Last week, Rotary Melbourne's under 40s were invited to the Global Citizen Summit featuring Julia Gillard, Hugh Evans, Sarah Ferguson (Duchess of York), and actor Hugh Jackman. Leaders from Australia and the Asia-Pacific converged in Melbourne for a two-day summit on change. Director Stephen Rando attended and was inspired that change begins with us!
Global Citizen NOW: Melbourne recently concluded with a powerful two-day program focused on ending extreme poverty across the Asia-Pacific region and the world. The event featured leading voices and innovators such as Crowded House, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, and Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste. Global Citizen Ambassadors Hugh Jackman and Charlie Puth, along with Julia Gillard, 27th Prime Minister of Australia, and Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank, joined virtually.
The summit, held at CENTREPIECE at Melbourne Park, aimed to engage and elevate young innovators from Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. It brought together world leaders, artists, advocates, journalists, influencers, policy experts, and over 300 young leaders to drive action on the climate crisis, gender inequity, innovations in health systems, and fighting food insecurity, coinciding with Australia hosting ASEAN leaders in Melbourne.
Key focus areas of the summit included the climate crisis, women's economic empowerment, strengthening health systems, addressing the global food crisis, and unlocking investments into youth-driven entrepreneurship focused on achieving the UN's Global Goals. Specific actions were called for in each area, such as increased funding for the region's green transition, equal access to financing and entrepreneurship opportunities for women, increased budgets for health systems and routine immunization, support for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and investments in youth-driven entrepreneurship.
Stephen Rando
