The Leading Speakers Bureau

Author, Journalist and BBC World Affairs Editor

John Simpson was appointed BBC world affairs editor in 1988 following periods as diplomatic editor and presenter of the Nine O’Clock News. In a BBC career spanning more than 30 years, John has earned a reputation as one of the world’s most experienced and authoritative journalists. He has reported from more than 100 countries across the globe, from 30 war zones, and has interviewed numerous world leaders.

“His remarkable life offers a ringside seat at every major event in recent global history” Amzon.com

[expand title=”In detail”] John has faced many dangerous situations including being shelled in Afghanistan, attacked with poisonous gas in the Gulf and dodging bullets in Tiananmen Square. During his career he has also worked as a correspondent in South Africa, Brussels and Dublin. He has received numerous awards including a CBE in the Gulf War Honours in 1991, three Baftas and an International Emmy award for News Coverage for his report on the fall of Kabul for the BBC Ten O’Clock News.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]He is an accomplished public speaker and enthrals audiences across the world with his lively and entertaining talks and lectures. With over 30 years experience in international journalism he has the ability to cover topics from highly factual and intense World Affairs to more light-hearted and amusing anecdotes from his extensive travels.[/expand]
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Prominent Economist, Futurist and principal economic commentator for The Independent newspaper

Hamish McRae is the principal economic commentator for The Independent newspaper. He is a visiting professor at Lancaster University and a council member of the Royal Economic Society. His latest work focuses on excellence in the world economy, the shift of economic power to Asia and how technology interacts with human capital to shift competitive advantage.

A proven visionary of the global economy

[expand title=”In detail”] He has been a financial and business editor for major national newspapers, and has won several awards for his journalistic work. His most recent award was Business and Finance Journalist of the Year in the 2006 British Press Awards. Currently, he is working on a new book studying how excellence is developed in different economic situations around the world.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Insights into how the world may develop are underpinned by his knowledge of the global economy. He argues that the true wealth of a nation is as much measured by the ability to manage its cultural, intellectual and social resources, as by its economic output. As a result, he demonstrates how strategies can be developed to uphold sustainability.[/expand]
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World Authority on International Business and Corporate Strategy

Gordon Hewitt is widely acknowledged as one of the world’s leading authorities on how to compete and create advantage in dynamic, complex markets. He is presently Adjunct Professor of Business Administration at the Stephen M Ross School of Business, University of Michigan and he consults at Board level for many international corporations.

One of the world’s leading authorities on creating advantage in complex markets

[expand title=”In detail”] Gordon’s interests cover the fields of global competition and the development of new frameworks for creating corporate value and competitive advantage. As a consultant, he has conducted major strategy deployment and educational programs in an extensive variety of corporate environments working with corporations such as IBM, Intel, PwC, AstraZeneca, Microsoft and Credit Suisse.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Through discussing the future of corporate strategy and corporate governance in his presentations, Gordon redefines the challenge of corporate value creation in the context of new competitive realities and advises his audiences on how best to deal with the dynamics of change in business.[/expand]
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One of the Nobel Prize-winning Canadians on the IPCC, Expert on Pandemic Influenza

Dr. Kirsty Duncan is internationally recognized as a leading expert in the area of pandemic influenza, environmental change, and the impact on human health. In 2008, Dr. Duncan was formally recognized as one of the Nobel Prize winning Canadians on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. She is a professor of Health Studies at the University of Toronto and is the current MP for the Liberal Party of Canada in the Toronto riding of Etobicoke North.

“A leading expert on health issues”

[expand title=”In detail”] Kirsty earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Geography in 1993 and went on to gain recognition for her groundbreaking efforts in leading an expedition to uncover the cause of the 1918 Spanish influenza, history’s greatest killer. Amongst her many accolades Kirsty has been nominated for ‘Canada’s Top 40 Under 40’ in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2001. As well as being nominated for the prestigious Order of Ontario in 2000 and 2001, she appeared in the millennium edition of Canada’s Who’s Who in 1999.[/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]In her presentations, Kirsty Duncan describes common responsibilities of corporate social responsibility, and then focuses on crucial global environmental issues and health concerns, and where business can make positive changes to society. She explores emerging threats-such as, the Swine Flu outbreak in Mexico, Ebola hemorrhagic fever in Africa, Variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease in the United Kingdom, and West Nile virus in the United States-the possible reasons for their emergence, and what can be done in the fight against these diseases.[/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]Kirsty Duncan’s emotive and passionate style of delivery is highly inspirational and motivating. Her presentations serve as an excellent tool for decision makers from the world of business. She is also part of our Top Women keynote speakers. [/expand]
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Professor of Global Strategy & Bestselling Author

Pankaj Ghemawat is one of the new generation management gurus who throws new light on corporate behaviour and particularly its global aspect. He is also one of the best keynote speakers of all times. He is currently Professor of Global Strategy at the IESE Business School which is ranked as one of the top 3 business schools in Europe and also writes a blog on global strategy, ‘What in the World’ for Harvard Business Online. He has written several award winning publications on Business Strategy including the bestseller ‘Redefining Global Strategy’.

What our clients say after booking Pankaj Ghemawat:

“Pankaj did really good job. During the event, everyone was dazzled by his performance.”

[expand title=”In detail”] Professor Ghemawat earned his PhD in Business Economics from Harvard University. He then worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company in London before joining the Harvard Business School in 1983. In 1991, he was appointed the youngest professor in HBS’s history and in 2006 he joined IESE. In October 2008 he was appointed Fellow of the Strategic Management Society (SMS). He has received numerous awards including the 2008 Irwin Outstanding Educator Award from the Academy of Management, the first European Business School Professor to receive this award.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you as a keynote speaker”]Pankaj Ghemawat challenges current thinking on globalisation and explains to audiences his controversial theory as to why he believes ‘the world is not flat’ and why we are living in an era of ‘semi-globalisation’. By basing his research on real-world case studies and with a mastery of economic data, Pankaj Ghemawat offers CEOs and business leaders refreshing and effective strategies for sustained business development in today’s volatile economic climate.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents as a keynote speaker”]An astute commentator on global trends and current core competences, Pankaj Ghemawat delivers informative and well balanced presentations which offer essential insights and thought-provoking impulses for today’s decision makers. He is also part of our Most Popular keynote speakers list and Top Indian keynote speakers.[/expand]
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Author & Expert on Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability

Dr. McIntosh is Professor of Human Security and Sustainable Enterprise and Director of the transdisciplinary Applied Research Centre in Human Security (ARCHS) at the University of Coventry. He is founder of the international, transdisciplinary, multistakeholder Roundtables on Sustainable Enterprise and ARCHS’ new MAs in Sustainable Enterprise and Human Security run in partnership with The Eden Project, England; the Sustainability Institute, Stellenbosch University, South Africa; and the UN University, Japan.

Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General’s Global Compact from 2000 to 2005

[expand title=”In detail”] Dr. McIntosh has a PhD from the Department of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford. He was a current affairs film producer and journalist for BBC TV from 1985 to 1995, was the Founding Editor in 1999 and is currently General Editor of the academic Journal of Corporate Citizenship. He is Professor Extraordinary at the Sustainability Institute, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa and was the Founding Chair of envolve.co.uk. He is a Member of the Conference Board’s European Council on Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability; the UK Sustainability Development Commission Panel.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Dr McIntosh shares his significant experience in project management and film-making on corporate responsibility and sustainability with global corporations and institutions including the UN, BP, Shell, BBC, Pfizer, ABB, INSEAD, Harvard, Warwick & the UK Government. In 2007 he was highly commended in the Lifetime Achievement Awards as a Faculty Pioneer by EABIS and the Aspen Institute. He is listed as a ‘social and institutional entrepreneur’ who has ‘created the corporate responsibility movement’ in ‘The Difference Makers’ by Sandra Waddock (2008).[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Malcolm’s invaluable presentations provide analysis and ideas from various sectors. He is also a frequent presenter and facilitator at conferences.[/expand]
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Former Minister of State for Trade & Investment and Former Director-General of the CBI

Lord Digby Jones became Director-General of the CBI in 2000 to serve a five-year non-renewable term of office. In an unprecedented move in 2003 this was extended at the request of CBI members. Having successfully taken the British business message to over 55 different countries he left the CBI in 2006 and joined Deloitte as Chairman of the Deloitte Industries Group and a senior adviser to the CEO. In 2007 he was named by Prime Minister Gordon Brown as Minister for Trade and Investment at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and at the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform, a role from which he recently stepped down in 2008 and was appointed the ambassador for the Government’s National Economic Council.

“The voice of British business”

[expand title=”In detail”] It was in corporate finance and client development that Lord Jones made his name and he was also involved in most of the major management buy-outs and merger and acquisition activity in the West Midlands in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1998 he joined KPMG as Vice Chairman of Corporate Finance where he acted as close adviser to many public companies across the United Kingdom. In 2007 he was created a life peer as Lord Jones of Birmingham.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]In various roles throughout his distinguished career, he has regularly and repeatedly visited businesses around the UK and across the world, taking their views back to those who make the rules. He has appeared regularly on television, radio and in the newspapers, promoting the interests of wealth and job creation in the UK, the rest of Europe and beyond.[/expand]
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Chair of the Global Task Force on Building Women Leaders

Selected in 2002 as one of the World Economic Forum’s Global Leaders for Tomorrow, Lucy Marcus represents a new generation of global decision-makers from business, government, politics and civil society who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in areas as diverse as society, the environment, finance, technology and social responsibility in business. She has been recognised as being at the forefront of market predictions for several years.

Lucy was listed as a “Face to Watch” in Management Today Magazine’s annual list of “Britain’s 50 Most Powerful Women”

[expand title=”In detail”] Lucy is the CEO of Marcus Venture Consulting and High Tech Women. Prior to founding both companies, Lucy was co-founder and Vice President of Marketing and Sales of an enterprise management software company, she was in charge of Marketing and Business Development for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at Infinity Financial Technologies, ran the EMEA operations of a communications consulting company, and worked at Price Waterhouse in the East European Services Division and at the US Treasury’s Economic Policy Division.[/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]An expert on business and finance, and both the new and the old economy, Lucy helps to identify and tackle the most important questions that need to be answered in the ever-changing economic landscape. She helps key players to assess the corporate landscape and find the answer to “What market am I in? How will I win?”[/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]A brilliant and astute speaker on global economic trends and best practices for investment, private equity, venture capital, entrepreneurship, and technology in Europe, Israel and the US, Lucy has spoken in a wide variety of prestigious summits including the World Economic Forum’s European Economic Summit.[/expand]
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Former Canadian Minister of Trade, Canadian Ambassador to the WTO, President Canada China Business Council

Sergio Marchi is a former Canadian politician who served as a federal Cabinet Minister in three different portfolios during his time in government: Citizenship and Immigration, Environment, and International Trade. He was also the Ambassador of Canada to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Office of the United Nations (UN), in Geneva, 1999 – 2004, and a UN Migration Commissioner, 2004 – 2006. He also served as the former President of the Canada China Business Council. Sergio Marchi is an Adjunct Professor at Webster University, in Geneva, where he teaches a graduate course on Globalisation.

“Sergio Marchi is one of the leading voices on global politics and economics”

[expand title=”In detail”] Marchi left politics in 1999 to accept an appointment as Canadian Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation in Geneva. He was subsequently elected unanimously as Chairman of the WTO’s General Council. In the private sector he has fulfilled roles as the Senior Business Advisor, Lang Michener LLP, from 2006 to 2008 and is the Senior Advisor, to the Chairman of a Family-owned International Business Enterprise. He was also the Chairman of the Canadian Services Coalition from 2006 to 2008.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Sergio Marchi informs and engages as he contributes incisive analysis of how organisations and individual leaders can deal with challenges, prepare for a new world and develop a truly global perspective. He brings a trusted, tested international perspective to such issues as the world economy, politics, and globalisation showing audiences how global events resonate locally. An extensive career, both in business and government, puts the Honourable Sergio Marchi in an excellent position to also explain the impressive growth and role of China within the international community.[/expand]
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Serial Entrepreneur and Dragon’s Den Panellist

James Caan is one of the UK’s most successful and dynamic entrepreneurs and built up a multi-million pound fortune from Recruitment. He is the CEO and Founder of Hamilton Bradshaw, a private equity firm which specialises in turnarounds and development opportunities in the UK and Europe. He is also Chairman of the Board of StartUp Loans, a scheme to give the next generation of entrepreneurs the finance and support to potentially start over 30,000 new businesses.

“One of the 100 most influential Asian people in Britain” Asian Power 100

[expand title=”In detail”] In 2007, James was invited to join the panel of the highly popular BBC TV show Dragons’ Den. During his time on the show, James invested in a diverse range of businesses. James founded the Alexander Mann Group in 1985, an executive head hunting firm with a turnover of £300m and operations in 50 countries which he sold in 2002. James also co-founded Humana International growing the business to over 147 offices across 30 countries from 1993-1999. James and his companies have received a number of awards, from BT’s Enterprise of the Year to PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Entrepreneur of the Year.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]James is a highly respected figure in the business world and in particular he understands the challenges facing SME’s and entrepreneurs in the UK today. James has a unique approach to spotting investment opportunities and building businesses by investing in people, he knows what it takes to succeed at the very highest level. He provides talks that are not only inspiring and energetic but most importantly, he draws on his own experiences and leaves his audiences completely motivated. [/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]James is an exceptional and charismatic public speaker. His pragmatic, yet warm and impartial approach appeals to a wide range of people and is regularly in demand for his business insight and advice.[/expand]

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