Gerald Chan is a leading global figure in the translation of novel scientific findings from academia to product development in industry. His work has resulted in the formation and building of two dozen biotech companies. Examples include three companies he spun out from the University of Cambridge — CellCentric which develops cancer drugs, Cyted which provides early diagnosis for oesophageal cancer, and Ieso which uses AI to deliver mental health therapy. He formerly chaired the Innovation Advisory Committee of the Wellcome Trust. Educated in UCLA and Harvard University, he has been honored with eight honorary doctorates from British, American and Hong Kong universities. He was awarded Honorary Fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences in 2025.

Professor Sir Cary Cooper CBE FAcSS has been President of the CIPD, President of the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy, Chair of the Academy of Social Sciences, Founding President of the British Academy of Management, the Chair of The Sunningdale Institute in the Cabinet Office/National School of Government and Lead Scientist in the UK Government’s Foresight Programme & Report on Mental Capital & Wellbeing. Internationally, he was Chair of the Global Agenda Council on Chronic Diseases & Mental Health for the World Economic Forum and has been an advisor to WHO, ILO and to various EU agencies. He is the author/editor of over 250 books, and numerous scholarly articles. He was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, and awarded Honorary Doctorates by a number of universities. Professor Cooper was Knighted by the Queen in 2014 for his contribution to the social sciences. He was awarded Honorary Fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences in 2025.

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation. The first woman and first African to hold the position. She is an economist and international development expert with over 40 years of experience. Dr Okonjo-Iweala was Chair of the Board of Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, African Risk Capacity and Co-Chair of The Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, in addition to serving as a Senior Advisor at Lazard and sitting on the Boards of Standard Chartered and Twitter, now X. She is Co-Chair of the Global Commission on the Economics of Water, a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Brookings and a Harvard Kennedy School Global Public Leader. She served as Nigeria’s first female and longest serving Finance Minister (7 years) and was also the first female Foreign Minister. Her 25-year career at the World Bank culminated in her rising to the No.2 position of Managing Director, Operations. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is the recipient of numerous honours and has authored several books. She holds a Bachelor’s in Economics from Harvard University and a PhD in Regional Economics and Development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Dame Carolyn McCall OBE is Chief Executive of ITV, the first woman to hold the position, and has made substantial contributions across private business, industry, government and learned societies. Prior to joining ITV, she was Chief Executive of EasyJet for seven years and was CEO of the Guardian Media Group from 2006-2010. She is the newly appointed President of the Marketing Society and also holds a non-executive Director post at Bridgepoint’s Group Board. In 2008, Carolyn was awarded an OBE for services to women in business, and in 2016 was awarded a Damehood for services to the aviation industry. She was awarded Honorary Fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences in 2025.