The Leading Speakers Bureau

The 1st President of the European Parliament & Former French Minister, Holocaust Survivor

Simone Veil is arguably the one person most responsible for advancing women’s legal rights in France. She served as Minister of Health under Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, President of the European Parliament and member of the Constitutional Council of France. Very few figures in French politics enjoy the support of people from all political spectrums. Yet this is certainly the case with Simone Veil, a woman with an unquestionable moral aura. Beyond her political commitment, Simone Veil’s career path is highly symbolic of the complexity of post-war French history.

In 2005 she was awarded with the Prince of Asturias Award in International Cooperation

[expand title=”In detail”] Having obtained her baccalauréat in 1943 before being deported, Simone Veil began the study of law and political science at Sciences Po. A survivor from the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp where she lost part of her family, she is the Honorary President of the Fondation pour la Mémoire de la Shoah. She was elected as a Member of the European Parliament in the 1979 European election. In its first session, the new Parliament elected Veil as its President, which she served as until 1982. She was elected to the Académie française in 2008. She has received honours from the governments and organizations of France, the Ivory Coast, Spain, Morocco, Germany, Greece, Venezuela, Italy, Belgium, Israel and the United States.[/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]In France, throughout Europe, as well as the rest of the world, Madame Simone Veil is acknowledged as one of the world’s most courageous, powerful and influential people, admired for her political and personal courage. She owes her popularity to her undeterred resolve, in particular when faced with the horror of the Nazi deportation camps. She has yet again taken up a new challenge: ensuring that the memory of the past and the duty to remember don’t hamper her faith in the future. Her career inspires awe at the extent of her contributions.[/expand]

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[expand title=”How she presents”]Simone Veil is a remarkable woman who has seemed to be “inhabited by the absolute”. Her personal courage served as an example for a country that needed to regain faith in itself and her presentations are unforgettable and very powerful. Her political, legislative and social power is real and honoured. She is remarkable for the openness, modesty and humility with which she fields questions and ponders the future of women in France, in Europe and in the world.[/expand]
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Director of Liberty & One of the UK’s Leading Human Rights Campaigners

With an international reputation as a human rights campaigner, Shami Chakrabarti was appointed director of Liberty, the National Council of Civil Liberties, in 2003. A frequent contributor to radio and The Independent newspaper on civil liberties, she was named the second most inspirational political figure in the 2006 Channel 4 Political Awards, coming second to Jamie Oliver, beating Tony Blair, David Cameron, George Galloway and Bob Geldof. She was also named in the top ten of a poll run by the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme to find out ‘who runs Britain’, and awarded the Lloyds TSB Asian Woman of Achievement Award in 2005.

“Fundamental rights and freedoms belong to all the people”

[expand title=”In detail”] London-born Shami worked as a barrister at the Home Office before joining Liberty in 2001, where she has campaigned against counter-terrorism legislation and spoken out about ID cards, incitement to religious hatred and ASBOs. Recently appointed a governor of the London School of Economics, Shami sits on the Advisory Board of the British Institute of Human Rights and the Executive Committee of the Administrative Law Bar Association. She is the Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University.[/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]Shami Chakrabarti seems to be one step ahead of the rest of us and is one of the most important voices for civil liberties today. Since becoming Liberty’s Director she has written, spoken and broadcast widely on the importance of the post-WW2 human rights framework as an essential component of democratic society.[/expand]

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[expand title=”How she presents”]Shami Chakrabarti provides a highly informed view that is both entertaining and effective.[/expand]
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US Sales Guru, Leadership Expert

Brian Tracy is one of America’s leading authorities on the development of human potential and personal effectiveness. He is a dynamic and entertaining speaker with a wonderful ability to inform and inspire audiences toward peak performance and higher levels of achievement.

A dynamic and inspiring speaker

[expand title=”In detail”] Brian has a B.Comm., M.A. and is the Chairman of Brian Tracy International, a human resource company with affiliates throughout America and in thirty-one countries worldwide. Prior to founding Brian Tracy International, Brian was the chief operating officer of a development company with $265 million in assets and $75 million in annual sales. He has had successful careers in sales and marketing, investments, real estate development and syndication, importation, distribution and management consulting. He has conducted high-level consulting assignments with several billion-dollar corporations in strategic planning and organizational development.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Brian Tracy shows audiences how to make quantum leaps in productivity and performance. His key messages are:
. Manage more effectively and get better results
. Increase sales and sales management performance
. Think and plan strategically for greater effectiveness
. Master the changes caused by information explosion, technological advances and competitive pressures.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]His talks are fast-moving, informative, enjoyable and entertaining. Brian has a wonderful ability to customise each talk for his particular audience. He presents a series of great ideas and strategies with a rare combination of fact, humour, insights and practical concepts that audience members can apply immediately to get better results.[/expand]
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Former Head of the Singapore Economic Development Board

Tan Chin Nam is the chairman of the Media Development Authority of Singapore, which is responsible for developing and promoting the country’s film, broadcast, print, and publishing industries. He is also the chairman of the board of Temasek Management Services, and a director of Stamford Land Corporation, Yeo Hiap Seng, and PSA International.

“Singaporean economic expert”

[expand title=”In detail”] Tan Chin Nam spent 33 distinguished years in the Singapore civil service and has held top leadership positions at the National Computer Board; the Economic Development Board; the Singapore Tourism Board; National Library Board Singapore; the Ministry of Manpower; and the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Arts. He was conferred an Honorary Doctor of Letters Degree by the University of Bradford, UK and an Honorary Doctor of Engineering Degree by the University of Newcastle, Australia. He has received many medals, awards, and fellowships from the National Trades Union, the computing sector, and the travel sector.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Through his experiences as at the Singapore Economic Development Board Tan Chin provides an invaluable source of information and insights into the Singaporean and Asian economic models.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Tan Chin’s speaking style coupled with an incisive understanding and enlightened capacity to explain and discuss Asian issues has contributed to his high popularity and reputation.[/expand]
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Successful Entrepreneur and One of the First Dot Com Millionaires

Ben was one of the first .com millionaires after developing a search technology called Pulsar. Currently he is MD of The Rainmakers, which is an innovations and corporate venturing company. In 2007 Ben joined Brightstation Ventures a VC fund with $100m to invest, Ben is currently involved in a large number of start-up companies such as GoDine the restaurant booking service, a graduate recruitment company called Brave New Talent and he has just launched Freetricity that takes advantage of the UK governments feed in tariff scheme to provide solar power for free. Ben has advised both the UK and US governments, multinationals and global academic institutions in technology and trends. He also headed up technical and environmental investments and due-diligence for the Rotch Property Group who has over £1 Billion in asset management.

“A pioneering entrepreneur”

[expand title=”In detail”] Ben started his first business in 1995 on his 15th birthday making him at that time the youngest company director in the UK. He won ‘New Business Millennium Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ in 2000 and was reportedly worth £18.3m in the 2001 Sunday Times Rich List. Ben has also appeared on television numerous times, including the much acclaimed Channel 4’s Secret Millionaire. Ben is currently living in the US and involved in a number of US start ups.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Ben advises audiences on a wide range of business topics especially the emergence of new technologies. His business insights including his challenges and triumphs will inspire audiences to achieve success in their own companies.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]A true professional, Ben prepares meticulously for all events and engages audiences with his passion, humour and subject knowledge.[/expand]
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Economist and Professor of the University of Tokyo

Takatoshi Ito is a Professor at the Graduate School of Economics and the Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Tokyo. He has taught extensively both in the United States and Japan, including at University of Minnesota, Hitotsubashi University, Columbia Business School and Harvard University. He served as Senior Advisor in the Research Department, IMF and as Deputy Vice Minister for International Affairs at Ministry of Finance, Japan. The national Medal with Purple Ribbon was awarded to him in June 2011.

“A renowned expert in the Asian Financial Crisis

[expand title=”In detail”] He has contributed frequently to Financial Times and Nihon Keizai Shinbun. He was President of the Japanese Economic Association in 2004. He served as a member of the Prime Minister’s Council of Economic and Fiscal Policy from 2006 to 2008. He has distinguished academic and research appointments such as President of the Japanese Economic Association in 2004; Fellow of Econometric Society, since 1992; Research Associate at National Bureau of Economic Research since 1985; and Faculty Fellow, Centre for Economic Policy Research since 2006.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]In his presentations he shares his extensive knowledge in areas of international finance and Japanese economy, particularly in the area of capital flows and currency crises, microstructures of the foreign exchange rates, and inflation targeting.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]His speaking style coupled with an incisive understanding and enlightened capacity to explain and discuss global issues has contributed to his high popularity and reputation.[/expand]
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Founding Dean of College of Environmental Science Peking University

C.S. Kiang is the Founding Dean of the College of Environmental Sciences at Peking University. Currently, he is the CEO of Sustainable Development Technologies and Vice Chairman of Global Urban Development. He is a Councilor of the World Future Council, a member of the Advisory Board of the Climate Change Capital, a member of International Council of Asia Society and a member of the Global Agenda Council of Climate Change of the World Economic Forum among other roles.

“Climate change is an unprecedented crisis for humanity”

[expand title=”In detail”] Professor C. S. Kiang received a B.S. in Physics from National Taiwan University and PhD in physics from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He spent more than 30 years in the United States, where he worked at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the School of Geophysical Sciences, Georgia Tech, and other institutions. Throughout his academic career, Dr. Kiang has played a very active role in assisting China in the development of a modern and sustainable economy.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Prof. Kiang explains to his audiences around the world how his vision is to set up the basic infrastructure for the development of leadership in sustainable development, exploring the world impact of what China can do for the world in the 21st century.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]His speaking style coupled with an incisive understanding and enlightened capacity to explain and discuss global issues has contributed to his high popularity and reputation.[/expand]
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Multi-Award Winning Violinist

Nigel Kennedy is a multi-award winning and world-wide renowned skilful violinist. For over twenty-five years, he has been acknowledged as one of the world’s leading violin virtuosos and is, without doubt, one of the most important violinists Britain has ever produced. He made his reputation with Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. More recently he has concentrated on composing and more pop influenced work.

“He is the best selling classical violinist of all time”

[expand title=”In detail”] During his career Nigel Kennedy has undertaken countless international tours, performing with the world’s major orchestras and conductors, from Europe to the United States to Australia. Major debuts have included London’s Royal Festival Hall, the Berlin Philharmonic, his New York orchestral debut in 1987 and his 2004 French debut. His passion is jazz. He has a jazz quintet in Krakow, Poland, where he lives forpart of the year. He has attracted an enormous amount of worldwide media attention throughout his extraordinary career. His television appearances have been wide and varied and he has given numerous public and private performances for members of the British royal family.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Nigel’s virtuoso technique, unique talent and mass appeal have brought fresh perspectives to both the classical and contemporary repertoire. His strength is his remarkable sensitivity in caressing a melody to life.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Nigel is almost as well known for shunning classical-music traditions, his expletive-strewn “mockney” language and his shambolic attire, as he is for his fabulous, if sometimes controversial, interpretations of classical music.[/expand]
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Innovative Management Expert and CEO of Semco SA

Ricardo Semler is the CEO and majority owner of Semco SA, a Brazilian company best known for its radical form of industrial democracy and corporate re-engineering. Mr Semler has been Vice President of the Federation of Industries of Brazil and a member of SOS Atlantic Forest, Brazil’s leading environmental defence organisation. In 2003, he founded the Lumiar School, a democratic school where children aged from 2-10 learn only about things that interest them.

“Global Leader of Tomorrow” – World Economic Forum

[expand title=”In detail”] Mr Semler’s innovative business management policies have attracted widespread interest around the world. TIME featured him among its Global 100 young leaders profile series published in 1994 while the World Economic Forum also nominated him. The Wall Street Journal America Economia, the Wall Street Journal’s Latin American magazine, named him Latin American Businessman of the Year in 1990 and he was named Brazilian Businessman of the Year in 1990 and 1992.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Known around the globe for his innovative, employee-centric management style, Ricardo Semler is a true visionary who advises businesses on how they can significantly improve performance by restructuring relationships with their people. He has been profiled in more than 200 magazines and newspapers, including a special edition of Time highlighting future world leaders and speaks regularly to business schools, businesses and groups to promote his philosophy of industrial democracy. He talks in depth about his innovative, employee-centric management style, and offers organisations practical advice on how they can significantly improve performance by restructuring relationships with their people. [/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]A brilliant communicator and inspirational individual, his presentations invariably spark creative and productive thinking about how to lead and manage.[/expand]
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Former CEO of Tesco, and One of the Most Respected Business Leaders in Europe

Sir Terry Leahy was the Chief Executive of Tesco PLC from 1997 until his retirement from the position in March 2011. Sir Terry transformed Tesco from a follower into the number one supermarket in the UK and the third biggest in the world. A creative leader, he has developed a reputation for his willingness to take risks on new products, store formats and lines of business. Sir Terry now works in Private Equity and invests in entrepreneurial businesses, and has taken the first role of his post-Tesco working as a part-time ‘senior adviser’ to US private equity firm Clayton Dubilier & Rice, helping them out with their investments.

“The Customer Must Come First”

[expand title=”In detail”] Sir Terry joined Tesco in 1979 as a Marketing Executive, was appointed to the Board of Directors in 1992 and by the time he was 40 he had worked his way up to become Chief Executive in 1997. In March 2008 he was nominated by Retail Week as Retail Leader of the Year. From 2005 to 2010 he was voted as Britain’s Most Admired Leader by Management Today and in 2004 he was named European Businessman of the year by Fortune Magazine. In 2010 he received the Daily Telegraph’s Award for a Decade of Excellence in Business a Lifetime Achievement award from Director Magazine and was voted Business person of the Year by the Sunday Times.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Sir Terry explains to audiences the importance of knowing what the different jobs entail, what consumers are buying and what people want. He shows how through creative leadership he enabled Tesco to successfully take risks on new products, store formats and lines of business, including expanding the company’s non-food product line.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Highly modest and intensely private, Sir Terry Leahy provides fascinating insights and shows why he is Britain’s most admired business leader and retail expert.[/expand]
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