(Bilbao, Spain)--The Bilbao Urban Innovation and Leadership Dialogues (BUILD) will launch in Bilbao this week from June 11-14, and will bring together 120 U.S. and European urban leaders to share strategies for urban transformation and global leadership. The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), in partnership with the Bilbao City Council, will host the event at the iconic Euskaldune Palace Conference Center and Concert Hall.

Featured speakers at BUILD include Angela Glover Blackwell, founder and chief of PolicyLink, Janet Lamkin, president of Bank of America for California, and Ibone Bengoetxea, deputy mayor of the Bilbao City Council. Read the agenda to find out who else will be speaking.

Through dialogue, workshops and site visits, participants will explore both the leadership and policy angles of two themes: sustainable and equitable urban transformation and global engagement for cities.  Urban leaders will share information about the challenges and opportunities of leading transatlantic cities through change to greater global engagement. The event aims to improve cooperation and exchange on these topics in U.S. and European cities and create a network of cutting-edge, transatlantic urban leaders.

“BUILD brings together over 100 leaders from U.S. and European cities, " said Karen Donfried, president of GMF.

“Together we will explore the current and common challenges our cities face in terms of equity, innovation, and global competitiveness, Now more than ever, building a network of cities and their leaders is fundamental to strengthening transatlantic relations and our shared future.”

The conference’s themes reflect GMF’s identification of issues that will drive the next generation of leaders on both sides of the Atlantic, and the need to confront growing inequalities in urban communities through transatlantic dialogue among local leaders.  BUILD will underscore the need to lead equity and inclusion into the planning, policy, and implementation approaches for U.S. and European cities. In addition, it will emphasize the need for local leaders to be engaged and fluent in global issues and transcend locally-driven political agendas, a strategy that will allow cities to leverage local successes to capture new audiences and markets that bolster the local economy.  

As a host city, Bilbao is a compelling example of leading through change and driving innovation, and will be a backdrop for exploring the potential of urban regeneration and global engagement.  

BUILD is a joint product of the Transatlantic Leadership Initiatives and Urban and Regional Policy Programs at GMF. Both programs work to empower and equip local and regional leaders with new experiences, knowledge and tools to advance more sustainable, inclusive, and globally competitive cities.  Together, GMF works to develop a transatlantic urban agenda that is derived from a set of common challenges and potential for shared solutions between US and European cities.  

GMF will be live tweeting sessions. Follow the conversation on Twitter using #GMFBUILD

Please contact Sarah Halls, shalls@gmfus.org, for media requests.