GMID 2017 | Global Meetings Impact with Stephen Lewis
Leaders from across the meetings and events industry came together in support of the second annual Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) on April 6th, 2017.
This year the theme is “Face-to-Face, No Matter the Place.” You can follow the discussions throughout the day using #GMID17 or via this twitter search.
Whether it’s a morning team scrum in your office or participating as an audience member in an offsite ballroom of thousands, there’s an energy and a shared experience that only meeting face-to-face and sitting shoulder-to-shoulder can provide. There’s simply no substitute for that all-important handshake. Just take a look at the data:
Once again, we partnered with MPI to celebrate the occasion. We featured acclaimed Humanitarian Stephen Lewis at the Toronto Chapters’ #GMID17 event. A speaker who inspires, Mr. Lewis is heralded as Canada’s greatest living orator. He speaks with an unrivaled cadence, insight, passion and sense of humour. Mr. Lewis is one of the world’s most influential commentators on social affairs, international development and human rights. He has been named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world, in the category which included The Dalai Lama & Bill Gates.
Receiving a rousing standing ovation, Mr. Lewis was a hit with those in attendance. He immediately resonated with the audience by showcasing some of his trademark good-natured humour, before offering up a powerful and rousing look at hot-button humanitarian issues, women’s rights, climate change, and the opportunity for Canada to lead when it comes to voices of principle.
“Voices are tremendously powerful. A voice of uncompromising principle. That’s what we mean when we say Canada is back.”
– Stephen Lewis
“Canada has a voice of principle, of dignity. It’s time to use it. The world is in turmoil.”
Our Toronto team with Stephen Lewis after his presentation.
Each week, Mr. Lewis contributes his insights to AIDS-Free World, an organization he co-founded & co-directs, which is committed to speaking up for and with people affected by HIV and AIDS. As well as speaking out for the urgent and effective global action needed to subdue the pandemic.
His most recent video looks at the famine enveloping Yemen, South Sudan, Nigeria and Somalia, where he made a strong call for the powers-that-be to take action now: