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Jay Inslee
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After 12 Years in Office, Gov. Jay Inslee Leaves a Legacy of Climate Action and Crisis Leadership
Jay Inslee is a fifth-generation Washingtonian who has lived and worked in urban and rural communities on both sides of the state. Governor Inslee worked his way through college and graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in economics before earning his law degree at Willamette University. He and his wife, Trudi, then moved to Selah, a small town near Yakima where they raised their three sons. Jay worked as an attorney and prosecutor.
Governor Inslee first became involved in public service in 1985 when he and Trudi helped lead the effort to build a new public high school in Selah. Motivated to fight against proposed funding cuts for rural schools, he went on to represent the 14th Legislative District in the state House of Representatives. Governor Inslee continued serving communities in the Yakima Valley when he was elected to Congress in 1992. The Inslees later moved back to the Puget Sound area where Governor Inslee was elected to Congress in 1998, serving until 2012 when he was elected governor. He was re-elected in 2016 and 2020.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s tenure ended in 2025 after three consecutive terms marked by bold leadership on climate change and crisis management. First elected in 2012 after serving in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Washington State Legislature, Inslee joins Republican Dan Evans (1965–1977) as one of only two Washington governors to serve three consecutive terms.
In his 12 years in office, Inslee transformed Washington into a national leader in climate policy, spearheading groundbreaking initiatives like the Climate Commitment Act, which positioned the state at the forefront of clean energy and carbon reduction. Under his leadership, Washington implemented one of the most ambitious cap-and-invest programs in the country, driving investment in renewable energy, green jobs, and carbon reduction efforts that will have a lasting impact for generations. His work was honored with the TIME Earth Award in 2025.
Beyond climate and public health, Inslee’s administration also delivered historic investments in transportation, education, and housing. His efforts led to the passage of Washington’s first long-term care program, expansion of apprenticeship programs, and reforms that increased fairness in the state’s tax system, including the voter-backed capital gains tax. His leadership on homelessness included the successful Rights of Way initiative, which moved thousands of individuals off highways and into permanent housing with critical support services.
Lael Brainard
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Lael Brainard is one of the leading economic policymakers, shaping the financial landscape through her expertise in monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and economic governance. As one of the foremost voices on the U.S. and global economy, Brainard has played a pivotal role in navigating financial crises, guiding regulatory frameworks, and fostering economic cooperation.
As the Director of the U.S. National Economic Council (NEC) from 2023 to 2025, she led the administration’s economic policies on growth, tax, investments in semiconductors and clean energy, labor markets, and trade. Before that, she served on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (FRB) from 2014 to 2023, including as Vice Chair starting in 2022. Throughout her tenure, Brainard was instrumental in shaping U.S. monetary policy, and stabilizing financial markets in cooperation with financial officials in the US and globally.
A seasoned policymaker, Brainard’s experience spans multiple administrations. She has operated at the highest levels of economic diplomacy, including in negotiations with China. She served as Undersecretary for International Affairs at the U.S. Treasury (2009-2013), representing the U.S. in G-20 and G-7 financial negotiations, and was a key player in global economic recovery efforts following the 2008 financial crisis.
Brainard’s global perspective is rooted in her unique upbringing as the daughter of an American diplomat in Cold War-era Poland and Germany. She earned a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University and has held influential roles in academia, including at MIT’s Sloan School of Management and as Director of the Global Economy and Development Program at The Brookings Institution.
Brainard’s contributions to economic policymaking and strategy have earned her widespread recognition, including Treasury’s Alexander Hamilton Award and Harvard’s Centennial Medal. Whether advising presidents, shaping Federal Reserve policy, or guiding international economic strategy, Lael Brainard remains one of the most respected and influential voices in economic policy today.
Amos Hochstein
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Amos Hochstein is a leading national security leader, energy and infrastructure expert, and experienced negotiator. He is also a frequent and highly sought-after public speaker who regularly appears on leading media outlets from CNBC and Bloomberg to CNN and Fox, and is featured in leading publications around the world.
Hochstein was the lead negotiator in securing the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, ending the post October 7th war between Israel and Hezbollah. Previously, he negotiated several global economic and diplomatic agreements including the Israel-Lebanon maritime border agreement, a landmark diplomatic and first of its kind political and economic agreement that resolved a decades-long dispute that also enabled significant investment opportunities in the Eastern Mediterranean.
In his years at the White House, Hochstein regularly met with the leaders of countries around the world from the Arabian Gulf to Asia and Africa on behalf of the President of the U.S.
Dubbed by the Washington Post as the “energy whisperer” or the “energy czar” by others, Hochstein is well known to the global energy, mining and infrastructure sectors. He has held leadership positions in both the private sector and government, shaping the future of energy policy.
In his expansive leadership role, Hochstein played a leading role shaping and negotiating the US global policy on artificial intelligence (AI) and AI infrastructure. Chairing the AI investment taskforce with Saudi Arabia and other countries while accelerating investment in data centers in the U.S. and around the world.
Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall
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Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall has tackled the world’s most pressing global and domestic challenges for four decades. Leading in top public roles, including as White House Homeland Security Advisor and Deputy National Security Advisor (2021-2025), Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Energy (2014-2017), White House Coordinator for Defense Policy, Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, and Arms Control (2013-2014), Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European Affairs (2009-2013), and at the Pentagon as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia (1994-1996), Sherwood-Randall has worked on the most complex and consequential global challenges, participating in the highest levels of international and domestic decision-making. Sherwood-Randall’s expertise spans a broad range of topics that are highly relevant today, including leading through crises, securing critical infrastructure, driving energy innovation, and conducting international diplomacy with both allies and adversaries.
Offering unique insights and unparalleled expertise across a spectrum of issues, from homeland security to national security, Sherwood-Randall presents the threats and opportunities that lie ahead through a compelling insider’s lens. Her work in both the top levels of the American government and with private sector partners highlights her ability to bring innovative solutions to complex challenges. She offers insights on reducing threats, navigating uncertainty, managing emergencies, and making tough decisions under pressure in the media spotlight. With first-hand experience as a defense and energy policy leader, global crisis manager, and proven female executive, Sherwood-Randall has inspired numerous teams to achieve ambitious goals, facing dynamic times with courage, steadiness, and grace under pressure.
Jennifer Granholm
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Jennifer Granholm is an American lawyer, educator, author and politician who served most recently as the 16th United States Secretary of Energy, and previously as the two-term governor of Michigan. As governor, she spearheaded Michigan’s economic recovery after the Great Recession by diversifying the state’s economy to focus on clean energy and revitalizing the auto industry to build electric vehicles.
As Secretary of Energy (2021-2025), Granholm restructured the U.S. Department of Energy to focus on research and development of advanced clean energy solutions and, importantly, deployment of zero-carbon technologies. She oversaw $200 billion of U.S. DOE investments into companies and projects to accelerate the clean energy transition. During her tenure as Secretary, thanks to the policies and laws that she helped to shape, the country saw record deployment of clean energy — adding the equivalent of 30 Hoover Dams of zero-carbon energy to the nation’s electricity grid in 2024, more than twice as much solar power deployed as ever before. Due to incentives to manufacture in America, businesses announced almost 1,000 factories were coming or expanding in the U.S. to build clean energy products -- solar panels, EVs, batteries, small nuclear reactors, clean hydrogen, geothermal and more. Thanks to DOE’s work, the nation’s transmission grid is seeing an 11X expansion of new transmission miles.
During her tenure as Secretary, DOE with its 110,000 employees was ranked among the Top 10 Best Places to Work in the Federal Government. Secretary Granholm was named in 2024 to the "TIME 100 Most Influential People" list, and Forbes’ list of "Top Climate Leaders."
Secretary Granholm taught law and public policy at UC Berkeley from 2011-2020, specializing in clean energy and public leadership. A former Attorney General of Michigan (1998-2002) and an honors graduate of Harvard Law School (1987), she is the author of A Governor's Story: The Fight for Jobs and America’s Economic Future, has penned scores of articles and opinion pieces on clean energy, and continues to play a leading role in shaping America’s energy future. Heralded for her forward-looking insight, Granholm brings a balanced and nuanced perspective sorely needed in today's divisive times.
Sanna Marin
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Sanna Marin is the Former Prime Minister of Finland (2019-2023) and the former leader of the Finnish Social Democratic Party. Appointed at the age of 34, Marin served as the youngest Prime Minister of the world when taking office in 2019. She also made history as the longest-serving woman prime minister of Finland, leading a coalition government entirely headed by women.
During Sanna Marin’s term, she led Finland through the COVID-19 pandemic, and her government implemented many progressive reforms addressing climate change, social justice and equality, including world's most ambitious climate laws aiming for carbon neutrality by 2035 and progressive family leave reform. She helped the country navigate neighboring Russia’s devastating full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and Finland’s rapid joining of NATO – the swiftest entry for any country in the alliance’s history.
Following her term as Prime Minister, Marin joined the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, and specializes in topics of geopolitics, strategic autonomy, climate change, and female leadership. Her new book, Hope in Action: A Memoir about the Courage to Lead, is coming out on November 4, 2025.
Marin has been actively engaged in politics since 2006. She has spoken at Davos AM23, the Lowy Institute, the Munich Security Conference, and for New York University’s 2023 Commencement, among others.
Al Gore
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Al Gore was referred to by TIME magazine as “a businessman who is out to change the world.” An environmental, business, and tech visionary recognized as one of the world's leading activists, Vice President Al Gore offers a unique perspective on national and international issues, including the threats of climate change and the future of tech. He is the Founder and Chairman of The Climate Reality Project, a nonprofit devoted to solving the climate crisis, and a co-founder of Climate TRACE.
Gore is the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers An Inconvenient Truth and The Assault on Reason, the NYT bestsellers Earth in the Balance, Our Choice: A Plan To Solve the Climate Crisis, The Future: Six Drivers of Global Change, and most recently, The New York Times bestseller An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power. He is the subject of the documentary An Inconvenient Truth, which won two Oscars in 2006 - and a second documentary in 2017, An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power. In 2007, Gore was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, along with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, for “informing the world of the dangers posed by climate change.”
Consistently an active leader in technology, Al Gore is uniquely in touch with the opportunities and challenges in charting a new digital society. Vice President Gore’s status as a leader in global politics, technology and business influences his positions as member of the Board of Directors of Apple and a Senior Partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Silicon Valley’s preeminent venture firm. In addition, he is a Founding Partner and Chairman of Generation Investment Management, an asset-management company incorporating sustainability values into the financial-services world.
Ban Ki-moon
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Career diplomat and eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon has spent his eminent career in public service inspiring international cooperation and advocating for human rights and sustainable development. Prior to taking on what has been called “the most impossible job on this earth” at the helm of the UN, Ban served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of South Korea. In his memoir, Resolved: Uniting Nations in a Divided World, Ban chronicles his decade at the helm of the UN mobilizing world leaders around a new set of global challenges. He is the Founder of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens, a non-profit whose mission is to empower women and youth to live in a peaceful and prosperous world. Among the most respected and well-known statesmen of his generation, Ban is sought-after for his gift of transforming his tremendous experience into an inspiring call to action for audiences of all kinds.
Ban has been named a “Top 100 Global Thinker” by Foreign Policy for his achievement of making the Paris Agreement a legally binding treaty less than a year after it was adopted. He has also been named to Forbes list of “The World’s Most Powerful People,” and is a recipient of France’s Legion of Honour. Ban serves as President and Chair of the Global Green Growth Institute, and chairs the Global Commission on Adaptation as well as the International Olympic Ethics Commission. At events worldwide with groups like the World Economic Forum, The Barclays Asia Forum, WE Day, and more, Ban’s sought-after perspective on our most pressing global issues inspires leaders, lawmakers, and global citizens to take action for a healthier, more peaceful, and more equitable world.
Karl Rove
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Iconic campaign strategist Karl Rove is one of the most sought-after political pundits of our time, widely respected for his robust knowledge of major political issues. Rove served as Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush overseeing the Offices of Political Affairs, Public Liaison, Intergovernmental Relations, Strategic Initiatives and as Deputy Chief, the White House Policy process. Before the White House, he ran Rove + Co., a public affairs firm that consulted on over 75 GOP campaigns for Senator, Governor, Congress, and statewide office. Rove writes a weekly op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, appears frequently on Fox News, and is the author of the New York Times bestseller Courage and Consequence and The Triumph of William McKinley. Conservative editor and columnist Fred Barnes called him “the greatest political mind of his and probably of any generation.”
From major international conferences and association meetings to college campuses and corporate events, Rove's shrewd analysis resonates with audiences. Diverse organizations including the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, Sinai Health System, Cigna, Yahoo!, University of North Carolina-Wilmington, and more have sought out Rove as a speaker. Sponsors hosting Rove have reported his remarks "were extremely insightful and very helpful to our industry leaders"(Edison Electric Institute) and "provocative, lively and thoughtful" (Nomura) with audiences" often erupting in applause" (Wabash College) and for presentations praised as "one of the highest-rated" (The TriZetto Group).
Carol Browner
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Former director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy Carol Browner has been at the forefront of the United States’ environmental and energy polices for nearly four decades. As President Clinton’s EPA Administrator, President Obama’s "Energy Czar," and one of six members of President Biden's Climate Engagement Advisory Council during his campaign, Browner has negotiated, developed, proposed, and implemented U.S. policy affecting global energy, environment, public health, and business matters. Today, Browner provides her expertise through dual roles in the business and policymaking arenas and serves as a Senior of Counsel at Covington & Burling, as well as board chair of the League of Conservation Voters. With deep understanding at the intersection of politics, business, and environmentalism, Browner’s expertise on sustainability is unparalleled.
Browner’s voice has been sought by organizations such as KPMG, Capgemini, UCSC’s Panetta Institute for Public Policy, and more. Browner regularly counsels industry leaders in transportation, energy, and consumer product sectors on regulatory matters spanning all sustainability concerns. Browner’s clear insights, deep expertise, and solution-oriented approach to sustainability inspire audiences to build a better tomorrow.
Felipe Calderon
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Former President of Mexico Felipe Calderón is a globally recognized leader in climate action and sustainability transformation. Establishing economic reform as a top priority of his administration, President Calderón’s policies catapulted Mexico into a powerful player in the global economy. Since leaving his post as President, Calderón has focused his leadership and attention on the economic benefits of acting on climate change. In 2022, he was named President of the Environment and Sustainability Commission for the International Automobile Federation. President Calderón was named "Statesman of the Year" by the World Economic Forum, a “Top 100 Influential People in the World” by TIME Magazine, and "Champion of the Earth" by the United Nations. President Calderón has been honored with the Teddy Roosevelt Award for the Environment, the GLOBE Award from the Global Legislators Organization for a Balanced Environment, and the International Star of Energy Efficiency award. President Calderón is a foremost voice in environmentalism and an outspoken proponent of sustainable investment.
Calderón provides actionable steps for both the private and public sector to advance sustainability practices, build consensus, and support business growth. He has hosted and chaired the G-20 Summit of Leaders as well as chaired the UN Conference on Climate Change COP 16, marking a new era of cooperation in this field. President Calderón has provided his insights to hosts such as the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt, SkyBridge Capital’s SALT Conference, Colgate University, Accenture, and more.
Dick Cheney
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Across four decades of public life, American statesman Dick Cheney has served at the highest levels of the U.S. Government and private sector. As White House Chief of Staff in the aftermath of Watergate and America’s withdrawal from Vietnam, Wyoming’s Congressman and a member of the House Republican leadership during the Reagan years, Secretary of Defense as the Cold War ended and America defeated Iraq in Desert Storm, former CEO of Halliburton, and Vice President of the United States on 9/11 at the dawn of the Global War on Terror, Cheney has participated in many of the events that have shaped our nation for over four decades. Few Americans alive today can match the breadth and depth of his experience and service. As a statesman, policymaker, businessman, and politician Cheney’s insight, experiences and knowledge are unparalleled.
Cheney has been recognized by many as the most powerful and consequential vice president in American history, remaining steadfast to the ideals that define him and true to his principles. He continues to shape the future of the energy industry in profound ways as a board member of WellAware, a leading industrial Internet of Things Company that offers data analytics solutions for the oilfield industry. Cheney is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of several books, including his memoir In My Time, Heart: An American Medical Odyssey, and Exceptional: Why the World Needs a Powerful America, which he co-authored with his daughter, Congresswoman Liz Cheney. In his writing as well as in virtual speaking engagements, Vice President Cheney shares his enduring political vision with courage and without compromise.
Mohamed ElBaradei
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For the past two decades, Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei has played a key role in the most high-stakes conflicts of our time. Director General Emeritus of the International Atomic Energy Agency, he offers unparalleled insights from his 12 years at the agency's helm, which earned him and the IAEA a joint Nobel Peace Prize. A prominent voice for peace, freedom and democracy in the Arab and Islamic worlds, he comments on today's most pressing matters such as threats from Iran, Syria, Turkey and North Korea. Audiences look to Dr. ElBaradei to add context to the drastic and often dark headlines we read every day and guides audiences through his vision for stability and peace without terrorism.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
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California’s 38th Governor, Hollywood icon, and philanthropist Arnold Schwarzenegger is known globally for his impact in the worlds of sports, entertainment, environmentalism, and philanthropy. He continues to inspire global audiences as the #1 New York Times bestselling author of two books reflecting on his success: Be Useful: Seven Tools For Life and Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story. Gov. Schwarzenegger’s iconic life story, impeccable presentation style, and insightful takeaways leave audiences buzzing for weeks. The Association of Energy Engineers called him “an excellent speaker with an excellent message.”
Gov. Schwarzenegger champions a wide range of philanthropic causes. He advances solution-oriented policy at the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and environmental innovation at The Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative. His perspective on global issues has been sought by hosts such as the Cardiovascular Research Foundation, the Association of Energy Engineers, and the Zero Emission Conference.
Van Jones
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Van Jones’ honest and poignant social commentary has made him one of the most compelling and powerful public voices in America. A U.S. media personality, New York Times bestselling author, social entrepreneur, and world-class change maker, his reach transcends age, race, geography and political ideology.
A CNN political contributor, Jones is the host of The Van Jones Show, in which he offers his unique take on the future political landscape, and The Redemption Project, which is focused on criminal justice reform. A go-to voice of reason, heralded for his bipartisan, solutions-oriented approach, Jones burst into the American consciousness during the 2016 presidential campaign with an unscripted, truth-telling style and an already established history of bridge-building across party lines.
A longtime progressive activist with deep roots in the conservative South, he has made it his mission to challenge voters and viewers to stand in one another’s shoes and disagree constructively. He pushes people on both the left and the right to be better with experience working with the last four consecutive presidents to sign legislation on issues like prison reform, the green jobs act, and opioid recovery, Jones is a true Washington insider. He is also the author of three New York Times bestselling books, Beyond the Messy Truth, Rebuild the Dream, and The Green Collar Economy, and the host of the Webby Award-nominated podcast Uncommon Ground, where he is on a journey to find unifying solutions to our country’s biggest problems. A dynamic speaker sought-out to speak at financial institutions and college campuses alike, he offers unvarnished and future-looking analysis on politics, policy, climate change, and being a change-maker in a complicated world.
Ron Klain
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Ron Klain was the longest serving first Chief of Staff for any Democratic President (2021-2023). As Chief of Staff to President Biden, Mr. Klain oversaw the Biden-Harris White House staff and served as a member of the Cabinet. President Biden called Ron Klain “a once-in-a-generation talent with fierce intellect and heart.” Mr. Klain has been praised for his bipartisan legislative achievements, a historic focus on judicial nominations, and guiding the White House to an unexpected victory in the midterm elections. A frequent guest on TV news shows, Mr. Klain was a well-known spokesperson for the administration. Mr. Klain was selected for the TIME 100 list of global leaders while serving as Chief of Staff.
Mr. Klain held senior posts in private law practice and spent more than a decade as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Revolution LLC, an investment firm launched by AOL Co-Founder Steve Case in 2005. He is now a partner in global legal giant O'Melveny's Litigation Department and serves on the firm's Executive Committee. In addition, Mr. Klain has devoted many years to public service. He has served as on the Executive Council of TechNet, the Democracy Forward Foundation, and a member of the external advisory boards of the World Economic Forum’s Global Health Security Project and the Ending Pandemics Project. Mr. Klain has worked on eight Presidential campaigns, serving as a top debate preparation advisor to Presidents Biden, Obama and Clinton, and Democratic Presidential nominees Al Gore, John Kerry, and Hillary Clinton.
Lawrence Summers
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An expert on domestic economics and a leading authority on international finance, Larry Summers is one of the most distinguished voices on the issues and policy impacting the global economy. His frequent commentary is regarded as essential input to crafting economic policy, and he has remained for decades a well respected statesman of the American economy.
Prior to serving in the Obama Administration as Director of the National Economic Council, Dr. Summers was 71st Secretary of the Treasury during the Clinton Administration, President of Harvard University, and Vice President of Development Economics and Chief Economist of the World Bank. Dr. Summers’ tenure at the U.S. Treasury coincided with the longest period of sustained economic growth in U.S. history. He is the only Treasury Secretary in the last half century to have left office with the national budget in surplus. During his tenure in the Obama Administration, Larry Summers emerged as a key economic decision-maker and continues to be called upon as the number one resource for the most pressing economic debates of the day.
Matt James
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TV personality, entrepreneur, crypto economy advocate, and activist Matt James is known for his historic role as the first Black male lead on ABC’s The Bachelor, which gave him the opportunity to be a role model for young people and encourage important conversations around racial justice and social change. While pursuing a career in finance and real estate, Matt co-founded ABC Food Tours, which creates experiences for students facing the challenge of food insecurity and adversity at home and seeks to provide opportunities on a larger scale. He is also a minority owner, ambassador, and shareholder in Lettuce Grow, a hydroponic farming company. Matt uses his platform of over 1M followers to foster awareness for food justice and human rights.
In addition to being a fan-favorite TV personality, Matt is a leader in the crypto economy, taking his advocacy work into cryptocurrency, blockchain, and NFTs. Matt is a co-founder of Encrypted Energy, a cryptocurrency mining company that sources clean energy to mine bitcoin. He is also a member of Crypto for Black Economic Empowerment, a collective of the most influential Black crypto and blockchain thought leaders. James is also an owner and supporter of the NFT movement, focusing on artists of color and female creators, and has partnered with crypto marketplace BlockFi to create crypto educational content geared toward women & communities of color and is working with Gemini to develop a financial literacy curriculum. He is a sought-after advisor for several digital media companies on the future of the Metaverse and Web3. He is an avid supporter of the Lebron James Family Foundation, Hack the Hood, and the Getting Out and Staying Out Foundation.
Ambassador Terry Branstad
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Former U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad is the president of the World Food Prize Foundation, and the longest serving governor in the history of the United States. In addition to his role as president of Des Moines University Medical School, his public service includes election to the office of Lt. Governor and three-terms in the Iowa House of Representatives. He is a founding partner of the Branstad Churchill Group, a strategic consulting firm that provides advice, guidance and solutions to organizations, corporate leaders and investors seeking to navigate the complexities associated with conducting business in China and the United States.
During his tenure as U.S. Ambassador to China, Branstad’s two greatest accomplishments included the signing of the historic Phase-One Trade Agreement in January of 2020 and successfully lobbying the Chinese government to stem the flow of fentanyl into the United States. Last year, Branstad was named “Ambassador-In-Residence” at Drake University in Des Moines, where he received his Juris Doctorate. He continues his public service as the national co-chair of the capital campaign to modernize the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum in West Branch, Iowa. Branstad has spoken for groups including KraneShares, the Committee of 100, US Meat Export Federation, National Pork Producers, and more.
Michael Nutter
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Michael Nutter served as the 98th Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, his hometown. He served 22.5 years as an elected official in Philadelphia, serving 14.5 years as a City Council member, and then 2 four year terms as Mayor, leaving office on January 4, 2016 due to term limits.
Mayor Nutter was considered one of the foremost leaders in innovation, tackling challenges of public safety, increasing funding for educating children, revitalizing the economy and spurring economic growth, restoring ethics and integrity to city government, ensuring fiscal discipline and making Philadelphia one of the great green and sustainable cities in America.
Known for keeping an active and engaged schedule as Mayor, Michael Nutter is doing the same as a private citizen. He's a Professor at Columbia University, a Senior Fellow with Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Program, Chair of the Mayors Advisory Board for Airbnb, and holds numerous Fellowships and Advisory positions in academic, political, non-profit and corporate entities. Mayor Nutter is actively engaged in the work of cities and trying to make them work better on behalf of their citizens.
J. Craig Venter
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Craig Venter, Ph.D. is regarded as one of the leading scientists of the 21st century for his numerous, invaluable contributions to genomic research. He decoded the genome of the first free-living organism, a bacterium, as well as fruit fly, mouse, rat, and human genomes, published in Science. Dr. Venter is Founder, Chairman, and CEO of the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), a not-for-profit dedicated to genomic research and the exploration of social and ethical issues in genomics. He is also a co-founder of Viridos, Inc. and Human Longevity, Inc. Dr. Venter currently serves on the Scientific Advisory Board at Bluestar Genomics, a company leading the development of non-invasive early cancer detection. With a keen focus on the intersection of technology and biology, Venter's talks provide a glimpse into the future of healthcare and the possibilities of genetic-driven solutions.
Dr. Venter is also the recipient of numerous honorary degrees, public honors, and scientific awards, including the United States National Medal of Science, the Gairdner Foundation International Award, the Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize, and the King Faisal International Award for Science. Dr. Venter is a member of numerous prestigious scientific organizations including the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Society for Microbiology. His insights have been sought by hosts including Princeton University, PepsiCo, the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, and more.
Joseph McMonigle
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Joseph McMonigle is a leading authority on energy, international business and politics. He is the former Secretary General of the International Energy Forum (IEF), the largest international organization of energy ministers from 72 producing and consuming countries representing 90 percent of the global energy market.
In his role as IEF Secretary General, McMonigle has advised world leaders and energy ministers on how to manage severe shocks to the energy system. In addition, he has been a keynote speaker and moderator at dozens of leading energy conferences to provide guidance on energy markets and transitions.
He is credited with raising the IEF’s visibility on the global stage and helping to promote a more sensible and realistic discussion about energy security, access and affordability in the Global South, climate progress and transitions.
McMonigle also served as the former Vice Chairman of the International Energy Agency (IEA) based in Paris as well as the former Chief of Staff at US Department of Energy (Bush 43).
Today he is the President and CEO of the Global Center for Energy Analysis, an independent organization providing original research and analysis on global energy markets and issues. McMonigle is also Chairman & CEO of Alula Advisors, a management consulting firm headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where he has lived for the last four years.
As a global energy leader, Mr. McMonigle is a frequent speaker at international energy events as well as a commentator for BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, CNN, Financial Times, Reuters, Wall Street Journal, and other media outlets.
McMonigle provides audiences with key insights on global energy markets and policies, lessons learned from the energy transition, insider views of OPEC priorities and actions as well as energy geopolitics. He also has enjoyed a front-row seat to profound economic and cultural changes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and provides audiences with real-time analysis of the modern Saudi Arabia that breaks common misperceptions about the country and region.
Andrew Winston
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Andrew Winston is a globally-recognized expert on megatrends, sustainable business, and how to build companies that profit by contributing to a thriving world. He was ranked #3 on the Thinkers50 list of the most influential management thinkers in the world. Andrew’s books on strategy – including Green to Gold, The Big Pivot, and Net Positive, which was co-authored with legendary CEO Paul Polman – have sold over a quarter million copies in 15 languages. The Financial Times selected Net Positive as one of the Best Business Books of the Year. Andrew writes regularly for the Harvard Business Review and MIT Sloan Management Review. His views on strategy have been sought after by many of the planet’s leading companies, including 3M, DuPont, J&J, Kimberly- Clark, Marriott, PepsiCo, and Unilever. Andrew is a dynamic and inspiring speaker, reaching audiences of thousands at executive meetings globally. He received degrees in economics, business, and environmental management from Princeton, Columbia, and Yale.
Jason Schenker
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Jason Schenker is the President of Prestige Economics and Chairman of The Futurist Institute. He is a top-ranked economist, leading futurist, bestselling author, and in-demand keynote speaker who delivers high-impact presentations on economic trends, financial markets, geopolitical risks, AI, technology trends, and the future of work. Through his talks and research, Schenker helps clients anticipate risks and seize opportunities.
A trusted voice on the economy, financial markets, geopolitics, and technology trends like AI and quantum, Schenker has delivered over 1,200 keynotes for public and private companies, corporate boards, industry groups, institutional investors, and government entities. He has spoken at events hosted by the U.S. Federal Reserve, the London Metal Exchange, the Singapore Exchange, the AFP, AICPA, SXSW, the CIA, and NATO.
Schenker's speeches focus on the economy, financial markets, commodities, supply chain, futurist innovation and technology, artificial intelligence, blockchain, quantum computing, energy and sustainability, geopolitics, demographics, and other trends. He has been speaking and writing on AI, automation, and robots since 2016.
As a prolific thought leader, Schenker has created over 40 LinkedIn Learning courses on AI, economics, finance, and technology taken by 1.3 million students. He is the author of 36 books and 15 #1 bestsellers, including Jobs for Robots, Futureproof Supply Chain, The Future of Finance is Now, Quantum: Computing Nouveau, The Promise of Blockchain, The Robot and Automation Almanac, The Future of Energy, Recession-Proof, The Future of Food and Agriculture After COVID, and The Future After COVID. His next book, Cold War Two, will be released in March 2025.
Bloomberg News has ranked Schenker the #1 forecaster in the world in 27 categories since 2011, including for his forecasts of crude oil prices, natural gas prices, gold prices, industrial metals prices (copper, aluminum, nickel, tin, zinc), the euro, the British pound, the Australian dollar, agricultural commodity prices (coffee, cotton, sugar, soybeans), new home sales, U.S. payrolls, and the U.S. unemployment rate. He is a Forbes contributor, LinkedIn Top Voice, former Bloomberg Opinion columnist, and media commentator on CNBC, CNN, the BBC, and Bloomberg, including as a guest host on Bloomberg Television.
Schenker created a rigorous program for The Futurist Institute that includes courses on The Future of Work, The Future of Transportation, The Future of Data, The Future of Finance, Futurist Fundamentals, The Future of Energy, The Future of Leadership, The Future of Healthcare, and The Future of Quantum Computing.
Schenker is one of the 100 CEOs on the non-partisan Texas Business Leadership Council, the Texas affiliate of the Business Roundtable that advises elected officials of both parties at the state and federal levels. He is a Board Leadership Fellow of the National Association of Corporate Directors and a Fellow of the Energy Institute.
Before founding Prestige Economics in 2009, Schenker was a Risk Specialist at McKinsey and Chief Energy and Commodity Economist at Wachovia (Wells Fargo). He holds master’s degrees in economics, negotiation, and German, and a bachelor’s in history and German. He has been a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) since 2010.
Schenker is currently Adjunct Faculty for the Joint Special Operations University at U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). He is also an Adjunct Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and an advisor to the U.S. State Department and the Foreign Service Institute.
Navi Radjou
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Navi Radjou is a Silicon Valley-based innovation and leadership thinker who has advised senior executives worldwide on breakthrough growth strategies over the past 25 years. A Fellow at Cambridge Judge Business School, Navi has served on the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Previously, he served as vice president at Forrester Research, a leading technology research and advisory firm. In 2013, Navi won the prestigious Thinkers50 Innovation Award – given to a management thinker who is re-shaping the way we think about and practise innovation. He delivered a talk at TED Global 2014 on frugal innovation (over 1.7 million views). Navi co-authored Frugal Innovation: How To Do Better With Less, published by The Economist in 2015, as well as the global bestseller Jugaad Innovation (over 200,000 copies sold worldwide). He is working on his next book Conscious Society: Redefining Who We Are. Reinventing How We Consume, Work, Relate, and Live. He is a sought-after keynote speaker and widely quoted in international media. Born and raised in Pondicherry, India, he holds dual French-American citizenship. He attended Ecole Centrale Paris and Yale School of Management.
Jonathan F. P. Rose
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Jonathan F.P. Rose’s business, public policy and not-for-profit work focus on creating a more environmentally, socially and economically responsible world. In 1989, Mr. Rose founded Jonathan Rose Companies LLC, a multi-disciplinary real estate development, planning, consulting and investment firm. The firm has completed $2.3 billion of transformational work, in close collaboration with cities and not-for-profits. Mr. Rose is a thought leader in a wide range of urban issues, and the development of communities of opportunity. He has received the MIT’s Visionary Leadership Award, The Urban Land Institute’s global award for Excellence and many other awards for his work.
Mr. Rose’s book on how to create resilient cities, The Well Tempered City: What Modern Science, Ancient Civilizations and Human Behavior Teach us About the Future of Urban Life, was published by Harper Wave in 2016, and won the 2017 PROSE Award for Outstanding Scholarly Work by a Trade Publisher.
Mr. Rose is a Trustee of Enterprise Community Partners and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. He is an Honorary Member of the American Institute of Architects and Honorary Trustee of the American Museum of Natural History and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Mr. Rose plays bass and blues harp.
Mr. Rose and his wife Diana Calthorpe Rose are the co-founders of the Garrison Institute and serve on its Board. The Institute connects inner transformation with outer solutions to relieve suffering in the fields of trauma, education and the environment.
Mr. Rose graduated from Yale University in 1974 with a B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy, and received a Masters in Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania in 1980.
Tan Le
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Tan Le is an innovator, inventor & entrepreneur, and is the Founder and CEO of EMOTIV. Born in South Vietnam, Le migrated to Australia as a refugee with her family in 1981. In 1998, Le was named Young Australian of the Year and voted one of Australia’s 30 Most Successful Women Under 30. Le’s story was featured in the ‘Hope’ section of the Eternity Exhibition of the National Museum of Australia. Le has been featured in “Who’s Who in Australia” List since 1999, Fast Company’s Most Influential Women in Technology in 2010 and Forbes’ 50 Names You Need to Know in 2011.
Agnia Grigas
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Dr. Agnia Grigas, is a political economist, author, and speaker. She is a Senior Fellow at The Atlantic Council and an independent consultant based out of Los Angeles. Her three acclaimed books include “The New Geopolitics of Natural Gas” (Harvard UP) and “Beyond Crimea” (Yale UP), which was selected as TIME’s Top-10 book on Russia, and “The Politics of Energy and Memory” (Routledge). She has lectured at Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Columbia, University of Pennsylvania, John Hopkins, Oxford, LSE, and leading business and security conferences. She regularly appears in the media including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Newsweek, Financial Times, Bloomberg, Reuters, Foreign Affairs, CNN, BBC. Agnia earned her Doctorate & Masters degrees in International Relations from University of Oxford, and her BA in Economics-Political Science from Columbia University.
Vivek Wadhwa
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Technology is creating the most exciting innovations the world has ever seen. It is also causing anxiety about our future. Navigating technological change at light speed is much harder if you don't have a trusted Sherpa to be your guide. Vivek Wadhwa has become a globally respected voice on advancing technologies and innovation.
Vivek's background is impressive -- an Entrepreneur, Academic, Author, Keynote Speaker wrapped into a wonderfully vibrant and charismatic package. His research is focused on the critical advances in robotics, artificial intelligence, computing, synthetic biology, 3D printing, medicine, and nanomaterials, and how these advances are creating disruptive changes for companies, industries, governments and the culture at large.
Vivek Wadhwa is a must-see speaker, and leaders come away with concrete insights that they can apply immediately.
Henry Waxman
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Dubbed a "legislative maestro" by Politico for his distinguished work in Congress, Representative Henry Waxman played a leading role in the enactment of major health, consumer protection, environmental, telecommunications and "good government" laws. His tenacity during his 40 years of public service earned him recognition as “one of the most accomplished legislators of our time” by The Washington Post. Rep. Waxman currently serves as Chairman at Waxman Strategies, a public affairs and strategic communications firm. He advises clients on public policy and continues to focus on the issues he championed while in Congress, including health care, environment, energy, technology and telecommunications.
Ron Garan
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Keynote speaker Ron Garan is a highly decorated NASA astronaut, fighter pilot, and active social entrepreneur who believes that appropriately designed and targeted social enterprise can solve many of the problems facing our world.
He is the author of the critically acclaimed book The Orbital Perspective, hosts a popular podcast with the same name, and is currently launching two new books: Railroad to the Moon and Floating in Darkness.
Roy Neel
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Roy Neel has been at the center of some of history's most extraordinary events, and helped deal with some of the country's most challenging crises. He served as Chief of Staff to Congressman, Senator, and Vice President Al Gore, as well as Deputy Chief of Staff to President Bill Clinton. Roy directed the unprecedented, extraordinary Presidential transition for Gore in 2000, through the historic Florida recount. He was campaign manager for Howard Dean's remarkable run for the White House in 2004. As Chief of Staff for Al Gore's highly visible global warming activities, Neel helped found the Climate Project, Gore's program to train thousands of climate change messengers throughout the world. Roy has been a sportswriter, Navy journalist, aerial photographer, and Washington trade association CEO. He is a national authority on Presidential Transitions and White House operations. He is the author of the critically acclaimed thriller, The Electors.
Amy Myers Jaffe
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Amy Myers Jaffe is a leading expert on global energy policy, geopolitical risk, and energy and sustainability. Jaffe serves as executive director for Energy and Sustainability at University of California, Davis with a joint appointment to the Graduate School of Management and Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS). At ITS-Davis, Jaffe heads the fossil fuel component of Next STEPS (Sustainable Transportation Energy Pathways). She is associate editor (North America) for the academic journal, Energy Strategy Reviews.
Ed Begley, Jr.
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When it comes to taking personal responsibility for the environment, few individuals can match the record of actor and activist Ed Begley, Jr. Known for turning up at Hollywood events on his bicycle, Mr. Begley Jr. sits on the board of countless environmental groups and hosts his own TV show, espousing a true belief in the power of “green living.”
Jeremy Rifkin
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Jeremy Rifkin is an economist and bestselling author of twenty books on the impact of scientific and technological changes on the economy, the workforce, society, and the environment. He has been an advisor to the European Union for the past decade and currently advises the European Commission, the European Parliament, and several EU and Asian heads of state. Mr. Rifkin is also the founder and president of The Foundation on Economic Trends, which examines the economic, environmental, social and cultural impacts of new technologies introduced into the global economy.
Daniel Yergin
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Daniel Yergin is a highly respected authority on energy, international politics, and economics. He is Vice Chairman of IHS Markit and chairman of CERAWeek, which CNBC has described as “the Super Bowl of world energy”.
Time Magazine said, “If there is one man whose opinion matters more than any other on global energy markets, it’s Daniel Yergin.” Fortune said that he is “one of the planet’s foremost thinkers about energy and its implications.” The New York Times described Daniel Yergin as “America’s most influential energy pundit.”
Dr. Yergin is the author of several books including “The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power” (Simon & Schuster, January 1991),” for which he received the Pulitzer Prize. His most recent book is “The New Map: Energy, Climate, and the Clash of Nations (Penguin Press, September 2020).”
In 2014, the U.S. Department of Energy presented Dr. Yergin with the first “James R. Schlesinger Medal for Energy Security.” He is a recipient of the United States Energy Award for “lifelong achievements in energy and the promotion of international understanding.”
Dr. Yergin is a director of the Council on Foreign Relations and a trustee of the Brookings Institution. He is a member of the National Petroleum Council and a director of the United States Energy Association. He is a member of the advisory boards of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Energy Initiative and of the Columbia University Center on Global Energy Policy.