Leading global thinkers, government officials and intellectuals from the Arab region and around the world will take to the floor at the ninth edition of the International Government Communication Forum (IGCF) to present keynote speeches and partake in panel discussions to highlight best practices and emphasise the role of government communications in contributing to good governance.

10 keynote speeches by global leaders cutting across a spectrum of interests ranging from cross-cultural communication and creative vision to the public impact of messaging will be amongst the chief highlights of IGCF 2020, held from March 4-5 at the Expo Centre Sharjah. In addition, 20 interactive platforms touching upon all aspects of the vital role of innovatively shaped communication strategies will turn the spotlight on how to stay a step ahead of emerging technology disruptions and promote stronger engagement amongst all stakeholders.

Communications Chat 

The Forum will be preceded by a session titled "Communications Chat" on March 3, at the Al Majaz Amphitheater, with the participation of His Excellency Major General Saif Al Zari Shamsi, Commander in Chief of Sharjah Police,  His Excellency Dr Khalid Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Media City (Shams), His Excellency Marwan Al Sarkal, Executive Chairman of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), and Her Excellency Nada Askar Al-Naqbi, General Manager of Sharjah Women’s Sports Foundation, where participants will present their experiences in government communications, and the ability to build real partnerships with the public in a way that contributes to the development and advancement of society.

 

Day 1 (March 4) Keynote Speeches & Fireside Chat

Dr. Michio Kaku, popular science communicator, theoretical physicist and futurist, will deliver an interactive speech on ‘Communication: A Tool to Free the Powers of the Mind’. Delving into the mysteries of the human mind, the bestselling author will address the physical and mental health challenges caused by clinging on to acquired or inherited crippling beliefs and the substantial impact that changes in beliefs can have on the overall quality of people’s lives.

Other leading personalities who will kick off the forum’s proceedings with their global insights are: Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan, President and patron of the Arab Thought Forum, through a recorded video; HE Juan Manuel Santos, President of Colombia (2010-2018) and Nobel Peace Prize winner; and Z.E. Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, Founder and Chairman, Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global.

These introductory addresses will be followed by a Fireside Chat featuring internally acclaimed actor-producer, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who will speak on the huge influence of visual media on international public opinion moderated by Raya Abirached.

 

Panel Discussions      

Two eminent personalities in the field of culture, H.E. Irina Bokova, President of the Academy for Cultural Diplomacy, Director General of UNESCO (2009-2017), and H.E. Omar Saif Ghobash, Assistant Minister for Cultural Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, UAE, will steer conversations on cultural communication as an engine driving economic and social prosperity and strengthening reputation of nations. They will also discuss the impact of cross-cultural communication on culture itself.

In cooperation with The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF), a Sharjah-based global humanitarian charity dedicated to helping refugees and people in need worldwide, the audience at IGCF 2020 will hear the voices, perspectives, capacities and potential of the members at the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya who want to be the drivers of their own protection strategy and to directly contribute to the development of their communities. Moderated by a young refugee student, panellists at the session include the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) representative in Kenya; UNHCR Education Officer, Kakuma Sub-Office; Refugees’ Co-Chair at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2019; and a Kakuma refugee youth representative.

 

Brainstorming Sessions

Senior government officials will participate in two brainstorming sessions at IGCF 2020 with the participation of citizens from all walks of life and the youth to discuss several key ideas of communication.

 

H.E. Sheikh Fahim Bin Sultan Bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Executive Chairman of The Department of Government Relations, Chairman of Sharjah Supreme Committee for Digitalisation, and Ammar Taqi, Kuwaiti journalist and talk show host, will discuss the opportunities and challenges facing cross-cultural communication in the Arab world and call for innovative suggestions and ideas from the youth, government and media organisations in the session titled ‘Investing in Cultural Communication’.

 

Moderator Dr. Aysha Al Busmait, Director of the Government Communication Department, Federal Transport Authority – Land and Maritime, UAE, and Saad Abdullah Al Rubaiaan, Government Communication Advisor, Secretary General of Kuwait Business Council in Dubai, will examine the relationship between communication and well-being, and the role of communication in solving challenges faced by societies, and look to  finding attainable solutions together with a group of citizens.

Interactive Talks

Siham Cherif, news anchor and TV host of Sharjah TV, will emphasise how the transformation triggered by emerging technologies calls for a continuous modernisation of corporate communication practices across all sectors while Kris Bennett, Chief Learning Officer, Blockchain Training Alliance, USA, will look at how ‘Communication in the Block Chain Era’ are impacting customer engagement and customer relations.

 

Day 2 (March 5) Keynote Speeches & Fireside Chat

The proceedings on Day 2 of IGCF 2020 will commence with a keynote address by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, social activist, Governor General of Canada from 2005–10, and Secretary General of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie from 2014–18.

Renowned entrepreneur, life and business strategist, international speaker and author Moataz Mashal will deliver a motivational speech revealing strategies for individual transformation and identifying ways to keep the momentum towards a happy, positive, fulfilling life.

Charles Duhigg, a Pulitzer-prize winning American reporter and non-fiction author, will share his ideas on ‘The Power of Changing Habits’ which he says is one of the best-kept secrets of well-being. Highlighting some of the positive habits of globally successful organisations, he will explore the role of government communication in altering the habits of individuals and societies.

 

Interactive Discussions

H.E. Dr. Ines Abdel Daim, Minister of Culture, Egypt, will highlight the strong cultural communication strategies adopted by nations and why it is vital to preserving local cultures and correcting negative stereotypes. The session titled ‘Arab Culture in the Global Cultural Communication Race’ will also explore innovative ways to bridge the gap in terms of cultural understanding between east and west.

 

Mohtab Arabiat, Head of Digital Development, Astrolabs Academy, will emphasise the importance of incorporating communication skills within training agendas and performance indicators for all employees in an organisation to ensure that they share one identity, speak with a unified voice, and become active ambassadors of their organisations.

 

Gemmaine Walsh, Director of Communications Group at the Department for Education, UK, will highlight the British experience in adopting advanced technologies in the field of communication and in preparing for the age of machine learning in the session titled, ‘New Technologies Strengthening Communication: Is There Room for Humans?’.

 

Q&A Session

Are we on the brink of a serious environmental crisis? Can individuals really make a difference by altering lifestyle habits or practices? H.E. Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, UAE, and Dr. Rashid Alleem, Chairman, Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA), will lead this interactive panel discussion titled, ‘The Equation of Survival’, with members of the community to explore innovative communication and collaboration formats that need to be adopted to address the climate change risks.

 

Organised by the International Government Communication Centre, IGCC, a subsidiary of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, SGMB, the two-day forum will be held under the patronage of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. High-profile government officials, local and international government communication experts and industry leaders from across the world will congregate at this annual event.