Global Partners Forum - Part Two

The second and third days of the Global Partners' Forum were as interesting and educational as the first. Notable was the frank and open discussion of challenges and differing opinions, as well as the diversity of speakers and participants, which ranged from captains of industry to academic thought leaders, and from ministers in African governments and senior officials in the US government through to front line workers in the field.  I particularly enjoyed seeing partners from India and Africa wearing traditional dress - not everyone wore dark suits!

The highlight was the final interview with Bill and Melinda Gates that closed the conference.  This was the first time since joining the Foundation that I'd had the opportunity to see them in action.  Bill spoke with excitement about a large new surveillance program the foundation is funding, CHAMPS, to better understand the causes of child mortality in developing countries.  Melinda was very eloquent and passionate as she spoke about her priority to empower women and girls as a fundamental means to achieve Global Health goals.  It was amusing to see them interact as a couple on stage.  At one point Bill likened the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which had been roundly criticized for their length earlier in the meeting to the Bible, pointing out that it's all good stuff but all you really need to know is the ten commandments.  Like any wife would do, Melinda warned him not to push the analogy too far!  More humor ensued when the moderator, NPR's Arun Rath asked how the Gates manage to influence governments when others fail - do they just ask more nicely? Bill responded that some governments he deals with haven't yet built any bureaucracy and don't have any bureaucrats he can speak to, whereas globally we have plenty of bureaucracy.

Today, after the partners had all departed, I was impressed that the Foundation leaders held a lunchtime session for staff to debrief on highlights and lessons learned from the Forum. All the sessions were video taped so that people who couldn't attend in person will get the benefit of hearing all the inspirational speakers.  Bill Gates Senior attended the lunchtime session and commented how the Forum had helped him appreciate the enormous importance of addressing global health issues and given him the confidence that it is possible to have positive impact through the work of the Foundation.  The Foundation first began at Bill Senior's urging 15 years ago by supporting US education and libraries and later moved into Global Health.

I'm now six weeks into my first three months and feeling like I've attained first base, having seen Bill, Melinda and Bill Senior in action, met most of my colleagues and many of the external partners I'll be working with. Time to enjoy the weekend, particularly as Jonathan is here on his first ever visit to Seattle, and the sun is shining!