Stefan Gullgren became the Ambassador of Sweden to the UK in August 2023 having most recently served in Warsaw as Sweden’s Ambassador to Poland. Previously, Stefan has served as Sweden’s Ambassador in Kyiv, held various positions at Sweden’s embassy in Moscow as well as different roles within the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Stockholm.

Samantha Job was the Director for Defence and International Security at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) from March 2019 to August 2022.

Samantha has been a career foreign service officer since 1992. She has worked on geographical issues from South East Asia to the Middle East and thematic issues from war crimes to how to use social media in foreign policy. A theme of her career has been security policy, where she has led policy formulation on counter-proliferation, EU Security and Defence Policy and counter terrorism. Her work has taken her to Thailand and the UK’s Mission to the UN in New York, where she was the counter terrorism and counter proliferation specialist.

From 2013 to 2015, Samantha was the joint Head of the North Africa Department in the FCDO in London. From 2016 to early 2019, Samantha was the Foreign and Security Policy Counsellor at the British Embassy, Washington, engaging with the US government across all aspects of national security policy. Samantha is a strong supporter of diversity and inclusion, and is the National Security Council’s (NSC) gender champion.

Oscar Stenström is Director and Senior Advisor at the Wallenberg Office. He has served as State

Secretary to the Prime Minister responsible for the Swedish NATO application. State Secretary

in Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation and Foreign Affairs with responsibilities for trade,

export, competitiveness, and innovation (2014-2018). He is a former Ambassador at the

Swedish Government Offices and has served as the Swedish ambassador to Chile (2018-2022).

He is Senior Advisor to Mr. Jacob Wallenberg, Chair of Investor AB, Mr. Marcus Wallenberg,

Chair of SEB, Saab AB, and FAM, and to Mr. Peter Wallenberg Jr., Chair of Wallenberg

Foundations AB. Oscar also serves as Senior Advisor to several companies within the

Wallenberg sphere.

Oscar is a master graduate of KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Master of Science in

Engineering and has studied applied physics at Chalmers University of Technology.

Oscar lives in Stockholm, is married and has two daughters.

Elisabeth Braw is a senior fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Transatlantic Security Initiative in the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. Her work focuses on defense against gray-zone and hybrid threats as well as the intersection of geopolitics and the globalized economy. She leads the Transatlantic Security Initiative’s “Threats to the global maritime order” project. Braw is also a columnist with Foreign Policy and Politico Europe.

Braw is a member of the advisory boards of M&C Saatchi World Services and GALLOS Technologies. She is also an adviser to Willis Towers Watson’s research arm, a member of the United Kingdom’s National Preparedness Commission, and a member of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy’s advisory council.

Braw has published numerous books, including the award-winning Goodbye, Globalization: The Return of a Divided World (2024), The Defender’s Dilemma: Identifying and Deterring Gray-Zone Aggression (2022), and God’s Spies (2019). She is also the author of the upcoming book The Undersea War.

Braw was previously a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. Prior to joining academia, she worked in the private sector following a career as a journalist.

Emma Stenström is Associate Professor at Stockholm School of Economics and Director of the Research Center for Arts, Culture and Business. Her book Bubbelhoppa (2023) introduces "bubble-hopping"—a method for bridging differences by moving fluidly between diverse perspectives and breaking down silos.

Emma also writes columns for the daily business paper, Dagens Industri, teaches sustainability and leadership, and has won multiple teaching awards. She applies bubble-hopping in her work bridging business and culture, currently working with both contemporary circus and green steel.

Jonas Ahlström is Chief Operating Officer and Deputy President & CEO at SEB since 1 January 2025. He has been a member of the SEB Group Executive Committee since 2020.

Mr. Ahlström worked at Investor AB during 2001-2005 before joining SEB, starting in SEB’s CEO & Strategy office.

Jonas has worked across several business areas within SEB including Debt Capital Markets and Equity Research and has held various managerial positions such as Head of CEO & strategy Office, CFO for the Baltic division and Head of the Baltic division before being appointed Co-Head of Corporate & Investment Banking division in June 2021. In January 2023 Jonas took over as sole head of Corporate & Investment Banking.

Jonas holds an MSc. in Finance and Accounting from Stockholm School of Economics in 2001 and also a CEMS Master’s degree from SSE and Universität St. Gallen.

Jennifer co-founded and for over 20 years co-led Board Intelligence, building it into the UK’s leading provider of board software and governance support. Under her leadership, the firm worked with more than 7,000 organisations worldwide — including a third of the FTSE 100, as well as major government departments and public institutions.

Jennifer has been recognised as EY London Entrepreneur of the Year and The Times Young Businesswoman of the Year, and wrote a regular column for Management Today. With her long-time business partner, Pippa Begg, she co-authored Collective Intelligence: How to Build a Business That’s Smarter Than You, shortlisted for Business Book of the Year 2024 and selected as FT Book of the Month.

In 2024 Jennifer led the sale of Board Intelligence to a US investment firm.

Marcus Engman is Creative Director at Ingka Group (IKEA Retail). He has extensive experience from working within IKEA, as Communication and Interior Manager, Marketing Manager and Head of Design. In his current role he spearheads initiatives like Atelier100, IKEA Festival, and IKEA at Fuorisalone. He also runs a conscious street wear brand and the creative collective SKEWED.

Nicole Melillo Shaw is the Managing Director of Volvo Car UK, a role she assumed in November 2023 after previously holding the Consumer Director and Commercial Director roles within the company.

With over two decades of experience in marketing and commercial leadership roles across global pharmaceutical and FMCG brands, Nicole brings a unique blend of strategic acumen, authentic leadership, and a passion for innovation to the automotive industry.

A multi-award-winning leader, she has been instrumental in launching the brand’s successful direct-to-consumer model and continues to drive transformation and a consumer-first mindset to business strategy.

Nicole is a champion of Volvo’s family-centric values and continues to redefine what it means to lead in the modern workplace, merging commercial excellence with purpose-driven leadership.

John's book Greener Marketing came out in August 2020 and was shortlisted for the Business Book Awards. John's previous book was about the wellbeing revolution and human friendly business. John is also author of BETTER (2018), Made With (2013), Co-opportunity (2010), the award winning Green Marketing Manifesto (2007) and three other books. His first book The New Marketing Manifesto (1999) was named one of The 10 Best Business Books of 1999 by Books Online.

John started his career in advertising at JWT and then BMP-DDB where he won the IPA Effectiveness Grand Prix. He went on to become co-founder and head of strategy at the values-led London creative hot shop St Luke's (as featured in the Harvard Business Review, Fast Company Magazine and Campaign Agency of the Year).

Since then John has advised clients on brands, marketing, behaviour change, strategy and innovation. John's clients have included AQUIS, the BBC, Cafe Direct, Carlsberg, Cisco, the Co-operative Bank, Daylesford, Ecotricity, Ernst & Young, Freshfields, The Guardian, Heidrick & Struggles, HSBC, IBM, IKEA, ING, innocent, LEGO, Lloyd's of London, Microsoft, Ministry of Sound, Nando's, Natura Cosmetics, O2, Orange, Pictet, Philips, the Royal Mail, Samsung, Sony, Tech Nation, Unilever, Vaisala, Wärtsilä and the UK and Swedish governments.

John has extensive international experience working with brands across Europe, the Americas and Asia

Adrian Fryer is the AUKUS and Naval Director at Saab UK, leading efforts to empower customers through innovative maritime defence solutions. With over 30 years in the Royal Navy and industry, he commanded HMS Dauntless, led the UK Maritime Component in the Middle East, and served as Deputy Commander of the 40-nation Combined Maritime Forces, earning the US Legion of Merit. At Elbit Systems UK, he established the Maritime Business Unit, delivering advanced training and simulation systems.

A US Naval War College alumnus and Freeman of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners, Adrian excels in maritime strategy and stakeholder collaboration. His expertise in underwater warfare and autonomous systems drives Saab UK’s AUKUS and naval programs, focusing on solutions to enhance UK security. Adrian’s career spans high-risk operations, strategic leadership, and innovation, positioning him to advance naval capabilities through partnerships with government and industry.

Sara Tate is a globally recognized leader in brand and business transformation helping global giants like PepsiCo and Starbucks unlock growth by making people, not processes, the engine of change.

A multi-award-winning agency CEO, Sara led the turnaround of TBWA London, driving sustained growth and creative reinvention. Her fascination with human resilience led her to co-author The Rebuilders, a best selling guide to navigating setbacks and making meaningful comebacks in business and beyond.

With over 20 years in the telecommunications industry, Mattias Fridström can be considered a veteran – but his enthusiasm hasn’t faded.

Mattias combines expert knowledge with anecdotes from behind the scenes and deep insight into the networked economy: What are the challenges of tomorrow for network providers? How can we meet ever-increasing traffic demand and customer quality expectations within the same cost frame?

Mattias holds an MSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wollongong, Australia. Since joining Telia in 1996, he has worked in a number of senior roles within Telia Carrier (now Arelion) and most recently as CTO. Since July 2016 he is Arelion's Chief Evangelist.

Chris is a co-founder of several digital start-ups, including Bookatable, and an Advisory Board Member at youth charity Big Change. He has also worked for the executive education consultancy group BTS.

Tomas was born and raised in Åliden. Tomas was inspired by their father Kenneth and thus naturally found his way into music. Throughout his life, Tomas has always had a soft spot for boy bands, something that still holds true today. For Tomas, producing music was more interesting than becoming a virtuoso on any particular instrument. There was never any doubt he could sing, though it usually happened in the shower or in the company of close friends.

His producer name was “Tofast,” and even today, childhood songs by Tomas and his friends still circulate around Skellefteå. When it was time for high school, Tomas chose to focus on sports and moved to Malmö to attend a squash-focused high school. Tomas himself often says that his greatest musical achievement was the solo he performed at his ninth-grade graduation.

Born and raised in Åliden in a family where music was a big part of everyday life. His father Kenneth, a pianist among other things, had a major influence on Peter — to the extent that people sometimes confuse the two. In his younger years, aside from practicing piano, hip hop was Peter’s main drive. He would sit in his childhood room producing beats that he then sold online to various Swedish rappers — with mixed success.

Like Sebastian, Peter and those around him realized during puberty that he couldn’t sing either very high or very low notes, and thus the ultimate baritone singer was born. During high school, he took lessons in piano and singing, and after graduation he has performed as a troubadour, a singer in Tonova (with Sebastian), and in cover bands with Michael.

Fredrik Warneryd is the Chief Executive for the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK, one of the largest and most active foreign chambers in the UK. Prior to joining the Chamber, Fredrik held many leading positions in the City of London. With more than 25 years of experience within the Nordic teams of Banque Paribas, Dresdner Kleinwort Benson, UBS and Credit Suisse, he has earned extensive knowledge and expertise in both the UK and Nordic markets.  

Known for her strategic leadership and ability to navigate complex challenges, Anna combines legal expertise

with a strong business mindset

With a background as a finance lawyer and extensive knowledge in corporate and stock market law, Anna’s

collaborative approach has earned the trust of both internal and external stakeholders.

This year, Anna received the Corporate Lawyer of the Year award in recognition of her significant contributions

to SAS, most notably her pivotal role in SAS transformation and successful emergence from crisis

Matthew Blakemore stands at the forefront of making artificial intelligence both powerful and responsible, serving as a bridge between complex technology and practical human needs. As CEO of AI Caramba! and a key architect of international AI standards, he transforms how organisations and industries adopt AI technology. His influence spans from shaping the ISO/IEC 8183 AI Data Lifecycle Standard—impacting AI governance across more than 165 countries—to helping to shape and lead upskilling programmes that have reached over 70,000 professionals globally.

From reinventing fashion retail with AI-powered solutions to revolutionising film classification through patented technology, Blakemore's journey reflects a persistent drive to make AI work for real human challenges. In 2025 he is launching his "Snakes and Ladders AI Framework", a practical guide for organisations navigating the complex terrain of AI implementation. His advisory roles with Innovate UK's £100M Bridge AI Programme and Kinetic Investments help shape the future of technology investment and innovation.

Beyond the boardroom, Blakemore is recognised in the Top 100 Influential People of 2025 and UK Forty Under 40, with his influence reaching worldwide audiences through global speaking and online engagement, where he breaks down complex AI concepts into actionable insights. As AI and New Tech Expert for Belgian Broadcaster VRT and Future Media Hubs (with 50+ public service broadcaster members), he guides media organisations in harnessing AI's creative potential, proving that responsible AI can enhance rather than replace human creativity.

Professor Hugo Spiers is the Vice Dean for Innovation and Enterprise in the Faculty of Brain Sciences, UCL and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation. He has over 25 years of research experience in neuroscience and psychology. His research team employs cognitive and behavioural neuroscience techniques to study the neural basis of spatial cognition and memory. In 2016 he launched the Sea Hero Quest project which has tested over 4 million people world wide on their spatial navigation abilities.

Seréna Pilkington is an analyst specialising in global business issues, including geopolitics, energy politics, and climate risks. She previously worked at Dragonfly, focusing on global security and health risks. She holds a BA in Politics and International Relations from UCD and an MA in Intelligence and International Security from King’s College London, specialising in OSINT and East Asian security.

Hélène Barnekow has 30 years of experience from the tech industry. Currently a partner of Gaia Leadership and part of the board of Directors of GN Store Nord A/S , Handelsbanken AB and the chair of Mindler AB and Storytel AB. She is also the Vice Chair of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK. Hélène has been the CEO of Microsoft Sweden, between 2018 and 2022 and prior to that she was the CEO of Telia Sweden. Before moving to Stockholm she was based in Boston USA and held the position as SVP Global Field & Partner Marketing at EMC. She has also been assigned several leadership roles at Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications. During her career she has been awarded several awards and recognitions for her excellent leadership and her impact across companies and society. In August 2019, Hélène launched her first book, Re:start, about values-based leadership in a ever changing world.” In November 2023, the book had its international launch as the book became available in English under the name “Power with Meaning”.

Nik Gowing was the main news presenter for BBC World News (1996-2014), and he has 35 years of analytical experience in diplomacy, defence and international security. In 2018 Nik Gowing, along with Chris Langdon, released the book Thinking the Unthinkable: A new imperative for leadership in the digital age.