Keynote Speech cum Thematic Session A: Aligning Actors Around the Promotion of Sustainable Wellbeing for All

The current polycrisis that countries and citizens are experiencing worldwide – spanning the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the cost-of-living crisis, and climate change – raises important questions about the tenability of current economic development. These complex and cross-cutting challenges necessitate new thinking and innovative solutions to prioritise the wellbeing of people, the planet and future generations.

In the keynote speech, Dr Romina Boarini, Director of the OECD Centre for Well-Being, Inclusion, Sustainability and Equal Opportunity (WISE), will outline how we can conceptualise the wellbeing outcomes to aim for, and how progress by governments and the private sector towards these outcomes can be measured. She will then share her recent experiences of OECD member countries that have implemented wellbeing approaches to support more integrated, coordinated, and forward-thinking policies, better addressing the interdependency between economic, social, and environmental goals.

The Hon Bernard Charnwut Chan, Chairman of the M+ Museum, will deliver a captivating address on the subject of reshaping Hong Kong's soft power by harnessing the integration of arts, culture, business, and social purposes. His presentation will shed light on the pivotal role that art and culture play in promoting wellbeing and catalysing social innovation. By exploring the interplay between these spheres, he will provide invaluable insights into how creative and cultural endeavours can generate positive societal impact, elevate the quality of life, and drive transformative solutions to pressing challenges.

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