16 Feb 2010
From 27 – 31 January, Philip Dilley, Chairman of Arup Group and Chris Luebkeman, Director for Global Foresight, Innovation and Incubation were amongst 2,500 delegates at the 2010 World Economic Forum held in Davos-Klosters.
The World Economic Forum is a not-for-profit organisation that provides an environment where representatives from a broad cross-section of society (including NGOs, government, media, science, the arts, religion and civil society) can address some of the most pressing issues affecting the global community. For Arup, Davos also provides an opportunity to connect with the Forum's Engineering and Construction Community.
“A lot of media coverage that comes out of the Forum tends to focus on finance and the economy, but that's just one part of the event” says Philip Dilley. “A large part of the meeting is dedicated to other areas, such as health, the developing world, sustainable development and climate change. So many inspirational leaders are gathered in one place and it's encouraging to hear about, and be part of, initiatives that are making a real difference.”
Arup's involvement in the Forum extends to representation on a number of Economic Forum Global Agenda Councils (GACs). "These GACs were established two years ago as a way for the leadership of the forum to gather some of the world’s brightest minds and most innovative and influential individuals to deliberate/advise on contemporary topics", Chris Luebkeman explains.
Arup has participated in the Forum for four consecutive years. The firm’s previous participation has helped to bring the importance of cities as vital pieces of the global economic engine to the attention of the Forum. This focus led to the development of the SlimCity work programme for which Arup produced the SlimCity knowledge cards in 2008.
In 2009, as part of the same initiative, a partnership was formed with Habitat for Humanity, the Rockefeller Foundation and UN Habitat which led to the creation of a new knowledge card set on 'Housing'. The same year, Arup was the lead partner in developing a new initiative focused on evolving a global Disaster Resource Network.
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