The Concordia Summit Announces Second Annual Forum Featuring Keynote Address From Former President Bill Clinton and Launch of Partnership With US-Afghan Women's Council

NEW YORK, Sept. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Advisory Board and Co-founders of The Concordia Summit (Concordia) today announced that the 2nd Annual Concordia Summit will be held on September 27, 2012 in New York at the Plaza Hotel. The summit will feature a keynote address by former U.S. President William J. Clinton. The Concordia Summit is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting public-private partnerships around pressing global issues. Concordia also announced a new partnership with the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council (USAWC) that will include the development of a 10-year strategic plan that will further ensure public and private investment in children's and women's initiatives in Afghanistan.

In addition to President Clinton, participants of this year's Concordia Summit will include United States Senator from Arizona, John McCain; founder of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast cancer organization, Nancy Brinker; former First Lady Laura Bush (appearing via video); The Deputy Prime Minister of Ireland and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Chairman-in-Office, Eamon Gilmore; fashion designer Donna Karan; The former Governor of New Jersey, Thomas Kean; the former President of Poland, Aleksander Kwasniewski; former United States Representative from California, Jane Harman; U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner, Margaret Hamburg; Chairman and CEO of the Libra Group, George Logothetis; Ambassador John Negroponte; President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili (appearing via video); former Homeland Security Advisor Frances Townsend and the former President of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe.

"In my time in and out of government, I have seen time and again the value of public-private partnerships," said President Clinton. "I look forward to contributing to the dialogue at this year's Summit."

"Public-private partnerships are essential to addressing international challenges and spurring economic and democratic growth abroad," said Senator John McCain. "I am honored to be a part of the discussion at this year's Summit and to celebrate Concordia's new partnership with the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council."

"The public and private sectors undoubtedly have the tools to spur significant change in our economic and social systems. However, meaningful change cannot be achieved independently. The co-dependent world we live in begs for solutions to issues through true collaboration between public and private entities," said Concordia Co-founder and Chairman Matthew A. Swift.

"We are honored to enter into a formal partnership with the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council, a prime example of the kind of initiative we at Concordia wish to promote and sustain," said Concordia Co-founder and Chairman Nicholas M. Logothetis.

"We eagerly anticipate this year's summit that will examine the growing importance of public-private partnerships. Building on the success of our inaugural summit, we hope to continue our focus on the many critical issues that beg for solutions through public-private cooperation," said Concordia Summit Advisory Board Member Frances Townsend, former Homeland Security Advisor to President George W. Bush.

"The U.S.- Afghan Women's Council is delighted to work together with Concordia to achieve women's full participation in society in Afghanistan.  The mission of Concordia is so synchronous with the public-private partnership goals of the Council and we are honored that such an effective and committed organization has chosen to partner with us," said Dr. Phyllis Magrab, Director of the Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development (GUCCHD) where the USAWC is based. 

In 2011, the inaugural Concordia Summit convened in New York City to examine the international fight against terrorism and the struggle to combat the breeding of extremist thought. Featuring former U.S. President George W. Bush, among others, the Summit laid the groundwork for the development of formal and strategic partnerships around the issue of extremism.

The 2012 Concordia Summit

This year's Summit will examine how public-private partnerships can help address challenges relating to Global Security, the Economy, Education, Environmental Sustainability and Health around the world. The diverse and experienced group of former and current corporate and government leaders will address and look for the most compelling elements of public-private cooperation in order to effectively address today's most pressing issues.

Please find information on the Summit and updates on speakers and the agenda here: http://www.theconcordiasummit.org/

U.S.-Afghan Women's Council

Created in 2002 with strong bi-partisan support by President George W. Bush and President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council (USAWC) is a public-private partnership in support of women and children's initiatives in Afghanistan. The USAWC is based at Georgetown University with leadership from the U.S. Department of State, the Afghan government, and Georgetown University. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former First Lady Laura Bush are among the many passionate supporters of the Council. Georgetown University President John J. DeGioia praised both women for their support and dedication during the Council's 10^th Anniversary Celebration in March 2012.

The Concordia Summit will facilitate and assist in the design and creation of a Corporate Council for the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council. This representative body of private sector leaders will support the Council through guidance and commitments to initiatives. Concordia will also design a 10-year strategic plan with the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council that will ensure a robust long-term strategy for private sector investment in programs in Afghanistan and the Middle East.

About The Concordia Summit:

The Concordia Summit is a non-profit organization seeking to promote public-private partnerships around pressing global issues. Each year The Concordia Summit hosts a forum of current and former world leaders, top officials from global corporations, and prominent non-governmental organizations to provide an intimate and thought-provoking conversation around the important elements to building effective public-private partnerships.

The Concordia Summit Advisory Board

• Alvaro Uribe, President of Colombia (2002-2010)
• Aleksander Kwasniewski, President of Poland (1995-2005)
• Dr Vaira Vike-Freiberga, President of the Republic of Latvia (1999-2007)
• John Negroponte, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State (2007-2009), United States Director of National Intelligence (2005-2007)
• Thomas Kean, Chairman of the 9/11 Commission (2002-2004) Governor of New Jersey (1982-1990)
• Dr. Paula Dobriansky, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs (2001-2009)
• Fran Townsend, Homeland Security Advisor to the President of the United States (2004-2007)
• HRH Prince Abdul-Aziz bin Talal bin Abdul-Aziz al Saud, Chairman of the Arab Open University Forum (2002-Present)
• Suwat Liptapanlop, Deputy Prime Minister, Thailand (2005-2008)
• Sheridan G. Snyder, Founder of Genzyme Corporation (1981)
• George M. Logothetis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Libra Group (2003-Present)
• Fernando Villalonga, Consul General of Spain in New York (2008-Present) Vice Mayor of Madrid (2012-Present)
• John Ullyot, Senior Vice President at Hill & Knowlton (2008-Present)

SOURCE The Concordia Summit