Mr Peter Schwartz, Keynote Speaker

Mr Peter Schwartz,Senior Vice-President, Global Government Relations and Strategic Planning, Salesforce.com, gave an inspiring address to set the scene for ALS12. While complimenting Singapore on it dynamism and capacity to meet tha challenges of globalisation and economic sustainability, he warned that no country or individual can afford to be complacent about the future and its unpredictability. Central to the challenge, he argued, is a requirement for individuals to remain open to change and reskill through continuous learning. He used the example of himself as having, at age 65, to reinvent himself several times over his lifetime to undertake roles and occupations that did not exist even a few years before. He urged all nations to face the current global economic challenges through cooperation rather than conflict and was optimistic about the future. Mr Schwartz received warm applause for the insights he provided to the ALS12 delegates.