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ABU DHABI/WAM
The AVPN Global Conference 2024 will take place in Abu Dhabi from 23-25 April, bringing the flagship event of Asia’s largest network of social investors to the region for the first time.
Hosted under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council, the event will gather more than 1,500 social investment leaders from across the globe to mobilise new partnerships, innovations, and capital towards sustainable social impact in Asia.
Under the theme One Asia, One Future, the three-day conference represents an opportunity for diverse funders to learn, connect and unite in action for Asia, and to help address the region’s most pressing social, economic and environmental challenges.
Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and member of the International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council, said, “The UAE knows first-hand that shared challenges require shared solutions. In hosting the AVPN Global Conference 2024, we further our commitment to building a better future for all through combined action, innovation, and sustainable investment. Harnessing Abu Dhabi’s convening power, and its ability to unite diverse actors, we look forward to driving new progress and partnerships towards our joint development goals.”
This year’s conference will be the most inclusive to date, bridging North, South, East and West Asia through Abu Dhabi’s convening capabilities and the AVPN network. Attendees will include investors, philanthropists, corporations, policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs and impact organisations from around the world, working within the GCC and all territories eastward as far as Australia and New Zealand.
Naina Subberwal Batra, CEO of AVPN, said, “As the deadline for achieving the SDGs draws near, a US$1.5 trillion financing gap in Asia remains a stark reality, exacerbated by the complex challenges the region faces. Amidst this, the landscape of giving continues to shift in Asia, and many new stakeholders have risen to the challenge to address the region’s most pressing issues.
Against this backdrop, the Global Conference is the leading platform that unites the social investor ecosystem, as newer and seasoned social investors come together under a shared commitment towards social impact. The UAE embodies a rich tradition of philanthropy, and hosting the global conference will allow us to widen our horizon and rally the power of collective action to drive meaningful action across Asia.”
The conference agenda will explore a wide range of topics, including the role of impact investors in driving the net zero agenda, catalysing the clean energy transition with blended finance, leveraging artificial intelligence for philanthropic impact and impact through youth empowerment.
Among the most compelling aspects of the AVPN Global Conference 2024 is its roster of expert speakers. Spanning investors and philanthropists to entrepreneurs, policymakers, and government leaders, it represents those who have made significant contributions to the fields of global development, social impact, and strategic philanthropy.
Confirmed speakers include Shamma bint Suhail Al Mazrui, Minister of Community Development; Dr. Hamdan Musallam Al Mazrouei, Chairman of Emirates Red Crescent; Princess Nouf Mohammad Al Saud, CEO of King Khalid Foundation, KSA; Robert Rosen, Director of Philanthropic Partnerships from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; and Dato’ Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir, Managing Director at Khazanah Nasional Berhad, Malaysia.
The conference builds on the success of the 2023 edition, which saw more than 1,300 attendees from more than 44 markets engage in the global discourse, and the launch of various frameworks, papers and initiatives, including a US$3 million fund focused on youth mental wellbeing.