The World We Want

For International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2021, Stacy Masucci, publisher for bioscience and translational medicine at Elsevier speaks to Richard Mankin and Kate Nash about the challenges, barriers and opportunities for people who live with disabilities in the context of the global pandemic.

Richard Mankin

Richard is a research entomologist with the US Department of Agriculture. He uses crutches to get around since his legs are missing several muscles and require braces. His research focuses on detecting and controlling hidden insect infestations. He also works on questions about how insects use the senses of smell and sound in communication. As a person with a physical disability, he has endeavored to make persons aware that disabilities do not preclude societal contributions nor career success. They merely make such contributions more difficult. He serves on the governing board of the Entomological Society of America and is the President of the Foundation for Science and Disability.

Kate Nash

Kate is the world's leading authority in 'Networkology' - the science behind the growth of workplace networks and resource groups. Most known for her work with disability networks, she set up an independent hub of best practice in the establishment of Disabled Employee Networks publishing the first best practice guide in 2009, with a Ministerial launch. In April 2014 her book 'Secrets & Big News' was published tackling the issue of 'disclosure' of disability and what employers can do to help people be themselves at work. 2,511 disabled employees from 55 employers took part in the research, sponsored by BT, Fujitsu, Metropolitan Police Service, Post Office and PWC. Kate launched PurpleSpace in October 2015 as the world's first professional development hub for disabled employee networks bringing together the 850,000 disabled employees from across employee networks. In 2007 she was awarded an OBE for services to disabled people. In 2013 she was appointed Ambassador to Disability Rights UK.

For International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2022, Márcia Balisciano, Global Head of Corporate Responsibility at RELX speaks to Jean Chawapiwa and Sara Bodison about the importance of developing diverse supply chains.

For World Health Day 2022, Márcia Balisciano, Global Head of Corporate Responsibility at RELX, speaks to Dr. Rebecca Katz, Professor and Director of the Center for Global Health Science and Security at Georgetown University Medical Center. 

In this episode of the “World We Want” podcast series, RELX’s Global Head of Corporate Responsibility, Dr. Márcia Balisciano, talks to Ruzanna Tarverdyan about how we measure progress of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Ruzanna Tarverdyan is an expert in international economics and sustainable development. She is Founding President and CEO of The Geneva Consensus Foundation, which under her leadership gained Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Social and Economic Council. She is an economist-mathematician with 30 years of professional work. She served the government of Armenia, holding senior positions in the ministries of finance and economy (Trade and Investment Department, Audit Department, Armenian Aid Coordination Center, Government's Tender Board) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) as a research economist in Moscow and at the Geneva headquarters. She has taught at the ILO International Training Center at Turin, Italy, and she is a member of the editorial board of several international journals.

Ruzanna has recently joint Municipal Council of Geneva City, as Municipal Councillor. As a Member of the Parliament of the Geneva City she will be serving on the Liberal and Radical Party List as a Member of Sports and Housing Commission for 2020-2025 Legislature. She is also the Representative of Switzerland in the Policy Advisory Group on Climate and Sustainability of ALDE- Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.

Ruzanna is also one of the authors of the book Measuring Sustainable Development Goals Performance which was launched in February 2022 at the ECOSOC (United Nations Economic and Social Council) Partnership Forum which focused on the theme “Building back better from the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development".

In this episode of the “World We Want” podcast series, RELX’s Global Head of Corporate Responsibility, Dr. Márcia Balisciano, talks to Michael Sheldrick about leadership.

Michael Sheldrick is a Co-Founder and Chief Policy, Impact and Government Relations Officer at Global Citizen. Over the past decade, Global Citizen’s campaigns have led to over $35 billion distributed to anti-poverty efforts around the world.

Michael leads Global Citizen’s campaigns to rally support from governments, businesses and foundations to get the world on track to end extreme poverty. Michael has worked on campaigns globally with artists including Beyoncé, Coldplay, Idris and Sabrina Elba, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Priyanka Chopra, Rihanna, Usher, and world leaders including Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and former Australian Prime Ministers Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd.

Michael was one of the four Co-Founders who spearheaded the first major Global Citizen advocacy campaign - The End the Polio - in 2011 which raised $118 million with the support of John Legend and then Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Most recently, Michael served as an Executive Producer of Vax Live, co-chaired by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan. The campaign focused on vaccine equity and acceptance, which resulted in 26 million vaccines committed for developing countries.

Michael has written on development issues in Forbes, the Guardian, Huffington Post, The Diplomatic Courier, The Diplomat Magazine, The South China Morning Post, The West Australian, and Fairfax Media. He has been interviewed by ABC, BBC, The New Yorker, Forbes Magazine, VICE Impact and Sky News among others. Michael’s efforts, and those of the team he leads, was profiled in National Geographic’s Activate series aired in 2019. He was named by the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth as a finalist for 2017 Young Commonwealth Person of the Year. He is also a board member for the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens and the Advisory Board of Parliamentarians for the Global Goals. Michael holds degrees in law and political science from the University of Western Australia, and was 2013 Young Western Australian of the Year.

In this episode of the “World We Want” podcast series, RELX’s Global Head of Corporate Responsibility, Dr. Márcia Balisciano, talks to Kariuki Ngari about leadership.

Kariuki Ngari is an accomplished career banker with over 29 years of banking experience. He earned his recognition through successfully transforming the consumer banking divisions of Standard Chartered Bank Kenya and Standard Chartered Regional Africa.

A seasoned financial professional, he has held various senior leadership roles across the industry. Prior to his current role as Chief Executive Officer at Standard Chartered Bank Kenya, Kariuki was the Global Head, Retail Distribution for Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore. There he was instrumental in formulating global strategies in building the future of Retail Branch and Voice & Virtual landscapes through digitization of the physical channels, as well as revision of branch models and standards.

Prior to his Global role, Kariuki was the Regional Head of Retail Clients Africa between 2013 and 2015, and the Executive Director Kenya and East Africa from 2009 to 2013. He has also held senior positions in Barclays Bank of Kenya Limited.

In this episode of the “World We Want” podcast series, RELX’s Global Head of Corporate Responsibility, Dr. Márcia Balisciano, talks to Tessy Antony de Nassau about leadership.

Tessy is the Founder of Finding Butterflies Consultancy Ltd, a global strategic communication firm which aims to support governments, institutions and business leaders with impact projects, educational campaigns, gender inclusion, and conference attendance and organisation. Tessy is also an associate at LSEideas at the London School of Economics, a globally recognised educational institution in London. 

Tessy is the Co-Founder of an investment vehicle which focuses on tech startups and renewable energy. She is the President and Co-Founder of Professors Without Borders, a charity that seeks to develop talent by bringing top-level educators and global experts to the doorsteps of students worldwide. She is also the Co-Founder of Human Highness, a sustainable fashion brand. 

Moreover, Tessy is an ambassador for UNAIDS (Global Advocate for Young Women and Adolescent Girls) and is a patron for UNA-UK along with the creator of the UN Millennium Development Goals, Lord Malloch Brown. Previously, she spent five years in the Luxembourg military, during which she was deployed to Kosovo as a peacekeeper and was the only woman in her draft.

Tessy actively promotes a number of issues, including global health and women’s rights, and is passionate advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals. She was bestowed the Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau by HRH Grand Duc Henri of Luxembourg. Moreover, she received the Woman of the Decade award from the Women Economic Forum, the Humanities medal for spreading humanistic ideas worldwide and the Global Empowerment Award for her work in Africa. She was named “Leader of the Year 2019” by the Leadership Academy in Luxembourg. 

In May 2019, Tessy was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Paris College of Arts for her work in education. She is currently working on her medical doctorate and PhD in integrative medicine.

In this episode of the “World We Want” podcast series, RELX’s Global Head of Corporate Responsibility, Dr. Márcia Balisciano, talks to Irina Bokova about leadership.

Irina Bokova, born in Sofia (Bulgaria), has been two terms the Director- General of UNESCO from 2009 to 2917. Having graduated from Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Irina Bokova was a Fellow at the University of Maryland, Washington, and followed an executive program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. As Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova was actively engaged in the UN efforts to adopt Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, particularly Goal 4 on “Achieving Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education and Promoting Life-Long Learning for All”, as well as science and new technologies for sustainable development, protection of cultural and natural heritage and biodiversity, and gender equality. Since 2010 till 2017, Irina Bokova was vice-chair of the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, established by UNESCO and ITU (International Telecommunications Union), serving as a large platform for Governments, private sector and academia to support and promote connectivity and sustainable development. During the time of the work of the Broadband Commission, Bokova was chairing the Working Groups on Education and ICTs, and Gender and ICTs. Irina Bokova was also chairing from 2014 till 2017 the UN Secretary General’s Scientific Advisory Board on Sustainable Development with a focus on science-policy interface.

Irina Bokova was on the Forbes List of the world's most influential women for 2016. She has received academic distinctions from leading universities across the globe such as King's College, London, the University of Massachusetts, Boston, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Paris Sud Saclay, France, Tongji University, Shanghai, Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg, among others. In 2020 was elected International Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in the category of Educational, Cultural and Non-profit Leadership.

Currently, she is Member of the Board of “Ban Ki-Moon Centre for Global Citizens”, Member of the Senate of FIA and of the High Panel on Road Safety, Member of the Concordia Leadership Council, New York, visiting lecturer at the Paris School of International Affairs /PSIA/, Sciences Po, and at the University of Geneva, among others.

In this conversation of the “World We Want” podcast series, RELX’s Global Head of Corporate Responsibility, Dr Márcia Balisciano, talks to Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu about leadership.

Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu is a New York Attorney and Solicitor of England & Wales with broad expertise in the financial services industry, writer, public speaker and political commentator featured in mainstream and online media.

A political and women’s rights activist, she has taught intersectional feminism to female refugees and asylum seekers; scrutinises government policies from a gender and diversity inclusion perspective; and co-organises women's marches and social campaigns. She founded the Women in Leadership publication as a platform to drive positive change on topical issues that impact women globally through inspiring personal leadership journeys; and established She@LawTalks to promote women & BAME leadership in the legal profession through universities and secondary schools.

An academic enthusiast, she has an Executive MBA (Cambridge); PhD (Birkbeck); LLM (London School of Economics & Political Science); MA (Westminster) and LLB Hons (Buckingham University).

In this conversation of the “World We Want” podcast series, RELX’s Global Head of Corporate Responsibility, Dr Márcia Balisciano, talks to Dr. Heinz Fischer about leadership.

The Ban Ki-Moon Centre for Global Citizens’ co-chairman Heinz Fischer was President of Austria from 2004 to 2016. In April 2010, Dr. Fischer was re-elected as President, winning a second six-year term in office with almost 79% of the votes. From 1963 to 1975 Heinz Fischer was Secretary, from 1975 to 1983 Executive Chairman of the Social Democratic Party in the Austrian Parliament, and from 1971 to 2004 a member of the Austrian National Assembly. Dr. Fischer served as Minister of Science of the Republic of Austria from 1983 to 1987 and as President of the National Council of Austria from 1990 to 2002. Between 1992 and 2004 Heinz Fischer was also Deputy Chairman of the Party of European Social Democrats (PES). From 1995 to 2002 he was President of the National Fund of Austria for the Victims of National Socialism. Apart from being a politician, Fischer also pursued an academic career and became a professor of Political Science at the University of Innsbruck.

After completing two terms as head of state Dr. Fischer was proclaimed Chairman of the Council for the Commemorative Year 2018 by the Federal Government of Austria. Furthermore, in June 2016 Heinz Fischer was named president of the Association of Austrian Adult Education Centres. Since September 2016 he occupies the position as president of the Austrian Society for Chinese Studies and as of January 2017, he is president of the Board of the Institute for Human Sciences.

We are grateful to all our fascinating podcast guests for taking their time to share their thoughts and hopes with us.  Inevitably, given remote working, there may be occasional sound interference – which does not detract from our speakers’ insights.

In this second conversation of the “World We Want” podcast series, RELX’s Global Head of Corporate Responsibility, Dr Márcia Balisciano, talks to Mary Robinson about leadership.

Mary Robinson is Adjunct Professor for Climate Justice in Trinity College Dublin and Chair of The Elders.  She served as President of Ireland from 1990-1997 and from 1997-2002. She is a member of the Club of Madrid and the recipient of numerous honours and awards including the Presidential Medal of Freedom from the President of the United States Barack Obama. Between 2013 and 2016 Mary served as the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy in three roles; first for the Great Lakes region of Africa, then on Climate Change and most recently as his Special Envoy on El Niño and Climate. Her Foundation, the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice, established in 2010, came to a planned end in April 2019.

A former President of the International Commission of Jurists and former chair of the Council of Women World Leaders she was President and founder of Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative from 2002-2010 and served as Honorary President of Oxfam International from 2002-2012.

Mary Robinson serves as Patron of the International Science Council and Patron of the Board of the Institute of Human Rights and Business, is an Ambassador for The B Team, in addition to being a board member of several organisations including the Mo Ibrahim Foundation and the Aurora Foundation. She was Chancellor of the University of Dublin from 1998 to 2019. Mary’s memoir, ‘Everybody Matters’ was published in September 2012 and her book, ‘Climate Justice - Hope, Resilience and the Fight for a Sustainable Future’ was published in September 2018.

In this first episode of the “World We Want” podcast Leadership series, RELX’s Global Head of Corporate Responsibility, Dr Márcia Balisciano, talks to Georg Kell. 

Georg Kell is Chairman of Arabesque, an ESG Quant fund manager that uses self-learning quantitative models and big data to assess the performance and sustainability of globally listed companies. Arabesque was launched in 2013 following a management buyout from Barclays Bank. It is dedicated to taking sustainability into the mainstream by using finance as a catalyst for change.

Georg is the founding Director of the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest voluntary corporate sustainability initiative with over 9,000 corporate signatories in more than 160 countries. Under Georg’s leadership, the UN Global Compact became the foremost platform for the development, implementation and disclosure of responsible and sustainable corporate policies and practices.

Georg also oversaw the conception and launch of the Global Compact’s sister initiatives - the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), and the Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE).

Georg started his career as a research fellow in engineering at the Fraunhofer Institute in Berlin. He then worked as a financial analyst in various countries in Africa & Asia before joining the United Nations in 1987. Georg holds advanced degrees in economics and engineering from the Technical University of Berlin.

Georg’s latest book Sustainable Investing: A Path to a New Horizon, co-edited by Herman Bril and Andreas Rasche, was published in September 2020. It brings together high-level practitioners and academics to reflect on the most recent insights and trends in the world of sustainable investing, with a foreword by Mark Carney.

We are grateful to all our fascinating podcast guests for taking their time to share their thoughts and hopes with us. Inevitably, given remote working, there may be occasional sound interference – which does not detract from our speakers’ insights.