Jonathan Wong
Jonathan is the Chief of Innovation, Enterprise and Investment at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). He has spearheaded social innovation and social enterprise in public policy with numerous governments across the Asia-Pacific region. He has also set up a collaboration with the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment (GSG) to build a stronger evidence base for policy makers with respect to impact investing.
He joined ESCAP from the UK Department for International Development (DFID) where he was the inaugural Head of Innovation. He has led the establishment of several high-profile innovation initiatives including the Global Innovation Fund (a partnership between the governments of the US, UK, Sweden, Australia, South Africa and the Omidyar Network), and the Amplify program (an open innovation platform for development in partnership with Ideo.org and OpenIdeo). A current focus of Jonathan’s work is on AI governance and policy in the context of the SDGs, on which he is currently partnering with several global tech corporations and think tanks in the Asia-Pacific region.
Jonathan has extensive experience in social innovation and entrepreneurship, impact investing and tech for good. He also has substantial technology and innovation policy expertise having advised governments across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Pacific.
Jonathan has also served on APEC’s E-commerce Business Council and, prior to joining DFID, was a Founding Partner of a technology and innovation venture-capital fund and supported the establishment of the UK National Health Service Institute for Innovation and Improvement.
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United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945 after the Second World War by 51 countries committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights. Due to its unique international character, and the powers vested in its founding Charter, the Organization can take action on a wide range of issues, and provide a forum for its 193 Member States to express their views, through the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and other bodies and committees. The work of the United Nations reaches every corner of the globe. Although best known for peacekeeping, peacebuilding, conflict prevention and humanitarian assistance, there are many other ways the United Nations and its System (specialized agencies, funds and programmes) affect our lives and make the world a better place. The Organization works on a broad range of fundamental issues, from sustainable development, environment and refugees protection, disaster relief, counter terrorism, disarmament and non-proliferation, to promoting democracy, human rights, gender equality and the advancement of women, governance, economic and social development and international health, clearing landmines, expanding food production, and more, in order to achieve its goals and coordinate efforts for a safer world for this and future generations The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945 after the Second World War by 51 countries committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights. Due to its unique international character, and the powers vested in its founding Charter, the Organization can take action on a wide range of issues, and provide a forum for its 193 Member States to express their views, through the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and other bodies and committees. The work of the United Nations reaches every corner of the globe. Although best known for peacekeeping, peacebuilding, conflict prevention and humanitarian assistance, there are many other ways the United Nations and its System (specialized agencies, funds and programmes) affect our lives and make the world a better place. The Organization works on a broad range of fundamental issues, from sustainable development, environment and refugees protection, disaster relief, counter terrorism, disarmament and non-proliferation, to promoting democracy, human rights, gender equality and the advancement of women, governance, economic and social development and international health, clearing landmines, expanding food production, and more, in order to achieve its goals and coordinate efforts for a safer world for this and future generations
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Albina du Boisrouvray
Liz Weaver
