The morning programme of ‘The Future Leaders Event’ will zoom in on the world in 2020. The plenary part of the day is intended to inspire the future leaders and to get them thinking about the global challenges we are currently facing. Three speeches and two debates will set the tone for the day.

Under the inspiring leadership of Lord Michael Hastings of Scarisbrick, Noreena Hertz, Simon Maxwell, Anne-Marie Rakhorst, Martine Visser and Rein Willems will present their vision of the world in 2020 to the future leaders.
The focus in the afternoon will be on the Netherlands in 2020. The 400 Future Leaders will be divided into 40 groups of 10 people. Each group’s assignment for the afternoon will be to write a newspaper article (with an arresting headline and captivating press photograph) for Het Financieele Dagblad. Four topics will provide the lead: globalisation, competitiveness, climate change and quality of life. Ten groups will concentrate on globalisation and the Netherlands in 2020, ten on competitiveness, ten on climate change and ten on quality of life. Besides their main topic, all the groups will be given separate subtopics on which they will be expected to set out a groundbreaking and realistic vision.

The groups will be led by a number of editors of Het Financieele Dagblad and eight motivating press conferences will be given to provide further inspiration for the four topics. In the afternoon, the Future Leaders will debate with each other, co-operate, and working under the pressure of a deadline, will together produce 40 inspiring and publishable newspaper articles.

The 40 draft newspaper articles will be combined at the end of the afternoon to produce a manifesto of the Future Leaders and will be presented to Dutch Vice Prime Minister, Wouter Bos. The event will close with time for socializing and networking, accompanied by cabaret, live music, with snacks and drinks provided. Participants will be able to reflect and strengthen links beyond the confines of their own companies.