Special guest speaker David Beasley, former South Carolina governor and head of the U.N. World Food Programme, 2020 Nobel Peace Prize laureate
The Folks Center for International Business will feature a special address by David Beasley, former South Carolina governor and executive director of the U.N. World Food Programme, which was awarded the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize. Joining him for a panel discussion on “Business and the World Food Programme” will be Johann Baar, an executive board member and the director for affordable housing and technology for the Hilti Foundation, and Val Dolcini, head of the business sustainability and government affairs North America for Syngenta.
Beasley (’79 USC B.A. interdisciplinary studies, ’83 USC School of Law) will share global insights as to how the conflict in Ukraine is driving hunger around the world and is creating the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II. The panel will discuss how business can approach this crisis through partnership and be the building blocks for prosperity around the world.
“The private sector is absolutely essential to addressing world hunger. Without the private sector, we can’t get the job done; it’s that simple,” Beasley says. “Businesses can contribute so much to reducing suffering from hunger — not just money but also their expertise, skill and know-how — and the World Food Programme stands at the ready to work with them.”
Beasley served as South Carolina Governor between 1995-99. He has been the executive director of the U.N. World Food Programme since 2017.
Moderated by Sonoco International Business Department associate professor Andrew Spicer, the Folks Center forum will be held in person in the Darla Moore School of Business W.W. Hootie Johnson Performance Hall in room 101 and virtually from 5-6:15 p.m. March 29. The event is free and open to the public. Register and learn more.
The event is sponsored by The Rachel and Jim Hodges Fund, generously given by another former South Carolina governor and his wife, with corporate participation by Hilti North America and Syngenta.
On the same day as the event, the South Carolina Legislature is honoring Beasley, recognizing his dedicated public service to South Carolina and the world along with his presence at the Folks Center special address at the Darla Moore School of Business.