Next week in Saxapahaw, North Carolina, international experts, entrepreneurs, and more will gather to report on innovative global projects that improve lives around the world, and to develop new partnerships to further social good.

The fourth annual SwitchPoint conference, produced by IntraHealth International, features 56 speakers, 22 microlabs, nine performances, five bands, and four field trips. The event is known for convening big thinkers from around the world and focusing their creativity and expertise on the greatest global health and development challenges of our day.

SwitchPoint takes place April 23–24 in Saxapahaw, an old mill town that is itself a nationally recognized model of unexpected collaborations and partnerships. The event is fast-paced but has a retreat-like atmosphere that allows for unique networking opportunities.

“We look forward to intense, engaging presentations, and interactive side sessions, which we call microlabs,” says Pape Gaye, IntraHealth’s president and CEO. “This year, we are particularly excited about the range of topics, including digital humanitarianism, bioethics, 3D printing, gaming, innovation curation, artivism, communications, design, social entrepreneurship, and global health and development principles.”

At an April 22 Innovator’s Forum led by Christopher Gergen of Forward Impact, speakers will share ideas, tools, and goals for the year ahead and develop cross-sectoral collaborations for greater social good. 

Featured speakers include:

• Peter Binkley and Peregrine Hawthorn, the father-and-son team that helped launch e-NABLE, a 3D mechanical hand. Their crowdsourced maker movement builds open source mechanical prosthetics for children.

• Nadia Hitimana, a young entrepreneurial leader from Rwanda whose company manufactures 3-cent maxi pads out of banana leaf fiber. Her work builds sustainable industry, provides affordable resources, and keeps girls in school every month.

• Patrick Meier, a globally recognized disaster relief specialist who uses drones to collect data and deliver supplies to hard-hit areas.

• Amanda Puckett, part of the Ebola Grand Challenge Award-winning team that built mHero, a mobile response system for frontline health workers.

• Phaedra Boinodiris, producer of IBM's award-winning INNOV8 series of serious games, keynote speaker at two NATO summits and cofounder of WomenGamers.com. Her gamification strategies have been praised by many, from techies to four-star generals.

• Ben Wikler, host of “The Good Fight” podcast about epic battles for a better world, and the Washington director of MoveOn.org. 

• Lisa Russell, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and cofounder of MDGFive.com.

• Michael Bzdak, executive director of corporate contributions at Johnson & Johnson. He manages the corporation’s strategy for strengthening the health care workforce and leads efforts around program evaluation.

To see a full list of speakers, visit www.switchpointideas.com/Speakers

Register for SwitchPoint at http://www.switchpointideas.com.