The Exchange

Remi Eriksen became group president and CEO of DNV GL Group in 2015, bringing deep and wide management experience from the oil, gas, energy and maritime industries in Asia, Europe and the Americas. He was previously executive vice president and chief operating officer at DNV GL group, where he grew management skills in leading change in a complex, multi-cultural, global business environment to create and capture sustainable growth opportunities. While familiar with general technology challenges and opportunities, Remi’s technical expertise lies within offshore and marine technology as well as gas value chains. He has initiated and managed several joint-industry projects in the offshore and marine domain, resulting in global standards and recommended practices. Remi holds a Master’s in electronics and computer science from the Norwegian Institute of Technology and executive education from Rice University, IMD and INSEAD. In the course of his career he has also published several professional papers and articles and become an appreciated public speaker.

Michael Schlein is the President and CEO of Accion, a global non-profit committed to creating a financially inclusive world, with a pioneering legacy in microfinance and fintech impact investing. Accion catalyses financial service providers to deliver high-quality, affordable solutions at scale for the three billion people who are left out of – or poorly served by –  the financial sector. For more than 50 years, Accion has helped tens of millions of people through its work with more than 90 partners in 40 countries. Mr. Schlein brings nearly 30 years of extensive international banking, management and public service experience to his role.

Paul Polman has been CEO of Unilever since January 2009. Under his leadership, Unilever has set out an ambitious vision to decouple growth from its environmental footprint while increasing its positive social impact. Paul is chairman of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, a member of the B-team, the UN SDG Advocacy Group and serves on the Board of the UN Global Compact. Paul has been closely involved in global discussions on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and action to tackle climate change. In 2016, Paul was asked by the UN secretary-general to be a member of the SDG Advocacy Group, tasked with promoting action on the 2030 Agenda. Prior to this, Paul served on the High Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, presenting recommendations on the SDGs on behalf of the private sector. He is also a member of the newly formed Business and Sustainable Development Commission, and served on the International Council of the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate under former Mexican President, Felipe Calderon.

Carl Bildt has served as both prime minister of Sweden in 1991-1994, and foreign minister of Sweden in 2006-2014. During the first period, his government initiated major liberal economic reforms, as well as negotiated and signed membership agreement with the European Union.

He was co-chairman of the Dayton peace talks on Bosnia and became the first High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995-1997. Later, he was the special envoy of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to the region.

After stepping down as leader of the Moderate Party of Sweden in 1999 and leaving Parliament in 2000, he was engaged in corporate boards in Sweden and the US, as well as different international think-tanks. Returning as foreign minister of Sweden, he came to be seen as one of the most prominent and vocal of European foreign ministers during his year in office. He was one of the initiators of EU’s Eastern Partnership and pushed the EU forward on issues of the Middle East. Carl Bildt has continued to push the use of social media in international diplomacy.

Carl Edvard Endresen is the managing director of Uber in Norway and Denmark. He holds a BSc. from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Carl Edvard’s professional background include consulting agency McKinsey & Company in Oslo and investment bank Jefferies & Company in New York. Before going to university, he attended Norwegian Army Officer Candidate School at Rena. In addition to the USA, Norway and Denmark, he has worked in several other countries including Nigeria, Ukraine and Romania. Carl Edvard is married and has two children aged 12 and 2.