Executive Chairman
Klaus Schwab
Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum
Qualifications
Studied at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and the Universities of Fribourg and Harvard. Degrees include Doctorates in Mechanical Engineering and in Economics (summa cum laude).
Career
1972-2003, Professor of Business Policy, University of Geneva. Author of several books, the yearlyGlobal Competitiveness Report (since 1979) and numerous other publications. Founded the World Economic Forum in 1971 as a not-for-profit foundation and built it into the foremost global partnership of business, political, intellectual and other leaders of society committed to improving the state of the world. Co-founder (1998), with his wife Hilde, of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, supporting social innovation around the world. Founder (2004) of The Forum of Young Global Leaders. Has been active, in addition, in editorial, academic and public service organizations, as well as in UN-related high-level functions. Academic distinctions include Honorary Professorship and six honorary doctorates. For his initiatives undertaken in the spirit of entrepreneurship in the global public interest and for his reconciliation efforts in several regions he has received numerous international and national honours, including the Knighthood (KCMG) bestowed by H.M. the Queen of England.
Managing Board
 Børge Brende
Managing Director
Qualifications
Børge Brende received his BA from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
Career
Børge Brende held the government posts of Minister of the Environment, 2001 to 2004, and Minister of Trade and Industry, 2004 to 2005. He has also been a member of the Norwegian parliament for more then 10 years.
Børge's political career began with his participation in the Norwegian Young Conservatives, becoming Political Secretary to the chairman in 1985. From 1986 to 1987, he was Political Adviser to the Conservative Party Chairman and parliamentary group. In 1988 he was elected as the Chairman of the Norwegian Young Conservatives. Between 1990 and 1992 he was CFO, KB Entreprenør, a Norwegian contracting firm.
In 1992 he became a full time member of the City of Trondheims Municipal Executive Board, and Chairman, Conservative party group, Trondheim City Council. In 1994 he was elected deputy Chairman of the Norwegian Conservative party and was member of the Storting, the Norwegian parliament, from 1997 to 2007. He served as member of the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs and deputy Chairman of the Standing Committee on Energy and the Environment
In 2005 he took up the appointment of International Vice Chairman of the China Council for the International Cooperation on Environment and Development (advisory board to the State Council), adding to his record of committee work on issues ranging from sustainable development to promoting democracy. Børge served as Chairman of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development 2003-204.
Børge joined the World Economic Forum as Managing Director in January 2008.
Richard Samans
Managing Director, Centre for Public-Private Partnerships
Qualifications
Rick received a BA in Economics and French from Tufts University. He completed a Masters degree in International Affairs at Columbia University.
Career
Rick began his career in 1982 with Credit Lyonnais USA as Corporate Lending Officer. He then became Legislative Assistant to a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, between 1985 and 1988. Until 1991, Rick was a Professional Staff Member and Senior Legislative Assistant to the Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. From 1992 to 1993, he was an International Affairs Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in London and Washington DC. Rick was then Associate Director and Staff Director for the Subcouncil on Capital Allocation on the Competitiveness Policy Council between 1993 and 1996. Thereafter, he held the position of Economic Policy Adviser to the Senate Minority Leader until 1999. Rick served the Clinton Administration as Special Assistant to the United States President for International Economic Policy, from 1999-2001. He was an Adjunct Faculty Member and Guest Lecturer in International Relations at the School of International Service, American University. Rick joined the World Economic Forum in 2001 as Director of Global Issues, and as an Associate Member of the Managing Board. He was appointed Managing Director in August 2003.
André
Schneider
Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer
Qualifications
André is a Classical Orchestra Musician and received a Diploma from the Richard Strauss Konservatorium in Munich. He has a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Geneva.
Career
André launched his career in the world music as a classical musician. He has played for the Philharmonic Orchestra of Berlin, the Staatstheater Kassel, the Symphony Orchestra of the Radio Saarland and the Lucerne International Festival Orchestra. He then concentrated on his interest in Information Technology and became a Researcher in parallel computers for the European Community. At IBM Consulting Group, he was Product Developer, Consultant and Principal. Before joining the World Economic Forum in 1998, he was an IT consultant for various companies and organizations and a member of numerous committees. In 2000, André was appointed Director of Knowledge Management and Associate Member of the Managing Board. He has been a member of the Managing Board since January 2003. André is a consultant for various companies and organizations and speaks on IT-related topics.
Managing Directors (non members of the Board)
 Mark Adams
Managing Director, Head of Communication and Media
Qualifications
Mark received his BA (Hons) in Economics and Politics from Manchester University in the United Kingdom as well as a BA (Hons) in Art History from the Open University.
Career
He worked as a Reporter for the BBC from 1986 until 1990, before joining Independent Television News as Programme Editor and Producer, between 1990 until 1999. From 1999 to 2002, Mark was Editorial Director of Euronews 24-hour news channel. He joined the World Economic Forum in 2003 as Director, Media, and became head of the Communications department in 2005.
Gilbert Probst
Managing Director, and Dean of the Global Leadership Fellows Programme
Qualifications
Gilbert was awarded both his PhD in Economic and Social Sciences and MBA from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Career
Professor Probst's career spans both academia and commerce. He is currently Professor for Organisational Behaviour and Management and Director of the Executive-MBA programme at the University of Geneva, Switzerland.
He was a lecturer and vice president of the Institute of Management, University of St. Gallen, Switzerland; and a visiting professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, University of Vienna, and International Management Institute, Geneva. He is also an award-winning author, collaborator and editor of a number of books and articles.
He's advised a variety of global corporations, from BMW and Deutsche Bank to Siemens and Winterthur Insurance, and has been a board member for Kuoni, Holcim and Acqiris. He founded the Geneva Knowledge Forum of 18 companies, the Center for Organizational Excellence at the Universities of St Gallen and Geneva, and the Strategic Knowledge Group, Zurich. He is board president of the Swiss Top Executive Training (SKU).
He was appointed Managing Director, and Dean of the Global Leadership Fellows Programme, World Economic Forum, in February 2007.
Senior Directors
David Aikman
Christoph Frei
Malte Godbersen
Lee Howell
Fiona Paua
Alex Wong
David Aikman
Senior Director, Head of Partnership; Head of The Forum of Young Global Leaders
Qualifications
1995, BA (Hons) in English and German Literature, Dalhousie University, Canada; 2003, MBA, IMD, Switzerland.
Career
1995-2002, International Olympic Committee, Switzerland: Marketing Coordinator, Licensing; Marketing Manager, Licensing; Marketing Group Manager, Business Development; 2003-2005, Associate Director, Global Institute for Partnership and Governance; since 2005, current position.
Christoph Frei
Senior Director, Head of Energy Industries
Qualifications
1989-95, graduate studies in Electrical Engineering, Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (ETH), Zürich and Lausanne (4th year); 1993-94, training and diploma thesis: solar cells research, ten months at the Institute of Microtechnique, University of Neuchâtel; 1995-97, Master of Science in Energy Systems, ETH Lausanne (EPFL), specialization in Economics and Management; LASEN Award 1998 (diploma thesis); 1997-2000, postgraduate studies in Econometrics, University of Geneva; 1997-2000, PhD thesis in Energy Policy Analysis, Laboratory of Energy Systems (LASEN), EPFL; ABB Energy Research Award 2001 (PhD thesis); 2001-02, European Masters in Applied Ethics, Ethics Centre, University of Zurich.
Career
1998-2000, Research Fellow, General Energy Research Department/Energy Economics group, Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), Villigen, Switzerland; 2000-01, Research Fellow, Centre for Energy Policy and Economics (CEPE), ETH; Since 2001, Lecturer, postgraduate course "Energy Systems in an Economy-wide Framework", for the Master of Science in Energy Systems, ETH Lausanne (EPFL); May 2001, joined the World Economic Forum.
Malte Godbersen
Senior Director, Head of Information Technology
Qualifications
Diploma in Physics, Karl-Ruprechts University, Germany; PhD in Natural Sciences, Karl-Ruprechts University and Max-Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, Germany; MBA, University of Geneva, HEC, Switzerland.
Career
1991-95, Researcher, European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and Max-Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, Germany; 1996-98, Consultant, IBM Consulting Group, Switzerland; 1998-2000, Manager and Practice Leader, IBM Consulting Group, Switzerland. 2000-03, Director, Knowledge Management, World Economic Forum.
Lee Howell
Senior Director, Head of Asia, Head of Global Agenda
Qualifications
BA in Economics and East Asian Languages and Literature, University of Maryland; LLM in International Legal Studies, Washington College of Law.
Career
1993-96, Fellow, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS); 1997-99, Deputy Director, Japan Society of New York; 2000, Consultant to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; 2001, Director, 2002 Annual Meeting Programme in New York, World Economic Forum; 2002-03, Senior Policy Advisor for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Fiona Paua
Senior Director, Head of Strategic Insight Teams; Senior Adviser to the Executive Chairman
Qualifications
BA Dual Honours Degree in Asian Studies and Government, Dartmouth College; Master in Public Administration, John F Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Career
1994-1995, Financial Analyst, Goldman Sachs; 1996-1998, Country Head of Research, Vice President-Financial Markets, Citibank N.A.; 2001-present, World Economic Forum: 2001-2003, Economist, Global Competitiveness Network, World Economic Forum; 2003-present, Senior Adviser to the Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum; 2004, Responsible for the Forum of Young Global Leaders, World Economic Forum; 2005, Responsible for the Global Leadership Fellows Programme, World Economic Forum; 2006, Head of Global Competitiveness Network, World Economic Forum; 2007-present, Head of Strategic Insight Teams, World Economic Forum.
Alex Wong
Senior Director, Head of Center for Global Industries (Geneva)
Qualifications
1989, BASc in Mechanical Engineering, University of Toronto; 2000, MPA, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
Career
1986-87, Engineer, General Motors; 1989-2000, Senior Manager, Strategic Services, Accenture (formerly Andersen Consulting); serving on the board of various non-profit organizations; since 2000, current position.
Directors
Haiko Alfeld
Director, Head of Africa
Qualifications
1987, Bachelor's degree in Social Science, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
Career
Served in the South African Department of Foreign Affairs, with the following postings: Press Attaché, South African Embassy, Berne; responsible for Humanitarian Affairs, Refugees and Migration Issues, SA Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Geneva. Between assignments in Switzerland, seconded to the South African Parliament to contribute to the establishment of a Parliamentary international relations capacity; since 2002, current position.
Guy-Serge Baer
Principal, Head of Security Affairs
Qualifications
1975, degree in Economics, University of Geneva.
Career
Director, Security Affairs, World Economic Forum. Director of law enforcement courses on public order, Technical Head of courses on anti-terrorism at Swiss Institute of Police. Expertise: security at international meetings, VIP security, public disorder control, crisis management.
Jennifer Blanke
Director, Senior Economist
Qualifications
BA in International and Comparative Political Studies, Hamilton College; Master of International Affairs (International Economic Policy), Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs; Master and PhD in International Economics, The Graduate Institute of International Studies (HEI).
Career
1991-1993, Intern and Staffer, The White House, Washington DC, Larry Rockefeller for US Senate, New York, NY; 1995-1998, Senior Management Consultant, Eurogroup (Mazars & Guerard Group), Paris, France; Since 1998 with the World Economic Forum: 1998-2002, Senior Programme Manager, Annual Meeting Team (business, management and technology issues); 2002-2007, Associate Director, Senior Economist; since 2007, current position. Author and lecturer on issues related to national competitiveness and economic development.
Denise Burnet
Principal, Head of Events
Qualifications
1975, Diploma, Ecole Supérieure de Commerce, Geneva, Switzerland.
Career
1975-76, Executive Assistant, Minair, Switzerland. Since 1978, with the World Economic Forum: responsible for the creation of the database, then registration for roundtables; since 1981, responsible for the organization and coordination of the first Geneva Meeting, country meetings in France, Turkey, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Portugal, India and the first meetings in Indonesia, Thailand, Mexico and Brazil, the first regional summit in Hong Kong, followed by the Middle East/Africa, Mercosur and South Africa; responsible for the relations with government members in France, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan and Israel. 2000-03, Associate Director with additional responsibility for Public Figures; since 2003, current position.
Jean-Loup Dénéréaz
Principal, General Services
Qualifications
1978, graduate, Ecole Spéciale des Travaux Publics du Bâtiment et de L'Industrie.
Career
Twenty years in the construction business with major general contractors such as: Losinger, Göhner and Karl Steiner.
Laurent Desnoux
Principal, Head of Accounting
Qualifications
1994, Masters in Finance & Accounting, University of Grenoble, France; 1995, Postgraduate degree in Financial Audit (DESS), University of Grenoble, France.
Career
1995-1999, Finance Manager of a company affiliated to Promodes Group, France; 1999-2001, Senior Consultant, KPMG, Switzerland; 2001-2004, Chief Financial Officer, LVMH, Switzerland; 2005, Associate Director, Head of Accounting, World Economic Forum; Since 2006, current position.
Sherif El Diwany
Director, Head of Middle East
Qualifications
1978, Bsc. Architecture, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 1981, MSc in Planning, University of Houston, Texas, USA
Career
1982-85, Director of Development Projects, Environmental Quality International, Cairo, Egpyt; 1985-2000 Founder, Public Interest Incorporate, Egypt, a public policy and business development consultancy; 2001-2005, International business development in trade facilitation and customs modernization, Geneva; since 2005, current position. Member: American Chamber; Egyptian-German Chamber; Civil Forum. Adviser: World Bank, UN, EU and several international and Egyptian businesses.
Lisa Dreier
Director, Public-Private Partnerships
Qualifications
2002, Master’s in Public Policy, University of California at Berkeley; 2002, Master’s in Energy and Resources, University of California at Berkeley; 1989, Bachelor of Arts, Bowdoin College; 1987-88, Exchange Student, Pontifica Universidad Catolica del Ecuador.
Career
1992-97, Senior Development Officer, Environmental Defense Fund; 1998-2002, independant consultant for international development agencies and NGOs in USA, Asia and Latin America; 1990-2002 (periodically), freelance journalist, USA and Asia; 2002-2005, Associate Director, the Earth Institute at Columbia University and Task Force Manager, UN Millennium Project (concurrent positions). 2005-2007, Associate Director, Public-Private Partnerships, World Economic Forum. Since 2007, current position. Expertise in sustainable development, public-private partnerships and business solutions to poverty and hunger.
Guy Goodwin
Director, Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Qualifications
Business Degree with Honours, University of Bradford, Graduated Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales (1989)
Career
PriceWaterhouse Coopers, Audit (1986-1990), Fisher Controls E.M.A Analyst and Financial Accountant (1990-1993), Emerson Electric Process Automation Division (1993-2007) Regional Finance and Administration Director (2000-2007)
Julianne Jammers
Principal, Head of Business Engagement and Development
Qualifications
1985, Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business, New Mexico State University, USA; 1987, MBA in International Management, American Graduate School of International Management.
Career
1986-1992 Instructor, National Business College and City Colleges of Chicago, European Campus, Germany. Began with Procter & Gamble in 1987 as Key Account Manager, Corporate Sales, US Military in Europe, Germany; 1992-95 Sales Merchandising Manager, Health and Beauty Care Products, Procter & Gamble, Switzerland. 1995-98, moved to marketing and brand management, Switzerland and Austria. In June 1998 joined IMD International in Lausanne, Switzerland, a world-wide recognized leader in Executive Education, and was the Director of IMD's MBA Marketing and Career Services. Joined the World Economic Forum in 2002 as the Director of Recruiting and Development and then held the position of Senior Director, Human Resources.
Stéphanie Janet
Principal, Head of Annual Meeting Operations
Qualifications
1991-1994 BA in Political Science and International Relations, Concordia University, Canada; 1994-1996 MA in International Relations, The Graduate Institute of International Studies, Switzerland.
Career
1995-1997 Public Relations Executive, Nidorf Communications, Canada; 1997-1998 Head of Operations for the Director of Economic Research, World Trade Organization, Switzerland; Joined the World Economic Forum in February 1998.
Jeremy Jurgens
Director, Head of Global Growth Companies
Chief Representative, Beijing Office
Qualifications
1993, BA Economics and International Relations, Claremont McKenna College; 1998 Masters of Education, Harvard University.
Career
1994-96, Language Instructor, Japanese Ministry of Finance; 1998-1999, International Sales, Patagonia; Curriculum Designer, Microsoft; Since 1999, with the World Econonomic Forum:1999-02, Associate Director, Knowledge Management and Internet Development; 2003-04 Assistant to the Chairman; 2004-2005 Associate Director, Centre for Strategic Insight and responsible for 2005 Annual Meeting Programme.
Carine Kulloian
Director, Information Technology
Qualifications
1997, M.S./M.Sc.in computer science, MIAG University Claude Bernard Lyon 1.
Career
1997, IT developer, SITA (Air transport communications and IT solutions) Geneva, Switzerland; 1997-1999: IT developer, Abissa Informatique SA, Renens, Switzerland; Since 1999 with the World Economic Forum: 1999-02 IT Manager; 2003 IT Senior Manager; 2003-2007 IT Associate Director; 2008 IT Director.
Fon Mathuros
Director, Deputy Head of Media
Qualifications
1986 Diploma Business Administration, Pitman Central College, London; 2005 BA Information Science and Communications, Sukhothai University
Career
1986-1988, Inter-Continental Hotel; 1989-1997, Para-Legal (3 months) then Assistant to the Senior Partner, Tilleke & Gibbins Law Firm; 1998-2000, Public Affairs, World Economic Forum; 2000-2001, Media Advisor at the World Health Organization in Geneva on Public Hearings for Anti-Tobacco Project and World Health Day on Mental Health; 2001 to present, Media Team, World Economic Forum.
Sheana Tambourgi
Director, Head of Annual Meeting Team
Qualifications
Studied economics and finance at University College Cork, Ireland.
Career
Worked for the World Economic Forum from 1999-2003 on the Science and Technology, Health and Business programmes as a Senior Programme Manager and Associate Director.
Regula Waltenspuel
Director, Head of International Business Council and Community Development
Qualifications
1992-93, studies in Business Policies, University of Geneva, Switzerland; 2001 Stanford Executive Programme.
Career
1984-85, Swisswire (Siebtuch), Olten, Switzerland, Coordinator, UK and Italy; 1986-88, Gatoil, Switzerland, Assistant, Letters of Credit; 1988-90, Ernest Stoecklin Int'l Furniture, Leonia, NJ, USA; Assistant to the Owner and Chief Executive Officer. Since 1991, with the World Economic Forum: 1991-93, Assistant to the Founder and President; 1993-96, Coordinator, Automotive Industry; 1996-2000, Senior Community Manager, Information Technologies; 2000-01, Associate Director, Communications Industry; since 2001, current position.
Dominic Waughray
Director, Head of Environmental Initiatives
Qualifications
First degree in Geography and Economics, University of Cambridge, UK; Master's degree in Economics, University College London, UK.
Career
Formerly, 3.5 years with the Institute of Hydrology, a public sector research organization part of the UK Natural Environmental Research Council. Managing Partner, Environmental Resources Management (ERM) UK, part of the ERM Group, responsible for delivering success in a business area that focused on environment and developing country issues, with clients drawn from both the public (aid agencies, governments) and private (mostly oil, gas and mining) sectors.
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