Johan is a global executive and seasoned board member with 30+ years of leadership in technology, telecommunication and industrial sectors. Known for driving operational excellence and sustainable growth, he held senior leadership roles at Schneider Electric, Emerson and Alcatel. Johan served as well as Chairman of the Association of European Business (2018-2022). He has extensive experience in Central Asia and the Caucasus. As a Board member and Strategic Advisor to companies like Ahlers, Astros, La Lorraine and multiple EBRD investee companies, he has driven strategic turnarounds and investments including restructuring of companies bringing them
back to profitability. His leadership delivers measurable financial and strategic gains across global markets. A sought-after speaker, Johan is fluent in Dutch, English, Russian, French and German.

Alexei brings over two decades of global leadership advisory experience across Europe, Africa and the CIS region. He spent 17 years with Egon Zehnder in Vienna, Johannesburg and Moscow, where he advised boards, CEOs and senior executives on succession, leadership transformation and executive search. Alexei served as Managing Partner for Russia and CIS and later as Partner in
Austria an South Africa working across industrials, energy, private equity and emerging markets

Vaclav Harant is a Czech-born business executive. He has served as Vice- President for Central Asia and Central Europe at Air Products, a company specialized in industrial gases. Previously, he was General Manager for Russia and CIS at Nalco, overseeing growth and operation in water and process services. Mr. Harant is currently based in Tashkent. As recognition of his contribution in the business development of Uzbekistan, Mr. Harant received the Uzbek nationality in 2024 from HE President Mirziyoyev.

Bruno Balvanera is an international banker and finance expert with over 35 years of experience. He joined the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in 1996 and has held senior roles including Managing Director for Central Asia, Regional Director for Russia and the Caucasus and Moldova and Belarus. He has built an extra-ordinary network through the region both in the public and private sector and has overseen multi-billion dollar investment portfolios, promoted private-sector development and public-private partnerships. He currently serves as Independent Member of the Supervisory Board of several banks in the region.

Lodewijk Schlingemann is a Dutch-born lawyer and founder of the international legal firm Juralink. The company provides legal advice and support to SME businesses, international corporations and private persons from its offices in the Netherlands and Kazakhstan.

Daniel Thorniley is a British economist, consultant and advisor on global business strategies and emerging markets. He is the founder and President of DT-Global Business Consulting GmbH, a firm offering consultancy on corporate strategy, market entry and business development across CEEMEA and Central Asia. Earlier, for over two decades he served as Senior Vice President at The
Economist Group. He is widely recognized for his expertise in emerging markets and for his high-impact presentations to CEO’s, Boards and governments.

Peter Novotny is a Slovak-born executive search and human-resources specialist, currently serving as Partner and European Consumer & Retail Lead at DHR Global, based in Vienna and Salzburg. Peter has lived across Slovakia, Czechia, Russia and Austria. He concluded successfully several assignments in Central Asia & Caucasus.

Sergey Riabokobylko is a veteran real-estate executive and co-founder of Cushman&Wakefield in Russia and CIS. He is Group Executive Partner at Commonwealth Partnership (CMWP), a firm providing commercial property consulting, investment advisory, brokerage and development services across Central Asia and the Caucasus.