Sustainable Development Goals: Making It Happen

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IMF SEMINAR EVENT

DATE: October 17, 2019

DAY: Thursday

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

LOCATION: IMF HQ1, Meetings Halls A&B (HQ1-3-430 A&B)

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Overview

In 2015 countries adopted a comprehensive agenda—the Sustainable Development Goals. Much work is underway within countries and the international community, but how to get from goals to reality by 2030? And is the needed financing in place?

Join the conversation via #IMF2030

Sustainable Development Goals: Making It Happen

Panelists

Moderator: Eleni Giokos

Eleni Giokos is the CNN Business Africa Correspondent, based in the network's Johannesburg bureau. Born in Greece and raised in South Africa, Giokos has a decade's experience working across TV, radio, print and online media. As a broadcaster she has interviewed a range of heads of state and business leaders, including South African President Jacob Zuma, former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, Virgin founder Richard Branson, and IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, amongst others. She has reported from key global events such as the World Economic Forum in Davos and the United Nations General Assembly. She has chaired debates at the World Economic Forum, International Monetary Fund, African Finance Corporation and the Africa CEO Forum. Giokos has an Honors Degree in Journalism and Media Studies from the University of Witwatersrand and is an International Monetary Fund Fellow—selected to join the programme in 2014.

Panelist: David Lipton

David Lipton David Lipton assumed the position of First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund on September 1, 2011. On March 28, 2016, he was reappointed for a second five-year term beginning September 1, 2016. Before coming to the Fund, Mr. Lipton was Special Assistant to the President, and served as Senior Director for International Economic Affairs at the National Economic Council and National Security Council at the White House. Previously, he was a Managing Director at Citi, and also served in the Clinton administration as Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs — and before that as Assistant Secretary. Mr. Lipton earned a Ph.D. and M.A. from Harvard University in 1982 and a B.A. from Wesleyan University in 1975.

Panelist: Jason Channell

Jason Channell

Jason Channell is Managing Director and Global Head of Sustainable Finance within the newly created Citi Global Insights division, designed to provide thought leadership content and insight to the full breadth of Citi’s client base. Jason previously built and led Citi’s Sustainable and Responsible Investment Research team from within Citi Research. Prior to joining Citi in 2011, he worked for Fidelity Investments and Goldman Sachs. His knowledge has led him to present to numerous policymakers and supranational bodies on energy policy and sustainability. Mr. Channell is the lead author of some of Citi's most-read thought leadership GPS reports, most notably the 'Energy Darwinism' GPS series. Mr. Channell holds a degree in Engineering Science and Management from the University of Durham.

Panelist: Elliott C Harris

Elliot Harris

Mr. Elliott Harris is the Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and Chief Economist of the United Nations. He served previously as Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Office in New York of the United Nations Environment Programme, from 2013-2018. Prior to joining the United Nations, Mr. Harris spent 25 years as an economist at the International Monetary Fund IMF), working in the African and Fiscal Affairs Departments, including as IMF Mission Chief in Togo, Chad and Guinea. He served from 2008-2012 as the IMF Special Representative to the United Nations, in parallel to his role as Assistant Director of the Strategy Policy and Review Department.

Panelist: Marjeta Jager

Marjeta Jager

Marjeta Jager is Deputy Director General for the Directorate-General for International cooperation and Development (DG DEVCO) of the European Commission. Previously, Ms. Jager served as the Director for Policy Coordination and Security in the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission. Before joining the Commission, Ms. Jager was working since 1991 for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia and was the first Deputy Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the EU.

Panelist: Amanda Khozi Mukwashi

Amanda Mukwashi

Amanda is CEO of Christian Aid. Prior to this she was the Chief of Volunteer Advisory Services and Chief of Volunteer Knowledge and Innovation for the United Nations Volunteer Programme at UNV/UNDP in Germany. She has also worked as Director of Policy for VSO International, Head of External Relations and Programmes at Skillshare International in the UK and as Women in Business Coordinator at the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) in Zambia. Amanda serves as a Trustee on the board of the UK DEC (Disaster Emergency Committee). She has also previously served as trustee on the Boards of BOND, FORUM (international forum for Volunteering in development) and as President of Akina Mama wa Afrika, a feminist Pan-African Leadership Development Organization in Uganda. Amanda holds a Master’s degree in International Economic Law from the University of Warwick and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Zambia. She has recently been placed on the 2019 Top 100 BAME Business Leaders Index in the UK.

Panelist: Romuald Wadagni

Romuald Wadagni

Romuald Wadagni is Minister of Economy and Finance of Benin. He is also currently president of the WAEMU council of Ministers. An accountant by training, he previously worked as an Associate at Deloitte in France, Managing Director at Deloitte in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Professional Practice Director and audit Director for the group in francophone Africa. He is a specialist of international accounting standards, offerings transactions (IPO, fundraising) and public and private firms’ management and restructuring. Mr. Wadagni was recently honored with the Finance Minister of the Year in Africa designation at the African Banker Awards. Mr. Wadagni has a degree from Harvard Business School (USA) and Ecole Superieure des Affaires de Grenoble (France).