Global Thinkers Forum (GTF) is a non-profit, London-based organisation and was incubated at Oxford University’s Said Business School in 2011. It has been created to "help our societies and leaders navigate a very complex world". GTF launched officially in 2012 in Amman, Jordan.

History

GTF was founded in 2012 by

Elizabeth Filippouli Elizabeth H. Filippouli is a London-based journalist, writer and social entrepreneur. Early life Elizabeth was born and raised in Athens, Greece. She is the daughter of the journalist, author, and playwright Stamatios-Alexandros Filippoulis (:el ...

. The 1st GTF and inaugural GTF Awards for Excellence took place in

Amman Amman (; ar, عَمَّان, ' ; Ammonite language, Ammonite: 𐤓𐤁𐤕 𐤏𐤌𐤍 ''Rabat ʻAmān'') is the capital and largest city of Jordan, and the country's economic, political, and cultural center. With a population of 4,061,150 a ...

Jordan Jordan ( ar, الأردن; tr. ' ), officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,; tr. ' is a country in Western Asia. It is situated at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, within the Levant region, on the East Bank of the Jordan Rive ...

(6-8 October 2012) discussing the role of the modern Arab woman, in the MENA region and globally. GTF convened some 350 international executives under the patronage of

Queen Rania of Jordan Rania Al-Abdullah ( ar, رانيا العبد الله, ; born Rania Al-Yassin, 31 August 1970) is Queen of Jordan as the wife of King Abdullah II. Rania was born in Kuwait to Palestinian parents. She received her bachelor's degree in busi ...

and with the support of the King Abdullah II Fund for Development. GTF was incubated at

Oxford Said Business School Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

as an initiative to create new thinking and effect positive change for the world. Speakers and audience at GTF 2012 discussed issues such as the Arab Spring and the role of women in social transformation. Columbia University Professor

Saskia Sassen Saskia Sassen (born January 5, 1947) is a Dutch-American sociologist noted for her analyses of globalization and international human migration. She is Robert S. Lynd Professor of Sociology at Columbia University in New York City, and Centennial ...

discussed her theory of the ‘Global Street’ and the city as a space where 'the powerless can make history'. In 2013 Global Thinkers Forum organized its annual event and the GTF 2013 Awards for Excellence in Athens,

Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...

under the theme ‘Leadership & Collaboration'. Among the GTF 2013 speakers in Athens were the High Representative of the UN

Alliance of Civilizations The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is an initiative that attempts to "galvanize international action against extremism" through the forging of international, intercultural dialogue, intercultural and interfaith dialogue, interre ...

Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser ( ar, ناصر عبد العزيز النصر; born 15 September 1952) is a Qatari diplomat and the former permanent representative of Qatar to the United Nations, appointed on 11 September 1998. Prior to this office at ...

, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Marianna V. Vardinoyiannis who talked about Philanthropy and creating change,

Geir Lippestad Geir Lippestad (born 7 June 1964) is a Norwegian lawyer, politician and social activist. He is known for his involvement in several high-profile legal cases, and for starting the political party ''Sentrum'' in 2020. As a criminal appellate law ...

, the defense lawyer for the Norwegian right-wing extremist

Anders Behring Breivik Fjotolf Hansen (born 13 February 1979), better known by his birth name Anders Behring Breivik () and by his pseudonym Andrew Berwick, is a Norwegian far-right domestic terrorist, known for committing the 2011 Norway attacks on 22 July 2011. On ...

who shared his experience about the impact of terrorist activities in

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...

, Professor

Tu Weiming Tu Weiming (born 1940) is a Chinese-born American philosopher. He is Chair Professor of Humanities and Founding Director of the Institute for Advanced Humanistic Studies at Peking University. He is also Professor Emeritus and Senior Fellow of Asi ...

, Stephen Cole,

Ali Aslan Ali Aslan ( ar, علي أصلان) (born 1932) is a former chief of staff of the Syrian Army, a member of the Central Committee of the Syrian Regional Branch of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party and a close confidant of the late Syrian president ...

, Hani Masri. The 2nd Forum opened with a keynote by the High Representative of the UN Alliance of Civilizations H.E. Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al Nasser, highlighting the importance of leadership responsibility at an international level. The event was held under the auspices of the Mayor of Athens Yorgos Kaminis Discussions on matters concerning Leadership, Collaboration and Cultural Understanding were held within the framework of the Forum. In 2014 GTF hosted its Awards in

Dubai Dubai (, ; ar, دبي, translit=Dubayy, , ) is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, the most populated of the 7 emirates of the United Arab Emirates.The Government and Politics of ...

, UAE on 28 November 2014 under the theme: ‘Arab Women as Changemakers-A Celebration of Achievements’. In 2015 GTF co-hosted a Forum in Athens, Greece in partnership with

Carnegie Council The Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs is a New York City-based 501(c)3 public charity serving international affairs professionals, teachers and students, and the attentive public. Founded in 1914, and originally named ''Church ...

under the theme 'Democracy & Values', creating conversations around leadership and accountability, the issue of collective liability and ethical business. The event was attended by 150 Academics, CEOs, public officials and entrepreneurs and was held under the auspices of the Municipality of Athens,. It brought to Greece members of Carnegie Council's Global Ethics Fellows Network.

Organization

Global Thinkers Forum also creates smaller events such as workshops and roundtable discussions, promoting women’s and youth empowerment. In April 2014, Global Thinkers Forum and

Google Google LLC () is an American multinational technology company focusing on search engine technology, online advertising, cloud computing, computer software, quantum computing, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, and consumer electronics. ...

UAE co-hosted an event dedicated to women entrepreneurs & innovation in the

offices in Dubai, in partnership with Oasis500 and

. The event featured eight young women pitching to a crowd of MENA investors In July 2014 GTF hosted the State Department's Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs (CBA) Lorraine Hariton in London, for a conversation on international business development, moderated by Bloomberg's Stryker McGuire.

Five-year goals

GTF's mission (five-year goals 2012-2016)is cited to 'nurture leadership talent among women and youth'. As part of this commitment the think tank maps, links, collects and integrates information from across the international system, creates events that help share knowledge and establish common best practices in governance, business, society. Women are at the heart of these issues and so is youth, around which GTF creates initiatives and discussions that also bring into the conversation social issues of global interest. GTF also produces publications and engages its members in sector-specific initiatives. In 2014 GTF partnered with UN Women to help advance the Beijing +20 platform and create conversations on Women's Rights in the MENA region.

Global Thinkers Mentors

Focusing on two of the GTF’s key focus areas (Youth development and Women’s Empowerment).

Funding sources and membership

GTF is funded by sponsors from the private sector, grants, donations and through annual memberships. Among companies and organizations who have supported GTF are:

UN Women The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, also known as UN Women, is a United Nations entity working for gender equality and the empowerment of women. UN Women advocates for the rights of women and girls, and focu ...

Anna Lindh Foundation The Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue Between Cultures is a network of civil society organisations dedicated to promoting intercultural dialogue in the Mediterranean region. It was set up in 2005 by the governments of the ...

, Oasis500, King

Abdullah II Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein ( ar, عبدالله الثاني بن الحسين , translit=ʿAbd Allāh aṯ-ṯānī ibn al-Ḥusayn; born 30 January 1962) is King of Jordan, having ascended the throne on 7 February 1999. He is a member of t ...

Fund for Development, Solidarity Now,

Qatar Airways Qatar Airways Company Q.C.S.C. ( ar, القطرية, ''al-Qaṭariya''), operating as Qatar Airways, is the state-owned flag carrier airline of Qatar. Headquartered in the Qatar Airways Tower in Doha, the airline operates a hub-and-spoke netw ...

, Umniah, Montegrappa, Vodafone, Shell, Ahli Bank.

Advisory board

The GTF Advisory Board steers the overall strategy, direction and effectiveness of the organization. Notable members of the GTF Boards include: Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan,

, Muna AbuSulayman, Salim Amin,

Queen Sylvia of Buganda Sylvia Nagginda (born 9 November 1962) is the current Nnabagereka of Buganda, Nnabagereka or Queen of Buganda, a historic kingdom in modern-day Uganda. Background Nagginda was born in England in 1962 to John Mulumba Luswata of Entebbe, Nkumba, En ...

, Roya Mahboob, Victoria A. Budson, Marc Ventresca, Hakan Altinay, Lucian Hudson,

Richard Sambrook Richard Sambrook is a British journalist, academic and a former BBC executive. He is Emeritus Professor in the School of Journalism, Media and Culture at Cardiff University. For 30 years, until February 2010, he was a BBC journalist and later ...

Dirk Brossé Dirk, Knight BrosséEtat présent de la noblesse belge 2015, p. 20 (born 18 February 1960, Ghent) is a Belgian conductor and composer. He has composed over 200 works, including concerti, oratorios, lieder, chamber music and symphonic works. Bro ...

, Ameera A. Binkaram

GTF Awards for Excellence

In 2012, GTF inaugurated its honorary Awards for Excellence. The GTF Awards go to individuals nominated by the GTF Advisory Board and have a "proven track record of integrity and positive change". Among GTF Award Honourees are:

, His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch

Bartholomew I of Constantinople Bartholomew I ( el, Βαρθολομαῖος Αʹ, , tr, I. Bartholomeos; born 29 February 1940) is the 270th archbishop of Constantinople and Ecumenical Patriarch, since 2 November 1991. In accordance with his title, he is regarded as the ''pr ...

, Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi,

Zaha Hadid Dame Zaha Mohammad Hadid ( ar, زها حديد ''Zahā Ḥadīd''; 31 October 1950 – 31 March 2016) was an Iraqi-British architect, artist and designer, recognised as a major figure in architecture of the late 20th and early 21st centu ...

Nouriel Roubini Nouriel Roubini (born March 9 1958) is a Turkish-born Iranian-American economist. He is Professor Emeritus (2021–present) and was Professor of Economics (1995–2021) at the Stern School of Business, New York University, and also chairman of Ro ...

Arianna Huffington Arianna Stassinopoulos Huffington (née Ariadnē-Anna Stasinopoúlou, el, Αριάδνη-Άννα Στασινοπούλου ; born July 15, 1950) is a Greek-American author, syndicated columnist and businesswoman. She is a co-founder of ''Th ...

Hayat Sindi Dr. Hayat Al Sindi ( ar, حياة سندي; born 6 November 1967) is a Saudi Arabian medical scientist and one of the first female members of the Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia. She is famous for making major contributions to point-of-care ...

, CEO of

Injaz Injaz ( ar, إنجاز, meaning "achievement"; born April 8, 2009- died 12 January 2020) was a female dromedary camel, credited with being the world's first cloned camel. Dr. Nisar Ahmad Wani, a reproductive biologist and head of the research team ...

Deema Bibi,

, Margery Kraus CEO APCO,

Princess Rym al-Ali Princess Rym al-Ali (née Rym Brahimi; born 1969) is the Algerian wife of Prince Ali bin Hussein of Jordan, whom she married on 7 September 2004. Early life She is the daughter of Lakhdar Brahimi, former Algerian Minister for Foreign Affairs ...

Marianna Vardinoyannis Marianna Vardinogiannis ( el, Μαριάννα Βαρδινογιάννη, ''née'' Μπουρνάκη ''Bournaki'') married to Greek shipping magnate Vardis Vardinogiannis, is a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and an activist for the rights of childre ...

Ibrahim Abouleish Ibrahim Abouleish (23 March 1937 – 15 June 2017) was an Egyptian philanthropist, drug designer and chemist. He began his chemistry and medicine studies at the age of 19 in Austria. He did his doctorate in 1969 in the field of pharmacology and ...

Founder of

SEKEM The organization SEKEM (Ancient Egyptian: 'vitality from the sun') was founded in 1977 by the Egyptian pharmacologist and social entrepreneur Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish in order to bring about cultural renewal in Egypt on a sustainable basis.Sir David Frost Sir David Paradine Frost (7 April 1939 – 31 August 2013) was a British television host, journalist, comedian and writer. He rose to prominence during the satire boom in the United Kingdom when he was chosen to host the satirical programme ' ...

Shahira Amin Shahira Amin ( ar, شهيرة أمين ) is an Egyptian journalist, the former deputy head of Egyptian state-owned Nile TV and one of its senior anchors. She resigned from the position on February 3, 2011. She said she quit over what she "consid ...

, Maisah Sobaihi,

Haifa Fahoum Al Kaylani Haifa ( he, חֵיפָה ' ; ar, حَيْفَا ') is the third-largest city in Israel—after Jerusalem and Tel Aviv—with a population of in . The city of Haifa forms part of the Haifa metropolitan area, the third-most populous metropoli ...

, Muna Abu Sulayman

Notable strategic partners

Among Global Thinkers Forum's strategic partners are:

, King

Fund for Development,

Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs The Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs is a New York City-based 501(c)3 public charity serving international affairs professionals, teachers and students, and the attentive public. Founded in 1914, and originally named ''Church ...

, Solidarity Now,See https://www.facebook.com/SolidarityNow The UK Media Society, Mowgli Foundation,

Open University The Open University (OU) is a British public research university and the largest university in the United Kingdom by number of students. The majority of the OU's undergraduate students are based in the United Kingdom and principally study off- ...

, Sharjah Business Women Council, ALBA Business School.

References

Bibliography

* By Dr Reginald Watts, Dr Roger Hayes (2015). ''Reframing the Leadership Landscape: Creating a Culture of Collaboration''. Gower Publishing Ltd (London, UK). {{Authority control Organizations established in 2012 Non-profit organisations based in London 2012 establishments in the United Kingdom