The Leading Speakers Bureau

Former EU Commissioner & Authority on EU, Latin American and Caribbean Business Relations

Benita Ferrero-Waldner is a diplomat, politician and business woman. She is the President of the European Union-Latin America and Caribbean Foundation (EU-LAC Foundation) which was created in 2010. The Foundation aims at transforming the strategic partnership between the EU, Latin America and the Caribbean. A career diplomat, she has been Secretary of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs in her native Austria and Commissioner of the European Union.

“A leading figure on Europe’s policy making and international relations”

[expand title=”In detail”] Benita Ferrero-Waldner has a doctorate in Law from the Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg. Her career highlights include Head of Protocol to the Secretary General of the United Nations and President of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Today, she is a member of the Board of Directors of the German insurance company Munich Re. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Príncipe de Girona Foundation, a member of the Bertelsmann Foundation and of the think tank Fundación para las Relaciones Internacionales y Diálogo. She has received numerous decorations from countries around the world including the 2010 Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash for Services to the Republic of Austria.[/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]In her presentations Benita Ferrero-Waldner provides valuable insights into European issues, international trade and particularly Europe’s business relations with Latin America and the Caribbean. Her advice is well received by decision makers from all fields.

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[expand title=”How she presents”]Thanks to her outstanding leadership qualities and extensive experience in international policy making and the global business scenario, Benita Ferrero-Waldner is a highly sought-after commentator at prestigious conferences around the globe. [/expand]

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Senior Cyber Crime Advisor at PwC

Charlie McMurdie is an acknowledged cyber-crime and security expert. She has a proven and highly acclaimed reputation for generating strategic direction and delivery of operational capability to confront the impact of cyber-crime whilst proactively utilising and responding to emerging technologies which fuel it. Charlie is the Senior Cyber Crime Advisor at PwC and currently advises and leads for PwC on a range of global strategic and operational cyber security programmes.

“An internationally acclaimed authority on cyber security”

[expand title=”In detail”] Completing almost 32 years’ service in the Metropolitan Police retiring at the rank of Detective Superintendent, Charlie is an individual who has breadth of vision, innovation and credibility as demonstrated in establishing and building the Police Central e-crime Unit, a world class cyber-crime capability and the national cyber-crime investigative and enforcement body in the United Kingdom. In addition Charlie is an internationally acclaimed authority and advisor on issues within government and industry in relation to the Internet, communication technology, computing and security sectors.[/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]Charlie is an effective ambassador and negotiator with refined interpersonal and influencing skills who led UK policing on a range of strategic programmes and sensitive partnerships. Her tremendous comprehension of all the criteria influencing cyber security offer decision makers from all fields the most complete analysis of this topic.[/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]A distinguished, experienced speaker and highly respected expert, Charlie McMurdie provides excellent and useful inside knowledge on the topic of cybercrime and security. [/expand]

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Expert on Strategy in Uncertain and Volatile Environments

Rita Gunther McGrath, a Professor at Columbia Business School, is a globally recognized expert on strategy in uncertain and volatile environments. Her thinking is highly regarded by readers and clients who include Pearson, Covidien, Coca-Cola Enterprises, General Electric, Alliance Boots, and the World Economic Forum. She is a popular instructor, a sought-after speaker, and a consultant to senior leadership teams. She was recognized as one of the top 10 management thinkers by global management award Thinkers50 in 2013, and won the award for outstanding achievement in the strategy category.

[expand title=”In detail”] She’s also been recognized as one of the top ten business school professors to follow on Twitter, and was named one of the 25 smartest women to follow on Twitter by Fast Company magazine. In 2009, she was inducted as a Fellow of the Strategic Management Society, an honor accorded those who have had a significant impact on the field. She serves as Dean of the Fellows. Rita McGrath appears regularly on television and radio and is often cited in the press. She maintains an active blog and is featured as a discussion leader at Harvard Business Online. Rita’s academic publications have appeared in leading journals. She is a member of several editorial boards of prestigious journals.

Rita is an exceptional instructor and is highly valued for her ability to challenge executives’ assumptions and provoke fresh thinking. Her extensive experience with companies all over the world, make her a unique resource for organizational leaders. Rita takes complex topics and makes them understandable and applicable. Her presentations are extremely informative, full of examples, case studies and questions which prompt lively discussions. Her handouts, tools, and slides enhance her classes tying academic research to actionable takeaways. [/expand]

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One of the World’s Leading Style & Retail Experts

Kinvara Balfour has become a leading web expert and an authority on everything from fashion and beauty to food and retail culture, having worked in almost every area of the fashion industry. She has contributed to The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, Vogue, Sunday Times Style, The Observer, ES and Quintessentially magazines. She has sat on the British Fashion Council’s prestigious London Fashion Week selection committee and, for several seasons, compiled much of their official literature.

“Kinvara shares her views on consumer & product trends of the future”

[expand title=”In detail”] After university, Kinvara Balfour worked as Fashion Assistant and then Features Writer at Tatler. Her appointment as Style Editor at the Saturday Telegraph Magazine followed, where she gained a reputation as one of London’s most instinctive style writers. Having won the Lloyd’s Bank Fashion Challenge out of 29,000 entries at 16, she began her career assisting the competition’s judge, Vivienne Westwood, in her design studio. Several years at Tomasz Starzewski followed, alongside a spell as a fashion model. Three years later she was awarded the role of London Editor for daily email phenomenon DailyCandy.com. A cult hit in USA, this was to be DailyCandy’s first international edition, and she launched it to mass acclaim. In addition, she trained as an actress at Central and has written two plays.[/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]Fashion trend hunter, Kinvara Balfour advises today’s culture-conscious brands on what is happening in the world of fashion, beauty and style, both physically, on the catwalk and most famously, on the web. Her topics extend well beyond the field of fashion – she speaks on subjects ranging from youth markets to recognising trend changes and leading brand strengths. Today she hosts trend presentations and consultations around the world. Having consulted some of the largest global retail brands, she offers an edge as sharp as any Samurai sword; her insights translate into profits for clients. [/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]Kinvara Balfour is an articulate and informative speaker with an impressive knowledge of what is happening in the world of style, fashion and beauty. Her sense of humour and charming character serve her well, she is an intelligent and very likeable individual with an infectious enthusiasm.[/expand]

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Former Model, Entrepreneur, Campaigner, Activist and Speed Ski World Record Holder

Heather Mills’ many roles have taken her around the world to remote and dangerous places. Her message is simple: never give up. She recounts tales of her varied and interesting life and draws them back to business matters. Heather worked in war-zones as an activist and London as a businesswoman and model until 1993 when, having returned from war-torn Yugoslavia, she was involved in a road accident. She lost her left leg, crushed her pelvis, her lung was punctured and her family were told that she would die. Since that date she has continued to campaign but has also become a global ambassador for high-achieving amputees, winning Gold medals and holding world records in adaptive speed skiing.

“Heather has made a real difference to families, communities, countries and to our world” Hillary Clinton

[expand title=”In detail”] Heather is an activist charity campaigner, philanthropist and United Nations Association Goodwill Ambassador who campaigned for over 15 years to raise funds and awareness to rid the world of landmines. Her charity work as an Ambassador for the global landmine campaign helped raise over $18.5 million and her team became the largest funder of landmine clearance in the world. Heather has appeared both as a guest and as a presenter and journalist on countless TV shows and channels including Larry King Live, Oprah Winfrey and the BBC.[/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]Activist, campaigner, ambassador, medal-winner, wife and mother – Heather has worked and lived under a number of labels with one core focus: overcoming adversity. With an outstanding perseverance and dogged commitment, Heather’s work and perseverance serve as an inspiration to many. She offers audiences the opportunity to see for themselves the difference one person can make to the quality of lives of thousands of people around the world. She demonstrates the courage required overcoming the odds and how her determination has motivated her over the years.[/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]Heather is a shining example of how a positive attitude can overcome adversity. She has the power and ability to instil enthusiasm and positive thinking into others and her attitude is contagious. Her ability to address a wide range of audiences has taken her as a guest speaker to meetings all around the world.[/expand]

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CEO and Founder of BBES International

Bisila Bokoko is a pioneering and truly inspirational business leader. Founder of BBES, a boutique business development firm, she serves a wide range of markets and industries with particular focus on gastronomy, fashion, lifestyle, arts and culture. Passionate about what they do BBES has a laudable success establishing global partnerships/alliances. As the former Executive Director of the Spain-US Chamber of Commerce in New York, she has developed and cultivated relationships with foreign Heads of State and International business leaders a fact which has made her one of the ten most influential Spanish women in the American business.

“Leadership does not mean command, but inspire”

[expand title=”In detail”] Bisila earned two Master’s degrees in International Relations and Business and a Law degree from Universidad CEU San Pablo. She has a true passion for creatively harnessing the cooperation and power of the business community to achieve sustainable change. She works closely with EMPRETEC, a UN program to empower women in emerging and developing countries. Bisila is also the founder and chairperson of The Bisila Bokoko African Literacy Project, non-profit organization whose mission is to promote literacy among the African people.[/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]With 15 years of experience as a catalyst for change and structuring strategic partnerships, creating and forging new opportunities for organisations in NY and across the globe, Bisila has proven to be an effective powerhouse as a global brand ambassador, spokesperson and business developer

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[expand title=”How she presents”]An experienced speaker at conferences the world over, Bisila has a unique presence and charisma and provides invaluable business insight to events. Bisila tailors each presentation to precisely suit each individual client.

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International Human Rights Advocate

Bianca Jagger is an International Human Rights Advocate. She has campaigned for over 20 years to expose atrocities against civilian populations throughout the world. In 2004 Bianca Jagger received the World Achievement Award from President Gorbachev for her Worldwide Commitment to Human Rights, Social and Economic Justice and Environmental Causes.

“Bianca Jagger is a model of what it means to be a concerned world citizen” William Shulz, Executive Director, Amnesty International

[expand title=”In detail”] Bianca Jagger was born in Nicaragua, educated in France, and is the embodiment of loyalty not to one country or region but to the globe itself and to the welfare of all its citizens. She is a Council of Europe Goodwill Ambassador, Chair of the World Future Council and Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation, and a member of the Director’s Leadership Council of Amnesty International US.[/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]She urges audiences to be more aware and proactive against the social injustices forced upon their fellow man; emphasizing her belief that one person can make a difference. Bianca Jagger is a constant traveller to the most remote countries of the globe on missions of justice and mercy and a devoted environmentalist,[/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]Bianca Jagger inspires audiences as she recounts the experiences that have changed and shaped her life. [/expand]

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Former Head of MI5

Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller headed MI5 from 2002 to 2007, leading the organisation though substantial change in the wake of 9/11 and the growing threat from Al-Qaeda. MI5 doubled in size, opened eight new offices and altered its approach to the professional development of staff with the establishment of a training academy. In 2008 Eliza Manningham-Buller became a cross-bench Peer and a Governor of the Wellcome Trust.

“An expert on Leadership and Change Management”

[expand title=”In detail”] Earlier in her career, Eliza led the Service’s investigation into the Lockerbie bombing. She served in Washington during the first Gulf war, returning to establish MI5’s intelligence effort against the Provisional IRA in mainland Britain. She joined the board and over time assumed lead responsibility for work on Irish terrorism, surveillance, technical collection, finance and IT – becoming Deputy Director General in charge of intelligence operations in 1997.[/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]Eliza is an experienced speaker and seminar leader on platforms around the globe, an effective performer with a clear and valuable message. She speaks authoritatively on all aspects of leadership – great leaders, leadership development, and strategic leadership.[/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]Renowned for being thought provoking and dynamic, Eliza brings a clear and invaluable perspective to this most current of topics.[/expand]

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Former Director General MI5

Dame Stella Rimington DCB was formerly Director General of the Security Service (MI5). In her controversial autobiography, ‘Open Secret’, she recites entertaining stories of disguises and spying, and stamping documents with the word ‘Secret’ to tempt Russian agents. While with MI5, she led on counter-espionage and work against terrorism. A policy of greater openness was pursued so that the Service’s responsibilities were clearer to the public.

“Impressive exemplar of fortitude and success”

[expand title=”In detail”] Dame Stella worked in all the main fields of the Security Service’s responsibilities – counter-subversion, counter-espionage and counter-terrorism – becoming successively Director of all three branches. She was appointed Director General of MI5 in 1992, the first woman to take the post and the first Director General to be publicly named. Dame Stella received a DCB, Dame Commander of Bath, in 1995. She was a non-executive director of Marks and Spencer Plc from 1997-2004 and of BG Group from 1997 until May 2005. She was also an Associate Director of CPS, where she provided executive coaching and mentoring.[/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]Exploring the relationship between leadership and management, she unveils strategies that you can successfully apply to the ever-changing work environment. Her proven capability of gathering intelligence, while balancing risk and security, provides tremendous business analogies for you to draw on.
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[expand title=”How she presents”]Her sharp mind and great sense of humour ensure that serious points are brought to you in an absorbing way. Her straightforward approach and friendly manner are combined with an informed and intelligent view. She tailors her speech and is happy to take questions.[/expand]

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Digital Pioneer & Founder of ipsy

Michelle Phan is a digital pioneer, who trail-blazed her way in the world of fashion and beauty on YouTube. With a growing global community of over 7.5 million, Michelle’s videos have been viewed more than 1 billion times, making her one of the most watched talents in the digital space. She is an award-winning content creator, and was recently honoured with the first-ever Streamy ICON award and the 2015 People’s Voice Webby Award for Best How-To and DIY Channel. Michelle has also been on Forbes 2015 30 Under 30 list in the category of Art and Style and Inc’s 30 Under 30 Coolest Entrepreneurs of 2015.

“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to TRY”

[expand title=”In detail”] Michelle’s career started from the comfort of her home, filming a simple makeup tutorial that inspired the online makeup tutorial phenomenon. She has been creating inspirational make-up tutorials since 2006 and has created over 200 make-up tutorials in that time. The very personification of an Entrepreneur and New Media Maven, Michelle promises to continue her meteoric rise on multi-platforms and raise her brand awareness further into the pop cultural conversation. In 2014, Michelle released her first book, ‘Make Up: Your Life Guide to Beauty Style and Success – Online and Off’. The book is packed with Michelle’s trademark beauty and style tutorials, stories and pictures from her own life and advice on the topics she is asked about most.[/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]Michelle shares with her audiences, her experiences of how to build a successful brand, offering first-hand advice on the challenges of developing new businesses and openly discusses the highs and lows and the importance of social media and marketing strategies. [/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]Michelle Phan is an enthusiastic speaker, full of energy and positivity, who inspires and motivates audiences around the globe offering an added-value experience to each event[/expand]

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