Global Citizen event inspires New Gen delegation on critical issues

Delegates from Philanthropy Australia’s New Gen Network, along with members of NEXUS Australia, attended an inspiring 2-day event in Melbourne that brought together diverse and considered voices – from world leaders to grassroots activists. The event featured a wide range of panels and speakers tackling humanity’s most compelling challenges, from climate change to global poverty. Lucy Steggles, Chair and Regional Director, NEXUS Australia and New Gen member, provides a snapshot.

The recent Global Citizen Now event in Melbourne provided a fantastic few days of inspiring content and speakers. Bella Conyngham and I were excited to lead a delegation of 18 NEXUS Australia and Philanthropy Australia New Gen Network members to attend the summit and concert event. Global Citizen is a global movement of engaged citizens rallying around the critical issues of extreme poverty, climate change and inequality.

We heard from incredible young leaders such as Singaporean environmentalist and storyteller Qiyun Woo, Global Citizen Youth Leader Awardee Raeed Ali, local ministers such as Pat Conroy, the Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the former prime minister Julia Gillard AC and world leaders, such as former UN secretary-general Ban Ki Moon. There were also artists and sports stars like Ellia Green, Hugh Jackman and Osher Günsberg all calling on our regional government leaders, corporate leaders and philanthropists to activate in the fight against these pressing issues.

To date, Global Citizen has enabled 33.9 million actions to be taken, many of which have led to more than 30 policy change actions around the world, impacting the lives of more than 1.29 billion. The event culminated in a fantastic concert headlined by Crowded House at the Palais Theatre.

Bella and I took part in a philanthropy roundtable on the second day of the summit, which included three provocations about how Next Gen philanthropists can come together to tackle global problems collaboratively.

Thanks to Tim Middlemiss, of the Obama Foundation, and the team at Global Citizen for inviting NEXUS to be involved. I’m excited to look for more opportunities between NEXUS and Global Citizen to collaborate both in Australia and abroad.