Molly Burke & Edward Ndopu: Closing the Disability Inclusion Gap | DAVOS 2020

Mr. Ndopu is an award winning, internationally acclaimed activist and humanitarian. Diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy at age two and given only five years to live, he has gone on to become a beacon of hope and possibility for people with disabilities around the world. In recognition of this, Mr. Ndopu was recently appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to serve as a Member of the UN Advocacy Group for the Sustainable Development Goals. He also serves as Special Advisor to the Partners of RTW Investments, a leading investor in scientific and medical innovation. Mr. Ndopu has also advised organizations such as the World Economic Forum, UN Women and Amnesty International. Mr. Ndopu holds a Master’s in Public Policy from Oxford University and is currently setting in motion plans to deliver a televised address to the UN from Space, in an effort to inspire greater ambition around the SDGs. This will make him the first physically disabled person to travel into space.

Author, motivational speaker, commercial model and YouTube star. At four-years‐old, diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a rare retinal disease causing loss of vision. Began public speaking at the age of five as an ambassador for Fighting Blindness Canada. Openly shares experiences of overcoming adversity and embracing diversity, and increased social media followership to almost 3 million. 2019, wrote and published an audiobook “It’s Not What It Looks Like”. Has worked with a number of Fortune 500 companies; consultant for disability inclusion with P&G.

Social entrepreneur, adventurer and business woman. Subject of the National Geographic Documentary Elephant Vision, Ashoka Fellow, Eisenhower Fellow, Counsellor for One Young World, World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, TED speaker, past adviser for the Clinton Global Initiative and campaigner. Since making a life-changing decision at 28 to leave career as a management consultant and travel across India on an elephant, has been committed to building a global movement on inclusive business to build an equal society for the 1 billion people in the world with a disability. Has set up several organizations and initiatives centred on disability business inclusion. #Valuable, the most recent campaign, launched in August 2017, a global call to action for business to recognize the value of the 1 billion people with disabilities across their supply chain, reached 810 million people. Now, #valuable is working with chief executive officers, brands and platforms to put disability on the global business leadership agenda.