I wonder whether  I am the right person to be called upon to address a group of directors with a vast experience and understanding of the issues involved in running a great non- governmental organisation which the SOS Children's Villages undoubtedly is. Having accepted this invitation, albeit with some trepidation, I thought it might be useful to share my thoughts on the relevance of non-government organisations in today's troubled world - and how with effective leadership, their role and potential can be better realised.