After we successfully collaborated during the Performance Theatres in Venice and Beijing we are delighted that Eni now officially is a partner of the Foundation, joining our existing partners Det Norske Veritas (DNV), Gazprom Export, MasterCard, Royal Dutch Shell, Tata Group and Telenor Group. Our partners are a driving force in what we aim to achieve: to inspire business leaders to realise a new kind of growth.  

A leading integrated energy company operating in oil and gas exploration, production, transportation, transformation and marketing and in electricity generation, petrochemicals, oilfield services construction and engineering, Eni is active in 79 countries with approximately 80,000 employees. The company is listed on the Milan and New York Stock Exchanges and currently has a market capitalisation of $85 billion.

While Eni is a company committed to growth, it guarantees the sustainability of its activities through a process model that cuts across all corporate functions, is innovative and realises long-term objectives. In a conversation with the Director of Columbia University’s Earth Institutee, Eni’s CEO Paolo Scaroni said: “I really believe that companies justify their existence only if they are looking for the long-term benefit of the society which they operate

MasterCard is a global payments and technology company. It operates the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone.

“MasterCard is present in 210 countries and territories around the world.” Ajay Banga, President and Chief Executive Officer of MasterCard, said in an interview with Leaders magazine:  “We recognize that being part of the local fabric in these markets carries the responsibility of being seen as not just doing well in running our business, but also doing good for the communities in which we live and work.” You can read the full interview here.

Ajay Banga, President and Chief Executive Officer of MasterCard (r) with Osvald Bjelland, Vice-Chairman of the Performance Theatre Foundation, at the Performance Theatre 2011 in Beijing, China.



Before leading the Gates foundation’s global external communications team, Hillman ran the BBC’s Business and Economics Department at a time when the broadcaster won numerous awards for the depth and quality of its business coverage. He worked as a journalist for over 17 years living in Washington, New York, Brussels, Hong Kong and Singapore, as well as covering events in the MiddleEast.
Hillman will make a valuable contribution to the ILA committee. Other members are:

• Geoff Colvin (chair), Senior Editor-at-Large, FORTUNE Magazine
• Dr Michael Nobel, Chairman, Nobel Family Society
• Sven Mollekleiv, President, Norwegian Red Cross and Director, Corporate Relations and CSR, Det Norske Veritas

Each year since 2006, the Performance Theatre Foundation has bestowed the Inspired Leadership Award upon a global business pioneer – an exemplary leader who is helping to steer the world to a better future. Read more about previous recipients here.

In 2011, the world has seen volatile markets, political uprisings, and natural disasters. In the midst of this, a wave of possibility is rising. New democracies are taking shape across the globe, and digital communication and social networking are transforming the way we live. However, this has resulted in countless strands of discordant voices sharing information based on closed circles of trust.

Words have the ability to direct this new wave to create shared global trust. But they must be anchored firmly in the semantics of common language to enable the world to truly envision its future sustainable growth. Through voices, stories, music and other shared languages we can help to harness the power of this wave to truly carry us forward.

It’s time to question, discuss and reflect. It’s time to illuminate a new kind of growth. And it is time to do so in London – a melting pot of industries, people and ideas.

From June 15-16, the Performance Theatre 2012 will explore all of these issues and more. It will gather together approximately 135 business leaders, politicians, Nobel Prize winners, renowned academics, authors, social innovators and inspirational sportspeople from all corners of the globe to address the challenges that face global business over the next 3-6 years.

The programme covered wide ground. Taking as our starting point the recently approved 12th Five-Year Plan, we explored China’s role in building a new growth paradigm, equipped to deliver us through the challenges of the 21st century – from climate change to population growth.

Click here to find out more about The Performance Theatre in Beijing.

The rebirth of growth – China’s Role

Taimiao

On 16-17 June 2011, The Performance Theatre met in Beijing – its first time in China, the world’s most talked-about country. True to the theatre’s tradition we met in some of Beijing’s most interesting venues – the Great Hall of the People, the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse and Taimiao, the former Imperial Ancestral Palace. The programme covered wide ground. Taking as our starting point the recently approved 12th Five-Year Plan, we explored China’s role in building a new growth paradigm, equipped to deliver us through the challenges of the 21st century – from climate change to population growth.

A new kind of growth calls for a new set of values. Clearly these values need to support a more sensible approach to the use of global resources. But to mobilise the global effort the job calls for, these values need also to be collaborative in essence, drawing on our common interests and harnessing our relative cultural strengths – whether that be China’s precision or the West’s capacity for innovation and exploration.

Who was there?

Ajay Banga, President and CEO of MasterCard

Chinese business also had a strong presence. This group featured Zhang Ruimin of Haier Group, Dr Shi Zhenrong of Suntech Power, and Yuan Guang-yu of China National Offshore Oil Corporation.

And speakers and participants from the rest of the world included Paul Polman of Unilever, Ajay Banga of MasterCard, Jeremy Bentham of Shell, Marco Alvera of eni, Matt Wang of IBM and Merit Janow of the Nasdaq Exchange. The contribution of Kai-Fu Lee, Chairman and CEO of Innovation Works, was a big highlight for many.

Have a closer look

• To find out more about our speakers and sessions, have a browse through the programme.
• Some speakers have made their speaking notes available:
  • Read Lord Browne of Madingley’s opening remarks
  • Read Dr Osvald M. Bjelland’s opening remarks
• Watch a short video from TPT Beijing below:

The Inspired Leadership Award

A centrepiece of each Performance Theatre is the presentation of the Inspired Leadership Award. The ILA recognises global business pioneers who combine outstanding business performance with values and behaviours that sustain and strengthen the human and natural environments in which they operate.

The 2011 winner of the ILA was Zhang Ruimin, CEO of Haier Group. He accepted the award at the MasterCard gala dinner at Taimiao, the Imperial Ancestral Temple in Beijing.

Click here to read why the award committee chose Mr Zhang.

Thanks to

We are very grateful to all our partners and contributors DNV, eni, Gazprom, MasterCard, Shell, Suntech, Tata Sons, Telenor Group and Unilever for their support.

The ILA recognises individuals whose personal leadership has generated more sustainable and socially responsible business practices, elevated ethical standards in business, and set an example for other organisations and individuals to emulate.

The award committee

• Geoff Colvin (chair), Senior Editor at Large, FORTUNE Magazine
• Sven Mollekleiv, Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Relations & Corporate Social Responsibility, Det Norske Veritas and President of Norwegian Red Cross
• Michael Nobel, Chairman of the Nobel Charitable Trust
• Jeremy Hillman, Director of External Communications, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Award Criteria

• leaders of businesses with a global impact
• visionaries, with an ability to anticipate trends on the horizon and meet their challenges
• driven by values and the highest moral and ethical standards
• outstanding performers, with a track record of delivering environmentally sustainable growth

Recipients