World Economic Forum announces James Chau honoured with place amongst 2015 class of Young Global Leaders
18th March 2015
The World Economic Forum has announced (17th March) the leaders under 40 who are shaping the future of industry and society. Joining the class of 2015 Young Global Leaders (YGL) is James Chau, a renowned broadcaster, writer and journalist. Recognised for his work within the media as well as his established role as UN Goodwill Ambassador for HIV and AIDS, his focus on youth, women, and injecting drug users has led to collaborations with Annie Lennox, the Crown Princess of Norway, and Françoise Barré-Sinoussi whose co-discovery of HIV won her the 2008 Nobel Prize.
Made up of the world’s next-generation of leaders, these bold, brave and action-orientated under-40’s have dedicated their time and talent to helping make the world a better place. James, who currently resides in Beijing, joins a community, which has been growing in significance since it began 10 years ago. Current and former YGLs include 11 heads of state and government, 10 heads of Fortune 500 companies, 15 UN Goodwill Ambassadors, six Guinness World Record holders, four Oscar winners, three Olympic gold medallists, two Nobel Prize winners and an astronaut.
“The YGLs include the world’s most pioneering, next-generation leaders who have developed in their journey to produce positive, tangible impacts in their countries, industries and societies,” said John Dutton, Director and Head of the Young Global Leaders Community at the World Economic Forum.
James’ previous ventures have seen him become 2008 Google Young Leader, and currently serves as Trustee of the Menuhin Competition, and also Charity Ambassador for Shangri-la Hotels and Resorts. In the past year, he reported globally on the Ebola outbreak, as well as the aviation disasters involving AirAsia 8501 and Flight MH17. During his coverage from Kuala Lumpur on the disappearance of MH370, he broke the headline story that revealed the last words spoken by the pilots.
The class of 2015 includes 23 people from East Asia, 17 from Greater China, 39 from Europe, 13 from Latin America, 15 from the Middle East and North Africa, 44 from North America, 19 from South Asia and 17 from sub-Saharan Africa.
The YGL Class of 2015 was drawn from a pool of over 2,000 candidates who were evaluated by Heidrick & Struggles and screened by a selection committee chaired by H.M. Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
Previous YGL nominees include: David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Jack Ma, Executive Chairman, Alibaba Group, People’s Republic of China; Marissa Mayer, Chief Executive Officer, Yahoo, USA; Larry Page, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Google, USA; Claudia Sender Ramirez, Chief Executive Officer, TAM Linhas Aereas, Brazil; Matteo Renzi, Prime Minister of Italy; Ashish J. Thakkar, Founder and Managing Director, Mara Group, United Arab Emirates; Naoko Yamazaki, astronaut and mission specialist on the crew of STS-131 Discovery, Japan; and Zhou Xun, Actress and Goodwill Ambassador, United Nations Development Programme, People’s Republic of China.
