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GREECE
Jury President, Europe
President of Partnerships for Finance and Development Group
www.pfdusllc.com
Vice-President of EPOS Health Consultants USA
www.epos-usa.com
Mr. Spiros Voyadzis, founder (year 2000) and President of Partnerships for Finance and Development Group (PFD Group), and Vice President of EPOS Health Consultants USA (2006), graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Brussels with an Honors Masters degree in Economics, Political and Social Science. During his 26 years at the World Bank, Mr. Voyadzis held senior management operational positions.
His last position before resigning from the World Bank was Director of the Bank's Brussels Office. He was in charge of the World Bank's operational cooperation with the European Commission, the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. His expertise extends from economic policy, public sector management, to finance and private sector development.
A public relations expert
Author, entrepreneur and lifestyle guru Lynne Franks has a communication reach that stretches across the world. As a high-profile business woman and founder of the SEED empowerment programmes for women, she is either featured in or writes for many of the UK's top publications, as well as regularly appearing in international media, television and radio, speaking on the subjects of social change, consumer patterns, corporate responsibility and women in business.
After leaving school at sixteen, she started her working life as a secretary, before joining Petticoat, the UK's first weekly young women's magazine. She started her own public relations firm, Lynne Franks PR, from her kitchen table at the age of twenty-one, which grew to become one of the best-known public relations agencies in the world, advising and guiding multi-national businesses and non-profit organisations around the globe.
Improving women's position in society
After twenty years in public relations and wanting to branch out into new directions, Lynne left her agency in 1992 and became an international spokesperson and facilitator on the changes in today's and tomorrow's world - both for the individual as well as the society at large.
In 1994, she chaired the UK's first women's radio station, presenting her own radio show, Frankly Speaking. Prior to attending the UN Women's Conference in Beijing in 1995, Lynne created the major UK event, What Women Want, to draw attention to the changing position of women in society.
Writer, trainer and lifestyle coach
She has authored four books, including The SEED Handbook: The Feminine Way to Create Business, published in 2000. Translated into a number of languages, the book struck a resonant chord with women around the world. Seeing the demand for women to create businesses in a new, feminine way, Lynne designed workshops and training programmes that bring her new ideas and methods to life. SEED has become the provider of one of the most internationally recognised women's enterprise training programmes, as well as a global network for women entrepreneurs.
Supported by the British Government's Department of Trade and Industry's Strategic Platform for Women and Enterprise, SEED's facilitators are now teaching the programme across the UK. Lynne continues to personally conduct workshops and retreats based on "the feminine principles," as well as developing future SEED programmes for teenagers, women in corporate leadership and disadvantaged women in developing countries.
GROW "The Modern Woman's Handbook" was published by Hay House on March 8, 2004, International Women's Day and takes a comprehensive look at the crucial issues that face women today from health and spirituality, to family relationships, sexuality, work, community, social action, and ultimately, self-fulfillment.
The new edition of The SEED Handbook by Hay House and SEED interactive software training programme were launched on International Women's Day, March 8, 2005, at the House of Lords, together with the official national launch of the SEED Women's Enterprise Programme.
Lynne is currently advising both private and public sectors as well as developing communication strategies for NGO's and community initiatives.
ESTONIA
Entrepreneur, founder of GoodMood
www.goodmood.ee
Country Manager of MTV Estonia
www.mtveesti.ee
The first official inventor of Estonia: fashionable pedestrian reflectors
Karoli Hindriks is a young entrepreneur from Estonia. During the high school years she and her classmates got an assignment to create a student company. She then had an idea to start producing soft and fashionable pedestrian reflectors. The idea was unique and therefore she found a possibility to register it in the Patent Office. Karoli became the first official student inventor in Estonia.
At age 18 she founded a private company and continued to produce soft reflectors. Her company has had an avarage 40% of turnover growth since. Karoli and her company own 2 inventions (both registered as a Utility Model), 3 registered design solutions, 2 international trademarks (registered under Madrid Protocol).
Other activities and involvements
Today she is also Country Manager for MTV Estonia. Three Baltic MTV channels MTV Latvia, MTV Lithuania, MTV Estonia were launched in September 2006 and Karoli was responsible for the launch in Estonia. She is a student in the Estonian Business School. Besides her daily work she has devoted herself to take part in the development of the post-Soviet Estonia.
During her senior year in high school she became the Chairman of the Estonian Student Councils Union. Today Karoli is a member of the centre-right political party IRL (Isamaa ja Res Publica Liit). In October 2002 she was first time elected in the City Council of Pernu, in October 2005 she was re-elected to the City Council for the second term.
From one small Washington office to a multinational consulting firm
Margery Kraus, president and chief executive officer of APCO Worldwide, a global consulting firm headquartered in Washington, D.C., specializes in public affairs, communication and business consulting for major multinationals.
Ms. Kraus founded APCO in 1984 and has transformed it from a company with one small Washington office to a multinational consulting firm in major cities throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. In September 2004 Ms. Kraus led a management buyout of her firm from Grey Global Group, making APCO one of the largest privately owned communication and public affairs firms in the world.
Fusing the best local experience with a global perspective: proven results
Throughout the years, her approach has been to fuse the best local experience with a global perspective, resulting in an international agency with a unique culture based on seamless teamwork. Ms. Kraus achievements have been recognized through a number of prestigious awards, including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in the Services category in Greater Washington (2006), Washington PR Woman of the Year (2006), Matrix Award for Professional Achievement (D.C. Association for Women in Communications, 2006), Lifetime Achievement (PR News, 2005), PR Professional of the Year (PR Week, 2005), Best Entrepreneur-Service Businesses-up to 2,500 employees (Stevie Awards for Women Entrepreneurs, 2005), International PR Professional of the Year (PR Week, 2001), Businesswoman of the Year (ABC Washington, D.C. affiliate, 1998), Outstanding Woman in Business (WJLA Television, 1998), PR Professional of the Year (PR News, 1997), and Public Affairs All Star of the Year (Inside PR, 1996). Ms. Kraus was also named one of 25 Top Women Business Builders (Fast Company, 2005), one of 50 Most Powerful Women in PR (PR Week, 1998), one of 50 Women Who Mean Business (Washington Business Journal, 2004), Women of the Year by Washington Women in Public Relations (2006), and Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Greater Washington (2006). In addition, APCO was named Agency of the Year (PR Week, 2006), European Consultancy of the Year (Public Affairs News, 2005 and 2006) and Public Affairs Agency of the Year (The Holmes Report, 2004).
A pioneer in corporate social responsibility
Ms. Kraus specializes in providing strategic counsel on issue-based communication, crisis management, market entry and corporate reputation across diverse industry groups. The range of her experience is reflected in APCO industry practice groups, which include aviation and aerospace, education, energy, environment, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, telecommunications and transportation. Ms. Kraus has also pioneered one of the industry earliest practices in corporate responsibility and the development of public/private partnerships. Prior to starting APCO, Ms. Kraus assisted in the creation and development of the Close Up Foundation, a multi-million dollar educational foundation sponsored in part by the United States Congress. Ms. Kraus continues to be involved with the foundation by serving on its board of directors.
Other activities
Ms. Kraus is active on other institutional and corporate boards and committees, including Northwestern Mutual Life (trustee); GML Limited (advisory board); the Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation (trustee); the Public Affairs Council (past chairman); the Institute for Public Relations (treasurer); the Council of Public Relations Firms; and the Eurasia Foundation. In addition, she serves as a trustee of American University and sits on the advisory board of the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University, as well as the steering committee of the school Center for Executive Women. She is a member of the Harvard University, JFK School of Government Women Leadership Board and an advisory board member of the Council on American Politics of the George Washington Graduate School of Political Management.
Publications and Education
Ms. Kraus has authored numerous articles in the field of public affairs management, corporate reputation and has been a guest lecturer throughout the world. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Arts in Political Science and Public Law from the American University.
GERMANY
Director of the National Agency for Women Start-ups & Entrepreneurs (bga)
www.gruenderinnenagentur.de
The only nation-wide institution dedicated to supporting women entrepeneurs in Germany
Iris Kronenbitter is the architect and coordinator of the National Agency for Women Start-ups & Entrepreneurs (BGA), which is the only nation-wide body providing gender-specific advice and support for women starting up a business. In order to mobilise the potential of women start-ups and utilise the opportunities offered to women by structural change the National Agency for Women Start-ups & Entrepreneurs act on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Federal Ministry for Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth and the Federal Ministry of Economy and Technology of Germany. The National Agency for Women Start-ups & Entrepreneurs offers the political, business, academic and public sectors in Germany as well as the women business-starters and successors a platform for information, services and best practice related to women entrepreneurship in all areas and phases of company foundation, consolidation and succession. The agency aim to create a conducive atmosphere for women starting businesses in Germany and also to increase the proportion of women who set up their own business.
Activities and services offered by the BGA
Drawing on research findings and practical experience, the Activities and Services gathers information and develops services for women start-ups all over Germany. The idea is also to improve the qualitiy of women start-ups and therefore to increase their chances of success by drawing together and concentrating existing provisions and devoloping innovative ideas tailored to their particular needs. There are a number of different ways in which women business starters can be supported like financial support as well as advisory and qualification offers. The present calendar of events with 300 different seminars, workshops, trade fairs and informal get-togethers aimed specifically at actual or potential women start-ups as well as at experts operating in the field. The central hotline offers expert information and guidance. Women-specific information, advice and training services are brought together under the umbrella of the National Agency for Women Start-ups & Entrepreneurs and key players (630 experts, 490 advisory bodies, 280 networks) in the start-up process exchange and share their best-practices.
An expert in the development of support programs for women entrepreneurs
Iris Kronenbitter coordinates this germanwide network of multipliers with more than 1.400 regional partners and 16 representatives of the states of Germany. She often acts as speaker in business and scientific forums relating to female entrepreneurship. As a consultant her expert knowledge is in the field of female entrepreneurship, small and medium sized enterprises, business succession, ethnic & minority entrepreneurship, school & entrepreneurship, start on campus, freelancer and start-ups of women in different sectors like technology, trade, health, services, creative industries, etc. Iris Kronenbitter has graduated from university in History, German and Business Administration. She started her career at the University of Tuebingen building up an international scientific network after the transition of the middle and eastern european countries and as the coordinator of the interdisciplinary center of clinical research.
The number one blogger in France
Loïc is a well-known serial French entrepreneur who created and sold 4 Internet startups, also blogger and vlogger. Loic's blog is #1 in France, read by more than 250 000 unique visitors per month, he made hundreds of video podcasts including the only podcast with President Nicolas Sarkozy. Working on his next venture, Loïc is also honorary Chairman at Six Apart, the leading weblog software company and investor in tens of startups such as LinkedIn or Technorati. He also organizes every year one of Europe's largest web event, LeWeb3, that gathered 1300 participants from 37 Countries in 2006. It is a unique event capable of gathering Internet entrepreneurs, visionaries and politicians such as Nobel Prize Winner Shimon Peres. Loic also joined President Sarkozy campaign team during the 2007 elections, advising on the Internet, gathered a network of 1000 bloggers for him and launched the Second Life Sarkozy Island. Loic graduated from the #1 business school in France, HEC.
An tech-entrepeneur
Loïc served as Executive VP of Six Apart EMEA from 2003 to 2007 and founded and served as CEO for several companies in France, including U-blog, a european blog service in 2003; RapidSite France, the first shared Web hosting company launched in 1997. Rapid Site France was sold to France Telecom and B2L, one of the first Web agencies launched in France in 1996, with clients including Chanel, 20th Century Fox, and Mars, which was sold to BBDO, a leading advertising group. Loïc is also a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum. He launched the WEF blog in 2004 and has been advising and blogging for the Forum since then.
Loïc Le Meur on Wikipedia
Top 10 French blogs - Technorati - Edelman Europe blog survey in 2006
Web presence
What is Loïc doing ? - Twitter
Loïc Le Meur blog - english
Loïc Le Meur blog - french
Flickr photos
Vpod.tv loiclemeur videos
LeWeb3 conference, photos
Books
2007 - Blogs & Podcasts - Dunod
2005 - Blogs pour les Pros - Dunod
oh and occasional articles: " Minding your own business. French entrepreneur Loïc Le Meur offers seven golden rules - for doing nothing", The Guardian
Speaker
-to get an idea, see me at Google Zeitgest 2006 on blogging and the amateur revolution
- some public appeareances
Politics
I have podcasted and backed President Nicolas Sarkozy during the 2007 presidential campaign and advised him on Internet related topics, I also blogged I would vote for him on September 10, 2006. I also joined his campaign team. That does not prevent me from having fantastic friends from with different political views and very interesting conversations with them. It just means being very transparent with my blog readers. My political role or ambitions end here. A controversy started when I invited the three main presidential candidates at my conference LeWeb3. Two of them came.
Some press articles, ( more)
- French politics go surreal, Reuters, Red Herring, 2007
- Politicians Woo Internet Crowd In Paris, Red Herring, 2006
- France's mysterious embrace of blogs (cover page and following of the IHT), 2006
- France's passion for Web logs is beginning to alter the political and business climate, Business Week, 2005
-" At the Davos Conference, Small Fry With Big Dreams", by Erik Portanger, Wall Street Journal, 2004
-" With bloggers inside, Davos secrets are out", by Thomas Crampton, International Herald Tribune, 2004
"Le Meur is a young man in a hurry who walks fast, talks fast, and starts businesses fast" in " The next French Revolution", by Cait Murphy, CNN, 2000.
Hobbies
Kite-Surfing
Running (best semi-marathon time 1h36)
Skiing
Education
Graduated in 1996 from HEC business school
Contact:
blog@loiclemeur.com
snail mail
Loïc Le Meur
Six Apart
48 rue de la Bienfaisance
75008 Paris
Pictures, see also thousands on Flickr
In a conference in Madrid, by Alvy, higher def
The fifth generation of distillers
Antonella Nonino, thirty-nine years old, follows her parents footsteps and works in the company with her sisters, Cristina and Elisabetta, and represents the fifth generation of distillers in the Nonino family, it can certainly be said that she was born "in the pomace".
She is married with Architect Luca Cendali, and has two daughters: Sofia, aged 9, and Gaia, aged 5.
She graduated at the University of Udine in Modern Foreign Languages and Literature and improved her studies at the New York University and at the Sorbonne in Paris, where she remained for over a year.
She is responsible for external relations and marketing and follows some foreign markets especially in Europe.
In the distillery she is responsible for the distillation and fermentation processes; she is following specific research in this field in cooperation with some Swiss researchers. She personally takes care of the "International Nonino Prize".
About the Nonino family
The Nonino Family has devoted itself to the art of distillation since 1897
On 1st December 1973, Benito and Giannola Nonino revolutionized the method of producing, introducing and packaging Grappa in Italy and throughout the world. They created the Single Varietal Grappa, the Monovitigno Nonino, by distilling the pomace of the Picolit grape on its own. The success was so great that Italian and foreign distillers felt compelled to follow the Nonino model.
On November 29th , 1975 Giannola and Benito Nonino established the Nonino Prize with the clear aim of underlining the permanent actuality of rustic life The jury is now formed by international members such as Peter Brook, Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie , the Nobel Prize V.S. Naipaul, Adonis, Ermanno Olmi, Claudio Magris , Antonio R. Damasio.
On 27th November 1984, the Noninos marked a new turning point. They distilled the whole grape and created the Grape Distillate. Ministerial authorization for the production of Grape Distillate (D.M. 20.10.84) was granted following a specific request by the Noninos. Once again, their success in this respect was so great that Italians and foreign distillers felt compelled to follow the Noninos example. On 3rd April 2000, after years of research into honey, the Noninos introduced GIOIELLO, the distillate called "Purity" which is the distillation of pure Honey.
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4th December 2003 The President of the Italian Republic, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, awards Giannola and Benito Nonino the prestigious Leonardo Prize for Italian Quality for "the absolute Quality level, Research and Innovations" The Noninos are well-known, true Ambassadors for Italian Grappa throughout the world.
A highly regarded Professor in leadership and effective management
Professor Danica Purg is the founding and current Dean and Director of the IEDC-Bled School of Management, Slovenia, and the founding President of the Central and East European Management Development Association (CEEMAN), which has 170 members from 42 countries and whose aim is to enhance management development in Central and Eastern Europe. She is also chairperson and director of the European Leadership Centre (ELC), established with the aim of assessing and promoting European leadership through the organization of forums, workshops and research.
Dr. Purg is professor of leadership and effective management at the IEDC-Bled School of Management. Her special field of interest is looking for inspirations for managers from art and other professions.
She authored and co-authored several books and numerous articles on technological and organizational change, comparative HRM practices, team building, economic reforms and management development in Central and Eastern Europe (published in Slovenia, former Yugoslavia, the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Russia, Great Britain and USA). In 2003 Prof. Purg edited and co-authored the book Leaders and Teams - The Winning Partnership.
Awards and distinctions
Dr. Purg is Fellow of the International Academy of Management, Doctor Honoris Causa at Moscow State University of Management and Estonian Business School Tallinn (EBS), and honorary professor at Moscow International Higher Business School, Plekhanov Academy (MIRBIS). President of the Republic of Slovenia awarded her with the "Honorary Order of Freedom" for her contribution to management development in Slovenia and CEE.
An advisor to the Women's Forum
Prof. Purg is also member of several advisory boards, among them of the Advisory Board of Women's Forum for the Economy and Society, Advisory Board for the Global Forum "Business as an Agent of World Benefit: Management Knowledge Leading Positive Change", endorsed by The Academy of Management and the UN Global Compact and Advisory Board of the newly established Moscow School of Management. Prof. Purg is also Member of the exclusive European Cultural Parliament (ECP)-a forum for outstanding artists, thinkers and other cultural personalities from all Europe. Recently she was invited to become a member of the UN Global Compact Taskforce to develop the principles for Responsible Business Education.
Education
After graduating from the Faculty of Political Science in Ljubljana, she completed her Ph.D. at the Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Belgrade, and extensively studied at Harvard Business School, IMD Lausanne, INSEAD Fontainebleau, Technological University Delft, London University, Sorbonne and at Kalamazoo College, Michigan.
Designing womenswear in Spain
Agatha Ruiz de la Prada (Madrid, 1960) begins her professional path in 1981 in Madrid presenting her first women collection at the Local, Design Centre.
In the early 80's she opens up a studio-shop in Marques de Riscal street, Madrid. She puts on her first fashion show in Barcelona and exhibits her own hand-painted dresses and drawings in several art galleries of the Spanish capital. As one of the main promoters of the "movida madrilena" (a social and cultural revolution where many artists appeared) she participates in many cultural events.
An eclectic designer: from womenswear to accessories and home decoration
In 1986 Agatha begins designing accessories.In Osaka, Japan, she creates a show of "agathized" kimonos named "Lady from Spain". In 1991 she designs a kitchenware line produced by Bidasoa. One year later she signs a fragrance for Gal. From 1992 Agatha starts licensing her own brand name. She designs the collection "Dressed Watches" for Swatch and meets Tintoretto, who leads her to work later, in 1995, for El Corte Ingles designing a girls line, a women line, jewellery, table-cloths. In 1993 she organises the famous "Thursdays", cultural meetings with intellectuals and artists at her Madrid studio, in Marques De Riscal street.
In 1997 she launches her first line of pyjamas at the Gaudi Show. She also launches her second fragrance and designs a line of ceramics and furniture. A year later, Agatha presents at IVAM, Valencia, a wedding dress made of decorative porcelain. This year she also launches her first and very successful line of stationery produced by Miquelrius.
New boutiques around the world and increased licensing
In 1999 she opens up her first store in Paris and designs her first home and bath line, socks, glasses, radiators and light-switches. In 2003 she presents her first men's collection on the Barcelona Gaudi catwalk. She also designs a bathroom supplies line, computer games, pet-accessorises and jewellery. In May Agatha opens up a store in Oporto, Portugal. In November, in Milan, Madrid and Santiago de Chile, Agatha also extends her distribution net into the United States, South America and Korea.
In 2004, she is awarded with the Fashion Oscar as the best foreign designer, in Italy.
In 2006 she increases the number of licences and starts designing mattresses for Pikolin, the juvenile furniture collection and children playgrounds. Her products are launched on internet via Yoox.com.
Since 2000, the Spanish designer makes a retrospective exhibition of her work that has been already presented in Madrid, Valencia, Burdeos, Palma de Mallorca, Carary Islands, Lisbon and Milan.
NETHERLANDS
Founder and CEO of AM Media publishing company
www.am-media.nl
Founder of the Independent Media Group
Investor
A Dutch publisher in Russia
Born on October 9th, 1962 in Helmond, the Netherlands. Mother of two sons Christopher (1984) and Luca (1994). Annemarie started her career in publishing in 1985 as executive assistant to one of the managing directors of VNU (United Dutch Publishers) in the Netherlands. In 1987 she got promoted to the position of project manager of one of the subsidiaries of VNU.
In 1989 Gorbachov was coming to power in the Soviet Union and his political ideas and words like perestroika and glasnost triggered Western companies to start a joint venture in Russia. In 1989 VNU formed a Russian-Dutch joint venture 'Moscow Illustrated Press' which published the monthly magazine Moscow Magazine and the weekly newspaper The Moscow Guardian.
In 1990 Annemarie was send to Russia by VNU to manage their Russian joint venture Moscow Illustrated Press, which published the monthly magazine Moscow Magazine and the weekly newspaper The Moscow Guardian. Due to the differences in culture between the Russian and Dutch parties and the impossibility to reach a break-even situation in the coming years (given the financial structure of the jv), VNU decided at the end of 1991 to freeze their activities in Russia. In the beginning of 1992 Annemarie left VNU. New and pioneering ideas drove her to start her own private company in Moscow together with former VNU-collegue Derk Sauer.
Starting her own private company in Moscow
In March 1992 Annemarie founded Independent Media in Russia. Due to its unconventional approach to the market, Independent Media rapidly grew from a company with a turnover of $ 1.5 million and 15 employees in 1992 to the leading publishing house in Russia with a turnover of almost $ 80 million in 1998 and 700 employees. Independent Media has been awarded with numerous prizes and awards over the years, amongst others:
- East Europe Prize for Enterprises' (in 1994)
- IPC Award for 'Best International Launch' (1994)
- The American Chamber of Commerce prize for 'Best Business in Russia' (in 1996)
- IPC Award for 'Best International Publishing joint venture' (jv with Hearst )
Since 1998 Independent Media is the leading publishing house in Russia and in the Ukraine in the field of consumer magazines, newspapers and trade publications. Independent Media publishes 39 consumer magazines (amongst others the Russian editions of Cosmopolitan, Good Housekleeping, Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, Men's Health) and a number of newspapers (amongst others: The Moscow Times (English language daily, 1992), The St. Petersburg Times, Vedomosti (Russian language daily in a joint venture with Financial Times en The Wall Street Journal, since 1999).
Back to the Netherlands
In 2000 Annemarie decided to leave Russia to provide a Dutch school education for her sons. In March 2000 she was appointed General Director for the Telegraaf Magazine Group (TTG) in the Netherlands (TTG is the second largest magazine publisher of the Netherlands), to oversee their Dutch magazine activities as well as its international expansion. She re-organized the magazine division, defined strategic plans, launched a number of magazines for TTG, aquired a number of important licenses, ceased publication of non-profitable magazines etc.
Mid 2001, due to a 'conflict of interest'-situation between the shareholders of Independent Media, she decided to step down as general director for De Telegraaf. She continued as a member of their supervisory board and advisor to both the management of the magazine group as well as to the Executive Board.
She is often appointed the industry expert for a number of venture capital investors (CVC, BC Partners) to help them in the process and due dilligence of the purchase of media companies. In the begining of 2003 she founded her own publishing house AM Media. Currently she owns and manages a real estate company, a publishing house and she is active as a private equity investor in the Netherlands as well as abroad.