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Why do some people seem to be energized by their work and careers, while others only work because they need to in order to pay the bills?  What does it mean to work with passionate vision?  What impact does our worldview and attitude to our work and careers have on how we view and treat our families?  Ray Hilbert explains. (more…)

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James T. Morris, Former Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme, gives the Tobias lecture on leadership and social issues

When: Tuesday, June 26, 3:30 p.m Keynote Address; 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Reception

Where: The Westin Hotel 50 South Capitol Street Indianapolis

The Tobias Lecture is free and open to the public.  RSVP is required.

The second annual Tobias Lecture will be delivered on June 26, 2007 at the Westin Hotel in Indianapolis.  This lecture will be featured as the Keynote Address at the Academy of International Business’s Annual Conference. James T. Morris, former Director of the UN World Food Programme will deliver the lecture.  The Tobias Lecture is free and open to the public.  RSVP is required.

In April 2002 James T. Morris became the tenth Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme.  His official term ended April 5, 2007. As leader of WFP, Mr. Morris oversaw the world’s largest food aid organization, which in 2005 fed 96.7 million people in over 80 countries. WFP reaches out to hungry people who cannot help themselves - victims of war and natural disasters, families affected by HIV/AIDS and orphans who have lost their parents to the pandemic, and school children in poor communities. In July 2002, Mr. Morris was appointed UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Special Envoy for Humanitarian Needs in Southern Africa, a region which continues to be gripped by a major food emergency. In 2003, he successfully guided WFP in carrying out the largest humanitarian operation in history, feeding 26 million Iraqis. WFP’s funding and operations have grown to unprecedented levels as a result of chronic food shortages in sub-Saharan Africa and the DemocraticPeople’s Republic of Korea.

For over 36 years, Mr. Morris has combined a distinguished career with a personal life of public service. His leadership in business, humanitarian, and philanthropic activities has always reflected a commitment to improving the lives of others, with a special interest in young people at risk.

After serving six years in city government in Indianapolis, Indiana, primarily as chief of staff for Mayor Richard Lugar, Mr. Morris moved to the Lilly Endowment, Inc. in 1973. He began as director of community development for the Endowment, one of the world’s largest charitable foundations. Mr. Morris moved to vice president, executive vice president and then president, and served in that role for six years until 1989. His principal interests have been in building communities, serving vulnerable children at risk and leadership development. Mr. Morris then became chairman and chief executive officer of IWC Resources Corporation and Indianapolis Water Company. While serving in these leadership roles and on several corporate boards, Mr.Morris was affiliated with the United States Olympic Committee as treasurer and as chairman of the audit and ethics committee, was chairman of the NCAA Foundation, was a member of the Board of Governors of the American Red Cross, and was chairman of the Board of Trustees of Indiana University. He has contributed time and guidance to many civic and community organizations. Mr. Morris earned his B.A. in Political Science from Indiana University and an M.B.A. from Butler University. He has received 11 honorary degrees including the most recent from the University of Notre Dame in May of 2005.
 
The Inaugural Tobias Lecture was delivered on April 13, 2006  as the Keynote Address at the Randall L. Tobias Center for Leadership Excellence’s Multi-Sector Forum by former Indiana Congressman Lee Hamilton. The title of his address was “The Attributes of Leadership.”  Lee H. Hamilton is Director of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.  Prior to becoming Director of the Woodrow Wilson Center, he served for thirty-four years as a United States Congressman from Indiana. He has interacted with leaders around the world and remains an important and active voice on matters of international relations and foreign affairs. He co-chaired the “Iraq Study Group” with former Secretary of the Treasury and State, Jim Baker, Honorary Chairman of the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University.

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Episcopal presiding bishop to visit Indianapolis June 15-17 to push us to think more responsibly and creatively about solving problems of global poverty (more…)

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Indiana’s immigrant population is a smaller percentage of the state’s total population than most other states … but it’s among the fastest growing. That means there’s still a chance to avert serious problems before they arise.
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