This article is part of KrASIA’s partnership with Collision from Home. Written by Rob Babos.
And we’re off. Well, almost. The countdown to Collision from Home is now into the final hours, and we’ve been looking through the schedule and favouriting our must-see talks from day one. On the opening day, we’ll hear from the director-general of the World Health Organization, the CEO of Mozilla, leading journalists, the mayor of Toronto, and an NBA Hall of Famer-turned-investor.
Channel 1 – A message from WHO
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization.
With an overarching view of the frontlines, the director-general of the World Health Organization updates us on Covid-19 and the fight against an unprecedented global pandemic. Covid-19 is one of the biggest challenges humanity has faced in the recent past. This is your chance to hear from someone at the centre of the fight against the virus.
Channel 2 – Shaquille O’Neal: Changing the game for workers
Shaquille O’Neal, adviser and advocate at Steady, and Adam Roseman, CEO of Steady.
In 2020, work is evolving on a daily basis, and Steady is helping people navigate this new normal. Company CEO Adam Roseman is joined by NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal (an investor in and advocate of the platform) to discuss inequality and how the app can help to ease the crisis facing millions of gig and hourly workers. The issue that Steady helps to solve has been suddenly thrown into the spotlight following widespread protests in the United States.
Channel 1 – Rising to the challenge of systemic injustice
Siyabulela Mandela, peace and human rights activist; Rashad Robinson, president at Color of Change; and Rinku Sen, author, and co-president at Women’s March board of directors.
For centuries, millions of people have been brutally crushed beneath the jackboot of institutional racism. Systemic revolution to eradicate oppression is long overdue. This session welcomes influential civil rights leaders to discuss how, collectively, we can rise to the challenge.
Channel 2 – How to thrive in the next normal
Arianna Huffington, founder and CEO of Thrive Global.
Much has been said about the new normal, but what will our return to regular life look like? Has the narrative around peak performance and productivity actually changed, or do old habits die hard? Entrepreneur and wellness advocate Arianna Huffington shares the learnings that Thrive Global has gathered over the last few months.
Channel 3 – Combatting climate change post-Covid
Kate Brandt, Google sustainability officer, and Emily Holden, environment reporter at the Guardian.
Kate leads sustainability across Google’s worldwide operations, products and supply chain. She joins environment reporter Emily Holden to discuss how our ability to come together to tackle Covid-19 shows that we can do the same in the fight against climate change.
Channel 3 – Building a better internet in the shadow of a pandemic
Mitchell Baker, chairwoman and CEO of Mozilla, and Nicholas Thompson, editor-in-chief of Wired.
As the challenges of Covid-19 grow, how will tech leaders meet them? The pandemic has thrust the power of the internet under a new spotlight. Mitchell Baker discusses how Mozilla is identifying the path towards making it a better resource as even more people rely on it for work and to connect with each other. She’ll address the dilemmas over consolidation of power, accountability, increased surveillance, misinformation and online scapegoating.
Channel 1 – Who holds tech to account?
Jessica Lessin, founder and CEO of The Information.
At a time when societies are relying on big tech more than ever, the conversation has shifted – whether justly or not – from the perils to the benefits of being ever-connected. The Information’s Jessica Lessin is working hard to remind people that there’s more to the story. She continues to investigate the tech backlash and how journalists and regulators are doing at holding power to account.
Channel 1 – The road to opening Toronto
John Tory, mayor of Toronto.
Mayor John Tory returns to Collision to talk through his vision of the road ahead for the city. We’ve recently written about Toronto’s growth as a major tech hub, and the city shows no signs of stopping. This is a talk that’s sure to pique the interest of investors and startups eyeing what lies outside of Silicon Valley.
This is just a taste of Collision from Home day one. If you haven’t built your schedule for the week yet, now’s the time. Check out the full schedule and favorite your must-see talks.
