Keynote Speaker
Anna BjerdeManaging Director of Operations, World Bank Group
Anna Bjerde is the World Bank’s Managing Director of Operations, overseeing projects in 130+ countries focused on poverty reduction, equitable growth, human development, and climate change, among other key priorities. Prior to this, she served as Vice President for Europe and Central Asia, leading the institution’s efforts to steer the region through a series of overlapping global shocks, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the World Bank’s support to Ukraine. An experienced leader with recognized expertise in sustainable infrastructure, she has a strong record of delivering impactful programs across sectors and regions, including Africa and the Middle East.
Panelists
Whitney BairdPresident & CEO, U.S. Council for International Business (USCIB)
Whitney Baird is President and CEO of the United States Council for International Business (USCIB). Prior to assuming this role in September 2023, Baird was the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.
Her previous professional experience as a globally respected diplomat also includes: Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Mission to the OECD, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for West Africa and Security Affairs in the Bureau of African Affairs, and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Europe and European Union and Regional Affairs in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. She was Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in London from 2014-2017. Prior to London Baird served in the Economic Bureau of the Department of State as Special Advisor for Trade Negotiations, Director for Multilateral Trade Affairs, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Trade, and Acting Special
Christian LevinPresident and CEO, Scania Group & TRATON SE
Christian Levin joined Scania in 1994 as a marketing trainee and took up his first management position in 1997. In 2001 he became Director of Product Marketing and in 2005 he took the position as Managing Director, Scania Schweiz AG. Christian Levin has also been Managing Director of Italscania S.p.A. In 2010, he was appointed EVP and Head of Commercial Operations. In 2016, Christian Levin was appointed EVP, Head of Sales and Marketing. In January 2019, he took up the position as COO at TRATON GROUP and was also appointed as member of the Executive Board of TRATON SE. As from May 2021 Christian Levin is President and CEO of Scania and as of October 2021 he is CEO of TRATON SE.
Moderator
Lena HökEVP Sustainability & Innovation, Skanska
Lena Hök has 20 years of experience implementing and evaluating sustainability performance in corporations, working with a broad range of industries, including finance, insurance, energy, retail, transports, real estate, hotels and fast-moving consumer goods. She is also the Chair of the Sustainability Committee at ICC Sweden, where companies such as Stora Enso, Ericsson, H&M, IKEA, ABB and Scania, amongst others, co-operate on models for circular economy, climate and anti-corruption. She has a Degree in Business and Economics from Uppsala University, as well as executive programs at IMD Business School, Harvard business school and Stockholm School of Economics.
Concluding Remarks
John W.H. Denton AOSecretary-General, ICC
John W.H. Denton AO is the Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). He is a global business leader and international advisor on policy and a legal expert on international trade and investment.
In 2022, John was appointed by the UN Secretary General to represent the global private sector on the Steering Committee of the UN Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance. In 2023, John was appointed by the WTO Director General to represent ICC at the WTO Business Advisory Board group. He also serves on the WHO Foundation Strategic Advisory Group and the Global Task Force on Refugee Labour Mobility. John is a Board member of the UN Global Compact and was appointed Chair of the UN Business and Human Security Initiative advisory board in February 2023.
He is a founding member of the Business 20 (B20), Co-founder of the Australia–China CEO Roundtable, Patron of UNHCR in Australia, and serves on several Boards.
In 2015, John was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for his services to the business community, the arts and the rights of refugees.
