Dean Gabriel Hawawini welcomed alumni back and paid tribute to INSEAD's pioneers, and the
school's cherished past, epitomized in its core values which have remained the same over the years: to be diverse and open-minded, independent and free, rigorous and relevant, close to business and entrepreneurial. Hawawini highlighted INSEAD's strength as a proven educational model with an emerging global strategy. INSEAD is moving forward with a renewed mission to contribute to the world's progress by developing responsible, thoughtful leaders and entrepreneurs who create value for their organizations and communities; and to create and disseminate management knowledge. Its vision is to be the most innovative business school and to become the most influential business school, bringing people, cultures & ideas together through a network of connected campuses.

Hawawini spoke of three key objectives he has set for INSEAD: to attract and retain world-class
faculty, to make INSEAD the international business school of choice, and to create the first truly global learning network . He raised a challenge to alumni, quoting from INSEAD co-founder Général
Georges Doriot: "Sans le sens de l'action, le monde serait encore à l'état d'idée."

Michael Butt MBA '67, Vice Chairman of the INSEAD Campaign Committee, having held positions as INSEAD Board member, International Council President, and IAA President, rendered eloquently his deep attachment and commitment to INSEAD, a sense of responsibility he feels to the institution which best epitomizes the ideals he holds dear. He called on alumni, who are playing an ever greater role in the governance of the school to live up to their responsibility to INSEAD and invest in its future.

The Dean then honoured a host of alumni who have distinguished themselves through volunteer service on INSEAD boards, reunion and national committees, and the IAA, and thanked those who have given generously to INSEAD, as individuals and through their companies. He pointed out 25 IAF Salamander award holders in the audience, and distributed 11 more IAF Salamander awards to Anat Bar-Gera '87D, Dov Bar-Gera '87D, Matthew Cadbury '87D, Boudewijn Gerner '77, Robert Greenhill '87J, Cornelius Grupp '77, Peter Hunt '67, Paul Lomas '87D,
Victor Scherrer '67, Turo Tukiainen '67, Olav zu Ermagassen '77, encouraging all to continue investing in INSEAD and to join the Salamander Club for life.

Dean Gabriel Hawawini with Salamander Award recipients

Paul Dubrule Chaired Professor in Sustainable Development, Ethan Kapstein conducted a thought-provoking interactive session on global inequality and its consequences, inviting INSEAD graduates, as enlightened business leaders, to play a strong role in addressing this issue.

In addition to the core programme for MBA '62, '67, '77, and '87, MBA '77, celebrating its quarter of a century, met for a more extended weekend. Under the leadership of Wenke Thoman and Ulysses Kyriacopoulos, their programme began with a reception in Paris, golf, a château visit, and a session with simulations on managing change through the internet with Professor Albert Angehrn. The 25th reunion was also another opportunity for MBA '77 to give a little back to the school by making a donation to the IAF or earmarking their gift to the Judith Connelly Delouvrier Scholarship Fund (JCDISF). About €70,000 was collected on that occasion.

A very big thank you to our generous supporters.