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Salzburg Global Fellow Tunji Offeyi reflects on his experience attending the in-person program of Public Policy New Voices Europe
After nearly a year of taking part virtually in Public Policy New Voices Europe, it was time to attend the in-person program at the picturesque Schloss Leopoldskron, home of Salzburg Global Seminar.
Boarding a flight from Manchester in the United Kingdom to Frankfurt en route to Salzburg, I was excited. A day-long endless wait at Frankfurt Airport after that, due to a flight delay, nearly ruined my excitement, but eventually, I made it to Salzburg in the evening. I was then able to put the initial upset behind me and check in at the palace.
The next day I realized I was still knackered, but an email from the indefatigable Faye Hobson, our efficient program coordinator, informed me we were already meeting at Fellows Hall.
So, off I went, and that marks the beginning of an interactive week-long program that boasted top speakers like Jong-Hwa Ahn, Jana Degrott, Stelios Kympouropolous, Robb Anthony Gray, and Jim Filippatos, who, among so many other important personalities, made it a full house of the intelligentsia.
Some of the high points of the program that I really benefited the most from are the group work collaborations supported by group champions like Ana Rold and Litha Sokutu, in addition to Robb and Jong-Hwa.
Chloe Hakim-Moore, from Tennessee in the US, made a good impact on most Fellows with her motivational talks and wellness agenda. Aside from this, I benefited from the book reading concept, which allows for philosophical discussions around created book covers that never existed. I thought that was a brilliant initiative!
“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” so the proverb goes. With that in mind, riding bikes around Salzburg was real fun and quite exhilarating, not to forget the evening parties and the food by a great Canadian chef. Then there was the tour of the Schloss itself by Helia, who told the stories without a script! That was quite astonishing on its own.
But, on a more serious note, my ultimate takeaway from the program is that a society cannot progress nor function without well-targeted public policy initiatives that carry its citizens along. At least, that was our position in my group, where we emphasized citizenship engagements as one of the ways to drive change in society.
The idea of inclusivity was imprinted on our minds. It is important for every group to be captured in public policy plans, and there must be a seat at the table for diverse groups to truly realize our potential as a society. As one of my favorite adages goes, “He who wears the shoe knows where it pinches.”
In conclusion, would I like to get involved with Salzburg Global Seminar in the future? Absolutely yes! As we say in Nigeria, when a road is good, you walk it twice.
Tunji Offeyi is a Salzburg Global Fellow who took part in Public Policy New Voices Europe. This program is held in partnership with the Walt Disney Company and supported by Squire Patton Boggs.