Programme

On 9 July 2014, the Secretary-General appointed Mr. Christian Friis Bach of Denmark as the next Executive Secretary of UNECE. Mr. Bach brings to the position a combination of deep knowledge in international economy and development affairs coupled with innovative and results-oriented leadership. Mr Bach came from a position as Member of the Danish Parliament and Head of the Parliamentarian Group for the Danish Social/Liberal Party. He previously served as Denmark’s Minister for Development Cooperation (2011-2013) and Special Advisor to the European Union Commission for the United Nations Global Sustainability Panel (2010-2011). He is Honorary Professor of International Economics and Development at the University of Copenhagen (2009-2014) and has been Associate Professor in International Economics and Development Economics, the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University (1999-2005). Mr. Bach has a long history with civil society, notably as the International Director for the DanChurchAid (2005-2010) and as Chairman of the Danish Association for International Cooperation (1997-2001). He also has private sector experience from running a start-up company and has worked as a journalist at the Danish Broadcasting Corporation. Mr. Bach holds a Ph.D. in International Economics (1996), an MSc in Agronomy (1992) from the Royal Danish Agricultural University in Copenhagen and a supplementary degree in Journalism from the Danish School of Media and Journalism.Born in 1966, Mr. Bach is married and has three children. The family lives on a small farm outside of Copenhagen.

His Excellency Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DP World and Chairman of Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation, is one of Dubai's leading businessmen. HE Bin Sulayem’s expertise and visionary leadership spearheaded the rapid expansion of Dubai’s infrastructure, including ports and free zones, contributing significantly to the stellar growth trajectory of the United Arab Emirates. Highlights of his three-decade business career include: • Leading marine terminal operator DP World’s expansion internationally, including the purchase of the P&O group for US$6.8 billion in March 2006, which propelled it to among the largest global port operators and trade enablers in the world with 77 marine and inland terminals in six continents. • Overseeing the rapid development of Jafza (Jebel Ali Free Zone) into an unrivalled business park of more than 7300 companies • Establishing and leading Nakheel, a real estate and tourism property development firm that has created many iconic Dubai projects including The Palm, the world’s largest man-made islands • Establishing and leading Istithmar World, a major investment house focusing on private equity with a portfolio of investments in diverse sectors across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East including retail, financial services, industry, tourism and hospitality, and healthcare • Pioneering the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), a market for gold and precious metals, diamonds and coloured stones, energy and other commodities

Since joining the government in 1978, Mr. Liang has held numerous important domestic and overseas posts, during which he has devoted his efforts fully to promoting Taiwan’s economic development and expanding international markets for Taiwanese enterprises, with his expertise in areas such as international economic law and trade negotiations. During his tenure as Vice Minister of Economic Affairs, and concurrently Chief Trade Negotiator, and later as Deputy Minister, Mr. Liang played an instrumental role in the signing of the Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) in 2010, a bilateral investment accord with Japan in 2011, the Cross-Straits Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement in 2012, as well as an economic cooperation agreement with New Zealand (ANZTEC) and an economic partnership agreement with Singapore (ASTEP) in 2013. He also co-chaired the first three Regular Meetings of the Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Committee as Chief Delegate from Taiwan, as well as actively promoted closer economic and trade relations with the United States and the European Union. In recognition of his outstanding achievements, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) conferred upon Mr. Liang the Medal of Economic Contribution, First Order, on February 13, 2014, making him the first government official ever to receive the honor.

Lord (Peter) Mandelson, born in 1953, is a former European Trade Commissioner and British First Secretary of State. As EU Trade Commissioner between 2004 and 2008, he negotiated trade agreements with many countries and led European negotiations in the WTO Doha World Trade Round. He was Minister without Portfolio, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Northern Ireland Secretary and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills in the British government under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown between 1997 and 2010. He was Member of Parliament for Hartlepool in the UK from 1992 until 2004 and Director of Campaigns and Communications for the Labour party between 1985 and 1990. He is also President of the Policy Network think tank, senior advisor to Lazard and non-executive director of AFK Sistema.

Born in 1965, Alexey Mordashov has been working for Severstal since 1988. He started his career as a senior economist, becoming Chief Financial Officer in 1992. In December 1996, he was appointed as Severstal’s Chief Executive Officer. Between 2002 and 2006 he served as CEO of Severstal Group and was Chairman of Severstal’s Board of Directors. Since the introduction of the new structure of corporate governance in December 2006 Mr. Mordashov has been CEO of Severstal. From December 2014 till June 2015 Alexey served as CEO of AO "Severstal Management" - managing organization of PAO Severstal. In May he was elected as Chairman of Severstal’s Board of Directors. Vice-Chairman of World Steel Association. Head of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs’ Committee on Integration, Trade and Customs Policy and WTO. Serves on the Entrepreneurial Council of the Government of Russian Federation. Co-chairman of the “Trade as a Global Driver” Taskforce of the “Business 20” of “Group of Twenty”. Co-chairman of the Northern Dimension Business Council. Vice-President of Russian-German chamber of commerce, member of the Russian-German workgroup responsible for strategic economic and finance issues. Member of the EU-Russia Business Cooperation Council. Alexey earned his undergraduate degree from the Leningrad Institute of Engineering and Economics. He also holds an MBA degree from Newcastle Business School of Northumbria University (UK).

Mark Otty is a Member of the Global Executive Committee. Mark was appointed Managing Partner of EY EMEIA Area in 2008 – a diverse Area spanning Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa. The EMEIA Area formally began operations on 1 July 2008, bringing together 81,000 people, across 12 regions and 93 countries with 3,628 partners to create an US11.4bn organisation, making the firm the first of the Big 4 to achieve integration on this scope and scale. Originally from South Africa, Mark’s career has spanned multiple disciplines and locations. Having originally joined Ernst & Young as an audit trainee, he has also worked with clients in the fields of corporate finance, advisory and tax, in South Africa, Canada and the UK. Mark has a particular focus on helping EY people bring the firm’s values to life in their dealings with each other, and with clients and others. A South African Chartered Accountants, Mark graduated from the Witwatersrand University with degrees in Accounting and Commerce. Now based in London, Mark is an enthusiastic marathon and ultra marathon runner.

Born in 1958, Moscow. First degree with honors: Moscow State Automobile and Road Technical University (MADI). Second degree with honors: Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation. Vladimir Salamatov completed a postgraduate course at MADI and a PhD program at Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy. Professor, PhD in Engineering, Doctorate in Economics. 1983 - 1995: Mr. Salamatov pursued a career in university teaching and research. 1995 - 2004: Occupied top management positions in commercial banks, including the JSC “Eurofinance” and JSC “Vneshtorgbank”. 2004 - 2008: Deputy Director and then Director of Department at the Ministry of Industry and Energy of the Russian Federation. 2008 - 2012: Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation. On April 27, 2012 Vladimir Salamatov was appointed Director General of World Trade Center Moscow. Member of the Board of Directors of the World Trade Center Association. Member of the Board of Directors of CJSC “Expocentre”. Since 2012: Chairman of the Committee on economic integration of the SCO (the Shanghai Cooperation Organization) and CIS (the Commonwealth of Independent States). State Counselor of the Russian Federation, 2nd class. State awards: Order of the Badge of Honor, Order of Friendship, medal “For Contribution to the Establishment of the Customs Union”. On December 10, 2014 Vladimir Salamatov was awarded the “CEO of the year” in “Growth Performance” category according to The Moscow Times Awards.

Dr Andy Xie is Shanghai-based independent economist specialising in China and Asia. He is currently director of Rosetta Stone Advisors. He is also a guest columnist for the South China Morning Post and Century Weekly. Dr Xie is one of the few economists who has accurately predicted economic bubbles including the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis and the more recent subprime meltdown in the United States. He joined Morgan Stanley in 1997 and was Managing Director and Head of the firm’s Asia/Pacific economics team until 2006. Prior to that he spent two years with Macquarie Bank in Singapore, where he was an associate director in corporate finance. He also spent five years as an economist with the World Bank. Dr Xie earned a PhD in economics in 1990 and an MS in civil engineering in 1987 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Born September 13, 1969 in Bor, Nizhny Novgorod Region. 2005–2007: Head of the Presidential Experts’ Directorate 2007–2009: Deputy Minister of Agriculture 2009–2011: Member of the Trade Panel (Minister) of the Eurasian Economic Commission February 26 – July, 2016: Assistant to the Prime Minister July 5, 2016: appointed Deputy Head of the Government’s Executive Office and Director of the Projects Department of the Government of the Russian Federation.