Anousheh Ansari, Entrepreneur
Anousheh Ansari brings more than two decades as a successful serial entrepreneur to Prodea Systems, where she serves as chairman. She captured headlines around the world as the first female private space explorer when she blasted off for an eight-day expedition aboard the International Space Station on Sept. 18. Anousheh earned a place in history as the fourth private explorer to visit space, and the first astronaut of Iranian descent. While in space, she is conducting tests of Prodea Systems digital home technology.
An active proponent of world-changing technologies, Anousheh has dreamed of space exploration since childhood. Her family provided the title sponsorship for the Ansari X Prize, a $10 million cash award for the first non-governmental organization to launch a reusable manned spacecraft into space twice within two weeks. This feat was accomplished in 2004 by legendary aerospace designer Burt Rutan in 2004.
Prior to founding Prodea Systems, Anousheh served as co-founder, chief executive officer and chairman of the board for Telecom Technologies, Inc. After earning three key U.S. patents and growing the company to 250 employees with 100 percent sequential growth year over year since inception, the company successfully merged with Sonus Networks, Inc., a provider of IP-based voice infrastructure products. While under her leadership, Telecom Technologies earned recognition as one of Inc. magazine's 500 fastest-growing companies and Deloitte & Touche's Fast 500 technology companies.
In addition to her business achievements, Anousheh actively pursues ways to enable social entrepreneurs to bring about radical change globally. She has served on the boards of directors for Make-a-Wish Foundation of North Texas and Collin County Children's Advocacy Center. She works with a number of other non-profit organizations, including the Ashoka in its support of social entrepreneurs.
Carolyn Hayman OBE, Chief Executive, Peace Direct
Carolyn is Chief Executive of Peace Direct that provides long term funding to selected grass roots peacemakers who are local to the conflict, and have a clear vision of what they want to achieve, a track record, strategic ambition, and a desire to communicate. Throughout a varied career in government, business and the not for profit sector, Carolyn Hayman's focus has been on start-ups and innovation. Her driving passion has been for showcasing talent at the grassroots to those with power and resources—whether it's introducing a talented young software engineer to a venture capitalist, a formerly homeless young person, now studying for university entrance, to a government Minister, or a Sudanese peace builder to a senior UN official.
A member of the UK Cabinet Office Think Tank at 26, she worked on many cross cutting topics, including the social impact of microelectronics. She took her know how in the emerging field of office automation into consultancy, and then as Joint Managing Director of the Korda Seed Capital Fund, into technology start-ups. The Fund eventually returned over 5 times its capital to investors. In 1996 she moved to the Foyer Federation, a newly established network of projects providing accommodation and education for homeless young people, and grew its income 8 fold in 7 years.
In 2002 she met Scilla Elworthy and worked with her to get Peace Direct off the ground. Peace Direct funds and promotes grass roots peace building in conflict areas, providing resources and profile to outstanding local peace initiatives.
Randy Newcomb, President, Humanity United and Vice President Omidyar Network
Randy Newcomb leads Humanity United, an organization established by Pam Omidyar to promote and defend equal dignity and rights for all human beings. Humanity United is working to end the practices of slavery and mass atrocities, beginning with efforts in east Africa and northern India. Prior to his work with Humanity United, Randy developed partnerships as a vice president of Omidyar Network, a mission-based investment group founded by Pierre and Pam Omidyar. Randy was previously the CEO and executive director of Golden Gate Community, Inc. (GGCI), a community-based, nonprofit organization that serves thousands of youth and families in San Francisco. As an original portfolio member of the Roberts Enterprise Development Fund (REDF), Randy started and ran several social enterprises with his colleagues that provided employment for among individuals across San Francisco. Randy holds a doctoral degree from the University of San Francisco and master's degrees in cross cultural studies and development economics from the University of Bath in England.
Paul van Tongeren, Executive Director of the European Centre for Conflict Prevention
Paul van Tongeren (1942) worked many years as a programme manager for the Dutch National Committee for International Cooperation and Sustainable Development (NCDO). He has been involved in the activities of numerous Dutch NGOs in the field of development cooperation, peace and environmental organisations. He established the ECCP (European Centre for Conflict Prevention) based in the Netherlands, and an European Platform on Conflict Prevention in 1997.
Under his leadership, the ECCP undertook several activities, including the "Searching for Peace" series, which documents analysis of conflicts and peacebuilders in different continents; the "People Building Peace" books, describing inspiring civil society stories worldwide; and the establishment of the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict, the first global network of peacebuilders. ECCP organized, in partnership with the UN Department for Political Affairs, the first civil society conference at the UN Headquarters in New York in July 2005.
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