MEDIA ADVISORY
For immediate release
James Laurence Balsillie, Co-CEO if Research in Motion, confirmed to speak at the UNEP FI Global Roundtable
Geneva, 7 March 2011 – James Laurence Balsille, the Co-CEO of Research in Motion, will be a keynote speaker at the UNEP FI Global Roundtable in Washington, DC. He will address the participants at the closing plenary, which will emphasize the key role of the private sector in the
next economy ahead of the 2012 Rio+20 Summit.
James Balsillie has held the position of Co-CEO of Research In Motion (RIM), producer of the world renowned BlackBerry wireless handheld system, since 1992. He is the founder and chair of the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), a world-class global research institute focused on the restructuring of international governance. Mr. Balsillie is also the founder of the Balsillie School of International Affairs (BSIA) and founding chair of the Canadian International
Council (CIC).
He is the only panel member representing the private sector in the UN High-level Panel of the UN Secretary-General on Global Sustainability (this panel was created by the UN Secretary General to formulate the way towards a sustainable future on a planet under increasing stress resulting from human activities). Mr. Balsillie graduated from the University of Toronto and the Harvard Graduate School of Business.
He is a Fellow of the Ontario Institute of Chartered Accountants and he holds numerous honourary doctorate degrees.
James Balsillie is the first keynote speaker to confirm his presence at the UNEP FI Global Roundtable, which will take place on 19-20 October 2011 in Washington. The Global Roundtable is a high-profile event, serving as a key platform for the financial sector to engage with UNEP FI Signatories, partner organizations, government, and broader stakeholders.
Bringing together around 600 industry leaders and policymakers just seven months ahead of the landmark United Nations Rio+20 Earth Summit, the Roundtable will deliver an inspiring, agendasetting programme. Building on previous successes in Cape Town, Melbourne, New York, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Frankfurt, the forthcoming UNEP FI Global Roundtable in Washington will be a perfect opportunity to set the plan for action on environmental, social and governance (ESG)
issues for the financial services and investment sector.