Machu Picchu Trip Being Raffled By Group with Ties to Pittsburgh Helping Weavers in Peru's Andes Mountains

Pittsburghers have a chance to win a trip for two to legendary Machu Picchu and other sites in Peru through a non-profit organization called Awamaki with its U.S. base in Pittsburgh that helps Peruvian women access international markets for their textile goods.

Awamaki is selling only 150 tickets for $100 each (tax-deductible). One grand prize winner will enjoy:
· Roundtrip airfare for two from a major US city to Cusco, Peru
· Ground transport from Cusco to Ollantaytambo
· Entrance fees and train tickets to Machu Picchu
· Seven nights hotel accommodation
· A trip to Patacancha, where most Awamaki textiles are made
· A lesson with a local artisan
· Welcome and departure meals
· Full package value of $5,000+
Second and third prizes are textiles of $100 and $50 value respectively.

Awamaki sells handwoven textiles made by cooperatives of indigenous Quechua women in remote communities in the Andes Mountains of Peru. Profits are reinvested in those communities in the form of healthcare and educational facilities, according to Anne Marie Toccket, who represents the organization in Pittsburgh. Awamaki goods can be found at La Feria and other locations in the Pittsburgh area, she said.

To purchase a ticket, send email to Toccket at aut112@gmail.com or via PayPal at https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=NWWCG4M5SGMUN.

Checks, money orders and credit cards are accepted. Buyers will receive their ticket(s) in the mail in 3-5 days, and the drawing will be held on Nov. 7. Tickets are available for purchase until Nov. 2.
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Meet and Mingle With Pittsburgh Delegates to the One Young World Summit at GlobalPittsburgh First Thursdays Networking Event Nov. 1 at Shadow Lounge

Please join us for festivities on Thursday, Nov. 1 as we carry on the momentum of the recent One Young World Pittsburgh Summit and continue to welcome international students and globally-minded members and friends at the next GlobalPittsburgh First Thursdays international networking event at Shadow Lounge in East Liberty from 5:30-8:00 p.m.

This month’s over-21 event will feature some of the local participants in Pittsburgh’s recent One Young World Summit, as well as eight international journalists and politicians who are in town learning about the upcoming Presidential election. GlobalPittsburgh’s Nadya Kessler, was a One Young World delegate (thanks to a Fellowship that she received from the World Affairs Council). The eight members of the Elections delegation joining us for the evening are from France, Indonesia, Singapore and Sweden.

There will be free appetizers, bar specials, raffles, cash bar and more. Bring your friends! Meet our visiting international delegations and mingle with many of the region's entrepreneurs and innovators.

GlobalPittsburgh First Thursdays is a regular monthly night of networking and socializing with different themes, different activities and different locations - but always with an international flavor - on the first Thursday of every month. It's an evening of friends, interesting conversation and good spirits with an international flair.

Shadow Lounge is located at 5972 Baum Boulevard in East Liberty.

Admission is FREE for paid GlobalPittsburgh members and One Young World Ambassadors and volunteers (or anyone with a One Young World t-shirt or badge). Admission is $5 at the door for everyone else. Membership information will be available at the event, but you may also join GlobalPittsburgh now at www.globalpittsburgh.org/membership and get in free on Nov. 1.

Many thanks to support from Vibrant Pittsburgh, whose mini-grant program helps make these events possible.

If you have questions, please contact Nadya Kessler in the GlobalPittsburgh office at 412-392-4513 or by email at nkessler@globalpittsburgh.org. Photos from past First Thursdays and a few other GlobalPittsburgh events, activities, and programs can be viewed at www.flickr.com/photos/globalpittsburgh. See you there!

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Groups Encouraging Diversity Eligible for Grants Up To $7,500 from Vibrant Pittsburgh; Applications Due Dec. 14

Groups and organizations that encourage diversity in the Greater Pittsburgh region are eligible for grants of up to $7,500 from Vibrant Pittsburgh, a non-profit organization supporting efforts to increase the diversity of the region's workforce. The deadline for applications is Dec. 14, 2012.

Vibrant Pittsburgh is now accepting applications for its second round of Mini-Grant funding that seeks to support a wide range of activities for nonprofit Affinity Groups to "increase attraction, welcome and retention of diverse talent in the Pittsburgh Region."

Qualifying Affinity Groups can be employer, community or university student-based that bring together people with a common interest and/or background such as heritage, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.

Through the Mini-Grants Initiative, Vibrant Pittsburgh seeks to support projects that:
 Increase the visibility of Pittsburgh’s diverse communities
 Help attract, welcome and retain diverse talent
 Are implemented by Affinity Groups that represent diverse communities in the region.

For more information, go to www.vibrantpittsburgh.org. A printable Request for Proposals form, go to http://bit.ly/X2BH31. READ FULL ARTICLE

Fund to Provide Financing to Growing Social Business Startups Launched at One Young World Pittsburgh Summit

Social business startups from around the world will have access to a new funding program launched at the One Young World Summit in Pittsburgh this week.

The One Young World Social Business Accelerator will  provide financing to growing social businesses, as well as access to the network of One Young World delegates, known as Ambassadors, to assist their development and expansion into new global markets.

Three social enterprises were selected as the first beneficiaries of the Accelerator, and each will receive a 20,000 Euro (about $26,000) low-interest loan. Villageboom, one of those selected, creates employment opportunities for rural villages in developing countries, and is introducing a microbusiness model based on a solar light to replace kerosene lamps, which local people are encouraged to adopt.

In addition, Accelerator grants, ranging from €500 ($650) to €2,000 ($2,600) were given to a number of One Young World returning Ambassadors. The first round of grants will fund efforts to help homeless people, an urban farming initiative, a youth sports skills program, water-conserving toilets and recycling initiatives.

“Many of the problems that you see are actually very simple – and if you can find one simple way how to make it happen, you can change the world,” said Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

“We have so much potential and creativity here today to find these solutions," Yunus said. "If we all worked together, the world’s problems would disappear.”

Other Day 1 highlights included:
• Pete Cashmore, founder and CEO of Mashable, and journalist and activist, Fatima Bhutto, discussed the role of education and the importance of working to increase literacy levels around the world. The delegates challenged each other to get out in their own communities and take action. One delegate, Sujit Ialwani, India, said, “It’s great to be alive as a human being, but it’s great to die as doing.”
• Jamie Oliver, chef and founder of the Food Revolution, led a panel discussion about the global obesity and malnutrition epidemic. Oliver reinforced the importance of working within school systems to increase education about healthy eating and cooking. He challenged the One Young World delegates to surprise him by coming up with plans to further their own local food revolutions.
• Jack Dorsey, creator of Twitter and Square, Bob Geldof, KBE and Ken Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, participated in the Transparency and Integrity Plenary Session. Dorsey stressed the urgent need for transparency in business and in politics, adding that Twitter and Square were both built entirely on the foundation of transparency.
• Paul Polman, Global CEO of Unilever, one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies, discussed the importance of corporate social responsibility. He said that, “big does not mean bad,” challenging delegates to help think of a better way for business to do business. “We want to drive positive social change,” he said. “And youth doesn’t always get the seat at the table that they deserve.”
• Singer and songwriter Joss Stone – who began her career at the age of 14 – also spoke to the delegates about motivation and inspiration, drawing from her own experience. “As today’s young people, we must make sure the fire is burning as brightly as we can,” she said. “If you aren’t heard the first time, speak a little louder – refuse to be ignored.”

At the 2012 Summit young leaders from 182 countries have been sharing their vision, views and ideas to create practical and achievable commitments for positive change. Unlike any other event, One Young World Summit gives delegates the kind of media platform afforded ordinarily only to those who lead countries and corporations.

Delegates speak alongside global figures who this year included former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Bob Geldof KBE, Professor Muhammad Yunus, Kofi Annan, Jamie Oliver, Pete Cashmore and Fatima Bhutto many others.

The seven areas of focus for the 2012 Summit are:
• Education
• Global Business
• Health
• Human Rights
• Leadership & Governance
• Sustainable Development
• Transparency & Integrity

Following the Summit, One Young World Ambassadors will deliver positive outcomes in these areas in their countries and communities and, using the lasting connections One Young World enables them to maintain, on a global scale.

For more information about One Young World go to www.oneyoungworld.com. READ FULL ARTICLE

Pittsburgh Mayor Ravenstahl Supports National Immigration Reform, Attraction of Foreign-Born Entrepreneurs to Spark Economic Growth and Job Creation

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl today joined several area community organizations and business leaders in signing on with a national bipartisan movement supporting immigration reform and immigrant attraction as essential elements of economic growth and job creation.

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl

during the signing ceremony.

Behind him are (from left) Steven

Sokol, World Affairs Council of

Pittsburgh; Audrey Russo, 

Pittsburgh Technology Council:

Melanie Harrington, Vibrant

Pittsburgh; Robert Feldstein,

Partnership for a New

American Economy 

At a morning news conference, Ravenstahl became an official signatory of the Partnership for a New American Economy, a coalition led by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg of over 500 mayors, governors and corporate leaders from all 50 states who believe immigration reform is an economic imperative.

“Pittsburgh’s thriving economy brings students from around the world to study and live in our city,” Ravenstahl said. “By joining this partnership that calls for better opportunities and reform for immigrants, the possibilities of further growth are tremendous.”

Also signing on to the partnership were the leaders of the Pittsburgh Technology Council, the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Vibrant Pittsburgh, Alcoa and BNY Mellon, Ravenstahl said.

Currently, Pittsburgh’s foreign-born residents account for about 7 percent of the city’s population, compared with a national rate of about 13 percent. Studies have shown that immigrants can play a key role in new business and job creation. Immigrants are now twice as likely as native-born residents to start new businesses, which have been the main driver of job creation over the past 25 years.

Presenters at the signing ceremony said that it’s not true that immigrants take jobs from native-born Americans. Another common misconception is that foreign-born professionals are paid less than their native-born counterparts. They said that immigrants provide widespread economic benefits that create jobs. Every foreign-born graduate with an advanced degree who stays in the United States creates 2.6 jobs for American workers, according to Partnership data. They also said that only a small percentage of immigrants in the U.S. are undocumented, or “illegal.”

Some other facts about immigrants and the economy:

• Over 40 percent of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children 
• Three-quarters of all patents at the nation’s Top 10 research universities has a foreign-born inventor 
• Cities with more immigrants saw their credit ratings improve, their tax bases grow and per capita income increase 
• Last year, immigrants started 28 percent of all new businesses even though they only represent 13 percent of the population 

“The attraction, retention and elevation of a diverse array of talent – including foreign-born, New American talent – provides a significant source of economic growth, innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation,” said Melanie Harrington, CEO of Vibrant Pittsburgh. “As we promote Pittsburgh as an inclusive region to attract talent of all backgrounds, we work toward and remain committed to the long-term success of the Greater Pittsburgh region.”

Robert Feldstein of the Partnership for a New American Economy pointed out that immigrant attraction is becoming an economic development tool around the worlds. Many countries, including Canada and Chile, are aggressively recruiting foreign-born entrepreneurs to come start companies and create jobs, sometimes even offering startup cash and free office space as incentives.

“Mayors and CEOs see every day that immigrants fuel innovation, start new companies and drive economic growth and job creation,” Feldstein said. “We are excited that Mayor Ravenstahl and the leaders of Pittsburgh are joining over 500 mayors and CEOs from across the country to urge leaders in Washington to fix our broken immigration system.”

The Partnership has several goals for immigration reform, including:

• Providing residency visas or “green cards” to foreign-born graduates from American universities in the fields of science, technology, math and science (STEM)
• Creating a visa program for foreign-born entrepreneurs to build their companies in the United States
• Increasing or eliminating arbitrary caps to let American companies hire the highly educated workers they need but cannot find locally
• Giving industries that depend on workers just starting up the economic ladder, such as agriculture and tourism, access to foreign workers when they cannot find Americans to fill jobs

The announcement comes in the heels of a recent announcement by the Pittsburgh Promise, which offers $40,000 college scholarships to graduates from city high schools, that it will work with leaders from the region’s Latino community and philanthropic groups to attract hispanic families to the city. READ FULL ARTICLE

GlobalPittsburgh's Role in Creating International Business Opportunities for Pittsburgh Region Highlighted in Article

GlobalPittsburgh's role in creating international business opportunities for local companies and organizations, including two energy consulting jobs for a local college professor, was highlighted in a recent article in the Pittsburgh Business Times.

The article titled "Firms Eyeing Overseas Shale Opportunities" by reporter Anya Litvak published Oct. 5, 2012 describes how expertise gained in the local Marcellus shale industry can lead to business and commercial opportunities in other parts of the world where shale gas is under development.

"Pittsburgh-based companies that have successfully wedged their offerings into the Marcellus supply chain are likely to find opportunities abroad in countries just beginning the shale game," Litvak writes.

She quotes Gail Shrott, director of GlobalPittsburgh's international leaders program, who explains how GlobalPittsburgh recently has hosted leaders from several countries interested in learning more about shale gas exploration, including Poland, Morocco, France, Canada and Australia.

"Once the delegations leave, they take with them business cards from local companies working in the Marcellus," the article reads. "Shrott’s hope is that connections persist and turn into business opportunities.

"They already have for some. Kent Moors, a professor at Duquesne University and a Scholar in Residence at its Institute for Energy and the Environment, got two consulting contracts with foreign governments following meeting with delegations here. As an adviser to Poland, which is thought to have the largest shale reserves in Europe, Moors sees tremendous opportunities for western Pennsylvania companies to export their services to countries eager to tap their domestic fuel and become less dependent on Russia’s exports."

The article describes how "[l]ocal companies with specialized shale expertise and high-end technical products stand the best chance of competing for shale business abroad," and quotes Steven Murray, a Pittsburgh-based senior international trade specialist with the U.S. Commercial Service.

The article also mentions potential global business opportunities for several other local companies, including MarkWest Energy Partners, Epiphany Solar Water Systems, and Consol Energy.

GlobalPittsburgh hosts several hundred visiting international leaders every year, and is paying closer attention to the continuing economic benefits created by those visits in the form of ongoing business and academic partnerships.

For more information on becoming a resource for visiting delegations, please contact Gail Shrott at 412-392-4513 or gshrott@globalpittsburgh.org.

Business Times subscribers can read the full article at http://bit.ly/RblrZN.

READ FULL ARTICLE

GlobalPittsburgh Selected By U.S. State Department to Coordinate Weeklong Training Program in December for International Education Advisers

GlobalPittsburgh has been selected by the U.S. Department of State to host and coordinate a weeklong training program in December for 25 representatives from its worldwide network of 450 EducationUSA advising centers, which promote educational opportunities in the United States.

The program, titled Essentials of Advising (Level 1), will be conducted Dec. 9-15 on the campuses of institutions participating in the Study Pittsburgh initiative of the GlobalPittsburgh Education Partnership (GPEP).

Advisers will be coming from such countries as Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil, China (2), India (2), Indonesia (2), Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Mauritius, Pakistan, Paraguay, Romania, Russia, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

Formed in 2010, the GlobalPittsburgh Education Partnership is a growing consortium of 16 colleges, universities and English as a Second Language (ESL) programs in the Greater Pittsburgh Region that have joined together to explore ways to increase international student enrollment in the region, to create partnerships and exchange programs with their counterparts abroad, and to engage students in the community once they arrive.

Trainees will learn about the American system of higher education, including the admissions process for undergraduate and graduate students, tuition and financial aid, and campus life. They will also have the opportunity to visit several campuses, meet with faculty and administrators, and engage in a university fair to learn more about each institution.

“This is a great opportunity for the GPEP members and for the Pittsburgh region,” said Thomas Buell, Jr., Director of the Study Pittsburgh initiative and Director of Marketing for GlobalPittsburgh. “These advisers will be promoting educational opportunities in the United States to international students around the world, and any positive connections they make in Pittsburgh will have a long-lasting positive impact on the number of students who choose to come to study in this region.”

Current members of the GPEP include:
• Carlow University
• Chatham University *
• Community College of Allegheny County *
• Duquesne University *
• LaRoche College
• Penn State – Beaver
• Penn State – Greater Allegheny *
• Penn State – New Kensington
• Point Park University *
• Robert Morris University *
• University of Pittsburgh English Language Institute
• University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business
• University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing
• Washington & Jefferson College
• West Virginia University
• West Liberty University

(Asterisk indicates campus that will hosting training sessions and events)

In economic terms, international students make a significant positive impact in the region, contributing an estimated $2.6 million to the regional economy for every 100 international students enrolled at regional colleges and universities, according to the Institute for International Education. About 7,000 international students are currently enrolled in the seven-county metropolitan area.

GlobalPittsburgh, formerly the Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors, is a non-profit organization that engages international delegations, groups and individuals by creating itineraries and facilitating introductions through the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and other international programming agencies in many fields, including energy and environment, life sciences and medicine, education, business and technology, clean/green design, advanced manufacturing, arts and culture, government and finance, social services and law, and other areas. 

For information about GlobalPittsburgh's Study Pittsburgh initiative, go to www.studypittsburgh.org.  READ FULL ARTICLE

GlobalPittsburgh Offering Free Tickets to American Middle East Institute Health Innovation Summit and Tom Brokaw Lecture to New Members

GlobalPittsburgh is offering a chance to receive free tickets for the American Middle East Institute's Health Innovation Summit and Tom Brokaw Evening Lecture in Pittsburgh Oct. 30 to new members and current members who sign up a new member.

Anyone who becomes a paid GlobalPittsburgh between now and Tuesday Oct. 16, 2012, and any current member who brings in a new member, will be eligible to win a pair of tickets to the Tom Brokaw lecture (a $100 value) or one of two individual tickets to the Health Innovation Summit (each valued at $325). Names will be drawn on the evening of Oct. 16. For more information about the many benefits of GlobalPittsburgh membership, including group activities, free & discounted tickets, networking events and more, go to http://www.globalpittsburgh.org/membership.

The AMEI's Health Innovation Summit will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 30 at the Fairmont Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh. This year’s program brings together global health leaders and leading edge innovators to describe the current state of healthcare in the Middle East and explore emerging business markets in this ever-changing economic sector. For more information about the Health Innovation Summit, go to http://www.americanmei.org/Health_Innovation_Summit.html.

On the evening of Oct. 30, noted broadcast journalist and author Tom Brokaw will engage in a discussion titled "Building a Bridge to the Middle East" in conversation with His Royal Highness Prince Turki Al Faisal of Saudi Arabia, and Former Prime Minister of Libya, Dr. Mahmoud Jibril. For more information about the Tom Brokaw evening event, go to http://www.americanmei.org/Tom_Brokaw.html.

To enter this ticket drawing, new members should use the electronic registration form using secure credit card payment by going to https://www.globalpittsburgh.org/member-registration-form. Annual membership fees are $40/individual and $50/family. Once you have registered online, please contact Nadya Kessler in our office at 412-392-4513 or nkessler@globalpittsburgh.org to have your name placed into the drawing.

If you are a current GlobalPittsburgh member who brings in a new member, you and the new member will be entered in the drawing for the tickets. Just tell the new member you are signing up to contact Nadya Kessler using the information above, and make sure they tell her your name. Both of you will be eligible to receive the tickets. You may also choose to be in the drawing for one or both of the events.

This is a great time to become a GlobalPittsburgh member. Join today and tell your friends!




READ FULL ARTICLE

Pittsburgh Welcomes International Robotics Industry Leaders Oct. 22-24 for RoboBusiness 2012 Conference

Pittsburgh played host to the RoboBusiness 2012 Leadership Summit, the international executive-level business development event for robotics technology innovators, influencers, developers and investors, Oct. 22-24, 2012 at Pittsburgh Marriott City Center.

Research institution host Carnegie Mellon University and other technology-related organizations in the Pittsburgh region arranged an array of local activities to complement the RoboBusiness Leadership Summit including the induction ceremony for the Robot Hall of Fame®, a public event at the Carnegie Science Center.

The CMU Robotics Institute also hosted conference attendees at a campus open house. The Robotics Institute is the world’s largest university-affiliated robotics research center, with internationally noted roboticists among its 420 faculty and staff members. The Institute is a leader in autonomous navigation, field robotics, computer vision, legged locomotion and other enabling and advanced technologies.

Attendees of RoboBusiness 2012 enjoyed live technical demonstrations of the latest technology advancements in robotics at CMU. In addition, Carnegie Mellon affiliated spinouts and staff spoke at RoboBusiness, including Takeo Kanade and Jim “Oz” Osborn, Directors and a co-founders of the Quality of Life Technology Center, a National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center operated jointly by CMU and the University of Pittsburgh, and William “Red” Whittaker, Director of the Field Robotics Center.

Bossa Nova Robotics, a CMU spinoff co-founded by Robotics Institute alumnus Dr. Sarjoun Skaff, aims to put a robot in every home by building the leading personal robot for the 21st Century.

Other organizations from the greater Pittsburgh area welcoming RoboBusiness attendees included Innovation Works and the Pittsburgh Technology Council. Innovation Works is the largest investor in seed-stage companies in the Pittsburgh region and plays a vital role in southwestern Pennsylvania's technology economy The Pittsburgh Technology Council has helped the region’s technology companies succeed through a suite of proven products and services that help technology companies at all stages of growth from emerging startups to becoming established heavy hitters in their respective marketplaces.

CMU, Innovation Works and the Pittsburgh Technology Council said a goal of the conference was to connect participants with new business opportunities. 

Source: Robobusiness 2012 Leadership Summit READ FULL ARTICLE

American Middle East Institute Annual Conference in Pittsburgh to Feature Health Innovation Summit and Evening with Tom Brokaw Oct. 30

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

1 Day - 2 Venues

Morning Business Conference
Click Here for Health Innovation Summit Conference Panels & Agenda
Fairmont Hotel
Downtown Pittsburgh

Sponsor's Dinner & Tom Brokaw Evening Lecture
Carnegie Music Hall
Pittsburgh

Tickets on Sale NOW!!

American Middle East Institute invites you to attend the 2012 Health Innovation Summit. Since our founding, the aim of our efforts has been to grow and encourage strong friendships and enduring partnerships between the United States and the Middle East.  

This year’s program brings together global health leaders and leading edge innovators to describe the current state of
healthcare in the Middle East and explore emerging business markets in this ever-changing economic sector.  
Current GlobalPittsburgh members  receive $5 discounts on tickets to the Tom Brokaw Evening Lecture. CLICK HERE for details.

Confirmed Evening Speakers:

Tom Brokaw

His Royal Highness Prince Turki Al Faisal

Confirmed Business Conference Speakers to Date:Richard L. Allen
Vice President, dck worldwide, LLC
Director, Global Healthcare Services

Chuck Bogosta
President
UPMC International and Commercial Services

Professor Howard Choset
Medrobotics
Carnegie Mellon University

Lutfi Fadel El Zein
Chairman & Director
The Mediterranean Gulf Insurance

Bill Flanagan
Executive Vice President—Corporate Relations Allegheny Conference on Community Development

James Jordan
VP and Chief Investment Officer
Pittsburgh Life Sciences

Peter Molnar   
Director of Middle East Operations/Project DirectorAllen & Shariff/Consortion International (ASCI)

Steve ThompsonCEOJohns Hopkins Medicine International

Dr. William RuschhauptChairman, Global Health Center
Cleveland Clinic

Dennis Yablonsky
CEO
Allegheny Conference on Community Development

The audience expected to attend:

Tom Brokaw, TV Journalist, Author, and former NBC anchor

His Royal Highness Prince Turki Al Faisal Bin Abdulaziz, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

His Excellency Dr. Mahmoud Gebril, former Prime Minister of Libya

His Excellency Dr. Salah Al Mazroua – Deputy Minister of Health, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

(Names Below are Listed Alphabetically)

Dr. Riad Armanious, Deputy Chairman & Managing Director of Eva Pharmaceutical Co. & Armanious Group

Dr. Enis Baris, The World Bank

Dr. Hossam Abu El Enein, Chairman of Sedico Pharmaceutical Co.

His Excellency Dr. Fouad El Nawawy, Former Minister of Health, Egypt (2011-2012)

Lutfi Fadel El Zein, Chairman and Director of The Mediterranean and Gulf Insurance Company P.L.C.

Dr. Sherine Helmy, CEO, Pharco Pharmaceutical

Dr. Ali M. Ibrahim, Secretary General of the Arab-Pharmacists Union

Dr. Makram Mehany, Chairman of The Industrial Pharmaceuticals Chamber & Chairman & Managing Director Of Makram Mehany Group Of Companies   

Dr. Maged El Minshawy, Chairman of Mana Pharm & Deputy Chairman of Egyptian Industrial Pharmaceuticals Chamber

Dr. Abdulla Moulokia, Chairman of European Pharmaceutical &  Board member of Egyptian Industrial Pharmaceuticals Chamber

Chancellor Mark Nordenberg, University of Pittsburgh

Dr. Osama El Saadi, Chairman of Benta Pharm & Board member of Egyptian Industrial Pharmaceuticals Chamber

Dr. Kamal Sabra, Former Assistant to Egyptian Minister of Health; Consultant

His Excellency Dr. Ismail Sallam, Former Minister of Health, Egypt (1996-2002) and Chair of AMEI Advisory Council
Conference Sponsors

Sponsorship Opportunitites

Hotel Accommodations

For more information on the Health Innovation Summit, visit the morning business conference page.

For more information on the Sponsor's Dinner & Evening Lecture, visit the Tom Brokaw page.

For more information on sponsorship and event details, please email: mhastings@americanmei.org READ FULL ARTICLE

GlobalPittsburgh Staffer Nadya Kessler Receives Fellowship to Attend One Young World Summit

GlobalPittsburgh staff member Nadya Kessler received a fellowship to participate in the One Young World Summit held Oct. 18-21, 2012 in Pittsburgh.

Nadya Kessler

Launched in London in 2010, One Young World is the premier global forum for young leaders from around the world and has been referred to as the “Young Davos” by CNN. The event attracted more than 1,300 delegates from more than 180 countries.

Kessler, a native of Russia who joined GlobalPittsburgh in September 2011 as Operations & Events Coordinator, was one of several people selected by the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh and the One Young World Pittsburgh Partnership to join the Pittsburgh delegation representing the region’s non-profit sector.

Winners of the fellowships were described by the One Young World Pittsburgh Partnership as “team players who demonstrate leadership potential, and who have the ability to grasp complex concepts and provide valuable insights, as well as a commitment to cultural diversity. They should show an interest in global affairs and in helping define Pittsburgh’s place in the world.”

Said Kessler: “Arriving in the United States as an international student from Russia, I was fascinated by the level of tolerance, respect and diversity I discovered in this country. I also realize that there is still much work to be done to a respect of diversity in the U.S. My efforts have aided international students and professionals to break down barriers and stereotypes that may impede the productiveness of partnerships in which they become involved. Participation will help me connect with young leaders from over 160 countries and foster these connections potentially turning them into the valuable partnerships involving the Pittsburgh community, colleges, and public and private organizations. I look forward to sharing my experiences and learning from my peers worldwide.”

Kessler, 28, was born in Astrakhan, Russia. She received a law degree from Astrakhan State University and worked as a legal administrator first for a private marine port and later for the federally owned JSC Russian Railroad System.

In 2008, Clark University in Worcester, MA, started a pilot program with Astrakhan State enrolling students in a Master’s of Public Administration program, which included the option to complete the last two semesters in the United States.

Kessler enrolled and received her MPA degree in 2009, and soon began working as a program coordinator at the International Center of Worcester, a member of the National Council for International Visitors, to which GlobalPittsburgh also belongs.

At ICW, Kessler designed and implemented professional programs and itineraries for participants in international training programs, including program organization, communications and logistics. She also assisted in oral interpretation and translation of written documents for professional exchange programs.

Kessler became a permanent resident of the United States in 2010. A year later she moved to Pittsburgh with her husband, Steve, a native Pittsburgher, and started working with GlobalPittsburgh. In May 2012 she took over management of GlobalPittsburgh’s homestay program and international membership program, which focuses on helping international students, scholars, visiting faculty and professionals adapt to American culture, integrating them into the Greater Pittsburgh region’s culture and communities, and encouraging the development of professional and personal relationships between international visitors and the people of Western Pennsylvania and Northern West Virginia.

During the Summit, Kessler will be posting updates on her Facebook and Twitter feeds using the hashtag #OYW2012, as well as on GlobalPittsburgh social network outlets. READ FULL ARTICLE

One Young World Youth Summit Opening in Pittsburgh Oct. 18; Bill Clinton to Deliver Keynote Address

Pittsburgh will host the third annual One Young World Summit, Oct. 18-22, which will bring together nearly 1,500 future leaders from 190 countries, making it one of the largest representations of countries other than the Olympics and United Nations.

In addition to President Bill Clinton's opening keynote address, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus and musician and social activist Bob Geldof will speak to the delegates about the challenges they face and the positive change and impact they can provide.

The Summit will serve as a platform for delegates, supported by world-renowned counselors, to address and identify solutions to the same issues that world leaders tackle every day – including global business, global health, education, sustainable development, leadership and governance, human rights and social business.

Delegate debates on global issues and resolutions for change, along with the results of an international survey of 20-29 year olds, will shed light on the views and attitudes of young people from around the world on issues ranging from obesity to education and politics.

Confirmed counselors, who will help guide delegates through three days of plenary sessions, are:

• Arianna Huffington –founder and CEO, Huffington Post 
• Bernard Kouchner–doctor, humanitarian, co-founder of Médecins Sans Frontières and Médecins du Monde
• Bob Geldof KBE –activist and musician 
• Fatima Bhutto –author 
• Imran Khan – politician 
• Jack Dorsey –Twitter co-founder 
• Jamie Oliver –chef, broadcaster and campaigner 
• Jimmy Wales –founder and CEO, Wikipedia 
• Joss Stone –musician 
• Muhammad Yunus–founder, Grameen Bank and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 
• Natalia Vodianova–model 
• Oscar Morales –campaigner, founder of One Million Voices Against The FARC 
• Pete Cashmore–founder and CEO, Mashable 
• Rahul Gandhi – politician and general-secretary of the Indian National Congress 

The Summit will also feature several special events, including:

• An opening ceremony held in Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts, set to the world-famous Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Children's Festival Chorus of Pittsburgh 
• A symbolic and culturally celebratory "Bridge Party" on Pittsburgh's Roberto Clemente Bridge 
• Breakout sessions held at the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning Nationality Rooms and in dozens of sites throughout Pittsburgh 
• A relaxed evening of "Home Dinners," where delegates will dine with city families, who will open their doors and hearts to One Young World 

This is the first time the Summit will be hosted in the U.S. The first two were held in London and Zurich respectively.

Agenda Highlights
Thursday Oct. 18, 2012
Opening Ceremony and Keynote Address 
Bridge Party for Delegates

Friday Oct. 19, 2012
Special Session: The Food Revolution with Jamie Oliver 
Special Speaker Session with Joss Stone
Plenary Session 1: Education with Pete Cashmore, James Chau and Elio Leoni-Sceti
Special Session: One Young World Social Business Fund with Muhammad Yunus
Plenary Session 2: Transparency and Integrity with Bob Geldof, Muhammad Yunus, Jack Dorsey, Jan Peter Balkenende and Paul Polman
Special Session: Women Up with Fatima Bhutto, Carole Stone, Natalia Vodianova, and Carolyn Miles

Saturday Oct. 20, 2012
Plenary Session 3: Global Health with Natalia Vodianova, Doug Richard, and James Chau
Plenary Session 4: Human Rights with Fatima Bhutto, Hans Reitz, and Christine Ockrent
"Home Dinners" with more than 120 Pittsburgh Families

Sunday Oct. 21, 2012
Plenary Session 5: Role of Global Business with Doug Richard, Carole Stone, Michael Hastings, Glenn Manoff and Will Hutton
Plenary Session 6: Leadership and Governance with Carole Stone, Michael Hastings, Bill Strickland of Pittsburgh and Kal Penn
Plenary Session 7: Sustainable Development
Closing Ceremony: Mayor of Pittsburgh presenting Host City Baton to Mayor of Johannesburg

More information on the Summit and opportunities for involvement with One Young World is available at OneYoungWorldPittsburgh.com and OneYoungWorld.com.

Source: One Young World  READ FULL ARTICLE

Universities in Pittsburgh and Ireland Sign Agreement to Pursue Cooperation Through Exchanges, Partnerships

Pittsburgh’s colleges and universities have once again extended their global outreach. The 10-member Pittsburgh Council on Higher Education (PCHE) and the 13-member Institutes of Technology Ireland (IOTI) have entered into an agreement to strengthen, promote and develop co-operation in education, training, research, and innovation among the member institutions.

Under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding approved by both organizations, the member institutions will promote co-operation in the following areas:

• Opportunities for students and graduates of PCHE institutions to pursue studies at the Irish Institutes (up to PhD level) and for students and graduates of IOTI institutions to pursue studies at the PCHE institutions (up to PhD level)
• Professional development of faculty and administrative staff 
• Faculty, student and administrative exchanges 
• Partnerships in innovation and applied research, including potential for joint research 
• Distance education 

IOTI is the representative body for 13 of Ireland’s Institutes of Technology, which are recognized as a major success story in Irish education. The Institutes of Technology operate a unique system in that they allow students to progress from two year (associate degree) programs through bachelor’s degree to master’s and Ph.D.

The 13 institutions, which are located throughout Ireland, offer a wide variety of academic programs, including the arts, sciences and business, with many of the institutes having particular expertise in the area of computer technology. The agreement between PCHE and IOTI is the first of its kind completed in the United States.

“This agreement between Pittsburgh’s higher education institutions and one of Ireland’s nationwide higher education systems is a testament to the quality and diversity of the institutions of higher education that make up PCHE,” said Kenneth Service, executive director of PCHE.

“It is also another example of how Pittsburgh’s colleges and universities are contributing to Pittsburgh’s growing reputation for excellence around the world.”

One of the particular strengths of the IOTI schools is their emphasis on supporting business development and commercializing research developments, Service said.

“This emphasis reflects a similar effort on the part of PCHE member institutions to contribute to economic development in the community,” he said. “This agreement offers opportunities for students from Ireland and the US, as well as potential benefits to the communities that are served by these institutions both here and in Ireland. We are proud to welcome the IOTI institutions as ongoing partners in contributing to a better world through education.”

Gerry Murray, CEO of IOTI, said: “This agreement is unique because it is ‘system to system’, rather than just an agreement between individual institutions. It represents an exciting opportunity for students from the Pittsburgh institutions to substantially broaden their education experience in Ireland, and for Irish students to enhance their education in the United States. I have no doubt that our respective students will strengthen what is already an enormous bond between our countries.”

The agreement is in effect and student exchanges are expected to begin as early as 2013.

The member Institutions of PCHE are: Carlow University, Carnegie Mellon University, Chatham University, Community College of Allegheny County, Duquesne University, La Roche College, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Point Park University, Robert Morris University, University of Pittsburgh.

The member institutions of IOTI are: Athlone Institute of Technology; Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown; Institute of Technology, Carlow; Cork Institute of Technology; Dundalk Institute of Technology; Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology; Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology; Letterkenny Institute of Technology; Limerick Institute of Technology; Institute of Technology, Sligo; Institute of Technology, Tallaght; Institute of Technology, Tralee; Waterford Institute of Technology.

Source: Pittsburgh Council on Higher Education READ FULL ARTICLE