Simon Cohen

Business leader, Change agent, Concerned citizen, Consultant, Global soul, Idea generator, Marketer, Promoter, Social entrepreneur, Writer/Editor

Simon Cohen is managing director of global tolerance, an international communications organization that works with charities, NGOs, and faith groups around the world. At global tolerance, he has worked directly with, among others, HH Dalai Lama, HRH The Prince of Wales, Desmond Tutu, Rajmohan (grandson of the Mahatma) Gandhi, Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Karen Armstrong and Wallace & Gromit! Simon is an international speaker and trainer on the media and ethics. Simon has spoken and run workshops on the subject at the World Economic Forum, Parliament of the World’s Religions, World Spirit Forum, Economic Forum, World’s Religions After 9/11, Universal Forum of Cultures, Caux Conference, and several other international symposia. A staunch advocate for media ethics and a freelance journalist, Simon is a regular commentator on media ethics in the international media, and is an advisor to the International Communications Forum, which promotes the ethical role of the media around the world. Simon is also a freelance writer with the British Association of Journalists and has written for Newsweek/Washington Post, The Times, The Guardian, Beliefnet and the BBC. In 2003, Simon set up global tolerance, now the world’s leading communications organization in the faith arena. global tolerance only works with organizations committed to positive social change. It's client list includes, among others, TED, the Board of World Religious Leaders, Wallace & Gromit's Children's Foundation, European Council of Religious Leaders,The Green Party, the Coexist Foundation and the Gallup Organization for their World Poll of Muslims. Simon has been recognized numerous times by Mediaweek and PRWeek as one of the top young media and PR professionals in the UK. He has received multiple awards from UnLtd and the Millennium Awards Trust as a leading social entrepreneur. In 2009, Cohen was included in PRWeek’s Powerbook of the most influential people in the PR industry. Simon is a Theology graduate who sits comfortably on the fence of his own spirituality. He is happiest on the dance floor or when he is playing with his five year old nephew Joshua.

• power of PR to build a better world • media social responsibility • generating inspirational coverage for social causes • Charter for Compassion • global tolerance • love • my family • you

The Charter for Compassion A global movement to build a more compassionate world. Led by Karen Armstrong, inspired by the world's faiths, and relevant for all, this simple but powerful idea is one that is pregnant with hope for humanity. The Charter for Compassion is an idea worth spreading. www.charterforcompassion.org

Ethical campaigns, Media strategy and management, public relations & marketing, religion and media

global tolerance was hired by TED to use our global networks to help spread the reach of the Charter for Compassion, which launches in November this year. I was lucky to join TED and the Council of Conscience in Geneva (see www.charterforcompassion.org), and am a passionate advocate for the campaign. This is my first TED Conference, and I can't wait to listen, learn and to be inspired!

• breakdancing (well, more okay than good) • most sports with a ball • listening • speaking dog (I used to be one)