Concordia to Convene Heads of State, International C-Suite Executives, Global Nonprofit Leaders, and Senior Administration Officials for 2018 Annual Summit

NEW YORK, Aug. 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2018 Concordia Annual Summit will be held on September 24-25 at the Grand Hyatt New York during the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly. As the largest bipartisan forum, Concordia's eighth Annual Summit will advance collaborative solutions to the most pressing global challenges.

Prominent speakers include: Nana Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana; Elaine Chao, Secretary of U.S. Department of Transportation; Jeh Johnson, Former Secretary of U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Duško Marković, Prime Minister of Montenegro; Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever; Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta; Ray Washburne, President of Overseas Private Investment Corporation; John Hickenlooper, Governor of Colorado; Pam Bondi, Attorney General of Florida; Dr. Paul Farmer, Co-Founder & Chief Strategist for Partners in Health; Rick Houenipwela, Prime Minister of Solomon Islands; Denis McDonough, Former White House Chief of Staff under President Obama; Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbuda; Bill Kristol, Editor & Co-Founder of The Weekly Standard; Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, Future Forward Candidate for Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand; Hassan Al-Thawadi, Secretary General of Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy; and, Garry Kasparov, World Chess Champion and Chairman of the Human Rights Foundation. Concordia Leadership Council Members Hon. Jane Harman, Director, President & CEO of the Wilson Center, Dr. Kerry Healey, President of Babson College, and H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of Nigeria, are also confirmed to speak.

Furthering the conversations that took place during the 2018 Concordia Americas Summit in Bogotá, Colombia earlier this year—providing the first international convening following the country's presidential elections—the Annual Summit will also feature Iván Duque, President of Colombia, and Mark Green, Administrator of United States Agency for International Development.

Previous speakers at the Concordia Annual Summit include Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, Former Vice President Joe Biden, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde, Cellist & Curator of the MIT Solve Arts & Culture Mentorship Prize Yo-Yo Ma, and Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

"At a time of great division across our global community, Concordia is proud to provide the largest and most inclusive nonpartisan forum alongside UNGA," said Concordia Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO, Matthew A. Swift, adding: "Today, more than ever, it is critical to bring together the world's leading business, government, and nonprofit minds from across all industries to debate global issues and advance cross-sector progress."

Nicholas M. Logothetis, Concordia's Co-Founder & Chairman of the Board, commented: "This year's Annual Summit will feature the most timely and dynamic programming to date, ranging from advancing diplomacy in the Middle East to the role of the private sector in combating the refugee crisis. By providing an international platform to examine these global issues, the Summit will inspire change, empower change makers, and transform conversations into action."

This year, Concordia is partnering with the Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC) to bring Blockchain Central to the Annual Summit. Serving as the premier venue during UNGA for all things blockchain, including blockchain-specific programming and a Blockchain Central Lounge for networking and demonstrations, Blockchain Central will allow for a range of discussions with the leading voices in this groundbreaking field to create unmatched opportunities for innovators to collaborate with policymakers and business leaders.

Additionally, Concordia is partnering with Dr. Kerry Healey, President of Babson College and Former Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, to bring Millions in the Middle to the Annual Summit. The day will include a high-level invite-only discussion, breakouts, and main stage programming featuring the most prominent centrist activists, thought leaders, candidates, and funders working in the bipartisan, good government, and centrist spaces.

Additional 2018 Programming Partners include Americares, Lazarex Cancer Foundation, Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP), Women Political Leaders Global Forum (WPL), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Innovadores de América, Xcala, The B Team, U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, and Open Society Foundations, with more announced over the coming weeks.

Additional speakers and the agenda will be announced over the coming weeks.

To cover the Annual Summit as a member of the press, register here. 

To purchase a ticket to attend, click here.

ABOUT CONCORDIA:
Concordia is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to actively fostering, elevating, and sustaining cross-sector partnerships for social impact. Concordia was founded in 2011 by Matthew A. Swift and Nicholas M. Logothetis.

Media contact: Rita Lockheart, [email protected].

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