From One Young World delegates to emboldened ambassadors of change: Wrapping up the 2024 One Young World Summit
Big progress requires bold thinking, and the next generation of changemakers are at the forefront of that thinking, driving new ideas forward that will change the future for the better for all of us.
From September 18-21, 1,950+ of the brightest young leaders representing 190+ countries convened in Montreal for the 2024 One Young World Summit to discuss the path to peace, equity, and sustainability and how to harness the power of technology to drive positive change. We sent 36 delegates, our BMO Changemakers, that included employees and young scholars from partner organizations Kids Help Phone (KHP) and the Watson Institute
Four transformative days of learning, collaboration and networking in the midst of influential political, business and humanitarian leaders included highlights such as:
- a panel on Conserving Wildlife and Habitats featuring Cher, Dame Jane Goodall and John Simpson
- a panel on using Artificial Intelligence for good featuring AI expert Yoshua Benigo and Prime Minister Justine Trudeau
- a keynote presentation from 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa
- a presentation on the main stage from BMO Changemaker Adrianna Pinzariu (Watson Institute) about how her venture, SKIIP uses AI to detect and disrupt cases of human trafficking. Adrianna was one of only five delegates selected from a pool of several hundred to present her work
- a panel featuring BMO’s Eric Morrow, Managing Director, Data Science & AI, Data & Analytics, and Kid’s Help Phone’s Jenny Yuen, Senior Vice President, National Partnerships & Government Relations, and moderated by BMO Changemaker Anjana Sudharshan, on how BMO and KHP are teaming up to use AI for good in supporting youth mental health
BMO was also proud to take part as a sponsor of the opening ceremony at the Bell Centre with tens of thousands of people in attendance. The event was filled with impactful speeches and performances, including from BMO’s Gregoire Baillargeon, President BMO Financial Group Quebec and Vice Chair of the BMO Climate Institute. Other highlights included speeches by Professor Muhammad Yunus, David Suzuki, Margaret Atwood, and live performances from poet Rupi Kaur, Notorious Cree, and Montreal’s own Cirque Carpe Diem.
One key takeaway shared again and again through countless voices at the Summit was the reminder of the power of partnership and collaboration. BMO Changemakers have returned to their communities and day jobs, inspired to share their learnings and emboldened to keep planting seeds of change wherever they go, and BMO is proud to support them on their journey to help make tomorrow better.
Supporting and empowering the next generation of changemakers is one way we live our Purpose to Boldly Grow the Good in business life. We know when we give, good grows, and we’re proud to support young innovators moving the mark for a thriving economy, a sustainable future and an inclusive society.