SPEAKERS AND MODERATORS 2023
H.E. Natalia
Royo de Hagerman
Ambassador of the Republic of Panama to the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland
Sarah Chidgey
HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS & TRADE
Juan F. Dávila y Verdin, FRSA
Founder and Managing Director, FuturED
Ruy
Campos-Dugone
Executive Director of Green Cross United Kingdom
PANEL 1
Technologies for Sustainable Development: New paradigms, Education, Implementation, and Success Stories
Dr Dale
Mineshima -Lowe
Managing Editor, International Affairs Forum, Center for International Relations
Dr Fiona
Aubrey-Smith
Director, One Life Learning
Lucrecia
Vanni
President of ECOPOLYS Foundation
and president of the Bulgarian-Argentine Chamber of Commerce
Dmitry
Aksenov
CHAIRMAN OF THE RDI GROUP BOARD, HEAD OF THE AKSENOV FAMILY FOUNDATION, FOUNDER OF IMMATERIAL FUTURE ASSOCIATION & CULTTECH ACCELERATOR
César André
Vidal Scasso
Director of Innovation ECOPOLYS Foundation
and President of FEDEEMA
PANEL 2
Technologies for Sustainability applied to Tourism: Destinations and Marketing
Marc
Guitart
Employer Advisory Board Member at University of Westminster
Marcela
Lizarraga
DIRECTOR ENGAGEMENT & PROJECTS MEMBERSHIP & COMMERCIAL, WORLD TRAVEL & TOURISM COUNCIL
Maximiliano
Mauvecin
Glocal Forum, Executive and Institutional Manager
SPEAKERS 2023
WELCOME
Juan F. Dávila y Verdin FRSA
FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, FUTURED
Founder and Managing Director of FuturED and as a Senior Consultant for TESH Invest S.A., where he is a Board Member of the company. He is also a journalist specialised in international relations, history, social affairs and diplomacy at Niche Media Monaco, and a Board Member of the prestigious British San Martín Institute (BSMI).
Juan is currently taking part in the International Law and Diplomacy Program, jointly organised by the University for Peace – United Nations Mandated – (UPEACE) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
In November 2022, Dávila y Verdin represented the University for Peace, as a Head of the Delegation at the COP 27, the United Nations Conference on Climate Change that took place in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt.
He is an MBA graduate with honours from the International University of Monaco. Juan is also BA (Hons.) in Global Politics and International Relations from Birkbeck, University of London. He is also Bachiller Universitario in History from the Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL), in Argentina. Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA), and Member of the Royal
Historical Society of the United Kingdom.
GUEST SPEAKER
Sarah Chidgey
HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION AT THE DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS AND TRADE
Sarah is Head of International Education at the Department for Business and Trade, previously working as China/Hong Kong and South/Central Asia Lead for the UK education portfolio. Sarah has worked in a range of UK civil service roles in Whitehall (and in Wales) since 2008, having previously worked for the Ministry of Justice, Department for Work and Pensions, the Wales Office and His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs before joining the Department for International Trade in 2017.
Prior to joining the UK civil service, Sarah worked for the United Nations World Food Programme in Rome, and before that a private sector public affairs company named DeHavilland (which focuses on parliamentary and political reporting). Sarah holds an undergraduate degree in social anthropology from King’s College, Cambridge University, and a postgraduate degree in international development from Birkbeck, University of London.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
H.E. Natalia Royo De Hagerman
AMBASSADOR OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA TO THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN & NORTHERN IRELAN
Natalia Royo studied journalism at the New York University (NYU) in the United States and has a master’s degree in International Relations from the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Columbia University, a master’s degree in Political Communications and a second master’s degree in International Affairs from Fundación Ortega y Gasset/Universidad Complutense in Madrid, Spain.
Ambassador Royo held several positions in the Panamanian foreign service. She was Counsellor at the Mission of Panama to the United Nations, she was the coordinator for the Rio Group, and was in charge of conciliating the group’s positions before the United Nations and presenting them to the various commissions. Ambassador Royo continued her diplomatic career at the Mission of Panama to the Organisation of American States (OAS) during the XXVI General Assembly, hosted by Panama in June 1996. She also worked with the Permanent Mission of Panama to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and at the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB) in the capacity of counsellor for planning cooperation.
Ambassador Royo was also the Communications Director at the CODESPA Foundation on development in Latin America. Most recently, Natalia Royo was the Minister Counsellor at the Embassy of Panama in Spain, overseeing political and economic affairs.
SPECIAL SPEAKER
Ruy Campos Dugone
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GREEN CROSS UNITED KINGDOM
Ruy is a recognised professional specialised in issues related to Sustainable Development, mainly Energy Transition and Global Change – focused on Climate Change.
In the Private Sector, Ruy has been working in executive international positions for J.D. Edwards, Computer Associates, Shristi Corp., India Power Corp., SunEdison, Quantum Group and Solarcentury, mainly in Southwest Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Ruy has led mega projects focused on sustainable practices, particularly in terms of renewable energy, eco-mining and regenerative agriculture.
In the Third Sector, since 2009 Ruy collaborates with Green Cross – NGO founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mikhail Gorbachev in 1993, focused on Environmental and Social Sustainable Development -. The Founding
President has assigned Ruy the accountability to lead the chapter of Green Cross in the United Kingdom. Ruy has been awarded by Forbes magazine (MEX) in 2021, as one of the “30 sustainable minds of Latin America”, for having developed the Climate Positive framework with projects that exceed GBP 1000 MM.
Ruy is pursuing his Doctorate in Environmental Projects, has a Master’s in Business Administration, is a System Engineer and a Naval Officer (RN) from Argentina.
PANEL 1:
Technologies for Sustainable Development: New paradigms, Education, Implementation, and Success Stories
MODERATOR
Dr Dale Mineshima - Lowe
MANAGING EDITOR, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS FORUM, CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Dr Dale Mineshima-Lowe is an Associate Lecturer in the Departments of Politics and Geography, at Birkbeck, University of London, teaching both undergraduates and postgraduates.
She has studied in the US, the UK, and Germany; and has taught in the UK and Ireland.
She is an OSUN-CLASP Fellow, Managing Editor with the think tank Center for International Relations, based in Washington, D.C., and the former Acting Programme Director of the M.Sc. Global Environment & Sustainability Program at the University of London.
Her research interests span issues related to democratic transitions and governance, digital technology and anti-corruption efforts by civil society, and learning & teaching pedagogy and practices. Her current research is exploring the intersection of data activism and anti-corruption efforts, and social capital development in both environmental policymaking.
SPEAKER
Dr Fiona Aubrey-Smith EdD MA (Ed) MMus PGCE BA(Hons) FCCT FRSA
DIRECTOR, ONE LIFE LEARNING
Named by Education Business as one of the 50 most influential people in education (2022), Dr Fiona Aubrey-Smith is award-winning teacher and leader with a passion for supporting those who work with children and young people.
As Director of One Life Learning, Fiona provides strategic education consultancy and research support to schools, professional learning providers and Edtech companies.
She is also an Associate Lecturer at The Open University teaching and supervising research on postgraduate education programmes, and sits on the board of a number of charitable trusts.
SPEAKER
Lucrecia Vanni
FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF ECOPOLYS
Lucrecia has a Specialization in the Design of the preparation and evaluation of investment projects at the University of Buenos Aires, a Master’s Degree in Management applied to public administration at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, and a Postgraduate Degree in Governance Program, Political Management and Public Management at the University of San Andrés (Argentina).
She is 27 years experienced professional in public administration and in international organizations, coordinating teams and helping the public, private and third sectors in the design, and execution of projects and in the search for funds.
In 2005, Lucrecia Vanni founded the NGO Ecopolys, aimed at improving the quality of life of citizens through the execution of projects with economic, social and political impact.
SPEAKER
Dmitry Aksenov
CHAIRMAN OF THE RDI GROUP BOARD, HEAD OF THE AFF AND OWNER OF THE VIENNACONTEMPORARY ART FAIR
Dmitry Aksenov was born in 1966 in Novosibirsk, Russia.
He studied Aerophysics and Space Research at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. In 1999 he received an MBA in Strategic Management at the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration.
His business focuses on developing residential communities and investing in technology startups.
Dmitry is a patron of the arts and culture, the founder of an art fair ViennaContemporary and Aksenov Family Foundation; President of the Russian Society of Friends of Salzburg Festival, member of the International Board of Palais de Tokyo; a pioneer of CultTech Association; he also is a founder of Vitiligo Research Foundation.
SPEAKER
César André Vidal Scasso
CEO & FOUNDER OF BIPZY | PRESIDENT OF ADEEMA
César founded and serve as the CEO of Bipzy LLC, a technology platform that is working to revolutionize the way the Crypto market is traded. With extensive experience in the blockchain industry and a passion for innovation, he leads that company. He also founded and work as Commercial Director at CryptoCity, and served as president of the Argentine Electronic and Electromechanical Sports Association (ADEEMA).
César is a member of the Board of Directors of the Federation of Commerce and Industry of the City of Buenos Aires FECOBA, where he leads the Entrepreneurs area. He is also part of the Board of Directors of the ECOPOLYS Foundation, where he holds the position of Director of Innovation and leads the creation and development of new projects and strategies, promoting the use of sustainable technologies and innovative solutions in the activities of the foundation.
His focus has always been to drive the adoption of disruptive technologies and make solutions accessible and secure.
PANEL 2:
Technologies for Sustainability applied to Tourism: Destinations and Marketing
MODERATOR
Marc Guitart
EMPLOYER ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER
Marc Guitart is a seasoned executive designer with twenty years of experience designing businesses in the UK, Europe, and LATAM. Founder of Brandlond® LTD, a specialist brand consultancy working. Originally from Barcelona, London-based, he holds one honour degree in Industrial Design and one in Graphic Design. He is a credentialed member of DBA, BEDA, FAD and ADP. In design, Marc has been identified by CEO Monthly as Most Innovative Brand Marketing CEO 2022 Southern England and recently with a Gold Award Packaging at Pentawards.
Marc has lectured in over twelve universities and is currently an Employer Advisory Board Member at the University of Westminster in London.
In industry, he works at CBO and Board level for a number of global and international organisations. He has also been the driving force behind rolling out the brand transformation programmes to over 100 companies in 5 countries. The organisations he has worked with include Brandloyalty, Unilever, Catalonia Regional Government, Grífols and CaixaBank, among others.
SPEAKER
Marcela Lizarraga
DIRECTOR ENGAGEMENT & PROJECTS MEMBERSHIP & COMMERCIAL OF WORLD TRAVEL & TOURISM COUNCIL
Marcela Lizarraga serves as WTTC Director of Engagement and Projects based in London.
In her role, Ms Lizarraga is responsible for the Engagement with WTTC Members, plans, and all special projects, including Strategic Partnerships.
WTTC represents the global Travel and Tourism private sector. For 30 years we have been quantifying the impact of Travel & Tourism in 185 countries in our Research. WTTC Research highlights the economic value of Travel & Tourism, fair economic policies for the sector, and long-term sustainable growth.
Ms Lizarraga joined WTTC in 2021, following a 25+ year career in the travel and tourism industry in various executive roles with Expedia and Sabre, based in several countries.
Ms Lizarraga has an Executive MBA from the University of Texas, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering from the Anahuac University.
SPEAKER
Maximiliano Mauvecin
GLOCAL FORUM, EXECUTIVE AND INSTITUTIONAL MANAGER
Maximiliano Mauvecin is the General Director of GLOCAL International Organization. He has also been General Secretary of the South American Federation of Tourism (FEDESUD), Director of the Forum of Business Entities of the Central Argentina Region, and Coordinator of the CBC Institutional Network of the Central Bioceanic Corridor.
Maximiliano has a degree in Social Sciences and International Relations, and he has been a Professor of Project Development at the Blas Pascal University in Argentina and a Visiting Professor of the MTA Master in Tourism Administration at the George Washington University in the United States.
Maximiliano Mauvecin is an Invited member of the Group of Experts on Subnational Competitiveness of the Organization of American States, OAS.
He is the President of Mauvecin & Co. Business Development.
Maximiliano Mauvecin is also an advisor to companies, governments and embassies on international issues.