Philanthropy is currently experiencing an unprecedented amount of innovation, disruption and transformation. Never before have social needs, local and global alike, been more complex and pressing. In the 21st century, philanthropy earns a strategic dimension. At the core of this transformation is the will to make business leaders and businesses more accountable, and to expand and nurture the notion of ethical leadership and within great companies. 

To cultivate and promote the importance of contributing back to society in a responsible and accountable manner, it is necessary to recognise and highlight the efforts of leaders, individuals, companies and organisations who lead by example as philanthropists. It is also important to create platforms where good practices are celebrated, so that others learn and become motivated to engage themselves in accountable giving.

Global Thinkers Forum (GTF) is a global platform that brings together a diverse network of thought leaders in order to share their visions of the future, create meaningful conversations around them, and effect positive change in the world. GTF’s mission focuses on three areas: accountable leadership, women’s empowerment, and youth development. GTF is also a bridge-builder; creating opportunities for knowledge exchange, collaboration, strategic philanthropy and recognition.

The Forum is non-profit, London-based, and was incubated at Oxford University’s Said Business School in 2011. GTF organises a wide range of activities including seminars, fora, roundtable discussions, workshops, networking events, mentoring programmes, and an annual Awards Ceremony.

A great part of GTF’s accountable leadership focus is on philanthropy. Humanity has come to a turning point in its affairs, as societies are challenged to live more responsibly in an interconnected global community struggling to find its way into a sustainable future. The hard choices on this agenda will be ethically based and societies everywhere are in need of strong values-based leadership to ensure that the right choices are made.

GTF nurtures and promotes values-based leadership and multi-stakeholder accountability. We believe that accountable organisations are the ones who care about society as much as they do for their bottom line. In this effort, GTF acknowledges and promotes role models in Philanthropy.

This year our Global Thinkers Forum Awards Gala will celebrate Philanthropy & Positive Change and will take place on December 8, 2016, in London, UK.  Global Thinkers Forum Awards for Excellence is a high-profile event that will showcase the capabilities of outstanding leaders, individuals and organisations with a proven track record of integrity and positive change that place their wealth in the service of humanity.

Among the Honourees this year is the International Red Cross and AlWaleed Philanthropies. A live concert will be conducted by famous Belgian Maestro Sir Dirk Brosse.

In today’s world, we are more connected than ever. Through the web, email, and social media, people on opposite sides of the globe can talk to each other instantly and more easily than ever before. There is a great need to bring people together, to exchange knowledge, to share experience, to learn from best practices, to value cross-cultural understanding.

Through the GTF Awards for Excellence Gala, we aim to bring together in London leaders and representatives from businesses, philanthropic institutions, governments and civil society with a goal to celebrate achievements, promote business and raise awareness around the success stories for male and women leaders who lead by example.

The Global Thinkers Forum Awards for Excellence Gala will provide a unique, entertaining, thought-provoking platform for conversation, exposure and high level networking with a selection of invited luminaries.
To attend the GTF Awards for Excellence Gala, which will take place at the Institute of Directors, or to find out more please visit the GTF website.

Elizabeth Filippouli is the Founder and CEO of the Global Thinkers Forum.