Dr Oxley is a dual UK/US citizen based in Austin, Texas. David started his career as a management consultant before leading major people and corporate restructuring projects for BP PLC across Europe, USA, India, and the Middle East. He worked closely with Reliance Industries in India, one of BP’s partners, as they embarked on their big corporate restructuring. He currently spends his time researching and writing on future career trends for publications around the world including Fast Company, Forbes, Big Think, Reader’s Digest, and HR Today where he also serves as a member of the global advisory board. David was awarded his doctorate in Organizational Change at Cranfield University and his MBA from the University of Notre Dame.

Dr Schuster is a dual Austrian/British citizen who lives in London, UK. He is the former Group HR Director of BP PLC and Chairman of the Board for Ivocar Vivadent. He currently serves on the board of several dynamic start-up businesses including ExpectAI, a Greentech enterprise. Helmut is an active entrepreneur, investor, and frequent contributor to leadership and AFS Cultural programs. ​ He completed his PhD in Economics from the University of Vienna.

Ali Elsabagh is a entreprenuer, start up business enthusiast and global explorer. Ali orginates from his native Egypt but at the young age of 22 he has already studied in the USA and Belgium. Through the AFS Intercultural Organisation, he has helped organise the annual youth assembly in New York. Along the way, he has also launched networking and career advice site Scaletta as a solution to the social isolation caused by the pandemic. His current portfolio of business interests is anchored by his work with the eBike start up Cowboy.

Anand Verma, CEO of Expect AI, is a visionary entrepreneur with deep roots in India and a global outlook shaped by his education in the UK. After earning degrees in technology and business from leading British universities, Anand embarked on a career spanning innovation, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence. A serial entrepreneur, he has founded and led multiple successful ventures across technology and consulting, each focused on driving meaningful change through cutting-edge innovation. At Expect AI, Anand combines his passion for human-centered design and intelligent automation to help organizations harness AI responsibly and create measurable impact in the real world.

From the concert stage to the boardroom, Anna Joseph has built a career on discipline, creativity, and strategic insight. A former professional violinist and McKinsey consultant, she now channels that unique blend of artistry and analytical rigor into mentorship. As co-founder of J&A Mentorship Partners, Anna empowers professionals and organizations to grow with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

30yrs experience in health fitness and nutrition. I host a monthly networking event. Presenter on TV and Radio. Archivist of artists, their stories and their musical journey. Creator of the "Live well with Barrie" online TV show, and the "In Conversation" with legends series, also on line, with people across the board, from politics and the arts telling their inspirational storie

Daniel Obst is the President and CEO of AFS Intercultural Programs, a global nonprofit dedicated to intercultural learning and student exchange. With decades of leadership in international education, Daniel is a passionate advocate for global citizenship and youth empowerment. Prior to AFS, he held senior roles at the Institute of International Education. Born and raised in a German-American family, Daniel’s bicultural upbringing and education shaped his lifelong commitment to fostering cross-cultural understanding.

Alison Edgar MBE is a Scottish-born entrepreneur and author of SMASH IT! The Art of Getting What YOU Want. Dubbed the “Godmother to Entrepreneurs,” she rose from hospitality roots to build a global coaching business after a bold move to South Africa. Honoured with an MBE, she empowers leaders to overcome adversity with practical, no-nonsense tools for grounded success.

Dr. Angelos Gkanoutas-Leventis is not your average energy economist—unless your average economist writes books on oil price shocks, moonlights as a shipping strategist, and runs international forums for fun. Plays guitar, paints, and curates ‘pop-up’ art exhibitions, and inspires Greek legal alto-ego super sleuth detective career stories. With a PhD in the political economy of oil markets (yes, that’s a real thing), Angelos has built a career at the crossroads of academia, boardroom strategy, and global transformation projects. His book Spikes and Shocks offers a compelling look into how finance waltzes with oil—and occasionally trips over itselfAngelos cut his teeth at Petrobras before joining BP, where he swiftly became the commercial compass in projects nobody dared to map. From crunching shipping data to reimagining Abu Dhabi’s maritime logistics landscape, his career has spanned continents, balance sheets, and PowerPoint animations. Currently, he's Chief of Staff for bp's renewable energy business.

Dr Shailendra Vyakarnam is CEO of TerraWaster, where he leads innovation at the intersection of sustainability, entrepreneurship, and systems change. He is a former faculty member at Cranfield and Cambridge Universities, teaching leadership, strategy, and venture creation. With decades of experience advising startups, corporates, and policymakers, he brings academic rigor and real-world insight to building scalable, responsible solutions for a circular economy globally across sectors and cultures, with purpose and impact at meaningful scale worldwide.

Felix Auboeck is a PhD student in Political Science and International Relations at Loughborough University, specializing in private sector involvement in warfare, with a particular focus on the defence and security industry. He holds a BA in History and Political Science from the University of Michigan and an MSc in International Financial and Political Relations from Loughborough University. Felix is an accomplished athlete. He was crowned World Champion in the 400m Freestyle (2021) and European Champion in the 400m Freestyle (2024). A three-time Olympic finalist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, he was also named 2020 Student-Athlete of the Year at the University of Michigan. In recognition of his achievements, he was awarded the Decoration of Honour in Gold for Services to the Republic of Austria in 2024.

Felix started his career as a journalist before moving into brand consultancy where he worked with BMW, Samsung, Microsoft and Gareth Bale among other clients. He spent four years running his own business in the technology space, building it into one of the most recognizable student brands in the UK. At the start of the pandemic Felix co-founded Look After Group, a digital marketing and brand agency. Inspired by the possibilities of AI, his latest entrpreneurial venture is OhChat.com - an adult entertainment platform which he co-founded while serving as its COO.

Jack Oswald is a former British professional tennis player turned business leader. After competing internationally, he transitioned into entrepreneurship, applying elite sport discipline to leadership. He is now CEO of Cancha, driving innovation in sport, performance, and global community building with a focus on culture, technology, and sustainable growth worldwide.

Jaron Soh is the Co-Founder and CEO of VODA, an LGBTQ+ mental health app dedicated to creating safe, affirming spaces for queer people to access support and community. Originally from Singapore, Jaron moved to the UK to study at the London School of Economics, where his passion for social impact and inclusion took shape. After experiencing firsthand the challenges of navigating mental health as a queer person, he founded VODA to bridge the gap between traditional mental health services and the unique needs of the LGBTQ+ community. Today, he leads VODA’s mission to make mental well-being more accessible, compassionate, and inclusive for all identitie

Marilyn Pearson-Hendricks is CEO of Worktech Advisory and a leading authority on the future of work and workplace strategy. She advises senior leaders across real estate, HR, and technology on aligning people, place, and performance in a rapidly changing world of work. Known for translating research into practical insight, Marilyn focuses on hybrid work, workplace culture, and employee experience, helping organisations create adaptive, inclusive, and resilient workplaces.

Matt Hutson, known online as Bookmattic, is a lifelong learner, educator, and content creator passionate about personal development and reading. Originally from the United States, Matt has lived for over a decade in Surabaya, Indonesia, where he built a life with his Indonesian wife and their son. Through his platform, Bookmattic, he shares insights from books and life experiences to inspire others to grow intellectually and emotionally. Matt’s mission is to help people bridge the gap between reading and real-life action—turning knowledge into transformation. His engaging videos, reviews, and reflections encourage continuous learning and purposeful living across cultures.

Nicki Auret – Chief People Officer, ICBC Standard Bank Nicki has over 30 years People and HR experience, developed across the international domains of South Africa, the UK, Asia and the US, in divestment and growth contexts. Nicki’s previous sector experience includes Professional Services, FMCG and Energy, holding senior HR roles with EY, Diageo and BP before joining Standard Bank in 2010. Nicki is a board-level advisor on culture and remuneration management strategies, organisation governance, diversity & inclusion, leadership and succession management, risk management strategies and regulation.

Peter is an investment and trading expert who currently works for a private family firm in Switzerland. Austrian by birth, Peter spent his formative years pursuing his dream of becoming a professional tennis player. He eventually decided to change career path, inspired in part by his grandfathers early introduction to the world of finance and investing. He has a famous Uncle... who writes career and professional life advice books....

Tony is a Gen Z entrepreneur, AFS Alumni, and computer science student currently based in Austin, TX. He co-founded ZenQuill, an AI-powered journaling platform aimed at helping individuals reflect, grow, and find mindfulness while taking a gap year between high school and college. he started his first busienss at 10 years old, and now aged 20, has taught himeslef coding, launched a mental health journaling business, played high school American football, while thinking of other ways he can help solve consequential problems.

Trisha Conley is executive vice president, People and Culture for LyondellBasell. Prior to joining LyondellBasell, Conley served as the senior vice president, People Development for Renewable Energy Group until it was acquired by Chevron in 2022. Conley has more than 25 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, as well as the renewable products sector leading human resources, talent management, global integration and organizational development. Prior to that, she held a variety of human resources roles at BP. Conley holds a Bachelor of Arts in public relations and communications from the University of Northern Iowa and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.