17 Global Goals- Uniting for a Sustainable World on Mandela Day

TEDxJohannesburg, supported by the United Nations in South Africa, the Nelson Mandela Foundation, and the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), brings you an unforgettable lineup of speakers and performers sharing ideas around the world's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

This inspired partnership, harnessing the strengths of TEDxJohannesburg's idea-sharing platform, GIBS’ expertise in leadership and strategy, the United Nations in South Africa's regional strategic interventions and advocacy, and the Nelson Mandela Foundation's enduring legacy, was crafted to amplify voices and catalyse action. These goals provide a roadmap for addressing pressing global challenges and promoting sustainability as we approach the 2030 target. The event comes two months before world leaders descend on the UN HQ to attend The Summit of the Future to forge a new international consensus on “how we deliver a better present and safeguard the future.”

TEDxJohannesburgSalon: 17 Global Goals takes place on Nelson Mandela International Day, Thursday, 18 July 2024, from 8:30 am to 4 pm at GIBS.

The day promises to be an extraordinary affair, with four sessions featuring 17 changemakers - experts, thinkers, and doers - who will share their experiences, insights, and solutions for embracing, advancing, and embodying the 17 goals. The programme will open with a partners’ panel discussion, followed by an eclectic mix of speakers, artists, and performers from the partnership's extensive local and regional networks. Each champion will explore the theme through the lens of a specific goal. Together, through talks, poetry, music, and art, they will illuminate the limitless potential in the intersections, connections, and transitional spaces between them.

Expect the quintessential TEDxJohannesburg experience - a dynamic mix of incisive, fast-paced talks infused with profound wisdom, interspersed with moments of levity, and underpinned by a foundation of innovation. In true TED style, be prepared to have your mind challenged and expanded on issues at the heart of our survival.

Each of us has the power to shape our world and our shared future through the ideas we embrace and the actions we take. This responsibility, this opportunity, is firmly in our hands. Let's embrace it and cherish it. Together, let's ignite possibility and move towards a better world.

PROGRAMME

TEDxJohannesburgSalon: 17 Global Goals

8:30 am  - 4 pm | Thursday, 18 July 2024 | GIBS, Illovo

07:30 – 08:30 | Registration

08:30 – 09:15 | Panel Discussion: Unified Action

Musical/Poetry Performance

Nelson Muffuh – UN Resident Coordinator, South Africa

Verne Harris – Acting CEO, Nelson Mandela Foundation

Tanya Dos Santos-Ford – Sustainability leader, GIBS adjunct faculty

Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa – CEO of Naspers SA

09:15 – 09:30 | Conversation Break

09:30 – 11:00 | Session 1: Seeds of Hope

Lebohang Liepollo Pheko | SDG 1  

Wandile Sihlobo – Agricultural visionary reshaping our food systems | SDG 2

Shudufhadzo Musida – Mental health champion breaking stigmas | SDG 3

Musical/Poetry Performance

Michelle Lissoos – Revolutionising education through technology | SDG 4  

Yaya Mavundla – Trailblazing activist redefining inclusivity | SDG 5  

11:00 – 11:15 | Conversation Break

11:15 – 12:45 | Session 2: Empowered Communities

Ferrial Adam – Eco-warrior safeguarding our precious water resources | SDG 6

Linda Mabhena-Olagunju – Powering Africa's green energy revolution | SDG 7

Bongani Sithole – Catalysing the next generation of African innovators | SDG 8  

Musical/Poetry Performance

Miriam Altman – Strategic economist shaping Africa's future | SDG 9

Nkuli Boikhutso – Healthcare leader providing accessible pediatric care | SDG 10  

12:45 – 13:45 | Lunch

13:45– 15:45 | Session 3: Harmonious Stewardship

James Delaney – Transforming urban spaces into vibrant communities | SDG 11

Jackie May – Weaving sustainability into the fabric of our lives | SDG 12  

Adam Welz – Championing global conservation efforts | SDG 13  

Zandile Ndhlovu – Diving deep for ocean equity and awareness | SDG 14  

Nirox Sculpture Park – Art haven enriching cultural landscapes | SDG 15  

Tessa Dooms – Igniting the flames of democracy | SDG 16  

Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi – | SDG 17  

15:45 – 18:00 | Networking