The Worldshift 20 Summit, Canada - June 2010 - Biographies

The Worldshift 20 Summit

June 26, 2010, 10am to 5pm
Book signing to follow at 5pm

Speakers' Biographies

Dr. Ervin Laszlo is the author of over eighty books translated into as many as nineteen languages. Laszlo is recognized as the founder of systems philosophy and general evolution theory, serving as founder-director of the General Evolution Research Group and as past president of the International Society for the Systems Sciences. He is the recipient of the highest degree in philosophy and human sciences. His numerous prizes and awards include four honorary doctorates. Laszlo serves as president of the Club of Budapest and head of the General Evolution Research Group, which he founded. He is an advisor to the UNESCO Director General, ambassador of the International Delphic Council, member of both the International Academy of Science, World Academy of Arts and Science, and the International Academy of Philosophy. He has been twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Official website

Barbara Marx Hubbard is the co-founder of the Foundation for Conscious Evolution, a global educational curriculum enrolling participants in the developmental path toward the next stage of human evolution. Wisdom University has recently enlisted her to develop the first Chair in Conscious Evolution where she will join with her colleagues to develop a comprehensive field of study to envision and manifest a positive future. She remains a leader on the growing edge of the women’s movement, supporting the emergence of the Evolutionary Woman, the Feminine Cocreator who is calling for the next level of creativity and partnership between women and men to guide our world through our current challenges and opportunities. Official website

Masami Saionji, born in Tokyo, Japan, is a descendant of the Royal Rykyu Family of Okinawa*. She was educated at the prestigious Gakushuin School and went abroad to the United States to study English.In her teens, Masami Saionji met Masahisa Goi, author of the 'Universal Message and Prayer, May Peace Prevail On Earth' and founder of the international movement of world peace through prayer. After the passing of Mr. Goi in 1983, Mrs. Saionji took leadership over the movement of world peace through prayer and became Chairperson of The World Peace Prayer Society. Mrs. Saionji has dedicated her life to the attainment and awakening of global consciousness for personal as well as planetary peace. She is regarded as a leader in the human potential movement and is highly respected as a spiritual teacher both in Japan and throughout the world. She travels extensively on speaking tours and has led peace ceremonies on every continent and in major cities around the world. She has touched thousands of peoples' lives through her guidance and inspiration. Mrs. Saionji also serves as Chairperson of The Goi Peace Foundation, The Byakko Shinko Kai and is an honorary member of The Club of Budapest, and the World Wisdom Council.She and her husband, Hiroo Saionji, President of The World Peace Prayer Society, and three daughters live in Tokyo, Japan. Their second daughter, Rika Saionji, is Vice President of The World Peace Prayer Society. Official website

Jonathan Granoff is an attorney, author and international advocate emphasizing the legal, ethical and spiritual dimensions of human development and security, with a specific focus on advancing the rule of law to address the threats posed by nuclear weapons. He is president of the Global Security Institute, Senior Advisor to the ABA’s Committee on Arms Control and National Security and Co Chair of the ABA Blue Ribbon Task Force on Nuclear Non-proliferation. He is Senior Advisor to the Nobel Peace Laureate Summit and has served as Vice President and UN Representative of the Lawyer’s Alliance for World Security. He serves on numerous governing and advisory boards including: the ABA International Law Section, Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy, Fortune Forum, Jane Goodall Institute, Bipartisan Security Group and Middle Powers Initiative.
Mr. Granoff is the award-winning screenwriter of The Constitution: The Document that Created a Nation, and has articles in more than 50 publications and books including: The Sovereignty Revolution, Toward a Nuclear Weapons Free World, Imagining Tomorrow, Analyzing Moral Issues, Perspectives on 911, Toward a World In Balance, Reverence for Life Revisited, and Hold Hope, Wage Peace. He has been a featured guest and expert commentator on numerous radio and television pro-grams, testified in Congress and at the UN numerous times and has, for the past six years, addressed Nobel Peace Laureate Summits in Paris and Rome.  Official website

Ashok Gangadean is Professor of Philosophy at Haverford College where he has taught for the past forty two years.  Throughout his career he has focused on pioneering and clarifying the fundamental common ground across widely diverse worldviews and seeking to expand philosophy and cultural life into a wider global context. He is Founder-Director of the Global Dialogue Institute which has developed effective methods of Deep Dialogue for renovating  cultural life.  His new book- The Awakening of the Global Mind recently appeared in audio from with Sounds True. Ashok is also Co-Convenor of the World Commission on Global Consciousness and Spirituality which brings leading and emerging world leaders together in deep dialogue to help articulate global wisdom, vision and values in addressing the most pressing concerns and crises on a global scale. He is also Co-Chair with Ervin Lazslo of the World Wisdom Council. His most recent book- Meditations of Global First Philosophy: Quest for the Missing Grammar of Logos was published by SUNY Press presents a new global story of philosophy and introduces new dimensions of ((Integral Reason)).  Ashok has been a television host at WYBE TV (now Mind TV) in Philadelphia for five years and is currently Producer and Host of ((Global Lens)). Ashok K. Gangadean, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy, Haverford College, Founder-Director, Global Dialogue Institute, Co-Convener of the World Commission on Global Consciousness & Spirituality, Haverford College
Websites:    http://www.awakeningmind.org www.global-dialogue.com

Hazel Henderson is the founder of Ethical Markets Media and the creator and co-executive Producer of its TV series. She is a world renowned futurist, evolutionary economist, a worldwide syndicated columnist, consultant on sustainable development, and author of The Axiom and Nautilus award-winning book Ethical Markets: 'Growing the Green Economy' (2006) and eight other books. She co-edited, with Harlan Cleveland and Inge Kaul, 'The UN: Policy and Financing Alternatives' (US edition, 1996).

Janet Attwood is a visionary, a transformational leader, and a world humanitarian.  She travels the globe, supporting people in all walks of life, in knowing their personal greatness. Janet is the co-author of the New York Times bestseller, 'The Passion Test: The Effortless Path to Discovering Your Life's Purpose'. Janet has given The Passion Test™ to millions of people all over the world, and has shared the same stage with other top transformational leaders such as Mark Victor Hansen, Marci Shimoff, John Assaraff, Reverend Michael Beckwith, Dr. Sue Morter, Dr. Barbara De Angelis and Jack Canfield, to name a few. Janet is co-founder of one of the largest online magazines in the world, Healthy Wealthy n Wise Magazine.  Twice a month Janet hosts “Passion Series” where she interviews people in the top of their field on what it takes to live a passionate life. Janet's latest passion is working with kids, teens, youth in detention centers, and homeless men and women in transition.  Just recently, Janet launched programs for each of these different areas; The Passion Test™ for Kids, The Passion Test™ for Teens, The Reclaim Your Power Program for the Homeless and The Empowered Teen Series for kids in lockdown detention centers. For her ongoing work with homeless women and youth in lockdown detention centers, Janet received the highest award for volunteer service in the U.S., The President’s Volunteer Service Award from the President of the United States. Official website

Neale Donald Walsch is a modern day spiritual messenger whose words continue to touch the world in profound ways. With an early interest in religion and a deeply felt connection to spirituality, Neale spent the majority of his life thriving professionally, yet searching for spiritual meaning before beginning his now famous 'Conversations with God' which occupied the New York Times bestseller list for over two and half years. His now With God Series has redefined God and shifted spiritual paradigms around the globe. In order to deal with the enormous response to his writings, Neale created the Conversations with God Foundation, a non-profit educational organization dedicated to inspiring the world to help itself move from violence to peace, from confusion to clarity, and from anger to love.  Official website

His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a renowned spiritual leader and multi-faceted humanitarian whose mission of uniting the world into a violence-free family has inspired millions of people worldwide. Sri Sri founded the Art of Living Foundation, an international nonprofit educational and humanitarian organization and the International Association for Human Values, a humanitarian nonprofit organization that advances human values in political, economic, industrial, and social spheres. Sri Sri's social initiatives address an array of issues such as conflict resolution, disaster and trauma relief, prisoner rehabilitation, youth leadership, women's empowerment, female foeticide, child labor, and access to education.  His teachings of love, practical wisdom, and service promote harmony among people, and encourage individuals to follow their chosen spiritual path, while honoring other paths. Official website

Stephen Killelea is an Australian IT entrepreneur. He began his career, after doing a crash course in computing and working for a computer manufacturer, by developing a product for computer systems management that became internationally successful and led him to set up a US company, Software Products, that went public.
In August 1988, Killelea formed the Australian company Integrated Research, which was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in 2000. The company's main business is systems management for international corporations such as Visa, Mastercard and American Express; the New York, London and Hong Kong stock exchanges; and most of the world's ATMs. Having stepped down as chief executive November 2004, he is still chairman of the company. Killelea also has an IT venture capital fund.
He set up The Charitable Foundation in 2000, which is one of Australia's biggest private overseas aid providers, spending over five million AU$ in 2008. Killelea is the creative force behind the Global Peace Index study, launched in May 1997, that attempts to rank the world's nations’ and regions’ peacefulness. The Index is endorsed by the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu and Jimmy Carter. He is the founder of the Institute for Economics and Peace which is "analysing the impact of peace on sustainability, defining the 'Peace Industry', estimating the value of peace to the world economy, and uncovering the social structures and social attitudes that are at the core of peaceful societies". He is also notable as being Australia's largest individual donor to overseas aid.  Official website

Dr. Edgar Mitchell embarked on a journey on January 31, 1971 to outer space with Apollo 14 that resulted in him becoming the sixth man to walk on the moon. As he hurtled earthward through the abyss between the two worlds, Mitchell became engulfed by a profound sensation "a sense of universal connectedness."  The experience  was so overwhelming Mitchell knew his life would never be the same. Scientist, test pilot, naval officer, astronaut, entrepreneur, author and lecturer, Dr. Mitchell's extraordinary career personifies humankind's eternal thrust to widen its horizons as well as its inner soul. Dr. Mitchell has received many awards and honors including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the USN Distinguished Medal and three NASA Group Achievement Awards.  He was inducted to the Space Hall of Fame in 1979 and the Astronaut Hall of Fame in 1998.  He was a nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.
Official website

Tomoya Nonaka began her career as a newcaster and anchorwoman on a popular business program in Tokyo. She has been a member of many Japanese government committees for Cabinet Office, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Adviser and a member of the board of directors for many large Japanese corporations such as Asahi Breweries, Sumitomo Corporation, Nikko Citigroup and Sanyo. In 2005, she became chairperson and CEO for Sanyo Electric. Upon her taking chairperson position, she created the new corporation vision 'Think Gaia' and started to restructure many business divisions under the new vision for Sanyo to become a leading company to solve environmental problems with its technology. She created a three-year Evolution Plan aimed at reorganizing the business portfolio and improving the corporate financial structure and conditions.

Hiroo Saionji is President of the Goi Peace Foundation founded in Japan in 1999. The Foundation is dedicated to supporting the evolution of humanity toward a peaceful and harmonious new civilization by promoting consciousness, values and wisdom for creating peace, and by building cooperation among individuals and organizations across diverse fields, including education, science, culture and the arts. He is the great-grandson of Prince Kinmochi Saionji, who was twice Prime Minster of Japan during the Meiji Period. Mr. Saionji also serves as the president of the World Peace Prayer Society, a member of the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO, an Ambassador of the World Wisdom Council, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for Cultural Heritage and Art Research, among others. In 2007, he was awarded the Cultural Prize of the Dr. Lin Tsung-i Foundation of Taiwan, in recognition of his contributions to world peace. He also received the Philosopher Saint Shree Dnyaneshwara World Peace Prize of India along with his wife Masami Saionji in 2008. Official website

David Woolfson is a lawyer in private practice in Toronto, Canada and a ‘global futures’ actionist focusing on the many challenges and opportunities before humanity today. David has initiated and been a major participant in numerous initiatives and organizations working toward a peaceful and sustainable world since 1988, including most recently the Worldshift Movement. David is dedicated to promoting new thinking and actions to address the major societal and environmental challenges of our time, emphasizing ‘whole-system’ approaches and innovative solutions. The objective is to help discover a positive path to the future at this crucial time in our collective history. He is also Founder and President of The Club of Budapest Canada.

Madeleine Marentette is the founder of Grail Spring's Retreat. With a background and a passion for beauty in design, she began her studies in design school but plans were cut short when she contracted a debilitating disease. Her destiny changed as she immersed herself in a quest to find healing, peace and understanding. The successes and healing she gleaned along the path are now reflected in the beautiful Grail retreat and programs she designed in 2003 and now available in her best-selling book 'Holistic Detox: For Body, Mind & Spirit'. To this day she is a guardian of all traditions Grail, a compelling pathway that represents the story of the true human condition. She believes this is a divine promise that avails us all. It is with an open heart and open mind that she continues to be a well spring of inspiration with a determination to share her story, wisdom and inspirations to all who seek the same.  Official website

Alex Theory draws upon extensive training in psychology, integrative medicine, and psychoacoustic music production to innovate new styles of music and media. Part of the fresh scene of artists who push the musical envelope while simultaneously promoting a socially conscious lifestyle he is the founder of the 2008 Global Sound Conference and the 2007 Global OM project - a historic event that used the power of sound to unify participants across the world to a synchronized frequency. Alex's latest project, Discover Sound, is a non-profit foundation that merges key individuals from the Music, Film, and Television industries with pioneers in the areas of Wellness, Sound Healing, and Integrative Medicine to expand the horizons of health and media on our planet.

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