Adil Najam Speaks at Reception Hosted by Governor-General of Australia
The Governor General of Australia, Her Excellency the Honorable Ms. Sam Mostyn, hosted a special reception for visiting leaders of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) including WWF’s Global President, Professor Adil Najam, Dean Emeritus and Professor of International Relations at the Pardee School. The event was held at Admiralty House in Sydney, overlooking Sydney Bay and its iconic Sydney Opera House.
In her welcome remarks, the Governor General said, “Dr. Adil Najam, Global President of WWF International, together with all of the country leaders who are here tonight, you are all very important and special guests here tonight, representing your nations, representing your commitment to nature and to biodiversity and species preservation, the fact that you are gathered here in Sydney in Australia, makes me feel very, very proud that WWF has gathered you all here in this beautiful part of the world.” She highlighted the importance of sustainability as a guiding principle for policy in all countries and reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to environmental and climate action.
She added that “when I was sworn in as Australia’s 28th Governor General, I promised to put care, kindness and respect at the centre of everything that we will do in this office over my five-year period. Care for each other, care for those that do the caring of others, care for our civics and institutions and for the way in which we discuss the very tough issues of our time, with our anger, rancour or judgment, always with respect and optimism. I always add to that care for our continent and its environmental riches and everything it has given us.”
In his response remarks, Prof. Adil Najam thanked the Governor General for her personal passion and commitment for the environment and nature. He stressed on the important role that Australia has and can play in the global efforts “to ensure a sustainable future for our young today and for generations not yet born.” Najam spoke about the human relationship with nature and the need “to shun our arrogance and embrace an honest humility in recognizing that we do not stand outside of nature but are very much a part of it.”
Najam pointed out that challenges faced by the global environment are pressing and immediate and much be recognized as challenges to our own future as a species on this planet. He underlined the need for all countries to take up this challenge with urgency, and called on Australia to assume leadership role in a world that is fast changing and under multiple clouds of uncertainty.
Adil Najam is Dean Emeritus and Professor at the Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University. He served as the Inaugural Dean of the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies from 2014-2022. He is also a former Vice-Chancellor of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). Read more about Najam on his Pardee School faculty profile.