Programme

John was appointed the Innovation Editor on February 2016. Prior to that John has been the deputy editor at the Financial Times since September 2012. He was appointed Financial Times’ news editor, based in London on the main news desk, in January 2009. Prior to this he spent four years in Paris as the editor of the European edition of the Financial Times. Joining the FT in 1988 as a graduate trainee, Thornhill has been the Paris bureau chief, world news editor, Asia editor, Moscow bureau chief and a Lex columnist. John founded and runs the FT's 125 executive forum, which holds monthly meetings for senior executives from a range of industries. Previous speakers have included Bill Gates, Jack Dorsey, Ana Botin, and Mark Carney.In his spare time, John is a keen cyclist and plays chess. He also takes his long-suffering son to support Sunderland football club.

Nicole Bricq was elected to the Ile-de-France Regional Council in 1986, and later becamechair of the Council's Cultural Committee. From 1988 to 1990, she served as technical adviser to the office of the Minister of Defence. In 1992, she was an adviser on the staff of the Minister for the Environment, where she was responsible for relations with Parliament and local officials. She was elected to Parliament in 1997, representing a constituency in the département of Seine-et-Marne, and became a member of the Finance Committee. In September 2004, she was elected to the Senate, representing the same département. She joined the Finance Committee and was elected vice-president in October 2008, and then became General Rapporteur in October 2011. In the first Ayrault government (May–June 2012), Nicole Bricq served as Minister for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy. In June 2012, she was appointed Minister for Foreign Trade. Nicole Bricq holds a master's degree in private law, and is an expert in public finance and taxation issues. She is 65 years old.

Born in Moscow in 1966, in 1989 graduated Moscow State University of Geodesy and Cartography cum laude with a degree in applied cosmonautics. In 2008 – 2009 trained at INSEAD management school in Paris. Hold a post graduate degree in Economics. Works in construction since 1989. In 1993 founded Barkli, an investment and construction corporation currently one of the leaders in real estate development and construction market. Barkli Inc has constructed and restored over 300 sites in Moscow. In 2006 Mr. Kazinets has been awarded the Honorary Badge for working in construction. Social and political activity: - member of the presidential council for residential policy and living accessibility; - president of the National Real Estate Development Association; - vice chairman of the Public Council and the Russian Construction ministry; - pro bono advisor to the mayor of Moscow; - board member of Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, chairman of the real estate policy commission; - leader of a commission for construction code simplification at the Agency of Strategic initiatives.

Edward Skyler joined Citi as Executive Vice President for Global Public Affairs in 2010. He leads external and internal communications, government affairs, branding, corporate sponsorship and the Citi Foundation and shares leadership of Investor Relations. Prior to joining Citi, Mr. Skyler served as a member of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's administration from 2002 to 2010, rising to the position of Deputy Mayor for Operations for the City of New York. In that capacity, he oversaw the performance of the City's main operational agencies and served as a top budget, legislative, and labor negotiator. Prior to joining the Bloomberg Administration, he worked in the Corporate Communications group of Bloomberg LP. He also served as Deputy Press Secretary to Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Public Information Director at the Department of Parks & Recreation. Mr. Skyler is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and earned a law degree from the Fordham University School of Law. A member of the New York State Bar Association, he has been honored by many civic organizations, including the Association for a Better New York.

In 1998, Ron Huldai was elected the ninth Mayor of Tel Aviv-Yafo, the first Modern Hebrew city, founded in 1909. He is currently serving his third consecutive five-year term, and has announced he will run for office for the fourth time in October 2013. Huldai’s vision for Tel Aviv-Yafo is to position it as a global center of innovation and creativity. Capitalizing on the city's status of the center of the Israeli "Startup Nation," Huldai aims to make Greater Tel Aviv a sort of Silicon Valley for entrepreneurs outside the U.S. The accomplishments of Huldai’s administration have had a demonstrable impact on the city; most significantly, Mayor Huldai has eliminated the municipal deficit and for the past twelve years managed to maintain a balanced budget. In light of this turn-around, Standard and Poor’s has affirmed the city the coveted AAA rating. Tel Aviv-Yafo is the cultural center of Israel and Mayor Huldai has made it a priority to upgrade and build cultural facilities. Twenty mega projects were carried out over the past 15 years requiring an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars, including: the New Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Habima National Theater and the Tel Aviv Cinemateque, among many others. During Huldai’s tenure, the city’s population has increased by over 10% following four decades of negative growth. A particular demographic that has increased is that of young people, which doubled since Huldai took office. Today, one of every three residents is between the ages of 18 and 35. Ron Huldai was born in 1944 and raised in Kibbutz Hulda. He joined the Israeli Air Force in 1963 and served as a combat pilot for 26 years, including during the Six Day and Yom Kippur Wars. He served as commander of two of Israel’s largest air force bases and retired from the Israeli Air Force with the rank of Brigadier General. After his military service, Huldai had the opportunity to pursue his life-long dream. Following in the footsteps of his parents, who were educators, he became principal of the renowned Gymnasia Herzlyia, among Israel’s most prestigious high schools. During his tenure he transformed a much-deteriorated institution into a pedagogical showcase of educational and organizational excellence. Mayor Ron Huldai is married to Yael, and they have three children and eight grandchildren. He enjoys cycling along the city’s beachfront, is an avid reader, an amateur musician and frequent sampler of the city's cultural offering.

Andrei Sharonov joined Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO in September 2013 as Dean, having left the position of Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Economic Policy in Moscow City Government.Born in 1964 in Ufa, Andrei Sharonov graduated as an engineer from Ufa State Aviation Technical University and as a lawyer from Russian Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation; in 1994 obtained his PhD in Social Studies.From 1989 to 1991 a Member of the Soviet Parliament, Congress of People’s deputies of the USSR; till 1996 chaired the Russian Federal Committee (Ministry) on Youth Affairs.In 1996-2007 occupied the positions of Deputy Minister, State Secretary and First Deputy Minister at Economics Development Ministry of Russian Federation.In the period from 2007 till 2010, Managing Director and the Board of Directors’ Chairman for Troika Dialog (Private Investment Company).Board Member for OJSC NOVATEK, ALROSA Group, Bank of Moscow OJSC, OJSC Sovcomflot, MC NefteTransService LLC and JSC Eco-System Management Company.As of December 22, 2010, by appointment of Moscow City Mayor Decree, Andrei Sharonov served at Moscow City Government as Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Economic Policy in charge of budgeting, industrial and city business development, regional rate regulations as well as competition and public retail and procurement policy, trade and services.Since 2012, Andrei Sharonov is heading Executive Committees of Moscow Urban Forum and Open Innovations Forum.Andrei Sharonov received 2009 “Aristos” Awards as “Independent Director” and “Director of the Year”; the Person of the Year in Business Reputation for 2012.Andrei Sharonov was awarded with the Order of Honour and granted the title of “Honoured Economist of Russian Federation”.

David Gray joined PwC in London in 1987 and has been with PwC Russia since 1994. On 1 July 2011, David was appointed as Managing Partner of PwC Russia. Prior to this appointment, he led PwC's Energy, Utilities and Mining practice in Central and Eastern Europe. David has been working in Russia for more than 19 years and has helped build a market-leading practice. He has a wealth of experience in the Russian market and in-depth knowledge of our firm, team and clients. David brings energy, commitment and vision to the task of achieving PwC Russia’s ambitious strategy. David is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. He holds a degree in Geography from the University of Newcastle (UK) as well as a PhD in Economic Geography from the University of London.

Jean-François Cirelli was born on July 9, 1958, in Chambéry (France). He is a graduate of the Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris and the Ecole Nationale d’Administration (1983-1985). He also has a degree in law. He began his professional career in 1985 when he went to work for the Treasury division of the French Ministry of the Economy and Finances. He was successively in charge of housing policy, the General Secretariat of the Paris Club (rescheduling of sovereign debt) and the regulation of financial markets. He was also an alternate director for France at the IMF. In 1995, he was named economic counselor to the President of the French Republic (Jacques Chirac), a position he held until 2002. In 2002, Jean-François Cirelli was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff to the French Prime Minister (Jean-Pierre Raffarin). He was primarily in charge of economic, industrial and labor issues. In 2004, Jean-François Cirelli was named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Gaz de France, where he organized the merger with Suez, which took place on July 2008. Since then, Jean-François Cirelli has been Vice Chairman and President of GDF SUEZ. In addition, all activities of GDF SUEZ Energy Europe have been under his direct responsibility since January 1st, 2012. He is also Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Electrabel, Board Member of SUEZ Environnement and Supervisory Board Member of Vallourec. He has been President of Eurogas association since June 11, 2010. Jean-François Cirelli is married and the father of two children. He is a « Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur » and « Officier dans l’Ordre National du Mérite ».