Author: wpc_editor

Associate Director at MacroScope Strategies. Before joining M2S, she served as Strategy and Policy Advisor at the Netherlands Ministry of Defense. She was also a Senior Research Fellow at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi, a Political Affairs Officer for the UN Mission to Libya (UNSMIL), a Manager in the Government and Public Sector Advisory arm of PwC, and a staff member of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Development Cooperation of the Senate of the Netherlands. She is a Non-Resident Research Fellow at the Royal Dutch Defense Academy and a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute (MEI) in Washington DC. She has an extensive publications track-record in international affairs related issues, both in Europe and the Middle East. She holds a Ph.D. in European and Middle East Studies from the Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), an MA in International Relations and International Economics from Johns Hopkins University (SAIS), an MA in the History of International Relations and a BA in Italian Literature from Utrecht University. She speaks English, Dutch and Italian.

Assistant Minister for Health and Life Sciences in the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and also serves as the Director General of the Frontline Heroes Office in the UAE. Professor Maha Barakat is the former Chair of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, has held the post of Director General of the Health Authority Abu Dhabi 2013-2018, and was Co-Founder, Medical & Research Director and Consultant Endocrinologist at the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre (ICLDC) in Abu Dhabi. She has served as a member of the Social Development Committee of the Executive Council of the Government of Abu Dhabi, and Board member of several Government of Abu Dhabi-related entities including the Board of Trustees of Khalifa University, the Family Development Foundation, the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council, and the Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi. As part of her role within the Health Authority, in addition to the fight against lifestyle-related disease, Professor Barakat has supported several public health eradication campaigns against communicable disease both within the UAE and internationally, including Africa and the Indian subcontinent.

Founder and CEO of Obrist Group which was founded in 1996. Before setting up his company, he studied as a mechanical engineer and worked closely with Felix Wankel where he became specialized in R744 compressors and test benches. Obrist Group owns today over 400 patents. Frank Obrist has devoted his professional career to the design of advanced machinery and to the creation of sustainable innovations. His main ambition has been finding the best technical solutions to fight climate change with the help of world-leading scientists. Frank is leading his company toward renewable technology, such as the Obrist aFuel; The world’s first climate-positive energy carrier. Obrist Group has developed this technology, to be applicable to the current infrastructure, affordable to consumers, and to be globally scalable. As a long-term goal, Frank Obrist wants to bring the world to a new “carbon sink-era”, which enables us to significantly reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.

Partner and Associate Director, EU & Global Trade and Investment at Boston Consulting Group, London. Tim is a senior expert in geopolitics and trade working within Boston Consulting Group’s Global Advantage practice. He advises public and private sector clients globally on geopolitical and business strategy, with a particular focus on the future of Europe and the intersection between climate action and trade. He has published widely on a range of related topics including geopolitics and private equity, geopolitics and climate, and carbon border adjustments. Before joining BCG, Tim had a long career as a policymaker with the UK Government and the European Commission, spending over a decade in Brussels focussing on EU single market and trade issues. More recently he was a policy advisor on EU and trade issues for the UK Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (2017-2019) and Policy Director for the UK’s leading manufacturing trade association.

Chief Economist of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). He joined the Organization in January 2019 as Assistant Director-General for the Economic and Social Development Department. Previously, he was the World Bank Group Executive Director for Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay since November 2016 and before joining the Bank, Mr. Torero led the Division of the Markets, Trade, and Institutions at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). His major research work lies mostly in analyzing poverty, inequality, importance of geography and assets (private or public) in explaining poverty, and in policies oriented towards poverty alleviation based on the role played by infrastructure, institutions, and on how technological breakthroughs (or discontinuities) can improve the welfare of households and small farmers. His experience encompasses Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia.

Managing Director and Partner in the Dubai office of Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Rami Rafih has more than 15 years of consulting experience. He leads the Economic Advantage of Nations topic (FDI, clusters/hubs/SEZs, SME development, etc) globally for BCG. Rami is also a member of BCG’s Public Sector leadership team, a core member of Principal Investors and Private Equity (PIPE) as well as Global Advantage (GA) practice areas; and worked for government ministries and authorities in Europe, GCC countries, North Africa, and Asia, covering topics such as economy, commerce, investments, industry, healthcare, and tourism. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the American University of Beirut as well as a Masters in Management from HEC Paris. He is fluent in English, French and Arabic.

Business Development and Partnerships Director at Carbios. He has over 25 years of experience in the Chemical Industry in developing business with innovative chemistries and establishing long term partnerships, innovating with customers and colleagues, observing and thinking how we could do and think differently. Carbios, with its unique technical solution, business model, and ability to make polyester (PET) circular is a perfect fit to passionately address the major issues to transition to a more sustainable economy by reducing plastic and textile waste. Bruno Langlois holds a Ph.D. from Clarkson University in New York.

Co-Founder and CEO of Transmutex. Franklin received a bachelor in electrical engineering and a master’s degree in comparative history from Carnegie Mellon University. He was the Assistant Director of ELLE magazine in New York, member of the corporate philanthropy division of Shiseido Co. in Japan, Head of the user interface research lab for Sony USA Corp, Director of Communication at the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne, Founder and President of the award winning Zoomorama startup in Paris, advisor to the Executive Chairman at the World Economic Forum, Volunteering member of the Strategic Committee and Director of Communication at the Race for Water Foundation engaged in the fight against ocean plastic pollution, and now co-founder and president of Transmutex SA based in Geneva.

Former Ambassador, former Permanent Under Secretary of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After graduating from the Institut d’études politiques de Paris and the Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO) as well as from Paris-Assas where he completed a MA in Public Law, he joined the diplomatic service in 1978 in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he had his whole career, alternating between positions in France and abroad. He has notably been spokesperson for the Ministry (1991-1993), Private Secretary for the Prime Minister (1995-1997), Senior Diplomatic Advisor to President Jacques Chirac as well as Sherpa of G7/G8 (2002-2007), he was also in charge of strategic dialogues with India and China. He worked abroad in India and Germany as Secretary and Advisor to the Embassies and then as Ambassador in Tokyo (1998-2002), London (2007-2011), Berlin (2011-2014) and Beijing (2014-2017).

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of LATC Group – a proprietary investment firm with interests in marine logistics, retail, agriculture & manufacturing. He has vast experience in global logistics and commercial aviation having led commercial operations within the Air France/KLM & Kenya Airways group at senior levels in Africa, Europe & USA. Sam holds a BA in History & International Relations and is an alumnus of the executive management program of Columbia Business School. In addition to a number board positions, Sam is a member of the global advisory board of the Commonwealth Enterprise & Investment Council (CWEIC) in London and is a Senior Advisor at Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Besides English, Sam is fluent in French and has conversational knowledge of Spanish & Portuguese.

Hyosung Yim is currently Vice President at the Corporate Strategy Center of Hyosung Corporation in Korea. He is the assistant to the Vice Chairman/Chief Operating Officer of Hyosung Group, who administers and runs the everyday operations of the multinational business group. Mr. Yim is also currently responsible for managing and coordinating the hydrogen business within Hyosung. Prior to joining Hyosung, Mr. Yim was a stock analyst at Daiwa Securities Capital Markets Korea. He also served as a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP), a government think-tank responsible for advising the government on international economic and trade issues. He holds a BA in business administration from Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea and an MBA from the Graduate School of Yonsei University.

Chairman and co-founder of World Network of Security and Defence Professionals for preventing and combating terrorism. Former Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States). In this position, General Francis A. Béhanzin notably managed with great efficiency and discernment political affairs, promotion of democratic governance, regional security and peace in the West African region. He conducted during his mandate from 2018 to 2022 the presidential electoral in the fifteen members states of ECOWAS. He also methodically and rationally led the development of the 2020-2024 regional action plan to combat terrorism. With several specialized military and police trainings in Europe, the United States, Canada and Africa, particularly on organized crime and peace operations, he also graduated from National Defence College of Abuja and auditor of the Institut des Hautes Etudes de Defense Nationale de Paris (IHEDN). He became Lecturer at the Institut des Hautes Etudes de Défense Nationale in Paris and at the National Defence College of Abuja. Founder member of the Benin Human Rights Commission of Benin, he holds a Master’s Degree in Law and Political Sciences from the National University of Benin since 1981.

Senior Minister in charge of Economy and Finance of Benin. Romuald Wadagni had a leading international experience within Deloitte. He developed cutting-edge expertise in several fields, serving customers in various sectors of activity and various governments and donors. In 2012, he was promoted to Managing Director and Partner at Deloitte in recognition of his professional achievements, his expertise and knowledge of European, American, and African economic issues. In 2015, he created a new office in the Democratic Republic of Congo and was appointed Audit Manager and Director of Professional Practice for all of Deloitte’s activities in French-speaking Africa. In charge of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Benin since April 2016, he implements a policy articulated around two axes: on the one hand a transparent, proactive, and innovative management of public finances in order to make Benin trustworthy with public and private international donors, and on the other hand the improvement of the business climate and the strengthening of the resilience of the private sector in the face of exogenous crises. He plays a major role on the West African stage. As Chairman of the Statutory Council of WAEMU Finance Ministers, he led negotiations with France and signed the agreement in December 2019 to put an end to the franc CFA in West Africa.

Minister of Interior of the Republic of Rwanda since 12 June 2024. He previously served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation from 4 November 2019. Prior to that, Dr. Biruta held several cabinet positions in the Government of Rwanda including Environment from August 2017 to November 2019, Natural Resources from 2014 to 2017, Education from 2011 to 2014, Public Works, Transport and Communication from 1999 to 2000, and Health from 1997 to 1999. Beside his cabinet appointments, he was the President of the Senate in the Parliament of the Republic of Rwanda from 2003 to 2011 and President of the National Transition Assembly from 2000 to 2003. Dr. Biruta is a qualified physician. He has furthered his studies in Public Health and Nutrition at the Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium as well as in Planning and Management of Health Services in Developing Countries at the Université Libre de Bruxelles.

Managing Director and Head of Middle East at Rothschild & Co. Before that, he worked for Linklaters. He also serves as Independent Director of the Board of ADC SPAC and Xcube. He is an Advisory Council Member of the Dubai International Chamber of Commerce.

Co-founder and chief technology officer at Mimicrete, a spin-off from Cambridge University developing self-healing cementitious materials. She holds a BSc in Chemistry, MPhil in Mineral Science and Technology, and a PhD in autonomic self-healing cementitious materials. Lívia was a Senior Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Cambridge for 5 years, during which time she started working on the transition of laboratory solutions to commercial products. Now, she focuses mostly on the large scale manufacturing platforms and extending the utilization stage of construction products.

Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the EU, NATO, Belgium and Luxembourg.
Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2016-2019, 2022-2025). Roman Vassilenko has been in Kazakhstan’s diplomatic service since 1994, serving throughout his career as Third Secretary and Second Secretary at the Embassy of Kazakhstan to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1996-1999), as well as as First Secretary and Counsellor at the Embassy Kazakhstan in Washington, DC (2000-2007). He worked in the President’s Office and in the Prime Minister’s Office in senior political positions focusing on Kazakhstan’s international engagements. Back at Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, he served as Chairman of the Committee for International Information in 2009-2012 and 2014-2016, overseeing the Ministry’s communications efforts during such important periods as Kazakhstan’s chairmanships in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, as well as the country’s simultaneous successful campaigns to host EXPO 2017 Astana and to join the UN Security Council for 2017-2018. He was first appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2016, being put in charge of developing Kazakhstan’s relations with the European countries, the European Union, and other Europe-based organisations such as the OSCE and the Council of Europe. It was at that period that Kazakhstan and the EU signed and ratified the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, making Kazakhstan the first country in Central Asia to have this second-generation agreement in force. Roman Vassilenko served as Kazakhstan’s first resident Ambassador to the Slovak Republic in 2019-2022, meaningfully contributing to strengthening bilateral ties. In 2022-2025, serving as a Deputy Foreign Minister for the second time, he contributed to further strengthening Kazakhstan’s ties with Europe at a time of major geopolitical and geoeconomic upheavals. He serves in his current position in Brussels since July 2025.

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (2020-2024). In 2003, Mr. Kuleba graduated with honour from the Institute of International Relations, Taras Shevchenko University (Kyiv, Ukraine), where he studied international law. In 2006, Mr. Kuleba obtained a Ph.D. in International Law. From 2003 to 2010, he worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and at the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the OSCE. He also worked at the office of Ukraine’s Foreign Minister from 2010 to 2013 where he was in charge of the issues related to the image of Ukraine abroad, international organizations, and the relations with the United States. After quitting civil service in 2013, he chaired the Board of the UART Foundation for Cultural Diplomacy. In 2014, he returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Ambassador-at-Large to launch strategic communications. He introduced the concepts of digital diplomacy, strategic communications, cultural diplomacy and public diplomacy into the Ministry’s work. In 2016, Mr. Kuleba was appointed as Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the Council of Europe. From August 2019 to March 2020, he was Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine. He is author of several books, including bestselling The War for Reality. How to Win in the World of Fakes, Truths and Communities, 2019.

Vice President, Thematic and Emerging Portfolio Risk Foresight at La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ). He manages a team of geopolitical and emerging risk analysis specialists who support investment decisions and the organization’s strategic orientations. He also advises global companies on refining their understanding and management of geopolitical, climate and technological risks. He has over 15 years of experience in international relations and geopolitical risk analysis. In addition to his role at La Caisse, he teaches geopolitical risk management at Université de Montréal. He has also authored several essays, including the Geopolitical Awakening of Finance (2023), in which he sets out a methodology and tools for investors to find success in an unpredictable world. His work focuses on the intersection of geopolitics, global macroeconomic shifts and long-term capital allocation, with a particular emphasis on anticipating systemic disruptions and strengthening portfolio resilience in a rapidly evolving international environment. He holds a Master’s in International Relations and Comparative Politics from Université de Montréal.

Country Head for BNP Paribas for the United Arab Emirates since 1st of October 2021. He also serves as Multinational Clients Coverage Coordinator for the Middle East region. As a seasoned professional, François has over 30 years of strong and diversified experience with BNP Paribas. He spent 10 years in Paris at the start of his career, both in Inspection Générale and then Coverage in a Banker role. From 2000 onwards, he held several senior executive roles in London and Central & Eastern Europe. He was Country Head for BNP Paribas in Hungary from 2005 until 2009, and then Country Head in Russia from 2012 until 2015. In London, he led the Acquisition Finance team in the early 2000’s and served as Head of Human Resources at the time of the BNP Paribas and Fortis merger. He was also Chief Operations Officer for BNP Paribas London Branch. Before coming to the UAE, he served as BNP Paribas’ Chief Compliance Officer, UK. Francois graduated in France as an Engineer from Ecole Nationale Superieure d’Arts et Metiers and he holds an MBA from EM Lyon.

Swedish Ambassador for Global Health at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Stockholm. Medical doctor from the Karolinska Institute. He worked for WHO as the Assistant Director General for General Management, Health Systems and Services and as Acting Director-General 2003-2008 and as the Head of the WHO Country Office in Sierra Leone 2015-17. He has served as Director-General for the Swedish International Agency for Development Cooperation (Sida). As the Interim Executive Director, he established the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria as a legal entity 2002. Recently he headed the secretariat for the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response. He has served as board member of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, GAVI, UNAIDS and PMNCH. He is currently a member of the Alliance for Health Systems Research’s board, the Chatham House Commission for Universal Health, the International Vaccine Institute Global Advisory Group of Expert and the Virchow Foundation for Global Health Council.