Julie Sweet at the World Economic Forum

There are 1.3 billion people in the world currently living with a disability, both in visible or invisible form. People with disabilities are among the most marginalised populations in the world; and often deprived access to employment. 80% of disabilities are acquired between the ages of 18 and 64 – the workforce age. According to the ILO, the cost of exclusion of people with disabilities represents up to 7% of GDP in some countries. With higher revenue, a strong company culture and brand, a disability-inclusive business strategy promises a significant return on investment.

What are actions that business leaders take to recognise the value and worth of the 1.3 billion people living with a disability?

Speakers: · Caroline Casey, Founder, Binc, Ireland; Young Global Leader, Cultural Leader. · Paul Polman, Chief Executive Officer, Unilever, United Kingdom. · Julie Sweet, Chief Executive Officer, North America, Accenture, USA. · Duncan Tait, President and Chief Executive Officer, Europe, Middle East, India and Africa, Fujitsu, United Kingdom. · Ashok Vaswani, Chief Executive Officer, United Kingdom, Barclays, United Kingdom.

Moderator: · Georg Schmitt, Head of Corporate Affairs, World Economic Forum.