Nouriel Roubini To Deliver Keynote Address At The Next Billion: Women & the Economy of the Future Conference

Renowned economist to address role of women in business

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 26, 2015 /CNW/ -- The organizers of The Next Billion: Women & the Economy of the Future today announced that acclaimed economist Nouriel Roubini will deliver the keynote address at the May 7 conference here. Senior corporate leaders will come together to discuss concrete, practical ways in which women – as consumers, employees, entrepreneurs and executives – can contribute to the continuing success of companies in the international economy.

Roubini served as the senior economist for international affairs on the White House Council of Economic Advisors and senior advisor to the undersecretary for international affairs at the U.S. Treasury Department. He is co-founder and chairman of Roubini Global Economics, an independent, global macroeconomic strategy research firm, and is a professor of economics at New York University's Stern School of Business.

"Women represent one of the biggest emerging markets – they make up 40% of the world's workforce, surpassing China and India combined, and account for 65% of all spending decisions globally," noted Roubini. "In the past decade, the increased employment of women in developed economies has contributed to more global growth than China has. This is a serious economic driver, one that banks, businesses and countries can no longer afford to ignore. I look forward to sharing thoughts with industry leaders and discussing how organizations can take advantage of this next great market frontier."

Through a series of moderated discussions with key corporate decision-makers from North America, Europe and Latin America, the conference will provide crucial insights into how and why women are key to the long-term profitability and growth of businesses in the banking, consumer product, technology, and manufacturing sectors, among others. An emphasis will be placed on sharing concrete actions and policies that leading companies in these sectors have successfully used to tap the business potential of women globally.

"Mr. Roubini understands the impact a billion women will have in driving economic growth in the next decade, and that businesses that pay attention to this trend will bring in long-term positive financial returns," noted conference organizer, business owner and philanthropist Lisa Wolverton. "We're looking forward to having him join the conversation and share his insights and observations."

The Next Billion partners include BSR: Business for Social Responsibility; the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and its Multilateral Investment Fund; The United Nations Foundation and the World Bank Group/International Finance Corporation.

The Next Billion advisory board members include:

• Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, former UK government Minister and United Nations Deputy Secretary General and Current Chairman of Europe, Middle East and Africa, FTI Consulting;
• Maria Livanos Cattaui, former Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce;
• Laura Gitman, Vice President New York, BSR;
• Frank Giustra, President and Chief Executive Officer, Fiore Financial;
• Paul D. Reynolds, President, Canaccord Genuity Group Inc.;
• Melanne Verveer, former U.S. Ambassador for Global Women's Issues
• William Westeringh, Partner, Fasken Martineau

For more information about the conference, please visit www.thenextbillionconference.com.

About Nouriel Roubini
Nouriel Roubini is the cofounder and chairman of Roubini Global Economics, an independent, global macroeconomic strategy research firm. The firm's website, Roubini.com, has been named one of the best economics web resources by BusinessWeek, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal and The Economist. He is also a professor of economics at New York University's Stern School of Business. Roubini has extensive policy experience as well as broad academic credentials.

About The Next Billion: Women & the Economy of the Future
The Next Billion: Women & the Economy of the Future conference will bring together key corporate decision-makers from North America, Europe and Latin America for a results-oriented, evidence-based dialogue on the topic of women in the global economy. Through a series of moderated discussions, the conference will provide crucial insights into how and why women are the key to the long-term profitability and growth of businesses in the banking, consumer product, technology, and manufacturing sectors, among others. The inaugural conference will be held Thursday, May 7, 2015, at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

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SOURCE The Next Billion

Brenda Patterson, 440-623-9581, [email protected], http://www.thenextbillionconference.com