Biographies

From the project record

Biographies

Key note speakers

HRH The Prince of Orange
The Netherlands
Plenary session: Thursday 5th October

Prince Willem-Alexander is the eldest child of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. Since 2004, he has served as Chair of the Water Advisory Committee, an independent entity that advises the Minister for Transport, Public Works and Water Management on the feasibility of water policy and its financial and social impacts. In 2002, at the request of the UN Secretary-General, the Prince served as a water management expert on the Panel of Eminent Persons, convened to issue recommendations for the UN conference on sustainable development in Johannesburg.

Job Cohen
Mayor, City of Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Plenary session: Thursday 5th October

In January 2001, Job Cohen was installed as Mayor of the City of Amsterdam. Previously, he served as Deputy Minister of Justice from 1998 to 2001. From 1995 to 1998, he was a member of the Upper House of the Dutch parliament, serving as Chair in his final year. Job Cohen has also held several administrative positions outside the PvdA (Dutch Labour Party), including as a member of the Supervisory Board of the TNO (Dutch organisation for applied scientific research).

Al Gore
Chairman, Generation Investment Management
Former Vice President, USA
United States
Plenary session: Friday 6th October

Former US Vice President Al Gore is Chairman of Generation Investment Management, a London-based firm that is focused on a new approach to sustainable investing. He also serves as Chairman of Current TV, an independently owned television network for young people, and is a member of the Board of Directors of Apple Computer. Al Gore led the Clinton Administration's efforts to protect the environment and authored a best selling book on the topic, Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit (1992). In 2006, he starred in the critically acclaimed documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, based on a book he published by the same title. He lectures widely on the necessaity of global warming awareness and prevention.

Prof. Stuart Hart
Samuel Johnson Professor, Cornell University
United States
Plenary session: Thursday 5th October

Stuart L. Hart is the Samuel Johnson Chair of Sustainable Global Enterprise and a professor at Cornell University. Before joining Cornell in 2003, he was the Hans Zulliger Distinguished Professor of Sustainable Enterprise at the University of North Carolina, where he founded the Center for Sustainable Enterprise and the Base of the Pyramid Learning Laboratory. Professor Hart is one of the world’s top authorities on the implications of sustainable development and environmentalism for business strategy. He has published over 50 papers and authored or edited five books.

Judy Henderson
Chair of Board of Directors, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
Immediate-past Chair, Australian Ethical Investment Ltd
Former Commissioner, World Commission on Dams
Australia
Plenary session: Thursday 5th October

Judy Henderson has an extensive record of involvement in global sustainability issues. Besides being the Chair of the Board of Directors at GRI, she is the Chair of the Centre for Australian Ethical Research and immediate past Chair of Australian Ethical Investment. Judy Henderson is also the Chair of the NSW Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority and a Board Member of the NSW Environment Protection Authority. Previously, she was the Chair of Oxfam International as well as a Commissioner on the World Commission on Dams.

Gerard Kleisterlee
CEO, Royal Philips Electronics
The Netherlands
Plenary session: Thursday 5th October

In April 2001, Gerard Kleisterlee was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Philips and Chairman of the Board of Management and the Group Management Committee. Since joining Philips in 1974, he has held a number of positions in management. He became President of Philips Taiwan and Regional Manager for Philips Components in Asia-Pacific in 1996. He has been a member of the Board of Management since April 2000 and was appointed Chief Operating Officer in September 2000.

Ernst Ligteringen
Chief Executive, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
The Netherlands
Plenary session: Thursday 5th October
Leadership Track: Landscape

Ernst Ligteringen is Chief Executive of GRI and also a member of GRI’s multi-stakeholder Board of Directors. Before joining GRI in 2002, Ernst spent 23 years in various non-governmental and international organizations, including assignments in Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. His prior postings include Executive Director of Oxfam International, and Director of Programme Coordination of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Mark Moody-Stuart
Chairman, Anglo American plc
Member, Board of Directors, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
Former Chair, Royal Dutch Shell
United Kingdom
Plenary session: Friday 6th October

Mark Moody-Stuart is Chairman of Anglo American. From 1998-2001, he was Chairman of Royal Dutch Shell. He has been a member of the GRI Board Executive Committee since January 2002. He was Co-Chair of the G8 Task Force on Renewable Energy in 2000 and 2001 and was Chairman of Business Action for Sustainable Development (BASD). He was a member of the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Council for the Global Compact (GC) from 2001 -2004 and was appointed to the GC Board and as Chairman of the GC Foundation in 2006.

Hugh Y. Scott-Barrett
Chief Financial Officer, ABN AMRO Bank
The Netherlands
Plenary session: Friday 6th October

Appointed CFO in January 2006, Hugh Scott-Barrett began his career with ABN AMRO in 1996. In 2000, he was appointed to the Managing Board. From November 2003 to January 2006, he was Chief Operating Officer. Prior to this, he was global head of Corporate Finance.

Achim Steiner
Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Germany
Plenary session: Thursday 5th October

In June 2006, Achim Steiner became the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Previously, he served as Director General of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) from 2001 to 2006. He has worked with governmental, non-governmental and international organizations in different parts of the world to address the interface between environmental sustainability, social equity and economic development.

Pieter van Geel
State Secretary of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment
The Netherlands
Plenary session: Friday 6th October

In July 2002, Pieter Van Geel was appointed State Secretary for Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment for the Netherlands. From 1987 to 2002, he was a member of the Provincial Council of North Brabant for the Christian Democratic Alliance (CDA), and from 1995 a member of the provincial executive. He became vice-chairman of the Association of Provincial Authorities (IPO) and in 2002 a member of the House of Representatives of the States General.

Karien van Gennip
Minister of Foreign Trade
The Netherlands
Plenary session: Thursday 5th October

In May 2003, Karien Van Gennip was appointed Minister for Foreign Trade for the Netherlands. Previously, she was a member of the board of the Christian Democratic Alliance (CDA) in Amsterdam. In 2002, she led the reorganisation of the Financial Markets Authority and was appointed Director in 2003. From 1996 to 2002, Karien Van Gennip worked for McKinsey & Co. in Amsterdam and San Francisco.

Leo van Wijk
CEO, KLM Group
The Netherlands
Organizational Stakeholders Dinner: 4th October

In 1997, Leo van Wijk became President and CEO of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. He is also Vice-Chairman of the Air France-KLM Board of Directors. In 1991, he joined KLM’s Board of Directors and took on the responsibility of Chief Operating Officer in 1997. Leo van Wijk began his career at KLM in 1971. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President Corporate Development and, before this, Vice President of Marketing.

Margot Wallström
Vice President, European Commission
Belgium
Plenary session: Friday 6th October

Margot Wallström was appointed Vice-President of the European Commission, Inter-institutional Relations and Communications Strategy in November 2004. From 1999-2004, she served as a member of the European Commission, Environment.