LOS ANGELES - Pulling the most current issues from today's headlines, the Milken Institute Global Conference will bring together the world's leaders in business, finance, education, health, philanthropy and public policy on April 28-30 for an in-depth look at today′s markets and social challenges.
One of the premier intellectual events of 2008, this year′s conference at the Beverly Hilton sold out early, drawing 3,000 registrants from 57 countries. Some 470 panelists will appear on more than 130 discussion-based panels, true to the Global Conference's mission of creating open, candid dialogues.
Now in its 11th year, the conference will focus on global credit markets and the dramatic changes occurring in global finance and regional economies. In addition, panelists will explore developments and trends in energy and climate change; the education reforms needed to prepare tomorrow′s work force; and pressing issues in health care and medical research.
Speaker highlights:
- Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California
- Eric Schmidt, Chairman and CEO of Google Inc.
- Muhammad Yunus, winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize
- Andre Agassi, Tennis Champion
- Sam Zell, Chairman and President of Equity Group Investments LLC
- Max Azria, Chairman, CEO and Designer of BCBGMaxAzria Group Inc.
- Maria Bartiromo, Anchor of CNBC′s "Closing Bell with Maria Bartiromo"
- Leon Black, Founding Partner of Apollo Advisors LP
- Andrew Lack, Chairman of Sony BMG Music Entertainment
- T. Boone Pickens, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist; Founder of BP Capital
- Ed Goren, President of Fox Sports
- Lady Barbara Thomas Judge, Chairman of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
- Quincy Jones, Producer and Composer
- Peter Orszag, Director of the Congressional Budget Office
- Viviana Araneda, Trade Commissioner, Chile
- Craig Donohue, CEO of CME Group
- Kenneth Griffin, Founder, President and CEO of Citadel Investment Group LLC
- John Cleese, Comedian, Writer, Actor and Producer
- Peter Chernin, President and Chief Operating Officer of News Corporation
- Janet Lamkin, California State President of Bank of America Corporation
- Four Nobel laureates in economics: Gary Becker, Edmund Phelps, Myron Scholes, and A. Michael Spence
Sessions include:
- Milken Institute Chairman Mike Milken opens the 2008 Global Conference with a panel on the current state of credit markets.
- Leading real estate investors, including Sam Zell, look for signs that the real estate bottom has already been reached and how the future will shape up.
- NAFTA gets a full airing by a panel with senior trade officials from Canada, Mexico and the United States.
- Gary Becker, Eli Broad, Roy Romer and Lowell Milken take part in a straightforward discussion about the lagging state of education in the United States, its impact on competitiveness and how to inject this crucial issue into the presidential campaign.
- Maria Bartiromo of CNBC talks with Leon Black, Thomas Lee and other major players in private equity.
- Top competitors from Wall Street engage in a frank discussion about the state of the investment banking industry.
- Key experts tackle the provision of health care to the developing world, looking to new business models that combine the data needs of researchers with microfinance techniques at the point of delivery.
- On-the-ground practitioners look at the profound current and potential effects of 1.5 billion people in China and India moving to urban centers.
- Muhammad Yunus, Eric Schmidt and Craig Venter tackle the notion of creating global prosperity through innovation and discovery.
- Clean and safe water is becoming increasingly scarce in many parts of the world. Industry leaders will look at the looming global fight for this resource.
- Regulatory experts, energy producers and scientists look at how to wean the world off its oil addiction.
The 2008 Milken Institute Global Conference has 76 sponsors, including foundations, private-sector firms, international governments and our underwriters — Credit Agricole Group, Crestwood Pacific Group and Guggenheim Partners.
For complete information about the Global Conference, including a full program and an up-to-date list of all speakers, visit www.milkeninstitute.org.
Note to media: Credentialed members of the press wishing to cover the 2008 Global Conference must use the media registration form on the web site′s registration page. Please note that you are not registered until your application has been approved and you receive confirmation.