The Leading Speakers blog

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The World Renowned Interviewer

Sir David Frost is probably the world’s most prominent television interviewer.

In addition to hosting and creating television programmes, he is a publisher, lecturer, impresario and chief executive officer to numerous companies.

Landmark interviews have always featured in his remarkable career. Perhaps the most infamous being the Nixon Interviews, broadcast in virtually every television nation around the world.

“One-man conglomerate.”

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Former Formula 1 World Champion

Damon Hill OBE is a British former racing driver from England. He was the 1996 Formula One World Champion and is the son of the late double Formula One world champion Graham Hill, and is the only son of a world champion to win the title. He retired from the sport at the end of the 1999 season, after 122 race starts. In 2006, Damon Hill became president of the British Racing Drivers’ Club, succeeding Jackie Stewart.

“A living F1 legend”

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Leading Global Futurist and Trend Forecaster

Anne Lise Kjaer is a leading global futurist who has pioneered the concept of Multidimensional Thinking - developing future concepts by analysing scientific research in conjunction with social, cultural, emotional and spiritual shifts in society. Anne Lise has an exceptional eye for ‘the next big thing’ and an original and inspiring way of translating fledgling concepts into viable commercial propositions, working with some of the world’s leading brands.

“The future is not some place we go, but one we create”

In detail

Her experience across markets from food, fashion and furniture to electronics, automotive and retail gives her unique insights and a ‘bigger picture’ approach. Anne contributes to a range of European trends and lifestyles publications and has been featured in the Financial Times, The Sunday Times, The Observer, Times Magazine and on BBC R4 and Question Time and several international television programmes. She is a Copenhagen Goodwill Ambassador and an MD of the Danish / UK Chamber of Commerce.
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Former Director of Marketing for London 2012

As Director of Marketing for London 2012 (the organisation which successfully bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games) David worked with Sebastian Coe to build UK public support for the bid, and sell London’s proposals to the International Olympic Committee around the world. He devised and directed the crucial final presentation in Singapore before the election of the host city. This race has been described as the fiercest competitive pitch of all time

Marketer of the Year (1999 and 2005)

In detail

Co-founder of Go with Barbara Cassani, and also responsible for all their commercial activities, following the MBO his marketing strategies contributed to increasing Go’s value from £100m to £400m in nine months, and David then helped lead the sale of Go to EasyJet, and managed the integration of the two airlines. Before launching Go, David had 10 years experience at major advertising agencies. David is director of Dyson, Glasses Direct, The Property Investment Market and New Moon Television, and has been UK Marketer of the Year twice (1999 and 2005), and Advertising Age’s Global CMO of the Year (2006).
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President and Chief Executive Officer of Forbes

Steve Forbes is President and Chief Executive Officer of Forbes and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes magazine. Forbes Magazine is recognised as one of the world’s leading business magazines and combined with Forbes Asia and the company’s eight local language editions reaches a worldwide audience of over five million readers. Mr. Forbes writes editorials for each issue of Forbes under the heading of “Fact and Comment.”

“A widely respected economic prognosticator”

In detail

In both 1996 and 2000, Mr. Forbes campaigned vigorously for the Republican nomination for the Presidency. Key to his platform were a flat tax, medical savings accounts, a new Social Security system for working Americans, parental choice of schools for their children, term limits and a strong national defense. Mr. Forbes continues to energetically promote this agenda.
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Editor-in-chief, Wired Magazine

As editor-in-chief of Wired magazine, Chris Anderson is one of the most knowledgeable and articulate voices at the centre of the new economy. He has written an exciting new book that defines an entirely new economic model for business. ‘The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More’ explores the tremendous business potential of the long tail—the rise of the niche as a powerful new force in our economy.

“Anderson’s insights with the Long Tail continue to influence Google’s strategic thinking in a profound way.”
Eric Schmidt, CEO, Google

In detail

Before taking the helm at Wired, Chris worked at The Economist for seven years in various positions in London, Hong Kong and New York, ranging from Technology Editor to US Business Editor. He also served as an editor at the two premier science journals, Science and Nature. Education background: physics, including research at Los Alamos.
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Former Director of Communications and Strategy for Tony Blair

Alastair Campbell is best known as a journalist and former Director of Communications and Strategy for former Prime Minister Tony Blair. He was a key figure behind Mr Blair’s rise to power and was often described as “the real Deputy Prime Minister”. Mr Campbell also played a key role in drafting the Government dossier on Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction, the Hutton Report, which has been the source of much media interest lately.

“In the extraordinarily difficult and wearing world of the modern media, he operated with tremendous skill and dedication.”
Tony Blair

In detail
Alastair, son of a Pennine vet, read modern languages at Cambridge before entering journalism. His career in the media began to flourish when he became political editor of the Daily Mirror. During this time he was one of then Labour leader Neil Kinnock’s closest advisers. Mr Campbell resigned to become spokesman for Tony Blair, then leader of the opposition. With the Labour election victory in 1997, he became the Prime Minister’s chief press secretary, setting up a formidable Whitehall machine to put over the government’s views and try to control the news agenda.
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Musician and Co-organiser of Band Aid and Live Aid and Live 8

November 25, 1984 was an historic day for Midge Ure and all of pop music, as 36 artists by the collective name Band Aid gathered at SARM Studios in West London under Midge’s production. They recorded Do They Know It’s Christmas?, a song he had just written with Bob Geldof as the industry’s heartfelt and eloquent contribution to Ethiopian famine relief. The unstoppable emotion engendered by the project led to Live Aid, the summer 1985 global concert that, all exaggeration aside, spoke for a generation.

“An artist who has received Ivor Novello, Grammy, BASCAP awards along with a flotilla of gold and platinum records, needs very little introduction”

In detail

Midge organised the Live 8 concerts with Bob Geldof, with the aim of pressuring G8 leaders into following his recipe for ending world poverty. In 2005 he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to music and charity.
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Fund Management Guru

Nicola Horlick is a fund management guru and the CEO of Bramdean Asset Management. Nicola has worked in the fund management industry for over twenty years and has participated in the growth of some of the UK’s premier asset management businesses which, amongst much else, offers ‘Bramdiva’ - a financial wealth management service which caters specifically to women.

“A leading fund management guru”

In detail

Nicola joined SG Warburg as a graduate trainee in 1983, before moving to Mercury Asset Management a year later. In 1991, she joined Morgan Grenfell as Director of the UK pension fund business and became Managing Director in 1992. Over the next four years, funds under her management rose from £4bln to £22bln. After leaving Morgan Grenfell, Nicola took six weeks out to write her autobiographical account, revealing the real woman behind the headlines. In 1997, Nicola co-founded the UK arm of Societe Generale Asset Management (SGAM), pulled in £2.5 billion worth of investment for SGAM and also took time off to have her sixth child.
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Humanitarian, Super-model, Actress and Entrepreneur

Elle MacPherson is one of the most recognizable super models in the world. Perhaps best known for her record of six covers of Sport’s Illustrated’s highly anticipated Annual Swimsuit issue. Time magazine ran a cover story on her career entitled The Big Elle in 1986. In addition to making her mark in the world of business, Elle is also a successful actress having starred in Sirens, Batman & Robin and The Edge and also guest starred in sitcom Friends. She enjoyed worldwide success with her own sell out calendars in 1992, 1993 and 1994 and the Your Personal Best The Body workout video that was voted the year’s best by Billboard magazine in 1995.

Throughout her 25 year career, Elle has been a prominent figure in fashion, film, television and business.

In detail
Transcending the traditional career path of the super model, in 1989 Elle established her own company, Elle Macpherson Intimates in Australia. As Chairperson, she has piloted the company and today Elle Macpherson Intimates is considered one of the most highly recognizable fashion lingerie brands in all markets. More recently Elle was appointed on the Board of Directors of Hot Tuna Surf overseeing design, management and strategy.
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