On 29 January 2011, International Bridges to Justice brought together thought leaders from around the globe for an interactive gathering and discussion at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. For the 4th consecutive year, IBJ sparked a vibrant discussion amongst attendees and invited the Davos community to join its struggle to ensure the basic legal rights of ordinary citizens throughout the world.

This year’s event, Building Bridges and Inspiring Hope: Innovations from Davos, focused on the theme that realizing IBJ’s mission was “doable” and challenged participants to utilize their expertise and background to help create real and immediate change. Following an introduction from Hilde Schwab, Co-founder and Chairperson of Schwab Social Entrepreneurship, IBJ Founder and CEO Karen Tse kicked off the interactive panel discussion, moderated by David Kirkpatrick of The Daily Beast, with some words of hope and a bit of background on IBJ’s past accomplishments. The all-star panel included Matthew Bishop, American Editor of The Economist, Sandy Climan, Managing Director of Entertainment Media Venture, Olivier Schwab, Director and Head of Technology Pioneers for the World Economic Forum, and J. Gregory Dees, Professor of the Practice of Social Entrepreneurship and Nonprofit Management at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

Karen Tse and the IBJ Davos 2011 Event Panel

Drawing on their unique viewpoints, the panelists each delivered insightful remarks to a packed room on topics ranging from technology’s role in social justice to the changing face of social entrepreneurship. The panelists had nothing but praise for IBJ’s mission and accomplishments; Matthew Bishop even tweeted that IBJ was “one of his favourite NGOs” and that IBJ’s “strategy of supporting public defense lawyers around the world is high return on investment giving.” Jack Vincent of the marketing firm focus360 facilitated break-out discussions, turning the focus to the audience to work with their fellow Davos community members in answering the question, “What headline would you ideally want to see written about IBJ five years from now?” The thought exercise put attendees in the driver’s seat and gave everyone a chance to help shape IBJ’s goals for the future. Summed up by amazing headlines like Facebook ‘Friends’ IBJ With $100M Donation From Zuckerberg Foundation; Former Chinese President Hu Jintao Joins Board As Chairman, the entire room opened their minds and hearts to what the future might hold for IBJ.

Capping off the exciting event was a special video message from singer/songwriter Peter Gabriel, including both his personal wishes for IBJ and a rendition of Wallflower, his touching song about the terrible treatment of political prisoners in Latina America. All in all, IBJ is extremely happy with the event and would like to thank all of the panelists, participants, and supporters who helped make it possible.

Christian Angermayer, founder and partner of the Angermayer, Brumm & Lange group of financial companies, sponsored the event.