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2024 Edition

Speakers

Discover the extraordinary lineup of speakers set to illuminate the Estoril Conferences 2024, as they offer their unique perspectives, expertise and wisdom, to guide us towards a more promising future. 

Planet
Peace
Ai & tech
policies
Health & Longevity

Organization

Speakers

Adília Oliveira

Caregiver of Beatriz Baptista

- Portugal

Alex Edmans

Professor of Finance at London Business School, Non-Executive Director & Author

- UK

Alexandra Jønsson

Medical Anthropologist & Associate Professor of Health and Society at Roskilde University

- Denmark

Andre Kalil

Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases & Director of Transplant Infectious Diseases at the University of Nebraska Medical Center

- USA

Andreas Heddini

Vice President Medical Affairs, Europe & Canada, AstraZeneca

- Switzerland

Arun Agarwal

CEO & Founder Janitri innovations

- India

Beatriz Batista

Alumna of Nova SBE in Economics

- Portugal

Carlos Gonçalo das Neves

Chief Scientist – European Food Safety Authority

- Portugal - Norway

Carlos Moedas

Mayor of Lisbon

- Portugal

Dalia Grybauskaitė

President of the Republic of Lithuania (2009-2019) & Club de Madrid Member

- Lithuania

Daniel Solomon

Rheumatologist, Epidemiologist & Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School

- USA

Deborah Aluh

Global Mental Health Researcher at Lisbon Institute of Global Mental Health

- Nigeria - Portugal

Derek Ali

Music Mixing Engineer, Founder & CEO of ENGINEEARS

- USA

Dino D'Santiago

Musician

- Portugal

Elbegdorj Tsakhia

Former President of Mongolia (2009-2017) & Club de Madrid Member

- Mongolia

Elizabeth Kite

Obama Scholar, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Take the Lead

- Tonga

Ethan Mollick

Associate Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania & Author of “Co-Intelligence”

- USA

Fernando Alexandre

Minister of Education, Science and Innovation

- Portugal

Hans Jørgen Wiberg

Founder of Be My Eyes

- Denmark

Jacqueline de Montaigne

Contemporary Painter, Muralist & Pasteup Artist

- UK - Portugal

Jeongmin Seong

Partner at McKinsey & Company

- South Korea

John Amuasi

Executive Director, African Research Network for NTDs & Co-Chair of the Lancet One Health Commission

- Ghana

John Brandt Brodersen

General Practitioner & Professor at the Centre of General Practice, University of Copenhagen, and the Research Unit for General Practice, Region Zealand

- Denmark

Jon Alexander

Co-Founder of the New Citizen Project & Author of “Citizens”

- UK

Jorge Moreira da Silva

Executive Director da UNOPS – United Nations Office for Project Services

- Portugal - Denmark

José Ramos-Horta

President Timor-Leste & 1996 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

- Timor-Leste

Karim Lakhani

Co-Founder & Chair of Digital Data Design Institute at Harvard

- USA

Katy Rubin

Legislative Theatre Practitioner

- UK

Leonardo Lotto

CEMS Alumnus & Candidate 2024 European Elections

- Italy

Lorraine Ansell

CEMS Alum, Content Creator, Voiceover & Writer

- UK

Luísa Sobral

Singer-Songwriter

- Portugal

Luis V. Vilaherrera

Obama Scholar, Founder & President of TRACODA and Creator of GobData

- El Salvador

Mariella Pisciotta

CEO OF Reality Telling

- Spain

Mariana Van Zeller

Award-winning Correspondent & Investigative Journalist, recipient of five Emmy Award

- Portugal - USA

Marta Lorenzo

Director of the UNRWA Representative Office for Europe

- Belgium

Meghan Sapp

Accredited Field Professional of the Savory Institute & Co-hub Leader for the Savory Network Hub del Norte

- USA - Spain

Michael Sheldrick

Co-Founder of Global Citizen & Author of “From Ideas to Impact”

- USA

Mónica Ferro

Director of the London Office of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

- Portugal - UK

Nikolaj Malchow-Meller

Head of People & Purpose at Deloitte Denmark

- Denmark

Oleksandra Matviichuk

Chairwoman of the Center for Civil Liberties & Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 2022

- Ukraine

Pepe

Former Football Player

- Portugal - Brazil

Rafa Lanús

Chief Creative Officer (COO) of Reality Telling

- Spain

Rebecca Abecassis

Editor, Expert, Author & Producer of European News Programs with RTP Portugal

- Portugal

Rembrand M. Koning

Mary V. and Mark A. Stevens Associate Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School

- USA

Robert Seamans

Professor at NYU Stern School of Business & Director of the NYU Stern Center for the Future of Management

- USA

Rui Diogo

Multi-Awarded Researcher & Writer

- Portugal - USA

Sarah Ashwin

Head of Department at LSE

- UK

Senida Mesi

Development Economist & Former Deputy Prime Minister of Albania

- Albania

Sherri Aldis

Director at UN Regional Information Centre for Western Europe

- Canada - Belgium

Sir Richard Roberts

Chief Scientific Officer at New England Biolabs [Nobel Laureate]

- United Kingdom

Tawakkol Karman

Journalist, Human Rights Activist & 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

- Yemen

Tomás Magalhães

Founder of Despolariza & The Kolkata Relief Project

- Portugal - India

Vera Pinto Pereira

Executive Board Member at EDP

- Portugal

Zaynab Abdi

Leader & Advocate for Social Justice

- Somalia - USA

Institutional Presences

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa

President of the Portuguese Republic

- Portugal

Pedro Oliveira

Dean at Nova SBE

- Portugal

Helena Canhão

Dean at NOVA Medical School

- Portugal

Laurinda Alves

Executive Director of the Estoril Conferences

- Portugal

Catherine da Silveira

Associate Dean for International Affairs & Partnerships at Nova SBE

- France - Portugal

Graham Miller

Rodrigo Guimarães Chair of Sustainable Business & Academic Director of the Westmont Institute of Tourism and Hospitality at Nova SBE

- Portugal

Carlos Carreiras

President of the Municipality of Cascais

- Portugal

Nuno Piteira Lopes

Vice-President of the Municipality of Cascais

- Portugal

Miguel Pinto Luz

Minister of Infrastructure and Housing

- Portugal

Ana Paula Martins

Minister of Health

- Portugal

Carlos Moedas

Mayor of Lisbon

- Portugal

Francisco Veloso

Dean at INSEAD

- Portugal - France

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Speakers for AI&TECH

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Speakers for POLICIES

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Speakers for HEALTH & LONGEVITY

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Organization
© Copyright Estoril Conferences. All Rights Reserved.

Alex Edmans

Alex Edmans is Professor of Finance at London Business School. He holds a PhD from MIT as a Fulbright Scholar and was a tenured professor at Wharton and an investment banker at Morgan Stanley. Alex has spoken at the World Economic Forum in Davos, testified in the UK Parliament, and delivered TED and TEDx talks with a combined 2.8 million views. He serves on several advisory councils, including the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Responsible Investing. Alex’s book, “Grow the Pie” was a Financial Times Book of the Year. He has won 25 teaching awards and was named “Professor of the Year” by Poets & Quants in 2021. His latest book “May Contain Lies” was published in April 2024.

Alexandra Jønsson

Alexandra Brandt Ryborg Jønsson is a medical anthropologist working within the field of health inequities with a particular focus on overdiagnosis, multimorbidity, marginalized patient experiences, cultural perspectives and clinical encounters. She is the author of several international papers and the first-ever textbook on Overdiagnosis. Jønsson is an associate professor of health and society at Roskilde University and visiting professor in medical anthropology at The Arctic University of Norway. She holds a BSc, MSc, PhD 2018 in medical anthropology, University of Copenhagen, and was a Fox International Fellow at Yale University from 2016-2017. Jønsson has given numerous keynotes at international conferences and has won several research prizes. Jønsson is a member of The Danish Young Academy under the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters.

André Kalil

Dr. Kalil is a practicing physician, professor of medicine, and researcher at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. He is currently the Director of the Transplant Infectious Diseases Program at the University of Nebraska, and has been the principal investigator for multiple randomized controlled trials in Sepsis, Pneumonia, and COVID-19. Dr. Kalil has received numerous honors and awards, including the 2021 Scientist Laureate Award, has been a peer-reviewer and editor for major medical journals, and has published over three hundred PubMed indexed scientific articles.

Andreas Heddini

Andreas joined AstraZeneca (AZ) in 2020 and is currently leading Medical Affairs for Europe & Canada, within the Biopharmaceuticals Business Unit. Prior to this role, Andreas headed Medical & Regulatory Affairs for AZ’s Nordic Cluster. Previously, Andreashealth. He spent several years in Kenya, Cameroon and Tanzania as the Coordinator of the Multilateral Initiative on Malaria and served as the Deputy State Epidemiologist in Sweden between 2010-2012. Further, he worked internationally with antibiotic resistance as the Director of ReAct – Action on Antibiotic Resistance.Andreas is a medical doctor with a background in infectious disease and with a PhD in infection biology. He obtained his medical degree from the Karolinska Institute in 1997 and where he also defended his PhD thesis in 2001. He has a broad medical background ranging from basic science to public health and has worked extensively in the areas of Respiratory Medicine, Global Public Health, Epidemiology, Antibiotic Resistance and Infectious Diseases.

Arun Agarwal

Arun Agarwal is passionate about solving grass-root problems through technology. While in college, he founded a venture that tackled social education through technology. More than 10,000 school students were benefited from his venture across India. His interest in healthcare led him into do a post gradation specialized in biomedical engineering, where he gained experience on government funded healthcare projects. He has more than two years experience as a patent analyst in the healthcare sector. He got supported as a social innovator for a specific program run by BIRAC (a Govt. of India enterprise) in maternal and child healthcare. During this program, he successfully validated the need, solution concept and developed a first prototype. He then registered his own social for-profit startup JANITRI Innovations Private Limited in India which is completely dedicated to the grass root level problems related to maternal and child health.

Carlos Gonçalo das Neves

Professor Carlos Gonçalo das Neves is the Chief Scientist of the European Food Safety Authority, having served previously as the Director of Research & Internationalization of the Norwegian Veterinary Institute (NVI), and as head of virology and head of food safety and emerging threats at the same institution. He graduated in Veterinary Medicine from the Technical University of Lisbon and obtained his PhD from the Norwegian School of Veterinary Sciences. He holds certificates in Public Health and Public Policy from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the London School of Economics. Since April 2024, he has been one of the 30 worldwide experts of the One Health High Level Experts Panel (OHHLEP), which he also co-chairs. OHHLEP is the scientific and strategic advisory group of the Quadripartite organizations (FAO, UNEP, WHO, and WOAH) in their collaboration on One Health. Prof. das Neves is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of Tromsø and has extensive experience in wildlife health and diseases, emerging threats, food safety and systems and One Health. He is a member of several international health and environmental organizations.

Carlos Moedas

Carlos Moedas, the current Mayor of Lisbon, is a Civil Engineering graduate from Instituto Superior Técnico with an MBA from Harvard University. His career began at Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux in France, followed by a role at Goldman Sachs in London. After leading Aguirre Newman in Portugal, he founded his own investment management company. Carlos Moedas played a key role in negotiating Portugal’s 2011 State Budget and served as Deputy Secretary of State to the Prime Minister. In 2014, he was appointed European Commissioner for Research, Innovation, and Science, managing one of the world’s largest science and innovation programs (€77 billion). He was the architect of the Horizon Europe program proposal, worth €100 billion, which began in 2021. He also serves on the Board of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the Jacques Delors Institute, and has received multiple honorary distinctions.

Dalia Grybauskaitė

Dalia Grybauskaitė is the former President of the Republic of Lithuania. She served as President from 2009 to 2019. She was the country’s first woman President and the only President in Lithuania’s post-Soviet history to have served two consecutive terms. Born in Vilnius on March 1 1956, Ms Grybauskaitė holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Economy from Saint Petersburg (Leningrad) State University and a Doctorate in Economics from the Moscow Academy of Public Sciences. She is also Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa, at Georgetown University. After the deepening global economic crisis in 2009, Grybauskaitė left her EU post of Commissioner to run as an independent candidate in Lithuania’s presidential election. After taking office in July 2009, Grybauskaitė focused on lifting the country’s economic fortunes. In May 2014 she won reelection. During her second term, she emphasized Lithuanian military readiness and welcomed a NATO battle group as part of the Alliance’s “enhanced forward presence” in Lithuania. President Grybauskaitė also served as Finance Minister for Lithuania from 2001 to 2004. While serving as European Union Commissioner for Financial Programming and Budgets, she was elected Commissioner of the Year in 2005. Dalia Grybauskaitė served as Minister Plenipotentiary in the Lithuanian Mission to the European Union, Deputy Chief Negotiator for Lithuania’s Association Agreement with the European Union, and Minister Plenipotentiary in the Lithuanian Mission to the United States. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she was Director of the Economic Relations Department, responsible for economic diplomacy and development assistance. She was also Chief Negotiator for Lithuania’s Free Trade Agreement with the European Union. Dalia Grybauskaitė remains widely popular with the Lithuanian public after ending her second and final presidential term in July 2019. She continues to speak widely on women’s leadership, gender equality, sustainable development, economic transparency and accountability. President Grybauskaitė serves on a number of advisory boards and commissions, including the Council of Women World Leaders, the Board of Trustees of “Friends of Europe”, and she is Co-chair of the UN High-Level Panel on International Financial Accountability, Transparency and Integrity (FACTI).

Daniel Solomon

Daniel H. Solomon, MD, MPH, is a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and a member of the Divisions of Rheumatology, Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where he holds the Matthew H. Liang Distinguished Chair in Arthritis and Population Health. Solomon earned his BA and MD degrees at Yale, MPH at Harvard, and completed his residency in internal medicine and fellowship in rheumatology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. His current research focuses on digital health technologies, rheumatoid arthritis, and optimal management of gout. He has published over 450 original articles and 100 editorials and book chapters. He has been continuously funded for over 25 years on numerous NIH, foundation, and industry supported grants and currently serves as Editor in Chief of Arthritis & Rheumatology, the premier rheumatology journal in the United States. Solomon has mentored over 40 trainees and has been recognized with mentoring awards. In addition to his investigative achievements, Solomon has a busy clinical practice and has played a special role in helping the Hispanic community.

Deborah Aluh

Deborah Aluh, PhD, is a global mental health researcher at the Lisbon Institute of Global Mental Health. Her doctoral research focused on the contextual factors contributing to the use of coercive measures in mental healthcare, specifically examining Nigeria and Portugal as case studies representing developing and developed countries. Deborah also served as a co-leader of the Glossary Task Force of EU COST Action, FOSTREN, where she contributed to the development of a comprehensive glossary of terms related to the use of coercion in mental healthcare. Currently, her research centers around mental health laws and policies regarding involuntary mental care in Europe and Africa.

Derek Ali

Derek Ali, known as MixedByAli, is a multiple Grammy award-winning mixing engineer. His groundbreaking work has been featured in numerous releases by iconic hip-hop artists, including Kendrick Lamar, SZA, and Snoop Dogg. In 2018, Derek Ali founded EngineEars to support and educate emerging audio engineers, further shaping the future of music production.

Dino D’Santiago

Dino D’Santiago, a key figure in global urban music, blends soul and hip-hop with Batuku and Funaná. In 2019, his album ‘Mundu Nôbu’ earned him Play Awards for Best Solo Artist, Best Album, and Critics’ Choice, as well as the Best International Rhythm award at the Cabo Verde Music Awards. His 2020 album ‘Kriola’ received international acclaim and won an MTV EMA for Best Portuguese Act. The album ‘BADIU’ (2021) was the result of a community effort. It is a work carried by Batuku—cathartic, raw, and dark—that allowed new generations of Cape Verdeans to reconcile with and learn to reclaim their African heritage. It’s a vibrant collection of stories from the Creole nation, which views the Atlantic as an extension of its territory and music as the only refuge for joy. Founder of Lisboa Criola project, Dino was named one of the 100 most influential people of African descent by MIPAD in 2021. In 2022, he debuted as a judge on ‘The Voice’ and curated ‘Jardins de Verão’ at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. Recognized as one of Expresso’s 50 future-defining figures in 2023, he also received Portugal’s Cultural Merit Medal and was highlighted by Forbes magazine as one of the Voices of Lusophony 2023 in the cultural domain for his work as an activist for greater equality and cultural dialogue among Portuguese-speaking peoples.

Elbegdorj Tsakhia

Elbegdorj Tsakhia is a public servant, a freedom fighter, and a policymaker from Mongolia. In 1990, he was one of the key leaders of the Mongolian Democratic Revolution that ended seven decades of one-party rule. Since then, Elbegdorj has continuously served Mongolia as a Member of Parliament four times, as Prime Minister two times, and was elected President for two terms (2009 – 2017). As Prime Minister, Member of Parliament, and President, Elbegdorj prioritized strengthening the rule of law in Mongolia, fostering social justice, fighting poverty,combating corruption, supporting environmental sustainability, and advancing vibrant participatory democracy. He has also initiated and led many social, economic, and governance reforms. Aiming to consolidate democracy in Asia, President Elbegdorj established the Asian Partnership for Democracy initiative within the confines of the Community of Democracies, the largest international organization that drives the global democracy agenda, which Mongolia
presided in 2011-2013. Under the chairmanship of the Community of Democracies, he developed a plan to promote civil society and advocate women’s rights, particularly political ones. Now he serves as the International Commission against Death Penalty (ICDP) Commissioner, Patron of the World Sustainable Development Forum (WSDF), and President of the World Mongol Federation. In 2022, he became a member of The Elders. In Mongolia, he continues his work to improve public policy, governance, and democracy through the Institute. During his tenure as President, he also focused on climate change, air and soil pollution impacts. Elbegdorj holds a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government (2002) and a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Land Forces Military Academy of Lviv of former USSR (1988). Since 2023, he has been a Bernard and Susan Liautaud Visiting Fellow at Stanford University Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, focusing on democracy, disarmament, and governance across Asia.

Elizabeth V. Kite

Elizabeth V. Kite is a renowned advocate for Pacific Islander leadership and a dedicated environmentalist with a focus on sustainable development and climate action in Oceania. As the
founder of Take The Lead Tonga, Elizabeth has been at the forefront of empowering communities in the Pacific to lead innovative solutions to the region’s most pressing challenges. With a deep commitment to safeguarding the environment and promoting resilience among vulnerable island nations, Elizabeth’s work bridges the gap between traditional wisdom and modern strategies for sustainable development. Her efforts have earned her recognition both regionally and internationally as a dynamic voice for the Pacific. At this pivotal moment in history, Elizabeth emphasizes the critical need for bold leadership and visionary thinking. Her belief in the power of the Pacific Islands to lead the charge against climate change is encapsulated in her words: “The Pacific has always been a region of innovation and courage. In this moment of crisis, it is our turn to lead by rethinking and reshaping the path forward for a climate-secure world”. Elizabeth’s insights and experience will offer invaluable perspectives at the upcoming Estoril conference, where she will inspire and challenge us all to rethink our approaches and take decisive action for a sustainable future.

Ethan Mollick

Ethan Mollick is an Associate Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he studies and teaches innovation and entrepreneurship, and also examines the effects of artificial intelligence on work and education.
His papers have been published in top journals and his book on AI, “Co-Intelligence”, is a New York Times bestseller. His research is highly cited by other academics, and has been covered by CNN, The Wall Street Journal, and other leading publications. In addition to his research and teaching, Ethan is the Co-Director of the Generative AI Lab at Wharton, which builds prototypes and conducts research to discover how AI can help humans thrive while mitigating risks.
Prior to his time in academia, Ethan co-founded a startup company, and he advises numerous organizations. Mollick received his PhD and MBA from MIT’s Sloan School of Management and his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University.

Fernando Alexandre

Fernando Alexandre was born in 1972. He holds an undergraduate and a master’s degree in Economics from Coimbra University and a PhD in Economics from the University of London, Birkbeck College, UK, 2003. He is Associate Professor with tenure at Minho University.Fernando was Deputy Rector ofMinho University, Chair of the School of Economics and Management and head of the Economics department. He was also Vice-Chairman of the Economic and Social Council and a consultant for the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation. Fernando Alexandre is a researcher and has written or coordinated eight books on the Portuguese economy and papers published in international scientific journals. He has been a consultant for several public and private entities, such as the European Commission and the Portuguese Government. He was Deputy Minister of Home Affairs from 2011 to 2015. Fernando Alexandre regularly collaborates with the media.

Hans Jørgen Wiberg

Hans Jørgen Wiberg, founder of Be My eyes, is a visually impaired Danish furniture craftsman. Through his own experience and work at ‘The Danish Association of the Blind,’ Hans observed that many blind and low-vision individuals often needed occasional assistance to complete everyday tasks. The idea for Be My Eyes came to him when a blind friend shared that he used video calls to connect with family and friends for help with these tasks. This inspired Hans to envision a solution where video call technology could connect blind and low-vision individuals with a broader network of volunteers, providing assistance without having to rely solely on personal connections. In April 2012, Hans presented his idea at a Danish startup event, where he teamed up with a group ready to turn his vision into reality. In 2015, the Be My Eyes app was officially launched for iOS, quickly gaining traction with over 10,000 users within 24 hours. Following this success, an Android version was highly anticipated and eventually launched two years later. Be My Eyes has since become the largest online community for blind and low-vision people, offering assistance in over 180 languages, with over 6 million volunteers worldwide. While Be My Eyes was already a successful platform, the partnership with OpenAI in 2023 turned it into an even more powerful tool. The launch of “Virtual Volunteer”, Be My AI, allowed users to receive instant visual assistance through AI, significantly enhancing the app’s capabilities. Hans’s simple yet transformative idea has made a significant impact on the lives of blind and low-vision individuals globally, earning recognition for its innovation and social impact. Be My Eyes received several awards, including the Google Play Award for “Best Accessibility” in 2018 and the Apple Design Award for Social Impact in 2021, now enhanced with unprecedented support and functionality.

Jacqueline de Montaigne

Jacqueline is a painter and muralist known for her dramatic, nature infused figurative art and unique use of classical gilding techniques in urban contexts. A self-taught artist with a background in medical ethics and health sciences, she began her art career in 2018. Her work includes over 120 private and public large-scale murals and consecutive sellout solo shows. Jacqueline’s public art was ranked 35th in the world’s top 100 murals by Street Art Cities in 2023, with her mural “The Language of Flowers” situated in Lisbon – the first time a Portuguese woman has been listed in the world’s top 100. Jacqueline’s work has a strong emphasis on storytelling through symbology and nature themes, bringing awareness to cultural and social issues.

Jeongmin Seong

Jeongmin Seong is a partner at the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), McKinsey & Company’s business and economics research arm. He leads MGI research teams focusing on global flows, technology, innovation and China’s economic transition. He has co-authored several MGI reports and discussion papers. Jeongmin has worked with companies around the world focusing on consumer facing industries including consumer electronics, retail, and automotive. Prior to joining McKinsey Shanghai office, Jeongmin worked as a product marketing manager at Dell China. Jeongmin is a graduate of Harvard Business School where he received his MBA degree.

John Amuasi

John Amuasi (MBChB, MS, MPH, PhD, FWACP) is a distinguished W2 Professor of Global One Health at the Bernhard Nocht Institute of Tropical Medicine (BNITM) and University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) in Hamburg, Germany. He also serves as a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Global Health at the School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, Ghana. As the leader of the Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research Group at both the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR at KNUST) and BNITM, he drives significant research initiatives. Additionally, he is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, USA, and an Honorary Visiting Research Fellow at Oxford University’s Nuffield Department of Medicine, UK. Dr. Amuasi is the Executive Director of the African Research Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases and serves as Co-Chair of The Lancet One Health Commission and the Regional Advisory Board of the British Medical Journal (BMJ). He is also a Board Member of both the International Advisory Board of the British Medical Journal (BMJ) and The Soulsby Foundation, as well as The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

John Brandt Brodersen

John Brandt Brodersen is a general practitioner with over thirty years of clinical experience. Dr Brodersen has a PhD in public health and psychometrics and works as a professor in the area of prevention, medical screening, overdiagnosis, overmedicalisation, evidence-based medicine and multimorbidity at the Centre of General Practice, University of Copenhagen, at the Research Unit for General Practice, Region Zealand and he is a visiting professor at the Research Unit for General Practice, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø. His research is focused on the balance between the benefits and harms of medical prevention, diagnostic test accuracy, informed consent and what the psychosocial consequences are for healthy people when they are overmedicalised.

Jon Alexander

Jon is the author of “Citizens: Why the Key to Fixing Everything is All of Us”, a book that reframes our current era as one of civic opportunity, not just crisis and collapse. It has been recognized by several entities such as McKinsey & Company, the World Economic Forum CEO Book Club, and the Financial Times. He co-founded the New Citizen Project, a strategy and innovation consultancy aiming to shift society’s view from Consumer to Citizen, working with clients such as The Guardian and the European Central Bank. A former advertising industry professional and award-winning innovator, Jon is a Fellow of the Young Foundation, a founding member of the OECD’s Innovative Citizen Participation Network, a Strategic Advisor to DemocracyNext, and a member of the Leadership Council of the Democracy and Culture Foundation. He holds three Master’s degrees in disciplines spanning humanities and business, having won several essay awards. Along the way, Jon has also represented Great Britain in both rowing and triathlon.

José Ramos-Horta

José Ramos-Horta, a renowned diplomat and peace advocate, was a key figure in the struggle for Timor-Leste’s independence. During Indonesia’s 24-year occupation (1975-1999), he tirelessly advocated for Timorese rights on the international stage. His efforts, alongside Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo, earned them the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996. After Timor-Leste’s 1999 independence referendum, pro-Indonesian militias devastated the country. Ramos-Horta returned from exile in December 1999 to help build a new democratic government. In 2006, amidst renewed violence, he was appointed Prime Minister, stabilizing the country. Elected President in 2007, Ramos-Horta focused on poverty alleviation and national development. He survived an assassination attempt in 2008 and continued to lead the country through recovery and growth. His anti-poverty initiatives and peace efforts, including a “race for peace” and youth conflict resolution programs, significantly improved the nation’s conditions. After his presidential term ended in 2012, Ramos-Horta served as a UN Special Representative in Guinea-Bissau, facilitating democratic elections and a peaceful transition. He also chaired a UN panel on peace operations (2014-2016) and served on the High-Level Board on Mediation (2017-2019). Re-elected President of Timor Leste in 2022, he continues to lead his nation towards peace and prosperity.

Karim Lakhani

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.

Katy Rubin

Katy Rubin is a Legislative Theatre practitioner based in the UK, working in partnership with local and national governments, advocacy organizations, and community groups to co-create equitable and innovative policy change through participatory processes that are joyful, creative, and accessible. Katy is also a Senior Fellow with People Powered, an Associate with Shared Future CIC, and an Atlantic Fellow for Social and Economic Equity at London School of Economics.

Leonardo Lotto

Leonardo Lotto graduated from Bocconi University and pursued a Master’s in Management at the National University of Singapore. He also studied at NOVA SBE and the University of Sydney and graduated from CEMS – The Global Alliance in Management Education. He was awarded the honor of Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic “for having narrated with a message his necessary change of life and the importance of the value of freedom and of those who fought to guarantee it,” following an accident that occurred a year and a half ago in Australia, which left him wheelchair-bound. The speech that the President of the Italian Republic noticed went viral, garnering more than 2.5 million views. After these experiences, Leonardo realized that his voice is now more powerful. He decided to run for the 2024 European election, ultimately receiving more than 7.000 personal votes.

Lorraine Ansell

Lorraine Ansell is a multipassionate content creator, voiceover and writer. She was diagnosed with a connective tissue disorder called Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome in 2022. This condition is genetic and life long and there is no cure, only management. Her issues with tissues have meant a lifetime of pain, fatigue, increased injury and distress. Several comorbidities exist along side hEDS including Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS) and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). It took over 40 years to get this diagnosis as this often disabling syndrome is “invisible”. In 2023 she had a severe detached retina and had laser eye surgery x3 times to save her sight. She has written a book about her journey with chronic pain, “The Surrender Agenda”. She can also be found online exploring her pain in a series called “Walk of Pain with Lorraine.” Lorraine is still learning about her conditions and symptoms and creates content to help raise awareness. Lorraine is a CEMS Alum (LSE/ESADE) and former CEMS Student Board President as well as Editor of the CEMS 35th Anniversary celebrations. She has worked for L’Oreal, YSL Beaute, Stella McCartney and Amnesty International.

Luísa Sobral

Luísa Sobral is one of the most important singer-songwriters of the new generation of Portuguese musicians. She made her debut in 2011 with ‘The Cherry on My Cake’, receiving widespread acclaim. This was followed by albums like ‘There’s A Flower In My Bedroom’ (2013), featuring artists such as Jamie Cullum and António Zambujo, and ‘Luísa’ (2016), recorded in Los Angeles with producer Joe Henry. Her most intimate album, ‘Rosa’, produced by Raul Refree, arrived in 2018. Her songwriting facet stood out over the years, composing for artists such as Ana Moura, António Zambujo, Gisela João, Sara Correia, Mayra Andrade, among many others. In 2017, she wrote ‘Amar Pelos Dois’ for her brother, Salvador Sobral, to interpret, leading to Portugal’s first Eurovision victory. In 2020, she released the single ‘Tudo Lo Que No Está’ with Zahara and launched the podcast ‘O Avesso da Canção’, in which she interviews great names in Portuguese music about the art of songwriting. The following year, she returned to releases with the mini-album ‘Camomila’ (2021) and the single ‘Quero Morar numa Canção’ (2022). Besides being one of the most beloved artists of the Portuguese public, Luísa also has vast international experience. Luísa has toured extensively since 2011, performing in countries like Spain, France, Israel, the USA, and Australia. In 2023, she released her latest album, ‘DanSando’, produced by Latin Grammy winner Tó Brandileone.

Luis V. Vilaherrera

Central American Obama Fellow and was nominated for the Democracy Prize from the Kofi Annan Foundation. He specializes in democracy, dis/misinformation, data analysis, governance,
and international development, creating projects that range from electoral processes to empowering youth in El Salvador and assisting other organizations in the Western Hemisphere and Europe. He has studied at Columbia University, the National Defense University, and the International Anti-Corruption Academy.

Mariella Pisciotta

Mariella Pisciotta, CEO of Reality Telling, brings over 20 years of experience in international project management and development. With a strong background in international economics and development cooperation, Mariella has successfully raised and managed more than €20 million to improve the living conditions of vulnerable groups globally. As the CEO, she leads the overall strategy and operations of Reality Telling, driving the company’s mission to combat isolation and enhance emotional well-being through immersive 360° virtual reality experiences. Her expertise in financial management and Social Return on Investment (SROI) ensures that Reality Telling not only delivers impactful experiences but also creates measurable social value.

Mariana Van Zeller

Mariana Van Zeller is an award-winning correspondent and investigative journalist. She is the host and executive producer of National Geographic’s multi Emmy -Nominated documentary series “Trafficked,” which explores the complex and often dangerous inner-workings of the global underworld, smuggling networks, black and informal markets. The series builds on Mariana’s work for National Geographic’s Explorer series and her two decades of reporting on shadow economies around the world. For her work, Mariana has earned some of the most prestigious awards in journalism and storytelling.

Marta Lorenzo

Marta Lorenzo joined UNRWA in October 2020. Marta has a wealth of over 29 years of experience, twenty of which in the humanitarian and development field at senior level across several countries in the MENA region, including in humanitarian emergency response in difficult political settings – with in-depth knowledge and understanding of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the Middle East. She has solid coordination and networking skills, with an extensive involvement in donor coordination and fundraising. Marta has dedicated her entire professional career working and advocating for fighting poverty and inequality and the rights of the most marginalized. Since August 2023, Marta now lead UNRWA Representative Office for Europe. Prior to this assignment, Marta worked as Acting Director of UNRWA Education (September 2022 – April 2023) and led UNRWA operations in Jordan (October 2020 – August 2022). Prior to joining UNRWA, she worked with the United Nations, government and non-government organizations. As Oxfam Regional Director in the MENA based inJordan, Marta managed eleven Country Offices with a budget over EUR 100 million (2017-2020). She also led Oxfam’s humanitarian responses and long-term development (AECID) in Jerusalem (2002-2008, 1997-2001). Marta has also worked as a senior consultant for UN Women in Palestine, Chief Operating Officer for Integrity Work (2008- 2011) and Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Tunisia (2001-2002). Marta started her professional career monitoring the delivery of food aid distribution among displaced and refugee populations in Croatia (1993-94) and later joined United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People in East Jerusalem (1994-97) as a Programme Officer. Born in 1968, Marta has a Master’s degree in Migration from the University of Comillas (Spain) and a postgraduate degree in Development Cooperation from the University Complutense/AECID (Spain). She has a BSc degree in Economics with a specialization in Development and international Economics (Spain) and a Degree on International Marketing and Trade from the Fachhochschule fur Wirtschaft in Pforzheim (Germany). Marta is a Spanish national, fluent in English and Spanish and has a good command of French, Arabic and German. Marta received the Silver Cross of Isabel La Catolica award by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (2006) for her work as Head of the Spanish Cooperation in Jerusalem.

Meghan Sapp

Meghan Sapp is an accredited Field Professional of the Savory Institute, co-hub leader for the Savory Network Hub del Norte serving the northern Iberian Peninsula, and has practiced holistic management together with her husband for more than five years on their farm, Curly Creek Ranch, which recently became EOV verified. She teaches farmers and land stewards as well as provides on-farm advisory and support for the regenerative transition. Meghan is a founding farmer of the European Alliance for Regenerative Agriculture and now serves as its advocacy steward, fighting for a deep reform to the Common Agriculture Policy based on regenerative outcomes. She is also a former negotiator as part of the UN Committee on Food Security and is part of many local farming and food sovereignty organizations. Meghan has spent more than 2 decades dedicated to the energy and food systems transition as a journalist, policy advocate, entrepreneur, community organizer and project developer.

Michael Sheldrick

Michael Sheldrick is a policy entrepreneur and a driving force behind the efforts of Global Citizen to end extreme poverty. As Co-Founder and Chief Policy, Impact & Government Affairs Officer, he leads the organization’s campaigns to mobilize support from governments, businesses, and foundations. He is the author of the Amazon best-selling book, “From Ideas to Impact: A Playbook for Influencing and Implementing Change in a Divided World” (Wiley: April 2024). With a career that spans the world of pop and policy, Michael has worked with an impressive roster of international artists and prominent political leaders. He has co-produced some of the world’s most impactful social campaigns and events, including the “Global Citizen Festival” and “One World: Together At Home”, raising billions for essential resources worldwide. Michael has been recognized as a finalist for the 2017 Young Commonwealth Person of the Year, serving on various boards.

Mónica Ferro

Director of the London Office of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Monica joined UNFPA following a career of over 20 years in public service in Portugal where she served as Parliamentarian and State Secretary for National Defense, a university lecturer and researcher, a media personality and TV commentator and an activist. Mónica was also the Chair of the Portuguese All Party Parliamentary Group on Population and Development and Vice-President of the European Parliamentarian Forum. She has worked with civil society organizations to promote the UN values and work and has published extensively on human rights, development, gender equality, among other issues. 

Nikolaj Malchow-Meller

Nikolaj is the Head of Deloitte Denmark’s People & Purpose and part of the executive management. Nikolaj is passionate about developing people in “the learning society” and leads the development of Deloitte Denmark’s lifelong learning program. He dreams of creating a workplace where a diversity of talents can develop professionally and personally in inspiring, inclusive, and safe environments throughout their working lives. He has over 25 years of experience in leadership, research, and talent development, including as the President of Copenhagen Business School and as a Professor of Economics.

Oleksandra Matviichuk

Oleksandra Matviichuk is a human rights lawyer focusing on issues in Ukraine and the OSCE region. She leads the human rights NGO Center for Civil Liberties and coordinates the activities of the initiative group Euromaidan SOS. The Center for Civil Liberties is dedicated to promoting human rights and democracy in Ukraine and the OSCE region. It works on legislative reforms, conducts public oversight of law enforcement agencies and the judiciary, organizes educational initiatives, and implements international solidarity programs. Euromaidan SOS was established in response to the violent suppression of a peaceful student protest in Kyiv on November 30, 2013. Throughout the three-month mass protests known as the Revolution of Dignity, thousands of volunteers provided round-the-clock legal and humanitarian assistance to persecuted individuals nationwide. Since the onset of Russian aggression in Ukraine in 2014, the initiative has monitored political persecution in occupied Crimea, documented war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Donbas region, and spearheaded international campaigns like #LetMyPeopleGo and #SaveOlegSentsov to secure the release of political prisoners held by Russian authorities. In response to the full-scale war beginning in February 2022, Oleksandra Matviichuk and other partners launched the Tribunal for Putin initiative to document international crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in all regions of Ukraine targeted by Russian attacks. Oleksandra Matviichuk has authored numerous reports submitted to various UN bodies, the Council of Europe, the European Union, the OSCE, and the International Criminal Court.

‌Awards:

  • Democracy Defender Award for “Outstanding Contribution to Promoting Democracy and Human Rights” from OSCE missions (2016)
  • Right Livelihood Award (2022)
  • Sakharov Prize from the European Parliament (2022)
  • Nobel Peace Prize (2022, awarded to the Center for Civil Liberties led by Oleksandra Matviichuk)
  • Named one of the 25 most influential women in the world by Financial Times (2022)
  • Global Civic Leadership Award (2024)
  • Pahl Peace Prize (2024)

Pepe

Kepler Laveran de Lima Ferreira, who will forever be remembered in football history as Pepe, is one of the most iconic central defenders the sport has ever seen, renowned for his tenacity and longevity. Pepe played until the age of 41, recently retiring after Euro 2024 with the Portuguese national team. His career was marked by great success, with standout performances for FC Porto, Real Madrid, and the Portuguese national team, where he won numerous major titles. Throughout his illustrious career, Pepe collected 31 trophies, including one European Championship and one Nations League with Portugal; three Champions League titles, one UEFA Super Cup, two Club World Cups, three Spanish League titles, two Copa del Rey titles, and three Spanish Super Cups with Real Madrid; as well as one Intercontinental Cup, four National Championships, five Portuguese Cups, four Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira titles, and one League Cup with FC Porto. In total, he played 894 matches, including 141 for Portugal, and scored 50 goals.

Rafa Lanús

Rafa Lanús, Chief Creative Officer (CCO) of Reality Telling, has over 20 years of experience in audiovisual content production and business development. A graduate of UCLA’s film directing and cinematography program, Rafa is responsible for the creative direction of RealityTelling’s immersive virtual experiences. As CCO, he leads the design and creation of 360° VR content, ensuring it aligns with the company’s vision of reducing isolation and promoting emotional well-being. Rafa’s dual role also involves driving partnerships and business growth, leveraging his extensive experience in content creation and strategy to position Reality Telling as an innovator in the VR space.

Rebecca Abecassis

After graduating with a Bachelor degree in Political science at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes Sciences Sociales et Politiques in Paris (1995) and with a Master in International Journalism at City University in London (1997), Rebecca Abecassis worked mainly in France and the UK, at Agence France Presse, le Nouvel Observateur, BBC World Service and at the European center of CNN television network between 1996 and 2000. She was international news editor at S.I.C. TV Network Portugal and editor of European affairs programs for 15 years. Today she is author and freelance editor of European news television and radio programs at RTP Portugal news network (public broadcaster). Author of 15 international news programs, she interviewed the following political leaders, writers and historians: Jacques Delors, Elisabeth Borne, Roberta Metsola, Michel Barnier, Charles Michel, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, José Manuel Durão Barroso, Manuel Valls, Martin Schulz, Federica Mogherini, Alain Juppé, Anne Hidalgo, Laurent Fabius, Václav Klaus, Václav Havel, Carl Bildt, Bronislaw Geremek, Joschka Fischer, Margot Wallström, Margrethe Vestager, Timothy Garton Ash, Niall Ferguson, Pierre Moscovici and more recently Chancellor Olaf Scholz among many others. She is also Vice-President of the Citizen’s Platform “Nossa Europa”.

Rembrand M. Koning

Rembrand Koning is the Mary V. and Mark A. Stevens Associate Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. His research explores how we can help more entrepreneurs, scientists, and innovators succeed. His work on entrepreneurship and innovation spans industries and regions, from Indian tech ventures to small business owners in Kenya to women’s and mental health startups in the US. Building on this work, he is the co-director and co-founder of the Tech for All lab at The Digital, Data, and Design (D^3) Institute at Harvard, where he leads a group of interdisciplinary researchers studying how entrepreneurs can accelerate and shift the rate and direction of science, technology, and artificial intelligence (AI) to benefit all of humanity. A pioneer in the use of field experiments to study entrepreneurial strategy and innovation, Rembrand co-leads the Conference on Field Experiments in Strategy (CFXS), is an associate editor for Management Science, and is an invited researcher at J-PAL’s Science for Progress Initiative (SfPI). He has received generous research funding from the Kauffman and Sloan Foundations. Rembrand teaches a new semester-length second-year elective course at HBS, Strategy for Entrepreneurs (SFE), that blends case discussion and hands-on exercises to help students discover and test startup ideas that the market has missed.

Robert Seamans

Robert Seamans (PhD, UC Berkeley) is a Professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business, Director of the NYU Stern Center for the Future of Management, and a nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC. Professor Seamans teaches courses in game theory and strategy. His research focuses on the economic consequences of AI, robotics and other advanced technologies. His research has been published in leading academic journals and been cited in numerous mainstream outlets including The Atlantic, Fortune, Newsweek, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and others. In 2015, Professor Seamans was appointed as the Senior Economist for technology and innovation on President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers.

Rui Diogo

Rui Diogo, a multi-awarded researcher, speaker, and writer, is well-known for tackling major scientific challenges and societal issues. His extensive body of work includes the publication of 20 books and over 160 papers in esteemed scientific journals. His groundbreaking research on human evolution has gained widespread recognition and attention from major global media outlets, including BBC, CNN, and The New York Times, with more than 600 media pieces published in more than 50 countries about his research. Engaging with a diverse audience, he has participated in numerous TV interviews, documentaries, TED talks and radio shows, collaborating with media outlets worldwide. His research experiences extend to remote areas in Africa and Asia, having traveled to about 150 countries. He is committed to challenging norms and advocating for inclusivity, significantly influencing global discourse about human evolution, biology and diversity, as exemplified by three of his later books, the highly-acclaimed “Evolution Driven by Organismal Behavior“ and, more recently, “Meaning of Life, Human Nature and Delusions“, and “Darwin’s Racism, Sexism and Idolization“.

Sarah Ashwin

Sarah is a sociologist with research interests in industrial relations, international labour standards, corporate social responsibility, as well as gender and work, both paid and unpaid. She is currently serving as Deputy Head of the Department of Management (Teaching). Sarah graduated from Oxford with first class honours in History, before taking an MSc in Russian Government and Politics at LSE. Her doctoral research in Sociology at Warwick examined workers’ organisation during Russia’s political and economic transformation in the 1990s. Many of her subsequent publications focused on Russian workers’ responses to economic collapse and the attempts of Russian trade unions to adapt to their new environment. Her interest in the experiences of women workers led her to develop a second theme of research focused on the (post) Soviet gender order and its consequences for women’s employment and the gender division of domestic labour. Sarah continues to research these themes, developing different aspects of gender theory by interrogating Russia’s stalled gender revolution. Sarah’s gender research has been published in American Journal of Sociology, Gender & Society and Journal of Marriage and Family. In 2019, Sarah joined the editorial board of Gender & Society. The latest stream of Sarah’s research focuses on the governance of global supply chains in the garment industry. Her article analysing the emergence of transnational industrial relations agreements, published with her research partners, won the 2021 James G. Scoville International/Comparative Industrial Relations Best Paper Award.

Senida Mesi

Senida Mesi is a prominent development economist and executive with a distinguished career in public service, international consulting and academia. She served as Deputy Prime Minister of Albania (2017-2019) and as a Member of Parliament (2017-2021), where she played a pivotal role in advancing Albania’s EU integration and spearheading governance reforms. Her initiatives focused on improving public sector transparency, strengthening local governance, and fostering regional development. An advocate for gender equality, social inclusion, and women’s empowerment, Mesi has consistently worked to bring these values to the forefront of Albania's political landscape. As an international consultant, her expertise spans public service reform, digitalization, good governance, and sustainable finance. She has collaborated with institutions like the European Commission, Council of Europe, and OECD_SIGMA to enhance sustainable finance in Low and Middle-Income Countries and to foster local democracy and public administration reform. Currently, Mesi serves on several international boards, including the UN SDSN Western Balkans and the Board of Directors, Economic Bank, Kosovo. In addition to her political and consultancy work, Mesi contributes to academia as a lecturer in economics and finance and has a long-standing career in banking. Mesi will bring her rich experience in governance, development, and finance to the global stage, offering insights on how to rethink sustainable governance models in an ever-changing world.

Sherri Aldis

Sherri Aldis is the Director of the United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe in the Department of Global Communications since February 2022. From 2015 to 2022 she was Chief of United Nations Publications at UN headquarters in New York, overseeing its publishing activities and strategic partnerships with the publishing industry and academia. Before joining the United Nations, Ms Aldis had an extensive career in international publishing and marketing. She is Canadian, and fluent in English and French. She has a Masters of Business Administration from Université Paris Dauphine and the IAE of the Sorbonne and has lived in the UK, Canada, France, Tunisia, USA and now Belgium.

Sir Richard Roberts

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. He also serves as a Dean’s Advisory Board member at Nova SBE.

Tawakkol Karman

Tawakkol Karman, a Yemeni journalist and human rights activist, is the first Arab woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Known as the “Mother of the Revolution,” “The Iron Woman,” and “The Lady of the Arab Spring,” Karman led hundreds of protests against Yemen’s dictatorial regime, advocating for democracy and freedom of speech. She founded Women Journalists Without Chains and the Peaceful Revolutionary Youth Council, facing imprisonment and persecution for her active engagement in these causes. She played a pivotal role in pressuring former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who ruled from 1978 to 2012, to relinquish power.Tawakkol Karman came forward as a courageous leadership figure during the Arab Spring in 2011 and was praised for her efforts against tyranny in the Arab world and for promoting reconciliation between Shia and Sunni Muslims, countering terrorism, and fostering dialogue between Islam and other religions.Karman’s extensive influence is recognized globally. TIME magazine listed her as one of the 17 most rebellious women in history and one of the most influential women of the past century, featuring her on the cover of their 100 Strong Women in the World issue as a “torchbearer of the Arab Spring.” She is also recognized by Foreign Policy magazine as one of the FP Top 100 Global Thinkers and named among the most powerful women by many international media outlets and organizations such as CNN, BBC, and Reporters Without Borders.Tawakkol Karman continues her struggle against tyranny, wars, and terrorism worldwide and advocates for expression rights, democracy, and development. She was appointed by the former UN Secretary-General to the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda.She serves on the boards of several key international institutions and organizations, including the Nobel Women’s Initiative, Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), and the Facebook and Instagram International Oversight Board. Her Tawakkol Karman Foundation plays an important role in development by building schools,fighting poverty, and supporting health institutions in Yemen.
Source: https://www.tawakkolkarman.net/enabout

Tomás Magalhães

Tomás Magalhães is a physicist with a master’s degree in Nanotechnology from TU Delft and is both a for-profit and non-profit entrepreneur. In 2017, he founded Kolkata Relief, a project that supports the homeless and slum-dwellers of Kolkata. In 2020, he founded Despolariza: a space, podcast, and YouTube channel where we can learn to disagree with more science, love, and humor. One day he will die.

Vera Pinto Pereira

Vera Pinto Pereira has been a member of the Executive Board of Directors of the EDP group since April 2018, where she heads the Client Business Platform and leads its decentralized solar business worldwide. Vera also oversees branding and social impact for the Group, is the President of the EDP Foundation and member of the Board of EDP Spain, EDP Brazil and EDP Renewables. Prior to that experience, in 2014, she was appointed Executive Vice-President and Managing Director of Fox Networks Group for Spain and Portugal. In 2003, she joined the Telecommunications sector as the TV Service Director at TV Cabo Portugal – PT Multimédia (today NOS) and was later appointed TV Service Director at MEO, Portugal Telecom (today Altice).
Vera began her professional career in consulting at Mercer Management Consulting (today Oliver Wyman) and after completing her MBA she became a founding partner of Innovagency Consulting. She graduated and post-graduated in Economics by Universidade NOVA de Lisboa and holds an MBA from INSEAD.

Zaynab Abdi

Zaynab Abdi is a dynamic leader and social justice advocate, empowering marginalized communities globally. A Columbia University SIPA alumna with a Master of Public Administration, she won the 2023 Campbell Award for outstanding leadership. Passionate about immigrants’ rights, refugees, and girls’ education, she has driven meaningful change through roles at RISE and other organizations. Zaynab collaborates with Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai and frequently speaks at the UN, amplifying marginalized voices. Her award-winning book “Voice for Refugees” showcases her talent for storytelling and advocacy.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was born in Lisbon, on 12 December 1948. He is a Catholic and has 2 children and 5 grandchildren. A Law Graduate, he received a Doctorate in Legal and Political Science in 1984. He was a tenured professor at the Faculty of Law of Lisbon University, and has taught throughout his career in various institutions of further education, in Portugal and abroad. He was a journalist, as editor of the Expresso newspaper between 1980 and 1981, and worked on the Seminário newspaper from 1983 to 1987. Subsequently, he appeared on the media as a political commentator on TSF radio and, later, the TV stations RTP and TVI. He works with various civic institutions and associations, as well as in the social sector, as founder, sponsor, director, or simply as a volunteer. In 1976, he served as a deputy to the Constituent Assembly. He was part of the 8th Constitutional Government as Secretary of State of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and later, as the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. He has supported the PSD (Social Democratic Party) since it was founded and was its president from 1996 to 1999, contributing decisively to government stability as leader of the opposition. In the international realm, he encouraged the PSD to join the European People’s Party, in which he attained the position of Vice-President. He has held various positions in local government, including Municipal Deputy, Metropolitan Deputy, Councillor and President of the Municipal Assemblies of Cascais, Lisbon, and Celorico de Basto. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was elected President of the Republic for the first time on 24 January 2016 and took office on 9 March. He was re-elected for a second term on 24 January 2021 and took office on 9 March of the same year.

Pedro Oliveira

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.

Helena Canhão

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.

Laurinda Alves

Laurinda Alves has a degree in Social Communication by the UNL, she worked as a columnist in Publico newspaper for 12 years and is currently a columnist in the Observador newspaper. Journalist, interviewer, TV host, blogger and radio analyst, Laurinda Alves is also the author of 8 chronicle and short-story books. She was the Manager of Dialogue Cafe, at Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian and she created and directed XIS Magazine. She teaches Communication, Leadership and Ethics at Nova School of Business and Economics since 2013. Other areas of expertise: She completed ISEP (Social Entrepreneurship course) at INSEAD, Fontainebleau, 2009. She was a candidate to the European Parliament in the last elections and is a volunteer in a palliative care unit since September, 2007.

Catherine da Silveira

PhD in Marketing from The Open University Business School (United Kingdom) and a Master’s degree in Market Research from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (France). Management degree from Université Paris IX-Dauphine (France). Assistant Professor at Nova School of Business and Economics. She joined the School in 2000, after 14 years of executive experience in Marketing, in different sectors and countries. After 12 years as a Marketing Executive across Divisions and Countries for the L’Oreal Group (8 years in France, 3 in Portugal, 1 in the United States, with a diverse background in terms of responsibilities – Marketing Director, Brand Manager, Country Manager), then in the IT sector as Marketing and Communication Director for Bull Portugal, Catherine da Silveira joined Nova School of Business and Economics, where she is currently teaching Brand Management, Marketing Research and Luxury Marketing to Executives and in the Lisbon-MBA and Masters Programs. While teaching, she has been involved in several projects and achievements for the School: Co-founder and coordinator of the International Lisbon-MBA Friday Forum, Catherine co-launched the CEMS – MIM Program at NOVA, as CEMS Corporate Relations Coordinator, after being Head of the Marketing, Communication, and International Affairs Office at the University Rectory (2005-2006) and launching the Nova School of Business and Economics’ Marketing and Communication Office (2001-2005).

Graham Miller

Professor Graham Miller holds the Rodrigo Guimarães Chair of Sustainable Business at Nova School of Business and Economics, where he is also the Academic Director of the Westmont Institute of Tourism and Hospitality. Graham’s research is focused on the drivers to create greater sustainability across society, with a particular emphasis on the travel and tourism sector. He is an appointed Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in recognition of the value of his work. Graham is the former Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the University of Surrey with university level responsibility for sustainability and employability and was also Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Until recently, Graham was chair of the Considerate Group, a company formed to promote sustainable practice in the hotel industry through the analysis of energy and water usage data. Graham is the former co-editor of the Journal of Sustainable Tourism, the leading academic journal dedicated to research around promoting sustainability of the tourism industry, and sustainability through the tourism industry. From 2014-2019 Graham was the lead judge for the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. These global awards recognize the best examples of sustainability in the Travel and Tourism industry annually. Graham was also an appointed member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council for the Future of Sustainable Tourism. This group seeks to provide imaginative and bold solutions to the global challenges facing society, and in particular how travel and tourism intersect with these challenges.
Source: Nova SBE

Carlos Carreiras

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.

Miguel Pinto Luz

Miguel Pinto Luz was born in Lisbon on 8 March 1977. He is married and has three children.
He graduated in Electrotechnical Engineering and Computers from Instituto Superior Técnico in 2000. He has an MBA from AESE Business School/IESE (Navarra University).
Over the last few decades, he has held several management, leadership and teaching posts, namely: President of the Alfredo de Sousa Foundation; Vice Mayor of Cascais; Member of the board of the Inclusive Community Forum; President of SEDES Lisboa; Vice-President Regional Tourism Body; Director of the Paula Rego Foundation; Chair and director of various companies and agencies of the local and inter-municipal corporate sector; Researcher for the INESC-ID Information Systems Groups; Guest lecturer at Nova School of Business and Economics and Instituto Superior Técnico.
He was Secretary of State for Infrastructure, Transports, and Communications during Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho’s Government.
Party-wise, he is currently Vice-President of the Social Democratic Party and over the last almost thirty years of party life he has taken on the roles of national advisor, member of the national political committee, and leader at the council and district level for Social Democrats.
Source: Portuguese Republic

Ana Paula Martins

Ana Paula Martins was born in Guinea Bissau on 4 November 1965.
She holds a PhD in Clinical Pharmacy from the Lisbon School of Pharmacy, a master’s in Epidemiology from Nova University, Lisbon, School of Medical Science, and an undergraduate degree in Pharmaceutical Science from the University of Lisbon School of Pharmacy.
From December 2022 to January 2024, she was president of Santa Maria Hospital in Lisbon. She was deputy director of the University of Lisbon Pharmacy Faculty (FFUL) for the 2020-2024 period. For many years, she was also assistant professor of the Socio-Pharmacy Department at the same institution.
From 2016 to 2022 she was President of the Pharmacists’ Association and from 2019 presided over the Evidence-Based Health Institute (ISBE).
From 1994 to 2006 she headed the Pharmacoepidemiology Study Centre of the National Pharmacies Association and was Secretary-General of the Pharmacists’ Association from 1989 to 1992.
She was advisor to the Minister of Education and the Deputy Minister of Parliamentary Affairs from 1992 to 1994.

Source: Portuguese Republic

Francisco Veloso

Francisco Veloso is the Dean of INSEAD since September 1 2023, leading the school across its full range of activities and four locations. Previously, he was the Dean of Imperial College Business School, and before that, the Dean at Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics. Francisco spent the formative years of his academic career at Carnegie Mellon University, where he became a Full Professor and retains an adjunct appointment. Francisco´s research focuses on high tech innovation and entrepreneurship. He has several dozen publications in leading academic journals and has won several international awards for his academic work., including the Alfred P. Sloan Industry Studies Fellowship and the Stan Hardy award for the outstanding paper published in Operations Management. He is a dedicated educator, with thousands of hours of degree and non-degree teaching, as well as the supervision of more than ten PhD dissertations, five of which won international awards. He regularly works as a consultant and advisor to of start-ups, established firms, universities, and government around the world. He is currently a Non-Executive Board Member at Arica Holding b.v. and Movendo Capital b.v. Francisco is an active contributor to the key international business school accreditation agencies, AACSB, EFMD and AMBA and is currently on the Global Board of Directors of the AACSB. Francisco has a PhD in Technology, Management and Policy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as well as an MSc in Economics and Management of Science & Technology, and an Undergraduate Degree in Physics Engineering, both from the University of Lisbon.

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