Chicago Forum on Global Cities Opens in Chicago

CHICAGO, June 1, 2016 -- Mayors, artists, educators and CEOs converge today for the 2016 Chicago Forum on Global Cities, a cross-sector dialogue about the rising power of global cities and the challenges and opportunities they face. The three-day forum is co-hosted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and the Financial Times and will be streamed live from ChicagoForum.org.

At the forum, civic leaders from London, Bangkok, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Mexico City and New York will convene with CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, university presidents, tech innovators, visionary artists and financial gurus from Singapore, Shanghai, Hamburg, Copenhagen and Madrid to discuss how to combat violence, grow cities while retaining cultural heritage, protect cities from terrorist threats and build sustainable communities.

"In this dynamic city of Chicago, with its own challenges and its sky-high opportunities, we will examine what common concerns unite us and how global cities can use their growing influence to create more livable communities for all," said Ambassador Ivo H. Daalder, president of the Council.

Some 600 delegates, representing 25 countries, are attending the forum, which takes place in world-renowned venues such as the Art Institute of Chicago and the Field Museum.

"Chicago is the perfect place to discuss what drives global cities and how they in turn drive our culture, our economy and our futures," said Gillian Tett, the FT's U.S. managing editor.

All plenaries and panel discussions will be streamed live from the forum website. Viewers can follow the discussion @ChicagoForum and tweet questions using #GlobalCities2016.

June 1:

• Opening Program: The Power and Limitations of Global Cities

June 2:

• Plenary: Cultural Heritage and Modernization
• Special Presentation: Transforming Food Systems in an Urbanizing World
• Plenary: Global Threats to the Global City
• Financing the Global City
• The Inclusive City
• Redesigning the Global City
• Combating Violence and Building Unity
• Win or Lose? Investing in High-Profile Events
• Global Transportation Hubs

June 3:

• Plenary: The Tale of Two Cities
• Plenary: Disruptive Technologies and the Sharing Economy
• Closing Lunch: Climate Change and Global Cities

Key speakers include:

• Henry M. Paulson, former U.S. Treasury Secretary
• Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, Gulf-based columnist
• Connie Hedegaard, former EU Commissioner for Climate Action
• Mayors, including Claudio Orrego, Santiago, Chile; Boris Palmer, Tübingen, Germany; Kasim Reed, Atlanta, Georgia, and Paribatra Sukhumbhand, Bangkok, Thailand;
• Anne-Marie Slaughter, President and CEO, New America
• Ebtesam Al-Ketbi, President, Emirates Policy Center
• Arne Quinze, Artist
• Chan Heng Chee, Chairman, Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities
• Ricky Burdett, Director, LSE Cities

To attend as a member of the press, please contact Evan Fazio ([email protected]; 612-743-1727).

Generous support for the Chicago Forum on Global Cities is provided by AbbVie, UL and United Airlines as Lead Sponsors; Hyatt Hotels Foundation, IBM Corporation, Motorola Solutions, Inc. and Walgreens Boots Alliance as Supporting Sponsors; and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

About the Chicago Council on Global Affairs

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is an independent, nonpartisan organization that provides insight – and influences the public discourse – on critical global issues. We convene leading global voices and conduct independent research to bring clarity and offer solutions to challenges and opportunities across the globe. Ranked No. 1 Think Tank to Watch worldwide, the Council on Global Affairs is committed to engaging the public and raising global awareness of issues that transcend borders and transform how people, business and governments engage the world. Learn more at thechicagocouncil.org and follow @ChicagoCouncil.

About the Financial Times

The Financial Times, one of the world's leading business news organisations, is recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy. Providing essential news, comment, data and analysis for the global business community, the FT has a combined paid print and digital circulation of 793,000. Mobile is an increasingly important channel for the FT, driving half of total traffic.

CONTACT: Evan Fazio
         Media Relations Officer
         The Chicago Council on Global Affairs
         [email protected]