The World in 2011: Singapore

Pre-dinner programme

6.00pm

Live performance - BELLA GAIA

A multimedia journey of the world featuring classical violinst Kenji Williams

A review of The World in 2011

Daniel Franklin, Executive Editor of The Economist and Editor of The World in, sets out our unapologetic predictions for the year ahead

Asia in 2011 - a panel perspective

Guests join Daniel Franklin to discuss social, business and political issues on the horizon for Asia in 2011.

Dinner served

Post-dinner programme

Post dinner presentations

A diverse group of forward-looking thinkers from varied disciplines share their predictions of what will shape the world in 2011.

Final Plenary

Our panelists are invited to join the stage once again

Daniel Franklin

ExecutiveEditor, The Economist  and Editor, The World in

Daniel Franklin has been Executive Editor of The Economist since June 2006, when he also became Editor-in-Chief of Economist.com. Since 2003 he has been Editor of The Economist's annual publication, "The World in..."; The World in 2009 was published in November 2008.

He joined The Economist in 1983 to write about Soviet and East European affairs. As the newspaper's Europe Editor from 1986 to 1992 he covered the great European upheavals, from the collapse of communism to the signing of the Maastricht treaty.

After a stint as Britain Editor he moved to the United States as Washington Bureau Chief, covering the first Clinton term. In 1997 he moved back to London as Editorial Director of the Economist Intelligence Unit, where he helped to transform a traditional print publisher into an online business providing continuously updated country analysis and forecasts. Daniel has been interviewed on BBC Radio 4 'Today', BBC World Service and CNN, amongst others. 

Dr Noeleen Heyzer, Under Secretary General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

Noeleen Heyzer is the ninth Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). She is the first woman to occupy this position since its founding in 1947 and leads the organization as Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations. Dr. Heyzer is responsible for all programmes of ESCAP and its administration, ensuring that the Regional Commission plays a major role in the development of the region.

Since taking office, Dr. Heyzer has promoted regional co-operation to achieve inclusive and sustainable development in Asia Pacific. In this regard, she has supported member states with sound strategic analysis, policy options and technical cooperation to address key development challenges and to implement innovative solutions for region-wide economic prosperity, social progress and environmental sustainability. She has promoted regional connectivity to enhance trade, transport, energy security, social protection, and financial cooperation. She works with senior decision-makers re-directing policies, institutions and resources to close development gaps, to address disparities among and within countries and to build the economic and social foundation for inclusive and resilient societies. She has improved the engagement of countries with special needs and harnessed partnerships to respond to transnational development challenges and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Prior to her ESCAP appointment, Dr. Heyzer was the first Executive Director from the South to head the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). Through her leadership, UNIFEM assisted over 100 countries in the formulation and implementation of legislation and policies that promote women’s agency, security and human rights. She played a critical role in the Security Council’s adoption and implementation of the landmark Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security - undertaking extensive missions to conflict-affected countries worldwide and transforming the peace, security and development agendas of the United Nations, from a gender perspective.

Dr. Heyzer has served on numerous international boards and committees. She has received several awards for leadership, including the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal (2004) given to “a person who has promoted, in action and spirit, the values that inspired Dag Hammarskjöld as Secretary-General of the United Nations and generally in his life: compassion, humanism and commitment to international solidarity and cooperation.” She has a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Science from the University of Singapore. Dr. Heyzer obtained a Doctorate in social sciences from Cambridge University in the United Kingdom.

Ho Kwon Ping, Chief Executive Officer, Banyan Tree Holdings

Mr. Ho Kwon Ping is Executive Chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings, which owns both listed and private companies engaged in the development, ownership and operation of hotels, resorts, spas, residential homes, retail galleries and other lifestyle activities in the region.

Born in 1952, Mr. Ho was educated in Tunghai University, Taiwan; Stanford University, California and the University of Singapore. He worked as a broadcast and financial journalist and was the Economics Editor of the Far Eastern Economic Review. He joined the family business in 1981. In 1994, buoyed by the success of rehabilitating a piece of environmentally damaged land into Asia’s first integrated resort, Laguna Phuket, Mr. Ho decided it was time to launch the company’s own global hotel brand targeting high-end travellers. Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts was set up to build and manage luxury boutique hotels and resorts, steeped in Asian traditions and sensitive to the environment. While Banyan Tree Phuket is still the flagship resort, the company has since grown to over 20 resorts, with close to 40 properties in the pipeline to open by 2013.

In May 2000, Mr. Ho was conferred an honorary doctorate by Johnson & Wales University, the largest hospitality university in the world. He subsequently received the London Business School 2005 Entrepreneurship Award in recognition of the success of Banyan Tree as a leading hotel and leisure brand. In 2008, he was named CEO of the Year at the Singapore Corporate Awards, recognising his leadership in shareholder communication, corporate governance, talent and change management, vision and strategic capability. In 2009, he was the joint recipient of the Hospitality Lifetime Achievement Award at the prestigious China Hotel Investment Summit held in Shanghai, recognising his contribution to the luxury tourism market. In his role as Chairman of Singapore Management University (SMU), Mr. Ho was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his significant contribution to the success of SMU. In 2010, he became the first Asian to receive the ACA (American Creativity Association) Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his creativity and innovation in various spheres of endeavour.

Mr. Ho is married to Claire Chiang, Senior Vice President, Banyan Tree Holdings Limited. They have three children – two sons and a daughter.

Pradeep Pant, Chief Executive Officer, Asia-Pacific, Kraft Foods

As President of Kraft Foods Asia Pacific, Pradeep Pant leads the Kraft Foods organization across the Asia Pacific region, where the company serves over a billion consumers across 15 countries. He is leading the transformation of Kraft Foods in Asia Pacific by focusing on building and investing in power brands, key categories, and people to win with consumers and customers.

With over 30 years of experience in the FMCG industry, Pradeep is an expert in building businesses in both mature and emerging markets. He has managed a wide range of iconic brands across some of the world’s fastest-growing and complex emerging markets including India, Russia, Turkey, and Southeast Asia. Having successfully led and inspired diverse long-distance teams, he has a deep understanding of market dynamics and cultural diversity. Pradeep also has a proven track record and passion for turning organizations around, with clear vision, strong focus, and investment in the right talent.

Ray Zahab

Founder, Impossible2Possible

Ray Zahab is the Founder of impossible2Possible, a non-profit organization with a mission to inspire and educate through adventure-based learning and participation in expeditions around the world.

In 2006, Ray Zahab and two other runners set out on an epic expedition to cross the Sahara Desert by foot. One hundred and eleven days and 7500 kms after leaving the coast of Senegal they completed their journey by dipping their toes into the Red Sea. The epic expedition had the trio running an average of 70km’s a day, without a single day of rest. National Geographic tracked this epic expedition by web, and the documentary film ‘Running The Sahara’—narrated and produced by Matt Damon—was filmed in an effort raise awareness for the drinking water crisis in Northern Africa. 

Two years after touching the Red Sea, Ray, and two other Canadians, broke the world speed record for an unsupported expedition by a team to the South Pole.  The following year, Ray and a teammate broke the world speed record for an unsupported run across frozen Lake Baikal. These expeditions were completed as part of Ray’s foundation, impossible2Possible.  

Through 2009 and 2010, impossible2Possible has taken students from Antarctica, to the Canadian Arctic, to the Sahara Desert.  Each expedition completed by impossible2 Possible involves engaging with youth live from location using satellite technology and provides interactive educational resources to schools free of charge with the goal of cultivating a generation of leaders whose direct experience and education will prepare them to lead environmental and social actions around the world. 

YB Senator Dato’ Sri Idris Jala

Minister in Prime Minister’s Office & Chief Executive Officer, PEMANDU

YB Senator Dato’ Sri Idris Jala was appointed Minister in Prime Minister’s Office and Chief Executive Officer of Performance Management & Delivery Unit (PEMANDU) on 1 September 2009.

PEMANDU is a unit tasked with transforming the social and economic performance of Malaysia.

To this effect, Idris has led the development of the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) targeting six National Key Result Areas (NKRAs): reducing crime, fighting corruption, improving student outcomes, raising living standards of low-income households, improving rural basic infrastructure and improving urban public transport. The GTP aims to transform Malaysia into an advanced, united, safe and just society with a high quality of life.

He has also enlisted the private and public sectors, non-government organisations and civil society, in co-creating the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) that sets the roadmap for Malaysia to become a high-income nation by year 2020. Focused on 12 National Key Economic Areas – Agriculture, Business Services, Communications Content & Infrastructure, Education, Electrical & Electronics, Financial Services, Healthcare, Oil, Gas & Energy, Palm Oil, Tourism, Wholesale & Retail, and Greater Kuala Lumpur/Klang Valley – the ETP aims to raise Malaysia’s Gross National Income (GNI) to US$523 billion or per capita GNI to US$15,000 in 2020. The ETP was officially launched by the Prime Minister of Malaysia on 25 October 2010 and kicked off with 131 Entry Point Projects and 60 Business Opportunities.

Previously, Idris was appointed Managing Director and CEO of Malaysia Airlines in December 2005, in the aftermath of the company’s biggest financial loss in its corporate history. In February 2006, he announced the airline’s Business Turnaround Plan (BTP 1). From a nine-month loss of USD400 million in 2005, Idris succeeded in turning around the company in less than 2 years, with the airline achieving a record profit of USD260 million in 2007.

Building upon its successful BTP 1, Idris announced Malaysia Airlines’ five-year Business Transformation Plan (BTP 2) in January 2008. The BTP 2 features bold profit targets of up to USD630-USD950 million per annum by 2012. Under BTP 2, Malaysia Airlines aspires to achieve its profit targets by transforming into the World’s Five-Star Value Carrier, while offering Five-Star products and services at affordable prices.

Malaysia Airlines posted 10 consecutive quarterly profits during his tenure as the CEO between 2006 and 2008.

Prior to joining Malaysia Airlines, Idris spent 23 years at Shell. Between 2002 and 2005, Idris was the Managing Director, Shell MDS (Malaysia) and Vice President, Shell Malaysia Gas & Power (Malaysia). Idris successfully led the business turnaround of Shell MDS, the first Gas-to-Liquids commercial plant in the world and also the sole supplier of clean diesel fuel for the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

Between 2000 and 2002, Idris held the position of Vice President, Retail Marketing, Shell International, based out of London. He was also Vice President, Business Development Consultancy where he led a team of top notch internal consultants on radical business improvement projects, and revamped the Shell global retail business model in order to achieve profitable growth.

Between 1998 and 2000, Idris was the Managing Director of Shell Sri Lanka, where he helped to shape the turnaround of Shell’s LPG business in Sri Lanka.

Idris holds a Bachelor's degree from Universiti Sains Malaysia and a Masters degree from Warwick University, United Kingdom.

Kenji Williams

Creative Director & Composer

Kenji Williams is an award winning filmmaker, music producer, theatrical show director, and classically-trained violinist. A world bridger of music, visual arts, science and unique storytelling, Williams is bringing his solo work from big music festivals around the world, to events involving top government officials, ,mainstream television, and film soundtracks. With over 39 years of music experience, in performance, composition and production, and 18 years of film production experience, his current live multimedia project, ‘BELLA GAIA’, involves collaborating with institutions such as NASA, The Smithsonian, and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. In addition to public and critical acclaim, Pioneer, Panasonic, and Sony corporations have sponsored Williams with technology to support his artistic vision. Combining unique skills in film and music, Williams has earned international film awards from the Canadian Society of Cinematographers, Sundance Film Festival and other organizations. He has been invited to speak around the world at conferences such as the 59th Intl. Astronautical Congress in Glasgow, Scotland and the International Planetarium Society Conference 2008 at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, and has presented at the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Summit. Kenji has also worked with the Just Think Media Education Foundation, running workshops teaching high school students video production and digital arts in Bhutan, and Harlem, NY.Williams has been featured in the media from European publications and BBC radio, to mainstream Japanese press, to NPR, Apple.com, XM Radio, AV Revolution, Tricycle and XLR8R. Composer and producer of 6 music albums, Director of 15 films and music videos, 3 feature length projects, 3 multimedia theatrical live shows and 1 fulldome planetarium show, Kenji Williams is respected for pushing the boundaries of audio visual art and pioneering the convergence of art and science.

Collaborating with some of the most respected artists of our time, Williams is re-shaping the context and content of communication arts by pioneering new worlds of musical composition and performance, while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of film & visual communication. Considered by many as a “next level” multimedia artist, Kenji Williams delivers unique and out-of-this-world experiences to audiences worldwide.

conferencesasia@economist.com