The Leading Speakers Bureau

Technology, Urbanization and Education Advisor

Ayesha Khanna is an education, technology and urbanization expert with over 15 years of experience in product and service innovation and human capital development. She is Chairman of Technology Quotient, a company that operates technology platforms to train skills and facilitate job creation. She is also the Founding CEO of The Academy, an innovative enrichment hub. Previously, she co-founded the Hybrid Reality Institute, a research and advisory group that analysed emerging technologies and their social, economic and political implications.

“A leading expert on our intelligent future”

[expand title=”In detail”] Ayesha advises companies and governments on smart city related strategies and investments, most recently focusing on education and innovation hubs. Her clients among others have been: JP Morgan, AIG, DTCC and Bank of America. She has a BA in Economics from Harvard University, an MS in Operations Research from Columbia University and is completing her PhD at the London School of Economics. She directed the Future Cities Group at the London School of Economics and has been a Faculty Advisor at Singularity University. [/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]Ayesha’s vast expertise on the intersection of technology, business and education helps audiences understand what is to come in the future. She shares with audiences how technologies disrupt and transform society, business and government.[/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]Ayesha sees the world with a different set of eyes and she is very practical in putting new ideas into practice. Her unique background and experience allow her to engage her audience. [/expand]

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Forecaster and Urban Planner

Dr. Anthony Townsend is an internationally renowned urban planner and expert on smart cities. He is Senior Research Scientist at New York University’s Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management where he investigates the impacts of mobile information services and communications on travel behavior and long-term shifts in mobility demands in megacities and the impacts of both trends on transportation planning and policy analysis. He is also a Fellow at the Data & Society Research Institute, a New York City-based think/do tank focused on social, cultural and ethical issues arising from data-centric technological development. In 2013 he founded the urban design and planning consultancy Bits and Atoms LLC of which he is the President.

“Leading expert on the implications of new technology for cities”

[expand title=”In detail”] Anthony holds a Ph.D. in urban and regional planning from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a master’s in urban planning from New York University and a B.A. in urban studies from Rutgers University. From 2005 to 2014 he was a research director at the Institute for the Future, an independent research organization based in California’s Silicon Valley, where his work focused on cities, innovation and technology-led economic development. Prior to this he was Research Assistant Professor at New York University and Director of NYCwireless. [/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Anthony analyses the impact of new technology on cities and public institutions and the role of technology in economic development. He speaks frequently around the world on the smart city industry, government service innovation and technology innovation systems and is active in international future research networks.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Highly inspiring and thought provoking, Anthony’s remarks are of great interest for decision makers from all over the world. [/expand]

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Executive Director of Social Progress Imperative

Michael Green is Executive Director of the Social Progress Imperative. Michael is the co-author of ‘Philanthrocapitalism: How Giving Can Save the World’ and ‘The Road from Ruin: A New Capitalism for a Big Society’.Michael has worked in aid and development for nearly twenty years. He was a senior official in the British Government where he worked on international finance, managed UK aid to Russia and Ukraine, served three Secretaries of State as head of the communications department at the Department for International Development, and oversaw £100 million annual funding to non-profits.

“A renowned Social Progress expert”

[expand title=”In detail”] It was through his role in government that he saw the rising influence of the philanthrocapitalists in the fight against poverty.An economist by training, as a graduate of the University of Oxford, Michael taught economics at Warsaw University in the early 1990s under a Soros-funded programme. During his time in Poland, Michael was also a freelance journalist working for, among others, Polish Radio and the Economist.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Michael Green is a forthright economic commentator who offers insightful knowledge and accurate predictions on how to deal with the big economic trends in the world, with a particular interest in how capitalism can better serve people and planet. [/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Skillfully highlighting crucial issues and trends, Michael Green’s presentations are engaging, informative and always well received.[/expand]

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Authority on Asia & Global Affairs

Kishore Mahbubani is currently the Dean and Professor in the Practice of Public Policy at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKY SPP) at the National University of Singapore. Before this, he served in the Singapore Foreign Ministry from 1971 to 2004, where he was Permanent Secretary from 1993 to 1998. In 2010, Prof Mahbubani was named by Foreign Policy in November 2010 as one of the top 100 Global Thinkers.

“A gifted diplomat, a student of history and philosophy, a provocative writer and an intuitive thinker”

[expand title=”In detail”] Prof. Mahbubani graduated in philosophy from Singapore and Canada and served as a Fellow of the Center for International Affairs in Harvard University from 1991 to 1992. The Foreign Policy Association Medal was awarded to him in New York in June 2004. He was also listed as one of the top 100 public intellectuals in the world by Foreign Policy and Prospect magazines in September 2005 and was featured in the Financial Times list of Top 50 individuals who would shape the debate on the future of capitalism.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]As a career diplomat, a writer and a scholar, Kishore Mahbubani has vast experience working at highest political level around the world. In his presentations he offers invaluable advice to organisations on the challenges facing China and Asia as well as Asia’s role in the global economic landscape.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]An accomplished speaker, Prof. Mahbubani’s presentations are seamlessly put together and loaded with useful insights and ideas.[/expand]

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Bundeswehr Test Pilot & Management Coach

Rolf Estrugo Eckstein is a fighter jet and cargo plane test pilot for the German Bundeswehr. He tests new aircrafts and systems to provide the best and safest aircrafts for pilots. As a management consultant he advises companies and organisations from a wide range of businesses on crew resource management, how to create high performance teams and the importance of creating a security culture. He has also created an innovative three step Team Resource Management program for organisations.

“A top management coach
and human performance trainer”

[expand title=”In detail”] After studying aviation at Aachen University, Rolf started his career as a jet pilot on tornado jets. He was part of the fighter bomber squadron 32 and was a Eurofighter test pilot. Following that, in 2009, he was trained at the Empire Test Pilot School in England and earned a degree as a Test Pilot, category 1. Since then he has piloted many aircraft types and has more than 2000 hours of practical experience, most of them jet aircrafts, being the leader of great teams.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Rolf combines scientific information from psychology, behavioural science and aviation and draws from his long term experience in military aviation to create a unique concept. Using clear examples from his professional career, Rolf explains how to benefit from all resources teams offer to achieve goals.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Highly informative and entertaining, Rolf’s presentations are well received by a wide range of companies, keen to learn about security, risk management and creating high performance teams.[/expand]

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Challenger, Entrepreneur, Record Breaker, Motivational Speaker

Richard Noble OBE succeeded against all the odds when his Thrust Supersonic Car went supersonic. Richard specialises in developing high risk ventures which currently include projects such as the ARV Super2 light aircraft, the Atlantic Sprinter Blue Riband contender, Programme Funding, an original television funding company, and the last, Farnborough Aircraft, which is creating the first point to point taxi aircraft.

Richard excels in project management – from conception to completion

[expand title=”In detail”] Richard founded the original Project Thrust in 1974. His Thrust 2 programme which brought the World Land Speed Record back to Britain in 1983 and the Thrust SSC first ever supersonic land speed record programme are the best known. In 1997, Richard achieved the seemingly impossible, his newly designed Supersonic car broke first the land speed record, and later that same year broke the sound barrier with Andy Green as one of the top RAF pilots on the steering wheel.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Richard’s presentation features motivation, challenge, the essential will to win through to success and features the stress, pressure and struggle of the latest project. The idea is to inspire the audience to realise that their true potential is likely to be way ahead of their current levels of personal ambition and to encourage original thought, action and to understand true teamwork.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Richard’s thought provoking presentations are filled with the details of his daring exploits and are presented at a fast pace whilst featuring amazing video footage. [/expand]

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Habit Manager, Author & Power Speaker

Torben Wiese is a very powerful speaker on the importance of change, why it’s difficult – and how you do it. Why does the brain love habits, which types of habits are there and how do you make every employee think as a leader, break their habits and reach higher goals? Torben has more than 30 years experience on change, sales, leadership and management and has during workshops, educations and power speaks reached and motivated more than 170.000 people. In Denmark Torben was elected the second most motivating speaker and his style is energetic, provocative, funny and activating

“If your horse is dead, get off”

[expand title=”In detail”] Since Torben left business school he has been working within sales, service and motivating both customers and employees. He knows how both private and public companies think and work and is highly able to put his finger where the challenge is – and help you solve it. For 13 years he was sales director, senior partner and co-owners in one of the biggest Scandinavian consulting companies and since 10 years ago he became founder and owner of Habitmanager. [/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Torben Wiese has been both a facilitator and speaker for more than 20 years. He takes his starting point in your meeting, situation and wishes, and at the same time speaks to both the employee as well as the private person which gives a fantastic energy, passion and dedication and makes everybody want to break habits and bend fish (be present, think as leaders and use the present moment valuable) to reach higher goals.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Torben’s infectious charm, smile and energy will meet your audience within seconds. Not leaving, but expanding, your comfort zone in a very motivating way, you will be roused into action by spot on examples form both work and private life examples tailored to meet exactly your wishes and needs.[/expand]

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Top Racing Driver & the Original “STIG” from BBC’s Top Gear

Perry McCarthy is one of Britain’s top racing drivers and is already part of motor racing folklore. Perry’s 10-year fight to reach the sport’s elite paid off in 1992 when he was chosen to drive for the fledgling Andrea Moda Formula One organisation. The dream however turned into a nightmare as the team stumbled from one disaster to the next and in recent years he has turned his attention away from Grand Prix to Le Mans and the demands of Sports Prototype racing.

“His ability to grab everyone’s attention and make them laugh has ensured that we book him on a regular basis”
David Ingram – Audi PR Manager

[expand title=”In detail”] In 2002 he was actually co-presenter with Damon Hill of the Sky TV digital F1 coverage – a shame it was such a boring season of F1! More recently, for the past two years he was the mysterious character The Stig on BBC’s Top Gear program, the identity of whom baffled many viewers for a long time.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Perry McCarthy uses his experiences as a top international racing driver to deliver highly entertaining speeches for numerous blue chip organisations.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]His bubbly personality and sense of humour make him the number one choice in his field for a broad range of corporate communication requirements.[/expand]

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First Female Winner of Paris-Dakar Rally (2001)

Jutta Kleinschmidt is the most successful woman rally driver ever, “the Dakar Queen”. She created motor sport history with her triumphant victory in the 2001 Paris-Dakar Rally and, at the same time, blew away the myth that men are the best drivers. Since then, awards and honours have poured in for the charismatic German driver. She has become a motor sport icon and has changed the face of this male dominated sport.

In 2005 Jutta finished 5th in the Barcelona Dakar rally in the VW Tuareg she helped to design

[expand title=”In detail”] Jutta’s first major sporting achievement came at the age of 18 when she placed third in the world skibob championships. Jutta’s first professional rally came in 1993, as co-driver in the car of her then partner, Jean-Louis Schlesser, in the UAE Desert Challenge. Jutta soon became a member of the rallying elite winning race after race firstly as a motorcyclist, then co-driver and finally as a driver in her own right. In 2002, she signed a contract with Volkswagen to try to win the Dakar Rally with a diesel-powered car. In 2006, she joined Sven Quandt’s X-raid team.
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[expand title=”What she offers you”]Jutta has vast media experience having been commentator on several TV programmes, such as “Fernsehgarten” (Germany’s ZDF) and “Tipps and Trends” (Germany’s 3sat). She allows audiences to share in her technical know-how and sporting experience as a desert driver. She captivates and motivates listeners as she explains the importance of teamwork and how to achieve the seemingly impossible.[/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]A highly enjoyable and experienced speaker, Jutta enthrals audiences with her presentations and is in great demand by audiences eager to benefit from her unparalleled ability to motivate.[/expand]

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Three-time Formula One Champion

A three-time Formula One champion, Sir Jackie Stewart is recognized globally as one of the most successful motor racing personalities of all time. Seen by many as the first truly modern professional racing driver, Sir Jackie has done more than any man before or since to build a business life on the basis of his on-track record.

“He is the greatest motor racing personality of all time” – Murray Walker

[expand title=”In detail”] Jackie Stewart’s racing career marks him out as one of the most successful F1 drivers of all time. With 27 race wins from 99 starts and three World Championships, he stands along side the other greats of the sport including Fangio, Senna and Schumacher. Jackie has been hugely influential in campaigning for improved safety measures to cars and circuits that protect the drivers and fans of the sport. His achievements across the sport and the business of motor racing were acknowledged in Britain through an OBE in 1972 and a Knighthood in 2001.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Drawing upon an incredible career in motor sports, Jackie offers audiences great insight into to what it takes to make a champion. He reflects on the ups and downs of his career and speaks with great authority on the current state of the industry.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Speaking from the heart, Jackie’s presentations are a memorable experience making him highly sought-after at events around the globe.
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