Institute Participates in Harvard University "Laurel for Peace and Security in Ukraine" Symposium
On April 29, 2022, Harvard University hosted the conference “Laurel for Peace and Security in Ukraine.” The symposium, organized by Michael Dukakis, Thomas Patterson (Harvard), and Tuan Nguyen (Boston Global Forum), expressed support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people, and was the first in a series of events aimed at generating ongoing and sustained support for Ukraine’s reconstruction. The symposium called on world leaders, eminent thinkers, innovators, governments, companies, and organizations to help end the war, support Ukrainians still in the country, and rebuild the country as a model of peace, stability, and prosperity.
Laurel for Peace and Security in Ukraine
The symposium provided an opportunity to discuss Ukraine’s current situation and geopolitics, as well as present an early draft of the “Rebuilding Ukraine” initiative, which is being led by Harvard University, MIT, and the Boston Global Forum in collaboration with a number of partners, including the JCU Institute of Future and Innovation Studies. The draft program is being prepared by Harvard professor and chairman of President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers Jason Furman. Prof. Alex Sandy Pentland (MIT Media Lab Entrepreneurship Program Director), Vint Cerf (one of the fathers of the Internet), Harvard professors Thomas Patterson, Nazli Choucri and David Silbersweig. Francesco Lapenta (Director of the Institute of Future and Innovation Studies, John Cabot University), Mats Karlsson (former Vice President of the World Bank), Zlatko Lagumdzija (former Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina), Vaira Vike-Freiberga (former President of Latvia), Nam Pham (Assistant Secretary of Massachusetts Government), Jeff Saviano (EY Global).
The symposium brought together distinguished guests:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (video recording)
Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to USA
David Silbersweig, Harvard Professor
Egils Levits, President of Latvia
Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Ukraine former Prime Minister
Andreas Norlen, Riksdag Speaker
Kevin Ryan, Senior Fellow of Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center, Brigadier General
Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Latvia former President
Nazli Choucri, MIT Professor
Zaneta Ozolina, Professor of International Relations, University of Latvia
Alex Sandy Pentland, MIT Professor
David Silbersweig, Harvard Professor
Zlatko Lagumdzija, Bosnian-Herzegovina former Prime Minister
Arnaud Mentré, Consul General of France in Boston
Peter Abbott OBE, Consul General of the United Kingdom
Nicole Menzenbach, Consul General of Germany
Stratos Efthymiou, Consul General of Greece
In September, the Institute of Future and Innovation Studies and the Boston Global Forum will hold a preliminary meeting at John Cabot University in preparation for the Initiative’s launch at Harvard University at the end of October.
