2006 Speakers
Bertie Ahern, Taoiseach of Ireland
Ahern has been Taoiseach since 1997. He was re-elected in June 2002, following a general election which saw his party, Fianna Fáil, become the first outgoing government to be re-elected since 1969. He has previously served as Tánaiste; Minister for Finance; Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht; Minister for Industry and Commerce; Minister for Labour 1987-91; Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and at the Department of Defence and as Government Chief Whip. Keynote address, 16.45pm day one.
Nikesh Arora, Vice President, European Operations, Google
Arora is responsible for creating and expanding strategic partnerships in Europe for the benefit of Google's growing number of users and advertisers. Prior to joining Google, he was Chief Marketing Officer and a Member of the Management Board at T-Mobile. While there he spearheaded all European product development, terminals, brand and marketing activities. Keynote address, 12.00pm day one.
Jean-Louis Beffa, Chairman and CEO, Saint-Gobain
One of France's top industrialists, Beffa is synonymous with the success of Saint-Gobain, a global leader in all its business sectors. He has a reputation for competitiveness and innovation being the founder of the Agency for Industrial Innovation. Keynote address, 10.30am and Panel session III: Globalisation and company ownership, 10.45am day two.
Rt Hon Tony Blair MP, Prime Minister
Blair won the seat of Sedgefield in the 1983 General Election. He was promoted to the Shadow Treasury front bench in 1984 and subsequently served as a trade and industry spokesman; Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Shadow Home Secretary. Labour Party leader John Smith died suddenly and unexpectedly in 1994, and in the subsequent leadership contest Tony Blair won a large majority of his party's support. The Labour Party won the 1997 General Election and at the age of 43, Blair became the youngest Prime Minister since Lord Liverpool. Keynote address, 14.15am day one.
Andy Bond, President and CEO, Asda
Bond joined Asda as a marketing manager in 1994, becoming Corporate Marketing Director four years later. He became European Own Label Director for Asda and Wal-Mart Germany for a brief spell before being appointed MD of George at Asda, then MD of Global George, becoming Chief Operating Officer of Asda in 2004 and President and CEO of Asda in March 2005. Panel session III: Globalisation and company ownership, 10.45am day two.
Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer
Brown is the longest serving Chancellor since Gladstone. Under him, the economy has grown steadily, unemplyment has fallen and inflation remains low - no mean achievements. Keynote session, 09.00am day two.
Alex Brummer, City Editor, Daily Mail
Former Financial and Washington Correspondent for The Guardian, Brummer is a world-class journalist and renowned biographer with more than 30 years experience in the media. Panel session III: Globalisation and company ownership, 10.45am day two.
Tim Clissold, Investment Specialist and Author
Tim Clissold has spent the past seventeen years working as a financial adviser and investment specialist in China. In 1989, he and two partners formed a private equity group. Within two years they had grown to a company with 20 businesses and 25,000 employees. By the middle of 1995 they had raised over $400m, making them the largest financial investors in China. He is the author of Mr China. Panel session I: China and India - facing up to the challenge, 10.00am day one.
John Connolly, Chief Executive & Senior Partner, Deloitte
An inspiring leader of one of the UK's leading business advisory firms. Connolly has led the UK firm since 1999. Panel session I: China and India - facing up to the challenge, 10.00am day one.
Tom Crotty, Chairman, Ineos ChlorVinyls
Crotty joined ICI's Agricultural Division in 1979 as a technical salesman. He held various sales and marketing posts within ICI's fertiliser business before joining the plastics business in 1988 as Marketing Manager for Melinar. In 1992 he transferred to ICI Fluorochemicals as Marketing Manager for the newly developed Klea range of ozone benign refrigerants. He became Business Manager in 1994 and Managing Director in 1996. When INEOS purchased the business in January 2001 he became Chief Executive Officer. Panel session II: Energy insecurity, 15.15pm day one.
Evan Davis, Economics Editor, BBC
As the BBC's Economics Editor, Davis is responsible for reporting and analysing economic developments on a range of radio and television programmes, particularly the Ten O'Clock News. Before becoming a broadcaster, Davis worked as an economist for the Institute for Fiscal Studies and the London Business School's Centre for Business Strategy. Panel session I: China and India - facing up to the challenge, 10.00am day one.
Vincent de Rivaz, CEO, EDF Energy
In 1977 de Rivaz joined EDF's centre for external engineering within the International Affairs department and was appointed Executive Vice President, Far East, in 1985. In 1992 he joined the Equipment Division, taking up the post of Executive Vice President for the national hydraulic equipment centre. He was appointed Assistant Director of the International Division in 1995 and went on to become Project Manager of this division in 1996. In 1999 he joined the Finance Division as Operating Vice President before taking up the position of Executive Vice President, Finance Strategy and Operations in 2000. He has been Chief Executive Officer of EDF Energy since 2002. Panel session II: Energy insecurity, 15.15pm day one.
Albert Ellis, Chief Executive, Harvey Nash
Ellis joined Harvey Nash in 1998 as Group Finance Director and become Chief Executive in April 2005. Panel session III: Globalisation and company ownership, 10.45am day two.
Stephen Green, Group Chairman, HSBC
Green is Chairman of the world's second largest bank by market value, a bank that boasts the most extensive branch network of any foreign bank in mainland China. He has the reputation of adhering to the HSBC corporate philosophy, carefully watching costs and emphasising teamwork. Panel session I: China and India - facing up to the challenge, 10.00am day one.
Sir David King, Chief Scientific Adviser, Office of Science and Innovation
Britain's chief scientist, King's opinions are regularly quoted in the media. He issued a stark wake-up call earlier this year that climate change could cause devastating consequences unless the world's politicians take more urgent action. He is also currently Director of Research at the University of Cambridge. Panel session II: Energy insecurity, 15.15pm day one.
Richard Lambert, Director-General, CBI
Former Editor of the Financial Times and the first non-economist member of the Monetary Policy Committee, Lambert took up his CBI post on 1 July this year. Through his MPC role, he met hundreds of businessmen and women around the UK, an element of the job which will stand him in great stead as Director-General. Director-General's closing address, 12.30pm day two.
Anand Mahindra, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra, India
Mahindra joined the Mahindra Group in 1981. He was responsible for the Group's diversification into real estate development and hospitality management and in 1991 was appointed Deputy Managing Director of Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, the country's dominant producer of off-road vehicles. He was a co-promoter of Kotak Mahindra Finance Ltd - now one of the foremost private sector banks in India. He was President of the Confederation of Indian Industry and is a Director of the National Stock Exchange. Panel session I: China and India - facing up to the challenge, 10.00am day one.
Lakshmi Mittal, Chairman and CEO, Mittal Steel
By merging his Dutch-based company Mittal Steel with Arcelor of Luxembourg, the Indian entrepreneur is creating a steel group three times larger than its nearest rival. Mittal's ability to guide his company in its identification, acquisition and turnaround of steel assets, has enabled him to create an empire that spans the globe. Keynote address, 11.30am day one.
Stephen Nelson, Chief Executive, BAA
Nelson has a track record in demanding commercial situations and strong qualities as a leader. He has taken this leadership role a time when the company is well placed to build on the opportunities created by its leadership position in the airport industry. Panel session III: Globalisation and company ownership, 10.45am day two.
George Osborne MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
Osborne was elected to Parliament in 2001 and re-elected with an increased majority in 2005. Prior to becoming Shadow Chancellor, he served as Shadow Chief Secretary and as an Opposition Whip. He chaired David Cameron's leadership election campaign in 2005 and has also served on the Public Accounts Committee and the Transport Select Committee. Keynote address, 11.15am day one.
Henry 'Hank' Paulson, US Treasury Secretary, United States Government
Henry 'Hank' Paulson is America's 74th Secretary of the Treasury - one of the most important jobs in the federal government. Previously Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Goldman Sachs Group, he earned a reputation for candour and integrity as well as being recognised as one of the investment community's steeliest, stealthiest power brokers. Keynote address, 09.00am day two.
James Robbins. Diplomatic Correspondent, BBC
A Diplomatic Correspondent for the BBC since January 1998, Robbins has reported from around the world and helped lead the BBC's television coverage of 9/11. He has charted the course of the global crisis ever since. He was the BBC's Europe Correspondent and Europe Bureau Chief from 1992 until 1997. Panel session I: China and India - facing up to the challenge, 10.00am day one.
Jon Snow, Presenter, Channel 4 News
Snow has been the main anchor of Channel 4 News since 1989. He has hosted a wide range of other news and discussion programmes and high-profile documentaries for Channel 4. He won the Richard Dimbleby Award for his outstanding contribution to the world of news and current affairs at the 2005 BAFTAs and was named Journalist of the Year at the 2005 Royal Television Society TV Journalism Awards. Panel session II: Energy insecurity, 15.15pm day one.
Sir Martin Sorrell, Group Chief Executive, WPP
Sorrell founded WPP in 1986 and has built it into a world leader in marketing communications and Britain's most successful advertising company. He is widely respected throughout the advertising industry, with his words scrutinised and quoted within the marketing sector. Credited by many for maintaining the still independent, vibrant communications industry in the UK. Panel session I: China and India - facing up to the challenge, 10.00am day one.
Sir John Sunderland, Chairman, Cadbury Schweppes
Chairman of one of the biggest international Beverage and confectionery companies in the world with a history stretching back over 200 years, Sunderland was appointed CBI President in May 2004 and was knighted earlier this year. President's address, 09.15am day one.
Martin Wolf, Associate Editor, Financial Times
Upon graduation, Wolf became a Senior Economist at the World Bank. In 1981 he became Director of Studies at the Trade Policy Research Centre in London. He joined the FT in 1987 as Chief Economics Leader Writer and became Chief Economics Commentator in 1996. He was awarded the CBE in 2000 for services to financial journalism. Panel session II: Energy insecurity, 15.15pm day one.
