Category: Invited guests

Ambassador General Director of the Morocco International Cooperation Agency. He was the special advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and Chief of Staff of the President of COP22.  Previously, he was advisor to the Minister of Economy and Finance in Morocco, and worked in strategy and management consulting at international consulting firms based in Paris.He also advised companies and investors on strategic projects in Morocco and African countries.He has an engineering diploma from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne and holds an MBA from College des Ingénieurs in Paris and a Certificate in Entrepreneurship from Babson College, USA.

Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to the People’s Republic of China. Former Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United States (2002-2011). He then embarked on a new career as an advisor for major Moroccan groups and multinationals. Previously, he served as the Moroccan ambassador to Italy, Malta, and, Albania, and the permanent representative to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Portugal, and Angola. He was the elected chairman of the Council of the FAO (2001-2005). He recently held the position of Ambassador for multilateral cooperation within the COP22 steering committee. He graduated from the HEC Graduate Business School in France.

Partnerships & Business Development Director for the Niger Delta Partnership Initiative (NDPI) Foundation. She joined NDPI in 2013 after serving as program manager on Africa at Vital Voices Global Partnership in Washington, D.C. She was named one of the 99 most influential foreign policy leaders under the age of 33 by Diplomatic Courier and Young Professionals in Foreign Policy in 2011 and one of 13 Young Africans Business/Economic Leaders to Watch in 2013 by Ventures Africa Magazine. She worked at the Women’s World Banking Ghana in Accra and Bank of America Merrill Lynch in New York City. She graduated from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Washington, D.C. and from Spelman College (Phi Beta Kappa).

Co-Founder and President of the Research Center for Cooperation and Peace Building (RCCP), a Lebanese NGO focused on Track II. She is a member of the working group at the Middle East at Hoover Institution, Stanford University. She is a member of the Steering Committee and an Advocacy Consultant for the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) National Agenda for the Future of Syria (NAFS) programme. She specializes in US-Arab relations and has a special interest in Syria. She is Editor of The Syrian Crisis: Effects on Regional and International Relations (2020) and has previously authored The Arab Lobby: Factors for Success and Failure (2016). She is a weekly Columnist in the Saudi newspaper Arab News and makes regular appearances on a series of Middle Eastern TV stations. She has co-directed, participated and presented scholarly papers in numerous conferences and workshops. She is currently working on a book project that researches the effect of regional competition on conflicts in Syria, Yemen, the Horn of Africa and Libya. She holds a Ph.D. in Politics from the University of Exeter as well as an MBA and a BBA from the AUB.

Senior Advisor to the Board, Toyota Motor Corporation since 2017. He joined Toyota Motor Corporation as an advisor in 2008. He held various positions such as senior managing officer, chief officer of the Corporate Planning Division, the Business Development Group and the IT Group, member of the board of directors, chief risk officer, and executive vice president. He was director-general of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy Policy at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (METI). He joined the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) in 1972.He has been a Director of KDDI Corporation since 2013 and Chairman of The Toyota Foundation since 2016. He graduated from the University of Tokyo and from the University of Cambridge.

President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Before assuming the present post, he was President of the International University of Japan. He has been Professor of National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) (2012-). He was Professor of Graduate Schools for Law and Politics, the University of Tokyo (1997-2004, 2006-2012), Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations (2004-2006), Professor of College of Law and Politics, Rikkyo University (1985-1997). He holds a PhD from the University of Tokyo. He is Emeritus Professor of the University of Tokyo.

Co-Director of the Berlin based think tank Stiftung Neue Verantwortung (SNV). He helped establish SNV’s European Digital Agenda program and has shaped the development of SNV into the leading think tank at the intersection of technology and public policy in Germany. He has worked and published on a wide range of issues such as cyber security, surveillance & privacy, and future of work. Prior to joining SNV he coordinated the public affairs section of the US Consulate General in Hamburg and taught and researched as an Assistant Professor of political science at the University of Northern Colorado. He holds a PhD in political science from the University of Pennsylvania.

Director of the Center for Energy & Climate of Ifri since 2017. Prior to joining Ifri, he spent six years at the International Energy Agency (IEA), notably as Russia & Sub-Saharan Africa Programme Manager where he conducted oil and gas market analyses and was responsible for institutional relations with these countries and regions. He also held various other positions, such as at the Robert Schuman Foundation, where he was in charge of a Ukraine observatory. A French and German national, he holds a Ph.D. from Sciences Po Paris in International Relations. He represents Ifri at the French observatory of raw materials for industrial value chains (Ofremi).

Former President of Mongolia. He is a public servant, a freedom fighter, and a policymaker. In 1990, he was one of the key leaders of the Mongolian Democratic Revolution and since then has continuously served Mongolia as a member of Parliament four times, Prime Minister two times, and President for two terms. During his career, Mr. Elbegdorj prioritized strengthening the rule of law in Mongolia, fostering social justice, fighting poverty, combating corruption, supporting environmental sustainability, and advancing active participatory democracy. Currently, he is continuing his work to improve public policy, governance, and democracy through the Elbegdorj Institute, a think tank he found in 2008. Mr. Elbegdorj is now Commissioner of the International Commission against Death Penalty (ICDP), Patron of the World Sustainable Development Forum (WSDF), member of World Leadership Alliance – Club de Madrid and President of the World Mongol Federation. He holds Master of Public Administration from Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government (2002) and Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Land Forces Military Academy of Lviv City (Ukraine) of former USSR (1988). 

Executive Director, CIRTECH-CTC. He has over six years of experience in political consulting. He began his career in the management of development projects before specializing in public communications. His experience led him to work for nongovernmental organizations and governments. He currently works as an advisor to numerous African statesmen and politicians on political strategy and public policy. He is very active in the volunteering field; he is also the outgoing curator of the Dakar Hub of Global Shapers Community of the World Economic Forum and is a Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni. He graduated from the Bordeaux Management School.

Co-founder of Finn AI, she has been a forerunner in the area of financial technology. Her company uses conversational artificial intelligence (AI) to build virtual assistants for banks. By leveraging this leading-edge technology, banks can engage with their customers in channels where they are already active, such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, via native iOS and Android apps, and others. Using simple, human conversation, Finn AI empowers people to learn and grow with their money, promoting financial literacy around the world. Before founding Finn AI, she worked at the Global Fund in Geneva where she managed a USD $250 million health investment portfolio.

As CEO of MA Aerospace and former Chairman of the Moroccan Aerospace Industries Association (GIMAS), he played a key role the last 20 years in the emergence and the development of the aircraft industry in Morocco. He participated actively in the construction of Royal Air Maroc, in its fleet modernization and in its international development in support of the social and economic development of the country. He is Chairman or board member of several companies in the aircraft, international hotel and solar industries. He is also a member of strategic advisory councils of universities and the President of IMA. He is qualified in Engineering from INPG.

President of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP) since June 2020. Chairing the Korea National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation, President Kim is currently President of the APEC Studies Association of Korea. He is a member of the Presidential Committee on Northern Economic Cooperation, an Advisory Board member for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Chair on the Economy and Trade Division of the Korea-China Committee for the Future from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Prior to the current positions, President Kim was among the Advisory Staff to the Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Finance & Economy of Korea, and had been a key Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on the Korea-EU FTA during the negotiation. He was a Fulbright Scholar in the UC Berkeley, and was an Honorary member of the High Table in Christ Church, Oxford.

Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) since 2008. He started his career at WIPO in 1985. Previously, he had been teaching and practicing law. He is an honorary professor of, and holds honorary doctorates from, universities in a wide range of countries. He is the author of a number of publications, one of which has become a standard legal text in the UK and is published by Oxford University Press as Gurry on Breach of Confidence. He holds law degrees from the University of Melbourne and a Ph.D from the University of Cambridge.

Physicist. Founding member and Honorary President of the National Academy of Technologies of France. He is also a former member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) and Honorary chairman of A-Ulm (Association of alumni of Ecole Normale Supérieure, ENS). He was R&D Vice President of Saint-Gobain Group (1988-2005), Vice-chairman of the French Higher Council of Research and Technology (1997-1998) and the French Higher Council of Research (1998-1999), Scientific Director of French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), head of its physics and mathematics Department (1981-1988), Researcher at laboratoire Kastler-Brossel of the ENS (1961-1981). Higher education at Ecole Normale Supérieure. He holds a PhD in physics.

President, Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO), Russia. He is among others a member of the Presidium of the Presidential Council for Science and Education, a member of the Presidium of Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), a member of the Russian Foreign Minister’s Scientific Council. He is a frequent commentator on Federal TV Channels. He is also Chairman and Founder of the Primakov Readings. He was visiting professor and lecturer at Georgetown University (USA, Washington, D.C.). He holds a PhD in economics.

Former Deputy Minister of Energy and Industry of Albania (2013-2015). He joined the international private sector in 2015. He has served as External Advisor on Investments to the Prime Minister of Albania since 2016. Previously, he was Director of the European Integration and International Projects at the Ministry of the Economy, Trade, and Energy of Albania (2009-2013). He was also Director of Project Management Unit for the TAP Trans Adriatic Pipeline. He has founded and been involved in several Albanian and international non-governmental organizations such as the Albanian Free Forum, IDEA Institute. He graduated from the Eastern Mediterranean University in Famagusta, Cyprus. He pursued postgraduate studies at King’s College London.

Vice Rector of the MGIMO University, Professor of the Department of International Relations and Russia’s Foreign Policy. Artem Malgin is a member of the Valdai Discussion Club Scientific Council, member of the Scientific Board at the Security Council of the Russian Federation, member of the Council “Russian-Polish Center for Dialogue and Understanding”, Coordinator of the Russian-French Civil Societies Forum “Trianon Dialogue”. He graduated from MGIMO-University and holds a Ph.D. in International Relations.

Senior Vice President Public Affairs, Total. He began his career in the French Transportation Ministry. From 1988 to 1995, he was a project manager for the Normandy Bridge across the Seine, a worldwide record of giant bridges. He joined Total in 1995 as Deputy General Manager of the Normandy Refinery. In 2004, after senior positions in the exploration and production business and in the internet new business in Houston, he was appointed Corporate Vice President, Competitive Intelligence. In November 2008, he was appointed General Secretary of Total Refining & Marketing Division and joined the Corporate Management Committee of the Group. In January 2012, he was appointed General Secretary of the new Refining and Chemical Division. He graduated from France’s Ecole Polytechnique and Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, a civil engineering school.

President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) since July 2012. Previously, he served as Secretary of State for foreign affairs in Bern (2010-2012). He was chairman of the Fifth Committee of the UN General Assembly, in charge of administrative and budgetary affairs (2009-2010), Ambassador and permanent representative of Switzerland to the United Nations in New York (2004-2009) and ambassador and head of the human security division in the political directorate of the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs in Bern (2000-2004). He entered the Swiss diplomatic service in 1987. He studied history and international law in Bern, where he was awarded a doctorate.

Mayor of Meaux. Business Lawyer at the Paris Bar. President of the Communauté d’Agglomération du Pays de Meaux. Former Seine-et-Marne’s MP, Jean-François Copé also was a member of Government under President Chirac from 2002 to 2007, notably as Spokesperson of the Government, delegate Minister of the Interior and Minister for the Budget. He became Head of the Parliamentary majority in 2007 and then the President of the UMP party, the main French conservative party (2012-2014). Jean-François Copé graduated from Sciences Po and ENA, and was Associate Professor of Economics at Sciences Po and of Public Finances at Paris VIII University. Lawyer at Stehlin law firm, Jean-François Copé has a particular interest in Artificial Intelligence. He has co-authored the book “Would AI also kill democracy?” with Laurent Alexandre.

Managing Director of Ndlovukazi Online Media, Digital Media Consultant. She is a professional journalist, with years of experience in the news media, corporate social media management and online development. She currently sits as stakeholder and representative of women in the technology sphere of Durban, advising in the Internet For All South Africa initiative as the WEF Global Shaper. She is currently listed as a Visionary Leader of the Engineering Symposium Africa conference 2017. She holds a National Diploma in Journalism from Durban University of Technology.

Vice President of Advanced Concepts for Airbus Defence and Space in Munich, Germany. Before joining Airbus in 2004, he has worked for 12 years as a self-employed security policy Analyst and Consultant in Bonn, Germany. He conducted some 30 studies for the German Ministry of Defense and was a frequent TV and radio commentator, publisher, and lecturer. He is an Honorary Professor for Foreign Policy at the University of Cologne, Germany. He began his professional career in 1986 as a Research Associate at the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (Foundation for Science and Politics). From 1990 to 1992, he served on the Policy Planning Staff of the German Minister of Defense and from 1992 to 2004 as the Security Policy Advisor to the Chairman of the Defense Committee of the German Parliament.

Co-founder & CEO, Hippogriff. Allen is an inventor and a visionary social entrepreneur who has developed the world’s first clinically validated Artificial Intelligence technology for diagnosis of complex diseases including an accurate tool for early diagnosis of heart disease. As one of the youngest ever candidates, Allen has been honored as “European of the Year 2018” together with other brilliant personalities including President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Angela Merkel. He has also been selected by the Forbes magazine as one of the top 30 most influential innovators and featured on the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 list. He has been mentor to young students on the path to developing their full potential. He is also grand jury member in different national and international competitions including European Youth Award. He was honoured as the “young entrepreneurial talent of the year 2016” in Europe and received the “European Change Award” which was handed by European Commissioners Carlos Moedas and Commissioner Tibor Navracsics.

Professor of public law at the University Paris Descartes from 2017, she previously has been a professor at the University of Rouen Normandie (2010-2017) and co-director of the Rouen University Center of law studies (2012-2017). She has been Secretary-General of the Société française pour le droit international (French Society for International Law) since 2016. She is also a member of the strategic committee of Ifri. She holds a PhD in law from the University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. Following on from her PhD, she focuses her research on the United Nations, the maintenance of international peace and security as well as the normative power of international organizations. Since 2013, she has also been working on international digital law and co-edited several books in this area, including Cyberattaques et droit international (Cyberattacks and International Law) (Pedone, 2019).

Investment director and Chief of Staff to the CEO of Meridiam, an investment company specialized in sustainable infrastructure. Former Advisor for Energy, Industry and Innovation in the private office of the French Ministry for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition. He held various positions in the French Ministry of Economy and Finance, in the fields of energy and corporate financing. He also worked for Total Gas & Power New Energies USA and L’Oréal. He graduated from the Ecole Polytechnique and Mines Paristech, Paris, France.

Chief Executive Officer of Agence Française de Développement since 2016. In 2015, he was responsible for financial matters in the French negotiation team for COP21. In 2014, he served as Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development in charge of economic affairs. He was Director of the Office of Mr. Pierre Moscovici at the Ministry of the Economy and Finance (2012-2014). In 2010, he was Deputy Director for international financial affairs and development at the General Directorate of the Treasury. In 2007, he was Deputy Director for the transport and audiovisual sectors at the State Holdings Agency (APE). He is an alumnus of the Ecole Normale Supérieure, rue d’Ulm, Sciences Po, and the Ecole Nationale d’Administration.

Founding Partner of Okan Partners, strategy and financial advisory boutique dedicated to Africa since 2012. Former McKinsey, PAI Partners and Ardian, Benjamin has developed an expertise in financial advisory and fundraising in Africa. At Okan, he mainly leads infrastructure, agriculture and mining sectors. Benjamin graduated from HEC Paris.