Jesse Jackson to open Global Leaders Africa Summit

The Rev Jesse Jackson, one of America's foremost civil rights, religious and political leaders, will open the Global Leaders Africa Summit which takes place at the Coca-Cola Dome in Northgate, Johannesburg, 20 - 22 June 2006. He will be joined by fellow countryman Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York and a politician whose forthright views on leadership and politics have made headlines for more than a decade.

Jackson is a passionate orator in the tradition and style of Southern US and African-American Protestant preaching and is known for bringing people together in common ground across lines of race, culture, class, gender and belief. He has played a pivotal role in virtually every movement for empowerment, peace, civil rights, gender equality, and economic and social justice.

Jackson joins a panel consisting of many of the world's most distinguished thought leaders at the historic event - a first for Africa - live and in person, to exchange ideas with Africa's public figures, senior business executives and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Other international speakers at the Global Leaders Africa Summit are:

Carly Fiorina, former chairperson and CEO of Hewlett-Packard
Hernando de Soto, president of the Institute for Liberty and Democracy
Daniel Pink, consultant and author of Free Agent Nation and A Whole New Mind
Scott Bedbury, former marketing chief for Nike and Starbucks
Clayton Christensen, thought leader on innovation and author of Seeing What's Next" and
Tom Peters, one of the most influential business thinkers of all times.

They will be joined on stage by local African leadership icons, including:

Dr Charles Villa-Vicencio, executive director of the Cape Town-based Institute for Justice and Reconciliation
Wiseman Nkuhlu, former economic adviser to President Thabo Mbeki and chief executive of NEPAD, current chairman of Pan-African Capital Holdings Ltd; and
Crispin Sonn, general manager, Old Mutual Personal Financial Advice & Private Wealth Management.

All the speakers will each address the Summit over the first two days. On the final day, Tom Peters and Michael Porter will conduct workshops on "Re-imagining leadership" and "Competitive strategy" respectively. Peters will also share his views on "Ultimate success secrets".

For more information, go to www.globalleadersafrica.com.