Wilford Welch has devoted his professional career to understanding and taking actions to address global challenges in numerous roles - as a U.S. diplomat in Asia, a professor of international business, a publisher of a world affairs publication and an international business consultant. Currently, he is co-director of Quest for Global Healing, an initiative he founded with Bishop Desmond Tutu which brings thousands of people together from around the world to help transform their concerns over environmental and social challenges into concrete initiatives. He is also chairman of the Cross Cultural Journeys Foundation and director of the Emerging Global Leaders Fellowship Program.

In addition to his lifelong engagement in world affairs, Mr. Welch has a deep commitment to the environment. He was chairman of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), as well as a member of the 1994 Sagamartha Environmental Expedition that removed 5,000 pounds of trash from the high camps on Mount Everest. He and the leader of that expedition currently give presentations to corporate audiences that share insights from high altitude mountaineering pertinent to business strategy development and execution and the restoration of a sustainable planet.

His book, The Tactics of Hope - How Social Entrepreneurs Are Changing Our World, seeks to inspire and support individuals to become part of the solution instead of the problem, and profiles individuals around the world with powerful initiatives for change. Mr. Welch is also leading the upcoming gathering on the Big Island of Hawai‘i entitled, "Beyond Sustainability - Creating a Culture of Leadership, Built on a Platform of Reverence." He has degrees from Yale, Harvard and the University of California at Berkeley and lives in Sausalito, California.

Visit the Tactics of Hope website.

Victor d'Allant is the Executive Director of Social Edge where he works with social entrepreneurs, nonprofit professionals and other practitioners of the social sector. Victor is a global media executive and cultural anthropologist who has worked for large corporations, international organizations and entrepreneurial startups in many parts of the world.

Before his involvement in digital media, Victor built and ran his own international media consultancy, helping communications companies and technology-based ventures expand their global operations. His clients included Newsweek, Bloomberg, Nokia Innovent, Wired, Outside magazine and Deloitte & Touche.

Victor has a B.A. and an M.A. in social anthropology from the Sorbonne in Paris and an M.B.A. from the Haas School of Business at the University of California at Berkeley.

Visit Victor's website at the The Social Edge.
Visit the Skoll Foundation website.

Geoff Guilfoy is an Executive Professor at Willamette University's Atkinson Graduate School of Management, where he teaches a course in operations and management review. He also serves as a Principle at AKT, an accounting and management consulting firm based in Salem, Oregon. He specializes in non-profit and government organizations, operational reviews and strategic and business planning. He has a master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Willamette University, is a Certified Management Consultant, is a Certified Government Financial Manager, and is an active member of the Institute of Management Consultants and the Association of Government Accountants.

Visit Geoff's website at AKT.

::

Learn more about the Willamette University faculty