The West Midlands Growth Company (WMGC) – the region’s economic development agency - has been confirmed as the headline sponsor for the event
Organised by the University of Birmingham, the 1,000-delegate event, will combine a face-to-face conference at the ICC Birmingham with a fully online interactive format
The Forum for Global Challenges will see some of today’s most influential thinkers and doers gather in Birmingham at a major international meeting to showcase and generate solutions to some of the most pressing challenges faced by our planet and its people.
Organised by the University of Birmingham, the 1,000-delegate event will combine a face-to-face conference at the ICC Birmingham with a fully online interactive format. The Forum’s hybrid design means that people from around the globe can take part with low-carbon impact.
The West Midlands Growth Company (WMGC) – the region’s economic development agency - has been confirmed as the headline sponsor for the event, which will take place at the ICC Birmingham from 3 to 5 May.
The West Midlands Growth Company is supporting the event through the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Business and Tourism Programme (BATP)*.
The Forum for Global Challenges will see thought leaders assemble in the West Midlands from across the world, in a unique display of international knowledge transfer that is not to be missed. As the crucible of the first industrial revolution and now pioneering UK-first innovation across sustainable house building, future mobility and energy efficiency, the West Midlands is poised to lead such a discussion, with inclusive and sustainable economic growth at its heart. “The Forum will not only provide an ideal opportunity to showcase the world-class strengths of West Midlands academia, but also a timely opportunity, ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, to celebrate our relationships and shared visions with diverse nations worldwide. We look forward to partnering with the University of Birmingham and welcoming delegates to the Forum in May.
Already confirmed are a host of high profile speakers including Manty Tarawalli, Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Sierra Leone, Dr Sandie Okoro, Senior VP, World Bank; Gabriela Ramos, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences; Dr Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah, Chief Executive Officer of Oxfam GB, Andrew Mitchell, Former Secretary of State for International Development and MP, Mark Britnell, Vice Chair & Global Healthcare Expert at KPMG and former Global Chairman of KPMG Health, Professor Alice Roberts, Biological anthropologist, biologist, television presenter and author and Femi Oke, television presenter and journalist. West Midlands public leaders include Andy Street, mayor of the West Midlands and Deborah Cadman, Chief Executive of Birmingham City Council.
We are delighted that the West Midlands Growth Company have joining the Forum for Global Challenges as our headline sponsor. As one of our closest regional partners, this move will enable us to build on our existing links and work together through the Forum to make it a success and help find solutions to these global challenges.
As well as headline sponsorship from the West Midlands Growth Company, the Forum for Global Challenges is supported by The World Bank, UNESCO, The Association of Commonwealth Universities, UNDP, CBI, West Midlands Combined Authority, UK Research and Innovation and the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
To attend, visit the Forum’s website where a range of rates are available, including concessions and day rates.
Provost and Vice-Principal
Professor Tim Jones joined the University as Provost and Vice-Principal on 1st September 2016.
