Topics range from climate change to COVID-19 and global equality
What: A webinar with speakers from around the world to discuss global challenges and economic futures.
Who: Co-hosted by UBC Okanagan, in partnership with Orkestra – Basque Institute of Competitiveness
When: Thursday, March 4 at 8:30 a.m.
Venue: Zoom Webinar
In an era of large societal changes around the world, UBC’s Okanagan campus, together with Orkestra – Basque Institute of Competitiveness, will host a webinar bringing together diverse international speakers to discuss how to address some of the world’s most pressing issues.
On March 4 at 8:30 a.m. PST, speakers from North America, Europe and South America will address a variety of perspectives on people’s relation to the land and each other, the transformation of traditional industry and the significance of inclusion and diversity to economic development and the potential for cluster policies that enable inclusion.
Speakers include Jordan Coble, council member of the Westbank First Nation Council here in the Okanagan; Mari Jose Aranguren, general director at Orkestra Basque Institute of Competitiveness and economics professor at Deusto University in Spain; and Micaela Camacho, director of the Competitiveness Institute at Universidad Católica del Uruguay.
“As we tackle some of the greatest challenges of our time—from the climate change crisis, to the COVID19 pandemic and its accompanying health and economic insecurities, to issues of equity, diversity and inclusion across many forums—we also have a unique opportunity to join together with partners from around the world and deepen our understanding and exploration of these challenges and their global impact,” says Ananya Mukherjee Reed, provost and vice-president academic at UBC Okanagan. “We are honoured to join together with this group of inspiring voices to learn with and from one another as we explore opportunities for our future economic pathways.”
Iván Martén, Chair of Orkestra – Basque Institute of Competitiveness says the virtual event will contribute to the process of learning and sharing ideas during a pandemic.
“The pandemic and other large societal challenges such as the climate emergency are generating a global consciousness around the importance of thinking strategically about our future economic development,” he says. “While the contexts and challenges of each place are different, there is huge potential for inspiration and learning from sharing ideas across those differences. Moreover, many of the biggest challenges require solutions that are globally connected.”
The online event is free and open to the public. Advance registration is required at: ubc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FqzmB5nJS4eEcfTAYB1aag
