Speakers
Featured speakers
Connect directly with world leaders and senior directors across the globe
Dame Ellen MacArthur
Record-breaking sailor & champion of circular economy
Dame Ellen MacArthur made yachting history in 2005, when she became the fastest solo sailor to circumnavigate the globe. She remains the UK’s most successful offshore racer ever, having won the Ostar, the Route du Rhum, and finished second in the Vendée Globe. She received the French Legion of Honour from President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008, three years after having been knighted by HM Queen Elizabeth II. Having become acutely aware of the finite nature of the resources on which our linear economy relies, she retired from professional sailing to launch the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in 2010. The Foundation works to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, and has helped establish the subject on the agenda of decision-makers around the world. Since the publication of its first economic report in 2012, the Foundation has launched global initiatives on plastics, fashion, and food, developed innovation networks with educators, businesses, and governments, and released over 20 reports and books. Dame Ellen is a World Economic Forum Global Agenda Trustee for Environment and Natural Resource Security, and she sat on the European Commission’s Resource Efficiency Platform between 2012 and 2014. In October 2022, Ellen accepted the 2022 Princess of Asturias Award for International Cooperation, in acknowledgment of EMF’s work to accelerate the transition to a circular economy.
Jean-Claude Juncker
President of the European Commission (2014 – 2019)
Jean-Claude Juncker is one of the founding fathers of the Euro and a pioneer of European unification. As Prime Minister of Luxembourg from 1995 to 2013, he was the EU’s longest-serving head of government, and one of the world’s longest-serving democratically elected leaders. A law graduate from Strasbourg, Juncker rose quickly in Luxembourg politics, becoming finance minister in 1989 and playing a key role in shaping the Maastricht Treaty (1991–92). He later chaired the Eurogroup (2005–2013), where he guided Europe through the sovereign debt crisis. In 2014, the European Parliament elected him President of the European Commission, where he faced major challenges including Brexit, terrorism, and economic recovery. Renowned as a skilled mediator and passionate European, Juncker has received numerous honours, including the Charlemagne Prize (2006), the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of Germany, the EU Gold Medal with Star, and honorary doctorates from international universities.
Magnus Lindkvist
Futurologist and author
Magnus Lindkvist is a futurologist, author and one of Sweden’s leading international speakers. Renowned for his mix of sharp insights and subversive humour, he calls his approach “intellectual acupuncture” — energising audiences with trends, ideas and future thinking that inspire action. For almost three decades he has performed worldwide, weaving rigorous research with Hollywood-style storytelling. His upcoming book How to Make AI Useful (2025), co-authored with Dr Bryan Reimer of MIT, explores how artificial intelligence can become a practical tool for business and society. Other works include The Reset Book (2023), a guide to bouncing back from crises, and Minifesto (2016) on the power of small ideas. A graduate of the Stockholm School of Economics and UCLA Film School, Magnus combines business acumen with creative flair. He has founded companies and created the world’s first accredited course in trendspotting and future thinking. Award-winning and always unforgettable, Magnus Lindkvist doesn’t just talk about the future — he makes audiences feel it.
Barbara Novak
Executive City Councillor
Since June 2025, Barbara Novak has served as Vienna’s Executive City Councillor for Finance, Economic Affairs, Labour, International Relations, and Digital Innovation. Before taking on this role, she spent seven years as the Secretary General of the Vienna SPÖ, successfully guiding the party through the 2020 and 2025 regional and municipal elections. Her political journey began during her school years through active involvement in the trade union movement. In 2001, she was elected to Vienna’s State Parliament and City Council for the first time. As City Councillor, she is committed to strengthening public trust in the city’s finances, pursuing targeted investments, enhancing Vienna’s economic resilience, and safeguarding its social stability in the long term – with a clear focus on digital transformation.
K. Krithivasan
CEO & MD of Tata Consultancy Services
K. Krithivasan, also known as Krithi, took over as the CEO & MD of Tata Consultancy Services on June 1, 2023. In his three-decade plus tenure at TCS, he has held various leadership roles in delivery, customer relationship management, large program management and sales and has a strong track record of successfully leading TCS’ largest industry vertical, the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance business. In his first year as CEO, Krithi sharpened the multinational company’s focus on industries by realigning the organisational structure into key business groups. He has steered TCS’ strategy for creating the world’s largest AI ready workforce. As CEO his focus has been on two key pillars: customer centricity and employee empathy. Under Krithi’s leadership, TCS continues to be recognized as a Global Top Employer. During his tenure, TCS’ brand value has risen by $2 billion, according to Brand Finance and has been rated as one of the world’s most admired companies by Fortune Magazine. He co-chairs the B20 Digital Transformation Taskforce in Brazil and has served as a member of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) National Council. Krithi joined Tata Consultancy Services in 1989 as an assistant system analyst in New Delhi. He moved to North America in 1997, where he was soon promoted to Regional Manager for TCS Florida. In the year 2000, Krithi took over as the e-business delivery head and was promoted in 2004 to head the BFSI Solution Centre. From 2018, he led the unit to achieve double-digit growth driven by strong momentum in all major markets. In his role as the head of the BFSI vertical, Krithi steered TCS’ expansion into high-growth markets such as Latin America, Australia and New Zealand. Born in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, Krithi received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Madras and a master’s degree in industrial and management engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur. He is a proud father of two daughters and attributes his success to his family.
Aarthi Subramanian
Executive Director – President and COO, TCS
Ms. Aarthi Subramanian is the Executive Director – President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company. Prior to the above role, Ms. Aarthi Subramanian was the Group Chief Digital Officer at Tata Sons Private Limited (Tata Sons), the principal investment holding company and promoter of Tata enterprises. In this pivotal role, she led the conglomerate's digital, technology and innovation agenda across a diverse portfolio of industries. Ms. Subramanian's association with the Tata group spans over three decades, marked by progressive leadership roles. Ms. Subramanian had held several key board positions within the Tata group. Ms. Aarthi Subramanian has extensive experience in technology and operations. At Tata Sons, she was instrumental in ensuring that Tata group companies harness digital technologies to enhance operational efficiency, customer engagement, and competitive advantage. As Head of Delivery for Retail & CPG Business Unit at TCS, she led strategic accounts and major client relationships, driving customer satisfaction through rigorous service delivery and value addition. Ms. Subramanian holds a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science from the National Institute of Technology, Warangal, India, and a Master's degree in Engineering Management from the University of Kansas, USA. Her exemplary contributions have been acknowledged through various accolades such as "Technology Leader of the Year" at ETPrime Women Leadership Awards (2019) - Honoured for her pioneering efforts in driving technological innovation and digital transformation within the Tata group, Business Today's "Most Powerful Women in Business" (2016) where she was recognized for her significant impact and leadership in the corporate sector. Ms. Subramanian is a Director on the Board of Tata Electronics Private Limited.
Sapthagiri “Saptha” Chapalapalli
Head of Europe, TCS
Sapthagiri “Saptha” Chapalapalli leads TCS Europe, overseeing the company’s growth and transformation across the region while collaborating with global enterprises to explore new possibilities and business models grounded in the principles of the perpetually adaptive enterprise. With more than 30 years of global experience across India, Europe, and North America, Saptha brings practical expertise and strategic vision. He has guided organizations through transformative journeys, modernizing their cloud and data ecosystems, strengthening cybersecurity foundations, and unlocking new business models powered by AI. Central to his approach is the design and execution of next‑generation operating models that embody the perpetually adaptive enterprise, enabling organizations to become more adaptive, resilient, and purpose‑driven in the face of rapid disruption. He co‑creates with customers to deliver inclusive, sustainable growth and efficiency. Beyond business, Saptha is actively involved with academia, bringing industry insights to help shape the leaders of tomorrow. He serves on the advisory boards of the European School of Management and Technology (ESMT) Berlin, T.A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), and the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Sirmaur in India.
Rami Baitiéh
Chief Executive Officer, Morrisons
Rami Baitiéh joined Morrisons as the Chief Executive Officer in November 2023. Rami brings wide retailing and operational experience following a 28-year career at the Carrefour Group. He was the CEO of Carrefour France since July 2020, and previously held the positions of CEO Carrefour Spain, Executive Director of Carrefour Argentina and Executive Director of Carrefour Taiwan. Rami holds two MBAs and is a Colonel of the French Air Force and Space Reserve.
Carsten Bittner
Executive Board Member & CITO, ABN AMC
Carsten Bittner’s professional career started at Accenture back in 1997 as a consultant in the banking and capital markets practice. After joining Bertelsmann in 2004 as Managing Director of their technology subsidiary, he progressed to taking on Group-wide responsibilities in 2013 as Senior Vice President Group IT and as the Group’s CISO, and later returned to banking in 2019 as the CTO of Commerzbank. Since 2023, he steers innovation and technology as a Member of the Executive Board for ABN AMRO Bank.
Ericson Chan
Executive Committee Member & CIDO, Zurich Insurance
Ericson Chan joined Zurich Insurance as the Group Chief Information and Digital Officer and as a Member of the Executive Committee in October 2020. He has an extensive background in technology leadership and driving growth. From 2016 to 2020, he was CEO of Ping An Technology where he helped to transform Ping An Group’s business model and online ecosystems through digital services including a range of fintech products and online platforms. Between 1998 and 2016, he held several technology and operations leadership roles at Standard Chartered Bank in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore, including Chief Information Officer for North Asia, Head of Corporate & Investment Banking Operations in China and Global Head of Consumer Banking Technology in Singapore. He also has six years of HealthTech experience in the U.S. Mr. Chan is the Chairman of the Board of the Jane Goodall Institute in Hong Kong. Mr. Chan graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and has an MBA from Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin.
Arne Erik Berntzen
CIO , Posten Bring
Arne Erik Berntzen is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Posten Bring, a Nordic postal and logistics group. As the CIO, he focuses on strategic sourcing and partnerships to drive innovation. Arne has guided cloud migration initiatives, leading the adoption of Microsoft Azure to improve scalability and efficiency. By integrating modern technologies like AI, he enhances operational performance and supports Posten Bring’s commitment to reliable, customer-focused services in a digital era.
Turkka Keskinen
CIO, UPM
Mr Turkka Keskinen works as a Chief Information Officer (CIO) for UPM, The Biofore Company. Turkka has over 30 years of experience within the forest industry, where he has led change in eight different positions. Before his current CIO position, Turkka held the position of SVP, Financial Services and Business Control, where he transformed the company’s finance function operations into a global operating model. Turkka was awarded by the Finnish IT management reward as the CIO of the year in 2012 and IT People Director of the year in 2010.
Martyn Freeman
Chief Operating Officer, BBC Studios
Martyn Freeman oversees the company’s legal and business affairs, global media operations, compliance and risk, as well as technology, transformation, and property as the Chief Operating Officer of BBC Studios. Appointed as COO of BBC Studios in 2021, Martyn was previously General Counsel for BBC Studios, having held the role for BBC Worldwide since 2012. Prior to this, he led BBC Worldwide's Legal & Business Affairs, as Group Head and Director, and also worked in a variety of other roles across the BBC, including Head of Business Affairs, Radio & Music, Factual & Learning & News.
Tone Hansen
Director, MUNCH
Tone Hansen is the Director of MUNCH. MUNCH opened in 2021 as a landmark museum for The City of Oslo, housing the largest collection of Edvard Munch’s art in the world. Under Hansen’s leadership, the museum has further developed its extensive exhibition programme, offering new approaches to the museum's three artistic areas of focus: the work of Edvard Munch, modernism, and contemporary art. Previously, from 2011 to 2022, Hansen was the Director of the Henie Onstad Kunstsenter.
Master of Ceremonies
Juliet Mann
Moderator
Juliet Mann is an experienced TV anchor, specialising in business news. Currently host of The Agenda, the weekly current affairs talk show on CGTN Europe. Juliet has worked in fast-paced newsrooms across the world — in London, Paris, New York and Frankfurt — for CNN, Sky News and Reuters. She has also appeared on the BBC’s Pointless Celebrities, starred in Danny Boyle's TV pilot Babylon, and presents the podcast “A Week in my Flexible Working Life”. Juliet also comperes events and awards ceremonies and moderates discussion forums across Europe and the United States on a vast range of topics from entrepreneurship to sustainability.
Tim Wagemakers
Moderator
Tim Wagemakers is a Dutch journalist, moderator and (podcast) host working in the Dutch media. As a graduated philosopher and journalist, Tim serves a broad spectrum of socially relevant topics, is specialized in politics and big economic and societal transitions, and makes television appearances on a regular basis. He has presented for ABC News Australia, IDFA, VNO-NCW, ING, Stibbe and YPO, among other well-known broadcasting names. He has interviewed high-profile individuals such as Somali-British long-distance runner Mo Farah, primatologist Frans de Waal, former European Commissioner Neelie Kroes and authors Kim Ghattas and Grace Blakeley. With his background as a former program editor at the Netherlands most famous cultural and political centre De Balie, Tim Wagemakers knows the ins and outs of programs of all types.
Dr. Johan Roos
Executive Director, VCMI
Dr. Johan Roos drive transformation in leadership and business education, working at the intersection of strategy, AI, and experiential learning to reshape management practice and business education. As Executive Director at Peter Drucker Society Europe, he is the lead architect of The Next Management initiative to help advance management practices and thinking globally. Previously, as Chief Academic Officer at Hult (2016-2024), he initiated and led one of the earliest large-scale AI adoption efforts in business education. Prior to this, his leadership roles at Jönköping International Business School, Copenhagen Business School, Stockholm School of Economics, and Swiss-based Imagination Lab Foundation reflects a commitment to the highest levels of quality, modernizing institutions, and realigning strategy and incentives for real-world impact. Johan is the originator co-inventor of LEGO Serious Play, a globally recognized methodology that has redefined leadership development, innovation, and management practices across industries globally. In 2026, Routledge will publish his latest book "HUAMAN MAGIC: Mastering the Capabilities That Make You Irreplaceable in the Age of AI".
