Organising committee

A serial entrepreneur, resident in France with an MBA degree from Imperial College, London, Max has been in business for over 25 years. He set up and successfully developed a number of start-ups in such areas as international events management, property development, hospitality and education. Max is currently organising a series of high profile sustainable investment conferences across the globe whose mission is connecting the savviest of the investors with the brightest of startups. He is a sought-after speaker at major international conferences, an investor and an advisor to several global projects.

Angel Wang (Chairman) founded and managed the largest Chinese owned securities, investment banking, asset management firm and investment fund in the United States. Angel is also as Chairman of numerous private investment companies around the world. With more than 20 years in international investment and M&A, Angel has garnered praise from the worldwide political and business community, and is often cited on the Forbes World Richest Entrepreneurs list. Angel has received the “Midas” award by Hurun in 2015. She also received the “Global Model Outstanding Chinese Woman” award in 2016.

Mr. Majeed Abdulkarim Abdulaal, graduated from United States of America and Chairman of Buchen Groupand one of the world known names in Oil and gas. He has three decades of experience in oil and gas, investments, real estate development and international market. Mr. Abdulaal has received various awards including 'Emerald Who's Who' for Executives and Professionals having demonstrated outstanding achievement and distinguished contributions to the business community, 'International Who's Who of Professionals in 2005, 'International Association Business Leaders in March 2006, 'Madison Who's Who' as a VIP member to appear in 2007-2008 edition, 'Man of the Year representing Bahrain' in 2010 for his outstanding contributions to country as recognized by the American Biographical Institute awarded on 23rd July 2010 and this year, 2021, he is a nominee for Europe Business Assembly's 'The Europe Quality Award' and 'Best Enterprises' in UK for his strategic, visions, production and services, and competitive advantages to help raise its competitive capacity on the market. Recently, Buchen Groups has awarded in Oil and Gas Awards 2021 in Europe as 'Best Oil Specialist Maintenance Services'. He is responsible for the overall management and making strategic decisions for the Company. Also, Mr. Abdulaal is well known and recognized in the region and internationally and is part of various National and International Boards and Bodies.

Serge Conesa brings over 30 years of experience in data communications and the IT networking industry, holding Executive key positions in both sales and marketing management with from Fortune 500 companies and over 20 start-ups. His experience ranges from working in the business of internationally expanding major telecommunications and civil infrastructure businesses coordinating all the key elements of a new business: including time, money, resources and technology throughout multiple geographies and cultures. His vision will help corporate and government customers assess, optimize, and manage the life cycle of resources utilization for enhanced efficiency and reduced energy consumption.At the highest levels of governments, energy independence is recognized as key to maintain a nation’s economic and political security.His work is giving now the ability to respond to the call from the White House, not only in addressing, but also in helping to solve the nation’s need for energy independence in a climate of greater demand and diminishing resources, and to replace the current inefficient industrial model of resources management with a new highly efficient model.

Valentina Castellani is an Award Winning Film Producer, President of Quinn Studios Entertainment which continues the Legacy of Academy Award Winning Actor Anthony Quinn, in the fields of art and entertainment. Mrs. Castellani produced many Academy Awards candidate films Internationally recognized and distributed. She won the prestigious US CONGRESS AWARD, The HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD, the English WIFTS Award as a "Visionary Producer" together with Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel and actress Gal Gadot. Because of her ethical work as a producer, and her service to global society, Valentina Castellani was invited to speak at many International Organizations, including, The US Congress, United Nations, UNESCO, The YPO/Young President Organization and a number of International Universities.

Ankit Sahu is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of New Normal Capital. Ankit is a registered investment advisor with 15 plus years of experience in wealth management having managed over $200m in assets under management (AUM). Ankit was previously with Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML) and UBS. Ankit holds an undergraduate degree in engineering, an MBA in Finance from the University of San Francisco and has completed Level II of the CFA. Ankit also attended Mayo College and Eton College.

Steven O’Brien is a widely published writer, academic, journalist. He is Editor of The London Magazine, Britain’s oldest literary journal (est. 1732). His current roles also include Secretary General of the G20 Foundation, Trustee of the Patrons of the Vatican Art Treasures, Advisor to the Vatican’s Institute of Human Dignity, Advisor to the Centre for Issues and Crisis Management and Peace Ambassador for Iraq.

Diplomatic World (of which Ms Barbara Dietrich is the owner, CEO and Editor-in-Chief) is the only magazine published on paper in or around Brussels (with four editions a year distributed in high-quality paper form), counting amongst its subscribers all the Embassies in Brussels, all Members of the European Parliament, the DG’s of the European Commission, the European Council, Members of the Belgian Government, the Belgian Royal Family and other Heads of State plus many influential economic forums and organizations, advocacy and consultancy bureaus and think tanks in Brussels, providing this community and a wider public of interested readers with profound and trendsetting insights in the latest diplomatic, international and European evolutions and tendencies (with a special focus on cultural diplomacy, diplomatic economy, trade, business, art and health). The high-level content of Diplomatic World is based on a full-time engagement and direct/constant contacts with European and international officials - from Ambassadors and Ministers to European Commissioners, Prime Ministers and national and EU Presidents – of Barbara Dietrich. Through the high-quality paper publication, followed and circulating intensively inside the Brussels bubble and in other diplomatic capitals, and through the further online dissemination of the editions published under the supervision of Ms Barbara Dietrich, Diplomatic World has a very wide reach and can claim the status of a key diplomatic-journalistic medium and very influential global think tank and opinion-maker.