Programme

Originally from Monaco, the Sass Café pop-up in AlUla will be serving Mediterranean cuisine in a magical
surrounding.

Please arrive promptly in the lobby of the Shaden  Resort at 08:30.

H.H. Prince Badr Bin Abdullah Bin Farhan AlSaud, Minister of Culture and Governor of The Royal Commission for AlUla

Introduced by Richard Attias, Curator of the Hegra Conference of Nobel Laureates

In the northwest desert of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the region of AlUla has served as a crossroads of heritage and culture for thousands of years. The region’s goal of safeguarding its rich tradition of exchanging ideas and culture for future generations, while simultaneously evolving into modernity, typifies an ambition of global communities. By working to preserve their culture, history, and heritage, diverse nations and institutions aim to understand and protect their humanity.

• What can AlUla teach us about the transmission of ideas and heritage across generations?

• What is the definition of heritage, and is it universal or dynamic across time and geography?

• What are the intersections between preserving heritage and sustainable development, and how can global communities manage the sustainable transmission of their heritage and culture into the future?

Welcome remarks by:

• Audrey Azoulay, Director-General, UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Special remarks by:

• Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate & Founder, Grameen Bank

Facilitator: Juliette Foster, Journalist, Broadcaster, and Entrepreneur

Transmission is a fundamental principle of life. It allows us to bridge the past with the present to respectfully build a future that pays homage to our past.

• How do we preserve our heritage and ensure its sustainable transmission in a globalised world characterised by rapid and systemic changes?  
• What forces endanger the preservation of heritage? How can we mitigate these forces?
• Does the rise of technology, the increased pace of exchange, and the expansion of connectivity curtail the role of heritage, or does it provide means for sustainable transmission of heritage to future generations?

Nobel Mentors: 

• Rigoberta Menchú, 1992 Nobel Peace Laureate & Human Rights Activist, Rigoberta Menchú Tum Foundation

• Lord David Trimble, 1998 Nobel Peace Laureate & Member of the House of Lords, Government of the United Kingdom

Contributors:

• H.R.H. Princess Dana Firas, President of the Petra National Trust Board & UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Cultural Heritage

• Isaac Applbaum, Founding Partner, MizMaa Ventures

• Khaled Azzam, Director of The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts & Royal Commission for AlUla Board of Directors

• Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, Former French Minister of Culture and President of RDDV Partner

• Valéry Freland, Executive Director, ALIPH Foundation

• Nada Hosking, Executive Director, Global Heritage Fund

• Gerard J. Inzerillo, Chief Executive Officer, Diriyah Gate Development Authority

• Deborah Lehr, Founder, Chairman & Board of Directors, Antiquities Coalition

• George Richards, Head of Heritage Programmes, Art Jameel

• Ambassador Josette Sheeran, President & CEO, Asia Society

Host: H.R.H. Prince Turki AlFaisal AlSaud, Chairman of the Board, King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Facilitator: Tanya Beckett, Journalist & Broadcaster, BBC 
 

Higher levels of gender equality are associated with a lower propensity for inter- and intrastate conflict, and the participation of civil society groups, including women’s organisations, makes peace agreements more likely to endure over time. In working towards a stronger future, we must learn from past examples of sustainable negotiation and reconciliation processes. Empowering girls and women to be decision-makers in political processes is an essential driver of sustainable development.

• What role does inclusion play in establishing peace? What unique role do women play? 

• Why is it important to involve women in conflict prevention and resolution processes?

• How can communities and nations encourage more women to become leaders? 

Featuring: Leymah Roberta Gbowee, 2011 Nobel Peace Laureate & President, Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa (GPFA) 

Current development models have pushed our global ecosystems to their limits: the last decade was the warmest one on record and one eighth of the world’s species are at risk of extinction over the coming decades. The scale of such crises makes it impossible to dissociate heritage from environment. 2020 will be a critical year for how we decide to address these challenges. Whether we succeed will in large part determine how we are remembered.

• How are current environmental crises affecting our ability to preserve human heritage?

• What can heritage efforts teach us when it comes to protecting global environmental commons?

• How will future generations look back on us if we fail to address our global environmental challenges?

Nobel Mentors:

• Mario J. Molina, 1995 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry & Professor, Mario Molina Center

Contributors:

• Kerry Adler, President & CEO, SkyPower Global

• Khaled M. Al-Aboodi, Board Member, Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company

• Abdullah Aldubaikhi, CEO, Bahri

• Gérard Mestrallet, Executive Chairman, French Agency for AlUla Development

• Mounir Neamatalla, Founder, Siwa Sustainable Development Initiative

• Johan Ernst Nilson, Adventure Activist

• Najat Aoun Saliba, Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Nature Conservation Center at the American University of Beirut

Facilitator: Juliette Foster, Journalist, Broadcaster, and Entrepreneur

Science is one of the fundamental ways through which we attempt to make sense of the world around us. It enables us to identify and understand the building blocks of nature, thus contributing to building a truly universal heritage. Through international collaboration and innovation, it also changes our own individual cultures. 

• Is there a national cultural dimension to the way scientists undertake fundamental research? 

• How are connectivity and new technologies like AI changing the way we pursue fundamental research in science?  

• In a world characterised by rapid technological change, what should governments and institutions do to further empower fundamental scientific research and discovery?

Nobel Mentors:

• Serge Haroche, 2012 Nobel Laureate in Physics & Professor Emeritus, Collège de France 

• Roger D. Kornberg, 2006 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, Winzer Professor in Medicine and Professor of Structural Biology, Stanford University

• Gerardus ‘t Hooft, 1999 Nobel Laureate in Physics, Utrecht University

• Kurt Wüthrich, 2002 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zürich

Contributors:

• Khalid Abdullah Alhazani, Director of the Architectural Projects Program, Royal Commission for Riyadh City

• Mishaal Ashemimry, Aerospace Engineer and Founder, MISHAAL Aerospace

• Rajaâ Cherkaoui El Moursli, Professor, Mohammed V University in Rabat & Resident Member, Hassan II Academy of Science and Technology

• William A. Haseltine, Chair and President, ACCESS Health International

• Georgiy L. Stenchikov, Director of Earth Science and Engineering Program, KAUST

• Thaisa Storchi Bergmann, Astrophysicist, Member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and TWAS, and Recipient of the 2015 L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award 

• Hosam M. Zowawi, Asst. Professor of Clinical Microbiology, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Honorary Fellow, Queensland Center for Clinical Research

Host: Yasmin A. Altwaijri, Senior Scientist, Epidemiologist, Visiting Fellow, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Harvard Medical School

Facilitator: Tanya Beckett, Journalist & Broadcaster, BBC

Globalisation, technological advancements, and cultural shifts have exposed deep cracks in the systems and institutions that underpin global economic growth. This Spotlight will discuss two Nobel Laureates’ economic research, including implications on present-day societies and their views on the future of economics and finance in our evolving and globalising world.

• In what ways does the current financial system fail to support the long-term needs of humanity, and how can it be amended?

• How do generational cultural shifts, such as changing work practices, impact the evolution of economic theories, and ultimately the way in which economists view the world?

• In the age of exponential technological change, how are traditional economic theories and principles evolving?

Featuring:

• Robert C. Merton, 1997 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences, John and Natty McArthur University Professor Emeritus, Harvard University, School of Management Distinguished Professor of Finance, MIT Sloan School of Management, MIT - Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• Sir Christopher Pissarides, 2010 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences, LSE – London School of Economics and Political Sciences

Facilitator: Juliette Foster, Journalist, Broadcaster, and Entrepreneur

Presentations from Hegra’s leading experts will provide participants with unique insights into one of the world’s most fascinating UNESCO sites.

• Khaled Azzam, Director of The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts & Royal Commission for AlUla Board of Directors

DIALOGUE 1 - CARE FOR ALL: ACCESSIBILITY & SUSTAINABILITY WITHIN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

We are in an era of extraordinary discovery and excitement in medical science. However, much of the world remains beset by a range of infectious diseases, which are exacerbated by disparate access to healthcare. Rates of chronic diseases – diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular disease, cancer – continue to rise.

• How can we find a balance between the technological improvements and the need for medicine to keep the human being at the centre of all concerns?

• Are there ways in which we can bring the results of medical science more rapidly to all the world’s populations, including rural communities?

• What systemic and behavioural changes need to occur to improve health around the globe?

Facilitator: William A. Haseltine, Chair and President, ACCESS Health International

DIALOGUE 2 - GROWING THE MARKET: UTILISING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT

We know that as the global population rapidly expands, the demand for food will naturally increase. Yet, the key resource that is central to the production of food – land – is under severe pressure and demand. Agriculture will need to evolve and adapt new systems if it is to sustain tomorrow’s global population. From permaculture to plantation farming, agriculture will remain central to many economies across the world, especially those that do not have developed manufacturing and processing industries.

• Modern farming and water preservation: can we ensure that our economic systems allow for innovation and prosperity?
• Socioeconomic impact: will the market provide for social and human development?
• How can environmentally conscious policies be introduced without stifling growth within the economy?

Facilitator: Stéphane Forman, Agriculture Director for the French Agency for AlUla Development (AFALULA)

DIALOGUE 3 - TRADE & MOBILITY: THE VALUE OF CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL & ECONOMIC EXCHANGE 

In today’s modern world, international relations and trade greatly impact every state in some form. Both the trade of capital goods and the free movement of individuals from state to state can help spur and develop the culture of a particular nation and international breakthroughs. Through tourism and hospitality, a specific nation’s culture and heritage can be actively explored and treasured, which proves to be immensely beneficial. 

• How can we ensure the transmission not only of goods, but also our culture and ideas?

• How have the ways in which ideas and values are shared amongst societies evolved over time, and what challenges do modern technologies pose?

• What are the roles and responsibilities of educators, universities and international institutions in these exchanges?

Facilitator: Ambassador Josette Sheeran, President & CEO, Asia Society

DIALOGUE 4 - BRINGING HISTORY BACK TO LIFE: USING THE PAST TO INFORM THE FUTURE 

Powered by the ALIPH Foundation

AlUla’s unique terrain hides a rich array of ancient mythologies built throughout its rocky reaches. History and culture, human and nature, life and death – these concepts are all inscribed into this expanded landscape, which, until recently, has remained largely unexplored. So, how do we look to AlUla and other heritage sites to understand the impact of culture on development? 

• What should the relationship between culture and development be?

• How can we utilise today’s technological communication channels to bring ancient heritage into the modern world?

• How can cultural tourism be a force for human-centric economic growth?

Facilitator: Valéry Freland, Executive Director, ALIPH Foundation

AlUla is a place of extraordinary natural and human heritage. The landscape includes a lush oasis valley and spectacular sandstone mountains that have fundamentally influenced thousands of years of human history. Hegra was the principal southern city of the Nabataean Kingdom. Its tomb facades represent some of the best examples of Nabataean architecture and the many inscriptions provide important clues to past cultures, peoples and languages. Current research suggests Hegra is the most southern known outpost of the Roman Empire. This history will be presented by UNESCO experts, worldwide known historians and curators.

Please arrive promptly in the lobby of the Shaden Resort at 08:00.

Moving towards cooperation and a shared future

Throughout history, rarely has a civilisation been able to avoid at least some element of division, strife, or conflict. However, history has also shown us how the leadership and courage of remarkable individuals can break the cycles of violence and chart new paths towards unity and reconciliation. Nobel Peace Laureates who have achieved stability in their respective nations will come together to discuss how leaders and citizens alike can work together to make a more peaceful world.

• How can we strengthen the relationships between communities and nations, to ensure that our global heritage is preserved and sustained?

• What does it take to achieve meaningful and lasting reconciliation among populations, and prevent the transmission of hostile grudges and conflicts from one generation to the next?

• How can we promote the long-term benefits of cooperation and unity over short-term interests?

Nobel Mentors:

• Ambassador Sergio Duarte, 1995 Nobel Peace Laureate, Brazilian Foreign Service

• Lord David Trimble, 1998 Nobel Peace Laureate & Member of the House of Lords, Government of the United Kingdom

• President Lech Wałęsa, 1983 Nobel Peace Laureate and Former President of Poland, Lech Wałęsa Institute Foundation

Contributors:

• Bawa Jain, Secretary General of the World Council of Religious Leaders and Founder-President of the Centre for Responsible Leadership

• Deborah Lehr, Founder, Chairman & Board of Directors, Antiquities Coalition

Host: H.E. Dr. Abdullah A. Al Rabeeah, Advisor – Royal Court & Superviser General, King Salman Humanitarian Aid & Relief Centre

Facilitator: Juliette Foster, Journalist, Broadcaster, and Entrepreneur

DIALOGUE 1 - DEBATING THE THEORETICAL PRINCIPLES OF SCIENTIFIC ADVANCEMEN

Innovation is one of the most powerful drivers of evolution. With the development of technology, big data, artificial intelligence, and how we gather information, the 21st century is experiencing unprecedented change, which naturally poses questions to our core values. If not managed accordingly, this revolution of technology may threaten our principles and previous methods of achieving success.

• Are bioethics and techno-ethics universal or culture-specific?

• Do we have a moral duty to explore and continue to understand the world we live in if potential advancement could cross ethical barriers?

• What are the biggest threats posed by the big data & AI revolution? And what are the biggest opportunities that stem from this growth?

Facilitator: Tanya Beckett, Journalist & Broadcaster, BBC

DIALOGUE 2 - DEBATING THE THEORETICAL PRINCIPLES OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION In a fast-moving and globalising world defined by nuanced political shifts, international relations have never been as central in the global perception as they are today. Due to the diversity amongst nations and ever-increasing globalisation impacting these diverse societies, we must discuss how ethics and international relations currently interact, and how they should interact in generations to come.

• How is globalisation impacting international relations?

• How can we rethink international relations in order to build a more sustainable and cooperative global environment?

• How can societies fight against corruption? Is more transparency always for the better?

Facilitator: Bawa Jain, Secretary General of the World Council of Religious Leaders and Founder-President of the Centre for Responsible Leadership

DIALOGUE 3 - DEBATING THE THEORETICAL PRINCIPLES OF HERITAGE PRESERVATION

Powered by the Antiquities Coalition

Efforts to preserve heritage and encourage the sustainable transmission of heritage across generations raise essential questions. While international law views cultural rights as a human right, it provides few answers to what happens when the cultural rights of one group conflict with those of another, individuals, the state, or the international community. This disconnect has led to an increasing number of seemingly intractable disputes over who owns or controls cultural resources, especially ancient, historic, or sacred sites and objects. This Interactive Dialogue will explore questions regarding the ethical study, preservation, and management of such tangible heritage around the world.

• Should the preservation of heritage be a local prerogative, a national prerogative, a global institutional prerogative, or a private entity prerogative? Who decides what cultural heritage is and who controls it?

• How can we work towards preserving heritage while respecting the rights of communities, groups, and individuals whose heritage is being studied? How can the State ensure equal access to heritage for all their citizens and those of the world?

• What balance can be found between practices that can both preserve and threaten heritage, from the art market, to museums, to tourism?

Facilitator: Deborah Lehr, Founder, Chairman & Board of Directors, Antiquities Coalition

DIALOGUE 4 - DEBATING THE THEORETICAL PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Climate change and issues related to sustainability comprise one of the largest challenges our world is facing today. As discussions of sustainability have broadened, especially with the introduction of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we must discuss the ethical implications of sustainability interventions implemented in national and international policy.

• Who is really accountable for making our world more sustainable? What can governments and societies do to raise awareness about sustainability?

• Is it possible to change the habits and minds of global citizens towards more sustainable behaviours without any coercion?

• How is environmental sustainability linked with fighting inequality and exclusion?

Facilitator: Sir Martin Sorrell, Executive Chairman, S4 Capital

How to create lasting national fraternity

In 2013, the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet, a consortium of four civil society organisations, united to serve as central mediators in the process of establishing dialogue in a crisis-afflicted nation. This Spotlight will explore what individuals and societies can learn from the coalition’s success in creating a sustainable dialogue and building a pluralistic society in Tunisia.

• What techniques enabled you to establish your legitimacy and convince the administration and public of your ideas during the negotiation process?

• What is the importance of having local decision-makers in sustainable dialogue processes?

• How can leaders in generations to come learn from history and your best practices to build peaceful and fair nations?

Featuring the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet:

• Minister Mohamed Fadhel Mahfoudh, 2015 Nobel Peace Laureate, Former Minister of Constitutional Bodies, Civil Society and Human Rights of Tunisia & Former President, Tunisia Order of Lawyers

• Hassine Abbassi, 2015 Nobel Peace Laureate and Former Secretary General, UGTT - Tunisian General Labour Union

• Abdessattar Benmoussa, 2015 Nobel Peace Laureate and Ombudsman of Tunisia

• Ouided Bouchamaoui, 2015 Nobel Peace Laureate and President, Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA)

Facilitator: François Gouyette, French Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia & Former French Ambassador to Tunisia

Our responsibility to the next generation

The pressing problems of the world are well-known: incurable disease, climate change, food insecurity, social and economic inequalities, and more. As we look toward the future, the leaders of today must collaborate with the leaders of tomorrow to develop a clear vision to overcome these obstacles. Understanding and appreciating our history and culture while sustainably sharing it with new generations is crucial to improving the state of humanity.

• How can we learn from previous generations, and ensure that we continue to build upon the wisdom that they accumulated?

• How can understanding our past help us to overcome our greatest challenges and build a sustainable future?

• How can we create spaces and opportunities for young people to participate in the decisions that will inevitably impact them?

Nobel Mentors:

• Roger D. Kornberg, 2006 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, Winzer Professor in Medicine and Professor of Structural Biology, Stanford University

• Finn Kydland, 2004 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara

• Rigoberta Menchú, 1992 Nobel Peace Laureate & Human Rights Activist, Rigoberta Menchú Tum Foundation

• Sir Christopher Pissarides, 2010 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences, LSE – London School of Economics and Political Sciences

• Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate & Founder, Grameen Bank

Contributors:

• Hisham Ali Albahkali, CEO, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, General Electric

• Walid Almurshed, Head of IFC Saudi Arabia, Principal in the Middle East and North Africa Department and Member of the World Bank Group

• Abdullah Al Rukban, Head of Urban Development, High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh

• Charles Fadel, Founder and Chairman, Center for Curriculum Redesign

• Rayan Mohammed Fayez, Managing Director and CEO, Banque Saudi Fransi

• Karen Graham, Emeritus Professor, Glyndŵr University

• Dayle Haddon, Founder & CEO, Women One

• Carlo Ratti, Professor & Director, SENSEable City Lab, MIT - Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• Marc Waters, Managing Director, UK, Ireland, Middle East, and Africa, HPE - Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Host: Badr AlBadr, CEO, Misk Foundation

Facilitator: Tanya Beckett, Journalist & Broadcaster, BBC

Amr AlMadani, Chief Executive Officer, Royal Commission for AlUla