ON POINT ARTICLES
IT’S NOT ONE LEADER THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE IT’S HAVING ONE GOAL IAPCO Member: Conference Partners International, Ireland Author : Nicola McGrane, Managing Director
Having let some time settle since the announcement of the
So many worked on a voluntary basis and gave up their
One Young World win for Belfast on 31 March, it is nice to have
personal time. Why? Because this is no ordinary event. This
time to sit back and reflect upon the long two-year journey
is not just a conference, this is a movement-style event that
that brought this great win for the city of Belfast. Sometimes
will transform the mind-set of the people of Northern Ireland.
it is not until you reach the ultimate goal that you realise the
The win is not just to bring another conference to Northern
incline of the mountain we have all climbed.
Ireland. The win is a chance for the young people of Northern Ireland to share their story of Resilience and Global Ambition
There is old expression “it takes a village to rear a child”, well it
with the world. The win is to identify the next generation of
took an amazing Belfast community to win One Young World. I
young leaders in Northern Ireland and to place them amongst
exaggerate not when I say it took hundreds of people in Belfast
a global community of powerful young leaders where they will
to get this global Olympic-style event to the city and everyone
all inspire each other to create a better world. The win is for
played their part with passion, drive and pure excellence.
the established leaders of Northern Ireland to find a place for young leaders to have a voice in critical decision making. This
From the creation of the advisory board, the various organising
is the power of the win of One Young World.
committees and the engagement of the people of Northern Ireland across a number of communities, Belfast City Council,
Although we have reached the end of our bid journey, we now
Visit Belfast, Tourism Northern Ireland, ministries, agencies,
embark on a new journey. A journey of legacy with a clear path
educators, young talent and the stakeholders of the business
to positive change and societal impact. We now have a new
tourism sector; it is the culmination of the passion of all these
goal. ONE goal with many leaders to bring us to the next finish
great people that won the One Young World bid.
line, which will be One Young World in Belfast in May 2023.
With a clear eye on the prize, and a focus on first place in
Watch the video on vimeo.
the race, every single person played their part with such determination. There was no ONE leader, there was the strength and power of many leaders with ONE goal in mind. Now that is a powerful city. 22
| May 2021
