The Leading Speakers Bureau

President and Senior Researcher at the Worldwatch Institute; Guru of the Global Environment Movement; International Agricultural Analyst

A graduate in agricultural science from Rutgers University Lester Brown has, over the years, become the guru of the world environmental movement. Following a career as an international analyst with the US department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service Lester Brown joined forces with former head of UNICEF James Grant to found the Overseas Development Council. With the help of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund he founded in 1974 the Worldwatch Institute, a private non-profit making institute devoted to the analysis of global environmental issues.

[expand title=”In detail”] Lester Brown is author and co-author of many books and papers dedicated to alerting the world to future problems resulting from the non-rational exploitation of natural resources and the disregard to sustainable growth. He has been internationally recognised for his work with honorary degrees from a string of universities and in 1995 was named as one of the 50 Great Americans by Marquis Who’s Who. He has received the MacArthur Fellow Award (1986), the United Nations Environment Prize (1987) The World Wildlife Fund for Nature Gold Medal (1989) and the Blue Planet Prize (1994). [/expand]

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Director of the James Martin 21st Century School at the University of Oxford

Prof. Ian Goldin was Vice President of the World Bank (2003-2006) and prior to that the Bank’s Director of Development Policy (2001-2003). He served on the Bank’s senior management team, and was directly responsible for its relationship with the UK and all other European, North American and developed countries. He led the Bank’s collaboration with the United Nations and other partners. As Director of Development Policy, Goldin played a pivotal role in the research and strategy agenda of the Bank.

“From 1996 to 2001 he was Chief Executive and Managing Director of the Development Bank of Southern Africa and served as an adviser to President Nelson Mandela.”

[expand title=”In detail”] He succeeded in transforming the Bank to become the leading agent of development in the 14 countries of Southern Africa. During this period, Goldin served on several Government committees and Boards, and was Finance Director for South Africa’s Olympic Bid. Previously, Goldin was Principal Economist at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in London, and Program Director at the OECD Development Centre in Paris, where he directed the Programs on Trade, Environment and Sustainable Development.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Prof. Ian Goldin is an outstanding speaker on global future trends in technology, science, climate change, demography and other factors that will have an impact on corporations and government. Goldin has received wide recognition for his contributions to development and research, including having been knighted by the French Government and nominated Global Leader of Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]In Ian Goldin’s highly respected presentations he gives fascinating insights into a variety of global issues.[/expand]
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Chairman of the IPCC and Director-General of TERI (Tata Energy Research Institute) speaker

Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri is an economist and environmental scientist of immense repute who has served as the chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) since 2002. Pachauri is also the director general of the The Energy and Resources Institute in New Delhi, an institution devoted to researching and promoting sustainable development. In 2007, he received the shared Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the IPCC (together with Al Gore).

Few speakers are as well-suited to tackling the challenges and potential risks posed by global climate change than Dr. Pachauri”

[expand title=”In detail”] Dr. Pachauri has been a Visiting Professor, Resource Economics at the College of Mineral and Energy Resources, West Virginia University; Senior Visiting Fellow, Resource Systems Institute and Visiting Research Fellow with The World Bank, Washington DC. He also joined the North Carolina State University where he obtained an MS in Industrial Engineering and a PhD in Industrial Engineering and as well as in Economics. He was appointed as the Member, Board of Directors of the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Environment Agency, Government of Japan, and as a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Dr. Rajendra Pachauri addresses world and industry leaders on the impact of climate change on urban development in the 21st Century, environmental issues and the problem of global warming. He is renowned for his work in the areas of energy, environment, forestry, biotechnology, and the conservation of natural resources to government departments, institutions and corporate organizations worldwide. He has also authored 21 books and several papers and articles.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Rajendra K. Pachauri’s presentations provide invaluable wisdom gained from his extensive knowledge and expertise. He is also part of our Top Indian keynote speakers.[/expand]
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Leading Authority on Pollution & its Effects on the Environment, Nobel Joint Prize-winner in Chemistry

Dr. Mario Molina was a co-recipient of the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his role in elucidating the threat to the Earth’s ozone layer of chlorofluorocarbon gases (or CFCs), becoming the first Mexican-born citizen to ever receive a Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Institute Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he is one of the world’s leading authorities on pollution and the effects of chemical pollution on the environment.

“One of the most prominent precursors to the discovering of the Antarctic ozone hole”

[expand title=”In detail”] In 1995, 20 years after a seminal article José Mario Molina-Pasquel Henríquez co-wrote appeared in Nature magazine, the production of CFCs was banned in developed countries by the Montreal Protocol, an international agreement convened by the UN Environment Programme. In recent years, he has directed a joint project between MIT and local government in Mexico City to improve the dangerous air quality situation in his hometown. In 2009 he was appointed to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), an advisory group of the US’s leading scientists and engineers, and in 2004 he opened a new research center, the Molino Center, in Mexico City.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Mario Molina is a groundbreaking pioneer in the way air pollution affects human health who continues to teach and research. He has used his brilliance to heighten public awareness of the risks of air pollution and helps to open our eyes to the impact of our own actions, championing new thinking about our stewardship of the earth’s resources.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]With a deep understanding of science, technology, and innovation and widely praised for his breakthrough discoveries and research in the field of chemistry throughout his lifetime, Mario Molina is a much sought-after, knowledgeable and respected speaker at prestigious events worldwide.[/expand]
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CEO of Rinspeed and Unconventional Business Visionary

So what kind of car you would like? One that shrinks for easy parking? A four-seater that turns into a pick-up at the touch of a button? Or would you like seats that lean into the curves? Well, they all exist. Swiss inventor Frank Rinderknecht comes up with a different curiosity every year. With his company Rinspeed, Rinderknecht has a habit of unveiling a world’s first and most innovative that is guaranteed not to go unnoticed. The Swiss are among the world’s pioneers in the area of hydropower – his car creations sQuba is a zero emission car.

“We want to set trends–we don’t want to follow” Frank M. Rinderknecht

[expand title=”In detail”] In 1979 Frank founded Rinspeed Inc. and appeared for the first time at the Geneva International Motor Show. Today Rinspeed is a successful automotive consulting business which creates special products and conversions and is internationally renowned for extraordinary concept cars. Rinspeed also focuses on the use of new materials and eco-friendly energies and engines. [/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]The pioneering Swiss car designer shows how dreams become reality. Frank analyses the structures of communication and leadership in organisations and employs the model of extraordinary concepts in the corporate life. His presentations also offer insights into his belief that emotions are an important factor of success – they inspire creativity and innovation and generate new ideas. [/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Through wit and intelligence he will be a thought provoking, out-of-the-box thinking speaker at your event.[/expand]
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2007 Joint Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Vice Chairman of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Prof. Mohan Munasinghe is Chairman of the Munasinghe Institute of Development (MIND), Colombo; Director-General of the Sustainable Consumption Institute (SCI) and Distinguished Professor at the University of Manchester; and Honorary Senior Advisor to the Sri Lanka Government. As Vice-Chairman of the United Nations IPCC, Professor Munasinghe shared the 2007 Nobel Prize for Peace, for his work on global warming and sustainable development.

“Prof. Munasinghe is a multi international prize winner for his research and its applications”

[expand title=”In detail”] Mohan Munasinghe has earned post-graduate degrees in engineering, physics and development economics from Cambridge University (UK), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA), and McGill University and Concordia University (Canada). During 35 years of distinguished public service, he has served as Senior Energy Advisor to the President of Sri Lanka, Advisor to the United States Presidents Council on Environmental Quality, and Senior Advisor to the World Bank. He is a Fellow of several international Academies of Science, and serves on the editorial boards of a dozen academic journals.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Mohan Munasinghe delivers insightful keynote speeches at gatherings ranging from high level international conferences to community meetings. He offers presentations and training seminars to corporations and governments on climate change, sustainable development, environment, economics, energy, transport, water resources, and information technology.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Mohan Munasinghe challenges audiences with his hard hitting, informative and well researched presentations.[/expand]
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1992 Nobel Prize Winner and Human Rights Activist

Rigoberta Menchú Tum is a 1992 Nobel Prize Winner and Human Rights Activist. She is a renowned leading advocate of Indian rights and ethno-cultural reconciliation, not only in Guatemala, but in the Western Hemisphere generally, and her work has earned her several international awards.

“Rigoberta represents the dynamic development of international legal norms”

[expand title=”In detail”] Born in 1959 in the village of Chimel, Guatemala, a community continuing the millennium-old Maya-Quiché culture. In 1979, Rigoberta joined the CUC (Peasant Unity Committee). That year her brother was arrested, tortured and killed by the army. The following year, her father was killed when security forces in the capital stormed the Spanish Embassy. Shortly afterwards, her mother also died after having been arrested, tortured and raped. Rigoberta became increasingly active in the CUC, and taught herself Spanish as well as other Mayan languages than her native Quiche. In 1980, she figured prominently in a strike the CUC organized for better conditions for farm workers on the Pacific coast, and on May 1, 1981, she was active in large demonstrations in the capital.[/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]The breadth and depth of her knowledge and experience is unique. Rigoberta has great insights into the social justice and human rights arena as well as globalisation and sustainable development.[/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]A highly emotional and forceful speaker, the flamboyant Guatamalian is now in great demand as a speaker on political and human rights issues at conferences the world over.[/expand]
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Swiss Adventurer & Global Warming speaker, Humanitarian & Inventor & Creator of the Solartaxi

Louis Palmer, a Swiss school teacher, made world history as the first man who has ever circumnavigated the world with a car powered by renewable energy. His message has reached more than 700 million people all over the world. The tour’s mission was to spread knowledge about the dangers of global warming and to demonstrate to the world that solutions are available to combat global warming. He is definitely a man with a mission.

Around the world using solar power: 53451 km through 38 countries (2007 – 2008)

[expand title=”In detail”] Among his other projects that see Hungarian born Louis Palmer regularly give up his ordinary life and finish his job as a teacher he wanted to fill the the gap between a car and a motorcycle with the solar taxi. He set off on a world tour in his solar powered vehicle in July 2007 and after 17 gruelling months his around-the-world trip was completed, having travelled 32,000 miles and across 40 countries. In 1996 he started a journey across the US with an ultralight airplane, in 1999 he was a tour observer at the World Solar Challenge in Australia, in 2001 he crossed Asia by car and in 2003 he led a tourist group across Afghanistan to raise money for the reconstruction of the Arkandi School.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Louis Palmer talks openly and freely to worldwide audiences about his historical journey. The ultimate goal was quite simple: to show the world that renewable energy is a viable solution to global warming. Hearing the stories of how the project came together and how it evolved, audiences are amazed at how the efforts of a single man could bring someone so far and deliver the message to hundreds of millions of spectators. With a truly inspiring speech, Louis speaks of his adventures and describes the numerous obstacles he came across, most of which seemed quite amusing in retrospect.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Louis Palmer stimulates the interest of his audiences and is recognised for his innovative vision, sense of humour and conviction.[/expand]
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Ecologist, Conservationist, Environment and Climate Change Expert, and Writer

Julian Caldecott has spent more than 20 years promoting biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability around the world. Major themes in his work include integrating development and conservation, promoting sustainable and equitable use of biodiversity and ecosystems, and exploring ways to finance conservation sustainably. In recent months, he has assessed a five-year EC project on coastal ecosystem conservation in Thailand, and has been writing and editing books for UNEP.

“An ecologist on a mission”

[expand title=”In detail”] In 2003, Julian led a division at the United Nations Environment Programme’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre, responsible for global assessment of ecosystem status and threats, and the valuation of ecosystem services. In 2005, he joined the UNEP Asian Tsunami Disaster Task Force to help assess the impacts of the Great Tsunami in Sri Lanka, and to improve environmental security by restoring various coastal ecosystems. In 2006 he was Senior Technical Adviser at the UNEP with special responsibility for environmental restoration in the Indian Ocean region. He has taught seminars and examined graduate dissertations at several universities including Cambridge, Hawaii, Kiel, Dalhousie, Australian National and Sydney.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Julian is a scientifically-trained independent practitioner of sustainable development, with special interest and experience in biodiversity, ecosystems, environmental services and participatory and community-based management of natural resources. He believes passionately that through education, consultation and action, we can all help to reduce the damage that we are doing to the biosphere – the thin skin of life on Earth. His aim is to make the workings of the biosphere clear to all, so that we can understand how and why to start living on the Earth as if we intended to stay.[/expand]
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Author & Expert on Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability

Dr. McIntosh is Professor of Human Security and Sustainable Enterprise and Director of the transdisciplinary Applied Research Centre in Human Security (ARCHS) at the University of Coventry. He is founder of the international, transdisciplinary, multistakeholder Roundtables on Sustainable Enterprise and ARCHS’ new MAs in Sustainable Enterprise and Human Security run in partnership with The Eden Project, England; the Sustainability Institute, Stellenbosch University, South Africa; and the UN University, Japan.

Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General’s Global Compact from 2000 to 2005

[expand title=”In detail”] Dr. McIntosh has a PhD from the Department of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford. He was a current affairs film producer and journalist for BBC TV from 1985 to 1995, was the Founding Editor in 1999 and is currently General Editor of the academic Journal of Corporate Citizenship. He is Professor Extraordinary at the Sustainability Institute, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa and was the Founding Chair of envolve.co.uk. He is a Member of the Conference Board’s European Council on Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability; the UK Sustainability Development Commission Panel.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Dr McIntosh shares his significant experience in project management and film-making on corporate responsibility and sustainability with global corporations and institutions including the UN, BP, Shell, BBC, Pfizer, ABB, INSEAD, Harvard, Warwick & the UK Government. In 2007 he was highly commended in the Lifetime Achievement Awards as a Faculty Pioneer by EABIS and the Aspen Institute. He is listed as a ‘social and institutional entrepreneur’ who has ‘created the corporate responsibility movement’ in ‘The Difference Makers’ by Sandra Waddock (2008).[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Malcolm’s invaluable presentations provide analysis and ideas from various sectors. He is also a frequent presenter and facilitator at conferences.[/expand]
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