NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

The 2017 Summit program will feature a mix of high-level keynotes, plenary panels, interactive workshops, in-depth roundtables and presentations from the most promising urban innovators. Key themes will include:

Understanding Urban Wellbeing

Harnessing Technology in Urban Healthcare

The New Urban Workforce

Social Infrastructure of Successful Cities

It’s time to go BIG. Act big as company. Be big as a leader. And coalesce the movement in a BIG and impactful way. At the intersection of sustainable business, conscious leadership, and social impact is YOU, the conscious business leader. The leader who cares about the planet, our fellow human beings, and the mindful awareness and compassion needed to lead in today’s world. Now, more than ever, we business leaders are being called to ACT and ADVOCATE in ways we never imagined.

Please note: opening government session will start on 6th June

The Africa Energy Forum (AEF) is the global investment meeting for Africa’s power, energy, infrastructure and industrial sectors. Nineteen years in the running, AEF brings together senior-level representatives from governments, utilities, regulators, power developers, financial institutions, technology providers, consultants, law firms and large energy consumers to form partnerships, identify opportunities and collectively move the industry forward. AEF has a loyal following of credible players working in the power space, and a track record of delivering a valuable networking experience.

Last year AEF was hosted at London’s newest landmark, the prestigious Intercontinental O2, attracting 2,100 participants from 80 countries – 32 of those being African. Five major deals and mergers took place onsite, indicating the market position of AEF as a deal-making platform. Such activities also demonstrate the achievements of our partners working on the continent over the last decade, as an increasing number projects reach financial close and begin to light up homes across the continent.

Glaciers are melting, sea levels are rising and atmospheric greenhouse gases have reached an all-time high. Climate change is creating risks and challenges for nearly every industry, and following the public sector’s inadequate efforts to address them, the private sector must now take the lead in protecting the planet from further destruction.

Firms need access to particular resources, so how can they come to set the standards for environmental protection? Building on these efforts, how can government leaders deliver on their promises of more sustainable practices through the creation of tighter regulations, new incentives and reforms? How can investors become equipped with the information they need to wisely allocate capital and manage risks, while still achieving a desirable return on investment? Finally, how can disruptive technologies push consumers and businesses to perceive sustainable development practices as a social responsibility and environmental imperative, but also a strategic business opportunity?

Gathering leading critical thinkers, policymakers and business leaders, the Sustainability Summit will offer strategies, ideas and solutions that help decision makers capitalise on technology to prepare for the future.

Learn more about the Sustainability Summit and other Economist Events conferences here: http://www.economist.com/events-conferences/americas

Questions? Email the Economist Events team at event-tickets@economist.com