Christian Keller is Head of Economics Research at Barclays, leading a global team covering both developed and emerging markets. He is based in London and joined Barclays in 2007 from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), where he had worked on programs with emerging market economies in Europe, Latin America and Asia. He graduated with a PhD in Economics from University of Köln, Germany, and holds a joined-MA in Economics and Finance from University of Köln and HEC, Paris.

Ana Paula de Jesus Assis is the Chair and General Manager for IBM Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), responsible for IBM’s overall business and relationship with the European Union and other public institutions. Previously, she was GM of the Client Transition Office, IBM GM in Latin America and held multiple positions in the USA and China.

Kate Smaje is a senior partner, based in London and serves on McKinsey’s Shareholders Council (our Board), chairing the Technology, Knowledge and Capabilities Committee. Most recently, Kate was the global co-leader of McKinsey Digital, leading our capabilities from core technology, to digital business building, to AI. She also co-authored the Wall Street Journal bestseller Rewired: The McKinsey Guide to Outcompeting in the Age of Digital and AI (Wiley, 2023). A polymath at heart, Kate has spent the past 20+ years at McKinsey working with clients across geographies and sectors to help capture the power of technology and AI through human change.

Hiral Patel is the Global Head of Sustainable & Thematic research at Barclays. Hiral and team aim to identify multi-sector thematic trends that could shape the business environment, with the investment opportunities spanning both public and private companies. Hiral has developed a thematic framework known as the '2030 Thematic Roadmap: 150 Trends' and has published on various topics relating to emerging technology, sustainability and demographic change. Recent publications include Social Inclusion, Electronic Waste, Cultured Meat and Green Data Centers, including a variety of investor tools (trend momentum scores, UN SDG mapping, company revenue tagging).