Book World Affairs Speakers

Dr. Mariana Mazzucato, CBE, is a professor at UCL and the Founding Director of the UCL Institute for Innovation & Public Purpose (IIPP). She is a globally influential economist who advises governments on innovation-led inclusive and sustainable growth. The author of four bestselling books, including The Entrepreneurial State and Mission Economy, her work has fundamentally reshaped the debate on value creation. As a speaker, she provides actionable, research-backed insights on how to build a Mission Economy and drive transformational change through public-private partnerships and redefined purpose.

Shivshankar Menon is the former National Security Advisor and Foreign Secretary of India. He served as Ambassador to China, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. An alumnus of St. Stephen's College and a Richard Wilhelm Fellow at MIT, his books include Choices and India and Asian Geopolitics. His keynotes provide authoritative, firsthand insights into geopolitical risk, diplomacy, and the complex foreign policy challenges facing India and the world.

Joseph E. Stiglitz is a Nobel laureate economist and professor at Columbia University, recognized for his work on information economics. He previously served as Chief Economist of the World Bank and Chairman of the U.S. President’s Council of Economic Advisers. As a keynote speaker, Stiglitz draws on his extensive experience in public service and his influential body of work, which includes books like Globalization and Its Discontents Revisited. His talks offer incisive analysis on global economic challenges, providing audiences with a deep understanding of market failures and the role of government intervention.

George Friedman is a geopolitical forecaster, author, and the founder of Geopolitical Futures. With over two decades of experience in intelligence and publishing, he is a sought-after expert on global affairs and international strategy. Friedman has published several books, including the New York Times bestseller The Next 100 Years. His work offers a strategic understanding of complex global dynamics, providing audiences with a framework for navigating geopolitical risks and opportunities. As a speaker, he provides high-level analysis on international relations, foreign policy, and the future of global power.

Lech Wałęsa is a Nobel Peace Laureate (1983), the first democratically elected President of Poland, and the founder of the independent trade union Solidarność. He is a global icon of the non-violent struggle against communism. His talks cover his inspiring journey, the political and economic transformation of Poland, and the necessity of building new structures for peaceful global collaboration in the 21st century. He advocates for democracy and human values, drawing on lessons from his successful, non-violent political negotiations.

Dr. Arthur C. Brooks is a Professor at Harvard University (Kennedy School and Business School) and a #1 NYT bestselling author of over a dozen books, including From Strength to Strength and Build the Life You Want (with Oprah Winfrey). As a former President of the AEI and a national columnist for The Atlantic, he is a sought-after speaker on Leadership & Happiness in Times of Rapid Change. He provides a framework for cultivating satisfaction, enjoyment, and meaning through science, faith, and daily practice.

Mary Robinson is Ireland’s first female President, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and a renowned advocate for climate justice. She is the Chair of The Elders, a group of independent global leaders founded by Nelson Mandela. A graduate of Harvard Law School, her talks combine the thought leadership of a head of state with the powerful stories of the thousands she has met globally. As a speaker, she provides a compelling, hopeful call for global cooperation and corporate responsibility, framing humanity’s most daunting threats in solvable terms.

Dr. Robert B. Wilson is a Nobel Laureate in Economics (2020) and an Emeritus Professor at Stanford Business School. He is a pioneer in auction theory, market design, and competitive bidding. His foundational work established the auction model used by the FCC to award broadcast licenses. As a highly sought-after speaker, he offers an unmatched perspective on the efficient and reliable delivery of critical resources, advising governments and industries on pricing, negotiation, and market design.

Leymah Gbowee is the recipient of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize and a Liberian peace activist known for leading the nonviolent movement that ended Liberia’s civil war. Her story is chronicled in the memoir Mighty Be Our Powers and the documentary Pray the Devil Back to Hell. She is the founder of the Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa, which focuses on educational and leadership development for women and youth. As a speaker, she shares her powerful, firsthand experience on nonviolent resistance, conflict transformation, and the necessity of women's strategic participation in global peace and security governance.

Malala Yousafzai is the youngest Nobel Peace Laureate in history, a Pakistani education activist, and the co-founder of the Malala Fund. She is a global symbol of resilience and the right to education. She is the author of the international bestseller I Am Malala. Her advocacy has earned her numerous honors, including the Sakharov Prize, and has transformed into a global movement that champions gender equality and universal access to quality education.

Yuval Noah Harari is a historian and philosopher, and the author of the international bestseller Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, which has sold over 50 million copies. His books have been recommended by prominent figures and have been translated into 65 languages. As a speaker, Harari draws on his extensive research to address topics like the future of humanity, the impact of AI, and the challenges of the 21st century. His talks offer a thought-provoking analysis of our past and present, providing audiences with a clear understanding of the major forces shaping our future.

Dr. Nick Bostrom is a Professor of Philosophy at Oxford University and the founding Director of the Future of Humanity Institute. He is a leading global expert on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and existential risk. His New York Times bestseller, Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies, sparked a global conversation about the future of AI. His expertise includes the simulation argument and the impacts of future technology. As a speaker, he challenges audiences to think carefully about global priorities and the long-term strategic implications of advanced technology.

Jeffrey D. Sachs is a world-renowned economist and University Professor at Columbia University. He is the President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and a former Special Advisor to three UN Secretaries-General. The author of three New York Times bestsellers, including The End of Poverty, Sachs provides bold strategies for tackling complex issues like climate change, international debt, and global disease control. His talks offer comprehensive analysis on geopolitics, technology, and the path toward a smart, fair, and sustainable global economy.

Dr. Daniel Yergin is a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and economist, recognized as the world’s leading authority on global energy markets and geopolitics. He is the Vice Chairman of S&P Global. The author of the Pulitzer-winning The Prize and the New York Times bestseller The New Map, Yergin is a master storyteller who translates complex global issues into accessible, informative presentations. His keynotes offer realistic, hopeful strategies for leaders navigating climate change goals and political turmoil, stressing the role of technology and R&D investment.

Mstyslav Chernov is a Pulitzer Prize-sharing Ukrainian journalist, filmmaker, and war correspondent for Associated Press. His footage from the Siege of Mariupol became the basis of the acclaimed film 20 Days in Mariupol. He is a member of "Ukrainian PEN" and the President of the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers. His work, which covers conflicts, social issues, and environmental crises in all formats, has won prestigious awards like the Livingston Award and the Bayeux Calvados-Normandy Award for war reporting.

Dr. Ian Bremmer is a globally recognized political scientist, founder of Eurasia Group (the world’s leading political risk firm), and Foreign Affairs Columnist for TIME magazine. He coined the influential term “G-Zero.” His books, including the bestsellers Us vs. Them and The Power of Crisis, are essential for navigating geopolitical recession and populism. His keynotes provide leaders with strategic foresight on managing risk in an unstable world, the geopolitical implications of AI, and understanding how political factors create new business winners and losers.

Tom Rivett-Carnac is a political strategist and co-founder of Global Optimism. He was the Senior Advisor to the UN Climate Convention, playing a key role in the landmark Paris Agreement on Climate Change in 2015. As a leading voice on the climate crisis, he is the co-author of the bestselling book The Future We Choose. His keynotes, including a TED Talk with nearly 3 million views, offer a powerful blend of high-level political strategy, data-driven urgency, and stubborn optimism for creating a regenerative future.

David Rowan is the founding UK Editor-in-Chief of WIRED and a globally sought-after speaker and technology investor. His expertise focuses on non-bullshit innovation and the strategic impact of emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing. The author of the bestselling Non-Bullshit Innovation, he provides leaders with 17 proven strategies for future-proofing their business. His keynotes deconstruct tech trends, offering an in-depth look at how to build prosperity, develop a culture of innovation, and align purpose with profit.