon. Mr. Mike Quigley, Congressman, House of Representatives, United States of America
Moderator:
- Mr. Ajay Bagga, Executive Chairman, OPC Asset Solutions, India
12.00 PM to 1.30 PM | - Deep Dive: Concurrent Break-Out Sessions |
Deep Dive V: Human and Digital
Today, technology is reshaping the way businesses run, teams function and customers engage. Technological solutions are replacing human processes at a fast pace; teams are becoming virtual and marketplace engagement is transcending timelines. The more demanding the business environment is becoming, the more important are team cohesion, trust and the human factor. How can virtual teams cherish these values and foster a common identity when they can never see or meet each other? How can businesses deliver a wow customer experience when for the entire client lifecycle, there may be no face to face interaction? In this deep dive, global leaders will share their lessons learnt in running businesses that have technological and human imperatives for success.
Speakers:
- Mr. Avnish Goyal, Owner and Managing Director, Hallmark Care Homes, United Kingdom
- Mr. Anurag Batra, Chairman GBN Media – BW, Business World, Exchange4media Group, India
- Dr. Parry Aftab, Founder, WiredSafety, United States of America
- Mr. Himanshu Gulati, State Secretary to The Prime Minister and The Minister of Culture, Norway
- Mr. Subhash Thakrar, Deputy President London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, United kingdom
- Mr. Mac Smith, Senior Staff User Experience Researcher, United States of America
Moderator:
- Mr. Juan Carlos, Member of Parliament, Colombia
12.00 PM to 1.30 PM |
- Deep Dive: Concurrent Break-Out Sessions |
Deep Dive VI: Profitable and Ethical
Empirical research shows that ethically run companies outperform unethically run ones in the longer run across all parameters of success. All stakeholders – customers, vendors and shareholders would rather do business with ethical companies than otherwise. Employees would rather work for organizations that have a reputation of being ethically managed. Why then is it still believed that maximizing profits means compromising ethics? This discussion will challenge this paradigm and will showcase leaders who have shown with their personal examples that focus on values can be the foundation for sustainable and successful businesses.
Speakers:
- Hon. Dr. Sarah Claerhout, Member of Parliament, Chair, Belgium Indian Relation, Belgium
- Ms. Arundhati Bhattacharya, Chairperson, State Bank of India
- Mr. B. Ashok, Chairman, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., India
- Dr. Christoph Luetge, Professor of Business Ethics, Technische Universitat Munchen, Germany
- Mr. Carlos Moreira, Founder Chairman and CEO of WISeKey, Switzerland
- Mr. Deepak Kapoor, Chairman, PricewaterhouseCoopers, India
- Mr. Shashi Kant Sharma, Comptroller and Auditor General, India
Moderator:
- Ms. Rupa Vora, Former Group Director & CFO, IDFC Alternatives, India
1.30 PM to 2.30 PM |
- Lunch |
|
2.30 PM to 3.00 PM |
- Meditation and Rejuvenation |
|
3.00 PM |
- Coaches depart for the venue of the World Culture Festival |
THE ART OF LIVING
Operating in 154 countries, The Art of Living is a non-profit, educational, and humanitarian organization founded in 1981 by the world-renowned philanthropist and spiritual leader, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
© Copyright 2024