Speaker Biographies

Speaker Biographies

Conference Rapporteur

Antonio Tajani

Vice President and Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, European Commission

Personal Data

-Born in Rome on 4 August 1953
-Married with 2 children
-Lived in Paris, Bologna and Rome

Education and languages

-Classical studies at the 'Torquato Tasso' secondary school, Rome
-Degree in Law from 'La Sapienza' University
-Foreign languages: French, English and Spanish

Professional Activities

-Officer of the Italian Air Force

He completed officer training at the Florence AirWarfare School (Scuola di Guerra Aerea) and attended a specialisation course for Air Defence Controller at the Training Technical Centre at Borgo Piave. Assigned to the Operational Base of the 33rd Air Force Radar Centre, he worked as Air Defence Controller and was Head of the Operations Room monitoring Italian and European civil and military air traffic.

-Professional journalist and parliamentary journalist Editor of the Italian weekly 'Il Settimanale
-Presenter for the RAI 1 radio news programme
-Head of the Rome editorial office of the Italian daily 'Il Giornale' Special correspondent in Lebanon, the Soviet Union and Somalia
-Together with Silvio Berlusconi, he was one of the signatories of the founding act of Forza Italia

Political Positions

-European Commission Vice-President and Commissioner in charge of Industry and Entrepreneurship from February 2010
-European Commission's Vice-President and Commissioner in charge of Transport from May 2008 to February 2010
-Vice-Chair of the European People's Party, elected at the EPP Congress in Estoril in 2002, re-elected at the EPP Congress in Rome in 2006 and re-elected again at the EPP Congress in Bonn in 2009 and in Bucharest in 2012
-Member of the Bureau of the Group of the European People's Party. He has taken part in all EPP summits in preparation of the European Councils
-Member of the Convention on the Future of Europe, which drew up the text of the European Constitution
-Elected as member of the European Parliament in 1994, 1999 and 2004 with over 120 000 preference votes

During his 15 years of parliamentary activity he took part in many committees (Foreign Affairs, Constitutional Affairs, at the time chaired by the President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano, Transport and Tourism, Fisheries, Security and Defence).

-Head of the Forza Italia delegation in the European Parliament from June 1999 until May 2008
-Spokesman for the President of the Italian Council of Ministers during the first Berlusconi Government

Bruce Weinelt

Director, Head of Telecommunication Industries, World Economic Forum

MA (Hons) in French and Management, University of St. Andrews, UK; MBA, College of William & Mary, VA and IESE, Barcelona. 2000-03, Senior Associate, Oliver Wyman, London, UK; 2003-05, Senior Consultant, Spectrum Strategy Consultants, Singapore; 2005-08, Director, Strategy and Business Development, Motorola, Singapore; 2008-10, Managing Director, Ginkgo Management Consulting APAC, Singapore; 2010-12, Senior Expert, Roland Berger Strategy Consultants and Deutsche Telekom, Munich, Germany. Currently Director, Head of Telecommunication Industries, responsible for leading development and implementation of Telecommunications Community strategy.

Tony Long

Director, World Wide Fund for Nature

Tony Long has 35 years of experience leading environmental non-governmental organisations in the UK and Europe. He founded and heads the WWF European Office in Brussels started in 1989. Prrior to that he worked for WWF UK and the Council for the Protection of Rural England. He serves on senior WWF International committees and is a Board member of WWF Greece. He worked in the US Congress and at state levels of government as a joint holder of a Congressional Fellowship of the American Political Science Association and a Harkness Fellowship of the Commonwealth Fund of New York. He is a graduate of Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, in Town and Country Planning. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts (FRSA).

Michel de Rosen

CEO Eutelsat & Chairman, ESOA

Michel de Rosen, Chief Executive Officer and Board Member, Eutelsat Communications – joined Eutelsat Communications in July 2009 and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in November 2009. He is also a board member of Eutelsat Communications.

His career has included Chief Executive positions in international publicly traded groups and senior public service appointments.

He began his career in France in the Inspection générale des finances in the Ministry of Finance. He was Chargé de Mission in the office of the Ministry of Defence from 1980 to 1981 and from 1986 to 1988 was Chief of Staff of the Minister of Industry and Telecommunications.

Between 1983 and 1999 he held executive positions at Rhône-Poulenc, including CEO of Pharmuka from 1983 to 1986, CEO of Rhône-Poulenc Fibers and Polymers from 1988 to 1993, and CEO of Rhône-Poulenc Rorer (USA) from 1993 to 1999. From 2000 to 2008 he was Chairman and CEO of ViroPharma in the USA. He returned to France in 2008 to the position of Chairman and CEO of SGD.

Michel de Rosen is a graduate of the HEC business school and France’s National School of Administration (ENA - EcoleNationaled'Administration). He is also a Board member of ABB.

He is married with four children

Anne Glover

Chief Scientific Adviser to the President, European Commission

Born on 19th April 1956, Anne Glover studied at Edinburgh University (UK) for a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry 1974-78 and then studied at Cambridge University (UK) where she obtained a Doctorate in Molecular Microbiology 1978-81.

She has pursued a career in scientific research at Aberdeen University (UK) where she took up the post of Lecturer in 1983 becoming a Professor in 2001. Her research has been varied and she has investigated how proteins are synthesised and directed to the correct location within our cells, the diversity and function of the microbial population in soil, the development of biological sensors (biosensors) to detect environmental pollution and more recently, how we respond to stress at the molecular level. This current area of research has particular relevance to how we age (our cells are under stress in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease) and also how we respond to artificial stresses such as chemotherapy.

In 1999 she commercialised some of her biosensor technology into a successful company which diagnoses environmental pollution and provides solutions for its clean-up.

She has played major roles for UK research councils in the setting of strategic priorities and budgets for science and has been a partner in several European research initiatives.
In 2006, she was awarded a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) by the Queen in recognition of her services to environmental sciences.

In 2008 she was made a Woman of Outstanding Achievement in Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) and has worked hard to raise the profile of women in SET and to ensure that not only are women are recruited into careers in SET but that they are supported to remain in the profession during their careers.

Anne has a strong interest in how science, engineering and technology can contribute to the developing world and chaired the UK Collaborative on Development Sciences 2009-2011.

2006-2011 Anne served as first Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland, advising the Scottish First Minister.

Anne joined the European Commission on the 1st January 2012 as first Chief Scientific Adviser to the President. Her mandate is linked to the one of the President, i.e. it expires at the end of 2014. In February 2013 she has been appointed to chair the newly created Science and Technology Advisory Council to the President.

Patrick McDougal

Vice-President, Business Development & Strategy, Inmarsat

Patrick McDougal is responsible for overall strategy and business development at Inmarsat, focussing on the identification of longer-term business opportunities and implementation of growth initiatives. He has led the implementation of various commercial and publicly-led projects in which Inmarsat plays a leading or a key role, including organic system and product developments and M&A activities

His activities straddle the technical, marketing and financial disciplines, with a remit to ensure that Inmarsat continues to be a leading innovator in the fast-growing global satellite services industry.

Mr. McDougal first joined Inmarsat in 1990 and led its corporate strategy group until 1995 when an internal project was spun off to become ICO Global Communications. He led a number of functions at ICO, including strategy, global distribution, regulatory and government affairs. In his 30-year career in the satellite communications sector, Mr. McDougal has also held senior posts at Intelsat and KPMG.

Mr. McDougal is a citizen of the UK and Canada, and holds university degrees from University of NSW in Australia (BA – Honours History) and Cornell University in the US (MA – Business and Telecommunications).

Aarti Holla

Secretary General, ESOA

Aarti Holla has been Secretary General of ‘ESOA’, the association of all European satellite operators, since 2004. She works on key issues impacting the industry, strengthening awareness of the benefits of satellite-delivered services with key decision-makers to ensure the global availability of these services & their contribution to key policy objectives such as mobile & emergency communications, bridging the digital divide, secure communications & government services. In addition Ms. Holla is vice-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Space Security where she contributes the private sector perspective to global discussions.

Ms. Holla has 17 years professional experience in the aerospace industry. Prior to ESOA, she represented EADS Astrium in the joint venture company Galileo Industries in Brussels, where she worked closely with European Institutions on the development of the public private partnership scheme of the Galileo programme. Ms. Holla worked at DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (now EADS) in Munich, Germany on project management & strategy before moving to Brussels.

Ms. Holla holds an MBA from HEC in France, a diploma in German law from the University of Passau in Germany and a law degree from King’s College at the University of London. She has previously given workshops on negotiation skills for young managers. She qualified as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court in London in 1995, working with the law firm of Pritchard Englefield. She lives in Brussels, has 3 children and speaks 5 languages.

Jean-Jacques Tortora

Secretary General, Eurospace

Jean-Jacques Tortora currently serves as the Secretary General of ASD-Eurospace, which is the trade association of the European Space Industry.

From 2004 to mid 2007, he was head of the French Space Agency (CNES) office in North America and the Attaché for Space and Aeronautics at the Embassy of France in Washington, D.C.

Previously he was Deputy Director for Strategy and Programs, responsible for the Industrial Strategy of CNES, the French Space Agency.

From 1998 to 2000, Mr. Tortora was adviser to the French Ministry of Research for Industrial Policy and France’s representative in the ESA Industrial Policy Committee and Joint Communication Board.

From 1990 to 1998, he was appointed by Arianespace as Ariane 4 Operations Quality manager first Kourou (French Guiana), then in Evry (France).

Jean-Jacques Dordain

Director General, European Space Agency

Jean-Jacques Dordain, born in Lille in 1946, has been ESA’s Director General since July 2003.

He was reappointed twice to the position by the ESA Council. When he joined ESA in 1986, he was appointed Head of the newly set-up Department for the Promotion and Utilisation of the International Space Station. In 1993, he became Associate Director for Strategy Planning and International Policy, then in 1999 he took the position of Director of Strategy and Technical Assessment. In 2001, he became Director of Launchers.

Mr Dordain graduated in engineering from the Ecole Centrale de Paris in 1969 (the year Neil Armstrong walked on the Moon), and began his scientific career in 1970 in the field of propulsion and rocket boosters at the French National Office for Aerospace Studies and Research (ONERA). From 1976 to 1983, he was the Coordinator of Space Activities at ONERA until he was appointed Director of Fundamental Physics. During this period he was among the first five French astronaut candidates to be selected by CNES for the ESA Spacelab 1 programme.

Throughout his career Mr Dordain has taught in several prestigious positions. He was Professor of Fluid Mechanics at the Ecole Centrale de Paris, 1972–78, and also Professor of Rocket Propulsion at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de l’Aéronautique et de l’Espace (sup’Aero) in Toulouse, 1972–82.

From 1977 to 1993, he was Associated Professor in Mechanical Engineering at the Ecole Polytechnique and, from 1975 to 1995, he was Professor of Fluid Mechanics at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Techniques Avancées (ENSTA). Since 2003, he has been lecturer at La Sapienza University in Rome and Honorary Professor at the University of Technology, Graz, Austria, and at the University of Liège, Belgium.

In 1997, he was invited to be the Executive Secretary of the Evaluation Committee of the Japanese space agency NASDA.

Mr Dordain was awarded the honours of Officer of the French Légion d’Honneur and the Ordre National du Mérite. He was awarded the Order of Friendship by the Russian Federation, the title of Grand Officer in the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic and the Officer’s Cross (Verdienstkreuz I. Klasse) in the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Mr Dordain is a Member of the French Académie des Technologies, an Associate Member of the Belgian Académie Royale des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux Arts. He is also a Member of the Air and Space Academy (France); the International Academy of Astronautics and the Association Aéronautique et Astronautique de France. He has honorary functions as Vice President of the International Astronautical Federation and Chancellor of the International Space University.

Eric Béranger

CEO, Astrium Satellites

Eric Béranger is CEO of Astrium Satellites, one of the three Business Units of Astrium, the space division of EADS.

Since starting his career in 1988, he has held management positions in engineering, operations and finance at France Telecom, Société Générale,and Matra Marconi Space (now
Astrium Satellites). At the inception ofEADS in 2000, he became Senior Vice President Marketing for all space activities.

In 2002-2003 he successfully led the negotiations of the Skynet 5-Paradigm secure satcoms PFI project with UK Ministry of Defence, and was subsequently appointed CEO of Astrium Services at its creation in 2003.

Under his leadership, the company has grown its revenues and workforce more than 15 fold from 2003 to 2012 and achieved major successes with contracts including Skynet 5 (UK), Satcom BW (Germany), Yahsat (UAE), Passerel (France) and the acquisition of Vizada at the end of 2011.

Since October 2012, Eric Béranger is CEO of the first Satellite manufacturer in Europe (No.3 World-wide) and second world space equipment supplier.

In 2006, he was awarded the prestigious Chevalier de la légion d’honneur for his accomplishments in developing space activities.

Born in 1963, Colonel in the public reserve of the French Air Force, he is a graduate engineer from the Ecole Polytechnique and Telecom Paris.

Married with two children, his interests include flying -he holds a pilot's licence-, sports and science.

Jean-Pascal van Ypersele

Vice-Chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Jean-Pascal van Ypersele (1957, Belgium), has a Ph. D. in physics from the « Université catholique de Louvain » (Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium), where he is ordinary (= Full) professor of climatology and environmental sciences, and co-directs the Master programme in Science and Management of the Environment. He made his doctoral research in climatology at NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research, Colorado, USA). He specialized in modelling climate and the climate effects of human activities, and has recently focused his research on climate change at the regional scale (modelling and impacts) and on integrated assessment of climate change. He chairs the Energy & Climate Working Group of the Belgian Federal Council for Sustainable Development. In 2008, Jean-Pascal van Ypersele has been elected Vice-chair of IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which shared with Al Gore the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize), after participating in its work since 1995. In that capacity, he led a reflection group on the future of IPCC, which proposed a number of reforms that were adopted by the IPCC Plenary in 2009. In 2009, he was elected a Member of the Belgian Royal Academy. He has participated to a number of United Nations conferences on climate issues as scientific advisor and was instrumental in creating in 2002 the UN work programme on climate communication and education. Among other prizes, he received in 2006 the « Energy and environment award » from the International Polar Foundation, the “Francqui Chair” from the Université libre de Bruxelles in 2007-2008, and was made Honorary Member of the Club of Rome EU Chapter in 2010. In 2011, he received the « Francqui Chair » form HUBrussel, co-organized the first Stephen Schneider Symposium , was made honorary citizen of the city of Dinant (Belgium), and received the highest distinction awarded by the Government of the Walloon Region: “Commandeur du Mérite wallon”. In 2013, he co-chaired the first Interdisciplinary Symposium on Sustainable Development in Namur.

Menghestab Haile

Deputy Director, UN World Food Program Liaison Office to the AU & ECA

Dr Haile is currently serving as the Deputy Director of the World Food Programme Liaison Office to the African Union and the Economic Commission for Africa based in Ethiopia, Addis Ababa.

Dr Haile joined the World Food Programme in 1999 in the Sudan, Khartoum, where he served as Head of the Vulnerability and Analysis and Mapping (VAM) Unit and leading the Food Security Analysis in the Sudan. He moved to Rome at the end of 2002 joining WFP Head Quarters. As a VAM advisor he travelled extensively in developing countries providing technical assistance in Food Security, Climate Change and Early Warning analysis. He then took a post as a Senior Policy Advisor of the Deputy Executive Director of WFP.

Before joining WFP, Dr Haile worked for the private sector (a French company based in Kenya), an Assistant Lecturer in physics in Arba Minch, Ethiopia, with the Government of Ethiopia in the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission DPPC as Food Security Early Warning Advisor. He has extensive experience of working with diverse cultures, nationalities and responsibilities.

Dr Haile has a PhD in Meteorology from the University of Reading, UK in 1994.

Dr Haile was born in Ethiopia in 1961 and currently holds UK Citizenship.

François Taddei

Founder, Centre for Research & Interdisciplinarity

François Taddei is a researcher in evolutionary systems biology and an expert on the future of research and education. He has created bachelor, master & PhD programs in the Center for Research and Interdisciplinary in Paris in order to empower the new generations of change makers by training them through research at the frontiers of disciplines.

Through the project called “Les Savanturiers” he has recruited a group of 18 primary school students to work with two of France’s leading myrmecologists, or ant experts. The idea is to help the students realize that even on a small thing like ants they can be actors in their own knowledge. Through that they can also be actors in a global society.

François Taddei has taken the lead of the Institute for Learning Through Research that has been selected in March 2012 by the International Scientific Committee of the National Innovative Training Program (IDEFI) of the French ministry of research. François Taddei participates in various working groups on the future of research and education (« France 2025 », OECD report…).

Colin McElwee

Co-founder, Worldreader (WEF GAC Africa)

Colin is Co-founder of Worldreader and focuses on strategy and business development, putting to good use his for-profit and non-for-profit experience across the globe. Most recently, Colin was the director of marketing at ESADE Business School in Barcelona, where he helped establish the school’s reputation as a world-class business education provider. Prior to that, he started his career as an economist for several Brussels-based lobbies, and later worked in global marketing in the consumer goods sector for Scottish & Newcastle PLC. Colin has a degree in economics from the University of Manchester and an MBA from ESADE Business School. He is an invited member of the Global Agenda Council on Africa of the World Economic Forum.

Humberto Delgado Rosa

Director, Mainstreaming Adaptation and Low Carbon Technology, DG Climate Action, European Commission

Humberto Delgado Rosa was appointed as Director of Directorate C (Mainstreaming Adaptation and Low Carbon Technology), DG Climate Action, European Commission, since mid-January 2012.

H. Delgado Rosa has relevant experience in European and international environmental policy, particularly in climate change issues. Having served as Secretary of State for the Environment of the Portuguese Government from March 2005 to June 2011, he held responsibility in environmental issues in general, and particularly in climate change, environmental impact assessment, pollution prevention and control, air quality, noise, waste management, biodiversity and nature conservation, sustainable development. During the Portuguese Presidency of the EU in 2007, he acted as EU lead negotiator for the UN Climate Change Conference, when the Bali Roadmap was approved, and he was involved in the launch in Lisbon of the International Carbon Action Partnership, and of the European Initiative on Business and Biodiversity.

In 2005 H.D. Rosa was elected Member of the Portuguese Parliament for the Socialist Party, having interrupted his mandate to integrate the Government. Between 1995 and 2002 he has served as advisor for environmental matters to the Prime-Minister of Portugal.

He received both his PhD in Evolutionary Biology (1995) and his undergraduate degree in Biology (1983) from the University of Lisbon (UL), where he was assistant professor at the Department of Animal Biology Department and researcher at the Environmental Biology, Faculty of Sciences. Rosa’s academic career includes having taught at undergraduate and graduate levels on several issues of animal biology, biodiversity and environmental ethics. He is author or co-author of several peer-reviewed international papers on zoology, as well as of chapters of edited books on bioethics, environmental ethics, environment and biodiversity. He was editor of a book on life science ethics (“Bioethics for the Natural Sciences”, ed. Luso-American Development Foundation, Lisbon, 2004). He has wide experience as keynote speaker on national or international meetings, in issues of environment, sustainability, environmental policy and ethics.

Humberto Delgado Rosa has been a member of several professional and scientific organizations and has served on the following boards: President, European Communities Biologists Association (1989-1991); General Secretary, Portuguese Biologists Association (1987-1995); President, Portuguese Society of Natural Sciences (2002-2005); founder and Vice-President, Portuguese Society of Herpetology (1993-2005); Member of the Board, European Society for Agriculture and Food Ethics (2003-2005); founder and General Assembly Chair, Portuguese Society of Environmental Ethics (2000-2005).

H. Delgado Rosa was born in Lisbon in 1960. He is the father of two children. He is fluent in English, French and Spanish.

Roberto Viola

Deputy Director General, DG CONNECT, European Commission

Roberto Viola holds a doctor degree in electronic engineering (Dr. Eng.) and a master in business administration (MBA).

He is Deputy Director General at European Commission - DG CNECT, with responsibilities for Electronic Communications Networks and Services Directorate, Cooperation Directorate - International and Inter-institutional relations, Stakeholders cooperation, Coordination Directorate - Growth and Jobs, Innovations and Knowledge Base, Media and Data Directorate.
Since 2005 to 2012 he has been the Secretary General in charge of managing AGCOM (Italian media and telecom regulator).

He has been Chairman for 2012-2013 of the European Radio Spectrum Policy group (RSPG), he was Deputy Chairman for 2011 and Chairman for 2010.

He was in the Board of BEREC (Body of European Telecom Regulators).

He was Chairman for 2007 of the European Regulatory Group (ERG).

He served in AGCOM (1999-2004), as Director of regulation department and technical Director being in charge of, inter alia, regulation in terrestrial, cable and satellite television, frequency planning, access and interconnection of communication services, cost accounting and tariff in telecommunication and broadcasting services.

From 1985-1999 he served in various position as a staff member of the European Space Agency (ESA) in particular, he has been head of telecommunication and broadcasting satellite services.

He is Professor of Business models for ICT at the Computer Engineering Faculty – University of Rome “La Sapienza”.

He pioneered novel communication systems (UMTS, satellite radio, digital broadcasting) publishing more than 100 scientific papers and holding key patents in the sector.

Alain Ratier

Director General, Eumetsat

Born in 1958 in France, Mr. Alain Ratier studied mathematics and sciences, graduating from Ecole Polytechnique in 1981 and from the French National School of Meteorology in 1983. He also earned a Master degree in oceanography from the Paris VI University.

Mr. Ratier’s professional career has developed at the cross-road of meteorology, oceanography and Earth observation from space.

After joining the French Meteorological Service in 1983, he spent 5 years in R&D activities on modelling of the upper ocean and air-sea interactions. In a first encounter with satellites, he developed data assimilation techniques enabling the French numerical weather prediction models to ingest sea surface temperature and wind observations from space-borne sensors. In parallel, he became rapidly exposed to operational responsibilities, as the head of the marine forecast service, and to the management of space projects, through his involvement in the development of the CERSAT Processing and Archiving Facility for the ESA European Remote Sensing (ERS) satellites.

During his secondment to the French Space Agency (CNES), from 1987 to 1996, Mr. Ratier contributed to expanding the scope of the French Earth observation programme to atmospheric, oceanographic and climate sciences, gaining approval of POLDER, an imaging polarimeter flown on the Japanese ADEOS satellites to study cloud-aerosols-radiation interactions, Jason, the follow on mission to Topex-Poseidon, and the IASI infrared sounder flown aboard the Metop series. As a programme manager, he organised interactions with the user communities and managed cooperation with international partner agencies in Europe, the USA, Japan, and Russia. In 1994, Mr. Ratier was appointed associate director for Earth observation programmes. In this period he has represented France at ESA (PB-EO), relevant EC committees and the CEOS plenary.
In 1996, Mr. Ratier was selected as the Director of Programme Development of EUMETSAT and deputy to the Director-General, Dr. Tillmann Mohr. In this capacity, he guided the development of the Meteosat Second Generation and EUMETSAT Polar System programmes, the initial deployment of the distributed network of Satellite Application Facilities and the EUMETSAT contribution to Jason-2. He was also the architect of the user-driven process established for the definition of requirements for future EUMETSAT programmes, starting with Meteosat Third Generation.
In 2004, Mr. Ratier returned to Météo-France, as deputy director-general. In this post, he directly supported the Chairman and CEO in all strategic and management matters, with delegated responsibility for services to government - including all missions in support of safety of life and property, defence, environment – air navigation services, international relations, space matters and supervision of high power computing projects.

On 1 December 2010, the EUMETSAT Council elected Mr. Ratier as the new Director-General of the organisation, with effect on 1 August 2011.


CAREER PATH

2011 – to date: Director-General of EUMETSAT
2004 - 2011: Deputy Director-general, Météo-France
1996-2004: Director of Programme Development and Deputy Director General, EUMETSAT
1994 - 1996: Associate Director for Earth Observation Programmes, CNES
1993-1994: Head, Earth and Environment Sciences Division, CNES
1992: Deputy head, Earth and Environment Sciences Division, CNES
1988-1991: Manager for ocean-atmosphere programmes, Earth and Environment Sciences Division, CNES
1987-1988: Deputy manager for space meteorology/oceanography, in charge of space oceanography, CNES
1983-1987: R&D team leader, ocean data assimilation and air-sea interactions, Météo-France
1983-1984: Head of Marine Forecasting, Forecasting Division, Météo-France

Dominique Ristori

Director General, Joint Research Centre

D. Ristori has been working in the European Commission since 1978 where he has held several positions. Prior to his current position, he was Deputy Director General of the Directorate General for Energy, in charge of nuclear energy policy, in particular the development of the EU legal framework and international relations (2006 – 2010).
Whilst Director in charge of General Affairs and Resources at Directorate-General for Energy and Transport, he was responsible for interinstitutional relations; enlargement and international relations; coordination of energy and transport research; internal market, state aids, infringements and public service obligations; passengers' and users' rights; central management of human and budgetary resources (2000 - 2006). Between 1996 and 1999, he was Director in charge of European Energy Policy at Directorate-General for Energy.
In the period of 1990 – 1996 D. Ristori was in charge of transnational cooperation between SMEs at the Directorate-General for Enterprise policy.
D. Ristori graduated from the Institute of Political Studies of Paris (1975).

Ann Tutwiler

Director General, Bioversity International

Ann Tutwiler, is Director General of Bioversity International. She became Director General in August 2013 and is responsible for leading Bioversity International, forging effective research partnerships and overseeing the organization’s strategic priorities and research agenda

Ann has almost 30 years of experience in agricultural policy and development working in the public and private sectors. She served as Deputy Director-General, Knowledge, at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) from January 2011 through November 2012. As a member of senior management at FAO, she managed five technical departments including Agriculture & Consumer Protection, Natural Resources Management & Environment, Forestry, Fisheries & Aquaculture, Economic & Social Development and Office of Knowledge Exchange, Research & Extension. From June 2009 to January 2011, she worked in the Office of the Secretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Previously, she served as Senior Advisor of International Affairs for the U.S. Agency for International Development, where she recommended reforms to USAID programs in relation to international development in Africa. She was managing director of agricultural markets at The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation from 2006 to 2009. Ann holds a master’s degree from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and a bachelor’s degree from Davidson College, where she received the John W. Kuykendall Award for Community Service in 2005. She has certificates for professional courses in Agribusiness Management from Purdue University and Insead.

Florika Fink-Hooijer

Director for Strategy, Policy and International Co-operation, DG ECHO, European Commission

Dr. Florika Fink-Hooijer has spent most of her career in the Commission on foreign external policy matters and in particular on crisis management and conflict prevention. She is currently the Director for Strategy, Policy and International Cooperation at the Directorate General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection. Previously she was Head of Cabinet of Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva, who is responsible for humanitarian aid, international cooperation and crisis response.

Inside the Commission Dr. Fink-Fooijer had set up the managerial and financial structures for CFSP and crisis management and has been directly involved in initiating numerous EU police, rule of law or protection missions in third countries. Her professional experience includes the design and management of various conflict prevention schemes such as instruments to counter the financing of terrorism as well as the EU's sanctions management in general. Dr. Fink-Fooijer has also been negotiating for the EU the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme to curb the trade in blood diamonds and has been responsible for EU relations with Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand. Inside the Secretariat General of the Commission she has been responsible for the Commission's external policy coordination after having advised various Commissioners as member of their cabinet on EU external policies at large as well as on justice and home affairs and internal market matters.

Giuseppe Morsillo

Director Policy Planning & Control, European Space Agency

Giuseppe Morsillo took up duty as ESA Director for ESA Policies, Planning and Control (D/PPC) on 1 April 2011.

Giuseppe Morsillo has 27 years of experience in international environments, operating in production, engineering, programme management, marketing and sales, procurement, strategic marketing, strategic planning and control, national and international relations, mainly in the space sector but also in the aeronautics and defence sectors, in industry as well as in governmental and intergovernmental agencies.

He graduated with honours in Electrical Engineering in 1983 from the Polytechnic of Naples, Italy. From 1983 to 2000, he held several positions in various aerospace companies of Finmeccanica, the last being Head of Civil Marketing of Alenia Aerospazio Space Division.

In 2001, he joined the Italian space agency ASI, where he served in various positions, the last being Head of Strategy & National and International Relations, while also being Chairman of ELV and Italian delegate to the ESA Council.

In 2005, he joined ESA as Head of the Director General’s Policy Office, in charge of coordination with Member States and EU institutions, strategic planning and control, security strategy, management of future studies and advanced concepts.

The new Directorate for ESA Policies, Planning and Control will define ESA policies and consolidate resources planning and control at corporate level.

Fabio Leite

Deputy Director, BR, ITU

Mr Fabio Leite holds a Master of Applied Science degree in Electrical Engineering with specialization in Telecommunications (1980).

In his professional life, he has held different positions in the radiocommunica¬tions field in Brazil, in both public and private sectors, as well as in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Brazil
Mr Leite worked for EMBRATEL, the Brazilian long-distance telecommunication carrier, where he was responsible for the engineering of BRAZILSAT, the first Brazilian domestic satellite system, successfully launched in 1985.

Since 1980, he participated in many ITU radiocommunication conferences and meetings as member of Brazilian delegations, responsible for technical and regulatory is¬sues. He was elected Vice Chairman of the ITU Radiocommunication Study Group responsible for satellite services in 1986.

ITU
His career in the ITU started in 1987 and since then he has held several functions at the Union, such as Radiocommunication Engineer in the Space Services Depart¬ment of BR, Counsellor in the Study Group Department of BR and Project Manager of ITU’s third generation mobile communications project, namely International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) in the Office of the Secretary-General.

Radiocommunication Conferences
Mr Leite took part in several ITU Radiocommunication Conferences, either as member of the Brazilian delegation (WARC-ORB-85 and RARC-SAT-R2-83), as ITU staff and Technical Secretary (WRC-2000, WRC-97, WRC-95, WRC-92 and WARC-ORB-88) or as Executive Secretary (WRC-07, RRC-06, WRC-03).

Current position
As of 2005, Mr Leite holds the positions of Deputy-Director and Chief of the Informatics, Administration and Publications Department (IAP) of BR.

In 2010, Mr. Fabio Leite was candidate of Brazil for the post of Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau.

Frank Raes

Head of Climate Risk Management Unit, Joint Research Centre, European Commission

Frank Raes obtained his PhD in at the University of Ghent (B), and made post-doctoral research at the University of California Los Angeles (USA). His scientific background is in atmospheric chemistry - climate interactions. He is visiting professor at the Bocconi University, Milan (I) and the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena (USA). Between 1999 and 2011, he has lead the Climate Change and Air Quality Unit at the Joint Research Centre. He authored the book: “Air and Climate: conversations about molecules, and planets , with humans in between”, including interviews with leading climate scientists His research supports to the development of integrated mitigation and adaptation EU climate policies.

David Gleicher

Senior Manager, Strategic Foresight Team, World Economic Forum

David Gleicher is Senior Manager for the Strategic Foresight team at the World Economic Forum where he is responsible for strategy and scenario planning projects for countries, regions and industries. David is also manages the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Space Security which promotes cross-sector dialogue on how Space technology and services can help address Earth's greatest challenges. David holds a Masters in Public Policy degree from The Hertie School of Governance, Berlin and a BA in Development Studies and Chinese from the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies. Previously at the World Economic Forum David worked on the annual flagship report Global Risks and the Forum’s related global risk activities. From 2008 - 2011 David worked for Global Health Europe, a virtual policy think tank and platform hosted by the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies’ Global Health Programme. While at Global Health Europe David contributed to the formation of the EU's strategy on global health and foreign policy.

Chris Forrester

Editorial Director, Inside Satellite TV

Chris Forrester is a well-known broadcasting journalist and industry consultant. He reports on all aspects of broadcasting with special emphasis on satellite, the business of television and emerging applications.

He has a unique knowledge of the international broadcasting scene, having interviewed at length – and frequently - the operational heads of many of the main TV channels and pay-TV platforms, as well as those running the satellite companies. He has written extensively on the subject of 3D, both for broadcast and the cinema. He has covered in depth the Super HD and Ultra HDTV development work undertaken by NHK Japan.

His daily news output can be read on Advanced-television.com, as well as on the Dow Jones Factiva service.

For some ten years until 2002 he was Editor of specialist newsletter Interspace, and Contributing Editor for Inside Digital TV. In 2002 he took on the editorship of Satcoms Insider, and its successor Inside Satellite TV, the highly-regarded specialised newsletter for the digital broadcasting industry. He is also European Contributing Editor for SatMagazine.com, the leading industry on-line monthly.