Public Lecture

Organizers:

Date:

October 7, 2025

Time:

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Fee:

Free Entrance

Location:

Aula, University of Aruba

Public Lecture: From Small Island to Icon: How Aruba Can Become a Great Nation

Description

An in-depth exploration of the Nation Building Principles that shape the world’s most successful nations and a bold outline of how Aruba can become one.

Aruba stands at a pivotal moment in its history. The world around us is shifting—economies fluctuate, geopolitical tensions rise, climate change threatens, and societal challenges grow ever more complex. One truth has never been clearer: without strong, resilient institutions and deliberate structures, our island’s future is fragile. Nation building is not abstract theory—it is the deliberate, strategic work of shaping a country into a strong, just, and united home, where its people, economy, and culture can thrive together.

This symposium will take participants on a journey into the heart of nation building. We will uncover why the design of institutions matters, how the most successful nations harness strategy, innovation, and governance to secure resilience and prosperity, and what lessons Aruba can draw from global examples such as Dubai, Singapore, Barbados, and Iceland. These nations did not rise by chance—they were deliberately shaped by vision, structure, and unwavering commitment to their people’s future. For Aruba, the question is urgent: which institutions are missing, which structures need strengthening, and how can we build the foundations of a nation capable of withstanding any challenge?

Speaker

Suzette Dumfries, is a Developmental Economist and Nation Builder. She has advised on nation transformation and sector development for projects of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Ruler of Dubai and Prime Minister of the UAE), Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani (former Prime Minister of Qatar), and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (King of Brunei). Her work also extends across Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, Europe, and the Caribbean. With more than twenty years of experience in nation building, sector development, and institutional strengthening. She also leads National Diagnostics and National Dialogues, through frameworks she developed to identify structural challenges faced by countries, build consensus, and translate vision into actionable strategy.

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