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World Culture Festival - Celebrating Life
Speakers
H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Humanitarian and Spiritual leader
Founder, Art of Living
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a humanitarian and spiritual teacher, an ambassador of peace and human values. He is the founder of the Art of Living and the International Association for Human Values. In a mere 34 years, his programs and initiatives have impacted over 370 million people in 155 countries with the premise of core values of respect for all, harmony in diversity, inner peace and service to society.
Hon. Mr. Hildebrando Tapia Samaniego
Vice-President - Andean Parliament
Hon. Mr. Hildebrando Tapia Samaniego is the Vice-President of the Andean Parliament. He was elected Congressman of the Republic by the Junin region for the legislative period first in 2006 and has since, held a number of varied responsibilities including Chairman of the Subcommittee on Housing and Construction, Vice President of the Committee on Transport, Communications, Housing and Construction, Chairman of the Committee on Environment and Ecology and many more. As a parliamentarian he authored a number of laws including decontamination of Lake Chinchaycocha – Junín, the decontamination of the Mantaro basin and the Law of the National Youth Council (CONAJU).
Hon. Ryszard Czarnecki
Vice President of the European Parliament, Belgium, Europe
Hon. MrRyszardCzarneckiis the Vice-President of the European Parliament responsible for Eastern Policy and the Eastern Partnership. He has previously been Minister of the European Affairs, Minister without Portfolio and former Deputy Minister of Culture and Arts. He has been a Member of the European Parliament since 2004 and has been Vice-President of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, as well as a member of interparliamentary forum with national parliaments of Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Hon. Mr. Arun Jaitley
Minister of Finance, Government of India
Hon. Mr. Arun Jaitley is Finance Minister, Minister of Corporate Affairs and Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the Cabinet of India. A member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he previously held the cabinet portfolios of Commerce and Industry and Law and Justice and briefly served as the Minister of Defence. From 2009 to 2014 he served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
Hon. Mr. Suresh Prabhu
Railway Minister of India, India.
Hon. Mr. Suresh Prabhu is the Railway Minister of India, a Chartered Accountant by profession and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. He was, in earlier stints, Industry Minister, Minister of Environment and Forests, Minister of Fertilizers & Chemicals, Power, Heavy Industry and Public Enterprises. He was also Chairman of Task Force for Interlinking of Rivers with a status and rank of Union Cabinet Minister.
Hon. Mr. Piyush Goyal
Minister of State with Independent Charge for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy, India.
Hon. Mr. Piyush Goyal is the Minister of State with Independent Charge for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy in the Government of India. A well-known investment banker, he has advised top corporates on management strategy and growth; also served on the Board of India’s largest commercial bank, State Bank of India and Bank of Baroda. Mr. Goyal was a member of the Standing Committee on Finance and the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Defence.
Hon. Smriti Irani
Minister of Human Resource Development, India
Hon. Ms. Smriti Irani is the current Minister of Human Resource Development in the Government of India and the youngest member of the Cabinet. She was a Member of the Indian Parliamentary delegation to the 126th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and Elected Rapporteur, Drafting Committee of the Standing Committee on Sustainable Development, Finance and Trade, IPU.
Hon. Nitin Gadkari
Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping, India
Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari has been a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council since 1989. He was the Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council from 1999-2005. After serving as President of the Maharashtra Pradesh BJP, in 2009 he was elevated to the post of the BJP National President to become the youngest ever party president. Gadkari was a PWD minister in Maharashtra between 1995 & 1999. As Public Works Minister in Maharashtra, he built the Mumbai – Pune Expressway.
Hon. General Vijay Kumar Singh
Minister of State for External Affairs, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Statistics and Program Implementation, India
General Vijay Kumar Singh is Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Statistics and Programme Implementation, Minister of State for External Affairs and Minister of State for Overseas Indian Affairs. Previously, he served as the 26th Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army. In his stint in the army, he was awarded a number of bravery medals including the Yudh Seva Medal, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Param Vishisht Seva Medal.
Hon. Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman
Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ministry of Commerce & Industry, India
Ms. Nirmala Sitharmanan is Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Commerce andIndustry. She had a rich career spanning Price Waterhouse, BBC World Service and Centre for Public Policy Studies. She was a memberof the National Commission for Women from 2003-2005 and instrumental invoicing various issues of women empowerment and laid the foundation of “Parnava“, a reputed school in Hyderabad.
Hon. Linda Cathrine Hofstad Helleland
Minister of Culture in Norway
Hon. Linda Cathrine Hofstad Helleland is the Minister of Culture in Norway, and has been a Member of Parliament for the Conservative Party in Norway for more than ten years. She is an important voice in the Norwegian public debate, particularly on issues relating to women. She has been member of Parliamentary Committees, including the Justice, Family and Cultural Committee, the Transport and Communications Committee, and the Parliamentary Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and to the UN General Assembly.
Mr. Jigme Yoser Thinley
Hon. Former Prime Minister, Bhutan
Mr. Thinley was Bhutan’s first democratically-elected Prime Minister, serving from 2008 to 2013. He previously served as Bhutan’s Minister of Culture, the Foreign Minister and as an ambassador to the UN and several European countries. Mr. Thinley introduced Bhutan’s concept of Gross National Happiness to the international community at the UNDP Asia Pacific Millennium Summit in Seoul in 1998. In 2012, Mr. Thinley convened the High Level Meeting on Wellbeing and Happiness: A New Economic Paradigm at the United Nations. He now leads an international working group on framing a new development paradigm for the UN General Assembly.
Mr. Dominique de Villepin
Hon. Former Prime Minister, France
Mr. De Villepin was Prime Minister of France (2005 to 2007), appointed Prime Minister by President Jacques Chirac. From 1995 to 2002, he was Chief of Staff to the President of the Republic. Prior to this, he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs (2002 to 2004) and Minister of the Interior (2004 to 2005). Since 2008, he set up a firm to accompany the strategies for cross-border investment and activities particularly in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He has written numerous books of poetry and fiction a well as essays on history, international relations and art.
Hon. Olusegun Obasanjo
Former President of Nigeria, Nigeria
H.E. President Olusegun Obasanjo is a former Nigerian Army General and President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007. H.E. President Obasanjo is a champion for development across Africa in the areas of leadership development, capacity building, and conflict resolution. In 2009, H.E. President Obasanjo was appointed as a special envoy of the United Nations to the Great Lakes region to mediate on conflicts in the DRC. He plays a leadership role in organisations including the InterAction Council for Former Heads of State and Government; Eminent Persons Group of the African, Caribbean and Pacific; and African Progress Panel.
H.E. Kjell Magne Bondevik
Hon. Former Prime Minister, Norway; President, The Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights
Mr. Bondevik served as the Prime Minister of Norway from 1997 to 2000, and from 2001 to 2005. Currently, he is President of the Oslo Centre for Peace and Human Rights. The purpose of the centre is to work for world peace, human rights and inter- religious tolerance world wide.
Mr. Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani
Hon. Former Prime Minister, Pakistan
Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani served as the Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2008 to 2012. He was born in Karachi in 1952 to an influential political family from Multan and received a Masters in Journalism from the University of Punjab, India. Prime Minister Gillani has travelled across the world in various capacities. As the Federal Minister for Tourism, he attended the 1989 World Tourism Organization’s meeting in Paris. He also hosted and presided over the first International Conference of Women Parliamentarians, held in Islamabad in 1995.
Prof. Alojz Peterle
Hon. Former Prime Minister, Slovenia
Member of the European Parliament
Mr. Alojz Peterle has been a Member of the European Parliament since 2004 and is currently member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and substitute member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI). He is also Vice-Chair of the Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee and Member of Delegation to the EU-Croatia Joint Parliamentary Committee.
Hon. Kamal Thapa
Deputy Prime Minister, Nepal
Hon. Kamal Thapa is the current Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign of Affairs of Nepal. Between 1988 and 2006, Hon. Kamal Thapa, served as the Home Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Information and Communication, Health, Forest and Soil Conservation, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Local Development, Agriculture, Housing and Physical Planning for the Government of Nepal.
Hon. Mr. Deshabandu Karu Jayasuriya
Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka.
Mr. Karu Jayasuriya has a distinquished career in political and private sectors. To mention a few he has served as Chairman Leadership Council of the UNP; Minister of public Administration and Home Affairs; Minister of Power and Energy. He has been Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Germany. In private sector he has served as Chairman/ CEO/ Director of 52 Private and Public quoted Companies.
Hon. Mr. Chandra Babu Naidu
Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, India
Hon. Mr. Chandrababu Naidu is the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and also the President of the Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. He became the state's youngest assembly member and youngest minister at 28, and served the longest term as Chief Minister of the state from 1995 to 2004.He has won a number of awards, including IT Indian of the Millennium from India Today, Business Person of the Year by The Economic Times and South Asian of the Year from Time Asia.
Hon. Arvind Kejriwal
Chief Minister of Delhi, India
Hon. Mr. Arvind Kejriwal is the Chief Minister of Delhi and the National Convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). In 2006, Kejriwal was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership recognising his involvement in the grassroots movement Parivartan using right-to-information legislation in a campaign against corruption.In 2012, he launched the Aam Aadmi Party, and the party won in the 2013 Delhi Legislative Assembly election.
Mr. Akhilesh Yadav
Hon. Chief Minister of the State of Uttar Pradesh, India
Hon. Mr. Akhilesh Yadav is the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh; the youngest person to have held this office. In 2000, Mr. Yadav was elected to the 13th Lok Sabha and also held membership in the Committee on food, civil supplies, and public distribution. He subsequently was elected for 2 more terms and in 2012,he was appointed as the leader of the Samajwadi Legislative Party in Uttar Pradesh.
Hon. Mr. Devendra Fadanavis
Chief Minister of Maharashtra, India
Hon. Mr. Devendra Fadnavis is the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, the second youngest to hold this position. He started his political career early, becoming the youngest mayor of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation and the second youngest mayor in the history of India. In 1999, he was elected to the Maharashtra state assembly for the first time.He also served as president of the Maharashtra state unit of the BJP.
Mr. Herman De Croo
Hon. Member of Belgium Parliament
Hon. Prof. Herman De Croo is a Minister of State and the longest serving Belgian Member of Parliament. He is also the Mayor of Brakel and is a former Professor of Common Law at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
Prof. De Croo was first elected to the Chamber of Representatives in 1968 and he has since served in various governments as minister of Transport and Foreign Trade; minister of Transport, Postal Services, Telegraphy and Telephony; minister of Education and minister of Postal Services, Telegraphy, Telephony and Pensions.He was also the President of the Chamber of Representatives previously.
Dr. Petra De Sutter
Senator, Government of Belgium
Dr. Petra de Sutter is Member of Belgian Parliament (Senate) for the Flemish Green Party, serving on the Committee of Institutional Affairs. She is a Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, serving on the Committee of Social Affairs and Committee of Migration and Refugees. She is also a Board member of the European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development.
Ms. Sarah Claerhout
Hon. Member of Belgium Parliament;
Chair Belgium Indian Relations
Hon. Dr. Sarah Claerhout has been a Member of Parliament, Belgium since 2014. In February 2013 she became president of Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams (CD&V) Ghent. She obtained a PhD in Comparative Science of Cultures at the Ghent University and was an active member of the board of directors and executive committee of Ghent University.
Hon. Ms. Bariza Khiari
Member of Senate, France.
Hon. Ms. Bariza Khiari is the socialist Senator of Paris, a member of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Armed Forces Committee of the Senate, the Chairwoman of the France-Lebanon Friends’ Group, and the Vice Chairwoman of the France-Morocco Parliamentary Friends’ group. She is a member of the French delegation at the NATO Parliament and is the promoter of a research committee in the Senate working on the defence of religious minorities. Her distinctions include Chevalier dans l’Ordre National du Mérite (Knight of the National Order of Merit) and Médaille du Tourisme (Tourist Board Award).
Mr. André Hahn
Hon. Member of German Parliament
Dr. André Hahn has been a Member of the German Bundestag since 2013, serving on the sports committee and as a sports policy spokesman of the faction DIE LINKE. He is Chairman of the Parliamentary Control Panel, reviewing the work of the secret services, and is Parliamentary Secretary of the Left Party. Mr. Hahn is also Deputy Member of the NSA Committee of Inquiry, the Committee on Internal Affairs and the Tourism Committee.
Mr. Frank Heinrich
Hon. Member of German Parliament
Hon. Mr. Frank Heinrich is a Member of the German Bundestag, focusing on issues of human rights, humanitarian aid, and economic cooperation and development. His special interest areas lay in the fields of water as a human right, Africa, children’s rights, religious freedom, human trafficking and humanitarian aid, torture, death penalty and disappearance of people. Mr. Heinrich is a trained theologian and social worker, and previously worked as a Salvation-Army officer and head of the Salvation-Army in Chemnitz.
Mr. Jo Leinen
Hon. Member of the European Parliament
Since July 1999 Mr. Leinen has been a Member of the European Parliament. He was a Member of the Convention for the Elaboration of a Charter of Fundamental Rights for the EU. From 2004 to 2009 he was President of the Constitutional Affairs Committee and from 2009 to 2011 he chaired the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety. He is a full member in the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety and a substitute member of the Committee for Foreign Affairs and of the EP’s Working Group on EU-UN relations. He is also a full member of the Delegation for the relations with India and a substitute in the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.
Hon. Ms. Meenakshi Lekhi
Member of Parliament, India.
Hon. Ms. Meenakshi Lekhi is a Member of Parliament and a Supreme Court of India lawyer. She is currently an active member of the Standing Committee on Urban Development, Committee of Privileges, Consultative Committee of Commerce and Committee of Housing. Besides numerous articles in journals, periodicals and newspapers on social issues, she participates in various television shows on matters on national and international importance.
Hon. Mr. Yonadam Kanna
Member of the Iraqi National Assembly, Iraq.
A member of the Iraqi Governing Council since 2003, Hon. Mr. Yonadam Kanna is a Member of the Iraqi National Assembly, and is the Secretary General of the Assyrian Democratic Movement. He served in the Kurdistan administration in Iraq, first in its Regional Assembly, then as Minister for Public Works. He was elected to the National Assembly of Iraq as head of the Al Rafideen National List in the January and December 2005 elections.
H. E. Mr. Ayoub Kara
Member of the Knesset, Deputy Minister for Regional Affairs, Israel
H. E. Mr. Ayoub Kara is a Member of the Knesset and Deputy Minister of Regional Cooperation in Israel. He was previously Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, serving as Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Workers and Chairman of the Anti-Drug Committee, and was Deputy Minister of the Development of the Negev and Galilee. Mr. Kara served in the Israel Defense Forces Reserve, attaining the rank of Major. He earned his law degree from Ono Academic College and a Masters in Public Policy from TAU.
Hon. Sherry Rehman
Member of Senate and Vice-President of the People’s Party of Pakistan, Pakistan
Senator Sherry Rehman is the Vice President of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian and Founding Chair of the Jinnah Institute. She has served as Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, as the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pakistan and as a ranking member of the National Security Committee in the Parliament. For her services to Pakistan, she has been awarded the state’s highest civil award, the Nishan-i-Imtiaz in March 2013.Ms. Rehman is also an award-winning journalist from Pakistan with 20 years of experience in both the broadcast and the print media.
Dr. G.L Peiris
Hon. Former Minister of External Affairs, Sri Lanka
Hon. G. L. Peiris is a Former Cabinet Minister of External Affairs and a former member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka. He has held multiple ministerial portfolios including Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Finance, External Trade, Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy Investment Promotion, Ethnic Affairs and National Integration. He won the Rhodes Scholarship for his PhD at New College, Oxford and also gained a second PhD from the University of Colombo. He holds fellowships from Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and London and was also associate member of the International Academy of Comparative Law and Senior British Council Fellow.
Ms. Krishna Mathoera
Hon. Member of Parliament, Suriname
Hon. Ms. Krishna Mathoera served the National Police Force for 34 years. She was appointed the national representative for Suriname to CICAD (Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission) from 2010 till 2015. Last year she left the police force to join politics. She is a currently Member of Parliament in Suriname. She is also the chairperson of the Art of living foundation in Suriname and a Rotarian. She holds a Masters degree in Public Administration.
Ms. Yvonne Feri
Hon. Member of Swiss Parliament
Ms. Yvonne Feri has been a Member of the Swiss National Parliament since 2011, representing the Canton of Aargau. A local Councilor in Wettingen, and President of SP Frauen Schweiz, she previously served as a member of the Cantonal Parliament of Aargau (1998-2008), actively advocating on family and gender issues. From 2008 to 2012, Ms. Feri was chief executive of the Zürich Teachers Association. Aside from the day-to-day parliamentary work, she advocates the humanitarian contribution Switzerland can make internationally and seeks to improve the equality and position of working women in Switzerland.
Hon. Mr. Shailesh Lakhman Vara
Member of Parliament, UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, United Kingdom.
Mr. Shailesh is a Member of Parliament and is the UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions,. He serves as Justice Minister and a Minister in the Department for Work and Pensions in the UK Government. Mr. Shailesh has a long history of public service, previously serving as the Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Commons and Government Whip. Mr. Vara was educated at Brunel University and qualified as a solicitor, practicing in the City of London prior to being elected to Parliament. He was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman by the Indian Government in recognition of his work in the field of public service and promoting ties between India and the UK.
Mr. Armin Laschet
Deputy Chairman of Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU), and Head, North Rhine-Westphalia
Mr. Armin Laschet is Deputy Chairman of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) and Head, North Rhine-Westphalia. As a member of the Bundestag, he served on the Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development and the Committee on the Affairs of the European Union. As Member of the European Parliament, he was on the Committee on Budgets and the Committee on Foreign Affairs. He has held multiple ministerial portfolios including State Minister for Generations, Family, Women and Integration; State Minister for Federal Affairs, Europe and Media.
Hon. Mr. Bob Blackman
Member of Parliament, United Kingdom.
Mr. Bob Blackman is the Conservative MP for Harrow East and serves as Joint Secretary of the prestigious 1922 Committee within Parliament. He is Co-Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Justice for Equitable Life Policy Holders, Chair for the APPG on British Hindus and Secretary to the APPG on Action on Smoking and Health. Mr. Blackman is member of several All Party Parliamentary Groups, including ones associated with Israel, India, Nepal, Azerbaijan, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Croatia, the USA and the UAE, and groups on topics like science, technology, communications, media, bridge, football and cricket.
Hon. Mr. Matthew Offord
Member of Parliament, United Kingdom.
Mr. Offord is a Member of Parliament and also a Member of the Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa (AWEPA) Governing Council of the United Kindom. Prior to becoming a Member of Parliament, Mr. Offord worked for the BBC as a political analyst and was also Deputy Leader of Barnet Council. As MP of Hendon, Matthew has been involved in wide range of issues in Parliament that include tackling crime on local streets, improvements to the Thameslink service, free schools, funding for extra school security, lower energy costs, animal welfare, and a referendum on membership of the EU.
Mr. Geoffrey van Orden
Hon. Member of European Parliament
Geoffrey Van Orden has been a Conservative Member of the European Parliament for the East of England for almost three decades. He is currently the Chairman of the European Parliament's Delegation for Relations with India and was previously Chairman of the Europe-India Chamber of Commerce (2010-2014), and a founding member of the Parliament's Friends of India Group. He is also the Vice-Chairman of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), the third largest political group in the European Parliament and is the founding President of its think tank, New Direction - The Foundation for European Reform.
Mr. Nirj Deva
Hon. Member of the European Parliament
Nirj Deva is the first person in history to be born in one continent, elected to Parliament in another, and then elected to represent that country as a member of a multi-national Parliament (the European Parliament). In 1992 he was elected to the United Kingdom Parliament, as the Conservative Member for Brentford and Isleworth. Appointed Vice President of the Development Committee in 2009, he remains a Member of the South Asia Delegation and of the Subcommittee on Human Rights. His phenomenal international development work led to his nomination as Secretary General of the UN to succeed Kofi Annan in 2006.
Hon. Timothy John Ryan
Congressman, House of Representatives, United States of America.
First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002, Congressman Ryan is serving on his seventh term. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, which controls the expenditure of money by the federal government, and the House Budget Committee, overseeing the federal budget process. Congressman Ryan champions efforts to make college more affordable, revitalize America's cities and improve the health and social-emotional well-being of American families and children. He has garnered the attention of the national media, and is the author of A Mindful Nation: How a Simple Practice Can Help Us Reduce Stress, Improve Performance, and Recapture the American Spirit and The Real Food Revolution: Healthy Eating, Green Groceries, and the Return of the American Family Farm.
Hon. Mike Quigley
Congressman; House of Representatives, United States of America.
Congressman Quigley was elected to Congress to represent Illinois' 5th District in 2009. A former Cook County Commissioner who began his career through community service in the Lakeview neighborhood, Congressman Quigley has served his community for more than thirty years. He has established himself as a leader on many of America’s most challenging issues. He continues to fight for full LGBT equality, a woman's right to choose, and common sense gun law reforms. A member of the Sierra Club since he was 16, Congressman Quigley continues to push for strong environmental policies that protect our natural resources and address the growing threat of climate change.
Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu
Hon. 9th Secretary General of Organization of Islamic Cooperation
Hon. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu is the ninth Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). He was the founder of the Department of History of Science at the Faculty of Letters of Istanbul University. He is also an author and editor of academic journals and advocate of intercultural dialogue.
Mr. Jan Creemers
Hon. Mayor, City of Maaseik, Belgium
The Mayor of the City of Maaseik, Belgium, Hon. Mr. Jon Creemers also serves as President of ‘The Meander’ Institute for Disabled People, the Honorary President of Rest Home ‘Het Park’, President of the Police Council and the Police College Maasland and President of the DV Marec (Recreation Centres Maasland)
Mr. Rabin Baldewsingh
Hon. Deputy Mayor of The Hague, Netherlands
Hon. Mr. Rabin S. Baldewsingh is currently Deputy-Mayor of the City of The Hague, The Netherlands. He has been Deputy-Mayor in this International City of Peace and Justice since April 2006. At this time his portfolio consists of Social Affairs, Employment, Neighbourhood Approach, Integration Policies and Sports. In the last decade he has been one of the leading figures in the debate on integration and diversity in The Hague.
Hon. Edward Baillieu
Former Premier of Victoria, Australia.
Dr. Jacques Attali
President of Positive Planet Foundation and Group A&A
Ms. Arundhati Bhattacharya
Chairwoman, State Bank of India
Ms. Arundhati Bhattacharya is the first woman to be the Chairperson of State Bank of India. She has held several positions during her 36-year career with the bank including working in foreign exchange, treasury, retail operations, human resources and investment banking. She has been Chief Executive of the bank's merchant banking arm- State Bank of India Capital Markets; Chief General Manager in charge of new projects.
Mr. G M Rao
Executive Chairman and Managing Director, GMR Group
Mr. GM Rao, a mechanical engineer, is the Founder Chairman of the GMR Group, the Bangalore based global infrastructure developer.The GMR group is now a professionally managed infrastructure developer with focus on Airports, Energy, Transportation and Urban Infrastructure including SEZs.To give back to society, he set up GMR Varalakshmi Foundation, to channelize funds for social causes. He has also been serving on the Central Board of Directors of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and is the recipients of multiple awards and honorary doctrates.
Mr. Zalmay Mamozy Khalilzad
U.S. Counselor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, United States of America
Mr. Gary Gauba
President of CenturyLink
Hon. Mr. Gary Gauba is President of CenturyLink, and is a serial entrepreneur who has built, self-funded and successfully exited three companies in the past 20 years: Softline, Systech and Cognilytics. He sits on the Board of Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, WISeKey and, Advisory Board of DocuSign and other emerging companies. With the acquisition of his third venture, Cognilytics by CenturyLink, his current focus is around Cyber Security (Deep Learning Algorithms), IoT and helping clients monetize their data as a strategic asset.
Mr. Sam Pitroda
CEO of T-DOT and Former Advisor to the Prime Minister of India on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations
Dr. Sam Pitroda is an internationally recognized telecom inventor, entrepreneur, development thinker, and policy maker who has spent 50 years in information and communications technology (ICT) and related global and national developments. He is a founding Commissioner of the United Nations Broadband Commission for Digital Development and Chairman of the International Telecommunication Union’s m-Powering Development Board that looks to empower developing countries with the use of mobile technology and was also the founder and first Chairman of India’s Telecom Commission.
Mr. Michael S. Perlis
President and Chief Executive Officer of Forbes Media LLC. United States of America.
Mr. Michael S. Perlis has been the Chief Executive Officer and President of Forbes Media LLC since December 2010. Since taking over, he has focused on the brand's digital footprint, overseeing the magazine's digital growth to over 30 million unique users a month. Previously, he was President and CEO at Ziff-Davis Media Inc, and has held senior leadership positions in other companies like TVSM, Picaboo, Zinio and many others. He entered the venture capital industry in 2000, when he accepted a role as Special Partner of Softbank Capital, and was a Venture Partner at GrandBanks Capital.
Mr. Tarek Fatah
writer and broadcaster, Canada
Mr. Tarek Fatah is a weekly columnist for the Toronto Sun in Canada and an award-winning author of two books, "The Tragic Illusion of an Islamic State (2008)" and "The Jew is Not My Enemy (2010).” He is currently writing his third book "The Hindu is Not My Enemy.” He was educated in Pakistan, beginning his career in journalism, first as a newspaper reporter and later with Pakistan Television.
Prof. Christoph Lütege
Professor of Business Ethics, Technische Universität München, Germany
Prof. Dr. Christoph Luetge holds the Peter Loescher Endowed Chair of Business Ethics at the Technical University of Munich. He studied business informatics as well as philosophy, obtaining his doctorate in 1999 and his habilitation in 2005. He was visiting researcher in Pittsburgh and San Diego. He taught business ethics at the Universities of Munich, Witten and Braunschweig, before moving to TU Munich in 2010. He has also held visiting professorships in Taipei, Kyoto and Venice.
Mr. Shashikant Sharma
Comptroller and Auditor General, India
Mr. Shashi Kant Sharma is Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) of India since 2013.He was elected by the General Assembly of United Nations as a Member of the UN Board of Auditors in 2014. His other international responsibilities include Member of UN Panel of External Auditors, Chair of the Knowledge Sharing and Knowledge Services Committee of the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) and Chair of the Working Group of INTOSAI on I.T. Audit. He is also on the Governing Board of the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI).
Dr. Sanjay Pradhan
Vice President of Change, Leadership and Innovation The World Bank Group, United States of America.
Dr. Sanjay Pradhan leads the leadership, learning and innovation for development agenda of the World Bank Group. He played a leading role in the recent change process at the World Bank Group. He is also a member of the President’s Senior Management Team.
Previously, Dr. Pradhan was the Vice President leading the World Bank Institute where he championed the open development agenda centered around knowledge & learning, collaboration and innovation. Mr. Pradhan is a recognized authority on governance and anticorruption issues. He served as the World Bank’s Director for Governance, where he led the development of the Bank’s Governance and Anticorruption Strategy, and provided strategic directions on improving governance and combating corruption.
H.E. Michael A.S. Adhin
Vice-President of Suriname
A member of the National Democratic Party, H.E. Mr. Michael Adhin has been the Vice President of Suriname since 2015, the youngest ever Vice President of the country. A former education minister, Adhin holds a degree in information technology and was a professor at the Anton de Kom University of Suriname. He enjoys music and yoga.
Mr. B. Ashok
Chairman, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., India.
Mr. B. Ashok is Chairman of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. and also heads IndianOil's group companies, Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd. and IOT Infrastructure & Energy Services Ltd., and industry organisations such as Petroleum Federation of India (PetroFed).
With over 33 years' expertise in the oil & gas sector, Mr. Ashok has wide experience in various roles of the Corporation's Marketing Division and considerable global exposure, having headed IndianOil's overseas business in Southeast Asia successfully.
Mr. Amit Dalal
Executive Director, Tata Corporation, India
Mr. Amit Dalal has been Executive Director of Tata Investment Corporation Limited since 2010, and was appointed as an Non-Executive Independent Director on 19th June, 2008. He obtained his MBA from the University of Massachusetts, and is a member of the Bombay.Stock Exchange. Mr. Dalal is Managing Director of ANSec Ltd., one of the top stock broking companies. He was formerly a partner of the erstwhile broking and merchant banking firm, Dhirajlal Maganlal & Sons. Mr. Dalai is also Joint Managing Director of Kapsales Ltd. and sits on the board of several companies and charitable institutions.
Dr. Arvind Panagariya
Vice Chairman of Niti Aayog, India.
Dr. Arvind Panagariya is Vice-Chairman, Niti Aayog and has been Professor of Indian Political Economy at Columbia University. He is a former Chief Economist of the Asian Development Bank and Professor of Economics at the University of Maryland at College Park. He has also worked with the World Bank, IMF and UNCTAD in various capacities. He holds a Ph.D. degree in Economics from Princeton University. He has authored more than fifteen books and his scientific papers have appeared in the top economics journals. He is the recipient of the Padma Bhushan award from the Government of India.
Mr. Anurag Batra
Chairman, Businessworld Magazine, India.
Mr. Annurag Batra is the Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of BW Businessworld. As a first generation entrepreneur, he acquired the 35 year strong brand and expanded it into digital, events and BW communities and has taken into its fold newer entities likelike www.digitalmarket.asia, a leading website on digital marketing. He also serves as the Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of exchange4media group.
Mr. Batra was appointed by Government of India as the Chairman of an industry committee formed to come up with a vocational training framework for the media, communication and entertainment industry. He contributes back to the industry as an active member of various industry bodies.
Mr. Vinsensius Jemadu
Director, Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia.
Mr. Vinsensius Jemadu is the Director for Asia Pacific Tourism Promotion in the Republic of Indonesia. Former Director for Public Communication and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, he previously served as Deputy Director for Promotion for America and Pacific Region, Deputy Director for Tourism Relations and Familiarization Trip, and Deputy Director for International Fam Trip Program for the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Ms. Brigitte Van Baren
Founder, Inner Sense,Netherlands.
Ms. Brigitte van Baren is the founder of Inner Sense, which offers a personal development programme for business leaders in the public and private sectors. She is the inventor of the widely acclaimed “Show Your True Colours” management improvement methodology, and provides coaching and training for international business leaders, managers and teams. She is also an author and Zen teacher of the Sanbo Zen Society, Japan.
Mr. Avnish Goyal
Owner and Managing Director, Hallmark Care Homes, United Kingdom.
Avnish Goyal is the Managing Director and Founder of Hallmark Care Homes; a family business which was established in 1997 operating 17 care homes across England and Wales.He is also the Chair of Care England the representative body for care homes in the UK and the Founding Trustee of The Hemraj Goyal Foundation, a registered charity based in Essex operating in the UK and worldwide.
Dr. Kiran Bedi
Politician and Social Activist, India.
Dr. Kiran Bedi is the first women officer of the Indian Police Service (IPS) and a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay award for her reforms in prisons. As a teenager, she was the national junior tennis champion and won several titles at national and state-level championships. She became the first woman to be appointed the United Nations civilian police adviser. She has written several books, and runs the India Vision Foundation.
Dr. Vandana Shiva
Scholar and Environmental Activist, India.
Dr. Shiva is an Indian scholar, environmental activist and prolific anti-globalization author. Her work spans teaching at universities worldwide to working with peasants in rural India. Time Magazine identified her as an environmental ‘hero’ in 2003, and Asia Week has called her one of the five most powerful communicators in Asia. In 2010, Forbes Magazine identified Dr. Shiva as one of the Seven Most Powerful Women on the Globe. Dr. Shiva has contributed in fundamental ways to changing the practice and paradigms of agriculture and food, making significant contributions in Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and biodiversity. Dr. Shiva’s contributions to gender issues are nationally and internationally recognised. Her book Staying Alive dramatically shifts popular perceptions of Third World women.
Ms. Bhanumathi Narsimhan
Director Women Empowerment & Child Welfare Programs, Art of Living, India
Ms. Bhanu Narasimhan is the Director, Women Empowerment & Child Welfare Programs of The Art of Living and has played a key role in The Art of Living Foundation since its inception leading numerous programs like Care for Children to educate over 51000 underprivileged children, VISTA to economically strengthen over 8000 women, an initiative called HARA to increaseHIV/AIDS awareness in rural India and the Weaver-to-Weaver project to empower skilled artisans. She also teaches the Sahaj Samadhi Meditation technique bringing an experience of deep peace to thousands.
Ms. Neena Gill
Member of European Parliament, West Midlands, United Kingdom
Ms. Neena Gill is Member of the European Parliament for the West Midlands, UK. She is a member of the Committee for Economic and Monetary Affairs, and a substitute member for the Committee of Foreign Affairs. Ms Gill is also First Vice-President to the Delegation for Relations with India, and a member of the Delegation to the US. She previously worked as the Vice-President for Corporate Affairs at SAS and was CEO of two housing organisations. She has a degree in Social Sciences from the London Business School, and a post-graduate qualification from the Chartered Institute of Housing.
Mr. Himanshu Gulati
State Secretary to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Culture in Norway
Mr. Himanshu Gulati (age 27) is a State Secretary to both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Culture in Norway. At the age of 25 he was appointed as State Secretary to the Minister of Police and Public Security, and has prior to this been the youth leader of the Progress Party in Norway. He is born and brought up in Norway to parents from New Delhi.
He received a bachelor degree in Economy and Leadership from BI Norwegian Business School
Ms. Blake Peterson
Senior Policy Adviser for Women, Peace and Security, U.S. Department of State, Washington D.C., Metro Area, United States of America
Blake Peterson is a policy advocate promoting women's empowerment across global diplomatic and advocacy initiatives that address global security. Focusing on the way new tools and partnerships can help us tackle emerging global challenges, she has worked toward inclusive approaches to youth empowerment, human security, and human rights. Blake currently manages a multi-partner initiative at the U.S. Department of State that aims to promote women's active participation in peace processes, conflict resolution, and violence prevention.
Mr. Wadia Hamza
Senior Manager and Global Leadership Fellow, World Economic Forum, Geneva Area, Switzerland
Mr. Amar Bakshi
Founder, Shared Studios, Greater New York City Area, United States of America
Dr. Parry Aftab
Founder, WiredSafety, United States of America
Dr. Parry Aftab founded as an unpaid volunteer and runs the world’s largest cybersafety charity, now called WiredSafety. She also created StopCyberbullying.org, Cyberwellness.com and the consulting firm WiredTrust. She is a leading expert in digital privacy and security law, best practices and cybercrime and has served on several high-profile boards of directors and advisory boards.
Capt. R S Sindhu
Chairman ACB, India
Capt. Rudra Sen Sindhu is the Chairman and Managing Director of Aryan Group and has business interests in number of companies engaged mainly in mining & logistics, coal beneficiation, power generation, sponge iron & steel, stock broking, media, finance and tourism. He is also engaged in several charitable activities and has been actively involved in social activities, such as the rehabilitation of Gujarat earthquake victims and building rural schools.
Hon. Lord Stone
Member of Parliament, United Kingdom
Lord Stone retired from his position as joint Managing Director of Marks & Spencer in 1999 and now focuses on projects that interest him, including the promotion of cooperation and enterprise in the Middle East. He also has a deep interest in Arts and Science, Mindfulness and 'spirituality'. He is Vice-Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Indian Traditional Sciences as well as Mindfulness.
Hon. Mr. Hernán Penagos Giraldo
Member of Colombian Parliament, Colombia
Hernan Penagos Giraldo is a Member of the Colombian Parliament, a member of the First Commision, President of the Peace Commission of Colombian Congress, and a member of the National Council for Peace. A lawyer and professor specializing in administrative law and public services, he is the former president of the assembly of the State of Caldas, as well as Former President of the House of Representatives of Colombian Congress.
H.E. Mr. Joaquim Alberto Chissano
Former President of Mozambique
As President of Mozambique, Joaquim Chissano devoted 40 years of his life to carving a stable, independent Mozambique from a former Portuguese colonial backwater. Chissano is responsible for Mozambique's foreign policy of political nonalignment. An articulate leader who is fluent in Portuguese, English, French, and Swahili, Chissano maintains a deliberately understated profile. He piloted Mozambique through the transition from a Communist to a capitalist ideology, won his country's first and second multiparty elections, and made history by deciding not to run for his final term in office.
Mr. Mac Smith
Founder of the Google [x], United States of America
Mr. Mac Smith is a senior staff user experience researcher and founding member of the X (formerly Google[x]) user experience team. X is a moonshot factory: a team of engineers, scientists, makers, and inventors that applies audacious thinking to huge problems to make the world a better place using technology. X incubates new breakthroughs in science or technology that, could solve huge problems that affect millions of people.
He has led teams of researchers and designers on multiple user experience projects in the X portfolio, including Project Loon, Glass for work & others. He currently leads user experience work with the Rapid Evaluation team, which focuses on rapid technology prototyping and detailed analysis of the business potential of new projects.
Mac completed his MA & PhD in Human Factors at George Mason University, and previously worked at Microsoft Games Studio and Motorola.
Mr. Anant Goenka
Head, New Media, Indian Express, India.
Hon. Ms. Naheed Farid
Member of Parliament, Afghanistan.
Hon. Ms. Naheed Farid is a Member of Parliament, Afghanistan. Elected at the age of 27, she is one of the youngest elected members in the nation’s history. Ms. Farid’s focus is on engaging Afghan youth and women in the nation’s political process. Prior to running for Parliament, she was involved in rebuilding her nation by founding and leading NGOs assisting women, children and engaging in rural community development. She has advocated for the reduction of gender-based violence and human rights violations against women, and for expanded access to education and employment for women.
Mr. Samarth Bedi
Executive Director, Forest Essentials, India
Mr. Samrath Bedi is the Executive Director of the niche Ayurveda luxury skincare products company, Forest Essentials. He previously worked with Dean Witter Morgan Stanley and the Standard Chartered Bank in New York, before returning to India to join Forest Essentials in 2000. Mr. Bedi graduated from the University of Rochester with degrees in Economics and Psychology.
Hon. Dace Melbārde
Culture Minister of Latvia, Latvia
Hon Ms Dace Melbarde, is the Latvian Minister of Culture and former Director of the Latvian National Centre for Culture. Previously, she was Country Manager of the British Council in Latvi and Under-Secretary of State on Cultural Policy issues of the Latvian Ministry of Culture. She also did a stint as Secretary-General of the Latvian National Commission for UNESCO, contributing successfully to its promotion within Latvia and UNESCO.
Dr. R.Seetharaman
Group Chief Executive Officer, Doha Bank, Qatar
Dr. R.Seetharaman is the Group Chief Executive Officer of Doha Bankand a prominent personality in the banking industry in the Middle East. Under his leadership, Doha Bank became a high-performing bank, a global brand and won a number of recognitions. He is recipient of multiple doctorates from leading universities, a high profile economist invited regularly by international media and has received many awards.
Hon. Robin Kelly
Congresswoman, House of Representatives, United States of America
Congresswoman Robin Kelly represents Illinois' 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving on key committees, including the Foreign Affairs Committee and its Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere and on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade. She also serves on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, the main investigative body of the House, overseeing federal government operations and works to reduce waste, fraud and abuse. Ms. Kelly earned her B.A. in psychology and an M.A. in counseling, later receiving a Ph.D. in political science from Northern Illinois University.
Mr.Christoph Daum
Former German Professional Football Player, International Football Manager, Germany
Christoph Daum, who was born in 1953 in the mountainous area of Erzgebirge, grew up in the Ruhr region, and is one of the most prolific football coaches in Germany.
For a quarter of a century he has been working successfully as the head coach of top European clubs; he won national titles in Germany, Turkey and Austria with his teams. Christoph Daum is the father of four children and married to his second wife. He lives with his family in Cologne.
Mr. Deepak Kapoor
Chairman, PricewaterhouseCoopers, India
Deepak Kapoor is Chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers, with diverse leadership and client service experience advising clients across industries. He has represented PwC on various fora like CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM, etc. and is a regular contributor to business and trade publications. Deepak spearheads PwC’s CSR initiative in India. He is the Community Director for the Rotary Club, a member of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), a member of Institute of Company Secretaries of India, and a member of the Institute of Certified Fraud Examiners, USA.
Hon. R.V. Deshapande
Minister for Higher Education and Tourism, Government of Karnataka, India
Mr. Deshapande is the minister for Higher Education and Tourism, Government of Karnataka, India. A seven-term MLA, Deshapande started his political career in the Janata Parivar before shifting to the Indian National Congress in 1999. He served as Industries Minister for 10 years ending in 2004. Being the higher education and tourism minister, Deshapande has taken several initiatives for the development of education and tourism in the state. He has created a new draft called the Tourism Trade Facilitation Act to ensure the safety of the tourists coming to the state
Mr. Subhash Thakrar
Deputy President London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, United Kingdom
Mr. Subhash Thakrar is the Deputy President and past Chairman of the London Chamber of Commerce and a Partner at City Accountants CBW Blackstone Franks. He currently oversees affordable housing projects in Africa, having previously led other missions for the London Chamber in East and West Africa and in India. Mr. Thakrar is a trustee and board member of several of nonprofit organisations, including the Commonwealth Education Fund, the Attlee Foundation, and the 3R’s Trust.
H.E. Robert Peneux
Minister of Education, Science and Culture, Suriname
H. E. Robert Peneux is the current Minister of Education, Science and Culture for Suriname and is the Advisor of the IMEAO Reform Steering Committee. Previously, Mr Peneux was the Permanent Secretary of Education at the Ministry of Education and Community Development, and was the Interim Director of the Center for Agricultural Research and Policy making at the Ministry of Education and Community Development. He has served as the training coach of Vocational Education and Lecturer Methods and Techniques. He has received a number of academic distinctions including Diploma Doctorandus (MSc.) Faculty of Economics and Diploma MO-A Pedagogics.
Hon. Mtro Armando Rios Piter
Senator from Mexico, Mexico South America
Sen. Píter is an economist for the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) and a lawyer from the Universidad Nacional Autómoma de Méxivo (UNAM). He has had the honor of being awarded the medal for Professional Merit in the Public Sector by the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico. The Senator earned a Masters in National Security at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and a Masters in Public Administration, from the John F. Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University.
MP Hon. David Musabayana
Member of Parliament, Zimbabwe, Africa
Brigadier General Mohammed Aziz
Deputy Commander of the Fiji Military Forces, Fiji
Colonel Aziz Mohammed is the first Indian to be appointed Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (in an acting capacity.) He is one of a few career soldiers holding a high-ranking office in the Fiji military, with a Masters degrees in law, focused on strategy, international economics, and business administration.
Mr. Nirvana Chaudhary
Managing Director, CG Corp Global and Chaudhary Group, Nepal
Princess Raden Dato’Seri Maria Amor Torres DK DD
Founder and President, We Care for Humanity, United States of America
H.E. Dr. JawadAnani
Former Deputy Prime Minister, Jordan
Dr. Jawad Anani is the former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in Jordan. He is now the president of the Jordan Economic and Social Council. During his career, he was a constant member of the overall planning committees, responsible for creating and recreating some of Jordan’s strategic institutions like Social Security, Vocational Training, and Higher Council for Science and Technology. Al-Anani has more than 100 scientific studies to his credit and has delivered several lectures on political and economic subjects. He published three scientific books and two collections of stories.
Mr. Andrew Forrest
Non-executive chairman, Fortescue Metals Group, Australia
Mr. Andrew Forrest is the Founder and Non-Executive Chairman of Fortescue Metals Group, the fourth largest seaborne iron ore producer. He is Councillor of the Global Citizen Commission reporting to the UN on reforming human rights, Commonwealth ambassador for employment and engagement with disadvantaged communities and the Chair for Review of Indigenous Training and Employment Programmes. He is also the Founder and Chairman of Minderoo Foundation, Australia’s largest philanthropic organisation. An Adjunct Professor of the China Southern University and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, he is a leading representative of the resources sector globally.
Mr. Hari Untoro Dradjat
Senior Advisor, Tourism Ministry, Indonesia
Hon. Dr. Nancy Nawraz Naguer
Former Culture Minister of Jordan, Jordan
Mrs. Nancy Nawraz Naguerwas the Minister of Culture for Jordan. She was one of only four women in the cabinet at the time. Before serving as the Minister of Culture Mrs. Nancy Nawraz Bakir was the Deputy General Secretary of The Higher Council for Sciences & Technology and Advisor to The Secretary General of The Higher Council for Sciences & Technology.
Sir Richard Branson
Founder, Virgin Group, United Kingdom
Sir Branson is the founder of more than 100 Virgin companies worldwide, employing approximately 60,000 people in over 50 countries. Of these, Virgin Records is the biggest independent label in the world, and Virgin Atlantic, a leading global airline. He is credited with building Virgin Galactic, the world’s first commercial spaceline. He is the world’s most social CEO and the world’s most followed person on LinkedIn. His foundation, Virgin Unite, tackles tough social and environmental problems. Branson was awarded a knighthood in 1999. He lives on Necker Island with his wife Joan and two children, Holly and Sam.
Hon. Kate Osamor
Member of Parliament, United Kingdom
Hon. Nana Akufo Addo
President, New Patriotic Party, Ghana
Hon Eng. Dr. Walter Mzembi
Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry
Hon Eng. Dr Walter Mzembi is Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Zimbabwe and previously held the office of Deputy Minister for Water Resources and Management. He has also held important positions including the Presidency of Africa Travel Association (ATA), Member of the International Advisory Board of the Institute of Cultural Diplomacy (ICD) and Chairmanship of UNWTO Regional Commission for Africa (CAF). He holds BBS and MBA degrees, is a Registered Professional Engineer and earned a doctorate for a thesis on Conservation Management in Zimbabwe that stems from his passion for wildlife conservation.
Hon. Mr. Shivraj Singh Chauhan
Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the 18th and current Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. As a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, he has served as its general secretary and as president of its Madhya Pradesh state unit. He has been a five-time Member of Parliament, representing Vidisha in the Lok Sabha. Mr. Chauhan represents Budhni constituency, a tehsil place in Sehore district, in the Madhya Pradesh assembly. He had introduced initiatives preventing female infanticide, including Ladli Laxmi Yojna, Kanyadhan Yojna and Janani Suraksha Yojna.
Mr. Jean-Marc Borello
President, Groupe SOS, France
Mr. Jean-Marc Borello is the President of Group SOS and the founder of the Movement of Social Entrepreneurs. Over the last few decades, he developed and implemented new practices throughout the health and social services sector, proving how innovation and competition in providing social services will create widespread social impact through economies of scale. His new way of delivering social services has influenced public policy, and his efforts are creating the legal and financial space for citizen organizations to thrive and compete with the business sector.
H.E. Prof. Adnan Badran
Former Prime Minister, Jordan
Dr. Badran served as the Prime Minister of Jordan, the Secretary General of the Higher Council for Science and Technology, and as Minister of Agriculture, Education and Defense. In 1990, he became the Assistant Director General for Science at UNESCO. Dr. Badran is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education Science, Culture and Media, and President of the National Center of Human Rights. He is the Vice President of The World Academy of Sciences, on the board of the International Union of Biological Sciences, on the International council of Scientific Union, and a member of the American Association for The Advancement of Science.
Hon. Shri Venkaiah Naidu
Minister for Urban Development, India
Shri Venkaiah Naidu is the Union Minister of Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and Parliamentary Affairs for the Indian Government. He has been a longtime active member of India's BJP party, and served as the party's national president from 2002 to 2004. In addition to being a politician, he is also an agriculturalist and social worker. Shri Naidu has devoted his life to rural development and environmental sustainability.
Dr. Rana Mehta
Partner & Leader Healthcare, PwC
Dr. Rana Mehta heads the Healthcare Advisory for PwC in India. He has more than 19 years of experience in strategizing, planning and operation of over 50 hospitals and healthcare systems in Asia. He also advises clients in the mobile and remote healthcare space to implement healthcare changes in a rapidly changing, information-intensive environment. Dr. Mehta holds a Master of Hospital Administration (MHA) from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India and Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), Medical College, Kolkata, India.
Mr. Kishore Biyani
Chairman, Group CEO, Future Group, India
Mr. Sudhir Jalan
Former President, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)
Mrs. Fulvia Ferragamo Visconti
Board Member Salvatore Ferragamo S.p.A., Non-Operative Head for Accessories and Furniture Design ,
VP Ferragamo Finanziaria S.p.A., Italy
Ms. Fulvia Ferragamo is a Board Member at Salvatore Ferragamo SpA, an Italian luxury goods company, a member of the Strategic Committee on Brands and Product Development, and is a Non-Operative Head for Accessories and Furniture Design. Fulvia began working at Salvatore Ferragamo SpA developing the Silk and Accessories division. She is also the VP of Ferragamo Finanziaria SpA, Board Member of Palazzo Feroni Finanaziaria SpA, Sofer SpA and the President of Orientera Srl. Ms. Ferragamo is involved in numerous cultural and humanitarian organizations in Italy and abroad, including as a Board Member for Onlus File.
Hon. Mr. Sarunas Birutis
Minister of Culture of Lithuania
Šarūnas Birutis is currently a Member of Parliament and the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania. He is also a member of the Committees on Education, Science and Culture, and European Affairs. Previously, Mr. Birutis was a member of the Vilnius City Council and from 2004 to 2009 he served as a member of the European Parliament, Bureau of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), European Energy Forum and FORATOM. Mr Birutis studied economics at the Vilnius University and law at the Law University of Lithuania.
H.E. Mr Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya
Governor of Nagaland & Assam
H.E. Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya has been the appointed Governor of Nagaland and the Governor of Assam since 2014. A native of Udupi district in Karnataka state, Bharat, he graduated from Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College (MGM College) in Udupi, after which he worked in Mumbai city, was associated with ABVP, and was a member of Mumbai University's Senate. Mr. Acharya is credited for planning University of Delhi's Gyanodaya Express to North East of India.
Jorge Mario Andrino Grotewold
National Representative for Human Rights in Guatemala
Mario Jorge Andrino Grotewold is the Secretary General of Guatemala’s oficina del Procurador de los Derechos Humanos, the office of the Counsel of Human Rights. He was previously a professor at the Universidad Rafael Landivar for 17 years, as well as a legal consultant for Acción Ciudadana (Citizen Action) where he dealt with transparency issues. Mr. Grotewold served as coordinator of modernization for the Presidential Commission on Reform and Modernization of the State. He was also an external consultant of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Mr. Grotewold holds degrees in Law as well as a masters degree in Human Rights from Universidad Rafael Landívar.
Mr. Luis Gabriel Moreno Ocampo
Lawyer, The first Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, The Hague, Netherlands
Mr. Luis Gabriel Moreno Ocampo was appointed the first Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC). He previously worked as a prosecutor in Argentina, where he distinguished himself by representing the public face of the prosecution in the Trial of the Juntas. Mr. Moreno Ocampo has been a visiting professor at Stanford University, Harvard Law School and Yale University. Mr. Moreno Ocampo has acted as a consultant to the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and the United Nations. Mr. Moreno Ocampo is also a former member of the advisory board of Transparency International.
Master Ji Jing
China
THE ART OF LIVING
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