2nd Annual
Geopolitics & Business Conference

Friday, 25th April, 2025 at London Business School

12:00 - Registration & Networking Lunch
12:50 - Conference Starts
17:30 - Networking Drinks Reception

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Agenda

 

About

The Geopolitics & Business Conference is the flagship event of London Business School’s Geopolitics & Business Club.

Our mission is to create a dynamic platform fostering awareness and knowledge on geopolitical issues for current and future business leaders.

Bringing together students, academic experts, and business professionals, we aim to facilitate the exchange of ideas, deepening the understanding of key geopolitical issues and their business implications.

 
 
 
 

Schedule

Session timings and speakers subject to change.

 

Session

Topic

Speakers

11:30 - 12:10

Registration & Networking Lunch

12:10 - 12:20

Opening Remarks

Surgey Guriev  | Dean, London Business School
12:20 - 13:00 Keynote Fireside Chat | President of East Timor Jose Ramos-Horta | President, East Timor, Nobel Peace Price recipient 
Mandeep Rai | Author, The Values Compass & Journalist, BBC World Service
13:00 - 13:40 Tech Panel | Assessing the Geopolitical Implications of AI, Chips & Technological Supremacy Zaid Belbagi | Managing partner of Hardcastle advisory
Nicholas Butts | Director, Global Cybersecurity & AI Policy, Microsoft
Nathan Naidoo | Director of Public Policy, Meta
Nick Reiners | Senior Analyst, Geotechnology, Eurasia Group
13:40-14:10 Fireside Chat | Why Does Salesforce Care About Geopolitics? Colid Reed | Director, Global Strategic Threats, Salesforce
14:10 - 14:40 Coffee Break & Networking
14:40 - 14:50 IOG Update | Survey of 100 Japanese Companies on Economic Security Hitoshi Suzuki | Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Geoeconomics - International House of Japan
14:50 - 15:40 Trade Panel | Navigating the Uncertainties of Trump, Tariffs & Trade for Global Business Mandeep Rai | Author, The Values Compass & Journalist, BBC World Service
Anil Jhanji | Chief Commercial Officer, Tata Steel UK
Nazir Yasser Tarraf | VP Macro Research, Patria Investments
Stuart R Broadley | CEO, Energy Industries Council
Stephanie Baker | Senior Writer, Bloomberg
Wilson Chan | CEO/Founder, Permutable.ai
15:40 - 16:10 Fireside Chat | Defence Preparedness in an Era of Geopolitical Tensions & Military Leadership Lessons for Business Colin Weir CB DSO CBE | Military Advisor, BAE Systems & Ex-Chief Operating Officer, UK Field Army, British Army
Jacob Parakilas | Research Leader - Defence Strategy, Policy & Capabilities, RAND Europe (moderator)
16:10 - 16:40 Coffee Break & Networking
16:40 - 17:30 Defence Panel | The Business Implications of European Defence Spending & Procurement Paulo Surico | Professor of Economics, London Business School (moderator)
Colin Annette | Managing Director, Technology Solutions, QinetiQ
Ian Vaculik | Director, Central & Eastern Europe, Government Solutions, KBR
William McManners | Managing Partner, MD One Ventures
Michael Martins | Founding Partner, Overton Advisory
Lucia Retter | Assistant Director - Defence, Security & Justice, RAND Europe
17:30 - 18:00 Growth Panel | Is the European Economic Model Broken? Thomas Gratowski |Director, Center for Geopolitics, Boston Consulting Group
Anna Rosenberg | Head of Geopolitics, Amundi Investment Solutions
Federico Santi | Senior Analyst, Europe, Eurasia Group
Joseba Martinez | LBS Economics Professor, IMF Visiting Scholar, former Senior Manager at European bank for Reconstruction and Development
18:00 - 19:30 Networking Drinks Reception
 
 

Thank you to our sponsor