Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have assembled a star-studded roster for this year's Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) annual meeting, set to take place in New York on September 22-23 during UN General Assembly week. The lineup, announced Thursday, includes Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex; World Bank Group President Ajay Banga; TV personality and entrepreneur Chrissy Teigen; LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman; and celebrity science educator Bill Nye.
The gathering, themed “How Do We Get It Right?”, aims to chart an affirmative path forward amid global turmoil, political division, and shrinking government budgets, according to the organization founded by the 42nd president in 2005.
Prince Harry is no stranger to the CGI stage. He spoke at last year's summit, warning of an “epidemic” of youth addiction driven by social media platforms he described as “designed to create addiction.” His return to the event comes after he recently made headlines for traveling back to the UK with his family following six years in California.
Nye and Banga have also participated in previous CGI meetings, bringing their expertise on science education and global finance to the discussions.
This year's agenda tackles a broad range of pressing issues, including mitigating the risks of artificial intelligence, driving innovation, climate and energy resilience, and strengthening democracy. Organizers emphasize the need to “rebuild trust, safeguard civic institutions and protect journalists when headlines and algorithms constantly emphasize our differences.” Humanitarian response, economic opportunity, and sustaining health research and innovation amid funding and trust strains are also on the table.
Other announced participants include Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus, UN High Commissioner for Refugees and former Iraqi President Barham Salih, Octopus Energy Group CEO Greg Jackson, content creator Aaron Parnas, and Omidyar Network CEO Michele Jawando.
The CGI meeting arrives at a time when global institutions face mounting challenges, from shifting energy routes to declining educational outcomes. The Clintons' initiative aims to convene leaders from across sectors to forge practical solutions.
With a mix of celebrity appeal and policy gravitas, this year's CGI promises to draw significant attention, especially as the Clintons continue to play a role in shaping global discourse. The event also serves as a platform for the couple's ongoing philanthropic and policy efforts, which have included tributes to feminist icons and commentary on international trade dynamics.
