Young leaders from Australia and around the world will come together with global entertainers in a major event in Melbourne to fast-track action on issues such as poverty and climate change.

Minister for Trade and Investment Tim Pallas today announced Melbourne will host a Global Citizen international youth leadership summit in March next year.

The summit will include a thought leadership conference bringing young leaders from across the Asia Pacific together with international students, philanthropists and leaders from business, media, culture and politics.

It will culminate with a music event expected to draw visitors from around the country – with artists to be announced in coming months.

Global Citizen events convene the biggest names in music and entertainment alongside world leaders and prominent advocates. Previous events have included the participation of Chris Martin, Pharrell Williams, Katie Holmes, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Malala Yousafzai.

Backed by funding through the Melbourne City Revitalisation Fund, the Global Citizen summit will provide an international platform to highlight Melbourne and Victoria as Australia’s knowledge capital and premier global study destination.

There are more than 140,000 international students from 160 countries studying in Victoria, making Melbourne the most diverse student city in the world. Melbourne was last month confirmed as Australia’s leading city for international students – and No.4 in the world – in the QS Best Student City report.

Headquartered in New York and with its Oceania team based in Melbourne, Global Citizen works to defeat poverty, demand equity and defend the planet in partnership with young leaders, government and business. It was established by friends Simon Moss, Hugh Evans, Wei Soo and Michael Sheldrick in Melbourne in 2008.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Trade and Investment Tim Pallas

“Victoria is the perfect place to host Global Citizen because our young people embrace big challenges and lead through action.”

“Melbourne is the cultural heart of Australia, its best student city and a world leader in innovation, research and development.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Youth Natalie Suleyman

“We know Melbourne is the knowledge capital of Australia, and with Global Citizen we have a wonderful opportunity for our emerging leaders to contribute to shaping a better world for all of us.”

Quote attributable to Global Citizen Co-Founder Simon Moss

“We are thrilled to be returning home to Melbourne where Global Citizen first started – to shine a spotlight on young leaders from Australia and across the region who are driving global efforts to end extreme poverty.”