Raffles Dialogue on the Future of Human Well-being and Security

The 2^nd and ^3rd of February marked the inauguration of the Raffles Dialogue on the Future of Human Well-Being and Security at the Raffles Hotel Singapore which saw over 200 attendees from 14 countries.

The Dialogue, chaired by Professor John Wong, Chief Executive of the National University Health System (NUHS), brought together many leading global thought- and opinion-leaders who deliberated on topics such as mitigating the ill-effects of globalisation, dealing with climate change and the health of the planet as a whole, developing effective and relevant technologies through a robust research endeavour, delivering quality healthcare and education, alleviating poverty and inequity, ensuring international cooperation and goodwill, and building effective global institutions which would provide strong governance.

The Dialogue was jointly organised by the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, the NUS Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP), the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health (SSHSPH) and NUHS. Graced by Mr Heng Swee Keat, the Minister for Education, Singapore, the event commemorated 2 significant occasions; the 110^th anniversary of NUS Medicine and the 10^th anniversary of the Mexico Ministerial Summit on Health Research.

Mr Pascal Lamy, President Emeritus, Notre Europe – Jacques Delors Institute, France, Former Director General of the World Trade Organization, kicked off the event with an engaging Opening Dinner Keynote Address on the mitigation of the ill-effects of globalisation. It was followed by a full day of lively and thought-provoking plenary lectures and discussion, in which eminent Local and International experts from academia, healthcare and business took the opportunity to share their insights.

Distinguished leaders including Dr Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief, The Lancet, Professor Eva Harris, the Director for the Center for Global Public Health, Professor Kelley Lee, Director of Global Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Canada and Professor Mari Pangestu, Professor of International Economics, Faculty of Economics, University of Indonesia, Former Minister for Trade, Indonesia, discussed topics in each of their domains.

Professor Kishore Mahbubani, Dean of NUS LKYSPP, led the conclusion of the Dialogue with a Roundtable Discussion, which saw a spirited discussions among the participants.