World Affairs Speakers

Evan Solomon is a Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre and one of Canada's preeminent political journalists. He is the author of the best-selling books Fueling the Future and Feeding the Future. His career includes roles as a political television host (CTV, CBC) and former Publisher of GZERO Media. His keynotes offer expert analysis on geopolitics, energy security, and the future of global food systems, providing audiences with a deep, strategic understanding of major international crises.

Roman Krznaric is a social philosopher, author of the internationally bestselling book The Good Ancestor, and a Senior Research Fellow at Oxford University. He explores the power of long-term thinking and empathy to drive societal change. The founder of the world’s first Empathy Museum, Krznaric’s talks and workshops, including appearances at TED Global, inspire audiences to question short-termism and leverage historical wisdom. His presentations offer a powerful toolkit for social entrepreneurs and leaders seeking to create fundamental, positive shifts in their organizations and communities.

Gro Harlem Brundtland is the former Prime Minister of Norway (three terms), a champion of sustainable development, and a recognized expert in global public health. She is celebrated for her leadership and co-chairs the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board. As the head of the UN's Brundtland Commission, she coined the modern definition of sustainable development. She also served as Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), where she led the response to the SARS pandemic. Her keynotes offer profound insights on climate action, global preparedness, and the necessity of linking economic policy with health and environmental goals.

Grant Williams is a highly sought-after financier, investor, and the Co-founder of Real Vision, an on-demand financial media platform. His expertise is grounded in 35+ years across seven major global financial centers. He is the author of the widely-read financial newsletter Things That Make You Go Hmmm… His presentations, which are highly-rated globally, cover a wide range of subjects, from macro-focused issues like central bank policy (Snakes & Ladders) to specific investment themes in precious metals.

Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia is a former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of India and a distinguished economist who architected key national economic reforms.

William Dalrymple is an eminent historian, best-selling author, and co-founder of the Jaipur Literature Festival. His historical and travel books have been translated into over 40 languages and have won multiple literary prizes. His acclaimed books, including The Anarchy and Nine Lives, explore the history and art of India, Pakistan, and the Muslim world. His keynotes offer profound, cross-cultural insights into history, art, and religion, informed by his work as an advisor to Princeton and Brown University and his decades of journalism.

Harsha Bhogle is the popular "voice of Indian cricket" and a renowned sports broadcaster with over 30 years of experience across all media formats. He holds a degree from IIM-Ahmedabad, India’s premier business school. Known for his insightful analysis and ability to connect with diverse audiences, his keynotes on The Winning Way blend the high-stakes world of cricket with actionable business principles. He helps corporate audiences understand the essentials of leadership, strategy, and teamwork through memorable sporting anecdotes.

Prakash Padukone is a legendary Indian badminton player, the first Indian to win the All England Open (1980), and a recipient of the Padma Shri. He achieved the World No. 1 ranking the same year. He holds the record for nine consecutive national titles and is a co-founder of Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ), a foundation supporting India's elite athletes. His keynotes share insights on discipline, strategy, and high performance derived from his training and success on the global circuit.

Debjani Ghosh is a former executive at Intel and the first female President of Nasscom. She currently serves as a Distinguished Fellow at NITI Aayog, focusing on frontier technologies and their role in India's economic growth. Recognized by the President of India as a "First Lady" pioneer and named “Tech Leader of the Year” by Vogue (2020), her leadership embodies a passionate commitment to human-centric innovation. Her keynotes provide strategic counsel on AI, digital transformation, and the Inevitable India strategy for global competitiveness.

Yashwant Sinha is a distinguished Indian bureaucrat, politician, and former Union Minister of Finance and External Affairs. He spent 24 years in the IAS. He successfully navigated high-level political transitions and implemented key economic reforms, such as deregulating the petroleum industry. His memoir, Confessions of a Swadeshi Reformer, details his experiences.

Ricardo Lagos is the former President of Chile (2000–2006) and a distinguished economist known for his work in defending democracy and sustainable economic development. He is the founder of the Fundación Democracia y Desarrollo and a board member of the International Crisis Group. His expertise, which includes serving as a UN Special Envoy for Climate Change, is crucial for audiences seeking strategic insights into global security, development, and equality in the Americas and beyond.

Paul Moya is the CEO of Millennial Labs, a global consultancy trusted by Fortune 500 companies. He is a Futurist who blends Harvard Strategy with Cowboy Practicality to deliver viable solutions and quantifiable results. His research leverages predictive analytics and insights from behavioral economics to solve complex generational challenges in the workplace and marketplace. As a speaker, he uses his firsthand experience—from private equity investments to global mergers—to provide forward-thinking initiatives and proven strategies to a diverse, global clientele.

Graça Machel is a leading global activist and the former First Lady of both Mozambique and South Africa. She served as Mozambique's first Minister of Education, a role in which she drastically reduced the country's illiteracy rate. Today, she is the founder of the Graça Machel Trust, dedicated to education, women's empowerment, and good governance across Africa. As a public speaker, she delivers a stirring message of determination, hope, and advocacy, providing a unique perspective on political transitions, human rights, and the power of committed social action.

Amish Tripathi is a globally bestselling author of The Shiva Trilogy and the Ram Chandra Series. His books have sold over 7 million copies and been translated into 20 languages. A former finance executive and diplomat (Minister, Culture & Education at the High Commission of India in the UK) and an IIM Calcutta alumnus, he brings a unique perspective to the corporate world. His keynotes focus on history, mythology, and philosophy, translating ancient wisdom into lessons on management, creativity, and governance.

Mariana Atencio is a Peabody Award-winning journalist, former anchor for Univision/national correspondent for NBC/MSNBC, and the New York Times bestselling author of Perfectly You. Her highly viral TEDx talk is one of the top 10 most-watched on YouTube, cementing her status as a global inspirational speaker. Her keynotes provide actionable, tested frameworks for corporate clients like JP Morgan and YouTube on fostering resiliency, belonging, and authentic self-expression in the modern workplace.

Shabana Azmi is one of India's finest actresses, a five-time National Film Award winner, and a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan (2012) and Padma Shri (1988). As a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha (upper house of parliament), she is a highly visible advocate for social justice, gender equality, and HIV/AIDS prevention. Her keynotes draw on her decades of activism and art to inspire action against prejudice and injustice.

Vikram Chandra is one of India's best-known TV news personalities and a technology expert. He is the founder of Editorji Technologies, an AI-driven news startup, and the host of Gadget Guru. A Global Leader for Tomorrow recognized by the World Economic Forum, his talks provide counsel on how organizations can become future ready. He advocates for embracing technologies like AI, robotics, and genomics to manage and lead through a disrupted future.

Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar is the former Director General of CSIR and a Fellow of the Royal Society. He is a pioneer of “Gandhian Engineering” and a global authority on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). He successfully led the legal battle to revoke the US patent on the wound-healing properties of turmeric, pioneering the protection of traditional knowledge. His keynotes share strategic blueprints for innovation, leadership (such as the "Beyonders" program), and translating scientific research into high-yield commercial value.