In an age of uncertainty regarding the direction the world is going, as technology seems to be bringing us together yet other factors are pushing us apart, coming together to brainstorm the future might never have been so vital. From the Enlightenment via a century of revolutions to the intellectual debates of the mid 20th century, Paris has served as a platform for debating our existence. The new Paris Talks Conference, organized by Expats Paris for March 19th, 2018, aims to give new energy to discussing and forming the future. Its founder and director Michael Bahati tells us more about this innovative concept.
Michael Bahati of Expats Paris and organizer of the Paris Talks Conference
Tell us a little more about the Paris Talks Conference?
Paris Talks is an Expats Paris project devoted to ideas about the Future of Humanity. It’s basically a one-day conference carried out in the form of powerful, inspiring and short talks of 15 minutes or less together with networking and entertainment opportunities.
What was the main inspiration behind it?
After more than three years of community and event management, we felt like time had come for us to embrace brand new challenges. So, we brainstormed for more than 12 months, did research and thought it’d be interesting to come up with something creative, scientific, a bit intellectual, friendly and fun. That’s how Paris Talks came to be. We created and registered Paris Talks as a brand, designed the website, defined the conference’s vision, theme and area of focus, and launched the project.
What do you hope to achieve?
Our aim is to create:
- A platform that deals with serious current and future world issues that need to be re-examined.
- The one and only platform that deals with issues related to the Future of Humanity in Paris, France and entirely done in English.
- A platform that doesn’t aim at predicting the future but rather at warning and reminding us of the best and sustainable actions to get involved into right now to ensure a better future for the coming generations.
- A platform where innovators, entrepreneurs, experts and influencers in different fields will meet to network, learn and challenge each other to look at the future of Humanity with an unconventional eye.
- The Place where people from different walks of life, with the thirst for knowledge and the passion for inspiring others, can meet.
Can you give us an example of one or two of your speakers?
The Paris Talks conference will feature more than 12 innovative and influential speakers and entertainers. Several are based in Paris Connie-Lee C. Bennett, a Psychotherapist and international Keynote Speaker and Peter J. Wells, Chief of Higher Education Section at UNESCO whereas we’re very pleased to be welcoming Bernardo Muhindo, an entrepreneur and Founder at Payline Holding LLC coming in from Uganda and David Wood, Writer, Futurist & Founder Member of the Transhumanist Party, descending from the U.K.
If you had to choose one adjective to describe the conference what would it be?
I’d probably go for three: crazy, challenging and interesting.
In your view, what place in Paris best brings people together to exchange ideas – either in a structure or just casually, a crossroads for people or cultures?
- The Collège de France, a renowned French higher education and research establishment located in 5th arrondissement in Paris just across the street from the historical campus of La Sorbonne.
- Parisian Museums offer free conferences and networking opportunities almost every week.
- And of course, I wouldn’t leave the Expats Paris Tuesday afterwork drinks behind. We’ve been doing them for almost two years and it’s been pretty fun and interesting.
Thanks a lot, Michael!
Paris Talks will be a full day event on Monday March 19, 2018 at the historic Theatre de la Porte Saint Martin. Until December 21st, 2017 you can get early bird tickets at this link for 50 euros (includes full day of talks, end of conference cocktail and other take aways). Alternatively, the if you would like to volunteer, get in touch with Expats Paris.
More information on their website here.