Our Common Humanity in the Information Age. Principles and Values for Development

Renate Bloem, President, Conference of NGOs (CONGO)
Renate Bloem, a Swiss national, completed her studies in Medicine, Languages and 
Literature at the Universities of Bonn, Munich and New York (Columbia University) and 

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started her academic career by teaching at international schools and cultural institutions 
worldwide.
Since 1985 she dynamically engaged in the NGO work. As a strong advocate for human 
rights, in particular for the human rights of women and children, she was actively 
involved in the Drafting of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (Art. 37d) and, after 
its adoption, in the promotion of children's rights.
In January 2000, together with her Committee on the Status of Women, she organized the 
NGO Working Session, preceding the ECE Regional Preparatory Meeting for Beijing+5, 
largely hailed as a model for NGO/UN partnership, and got actively involved in the 
whole review process of Beijing and Copenhagen+5.
Elected CONGO President at the General Assembly in November 2000 and re-elected in 
December 2003, she has been involved in numerous UN meetings. Renate has provided 
invaluable counsel and guidance to CONGO membership and staff, contributing to her 
organization's development. Under her strong leadership, CONGO has gained 
prominence in the international civil society landscape and became the main counterpart 
of NGOs in relationship with the United Nations.
Louise T. Blouin Mac Bain, President, Louise T. Blouin Foundation
Louise T Blouin Mac Bain is CEO and President of LTB Group of Companies - a global 
media business with a commitment to the arts and culture. Group publications include Art 
+ Auction, Modern Painters and Culture and Travel and the Group produces around 50 
magazines and 130 titles in total each year. The website www.artinfo.com intended to be 
the premier online destination for the arts is the LTB Group's latest creation.
Mac Bain is also the Chairman and Founder of the Louise T Blouin Foundation. The 
Foundation reflects Mrs. Mac Bain's hopes and dreams through its work across the world 
to promote culture and creativity and their role in making societies stronger. Recent 
Foundation projects include an investment in cultural exchange projects between China, 
the Middle East and the West, an OECD research initiative measuring cultural investment 
across the world and the development of an Institute in Notting Hill, London. 
Previous to setting up the LTB Group, she co-founded Trader Classified Media. Over 15 
years as Chairman and Operational CEO she turned around a business with more than 
400 publications (9 million readers per week) 80 companies and, with her management 
team, led over 5,000 employees and 60 internet sites in 20 countries . She relinquished her 
interest in Trader to develop the LTB Group. She holds a number of memberships in 

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international business and art organisations, including: Board of the Cendant 
Corporation; Board of Trustees of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation; Board 
Member of the Bard Centre in New York; Honorary Member of the Chairman's Council 
at the Whitney Museum, New York; Member of the International Council of the Tate 
Museum, London; International Committee of Les Arts Decoratifs in Paris; Member of 
Le Club international des Amis du Centre Pompidoude.