DILI, 19 September 2025 (TATOLI) – President and Nobel Peace Laureate, Jose Ramos-Horta hosted the 2025 Presidential Lecture Series III at the Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace. Under the theme “Entrepreneurship: How Do You Start?”, the event brought together an extraordinary group of international pioneers from business, exploration, ecology, and humanitarian leadership to inspire a new generation of Timorese changemakers.
The lecture aimed to demystify the process of starting new ventures, highlight universal values like resilience and risk-taking, and foster connections between Timorese changemakers and international leaders to seed future collaboration and mentorship.
The dynamic program began with a welcome address from President Ramos-Horta, who framed the national vision for innovation. Attendees then gained unique insights from a keynote address by Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Frederik Paulsen, Chairman of Ferring Pharmaceuticals, who shared his reflections on entrepreneurship, leadership, and the spirit of discovery. This was followed by a featured talk from renowned Brazilian environmentalist Roberto Klabin on ‘Ecology as Entrepreneurship,’ detailing his experience building successful conservation-based business models.
The event also presented exclusive video reflections on the universal theme of ‘Starting from Anywhere’ from a diverse group of pioneers, including British explorer David Hempleman-Adams and American preservationist Clifton Foster. The core of the lecture was a live, moderated panel discussion titled ‘Starting Bold – Lessons from Global Trailblazers,’ featuring President Ramos-Horta in conversation with entrepreneurs Ibrahim Sharaf, Christopher Mouravieff-Apostol, and Warren Amason. The session concluded with an interactive audience Q&A, giving students, professionals, and private sector members, a direct opportunity to engage with the panelists.
“The spirit of entrepreneurship is the spirit of Timor-Leste itself: resilient, resourceful, and built on a vision for a better future,” stated President Ramos-Horta. “This lecture was more than a discussion; it was a call to action for our youth. By learning from these global pioneers, we ignite the courage to innovate, to take calculated risks, and to build enterprises that will drive our nation’s prosperity for decades to come.”
The event served as a critical platform for direct dialogue, moving beyond a traditional business focus to showcase how the entrepreneurial spirit drives innovation across all sectors. It successfully empowered attendees by demystifying the initial steps of launching a venture and highlighting the shared values of resilience and vision.
The Presidential Lecture Series is a flagship initiative designed to stimulate national discourse on critical issues for Timor-Leste’s development. By bringing world-renowned thought leaders to Dili, the series provides a platform for inspiring dialogue, sharing global best practices, and empowering Timorese citizens to contribute to the nation’s prosperous future.
TATOLI
