BRICS+ After the Expansion

Keynote Address by Lord Jim O’Neill.

This event explores the growing global significance of BRICS+ following its recent expansion and examines what the grouping means for the future of the international order. As geopolitical competition intensifies and the global economy becomes increasingly fragmented, BRICS+ has emerged as an important platform bringing together major emerging and middle powers seeking greater influence in global governance.

The discussion will address whether BRICS+ is evolving beyond an economic coordination forum into a more influential political and strategic actor, as well as the implications of this shift for the West and the broader international system. Key themes include economic cooperation, geopolitical competition, global governance, and the challenges of managing a more multipolar world order.

The event will feature a keynote speech by Lord Jim O'Neill, whose original BRIC concept helped shape global debates on the rise of emerging powers and their role in the world economy.

The event is organised by Dr Zeno Leoni, Dr Rishika Chauhan, and Dr Maria Papageorgiou (Newcastle University).

Remarks: Doors open at 17:00, with the event starting at 17:30. The event will be followed by drinks reception from 19:00 to 20:00

Lord Jim O’Neill of Gatley
Lord Jim O’Neill of Gatley worked for Goldman Sachs from 1995 until April 2013, spending most of his time there as Chief Economist. He chaired the Cities Growth Commission in the UK until October 2014 when it provided its final recommendations. Jim is currently chairing a formal Review into AMR (anti-microbial resistance), which will make recommendations on how to solve this global challenge in spring 2016.

Lord O’Neill is also a Honorary Chair of Economics at Manchester University, a Visiting Research Fellow at the international economic think tank, Bruegel, and on the economic advisory board to the IFC, the investing arm of the World Bank. Furthermore, he is one of the founding trustees of the UK educational charity, SHINE and serves on the board of ‘Teach for All’ and a number of other charities specialising in education. In September 2013 he became a Non-Executive Director of the Department of Education.

Lord O’Neill earned BA and MA degrees in economics from Sheffield University in 1978 and a PhD from the University of Surrey in 1982. He has honorary degrees from the Institute of Education, University of London, for his educational philanthropy; City University for his services to banking and finance; and Sheffield University in recognition of his contribution to international economics.

Prof Marta Fernández
Prof Marta Fernández is the General Coordinator of the BRICS Policy Center in Rio de Janeiro, affiliated to the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, where she also is an Adjunct Professor. Prof Fernández has a PhD in International Relations from the Institute of International Relations of the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (2011) with a CAPES sandwich scholarship at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland (2010). She currently is an Adjunct Professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro. Prof Fernández is an internationally sought-after expert on BRICS, and she is invited to attend conferences and share her expertise across the Global South and beyond.

Dr Mulugeta Getu Sisay

Dr Mulugeta Getu Sisay is a researcher at the Policy Studies Institute of Addis Abeba. He an internationally and widely cited scholar with academic publications about social justice, governance, climate, and transport regulation, and has taught environmental law and natural resource law courses at Cardiff University and Haramaya universities for more than 10 years. He holds a PhD from Cardiff University and has been actively engaged in BRICS-related academic and policy initiatives. Dr Sisay co-coordinates Ethiopian think tanks working on BRICS matters and has participated in major BRICS academic forums held in Brazil, South Africa, and China. In addition, he serves as a researcher at the Good Governance Study Center and teaches part-time at Addis Ababa University. His work focuses on governance, international cooperation, and the evolving role of BRICS in global affairs.

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