Speakers

Programme

• 09:00 - 09:55

  Registration and coffee

• 10:00 - 10:15

  Opening of the Conference with Erica Jennings

• 10:15 - 10:30

  Welcome speeches:

  • Remigijus Šimašius, Vilnius City Mayor
  • Ole Terje Horpestad, Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Vilnius
  • Rugilė Trumpytė, Lithuanian Diversity Charter and Vladimir Simonko, LGL

• 10:30 - 12:00

  Panel I: Equality, Diversity, Inclusion: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities

  We will open the conference by discussing how cities ensure diversity and equal opportunities for all. We will learn how the principles of equality have materialized in different towns and cities in Europe and Canada and what is still to be achieved.
  
  Moderator: Adam Long, National LGBT Federation in Ireland

  Attendance:

  • Colin Ratushniak, Mayor of La Ronge, Canada
  • Cecilia Brinck, President of Stockholm City Council, Sweden
  • Marianne Borgen, Mayor of Oslo, Norway
  • Remigijus Šimašius, Vilnius City mayor, Lithuania
  • Jessica Stern, U.S. special envoy to advance the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons

• 12:00 - 13:00

  Coffee and Snack Break

• 13:00 - 13.15

  Welcome back and musical performance with Erica Jennings

• 13:15 - 13.50

  Panel II: How to achieve sustainable impact in organisations? (Language - Lithuanian)

  More and more companies commit to ensure diversity and inclusion at work, communicate about their social accountability and the wellbeing of employees. In this panel, we will ask what exactly companies do to create safe, open, and friendly environment for all and how do they know if those goals were achieved.
  
  Moderator: Rugilė Trumpytė, Lithuanian Diversity Charter

  Attendance:

  • Donatas Paulauskas, Ignitis Group
  • Vaida Kaikarienė, RIMI Lietuva
  • Marius Zelenius, Lithuanian airports
  • Agnė Jonaitytė - Karalienė, Swedbank Lithuania
  • Jurgita Kuprytė, SOPA

• 13:50 - 14.50

  Panel III: The Value and Potential of Migration, Refugee Integration and Diversity

  The panel will look at how migration and refugee integration contribute to welcoming cities and local communities. Panellists will share Swedish experiences of welcoming refugees in 2015- 2016 and how refugee reception created new opportunities for municipalities. Panellists will also discuss how innovative intercultural tools may ensure inclusive local communities, and how to respond to unprecedented numbers of displaced people and the urgent need for more resettlement.
  
  Moderator: Karolis Žibas, UNHCR

  Attendants:

  • Peo Hansen, Linköping University, Sweden
  • Gemma Pinyol-Jiménez, The Council of Europe
  • Yolande Ditewig, UNHCR

• 14:50 - 15:30

  Coffee Break

• 15:30 - 16.30

  Panel IV: Proud Cities: From Struggle to Success Story. LGBTI Equality as a Pivotal Point for Diversity Mainstreaming

  In this panel, we will speak about the necessity to include the LGBTQ community in social and political life and give an overview of the current situation on national and municipal level. We will also ask how business and political leaders may ensure equality of LGBTQ persons and what role they play.
  
  Moderator: Kaspars Zalitis, Deep White, Latvia

  Attendants: 

  • DK Bartley, Moody's
  • Inge Alexander Gjestvang, FRI association
  • David Catterall DL, representative of Greater Manchester
  • Henk Nijmeijer, Drenthe Regional Parliament
  • Vestina Adamonienė, Accenture Baltics

• 16.30 - 16.35

  Closing the conference

Main partners

Partners

Broadcast

Gallery