NEXUS has joined the World Economic Forum, the international organisation for public-private co-operation that is dedicated to achieving a better world. Here, CEO Gael Escribe explains this bold move and how it can help in achieving NEXUS’s primary objective, overcoming ‘the education challenge’.
So why has NEXUS joined the World Economic Forum?
The World Economic Forum is a unique organisation. Each January its annual Davos Summits attract many of the most influential people on the planet, including political and business leaders, and academics, to discuss pressing issues facing the world.
Declarations made at Davos make headlines around the globe and influence the direction that society takes.
Its membership is made up of the world’s leading 1,000 companies; that NEXUS can count itself among those shows how far we have travelled as an organisation.
But it’s more than just Davos. The Forum includes important working groups, one of which is called the System Initiative on Mobility. This looks at the challenges and technologies of tomorrow, such as connected vehicles and driver-less cars.
By involving NEXUS we are seeking to be the voice of the N! Community, and the automotive aftermarket, ensuring its needs are part of the discussion.
In particular, we will offer our experience in meeting the prime objective of achieving a knowledgeable, skillful industry that is attractive to new talent. This is what we call ‘the education challenge’.
What specific the Word Economic Forum activities will you be taking part in?
As well as generally influencing the Forum’s education and mobility discussions, we will be joining in three specific activities.
The first will be the Annual Meeting of the New Champions (AMNC), which will take place from 1st to 3rd July in Dalian, China. This is known as the Summer Davos.
The topic is Succeeding in a New Era of Globalisation. The meeting will be discussing leadership with the aim of establishing ‘an understanding of how new champions that are gaining economic influence are disrupting and transforming current industry models’. As a disruptor in the aftermarket, this is obviously relevant to NEXUS.
The second is the World Economic Forum on Africa, taking place between 4th and 6th September in Cape Town.
The discussion will focus on key industries, including the delivery of ‘future ready knowledge’. NEXUS has identified the African aftermarket as having great potential as an emerging market and we will be able to share our vision for this developing continent.
Thirdly, NEXUS has been invited to be an active member of The World Economic Forum – Mobility Project India. Again, we have relevant experience to share, with the first N! Academy Training Centre having been established in India, the project being led by TVS Automobile Solutions.
How does the World Economic Forum membership fit into NEXUS’s broader ‘education challenge’ strategy?
As I have said previously, the World Economic Forum is a place to open doors and form new partnerships with people and companies that aim to progress together. To be accepted into such a prestigious organisation is a big step forward for our alliance.
But as well as exploring new avenues, such as the Forum, we have to maintain our own accelerated programme.
NEXUS is currently making excellent progress in multiplying its initiatives around the world to tackle ‘the education challenge’ and through the Forum’s influence our objective is to accelerate that.
Alongside that we have decided to strengthen the focus of the Prospective Council, moving it on towards a more practically-based solutions provider.
I look forward to meeting up with everyone in September and hearing their ideas and suggestions for new approaches.
