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 United Nations (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.

John serves on World Trade Organization (WTO) Director General’s Business Advisory Group and the World Health Organization (WHO) Foundation Strategic Advisory Group. He is also a member of the IEA Global Commission on People-Centered Clean Energy Transitions and the OECD Blue Dot Network Executive Consultation Group.

In 2024, he was appointed Co-Chair of the Steering Committee of Business Interlocutors of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4).

John is a board member of the UN Global Compact, the UN Business and Human Security Initiative, and the UNDP Sustainable Development Goals Impact Investing Steering Group. He is also a member of the Global Leadership Council of UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited (GenU).

John is a founding member of the Business 20 (B20), of which he co-chairs the Finance and Infrastructure Task Force; Co-founder of the Australia–China CEO Roundtable; and Patron of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Australia.

He is Chair of the ICC Merchants of Peace Foundation and the Moeller Institute Advisory Board at the University of Cambridge. He is a board member of IFM Global Investors, Veracity, the African Green Infrastructure Investment Bank (AfGIIB), and the World Trade Board by Finastra.

A former diplomat, John co-led the Australian Government’s 2012 White Paper on “Australia in the Asian Century” and previously chaired the APEC Finance and Economics Working Group. Prior to his appointment as ICC Secretary General, John served on the ICC Executive Board from 2015-2018. He was also Partner and CEO of Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Australia’s leading independent law firm, for two decades.

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, including as a founder of Human Rights Watch (Australia) and Teach for Australia.

Paul is an internationally experienced leader and businessman having held CEO/ Managing Director and Chairman level roles across Asia Pacific, spanning several key industries.

Paul is the Chief Executive of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Victoria’s largest business advocacy organisation, and was previously the Chief Executive of the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV), incorporating the Royal Melbourne Show and venue management of the Melbourne Showgrounds.

Prior to his work with RASV, Paul was Managing Director Asia Pacific for Optum International, a subsidiary of the UnitedHealth Group, one of the world’s leading providers of health services.

Paul was the Victorian State Director for Vodafone, and prior to this appointment, he held an extensive 17-year career with Motorola, finishing as the Director and Vice President for Motorola Asia Pacific.

Paul is a former Non-Executive Director of Red Dust Role Models, a non-for-profit organisation that aspires to improve the lives of our Indigenous youth.

Paul is a past Chairman of the Queen Victoria Market Pty Ltd. His current board roles include Director at Racing Victoria, and the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation. Paul is an Australia Day Ambassador and a proud Victorian.

As Global CEO of one of the world’s fastest growing non-profits, Sally’s mission is to inspire and support the World Commerce & Contracting (WorldCC) team and global community to collectively drive recognition and excellence in Commercial and Contract Management.

She is an experienced and accomplished commercial and contracts management professional, holding senior commercial positions at a range of corporate and multi-national organizations. Her focus is on the creation of positive and successful business relationships, constantly striving to ensure that businesses realize their true potential and value.

In 2019 Sally was invited to become Chair of the Board for the Open Contracting Partnership (OCP) and in 2021 she was appointed Professor in Practice in Strategy and Innovation at the University of Durham Business School.

Mr Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu is the Chair of ICC World Chambers Federations (WCF) and the President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), the country’s largest business organisation, representing 366 chambers and commodity exchanges and over 2 million members. He also serves as  Chair of ICC Türkiye.

With an extensive background in international business and chamber leadership, he currently holds key positions in several global organisations, including Vice-President of EUROCHAMBRES, Vice-President of the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce, Vice-President of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, Chair of B20 Türkiye, and member of the ICC Executive Board.

In addition to his institutional leadership, he is a prominent business figure in Türkiye and the surrounding region, serving as Chairman of Eskihisar Group, which operates in construction, real estate, the food industry and the automotive sector.

As Owner and Chief Executive Officer of the Sintesa Group (www.sintesagroup.com), Shinta is responsible for the Management and Expansion of the Group’s business interests in Indonesia. The Sintesa Group is an Indonesian group with 16 subsidiaries, which operate in the Property, Energy, Industrial Products, and Consumer Products.

As a businesswoman, Shinta also involves in numerous business and social activities, including as the Vice Chairwoman of Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN Indonesia) and Employers’ Association of Indonesia (APINDO), as well as President of Indonesia Business Council for Sustainable Development (IBCSD), Founder of Angel Investment Network Indonesia (ANGIN), Chairwoman of Indonesia Business Coalition on Women Empowerment, and as International Board Member of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). She is also the member of APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Indonesia.

Shinta graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University New York in 1989 and Executive Education at Harvard Business School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA in 2002. As part of her achievement, she received awards amongst others from FORBES Asia’s 50 Powerful Businesswomen (2012, 2013, & 2016) and the Asia’s Leading Businesswoman of the Year Award from Women in Leadership Forum (2013), Women Entrepreneur of the Year from Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards (2014), Women of Power from Asian Business Leadership Forum (ABLF) Abu Dhabi (2012), 30 Best CEOs by Business Indonesia Award in 2015. And in 2017, she was decorated as the Commander of the Polar Star by the King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and the Commander of the Order of Leopold of Belgium.

Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah is the President & CEO of Dubai Chambers, one of the largest economic development arms in Dubai. In his current role, he oversees the implementation of Dubai Chambers’ strategic initiatives and plans, which aim to improve ease of doing business in Dubai, support businesses expanding globally, attract foreign companies and investment and advance the digital economy. 

Previously, Lootah served as CEO of the Commercial Compliance & Consumer Protection for Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, where he was responsible for overseeing consumer protection, business protection, intellectual property protection and commercial compliance. 

He also held several other leadership positions at the Department of Economic Development, namely Deputy CEO of the Commercial Compliance & Consumer Protection Sector, Deputy CEO of the Dubai Export Development Corporation, Executive Director of Corporate Quality and Excellence and Deputy Director of Information Technology Department at Dubai Land Department. 

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Systems Engineering from Arizona State University in the United States and an Executive MBA – Strategic Management from the Higher Colleges of Technology in Dubai. 

Palesa has over 20 years’ experience in the information and communication technology (ICT) and Telecommunications sector working for leading multinational companies within the ICT sector as well exposure and practical experience in government and Public Sector. Moreover, she has been active in working with non-governmental organisations and social initiatives especially in projects that affect in the outlying areas in KwaZulu-Natal. Palesa is currently the CEO of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry and her key function is to drive and implement the core objectives of the Durban Chamber. She joined the Durban Chamber form MTN where she was the Regional Head for MTN Business in KwaZulu-Natal and prior to that she was also the executive Head of Vodacom Business in KwaZulu-Natal. Additionally, she has worked for multinationals and large corporates such as EMC Computers, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Dell, and Intel.

Her core competencies and functional expertise range from executive management; operations and strategic planning and management; business development and sales leadership; financial management (P&L management); resource management including project management; high-level government and private sector negotiations; corporate governance advisory role at board level; and mentoring and motivational talks.

She holds a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Johannesburg (UJ), an advanced Business Management Programme Certificate. She is a member of the esteemed South African Institute of Directors (IODSA)

Gönül Serbest was appointed Commissioner for Victoria to Europe, the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa in February 2023, based in Paris, to elevate the State’s global trade and investment presence and reach across the region. Immediately prior, she served as the inaugural CEO of Global Victoria, where she led the State’s trade efforts overseeing 23 international offices. With over 20 years of experience, Gönül has been at the forefront of delivering high-level trade delegations, driving impactful results across the globe. Passionate about empowering young leaders and women, Gönül champions initiatives that foster active participation in trade, culture and sport. In 2023, she was awarded with the prestigious Order of the Star of Italy for her contributions to international relations. She holds a Bachelor Honours from RMIT University and executive education from Harvard University.

Philippe Varin was elected Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce in June 2024, having served on the executive board since 2018 and as First Vice-Chair from 2022-2024.

Mr Varin began his career in 1978 with Pechiney, where he held various R&D, Plant, and Business Unit Management roles in France and the United States. By the time he left Pechiney, he was Group Executive Vice President for the Aluminium sector. In 2003, Mr Varin became CEO of the Anglo-Dutch steel company Corus, where he led a major turnaround, culminating in the company’s acquisition by Tata Group in 2007. Mr Varin continued with Tata for two years, working in Mumbai and London, before joining PSA Peugeot Citroën as Chairman of the Managing Board (2009-2014). He subsequently served as Chairman of Areva and Orano, leading nuclear energy companies, until 2020.

In 2020, Mr Varin was elected Chairman of the Board of Suez, where he defended against Veolia’s acquisition bid, stepping down in 2022. Mr Varin has also held a number of key industry roles including as Chairman of “France Industrie” and Vice-Chairman of the National Council for Industry (Conseil National de l’Industrie), both from 2017-2021, and on the board of Saint-Gobain from 2013-2021.

Mr Varin has chaired the World Materials Forum since 2014, and in 2022, the French government enlisted him to propose measures for securing Critical Raw Materials supply. He is also an operating partner of the GVP Climate investment fund and chairs the French C’Possible Association, supporting the professional integration of vocational high school students.

A graduate of the Paris École Polytechnique and École des Mines, Mr Varin is an officer of the Legion of Honour, a knight of the National Order of Merit in France, and a Commander of the British Empire in the UK.