Law professor named as Young Global Leader

UNSW Law professor Jane McAdam has been named among an elite international group of young leaders recognised for their professional achievements, commitment to society and potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world.

The World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders (YGL) class of 2013 was announced at a ceremony in Geneva. Drawn from a pool of several thousand candidates, the group was chosen by a committee chaired by Jordan’s Queen Rania Al Abdullah.

The 200 young leaders represent 70 countries and all sectors of society (arts and culture, academia, business, civil society, media, politics and social entrepreneurship).

Scientia Professor McAdam is one of only seven candidates chosen from within Australia and the only representative from an Australian university. She publishes widely in the area of international refugee law, and is recognised around the world as an expert on complementary protection and climate change-related displacement and migration. 

“It is a great honour to be selected as a Young Global Leader and to have the opportunity to interact with a global network of peers from such a diverse range of countries and backgrounds,” said McAdam.

“What’s struck me in my research on the impacts of climate change on forced migration is the importance of building understanding from across different disciplines and policy actors before any meaningful collaboration can take place. If we don’t listen to the needs of people on the ground then policy interventions are bound to fail. I am looking forward to learning from and sharing ideas with the Young Global Leaders community.”

The YGL was established by Professor Klaus Schwab in 2004. “It provides a unique effort to engage the younger generation into the management of global affairs, working together and being integrated into the larger Forum community. The Young Global Leaders have an exceptional opportunity to improve the state of the world,” Schwab said.

The 2013 honourees will become part of the broader Forum of Young Global Leaders community, currently comprised of 756 individuals who are members for a five-year term. The YGLs convene at an annual summit, which will be held this year in Myanmar on 2–5 June. The program includes meetings with Myanmar government representatives, the business community and civil society, first-hand experience of working with, and learning from, local organisations and communities, along with workshops and cross-mentorship initiatives.

Media contact: Steve Offner, UNSW Media Office, 02 9385 1583