​“My experience has taught me that people tend to underestimate the tremendous ability within them, and yet mankind has the power to make a difference to ensure the betterment of our collective tomorrow. The test of leaders lies in understanding this truth. Their role is to set the goals and pave the routes to free the power and wisdom within all of us. Leaders should govern less and serve more.”
Shimon Peres

[Text from the Presidential Conference website]

“Facing Tomorrow” – the fifth Israeli Presidential Conference under the auspices of President Shimon Peres – will take place in Jerusalem on 18-20 June 2013. As in previous years, the Conference will look at tomorrow and engage the central issues that will influence the face of our future: geopolitics, economics, society, environment, culture, identity, education, new media, and more.

In the 2013 Conference, we will give special emphasis to the human factor and its role in shaping our tomorrow. We will ask whether the quality of leadership – in all realms of human activity – can make a difference. What is the desired dynamic in relationships between people and leaders in the face of powerful processes of change? To what degree can human beings really be involved in influencing their futures? We will examine what threats may lie in an individual’s tomorrow, in terms of identity, family, health, ability to find happiness, and meaning in life.

Although the issues to be addressed relate to various fields, they are influenced by and interact with each other in a manner that creates complex challenges for leaders. The fifth Israeli Presidential Conference will engage these issues, not only by identifying the challenges, but also by suggesting solutions that may lead to a better tomorrow for Israel, the Jewish people and for all of humanity.

As part of the Conference we will mark the 90th birthday of the man who inspires us in shaping tomorrow – President Shimon Peres.

As in prior conferences, the 2013 Israeli Presidential Conference will assemble world leaders, international scholars, activists, poets and scientists, artists and clergy, entrepreneurs, economists and industrialists, as well as representatives of the next generation of leaders – promising young individuals who radiate innovation and creativity. The Conference will include plenary sessions, a range of panels, roundtables and master classes that will explore a wide spectrum of topics that will be brought to life by the best minds in each field.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is our partner in bringing this Conference to fruition, providing its research and intellectual resources toward the development of content and the issues the Conference will address.

President Peres remains deeply committed to the success of “Facing Tomorrow 2013” and he believes that the insights and ideas that come out of the discussions will help us all create a better future.