Media Advisory: CIGI Hosts IMF Reform Conference

Market Wire, July, 2008

Leading experts and policymakers will gather in Waterloo July 18 and 19 for a conference aimed at expanding the debate about reforming the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to include the developing countries' perspectives.

"Bringing Balance to IMF Reform Debates" is the final instalment in a series of regional meetings around the world focused on helping developing countries articulate their needs and priorities for future services from the IMF. Previous meetings held in Africa, Asia, Central Asia, Latin America and the Middle East focused on the kinds of monetary cooperation that would benefit the countries from these regions and what role can and should IMF play in achieving their goals.

The event is hosted by the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) in partnership with the University of Oxford (UK) and New Rules for Global Finance (USA).

A presentation by John Hicklin, Deputy Director of the Independent Evaluation Office of IMF, opens the conference on Friday, followed by panel discussions on Saturday.

After the event, the project leaders will make a presentation to the IMF Executive Board and meet with the representatives of the U.S. presidential candidates.

The conference agenda and participant's list are available upon request.

SPECIAL GUESTS IN ATTENDANCE:

(INTERVIEW AND PHOTO OPPORTUNITY)

Tom Bernes - Director, Independent Evaluation Office, IMF

James Boughton - Chief Historian, IMF

Jo Marie Griesgraber - Executive Director, New Rules for Global Finance

Meibo Huang - Professor, Department of Economics, Xiamen University, People's Republic of China

Peter Kenen - Professor, Economics and International Finance, Princeton University; Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations

Jan Kregel - Chief of Policy Analysis and Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations

Johannes Linn - Executive Director, Wolfensohn Center for Development, Brookings Institution

Domenico Lombardi - President, The Oxford Institute for Economic Policy

Paul Martin - Former Prime Minister of Canada, Member of Parliament for LaSalle-Emard in Montreal, Quebec

John Murray - Deputy Governor, Bank of Canada

Jorge Patino - Executive Director, IMF's Toronto Centre

Randal Quarles - Managing Director, The Carlyle Group

Ngaire Woods - Professor of International Political Economy and Director of the Global Economic Governance Programme, University College, University of Oxford

EVENT:
Bringing Balance to IMF Reform Debates

DATE:
Friday, July 18 - Saturday, July 19

TIME:
July 18, 4:30 pm - 9:00 pm
July 19, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm

LOCATION:
The Centre for International Governance Innovation
57 Erb Street West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) is an independent, nonpartisan think tank that addresses international governance challenges. Led by a group of experienced practitioners and distinguished academics, CIGI supports research, forms networks, advances policy debate, builds capacity, and generates ideas for multilateral governance improvements. Conducting an active agenda of research, events and publications, CIGI's interdisciplinary work includes collaboration with policy, business and academic communities around the world. CIGI was founded in 2002 by Jim Balsillie, co-CEO of RIM (Research In Motion), and collaborates with and gratefully acknowledges support from a number of strategic partners, in particular the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. For more information, please visit www.cigionline.org .

Contacts: Media Contact: The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) Neve Peric, Media Relations Director (519) 885-2444 ext. 390 (519) 885-5450 (FAX) Email: nperic@cigionline.org Website: www.cigionline.org Canadian International Council (CIC) Neve Peric, Media Relations Director (519) 885-2444 ext. 390 (519) 885-5450 (FAX) Balsillie School of International Affairs (BSIA) Neve Peric, Media Relations Director (519) 885-2444 ext. 390 (519) 885-5450 (FAX)