World Economic Forum commits to increasing its efforts to identify and select women leaders to integrate into the Young Global Leaders community with the ultimate goal of reaching parity

Geneva, Switzerland – In response to Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s call to action for countries, organizations and schools around the world, the Forum of Young Global Leaders and the World Economic Forum have announced a commitment to increasing their efforts to identify and select women leaders to integrate into the Young Global Leaders community with the ultimate goal of reaching parity.

“The Forum of Young Global Leaders strongly believes that the future of leadership is one of gender parity,” said David Aikman, Head of the Forum of Young Global Leaders. “In alignment with these trends and in addition to our belief in the importance of reducing the gender gap, we call on our Partners, our community and the general public to nominate outstanding young women leaders from around the globe to reach our goal of 50/50 parity.”

The Forum of Young Global Leaders is made up of 480 active members from around the world, and recently announced the 230 Young Global Leaders honoured in 2009. Among this group are some of the most esteemed young women leaders from around the globe, including Muna AbuSulayman, Secretary-General of the Alwaleed Bin Talal Al Saud Foundation (Saudi Arabia); Katherine Garrett-Cox, Chief Executive Officer, Alliance Trust (United Kingdom); Silvana Koch-Mehrin, Member of the European Parliament (Germany); Maria Corina Machado, President, Asociación Civil Súmate (Venezuela); Christine Ramon, Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer, Sasol Limited (South Africa); Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer, Facebook (United States of America); and Zhang Xin, Chief Executive Officer, SOHO China (People's Republic of China).

Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, added, “The Forum of Young Global Leaders and the Women Leaders and Gender Parity Programme will work closely to promote female leadership and integrate this work throughout the Forum. We will take the necessary steps to reflect what we believe the future of leadership will look like with women in approximately half of the leadership roles. It is imperative to hear the unique perspective of women around the globe and follow their steps in promoting a fairer, more integrated society where the voices of all people are considered.”

Nominations can be made online at: www.younggloballeaders.org (or http://nomination.younggloballeaders.org/nominationform.aspx)