2023 Edition
Planet | People | Health | Peace | Policy
Anelise Borges is one of the leading international television journalists of her generation. Brave and relentless, Anelise has ventured headfirst into ongoing conflicts around the world, uncovering the human stories and shining a light on the issues affecting millions of people across the globe. Her award-winning track record includes an Emmy nomination in 2022 for her coverage of the turbulent US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Anelise was headhunted by EURONEWS in 2018 and became their Paris Correspondent, reporting on major stories across Europe. As the sole broadcast journalist aboard the humanitarian rescue vessel Aquarius, Anelise covered the ship’s standoff with Italian authorities, transforming the material into an award-winning documentary, “10 Days at Sea – The Real Story of The Aquarius”.
2019 saw Anelise promoted to International Correspondent for EURONEWS. Dispatching from the heart of the crisis in Venezuela, Anelise secured exclusive interviews with President Nicolas Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaido. During the same year she reported from Libya, Syria, and Iran, leveraging prior experience of covering breaking news in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe while based in Istanbul. Anelise’s work includes topics such as the War in Syria, the 2015 Refugee Crisis, and the Greek Bailout.
In 2020, Anelise was among the few journalists who managed to enter Belarus days before the country’s presidential election to witness the contested results and the mass unrest that ensued. In 2021, Anelise reported from Iran and Afghanistan on the two biggest stories of the year: the return of hardline clerics to power in Iran, and the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. 2022 saw Anelise spend most of her time in Ukraine covering the return of war to European soil.
Anelise has a master’s degree from the Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris as well as a HEFAT and completed the ‘Reporting Safely in Crisis Zones’ Course at Columbia University’s Dart Center.
In addition to field work, Anelise is a highly accomplished news anchor with more than a decade of experience at EURONEWS, TRT World and France 24.
Anelise is fluent in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Carlos Carreiras has been Mayor of Municipality of Cascais since 2011, winning three elections with an absolute majority and some of the most expressive votes ever in the municipality.
During his terms in office, Carlos Carreiras was Vice President of the Social Democratic Party (2014/2016), President of the social democratic think-tank Instituto Francisco Sá Carneiro (2010/2013) and founder of the Social Democratic Youth.
He is a training manager and, before executive politics, he was a company administrator in the field of FMCG and tourism.
A columnist for the “i” newspaper and author of the book “Com vista para o Atlântico”, Carlos Carreiras was born in 1961 and is the father of five daughters.
Helena Canhão is the Dean of NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa.
Full Professor of Medicine, Coordinator of the Research Unit Comprehensive Health
Research Center (CHRC), and Head of the Associated Laboratory REAL.
She is the President of the Portuguese Medical Schools’ Council (CEMP) for 2023-2024.
She is Chair of the Advisory Council of AICIB and Chair of the Advisory Council of the
Collaborative Laboratory Value for Health.
Helena Canhão is also Senior Rheumatology Consultant, Head of the Rheumatology Unit at
CHULC- Hospital Santo Antonio dos Capuchos, Lisbon.
João Costa, born in Lisbon in 1972 and raised in Setúbal, is most notably recognized for his influential role as the Minister of Education in Portugal. He holds a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Leiden, the Netherlands, and has served as a visiting researcher at MIT.
In addition to his governmental responsibilities, João Costa has made significant contributions to education, actively participating in organizations like the National Reading Plan’s Scientific Board. He has also shared his expertise as a guest professor at renowned universities across the globe.
João Costa’s impact extends to the field of linguistics, where he sits on the editorial boards of respected international linguistics reviews. His extensive research, covering syntax, language acquisition, and educational linguistics, is documented through numerous publications, including articles, book chapters, and books
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the current President of the Portuguese Republic, was born in Lisbon on December 12, 1948. He holds a degree in Law and obtained his doctorate in Legal and Political Sciences in 1984. Throughout his academic journey, he achieved the esteemed position of Full Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Lisbon.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has a multifaceted career, including journalism where he served as the editor of Jornal Expresso from 1980 to 1983 and contributed to Jornal Semanário from 1983 to 1987. Later, he transitioned into political commentary through radio and television.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is committed to civic and social causes, actively engaging with various organizations.
His political career includes serving as a deputy in the Constituent Assembly in 1976 and holding roles in government, including Secretary of State for the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has also held various positions in local governance, including Municipal Deputy, Metropolitan Deputy, Councillor, and President of the Municipal Assembly in several municipalities.
He assumed the presidency of Portugal for the first time on January 24, 2016, with his inauguration on March 9 of the same year. His dedication to the nation earned him re-election for a second term on January 24, 2021, followed by a second inauguration on March 9, 2021.
Miguel Martinez de Castro Pinto Luz is the current Deputy Mayor of Cascais/Portugal (population 230,000).
Since 2005 he has held various public positions, both in central government, as Secretary of State for Infrastructure, Transport and Communications during Portugal’s XX Constitutional Government, and in his hometown, Cascais. Miguel is currently President of the Alfredo de Sousa Foundation, Vice-President of the Tourism Board of the Lisbon region and member of the Board of Directors of the Inclusive Community Forum. He has a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico (University of Lisbon), he continued his academic and research career at the same school, completing a master’s in computer networks, where he also taught in several undergraduate and postgraduate courses, he currently teaches at the Nova School of Business and Economics.
He also has an MBA from AESE / IESE Business School (University of Navarra) and is currently developing a PhD in Leadership at Rotterdam School of Management (Erasmus University). His research interests include public service motivation, servant leadership and public sector governance.
Miguel Pinto Luz is a weekly contributor to a national radio station. He is frequently invited to comment in the main national media. In 2021, he has launched the book ‘Voltar a Acreditar na Política’, in which he shares his strategic vision of the world, Europe and Portugal. He has been developing a new vision for the future of cities and has already implemented successful cases in Cascais.
He is internationally recognized for this work, being invited as a keynote speaker all over the world about Smart Cities.
Pedro Oliveira is Dean at Nova School of Business and Economics, where he is also Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Chair Professor.
He is also Professor at Copenhagen Business School; Academic Fellow at Cornell University’s Cornell Institute for Healthy Futures; Founder of Patient Innovation; co-founder of PPL Crowdfunding and member of the Environment & Sustainability Council at EDP Energias de Portugal.
Previously he was Senior Associate Dean for Faculty & Research; Associate Dean for Research; Director of the Research Unit in Business; Academic Director of the LisbonMBA (partnership with Católica-Lisbon, NovaSBE and MIT-Sloan); and Academic Director of the doctoral program in Technology Change and Entrepreneurship (offered by Católica-Lisbon, IST and Carnegie Mellon University) at Católica-Lisbon School of Business & Economics. He was also the founder and director of several exec ed programs.
Pedro also served as advisor to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education and as an International Faculty Fellow at MIT Sloan School of Management .
His research has been published at Production and Operations Management (POM), Research Policy, Organizational Research Methods, Journal of Product Innovation Management (JPIM), Sloan Management Review, California Management Review, Orphanet, New England Journal of Medicine – Catalyst, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, among other.
He received his Ph.D. in Operations, Technology and Innovation Management from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and his M.Sc. and “licenciatura” in Naval Engineering from IST. He also completed advanced training at Harvard Business School and at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
Erden Eruç is one of the leading ocean rowers in the world, a captain and a sailing instructor. He holds 18 Guinness World Records.
First to circumnavigate solo by human power, he is also the first to have rowed the three major oceans – the Pacific, the Indian and the Atlantic. Eruç recently became the first to row from North America to Asia, between California and the Philippines.
As an Ambassador for Ocean Recovery Alliance, Eruç raised awareness about plastic pollution in The Ocean. He carried a hydrophone to help a scientific survey of Beaked Whales.
With two MS degrees in engineering and an MBA, Eruç is the founder of the Seattle based nonprofit Around-n-Over with a mission to educate and inspire children.
Harry Bowcott is the leader of McKinsey Sustainability in the UK and Ireland. Harry also co-leads McKinsey Sustainability’s work in hyper-scaling green businesses, including working with investors, start-ups and incumbents across industries. He leads McKinsey’s relationship with the UN High Level Climate Champions and was responsible for McKinsey’s support to, and presence at, COP26. Harry is a frequent speaker and writer on the journey to net-zero. From 2017-2022, Harry was the People Leader for McKinsey in the UK and Ireland, responsible for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, learning and evaluation.
Harry published multiple articles on net-zero transition, green business building COP26 and climate change. He holds two Master’s degrees in Modern History from Cambridge University and Oxford University.
Harry will be speaking about the importance of natural capital, its growth opportunities and changes to lifestyle required to preserve natural capital at Estoril Conferences 2023.
Hugo Marques is a leading voice in the healthcare industry, dedicated to enhance the humanization
of healthcare delivery through digitalization. As the Head of Digital Health & Automation at Siemens Healthineers Portugal, he is committed to improving the digital experience for healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers. With over 15 years of experience in managing and implementing digital health solutions, he is a passionate advocate for using medical technology and clinical decision support platforms to improve people’s well-being.
As a healthcare keynote speaker, Hugo helps audiences navigate the changing landscape of
healthcare. He believes that healthcare professionals need more support now than ever before and is dedicated to empowering them with the tools and resources they need to provide high-quality care. With a background in Radiology and extensive training as an International Executive Coach in areas of high-performance team development, Hugo is uniquely qualified to guide healthcare professionals through the challenges they face. He is dedicated to creating a better future for healthcare delivery and empowering healthcare professionals to provide the best possible care to their patients.
Maya Gabeira is a Brazilian professional surfer born on April 10, 1987, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She discovered her love for the ocean at a young age and began surfing when she was just 14 years old. Maya quickly made a name for herself in the world of big wave surfing, pushing the boundaries of what was thought possible in the sport.
Throughout her career, Maya Gabeira has achieved remarkable feats in riding some of the largest waves in the world. She holds the Guinness World Record for the largest wave ever surfed by a female, with a massive 22,4m wave conquered at Nazaré, Portugal, in 2018 and also has won 5 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards. Maya’s courage and determination have earned her multiple awards and accolades, establishing her as one of the most influential female surfers in history.
Beyond her athletic achievements, Maya Gabeira is a passionate advocate for environmental conservation and ocean health. She actively raises awareness about the importance of protecting our oceans and takes part in initiatives to combat plastic pollution. Maya’s commitment to making a positive impact extends beyond the surf community, inspiring people around the world to respect and care for our planet’s natural resources.
Miguel Stilwell d’Andrade is CEO of EDP, a global energy company operating through 4 main regional hubs in Europe, North America, Latin America and APAC. EDP is one of the largest renewable energy producers in the world with 75% of the energy produced from renewable sources and aiming to be all-green by 2030.
Miguel accumulates more than 20 years of experience in the energy sector. He has led many of the key transactions that have shaped EDP, including the acquisition of Hidrocantabrico in Spain in 2005, the acquisition of Horizon Wind energy in the US in 2007, the IPOs of EDP Energias do Brazil in 2005 and EDP Renewables in 2008. Miguel has also been CEO for EDP Spain and EDP’s supply business and Board Member of EDP Distribution. After being the CFO, Miguel became CEO of EDP and EDP Renewables in January 2021.
Miguel holds an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management and graduated from the University of Strathclyde (Scotland, UK) with an M.Eng in Mechanical Engineering. He spent the early part of his career in Investment Banking.
Sir Richard Roberts was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology for his pioneering work on DNA sequencing and genetic engineering. His discovery of the alternative splicing of genes had a profound impact on the study and applications of molecular biology
and led to decisive progress in many fields including cancer research.
He is the Chief Scientific Officer at New England Biolabs (Massachusetts) and has been an active supporter and member of the Patient Innovation Advisory Board, currently based at Universidade Nova de Lisboa.
He has advocated (together with a group of Nobel laureates) for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in general and golden rice to advance health in developing countries, noting the high safety record of genetically modified foods.
He has also accepted to serve Nova School of Business & Economics as Dean’s Advisory Board member.
Sameera Chukkapalli Holmes is an Obama Leader and the founder and director of Needlab, a nonprofit organization that works to solve habitat and resilience problems in cities and rural areas. Needlab works with communities worldwide to develop human and environmental-centered architectural design solutions. Needlab’s mission is to research, build, and advocate for dignity in design and self-sufficiency in communities. They have completed projects on four continents – directly impacting communities by working with and for them.
She is the youngest architect to participate in “Barcelona Design Week”, and one among the three selected architects to display sustainable housing solutions at the 1st UN-Habitat Assembly. She spends most of her time drafting human and environment-centered design solutions with communities around the world. Currently, she is driven toward achieving the UN Sustainable development Goals by making sustainable design solutions reachable to all and teaching graduate students at New York University (NYU) and Pratt Institute in New York.
Alexandra Palt is Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer of L’Oréal, and Executive Vice President of the L’Oréal Foundation.
A graduate of University of Vienna and the University of Cambridge, Alexandra studied law, specializing in human rights. She began her career at a law firm and then worked for Amnesty International in Germany, followed by organization’s specializing in diversity, change management and sustainability. Alexandra Palt is also leading authority in corporate responsibility and sustainability.
Alexandra Palt has also accepted to serve Nova School of Business & Economics as Dean’s Advisory Board member.
Ana Sena is a Senior Strategic Partnerships Manager at Twitch. She joined Twitch as a Strategic Partnerships Manager to work with top Twitch partners and onboard celebrities, high-profile personalities and creators. She has contributed to building a global economy of diverse multiplayer creators, as part of programs such as the Twitch Women’s Alliance, a program dedicated to uplifting and empowering Twitch creators who identify as women.
Ana was named one of Forbes 30 Under 30 for her work in gaming and live streaming.
Prior to joining Twitch, she worked at VidCon as its Manager of Talent Partnerships where she managed the talent and creator partnerships team, activating all talent relations aspects of all VidCon events including outreach, discovery, and hospitality.
Ana has also worked at Warner Bros. Digital Networks and CAA. She is an MBA graduate from Chapman University and received her BA in Film and TV Production from the University of the Arts London.
Anindya Ghose is the Heinz Riehl Chair Professor of Business at NYU’s Stern School of Business. He is the author of the best-selling and award winning book, TAP: Unlocking The Mobile Economy. He has been recognized globally for his contributions, named among the Top 40 Professors Under 40 and Top 200 Thought Leaders in Big Data and Business Analytics. Anindya has been awarded many prestigious awards including the INFORMS Distinguished Fellow Award, AIS Fellow Award and INFORMS Practical Impact Award. Thinkers50 has identified him as one of the Top Management Thinkers worldwide and Web of Science citation index recognized him as a Top 1% researcher. He has advised and consulted for more than 50 companies in 5 continents including on some of the biggest antitrust and privacy litigation matters in the USA. He sits on the boards of multiple public listed companies, private start-ups and venture capital funds around the world. His exceptional career trajectory, achieving full professorship in a remarkably short time, is widely acknowledged in the academic community.
Anne-Laure Fayard is Chaired Professor in Social Innovation at Nova School of Business and Economics in Lisbon Portugal. She leads the Design for Social Innovation and Sustainability (DESIS) Lab @ Nova SBE. Her research interests involve collaboration, technology, social innovation and design. Fayard is also a Visiting Research Professor at NYU Tandon School of Engineering. She has held visiting positions at Imperial College Business School, London School of Economics and Ecole des Mines. Her research is published in leading scholarly journals and Harvard Business Review. Her work has been highlighted in major newspapers such as the New York Times, Financial Times and The Economist.
Carolina Duarte is a decorated para-athlete from Portugal. She has achieved several notable accomplishments in track and field events. Carolina was awarded the World Silver Medal by World Para Athletics in November 2019, and she is an European Champion in the 400 meters event, as recognized by World Para Athletics in August 2018. She has also secured European Silver Medals in the 100 meters and 200 meters events in August 2018, and a World Bronze Medal in the 400 meters event in July 2017. Carolina was a finalist, finishing 6th in the 100 meters event at the Paralympic Games in Rio 2016.
Carolina is associated with the Comité Paralímpico de Portugal and currently represents the Sporting Clube de Portugal as an athlete. She has been an active member of the Paralympic Committee of Portugal, and she served as the President of the Paralympic Athletes Commission from May 2017 to September 2019.
She has 10% useful vision, but she is a 100% champion. If you think you can’t overcome your limitations, then come and listen to Carolina and reflect. Be inspired.
Cátia Batista is a Full Professor of Economics and Vice-Dean and President of the Pedagogical Council at the Nova School of Business and Economics, where she is also Founder and Scientific Director of the NOVAFRICA research center. She is the Academic Director of the MSc in Economics. Cátia holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Chicago. She has research interests related to international migration and remittance flows, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, technology adoption, education and policy evaluation. She has done work including randomized and lab-in-the-field experiments in countries such as Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ireland, Kenya, Portugal, Mozambique and Sao Tome and Principe. Catia has previously taught at the University of Chicago, University of Oxford, Trinity College Dublin, and Notre Dame University. She is currently a Research Fellow at the research centers CReAM (London, UK), IZA (Bonn, Germany) and JPAL Europe (Paris, France). Previously, Catia worked at the International Monetary Fund and at the Portuguese Catholic University, and consulted for the World Bank and the International Growth Center.
Mr. Zhiyu Chen, who obtained his Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Oxford, is currently Deputy CEO of METRO China and a Board Director of Dmall Inc., and has over 14 years of management experience in financial, digital and retail industries in both China and oversea markets.
Mr. Chen used to work for Barclays Bank and Alibaba Group, Prior to joining WUMART Group, Mr. Zhiyu Chen was a Global Officer with Walmart, and have served on several leadership positions, including SVP of Sam’s Club China, SVP of Walmart China, as well as Board Director of Walmart Hong Kong.
As the Captain of METRO China’s transformation into B2C membership store, Mr. Zhiyu Chen has profound insights into the retail industry and membership business model.
Daniel Traça was Dean and is Professor of Economics at Nova School of Business and Economics (Nova SBE), in Lisbon. He is also Visiting Professor at INSEAD, in France and Singapore. Previously, he was Assistant Professor at INSEAD, and held the Marie et Alain Philippson Chair in Managing for Sustainable Human Development, at the Solvay Business School, in Brussels, where he was Vice-President and Director of the MBA Program. Daniel was Visiting Professor in the KDI School of Management and Policy, in Seoul, and in the Graduate Institute of International Economics, in Geneva. Daniel graduated from Nova School of Business and Economics and obtained his PhD from Columbia University, New York. He has worked as a consultant for the World Bank and the European Commission and published his scientific research in several leading international academic journals in the field of Globalization and Economic Development.
James Taylor-Foster is a writer and cultural critic trained in architecture. He is curator of contemporary architecture and design at ArkDes, the Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design. He has developed a number of curatorial projects including the first museum exhibition to explore the culture and creative field of ASMR. He was formerly editor-at-large for ArchDaily.
Photo credit: Photo by Martin Simonic (2022)
Jenny M. Hoobler, PhD, is a renowned Professor of Human Resource Management at Nova School of Business and Economics. Her research focuses on diversity, inclusion, and women’s careers in organizations. With over 175 research-based publications and presentations, including notable awards, Jenny is recognized as an influential scholar in her field.
Jenny holds positions as an A-rated researcher with the South African National Research Foundation and a Fellow of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Jenny has also held leadership roles within academic divisions and serves as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Applied Psychology. At Nova, she teaches courses on managing diverse workforces at the master’s level.
Administrator and publisher of the Portuguese Online Newspaper “Observador” since 2014. Former editor in chief of the Portuguese daily “PÚBLICO” till 2009.
Attended the Biology BA, in the Sciences College of the Lisbon University;
Journalist since 1976, worked in the weekly “Expresso” between 1980 and 1989.
Founder of the daily newspaper “PÚBLICO” in 1989.
Contributor and member of the Editorial Board of the revue “Risco” during all its existence. Contributor and member of the Editorial Board of the magazine “Nova Cidadania” since it was founded. Founder and member of the direction of the Press Observatory. Former member of the board of the World Forum of Editors. Author of several books, namely “Liberdade e Informação”, FFMS, 2011. Great Prize of the Portuguese Press Club in 1998. Guest Professor at the IEP of the Catholic University and former guest Professor of the ESCS (Lisbon College of Media) and of the Human Sciences College of the Catholic University.”
José Tavares holds a PhD in Economics from Harvard University and is full professor at NovaSBE, and Research Fellow at the Centre for Economic Policy Research, London. José´s research on democracy, gender discrimination, and economic policy has been featured in Time magazine, the New York Times, Handelsblatt and La Repubblica, among other. In his essay “Europe Is Not A Foreign Country”, José discusses the future of Europe.
Karim R. Lakhani is a renowned academic and expert in innovation and technology management. He currently serves as a Professor at Harvard Business School, where he holds the position of Charles E. Wilson Professor of Business Administration. Lakhani’s research focuses on the role of digital platforms, open innovation, and crowdsourcing in driving organizational and societal change.
As a prolific author, Lakhani has published extensively in prestigious academic journals and has contributed to numerous books and publications. His work explores the dynamics of innovation ecosystems, the impact of emerging technologies on industries, and the collaborative nature of problem-solving in the digital age.
Lakhani has received numerous accolades and honors for his contributions to the field of innovation. He has also advised and collaborated with leading organizations across various sectors, helping them navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by technological advancements.
Lars Strannegård is President of the Stockholm School of Economics in Sweden. He is Professor of Management Studies and holder of the Bo Rydin and SCA Chair in Business Administration, Leadership. His research interests focus on aspects of leadership, aesthetics, branding and organization. Dr. Strannegård has carried out research on organizing and management practice in multinational organizations.
His work has been published in journals like Organization, Journal of Organization Change Management, European Journal of Marketing, Leadership, Annals of Tourism Research and Marketing Theory. He is chairperson of Beckmans School of Design, member of the Board of Trustees of the Centre for Business and Policy Studies (SNS), the Swedish Film Institute, jury member of Michael Treschow’s scholarship for design students. He has also been a visiting scholar at Stanford University and professor at Uppsala University.
Leid Zejnilovic is an Assistant Professor at Nova SBE with a double Ph.D. in Technological Change and Entrepreneurship from Carnegie Mellon University and Católica-Lisbon School of Business and Economics. He is also an Engineer of Telecommunications with a Master´s Degree in Information Technology and a Master´s Degree in Engineering and Public Policy. He co-founded several high-tech firms and online platforms and has over 20 years of international consulting and technology management experience. As an academic entrepreneur, he co-founded two knowledge centers at Nova SBE, the Data Science Knowledge Center and the Open and User Innovation Knowledge Center, where he serves as the Academic Director and Scientific Deputy Director, respectively. He also helped launch Patient Innovation, the platform for patients and caregivers to share self-made innovative solutions to cope with their health disorders. Leid is a co-founding Chairman of Data Science for Social Good Foundation and an associate editor for Data & Policy Journal. In the past years, Leid taught or led academic programs at NovaSBE, Imperial College Business School, and Ludwig Boltzmann Institute, among other places. He has given over 100 talks in industry and academia.
Manuel Heitor is a professor at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) the engineering school at the University of Lisbon. He served as Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education for the Government of Portugal in the period November 2015 March 2022 and as the Secretary of State for Science, Technology and Higher Education from March 2005 to June 2011. Overall, he served more than 12 years in the Government of Portugal and, among many other initiatives, he promoted the program Go- Portugal – Global Science and Technology Partnerships Portugal and the Atlantic International Research Centre – AIR centre. He helped to develop the Portuguese and European Space strategies, as well enforce research and innovation policies, including Advanced Computing for Europe.
He founded in 1998 the IST´s Center for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research, IN+, which was named as one of the Top 50 Global Centers of Research on Management of Technology by the International Association for the Management of Technology (IAMOT) in 2005. He coordinated the IST´s doctoral programs in engineering and public policy (EPP) and engineering design and advanced manufacturing”. He was a visiting scholar at Harvard University in 2011/12 and in 2023 and a visiting professor at New York University in 2022/23 at the Centre for Urban Science and Progress (CUSP) and the Marron Institute. In 2022 he received the Honorary Doctor in Science and Technology from Carnegie Mellon University and was nominated “IST distinguished Professor”. He is a Honorary Member of the European Academy of Cancer Sciences, EACS, a Corresponding Member of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Spain, and a Foreign Member of Serbian Academy of Engineering.
In 1985, he earned a Ph.D. at Imperial College in London in combustion research and did post-doctoral training at the University of California, San Diego. He then began an academic career at IST where he pursued research and teaching in the areas of energy and the environment. Heitor served as the deputy-president of IST from 1993-1998 and has been involved in several initiatives on the study of science, technology and innovation policies, including higher education policies and management. Since 1995, he has been a research fellow at the University of Texas at Austin’s IC2 Institute. He was a founding member of the S&T Council of the International Risk Governance Council, IRGC and of Globelics: the Global Network for the Economics of Learning, Innovation, and Competence-building Systems. Manuel Heitor has published over 130 scientific articles and supervised over 40 post-grad students. He is co-author of, among others, New Ideas for the University (in Portuguese, IST Press, 1998) and Innovation for All? (Praeger, 2005). He was co editor of the book series on Technology Policy and Innovation, launched by Greenwood Publishing Group and continued by Purdue University Press.
Mário Laginha, the Portuguese pianist and composer, is a musical treasure yet to be fully discovered in Europe. With a remarkable career in Portugal and abroad with many collaborations with renowned artists, his latest album “Jangada” on Edition Records aims to introduce his captivating music to a wider international audience.
Mário’s unique style blends jazz, African influences, and classical elegance, resulting in harmonically rich compositions. “Jangada” represents an organic fusion of diverse inspirations, reflecting exploration, adventure, and restless creativity. This album is poised to unveil Mário Laginha’s talent to new listeners, establishing him as one of Europe’s legendary musicians of his generation.
Pedro do Carmo Costa is a visionary entrepreneur, co-founder, and CEO of Pulsely, a leading tech company specializing in Diversity and Inclusion diagnostics. With a career spanning over two decades, Pedro’s strategic leadership led to the success of Intersection Ventures and Exago before its acquisition. He holds a degree in Industrial Production Engineering and is an active member of the Portuguese Diaspora Coundil since 2022. Pedro’s commitment to innovation and inclusion continues to shape the business landscape, making him an influential figure in the tech industry.
Salvador Sobral is a celebrated Portuguese musician and singer-songwriter. He gained international fame after winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 2017 with the heartfelt song “Amar Pelos Dois.” With a soulful voice and a unique musical identity, Salvador has released several successful albums and earned numerous accolades, including the Best Engineered Album at the Latin Grammy Awards in 2021. His captivating performances and diverse projects continue to captivate audiences worldwide, solidifying his position as one of Portugal’s most distinguished musical talents.
In 2023, Salvador Sobral released his fourth studio album, “TIMBRE,” following a successful debut tour in Brazil. This latest work showcases his continued growth as an artist and further cements his reputation as a prominent figure in the music industry. With a rich blend of musical influences and a distinctive voice, Salvador Sobral’s musical journey remains an inspiring and influential force in the contemporary music scene.
Tania Trindade is an Aerospace Engineer and has been working in the Democratic Republic of Congo since 2011 in the forestry and conservation sector as a Chief ESG Officer, External Relations and Advisor. Seven years of her background in forestry were spent in the Mai Ndombe province where direct contact with the forest, its Communities and Authorities was key to the development of her career in the forestry sector. Tânia also worked as a Project Manager and Business Development professional at Tekever in Lisbon from 2010 to 2011. Before that, she gained experience as a Maintenance Engineer at PGA-Portugália Airlines in Lisbon from 2009 to 2010. Tania’s diverse professional background showcases her expertise in management, business development, engineering and external relations.
Tania is passionate about music and humanitarian projects. She founded Bana Congo NGO in 2012 In Mai Ndombe province which aims to save children suffering from malnutrition, through medical assistance and music. The project has been expanded to Kinshasa as well . This musical project reintegrates neglected children and teenagers into their social environment fostering their education. Tania is also an advisor and volunteer trainer at the Congolese National Music Conservatory in Kinshasa to contribute to the enhancement of education of Congolese children and teenagers through music
Viviane Y. Naimy is a Professor of Finance and the Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics at Notre Dame University, Lebanon. She has successfully led the AACSB accreditation process and various programmatic accreditations, demonstrating her commitment to academic excellence. With invitations as a Keynote Speaker at international venues, including AACSB, she is recognized as an expert in her field. Her extensive publication record in risk management and financial modeling, coupled with numerous awards for research excellence, highlights her contributions to the academic community. She is a member of renowned associations such as the Asociación Internacional de Economía Aplicada and the International Academic Board of Exponential Education. Naimy’s expertise extends to financial institutions in Europe and the Arab countries, where she has provided executive training and serves as a financial consultant in areas of risk management, oil, and finance. Additionally, Naimy is a piano composer
Aaron Ciechanover is an Israeli biologist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2004 for characterizing the method that cells use to degrade and recycle proteins.
Professor Aaron Ciechanover is a Technion Distinguished Research Professor at The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute at Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.
He received his M.Sc. and M.D. from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Professor Ciechanover has also accepted to serve Nova SBE as Advisory Board member, including for those activities in collaboration with the NOVA Medical School – Faculdade de Ciências Médicas.
Adriana Mallozzi was born with cerebral palsy and was first introduced to a power wheelchair, covered with unique technologies, at age 9, leading her to embrace technology at a very young age rendering her increasingly independent. The day-to-day struggles also pushed Adriana to become as inventive as possible, due to the need to perform her routines and tasks as independently as possible. That’s when Puffin Innovations came to life. For their first inventions, Puffin created a Bluetooth-connected device fit for Android phones, that people with disabilities can control with their mouth, allowing them greater access to computers and mobile phones. Puffin empowers persons with disabilities to connect wirelessly to mobile devices, computers & anything smart.
Their story started when a team of recent graduates, Akshita, Bonny, and Abhishek, developed ‘Kibo’, a device to help the visually impaired access written content. The team met at the Digital Impact Square center where graduates are trained to create social innovations. They founded the company Trestle Labs in 2017 to keep working with communities of visually impaired people, helping them to pursue their education. What it does is make anything that is printed accessible to audio by digitalizing it, allowing visually impaired people to listen to the book. It also has the option to translate it to another language making it accessible to more people.
Bruno Calo Fernández is the CFO of Alexion (AstraZeneca Rare Disease Business Unit) Germany, and previous CFO of AstraZeneca Portugal. Bruno has over 17 years of experience in the Biopharmaceutical industry, working across its whole value chain (R&D, Operations, Commercial) in several Finance & Market Access leadership roles. His life passion is to be able to contribute to develop new therapies for patients in areas of high unmet medical need, while partnering across the whole healthcare system to unlock the path to Net Zero Patient Care.
Bruno is a Doctor in Chemical Engineering and a Chartered Global Management Accountant. He also holds a MPhil at the University of Cambridge specializing on Biopharma Business Strategy and an Executive MBA at London Business School
Carlos Oliveira Is the cofounder and Executive President of Fundação José Neves with a professional path related with economy, innovation and entrepreneurship, was Secretary of State of Entrepreneurship, Competitivity and Innovation, in the XIX Constitutional Government.
Was also advisor at the European Innovation Council (EIC), between 2016 and 2021, being the only Portuguese representative.
At the age of 22 he founded his first company, Mobicomp, that would be acquired by Microsoft in 2008. With an entrepreneur spirit, have cofounded and invested in several startups as Automaise, iMobileMagic, Asap54, PeekMed, Cardmobili, among others.
Was condecorated as Oficial da Ordem de Mérito by the late President of the Portuguese Republic, Jorge Sampaio.
Eldar Shafir is Professor and Director of the Center for Behavioral Science & Public Policy at Princeton University, scientific director at ideas42, a social science R&D lab, and Visiting Professor at Oxford University. Past President of the Society for Judgment and Decision Making, Guggenheim Fellow, and member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Shafir served as member of President Barack Obama’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability, and was named one of Foreign Policy Magazine’s 100 Leading Global Thinkers in 2013. He received a BA from Brown University and a PhD from MIT.
Dr. Fernando Bozza is a clinical researcher at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazil, with major contributions to managing severe infections in low-resource settings. Bozza was central in establishing collaborative research initiatives across Brazil and LA, including large-scale trials. Throughout the pandemic, Bozza conducted in-depth analyses of its impact on the Brazilian health system, addressing healthcare disparities, monitoring mortality trends, and leading vaccination campaigns. He developed community-based interventions facilitating testing with mobile technology (app Dados do Bem), integrating surveillance, health care, and communication with significant impact on mortality reduction in vulnerable communities. His leadership extends to pioneering initiatives of community engagement for vaccination, population-based cohort studies, and the CoLab Maré, a living lab of digital innovation in the favela. His track record includes several international grants and co-authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications.
Fernando Heleno was born in Angola in 1954, where he lived until the age of 22. His grandparents were Portuguese settlers and his grandmothers indigenous Angolans. From the African half he inherited the rhythm and the taste for music. From the portuguese half he inherited the passion for Fado.
In 1975 he came to Portugal to complete his degree in Medicine. At the beginning of his post-graduate medical training, in 1979, he met a colleague – Themudo Barata – with whom he shared the same passion for Fado. Since then, he has never stopped playing in various fado houses and fado shows.
Dr. Fola David has managed to create a perfect blend of healthcare and creativity. He works as a medical doctor in the field of dermatology and also creates his art with a focus on skin conditions, sometimes working with his patients. He is also Nigeria’s Foremost Speedpainter able to create art on the spot in minutes. He founded the Foladavid Care Foundation to give free medical care and enhance healthcare delivery to underserved groups as well as facilitate creative projects for children in communities.
Glooma’s story started when Francisco’s cousin detected a lump in her chest, and disregarded its importance, not talking about it to anyone, and as time went by, she became increasingly worried about it. Four months later, she went to the doctor and, as the tumor was diagnosed malignant, they had to remove the breast. That’s when Glooma created SenseGlove!
SenseGlove is a home and portable medical screening device that will assist women in breast self-examination. This device is a glove that with the help of sensors it will detect and control abnormalities in the breast tissue contributing to the early detection of breast cancer, taking women earlier to the doctor preventing death or aggressive treatments. This SenseGlove doesn’t replace diagnosis exams it simply alerts the patient recommending a visit to the doctors if necessary.
Geir Arild Espnes is an academic and a politician. He is professor and leader of Public Health Science and Community Medicine at Norwegian University of Science and Technology. He is at present Mayor of Oppdal and deputy member of the Norwegian Parliament. He is holding an Honorary Professorship at National University of Singapore. He has started and led several Centers and organizations on Health Promotion Research worldwide. He has been working with esteemed scholars at universities and research institutions around the world.
A compassionate and dedicated medical professional with hands-on global health and policy expertise.
Experience in clinical medicine, research, and consultancy, within multi-disciplinary institutions. Diverse leadership experience as an executive board member of NGOs in official relations with WHO and the UN, with accomplishments in drafting policy papers, stakeholder engagement, and building the capacity of healthcare tudents on UHC (including health workforce), SDGs, and advocacy. Effective communicator with interpersonal and problem-solving skills who builds consensus and promotes teamwork. Demonstrated capability of engaging with vital strategic players and strategic thinking. Passionate about achieving universal access to healthcare and access to medicines. More recently finished her Bluebook traineeship at the European Commission, working mainly on the pharmaceutical legislation proposal.
Inês is now working at the OECD as Health Policy and Researcher mostly focusing on Health systems resilience.
Jacobo Muñoz M.D. is an Oncologist, graduated in Medical Studies by the Autonomous University of Madrid and post-graduated in Oncology by the University of Gerona, with an Advanced Management Programme from the IE University.
He practiced as an oncologist at Ramon y Cajal Hospital in Madrid and, in 2016 he joined Janssen Spain becoming the Medical Affairs Therapeutical Area Leader for solid tumours, mainly: Prostatic Cancer, Bladder Cancer, Lung Cancer and Agnostic Tumours. In 2022, he became the Medical Affairs & Regulatory Director of Janssen Portugal.
Biel Glasses started with Biel, a child, born with low vision. After unsuccessfully trying every existing solution to help Biel navigate through daily life without falls and injuries, Biel’s parents, medical doctor Constanza, and electronics engineer Jaume started Biel Glasses with the vision to create advanced and affordable solutions to adapt the world to the eyes of as many impaired people as possible. This is how Biel Glasses was created!
The glasses capture the user’s visual field, and through a processor, an algorithm analyzes the information to return signals to the display module. Then the display module adapts the image to the residual vision of the patient, indicating obstacles and other elements through various graphic signals that the user is able to perceive.
Jo Røislien is a professor of medical statistics and an award-winning Scandinavian science communicator. He has written and hosted several science based TV series and short films, for among others Discovery Channel and national Norwegian broadcaster NRK, and has written several popular science books and op-eds on statistics, public health, and science communication. Røislien has performed extensive research into effective communication of complicated information, and is author of the book “THNK before you talk” presenting a science based checklist for effective communication.
Experienced executive manager, with over 30 years of professional background in the Telecommunications and ICT Industries, strong expertise in executive management, telecom and IT Innovation, strategy, product development, growth management, business development, talent building, and communication. Most of his career was developed at Portugal Telecom Group (currently Altice Group) being split between Portugal and Brazil, where he has been responsible for several leadership roles developing and delivering Innovative products and solutions operating commercially at several telco companies across Europe, Latin America, and Africa are servicing more than 300 million end customers today.
In Brazil, led, as CEO and Board Member, the Altice Group subsidiary companies in the country, namely Open Labs SA (the Alice Labs subsidiary in Brazil), a leading telecommunications, software, and services company, Portugal Telecom Brasil SA – The group holding company in Brazil and Portugal Telecom Multimedia Brasil SA –A company dedicated to M&A in the Brazilian media sector.
Since March 2020, is leading the Digital and Innovation Strategy Unit at Altice Labs (Portugal), the global Altice Group R&D company.
José Luis Themudo Barata was born in 1955. He played various musical instruments since he was a child and started Portuguese Guitar at the age of 19. He played until he was 25 and interrupted to dedicate to Medicine.
MD since 1978, consultant in internal medicine and specialist in sports medicine. After a PhD he became professor of Medicine.
In 2008 returned to study guitar. In 2011 entered a music university and music became the main activity. Medicine begun to subside. Since then, he played in several fado houses, tv and other shows. He is the resident guitarist of the “fado house” “O Sr Fado”.
After losing his natural voice 4 years ago, Konrad was unable to find a convenient solution for him, so the Uhura Bionics team designed the relevant technology to restore the natural communication of laryngectomees with the use of smart interfaces. Their aesthetic artificial larynx and AI-capable voice amplifier are able to restore the quality and freedom of conversation, turning the robotic sound of the current artificial larynxes into a natural-sounding voice. Uhura Bionics Voice Amplifier is the simplest way to speak more clearly. It will give you confidence in public situations and let you be heard.
Klara Jelinkova is Vice President and University Chief Information Officer at Harvard University. She is responsible for information technology strategy, policies, and services that support the University’s teaching, learning, and research mission, and business operations. Klara also leads Harvard University Information Technology (HUIT), Harvard’s central IT provider serving more than 50,000 educators, students, and staff. Klara has previously held IT leadership positions at Rice University, the University of Chicago, Duke University, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Nelly is a global development leader with over 20 years’ experience successfully managing international development programs and addressing global challenges–including human rights, gender equality, and equitable access to quality and affordable services–by leveraging high-level diplomacy, negotiation, and advocacy. She has held senior-level positions with the United Nations and International NGOs, supporting health development outcomes particularly in Africa, Europe, and Asia. Prior to the UN, she worked as Adviser to the President, the Attorney-General, and the Minister of State Reform and Public Administration of Portugal.
Nuno Palma dos Reis is a 6th-year medical student with a passion for healthcare innovation.
With a love for the ocean, started sailing as soon as he could walk and a Debater personality type, asking questions as soon as he could talk. Fundraised and later led a team of 30 students organizing the iMed Conference, an international congress that gathers in Lisbon some of the brightest minds in the scientific community.
More recently founded NOWACE, a consultancy firm that aims to bridge the gap between medical students and health startups.
Driven by a resolute dedication to improving healthcare, he aspires to a future where innovation meets impact.
Paulo Rosado. Born in 1963. He plays guitar since childhood. With 14 years, influenced by a music teacher, he starts bass guitar and creates a rock band which was invited to record a single, after participating in a contest. With 27 years old, he formed another band.
After marrying the Fado singer Helena Favila, his love for fado increased: he started playing bass guitar in Fado, writing fado lyrics and studying its origins and history. Today he is part of the Board of Directors from the Academy of Portuguese Guitar and Fado. He plays bass guitar in several fado houses and in multiple fado shows.
Ricardo Gil-da-Costa is a neuroscientist and entrepreneur who holds a MSc in Biology and a PhD in Cognitive Neurosciences. Dr. Gil-da Costa’s research on the neural foundations of human cognition and language, at Harvard University, the N.I.H. and the Salk Institute, has been distinguished with multiple awards and honors and is incorporated in textbooks and university curricula.
Dr. Gil-da-Costa is a reviewer and advisor for leading scientific journals and government and private institutions, as the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the Keck Future Ini. and the Bankinter Innovation Foundation. His current focus on neurotechnologies to impact mental performance and brain disorders led to several international patents and to founding Neuroverse® Inc., where he leads a team committed to bringing a novel brain interface into everyday life, and to shaping the next generation of Healthcare, Education and Human Performance.
Robert S. Langer is heralded as one of the most prolific inventors in the history of medicine, as well as the father of controlled drug release and tissue engineering. As a young researcher confronted with the problem of accurate drug delivery, he reversed the usual process of working with existing materials, and custom-designed new polymers (plastics) to release medication at a desired rate. His discoveries have saved countless lives and helped launch a $100-billion-a-year industry that includes products ranging from the nicotine patch to coated cardiovascular stents. His inventions include dime-size implantable wafers for the treatment of cancer, drug release systems operated by remote control, and an implantable “pharmacy on a chip” that releases precise quantities of drugs on a programmable schedule.
Langer pioneered the new field of tissue engineering by growing transplantable tissue in vitro on biodegradable plastic scaffolding. Skin grown using Langer’s principles has been approved by the FDA, cartilage is in clinical trials, and his engineered spinal tissue has been successfully transplanted in laboratory animals. Every year, thousands of Americans die awaiting transplants of organs like the liver, heart and lung, but Robert Langer is creating a future where spare organs can be grown in the laboratory.
Dr. Langer has received the highest professional honors for his work, including the Charles Stark Draper Prize, the National Medal of Science, the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the Priestley Medal, the Wolf Prize, the £1 million Queen Elizabeth Prize, and the $3 million Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences. In addition to his endowed chair at MIT, he is a faculty member of the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology and the David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research. His research laboratory at MIT is the largest academic biomedical engineering lab in the world, maintaining about $10 million in annual grants and over 100 researchers.
Zohray Talib is Executive Vice Dean for Education and Professor of Medicine at the California University of Science and Medicine. She serves as Head of Department at the University of Global Health Equity in Rwanda and visiting faculty at the Aga Khan University in Kenya and Mbarara University of Science and Technology in Uganda. Dr. Talib works with medical schools globally to bring social accountability and best practices particularly to low-resource settings. She brings to the field of global health equity the unique perspective of being a primary care doctor, educator, researcher and leader.
Ana Paula Zacarias is the Permanent Representative of Portugal to the United Nations. Prior to her latest appointment, she served as her country’s Secretary of State for European Affairs, a post she has held since July 2017 until March 2022.
Ms. Zacarias has served in a range of Government positions, both in Portugal and abroad. From 2015 to 2017, she was Head of Delegation of the European Union delegation to Colombia and Ecuador, and from 2011 to 2015 she was Head of the bloc’s delegation to Brazil.
She served as Deputy Permanent Representative of Portugal to the European Union (2009-2011), first resident Ambassador of Portugal to Estonia (2005-2008) and Deputy Permanent Representative in Portugal’s delegation to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris (2000-2005).
In addition, she was Consul in Curitiba, Brazil (1993-1996) and the Political Officer at her country’s Embassy in the United States (1988-1993). Prior to that, she served as Vice-President of Instituto Camões and as Counsellor for International Relations at the Office of the President of the Republic (1986‑1988).
Elida Bautista, PhD, is the Director of Inclusion and Diversity at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. With expertise in clinical psychology and extensive experience in developing social justice and diversity training programs, she is committed to creating an inclusive school climate. Bautista’s personal background as a bilingual Chicana from Chicago brings a unique perspective to her work in fostering diversity and equity at UC Berkeley.
Her role includes setting school-wide strategies for diversity and equity programs and promoting a sense of belonging among students. Elida Bautista’s dedication to inclusivity contributes to creating a welcoming and diverse environment at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.
Gerard Ryle is the Pulitzer Prize and Emmy Award-winning director of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists in Washington, DC. He led the Panama Papers, Paradise Papers, FinCEN Files and Pandora Papers projects – the biggest cross border investigations in journalism history.
ICIJ is a non-profit organization that has pioneered a new kind of collaborative investigative journalism, convincing more than 150 of the world’s biggest and smallest media companies to join forces to work together on global stories. This work has brought down four world leaders, led to multiple arrests and prompted government inquiries and legislative reform in more than 70 countries.
ICIJ’s Pandora Papers project brought more than 600 reporters at more than 150 news outlets in 117 countries to work together.
ICIJ is probably best known in Portugal for its Luanda Leaks project in 2020 into the business affairs of the then-richest woman in Africa, Isabel dos Santos. The project led to an international arrest warrant for dos Santos and to more than $1 billion of her assets being returned to Angola.
Gerard is a book author and TED speaker and he has won or shared in more than 80 journalism awards from eight countries.
Sergiy Kyslytsya is the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations. Before his latest appointment, Mr. Kyslytsya was his country’s Deputy Foreign Minister since 2014. He was previously Director-General for International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs beginning in 2006 until 2014 and Deputy Director-General of the Ministry’s Second Territorial Department (Americas and Western Europe) in 2006.
Mr. Kyslytsya was Minister Counsellor for Political Affairs at Ukraine’s Embassy in Washington, D.C., between 2003 and 2005, having served as Political Counsellor in the same mission from 2001 until 2003.
Among other positions, Mr. Kyslytsya was Chief of Staff to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, as well as First Secretary (Political) at Ukraine’s Embassy in Belgium, accredited also to the Netherlands and Luxembourg, as well as its Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He was previously the Head ad interim of the Foreign Ministry’s Council of Europe Section.
Václav Klaus is a prominent Czech economist and politician, widely recognized for his contributions to economic policy and advocacy of free-market principles. He served as the second President of the Czech Republic from 2003 to 2013, and prior to this, he held various positions in the government and academia.
Throughout his career, Klaus has published numerous articles and books on economics, politics, and public policy. His works often focus on topics such as the role of the state in the economy, market liberalization, and globalization.
With his extensive experience in government and academia, Vaclav Klaus continues to be an influential figure in shaping economic and political discourse in Europe and beyond.
Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu is a Turkish diplomat and politician, and served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey for 9 years. He was responsible for shaping and implementing Turkey’s foreign policy and representing the country in international relations.
Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Ankara University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Long Island University in New York. Prior to his former position, he also held various roles within the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and served as the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Throughout his career, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has actively engaged in international organizations and conferences, advocating for Turkey’s interests and promoting dialogue and cooperation among nations. He is known for his diplomatic skills and commitment to peaceful conflict resolution.
Cristina Duarte is a distinguished economist and experienced public servant currently serving as the Advisor to the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Africa. She began her career in Cape Verde’s Ministry of Finance, rising to become the country’s first female Minister of Finance and Planning in 2006.
Cristina Duarte implemented policies that fostered economic growth, attracted foreign investment, and promoted regional economic integration. Her leadership skills led to her appointment as the Director of the African Development Bank’s Western Africa Department. In 2021, she became the Advisor to the Secretary-General, providing strategic guidance on African affairs. Cristina Duarte’s responsibilities include advocating for sustainable development, peace, and security in Africa, and promoting cooperation among African nations. She has received several awards, including African Finance Minister of the Year in 2010.
Cristina Duarte’s expertise, dedication, and commitment to inclusive growth make her a valuable asset in addressing Africa’s challenges and achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Danilo Türk is a former President of Slovenia. He is also currently serving as the President of Club de Madrid.
From 1992 to 2000, he became the first Slovene Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, and represented Slovenia on the UN Security Council in 1998 and 1999. In 2000, he was invited by Kofi Annan, then Secretary-General, to serve as UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs (2000-2005). He was elected as President in 2007 as an independent, being supported by several political parties.
In 2022, Türk was named one of the 12 Eminent individuals invited to be part of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism Comprises.
For more than two decades, Ezio Manzini has been working in the field of design for sustainability. Most recently, his interests have focused on social innovation—considered a major driver of sustainable changes. In this perspective, he started DESIS: an international network of schools of design specifically active in the field of design for social innovation and sustainability. Ezio is currently working at Desislab Elisava Barcelona leading the flag ship initiative “Design for City Making” within Desis Network.
Presently, Ezio Manzini is a Distinguished Professor on Design for Social Innovation a ELISAVA Barcelona School of Design and Engineering, Barcelona, Spain; Honorary Professor at the Polytechnic University of Milan, Italy; and Guest Professor at Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
In addition to his continuous involvement in the design for sustainability arena, he has explored and promoted design potentialities in different fields, such as: Design of Materials in the 1980s; Strategic Design in the 1990s (starting a Master in Strategic Design); and Service Design in the last ten years (starting the specific courses in Service Design). His most recent book is “Design, When Everybody Designs. An Introduction to Design for Social Innovation” (MIT Press 2015).
Pedro Conceição is an influential figure in development economics and policy. He currently serves as the Director of the Human Development Report Office at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Prior to this role, he held positions at the UNDP, including Director of Strategic Policy, where he played a key role in the UN’s engagement in G20 meetings and the Financing for Development processes. He has also served as Chief Economist and Head of the Strategic Advisory Unit at the UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa.
Conceição’s expertise lies in areas such as inequality, innovation, and sustainable development. His research has been published in renowned journals, focusing on topics like financing for development and global public goods. He has co-edited several books on themes like social cohesion and inclusive development.
With his extensive experience and leadership in international development, Pedro Conceição contributes to shaping policies that address critical challenges and promote human development. As the Director of the Human Development Report Office, he plays a vital role in advancing the UNDP’s mission of achieving sustainable development goals and fostering global well-being.