The Director at the World Economic Forum, Davos 21-24 January 2015

Oliver attended this year's World Economic Forum in Davos, meeting with leading political, religious and business figures to discuss events in the MENA region and the work of Forward Thinking.At the Forum, Oliver was asked to moderate a discussion around the theme, "Changing Narratives: Religion, Society and Security." This session focused on the rise of religious extremism, and how governments and individuals might respond to this challenge with effective, long-term, solutions. The discussion explored the main dimensions and threats inherent in the rise in extremist movements, and how this might be countered through harnessing religion and faith leaders as cooperative forces to bridge dialogue,promote coexistence and advance socio-economic prosperity. Several themes emerged from discussions including: The importance of counter-narratives; the role of education; and youth and extremism.In the course of the Forum, Oliver met with Taoiseach Enda Kenny, with whom he discussed the Irish model of politics, its lessons of power-sharing and coalition building, and the possible relevance of Ireland's experience for countries in the Middle East currently undergoing transition.Oliver was also interviewed by the Hub Culture Pavilion at Davos, where he spoke about the aftermath of the Paris Attacks, the need for religious literacy and Forward Thinking's work in Northern Ireland. The full interview can be accessed here: https://hubculture.com/groups/12/video/play/1168/