On 11 July 2023, UNU will host “Passion, Creativity, and Dedication — Shaping and Co-creating a Future of Prosperity and Sustainability with Young People”, a BIG IDEAS Dialogue with Dr. Kunihiko Hirabayashi, Secretary General of the ASEAN-Japan Centre. This event will be held via Zoom webinar at 18:00 JST (UTC+9).
Passion, creativity, and unwavering dedication among young people hold immense potential to fundamentally transform the world towards a sustainable future. Embracing inclusivity and diversity serves as the foundation for achieving a sustainable society. To accomplish this, it is crucial to listen to the unique perspectives and innovative thinking of each young person and establish support systems and programmes to nurture and empower their ideas for transformative solutions.
The significance of harnessing the power of young people is particularly vital in the context of the ASEAN-Japan relationship, which holds utmost importance geopolitically, economically and in terms of security. By fostering a co-creative partnership between Japan and ASEAN youth, and leveraging innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, both regions can utilize their strengths and resources to address pressing challenges. This collective effort has the potential to not only impact the regions involved but also shape the present and future world.
Dr. Hirabayashi will join UNU Senior Vice-Rector Sawako Shirahase to discuss how young people from ASEAN Member States and Japan are shaping their future, with a particular emphasis on the initiatives of the ASEAN-Japan Centre.
Please note this event will be in English; Japanese interpretation will not be provided. Advance registration by 10 July is required. Registrants will receive an email on the day of the event with a link to attend via Zoom webinar.
About the speaker
Born in Nagano Prefecture in 1958, Dr. Kunihiko Hirabayashi has been Secretary General of the ASEAN-Japan Centre since September 2021. He was previously the Regional Advisor and Regional Chief of Health for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) East Asia and Pacific Regional Office in Bangkok, Thailand. He worked as a technical advisor and representative of UNICEF regional offices for more than 18 years from May 2003 to August 2021, including in Afghanistan, India, Japan and Lebanon. Prior to that, he engaged in technical assistance in hospitals in developing countries for 10 years. Dr. Hirabayashi holds a PhD in Physiology and Medicine and a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.
About the series
The BIG IDEAS: SDGs Dialogue Series introduces the people, projects, and organisations behind shared efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Each event features leading representatives and researchers from international organisations, UN agencies, and UNU institutes to stimulate discussion on sustainable development issues and initiatives. The events provide a unique opportunity for young researchers, graduate students, and civil society to become more familiar with SDG-related topics, ask questions, and learn how they can contribute to local and global SDG progress.
