The Leading Speakers Bureau

Formula One Presenter and Former Formula One Racing Driver

David Coulthard is one of the most successful British drivers in the history of Formula One. Currently F1 co-presenter and sporting pundit, David is also one of the AMG Mercedes C-Class drivers for DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters). David joined Red Bull Racing in 2005 and announced his retirement from F1 in 2008 after his fourteenth F1 season, with 13 grand prix victories including two at Monaco. David is consultant to Red Bull Racing and also acts as an ambassador for Mercedes-Benz.

“One of the Greatest British Car Racing Drivers”

[expand title=”In detail”] David was the first ever recipient of the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award for young drivers. With McLaren, he took his new team’s first win in three seasons at the 1997 Australian Grand Prix. In all, he scored 12 of his 13 grand prix wins and 51 of his 62 podium finishes with McLaren, and, after supporting team-mate Mika Häkkinen to the drivers’ championship in 1998 and ’99, he finished runner-up to Michael Schumacher in 2001. He amassed a large points haul and is sixth on the all-time scorers list, being the top British scorer. A successful businessman, David formerly owned a hotel in Monte Carlo. [/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Drawing upon his successful career as one of Britain’s top F1 drivers David offers audiences great insights into the strengths and challenges of an F1 driver. Using parallels from his time spent on and off the track working with prestigious teams, he offers invaluable lessons in teamwork and leadership, to empower individuals achieve their goals. An analytical and strategic professional, David uses a mixture of stories and anecdotes from his career to passionately challenge and inspire audiences. [/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]A charismatic and engaging speaker, David’s high octane speeches are delivered with an eloquent clarity as you would expect from a world class winning champion, combined with infectious humour.[/expand]
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Institute Professor & Former Director at the CIA

John Deutch is an Institute Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has been a member of the MIT faculty since 1970, and has served as Chairman of the Department of Chemistry, Dean of Science and Provost. He has published over 140 technical publications in physical chemistry, as well as numerous publications on technology, energy, international security, and public policy issues. John Deutch has served in significant government and academic posts throughout his career.

“Successful innovation only occurs when technical, economic, and social considerations are integrated”

[expand title=”In detail”] In 1995, he was sworn in as Director of Central Intelligence following a unanimous vote in the Senate, and served as DCI until December 1996. In this position, he was Head of the Intelligence Community (all foreign intelligence agencies of the US) and directed the Central Intelligence Agency. From 1994 to 1995, he served as the Deputy Secretary of Defense and from 1993 to 1994, served as Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisitions and Technology. He received the Greater Boston Federal Executive Board’s Speaker Thomas P. O’Neill Award for exemplary public service in 2002, the Aspen Strategy Group Leadership Award in 2004, and he was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 2007. He is a member of the National Petroleum Council and the Defence Science Board.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]In his presentations John Deutch brings his academic training and government experience to cover topics as diverse as world security, technology and energy.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]John Deutch is an engaging and insightful communicator. His presentations are an in depth analysis of technology, political and social issues masterfully delivered for audiences around the globe.[/expand]
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Innovative British Game Designer & Inventor, Design Manager at LEGO, Creative Lead LEGO Games at LEGO System A/S

Cephas Howard is a game designer at the forefront of current trends. He had always dreamed of working for LEGO. The opportunity at LEGO arose at a time when Cephas was actively looking to self-publish two of his own games. He had quotes from manufacturers, he had a website, he had business cards; and then he saw an advertisement for the job at LEGO and events took an entirely unexpected turn. He applied for the position and landed the job based on his past portfolio, his enthusiasm and ideas, and what was perhaps a true meeting of minds with his future bosses.

“….have a belief in yourself and your ideas, and the ability to convince others and make believers of them also” Cephas Howard

[expand title=”In detail”] Cephas Howard’s career includes being Senior Concept Designer at Lego System A/S, Commercial Design Manager at The Guardian and Observer, and commercial design manager at Guardian News and Media pursuing a professional design career within the publishing industry before embarking on his childhood dream of designing games.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]The inventor of Lego’s build-your-own board games (he worked on the project for three years in a secure lab in the basement of the company’s headquarters in Billund, Denmark), Cephas Howard is extremely open and generous in sharing his experiences and insights, thereby allowing us all a glimpse of the remarkable development program undertaken at LEGO. Actively encouraging us to change the board or the dice, to break the rules; to not just play the game, but to play with the game, he explores groundbreaking new and innovative ideas in his invaluable presentations.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Cephas Howard gives the impression of a man both utterly undaunted by concerns and incredibly eager to get going. In his entertaining and captivating presentations, he explains that designing, refining and experimenting with games should be every bit as much fun as playing them.[/expand]
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21st Century Indiana Jones, Award-winning International Investigative Reporter & Broadcaster

Oliver Steeds is an explorer and investigative journalist. He’s presented critically acclaimed series in the US, UK and worldwide for Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, BBC World and Channel 4. He’s the youngest of the world’s 50 Most Extraordinary Pioneers alongside living legends like Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Buzz Aldrin. His news reports feature on Channel 4, ABC & al Jazeera. He is regarded as one of the most influential and pioneering explorers of his generation.

“Part Indiana Jones, part Jason Bourne, part Woodward & Bernstein” Discovery Channel

[expand title=”In detail”] Oliver Steeds’ adventures have seen him live with tribes of cannibals, walk 1250 kilometers across the Gobi Desert for his survival, go in search of the Ark of the Covenant, Atlantis and the Lost City of Gold ‘El Dorado’, escape from the People’s Liberation Army after being chased across the Shangtu Grassland, run six consecutive marathons across the Sahara to raise money for Lupus, get jailed on trumped up charges of espionage in a number of different countries, escape from Devil’s Island, try to hunt down the Amber Room (the most valuable piece of missing art in the world), have horses stolen by rustlers, hunt with stoned Mbuti Pygmies in the lawless Congolese Ituri, retrieve video tapes from a kidnapped family in Nicaragua, and even lead a Royal Geographical Society Expedition to research the Grass Silk Road.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Described by the Radio Times as delivering “Hardest hitting reportage” and formerly a producer at ABC News, Olly presents adventure, historical, tribal and scientific programming worldwide. For him, there’s no story that’s off-limits. Regarded highly in his industry, he has chaired numerous conferences and seminars on investigative reporting, broadcast journalism and filming in hostile environments. Having travelled to over 100 countries, he shares his experiences of living with over 15 different tribes, highly charged and full of incredible anecdotes.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]The founder of iNOMAD, Oliver Steeds specializes in investigating the under-reported. He is a representative of the new generation modern, media savvy, high tech, digital adventurer. With With humility, openness and humour, Oliver combines his unique life experience with his award winning communication skills to wake up and shake audiences around the world, ensuring they can empathise whilst being both entertained and inspired.[/expand]
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Asia Economist, ASEAN Strategic Affairs, Director & CEO-Centennial Asia Advisors, Singapore

Manu Bhaskaran has spent nearly 30 years analyzing political and economic trends in Asia, first working for the Singapore government in the area of regional security and then for 12 years as Chief Economist and Chief Strategist for Asia of SG Investment Bank, the international investment banking arm of Société Générale. He has also developed excellent personal contacts with policy makers as well as business leaders in Asia. He is a leading figure in a number of economic institutions.

“Manu Bhaskaran is a well-regarded commentator on Asian financial & economic affairs”

[expand title=”In detail”] Manu Bhaskaran has a Masters degree in Public Administration from the John F Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a Bachelors degree in economics from Cambridge University. In addition to these, he has also qualified as a Chartered Financial Analyst. He has penned columns for the Far Eastern Economic Review and continues to have regular columns in business weeklies such as the Nikkei in Japan. He has also served as a Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, a Singapore think tank. Although he left service with the Singapore government in 1989, he has continued to participate in several governmental initiatives. He is a Council Member of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs which advises the Singapore Foreign Ministry. Manu joined Centennial Group in 2002.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Heading the Centennial Group’s strategic advisory work in developing Asia and leading the group’s economic research practice, which provides in-depth analysis of Asian macro trends for investment institutions, governments and companies with interests in Asia, Manu Bhaskaran is ideally positioned to provide unique, on-the-ground assessments of the Asian macroeconomic environment for business executives trying to weigh-up the risks and rewards of investing across different countries in Asia. He is a frequent speaker on Asian issues at major conferences such as the World Economic Forum. His strength is in being able to look at countries from an overall perspective, rather than looking at them as individual economies.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]With experience from close to 30 years working at the highest levels in both the financial sector in South and Southeast Asia and government service in Singapore, leading Asian economist, Manu Bhaskaran delivers highly informative and astute presentations at prestigious events worldwide.[/expand]
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President, Stradbroke Advisors, Leading Digital Media Strategist & Venture Capital Investor

Inma Martinez is the President of Stradbroke Advisors, a corporate advisory and fund-raising firm based in London. She is the Co-Founder & Former Chief Executive of Escape Velocity, a 3i-funded AI software company in the early days of mobile services. She has been described by Fortune and TIME magazines as one of Europe’s top talents in Human Factors and Social Engagement through technology. Combining her academic background with that of finance, technology and entrepreneurship has allowed her to bring to organisations a broad and creative vision, an active attitude towards problem-solving and an approach to innovation that empowers companies and increases shareholder value.

Inma is considered one of the few evangelists of the new economy

[expand title=”In detail”] Inmaculada Martinez has a PhD in American Literature and has developed her professional skills in international government agencies such as the UN, global financial institutions and technology companies. After holding senior level positions in Goldmans Sachs and the telecommunications sector, Inma founded and led her first entrepreneurial venture in 1999 and continued to co-found and lead at the helm two other companies, the latter one in Finland, as a mandate for 3i Ventures. In less than 18 months she successfully grew the business from start-up to a fully fledged company and achieved the global technology launch for its prime clients, NOKIA and HP in 2006. She is an advisor to SPORT ENGLAND for their Innovation Investment Fund.[/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]Inma offers great insight into innovation technologies and the transformation of technology. She is a profound believer in technologies that reduce man’s alienation when confronting technical complexities. She supports very strongly the concepts of brand-value, and the respect for human “illogical thinking processes” whenever new applications come to market. She is also regularly invited to industry conferences as a speaker on mobile and web technologies, as well as on entrepreneurial issues such as growth, funding, selling technology products to consumers and how the social web is transforming corporations. Working across a wide variety of projects, she considers herself fortunate and honoured to have been directly involved in the emergence of many of today’s digital technologies (Web 2.0, Mobile, Wifi, Blogs).[/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]An experienced speaker and conferences moderator Inma is relaxed, enthusiastic and a quick witted communicator. In her presentations her passion for new media and the future of technology is clear and apparent. Her energy and strength come from her love for her work and her familiarity with learning and hard work.[/expand]
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Former Editor of TIME Magazine’s European & Asian Editions & Author

Donald Morrison is an author, lecturer and Editorial Consultant at Donald Morrison LLP. He writes for TIME, The New York Times, The Financial Times, The International Herald Tribune, Corporate Board Member and Smithsonian magazines, as well as Port, a London-based monthly for which he is European Editor. He has written and edited in every department of TIME’s U.S. edition in New York City.

“Donald Morrison is an insightful speaker & highly skilled moderator”

[expand title=”In detail”] Donald Morrison holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and the London School of Economics, as well as an advanced certificate in wines and spirits from the U.K. Wine & Spirit Education Trust. A Visiting Fellow at Tsinghua University, he has taught at New York University in London and at Tsinghua University in Beijing. His book on the Obama presidency is scheduled for publication in late 2011 or early 2012. In a long career at TIME Magazine, he was Editor of the weekly’s Asian edition in Hong Kong and Co-editor, with his wife Ann Morrison, of its European edition in London.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Donald Morrison has been a speaker and moderator at conferences for such organizations as the World Economic Forum and UNESCO. He entreats us to think about the meaning of culture and universalism in the 21st century and also offers a delicious glimpse into a relationship that never ceases to fascinate, that between the US and France.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Donald Morrison is a respected speaker and moderator, who has skillfully addressed prestigious events worldwide.[/expand]
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Vice-President of Inditex, Former CEO of Iberia Airlines & Mercedes Benz Spain

Carlos Espinosa is a renowned commercial expert & state economist. He is currently Vice President of Inditex, one of the world’s largest fashion retailers and advisor to Acciona S.A., a Spanish conglomerate dedicated to engineering, construction and infrastructure. Carlos Espinosa was President and CEO of Daimler Chrysler Spain and Chief Executive Officer for Mercedes Benz Spain for more than 20 years.

“A key figure in Spanish business & politics”

[expand title=”In detail”] He has held several high profile positions including Sales Director and Vice-President of the National Institute of Industry in Spain and President of Iberia and Aviaco airlines. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the International Air Transport Association and President of the Businessmen Circle of the Spanish Association of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers and of the International Organisation of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers. Carols was Professor of Economy at ICADE, a member of NATO’s “Wisemen Group” for the analysis of European industry and consultant at the CEE for the study of the future of the aeronautic industry. He worked for the Spanish Government as Spanish Commercial Aggregate in Chicago and became the first president of Bodegas Gónzalez- Byass who wasn’t a member of the González family. [/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]One of the key figures who have shaped the Spanish business and political landscape in recent years, Carlos Espinosa addresses in his highly sought-after presentations the analysis of the Spanish economy, the internationalisation of businesses and the current sociopolitical environment. With almost 40 years experience, he has seen the positives and negatives in business and management and provides useful advice how to be less vulnerable to the crisis, how to position yourself effectively in different markets and the development of strategic sense for SMEs.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Carlos Espinosa is a powerful and informative orator with excellent communication skills.[/expand]
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