Global Ideas for Global Challenges: A panel in honour of Nick Stern

Ideas matter. They have been core to the advances in health, education, and economic development the world has seen since the second world war. But societies and global institutions now need to evolve to address daunting challenges, including climate change, inequality and make the most of the opportunities and manage the risks arising from new technologies. The panel brings together the leaders of the world’s premier economic institutions and a Nobel Prize winning economist to discuss how ideas have evolved to shape our world and what is needed for the future.

Details on how to attend virtually or in person 

Meet our speakers and chair

• Kristalina Georgieva has been serving as Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund since October 1, 2019. She began her second term on October 1, 2024. Before joining the IMF, Ms. Georgieva served as CEO of the World Bank from January 2017 to September 2019, where she also held the role of Interim President. Previously, Ms. Georgieva helped shape the agenda of the European Union, first as Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, and later as Vice President for Budget and Human Resources. During her academic career, she was a visiting fellow at LSE.
• Since November 2019, Christine Lagarde (@Lagarde) has been the President of the European Central Bank. Between 2011 and 2019, she served as the eleventh Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Prior to that she served as French Economic Finance Minister from 2007 to 2011 after having been Trade Secretary from 2005 to 2007. A lawyer by background, she practiced for 20 years with the international law firm Baker McKenzie, of which she became global chairman in 1999.
• Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (@NOIweala) is the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation. The first woman and first African to hold the position. She is an economist and international development expert with over 40 years of experience. She served as Nigeria’s first female and longest serving Finance Minister and was also the first female Foreign Minister.
• Larry Kramer has been President and Vice Chancellor of LSE since April 2024. A constitutional scholar, university administrator, and philanthropic leader, he was previously the President of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the Dean of Stanford Law School.

Nicholas Stern will say a few words after the panel have spoken.

Find out more from the LSE Events page.