PANEL SPEAKERS
PANEL SPEAKER
Slavtcho NEYKOV
Energy Community Secretariat, DirectorABOUT
As of February 2006, Mr. Neykov is the first Director of the Energy Community Secretariat in Vienna, Austria. He has close to 20 years non-interrupted experience in the energy sector, including as Secretary General of the Bulgarian energy ministry, regulator, expert at the Energy Charter Secretariat in Brussels. Prior to this he has worked as a state prosecutor and a lawyer.
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In addition to a law degree, Mr. Neykov holds a Diploma on International Economic Relations and Foreign Economic Activities and a Master of Arts in European Integration.
H.E. Vladimir KAVARIC, PhD
Minister of Economy, MontenegroABOUT
Immediately before graduation, Vladimir KAVARIC was working as business consultant and manager of the investment sector in the Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (1999- 2001).
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Afterwards, he held the position as the Program Director of the Center for Applicative Researches and Analysis (2001- 2004). The Government of RoM elected him as the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance of RoM in April 2004. Kavaric worked on this position until 2007 when he was appointed by the Parliament of Montenegro for the President of the Council, Insurance Supervision Agency. In December 2010, he was nominated Minister of Economy by the Government of Montenegro._
He is further lecturer at UDG at the Faculty of International Economics, Finance and Business and held various lecturers at the University of Montenegro and at the Liberales Institute in Zurich, Switzerland. Kavaric is the author of many professional papers in domestic and foreign publications.
Giles CHICHESTER
European Energy Forum, PresidentABOUT
Giles Chichester has been President of the European Energy Forum since 2004 and was Vice-President of European Parliament from July 2011 to January 2012.
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He started his professional career working in the family publishing business; Francis Chichester Ltd, founded by his father Sir Francis Chichester KBE, from 1969-1994. _
He has been a Member of the European Parliament since 1994, where he is an active member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, the Committee on Petitions and Vice-Chair of the Delegation for relations with the Pan African Parliament._
He has served on many voluntary bodies such as school governing boards, charities, clubs and is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
Emmanuel LIMIDO
Centuria Capital Group, ChairmanABOUT
Since 2010 he chairs WIRE (World Institute for Renewable Energies), a joint-venture between Centuria Capital and the Principality of Monaco aiming at promoting clean energies in the Mediterranean and African regions.
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After a Master in Petroleum Economics 1984, he started working in investment banking for 25 years collecting experience with the French Trade Commission in Los Angeles, then Credit Agricole (1992), becoming Chairman of Corporate Finance Group at Citibank in Paris (1997), and CEO of ABN AMRO France till 2001. He then co-founded Centuria Capital, a Paris based global investment advisory and management company, working essentially with Sovereign Wealth Funds. _
He is an active sponsor and investor in a number of private initiatives and foundations aiming at developing environmental awareness, social insertion, economic development in emerging countries and business development across foreign cultures.
Mauro HOYER
Director of Information, OPEC FundABOUT
In September 2009, Mauro Hoyer took over the position of Director of Information at the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) in Vienna, Austria.
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Throughout his professional career, Mr. Hoyer has worked extensively in the oil and gas sector, in the areas of government and external relations, strategic planning, e-business and downstream. Before joining OFID, he was employed by the Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) as a Strategic Planning Consultant._
Mr. Hoyer also worked for 18 years at Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), the Venezuelan national oil company, where he held various positions, including International Affairs Manager and Executive Assistant to the Venezuelan Energy Minister.
Anatoly KARPOV
1st Deputy Chairman, State Duma Committee for Natural Resources, Environment and EcologyABOUT
Anatoly Karpov is a Russian chess grandmaster and World Champion from 1975 to 1985. He held the title FIDE World Champion until 1999, when he resigned his title in protest against FIDE ‘s new world championship rules. For his decades-long standing among the world’s elite, Karpov is considered one of the greatest chess players of all time. Mr. Karpov was a member of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR in 1989 to 1991. Since 1982 Karpov has been the president of the International Association of Peace Foundations. In 1999 he became the president of the Russian Environmental Fund.
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In 1989 Karpov established the International Humanitarian NGO Chernobyl-Aid and is currently the president of the organization. Since 2005, he has been the member of the Public Chamber of Russia. He is recently involved in several humanitarian causes, such as advocating the use of iodised salt. Karpov owns the world record 169 victories in international competitions.
PANEL LEADER
Dafydd AB IAGO
Argus Media, JournalistABOUT
Dafydd is the EU correspondent for Argus Media Group, covering energy and climate news from Brussels. Dafydd has a long career in journalism having also reported on economic affairs and tourism as well as being a news reader for Radio Flanders International.
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In 1999, Dafydd set up and edited Trends International, a Belgian business monthly formerly published by Roularta Media Group. He has also reported for numerous media including Deutsche Welle, BBC, Parliament Magazine, the European Voice, EuroBusiness and Times Higher Education. He also writes a monthly column on EU affairs – in Esperanto – for La Ondo de Esperanto as well as – in Welsh – for Welsh-language monthly Barn.
Jan Willem GOUDRIAAN
European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU), Deputy General SecretaryABOUT
Between 1989 and 1992 Goudriaan worked for the Dutch trade union AbvaKabo which organizes workers in local, regional, national administration, water, energy, waste, post and telecommunication, health and social services. He was responsible for European affairs, including European works councils and social dialogue.
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Since 1992 Goudriaan works for the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) the largest federation of ETUC. For the Federation he deals with policy issues, social dialogue and European Works Councils in amongst others energy, water, waste. Other responsibilities include collective bargaining, modernization of public services. Goudriaan is active in the European social dialogue committee for the electricity and for the gas sector for which he is a member of the Bureau.
He is a member of the European Citizens’ Committee for Water and Sanitation as a Human Right.
Alberto POTOTSCHNIG, MSc
Agency for Cooperation of the Energy Regulators – ACER, DirectorABOUT
Alberto Pototschnig was appointed the first director of the Agency for Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER). His term of office is five years.
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Pototschnig is an economist with extensive experience in energy policy, regulation and market design issues, with a focus on European markets._
After seven years in the consultancy business with London Economics, Pototschnig joined the Italian Energy Regulatory Authority. As Director of Electricity Regulation, he was responsible for the design and implementation of technical and economic regulation for the electricity sector. In 2000 he was appointed CEO of the Italian Electricity Market Operator, and later joined the Italian Transmission System Operator (TSO). He regularly teaches in FSR training courses on regulatory and market design issues.
Peter VADASZ
Mayor of Guessing, AustriaABOUT
Peter Vadasz, a member of the ÖVP (Österreichische Volkspartei – Austrian People’s Party) and teacher, has been Mayor of Güssing, Austria, since 1992. He has been serving in the local Town Council since 1982 and was elected Mayor in 1992.
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He represented the ÖVP as an MP in the State Parliament of Burgenland from 1996 until 2005. In 2007 the French-German Television Channel ARTE chose Vadasz its “European of the Week” for his commitment to self-sufficient and sustainable energy generation from renewable resources in Güssing._
He was teaching in Primary School in Heiligenbrunn from 1966 to 1973 and at Secondary Grammar School in Güssing from 1973 till 1995.
Elena RYBAK
EUEA – European-Ukrainian Energy Agency, DirectorABOUT
Elena Rybak holds a degree in Business Administration, has been a Country Manager for Swedish Ukrainian Business Club and Programme Coordinator of Swedish governmental business development programme since 2006, where energy efficiency has been a priority sector for cooperation development. Integration of Swedish technology and know-how to Ukrainian market, modernization of district heating systems, waste water treatment plants, energy conservation in buildings, are among projects in Elena’s portfolio.
PANEL LEADER
Hans DEMMEL
n-tv, CEOABOUT
Hans Demmel started his career as a journalist in the print media Oberbayrisches Volksblatt in 1976.
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He switched to TV as Editorial Journalist to the Bayrischen Fernsehen in 1979 and worked there for 11 years. In 1990 he became Executive Journalist of Sat. 1 “News” in the private TV sector._
In 1992 he worked as USA Correspondent in Washington and became Substitute on Leading Editor of Sat 1. “News” in 1993._
From 1993 to 2007 he was working in various positions at the RTL Television GmbH with an intermission of three years (2002-2005) as Chief Editor at VOX Film- u. Fernseh- GmbH & Co. KG. Demmel is holding the position as n-tv Nachrichtenfernsehen GmbH Managing Director since 2007.
H.E. Ilir META
Member of the Albanian ParliamentPrime Minister, Republic of Albania, 1999 – 2002
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, 2009 – 2011
ABOUT
Ilir Meta is a Member of the Albanian Parliament and Chairman of the Socialist Movement for Integration.
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A strong proponent of regional thinking and a European future for all Balkan countries, his historic visit to Serbia in 2010 ended a decade long lapse of high-level contact between the neighboring countries, and started an on-going process of re-establishing positive relations._
In addition to his government service, Mr. Meta is President of the board of the Peace, Development and Integration Institute, member of the International Commission for the Balkans, and lectures at Universities around the globe.
Ingrid DELTENRE
European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Director GeneralABOUT
Ingrid Deltenre took up the position of EBU Director General on 1st January 2010. Prior to joining the EBU, Ingrid Deltenre was CEO of Schweizer Fernsehen (SF), the leading public TV broadcaster in the German-speaking part of Switzerland.
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From 1999 to 2004 she was CEO of Publisuisse, the commercial unit of SRG SSR and the leading marketer of television in Switzerland. She also held the position of Chief Marketing Officer and Member of the Executive Committee Switzerland at Swisscard AE CS (1998-1999)._
From 1991 to 1998 she worked for CASH , Switzerland‘s leading business weekly, initially as Project Manager, then as Head of Marketing and ultimately as Managing Director.
Begümhan DOGAN FARALYALI
Dogan Holding, ChairwomanABOUT
After earning her MBA degree at Stanford University in 2004, she took charge of the business development initiatives of Dogan Yayin Holding (DYH ) in international arena as an Executive Committee Member and Vice President for Overseas Investments. In 2007, Faralyalı lead the start up process of Kanal D Romania, a general entertainment TV channel, the first foreign investment of DYH, and forged its partnership with the Swiss Ringier Group. In two years, the Channel managed to rank third overall for total day viewership. Mrs Faralyalı is still the Chairwoman of Kanal D Romania.
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At the same time, she worked on the purchase of Trader Media East, traded on London Stock Exchange, by Hürriyet in 2007. In 2010 she assumed the Presidency of Dogan TV Holding, which also includes tv channels Kanal D and CnnTürk and as of 1st January 2012 she became Chairwomen of Dogan Holding.
Dr. Claus J. RAIDL
Oesterreichische Nationalbank, PresidentABOUT
Claus J. Raidl is President of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank since September 2008. He was Member of the Executive Board of VOEST – AL PINE AG (2007 – 2010), ÖIAG (Österreichische Industrieverwaltung AG , 1982 – 1986), Wiener Holding Ges.m.b.H.(1981-1982) and Austrian Industries AG (1993-1994).
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He held the position of Deputy Chairman and Senior Executive Vice President at VOEST _
From 1991 to 2010 he was Chairman and CEO of BÖHLER –UDDEHOLM AG . Previous he worked for the insurance company Österreichische Volksfürsorge Allgemeine Versicherung AG (1974-1981) and provided consultancy services to the OE CD on international tax law and multinational corporations (1971-1974)._
He further is a Member of various Supervisory Boards.
Duma Gideon BOKO
President of the Botswana National FrontABOUT
A prominent human rights lawyer and defender, Duma Gideon Boko was elected President of Botswana’s main opposition political party, the Botswana National Front in July 2010. He has, since his return to Botswana after graduating with an LLM from Harvard Law School in 1995, been a trailblazer in the area of human rights defense in Botswana. Boko has handled most of the high profile human rights cases in Botswana, including cases on forced removals of ethnic minorities from their ancestral lands, death penalty cases, HIV-Aids misdiagnosis cases as well as cases involving extra judicial executions of innocent citizens by security agents.
On the regional front, Boko was appointed international observer for the International Bar Association (IBA) in the judgment of Morgan Tsvangirai in which capacity he attended the delivery of the judgment before the Zimbabwean High Court and prepared a report for the IBA. He has also participated in several human rights seminars in Southern Africa. He has served as President of the Law Society of Botswana and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV-Aids.
Gail M. ROMERO
MBA Women International, CEOABOUT
Gail Romero is the CEO for MBA Women International, Senior Advisor for MacKenzie-Romero Consulting, Executive Producer for Rainmakers TV and carried the title of Ambassador – Global Health for the American Cancer Society until August of 2011. Gail has spent the last two decades creating and directing the development and integration of innovative ideas and campaigns and strategic alliances with various policy makers, educational communities, associations, media, academics, politicians, community leaders, foundations and corporations to advance women in leadership throughout the world.
MBA Women International is a not for profit organization dedicated to the advancement of business women as corporate leaders, executives and entrepreneurs- enriching workforce diversity around the world.
PANEL LEADER
Ali ASLAN
Deutsche Welle TV , Host of the international talk-show ”Quadriga”ABOUT
Ali Aslan is the host of the international talk-show ”Quadriga” on Deutsche Welle TV .
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Aslan has worked as a journalist for leading television networks around the world. His work at NBC News, CNN , ABC News and Channel News Asia took him to Washington, New York, Istanbul, Barcelona and Berlin. _
Aslan holds a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and a Master of Science in Journalism from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He received his Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University._
In recognition of his achievements, Aslan has been named a Young Leader by numerous organizations, including the United Nations.
H.E. Petar STOYANOV
President of the CGDCPresident of the Republic of Bulgaria 1997 – 2002
ABOUT
Petar Stoyanov was President of Bulgaria from 1997 till 2002.
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From 1992 to 1993 Stoyanov was Deputy Minister of Justice in the first non-communist (UD F) government of Bulgaria since 1944._
In 1994, as the holder of a doctorate in law, he was elected as a member of the 37th National Assembly in Bulgaria and in 1995 he was elected Deputy Chairman of the UDF. Petar Stoyanov is an active and passionate promoter of democracy and European ideals._
In 2002, he founded the “Petar Stoyanov Centre for Political Dialogue” in Sofia. He is member of several different international associations, e.g. the Clinton’s Global Initiative, the Board of Global Fairness Initiative, the Judging Committee of the European Business Awards and the International Advisory Board of the American Bar Association.
R.H. Dr. Morgan Richard TSVANGIRAI
Prime Minister of the Republic of ZimbabweABOUT
On the 11th of February 2009, Morgan Richard Tsvangirai, was sworn in as Prime Minister of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
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He was elected founding Chairman of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), a broad-based movement established by church, civil society and human rights’ groups to demand a new, people-driven constitution in 1997. Under his chairmanship, the NCA led the successful “No Vote” campaign against the 2000 constitution referendum which was a historic victory for Zimbabwe’s pro-democracy movement._
In 2001, Tsvangirai received the prestigious Solidar Silver Rose Award for outstanding achievement by an individual or organisation in the activities of civil society and in bringing about a more just society._
Morgan Tsvangirai is committed his whole life to ensure that the people of Zimbabwe attain the democratic, just and prosperous society they demand and deserve even at the risk of his own life.
H.E. Mimoza KUSARI-LILA
Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Trade and IndustryABOUT
Mimoza Kusari-Lila returned to politics in the elections of 2009, running for the major of Gjakova Municipality. After a long legal battle in regard to contested elections, in December 2009, she became the Vice-President of the New Kosovo Alliance.
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Before being exposed to politics, Kusari-Lila served as executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo (AmCham), since 2006 to 2009. She became part of politics and public service in 2003 when she has been offered the position of spokeswomen and Adviser to Prime Minister of Kosovo, Bajram Rexhepi._
In 2001, Mimoza Kusari-Lila worked for the World Bank and USAID project to support Kosovo businesses. Her work resulted with the successful opening of the American University in Kosovo, now a leading educational institution in Kosovo and the region.
Prof. Abdul Latif AL MEER
Chairman of ICQVice Chairman of Sidra Takaful
ABOUT
Professor Abdul Latif Al Meer is the Chairman of ICQ and Vice Chairman of Sidra Takaful (Insurance company).
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During 2005 and 2006, Professor Al Meer served as the Chief Executive Officer, from 2007 to March 2012. He served as the Managing Director at QInvest. _
In addition, Professor Al Meer also served as a Board Member for a number of banking and Takaful institutions, which included Asian Finance House (Malaysia) and Gulf Finance House (Bahrain)._
Prior to QInvest, Professor Al Meer was associated with Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) for over fifteen years as its Chief Executive Officer and earlier as General Manager for Investments and International Operations._
Professor Al Meer currently serves as a Director for QIB-UK, Arab Finance House (Lebanon), and Al Daman (Beema) Qatar.
General Wesley K. CLARK
Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO 1997 – 2000CGDC International Honorary Board Member
ABOUT
Wesley Kanne Clark is the former U.S. Army general who ran as a Democratic candidate for the presidency in the 2004 election. Clark grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas and, at the age of 16, started at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated first in his class. He also earned a graduate degree as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford and commanded fighting troops in Vietnam, where he was injured three times.
During the ‘80s and ‘90s he moved up the military ladder and served as an administrator in training and command posts, eventually becoming a four-star general. In 1997 he was named as the U.S. commander of NATO forces in Europe by President Bill Clinton. In 2000 he retired after 34 years in the army. General Clark entered the private sector as an author, consultant and investment banker, a highly decorated soldier and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
