and economic growth, ensuring that future generations inherit a stable and thriving planet. 1 / 3 bis - central bankers'speeches i would like to express my gratitude to the distinguished experts who will be sharing their knowledge and insights on this critical topic. your expertise enriches our understanding and empowers us to make informed decisions for the benefit of our nation and the broader global community. our panellists and moderator for the keynote discussion are : jennifer doherty - bigara, senior climate change specialist, inter - american development bank ( idb ) leslie gittens, multi - country manager ( caribbean ), united nations global compact donna wellington, managing director, barbados and the eastern caribbean, cibc firstcaribbean international bank torsten elhers, senior financial expert, international monetary fund ( imf ) - he will be joining virtually derek gibbs, climate finance specialist, environmental sustainability unit of the caribbean development bank ( cdb ) a€ “ moderator the panel is just the start, but over the course of the next five days, this esteemed annual review seminar will take us on a captivating journey through an array of pivotal economic themes. our presentations will delve into innovative financing, the labour market, the housing market, climate change and debt sustainability, trade, the financial sector, the external sector, health, behavioural assessments, and monetary policy. each of these areas holds immense significance in shaping the economic landscape not only for our beloved barbados, but also for small open economies worldwide. innovative financing has become a beacon of hope for economic growth and development. as we explore new avenues to secure funding and investment, we empower our nations to overcome obstacles and capitalise on emerging opportunities. the labour market lies at the heart of our economic prosperity. understanding its dynamics and challenges is crucial in crafting policies that promote inclusive growth, protect workers'rights, and nurture a skilled and adaptable workforce. the housing market is a fundamental pillar of societal stability and individual well - being. examining its intricacies will enable us to ensure access to affordable housing for all citizens while safeguarding against potential risks. climate change and debt sustainability are intertwined challenges that call for urgent attention. by addressing these issues head - on, we pave the way for sustainable and resilient economies that can weather the storms of environmental and economic uncertainty. trade forms the backbone of global economic interconnectedness. our discussions on this topic will explore ways to foster international partnerships, facilitate exports, and unlock the full potential

we believe that the best ideas, policies and, ultimately, service to the public are the result of diverse perspectives, and from a staff that reflects the rich diversity of our nation. inclusion makes us stronger by providing all employees the assurance that they will be working in an environment that welcomes and values their differences, and that recognizes and rewards people according to the contributions they make in advancing the mission of the organization. that is not to say that we have all of the solutions, or that we do not have considerable progress to make. but we have made efforts in a number of areas. these efforts are consistent with the congressional directive to establish the office of minority and women inclusion, and as articulated in the board of governors'strategic plan for diversity and inclusion. 2 first, we have made a commitment, and have made progress, to make our institution more diverse. that includes efforts to bring greater diversity to the board of directors of our federal reserve banks and branches as well as to senior leadership in the federal reserve system. we have also worked to improve our internal culture. these efforts include re - establishing and strengthening employee resource groups. we are working to come up with codes of conduct including efforts to make our meetings more inclusive and set rules around behavior in seminars. we are also providing diversity and inclusion as well as bystander training to both new and 1 / 2 bis central bankers'speeches existing employees. second, we have broadened our reach in recruiting to provide a more diverse range of applicants the opportunity to apply for positions at the federal reserve — through strengthening our connections to schools that serve diverse populations, hiring an outreach specialist for these communities, establishing a stronger presence at career fairs for diverse students, and hosting career events for students to promote jobs in economics and finance at the federal reserve. third, we are working with high schools and universities to inspire students'interest in economics and finance. we are also working to provide them with the tools they need to enter these fields. this has included partnerships with local high schools to teach economics, and with a local historically black university, howard university, to teach and mentor students in economics and statistical analysis. this last initiative has led to students developing an interest and pursuing careers in economics, including as research assistants at the federal reserve, and several are currently employed at the board as research assistants. of course, these conferences are also an important part of addressing diversity and inclusion in central banking, and the economics and finance professions. i look forward to welcoming all of you to