Executive Director, Yunus Center, Asian Institute of Technology (YCA)

Executive Director, Yunus Center, Asian Institute of Technology (YCA)
President, Yunus Thailand (YT),Thailand
 

Prof. Faiz Shah has led the Yunus Center at the Asian Institute of Technology (YCA) since 2012, serving as a member of the AIT Management Team with faculty affiliation at the School of Management. From 2023–2025, he was a Professor at the Albukhary Centre of Excellence in Socio-Economic Development & Innovation (ACE-SEDI), heading its interdisciplinary Social Business graduate program. He also designed master's programs in Social Business and ESG at AIT and Albukhary International University.

Across a 40-year international career, Prof. Shah has overseen 300+ projects and trained over 3,000 grassroots changemakers from more than a dozen countries. He leads the Social Business Academia Network, is the Founding President of the Yunus Thailand Foundation, and is a Visiting Professor at Thammasat University and Kasetsart University. He is the lead author of the Responsible Business Guide (CIPE-RBI-ACCA, 2010) and currently heads the WePOWER Global Secretariat at Yunus Center AIT.

Chairman, Yunus Centre

2006 Nobel Peace Laureate, Founder of Grameen Bank
 
Professor Muhammad Yunus is a global visionary from Bangladesh who pioneered the concepts of microcredit and social business, transforming the lives of millions living in poverty. In 2006, he and Grameen Bank were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He has founded more than 50 social business companies, and Fortune Magazine named him "one of the greatest entrepreneurs of our time" in 2012.

Professor Yunus received the US Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2013, making him one of only seven individuals in history to hold all three distinctions. He has also received the Olympic Laurel Award at the Tokyo 2020 Games and the Vatican's Lamp of Peace of St. Francis in 2019. He holds 66 honorary degrees from universities across 26 countries and has received 145 awards from 33 countries, including state honours from 10 nations.

He devotes his energy to inspiring a world of Three Zeros: zero net carbon emission, zero wealth concentration, and zero unemployment. To this end, he has built a global network of Yunus Social Business Centres across 108 universities in 39 countries, and over 530 Three Zero Clubs in 46 countries, engaging young people in finding creative solutions to the world's most pressing problems.

In August 2024, Professor Yunus assumed leadership of Bangladesh's interim government, driving institutional reform and restoring the democratic rights of its citizens. Upon the conclusion of his tenure in February 2026, he stepped down and returned to his life's work for the people

Former Executive Director of UN Environment, Former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and

Erik Solheim is a globally recognised leader on environment, development, and peace. He served as Norwegian Minister of Environment and International Development from 2005 to 2012, where he initiated the global rainforest conservation program and brought Norwegian development assistance to 1% of GNI — the highest in the world. He was also leader of the Socialist Left Party from 1987 to 1997 and a member of the Norwegian Parliament from 1989 to 2001.

He led peace negotiations in Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, Sudan, and Burundi, and served as Under-Secretary General of the UN and Executive Director of UN Environment from 2016 to 2018.

Currently, he is President of the Europe–Asia Center in Brussels, Vice Chair of the Peking University Institute of Carbon Neutrality, and holds honorary professorships at several leading universities including Tsinghua and Fudan.

He has been recognised as a Hero of the Environment by Time magazine and a Champion of the World by the United Nations.

Director, utch Postcode Lottery Foundation (DOEN Foundation)

With a background in natural resources management and sociology, Carol has been working throughout her career at the people-planet interface. She has over 25 years of working experience in the global South, covering topics such as sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, biodiversity and climate change in combination with gender and social justice. Between 1995 and 2004, Carol has lived in Mali, Cameroon and Nepal. Her work experience covers mainly civil society organisations (from international to grassroots), while actively developing and managing collaborations with governments, research institutes, private sector and financial institutions. She has been a member of the supervisory board of the Triodos Sustainable Trade Fund, actively involved in the Hivos Triodos Fund, and was instrumental in the development of the Hivos Food & Lifestyle Fund, which invests in local SMEs in Southern Africa that enhance local sustainable food systems. 

Since January 2021 she is co-director of the DOEN Foundation. DOEN believes that a regenerative economy and a more inclusive, connected and just society is possible and that engaged, entrepreneurial people are a major force for societal change. The DOEN Foundation, together with its subsidiary DOEN Participaties BV, supports them through a range of non-financial and financial instruments - such as subsidies, loans and equity – that allow them to grow, become stronger and more visible.

Former President of Ireland,

 
Mary Robinson is a co-founder of Project Dandelion, which is a women-led global campaign for climate justice, Adjunct Professor for Climate Justice at Trinity College Dublin, and a member of The Elders. She served as President of Ireland from 1990-1997 and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1997-2002. She is a member of the Club of Madrid and the recipient of numerous honours and awards including the Presidential Medal of Freedom from the President of the United States Barack Obama.
Between 2013 and 2016, Mary served as the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy in three roles; first for the Great Lakes region of Africa, then on Climate Change leading up to the Paris Agreement and in 2016 as his Special Envoy on El Niño and Climate. Her Foundation, the Mary Robinson Foundation –Climate Justice, established in 2010, came to a planned end in April 2019.
A former President of the International Commission of Jurists and former chair of the Council of Women World Leaders she was President and founder of Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative from 2002-2010 and served as Honorary President of Oxfam International from 2002-2012. She was Chancellor of the University of Dublin from 1998 to 2019. 
 Mary Robinson serves as Patron of the International Science Council and Patron of the Board of the Institute of Human Rights and Business, is an Ambassador for The B Team, in addition to being a board member of several organisations including the Mo Ibrahim Foundation and the Aurora Foundation.
Recently she became joint Honorary President of the Africa Europe Foundation. Mary’s memoir,‘Everybody Matters’ was published in September 2012 and her book, ‘Climate Justice - Hope, Resilience and the Fight for a Sustainable Future’ was published in September 2018. She is also co-host of a podcast on the climate crisis, called ‘Mothers of Invention’.

Vice President of the World Bank 1992-2000, Co-Chair, Nizami Ganjavi International Center;

Ismail Serageldin, Founding Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA), the new Library of Alexandria, inaugurated in 2002. He serves as Chair and Member of a number of advisory committees for academic, research, scientific and international institutions, including as Co-Chair of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center (NGIC), and serves as Patron of the International Science Council (ISC). 

He has held many international positions including as Vice President of the World Bank (1992-2000). He also co-chaired the African Union’s high-level panel for Biotechnology (2006) and again for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) in 2012-2013, and was a member of the ICANN Panel for the review of the internet future (2013). 

Dr. Serageldin has received many awards including: First recipient of Grameen Foundation (USA) Award for a lifetime commitment to combating poverty, (1999); the presidential medals from the republics of Azerbaijan (2015), Montenegro (2016); Albania (2017) and Macedonia (2019) and etc.

Executive Chairman, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA)

Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun serves as Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and also leads the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), the Public Private Partnership Authority (PPPA), and the Maheshkhali Integrated Development Authority (MIDA).

Holding the rank of State Minister, he is the first private-sector leader appointed to head these core investment institutions under the Prime Minister's Office.

Previously, Mr. Chowdhury was an investment banker at HSBC Singapore, specializing in infrastructure and sustainable finance. His expertise spans across advisory, investment strategy, M&A and strategic planning. He began his banking career at Standard Chartered and headed finance at American Airlines, covering Europe and Asia. He has also advised the Grameen Telecom Trust.

Mr. Chowdhury has an MSc in Finance from the London Business School, where he was awarded an Alumni Scholarship. He got his BBA in Finance and Economics from the Institute of Business Administration at Dhaka University. He has advised the Brunel Business School in London and taught business at Dhaka’s Bangladesh University of Professionals as a visiting professor. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

He is a certified skydiver and holds the Guinness World Record for the longest freefall with a flag. He is also a private pilot licensed in the UK.

Director of Communications and Marketing, Nobel Peace Center

Kim Reksten Grønneberg is Director of Communications and Marketing at the Nobel Peace Center, the museum of the Nobel Peace Prize. Here, he leads global storytelling and strategic communications to elevate peacebuilding narratives. Their mission is to use the power of the Nobel Peace Prize laureates’ ideas, work and causes, to engage and inspire small and large actions which make the world a more peaceful place. 

With extensive experience from cultural institutions and the communication industry, Kim combines creative campaigns with outreach to engage diverse international audiences and stakeholders. He is passionate about amplifying voices for social justice, fostering collaborative platforms, and translating complex ideas into compelling public programs. 

Quantum and Ai Sovereignty Senior Advisor, Levio 

Richard St-Pierre operates at the nexus of technology, sovereignty, and democracy. As the Senior Advisor for Quantum and AI Sovereignty at Levio and co-chair of the Global Data Pledge, he assists governments and organizations in managing AI governance, post-quantum security, and the geopolitics surrounding digital infrastructure.

Richard previously established Canada's largest Quantum Innovation Zone and was recognized as one of the Top 10 Innovators of 2017. With training in Europe and China, as well as certificates from Oxford and Harvard, he offers a global perspective on our collective digital future.

His policy writing covers the G7 and countries' governments, where he advocates for the role of Middle Powers in a world increasingly shaped by technology-driven asymmetries.

Managing Director, Grameen Kalyan

A K M Moinuddin Chowdhury is the Managing Director of Grameen Kalyan since 2019,Bangladesh's largest non-government primary healthcare provider, founded by Nobel Peace Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. He holds an MBA from Bayes Business School, City University London, and brings over 36 years of professional experience, including 16 years in the Bangladesh Army. Post-MBA, he worked as a Principal Consultant at Frost & Sullivan, London. He later managed large-scale international development programs funded by DFID (UK Aid) and DFAT (Australian Aid) in Bangladesh, overseeing strategic management, finance, and government relations. He administered DFID-Bangladesh's award-winning Chars Livelihoods Program (CLP, £82.7M) and served as Director of Finance for Maxwell Stamp Plc (UK), collaborating closely with Bangladesh's Ministry of Finance on public financial management. He also serves as a Non-Executive Director of Grameenphone Ltd. and holds additional directorships in Grameen Health Care Services, Grameen Knitwear, Grameen Trust, Grameen Capital Management, Grameen Distribution Ltd. and Samajik Health Science Institute & Research Centre (SHIRC), contributing to sustainable development, healthcare access, and social business initiatives in Bangladesh.

Managing Director, Grameen Healthcare Services Ltd & Samajik Health Science Institute and Research Center Ltd

Shamsul Haque Ahmed brings more than 25 years of corporate experience including 14 years in top management positions. He obtained an MBA from Institute of Business Administration (IBA) in 2000, with a Major in Finance. He also completed B.Sc. in Engineering degree in EEE from Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology.

His career track includes operations and business development, sales administration, market development and project management. Shamsul worked for top level reputed companies like Omera Petroleum, ARTISAN Ceramics, SHANTA Properties, Rahimafrooz & Shinepukur Ceramics. Presently he is working as the Managing Director of Grameen Health Care Services Ltd. as well as performing the responsibility of Managing Director at Samajik Health Science Institute and Research Center.

Shamsul Haque Ahmed is a business professional, member of different associations; he attended several professional training and workshop programs both locally and internationally.

CEO, Grameen HealthTech Ltd (Shukhee) & Shamadhan Services Ltd (GPay)

Acting CEO, 

Dr. Ahmed Armaan Siddiqui is a technology and innovation leader with more than 20 years of experience across digital transformation, telecom, healthcare, and social business. As CEO of Grameen HealthTech Ltd., he is helping build accessible, technology driven healthcare in line with Professor Muhammad Yunus’s vision of inclusive impact.
He also serves as Acting CEO and Board Member of Shamadhan Services Limited, Adjunct Faculty at North South University, and Board Member of Grameen Waters Limited and SHSIRC. Earlier, he held senior leadership roles at Robi Axiata, Grameenphone, Citycell, and Edotco Group, contributing to major advances in mobile internet, digital finance, OTT, digital health, and telecom infrastructure.
His work has received national and international recognition, including CommunicAsia, GLOMO, Bangladesh Brand Forum, Bangladesh Innovation Awards, South Asia Award, Mahatma Gandhi Peace Award, and Commonwealth Excellence Award. Through MFJF, MFSS, and the Shukhee Village Project, he continues to advance community welfare across Bangladesh.

President and CEO, Elekta Foundation

Lacy Hubbard is the Founding President and CEO of the Elekta Foundation, a Swedish NGO focused on cancer prevention and care in underserved countries. After nearly two decades working in the global radiotherapy industry, a field focused on specialized cancer treatment, she shifted from cancer treatment to cancer screening, prevention, and public health. Her work centers on redesigning how cancer screening can be delivered more affordably and at scale in low-resource countries.

Working closely with the Rwanda Ministry of Health and local and international partners, Lacy led the development of one of Africa’s largest cervical cancer screening initiatives. In four years, the program has screened nearly half a million women, mainly in rural villages with limited access to healthcare. Through HPV testing through self-sampling and timely treatment of precancerous lesions, the program has helped prevent cervical cancer in more than 15,000 women.

Group Chief Executive Officer, Apex Health

Joseph Hazel is a distinguished leader in the healthcare industry with over 30 years of C-suite experience across Africa, Europe, the UK, and the Middle East. In February 2023, he joined Apex Health to spearhead the development of an integrated, collaborative private healthcare group portfolio, focusing on the MENA region.

Under his leadership, Apex Health has transformed from establishing a leading private 250-bed hospital in Qatar in 2023 to now operating 8 hospitals across 4 countries, encompassing over 2800+ beds.

Joseph's strategic acumen is driving unparalleled growth and innovation and most recently appointed as a member of the Advisory Board for the Arab Hospitals Federations. And was selected as one of the Top Healthcare Leaders by Forbes Middle East.

Prior to his role at Apex Health, Joseph spent 7 at Mediclinic Middle East as the Chief Operating Officer for Abu Dhabi, where he played a crucial role in elevating healthcare standards and operational excellence.

Joseph holds an MSc in Healthcare Economics, Policy, and Management from the London School of Economics, an MBA, and a Diploma in Management from the Open University. He has further honed his expertise with certificates in Managing Healthcare Delivery and Strategy Execution from Harvard Business School, as well as completing director training at the Institute of Directors and leadership training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

CEO/Executive Director, Seva Foundation and Seva Europe

Kate Moynihan is an impassioned leader and decision-maker who has overseen programs in networked organizations and social enterprises in resource-constrained settings, internationally and in the United States. She is a catalyst for institutional and systems change, partnering successfully with diverse international organizations to deliver world-class leadership for mission-based social justice around the globe. Throughout Kate’s career, she has shown an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of people living in disadvantaged, marginalized segments of the world. Kate currently serves as CEO / Executive Director of the Seva Foundation. She lives in Oakland and is a proud parent of a fierce 16-year-old daughter who herself is engaged in restorative justice. They enjoy life with their dog Spirit.

Kate Moynihan is an impassioned leader and decision-maker who has overseen programs in networked organizations and social enterprises in resource-constrained settings, internationally and in the United States. She is a catalyst for institutional and systems change, partnering successfully with diverse international organizations to deliver world-class leadership for mission-based social justice around the globe. Throughout Kate’s career, she has shown an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of people living in disadvantaged, marginalized segments of the world. Kate currently serves as CEO / Executive Director of the Seva Foundation. She lives in Oakland and is a proud parent of a fierce 16-year-old daughter who herself is engaged in restorative justice. They enjoy life with their dog Spirit.

Founder, Grameen Foundation and Independent Consultant to Nonprofit Organizations

Alex Counts is a nonprofit leader, educator, consultant, and author. He established Grameen Foundation in 1997 with the assistance of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus after living in Bangladesh for six years, and he built it into a global organization over 18 years as its founding CEO. He is the author of Changing the World Without Losing Your Mind: Leadership Lessons from Three Decades of Social Entrepreneurship, a semi-autobiographical work focused on lessons in nonprofit leadership and self-care, Small Loans, Big Dreams (now available in Bangladesh in English and Bengali by University Press Limited) about Grameen Bank in Bangladesh and the U.S., and 2 other books. He has been published in the Stanford Social Innovation Review and the Chronicle of Philanthropy, and is an active blogger. He is on the board of the Alliance between Grameen Foundation and Navaka Social Business (formerly Yunus Social Business India).

Managing Director, Grameen Trust

Ms. Tasmina Rahman is a practitioner of microfinance and social business, currently serving as the Managing Director of Grameen Trust since January 2023. She also serves on the boards of several microfinance institutions and social business organizations in Bangladesh and internationally.

Having joined Grameen Trust in 1994, Ms. Rahman has devoted over three decades to advancing the vision of zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero net carbon emissions. Working closely with Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, she has played a significant role in expanding the Grameen Bank Approach globally and promoting entrepreneurship as a solution to unemployment.
Her leadership has contributed to the implementation of more than 155 Grameen Replication Programs in 44 countries, serving approximately 30 million microcredit clients worldwide. She has also overseen the Nobin Entrepreneurship Program, which has supported over 56,000 young entrepreneurs as of May 2026. Ms. Rahman regularly represents Grameen Trust at international forums, sharing expertise in microfinance, financial inclusion, social business, and sustainable development.

Co-founder and CEO, Navaka Social Business Fund Bengaluru

Suresh K Krishna  the co-founder and CEO of Navaka Social Business Fund Bengaluru, which aims to promote Social Business as an effective means to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The organization provides patient finance to support game-changing social businesses in India, and is associated with Yunus Social Business entities in Germany, Brazil and East Africa, addressing critical social challenges in a financially sustainable manner.

Suresh has over 25 years of experience in social business, microfinance & working with low income households.. He was the Managing Director of CreditAccess Grameen, India's largest NBFC-MFI, for over 15 years. He is passionate about social businesses, micro housing, financial literacy, and livelihoods for the poor. 

Few highlights of his career:

• Managing Director of CreditAccess Grameen (1999-2015)
• Co-founded Microfinance associations in India – AKMI & MFIN
• Co-founder & Managing Trustee of Navya Disha Trust – A NGO supporting youth in self employment, Co-founder & Chairman of Buzz India – a NGO working on women empowerment.
• He served as Director of Mifos.org (USA), BinaArtha (Indonesia),  SMILE Microfinance, Centrum Microfinance, Sudhanand Healthcare, Waste Ventures P. Ltd, Sadhana Innovative financial services etc.,
• Currently he serves as Independent Director of Sanghamitra Rural Financial Services, Grameen Foundation India, Child Fund India.
• Studied international microfinance models and strategies from several reputed institutions like Harvard Business School, Bankakademi, Institute of Rural Management Anand, etc.
• Alumnus of Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB), Bengaluru (India)

General Secretary, Foundation Grameen Crédit Agricole

From 1986 to 2004, Philippe Guichandut worked for various French development NGOs, spending six years in Rwanda, India, and the Philippines. He was responsible for implementing and monitoring development and microfinance projects.

He became the first Executive Director of the European Microfinance Network upon its creation in 2004, before joining the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation in November 2010 as Director of Investments and Technical Assistance. In 2024, he was appointed General Secretary.
He has been teaching development project management and microfinance for over 25 years in France and abroad.

Philippe Guichandut holds a Master's degree in Urban Social Development from the University of Evry and an MBA from the European University of San Francisco.

Managing Director, Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation

Mr. Md. Fazlul Kader is a distinguished development finance leader who has played an influential role in the evolution of Bangladesh's financial inclusion ecosystem. Over a career spanning more than three decades, he has devoted himself to strengthening institutions, designing systems, and expanding market pathways that broaden economic opportunities for millions of financially underserved and excluded people.

His leadership has been closely associated with the growth of Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) into a globally recognized unique development finance institution and with the broader
transformation of Bangladesh’s microfinance sector into one of the world’s most influential models of inclusive finance. Through his contributions to strategy, institutional development, and
system design, he has helped shape approaches that connect finance with entrepreneurship, resilience, livelihoods, and human development.

Mr. Kader is widely respected for his ability to translate vision into scalable solutions that enable low-income communities to participate more fully in economic progress. His work has consistently focused on strengthening the institutions and market ecosystems through which finance serves not merely as a source of capital, but as a pathway to dignity, opportunity, and shared prosperity.

As Managing Director of PKSF, he leads initiatives that advance inclusive finance, enterprise development, climate resilience, and human capability enhancement, contributing to sustainable
and equitable development outcomes.

Mr. Kader holds degrees in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Dhaka and has received advanced professional training from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand, and Harvard University. He has represented Bangladesh in international forums across more than 30 countries and actively contributes to global dialogue on financial inclusion,
sustainable development, and social impact.

President and CEO , CARD-MRI Development Institute

Dr. Edzel Almanza Ramos is the President and CEO of the CARD-MRI Development Institute a member organization and capacity/education building arm of the CARD MRI Mutually Reinforcing Institutions in the Philippines. This network includes 35 development-oriented institutions serving more than 10 million Filipinos with over 20,000 staff. CMDI provides capacity-building programs needed by staff, members and other development organizations. It is also a government recognized Technical Vocational Training and Assessment Center, Senior High School, and Tertiary institution that offers both Master's and Doctorate Programs in partnership with other universities. CMDI has over 10,000 enrolled students this academic year and has produced almost 5,000 graduates since its degree programs began in 2015. The institute also manages the CARD MRI Scholarship Program, which has supported a total of 37,000 scholars, including 16,000 graduates who are dependents of CARD MRI microfinance clients.

He is an alumni of the University of the Philippines at Los Banos, Asian Institute of Management, Southeast Asia Interdisciplinary Development Institute in the Philippines and Harvard Business School.

Managing Director, Grameen Bank

Starting career as a trade marketer working for the largest FMCG product marketing and distribution company (BATB) of the country, He got the opportunity to get the exposure of working in many geographies of Bangladesh. Later on switching to financial institution, he gained a good experience through leading banking business channels like Retail Banking, SME Banking and Agriculture business. Closely worked with financial inclusion through Agent Banking network, manage digital banking through integrated innovation within the payment eco system and in the space of Microfinance. In this journey he worked for Brac Bank, UCB PLC, Bank Asia and Sajida Foundation.

He is currently working as Managing Director Grameen Bank Since April 2025.

Managing Director, YY Ventures

Shazeeb M Khairul Islam is a social business entrepreneur, venture investor, and former public servant. Most recently, he served as Private Secretary to Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of the Interim Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, supporting executive leadership committed to restoring democratic processes, advancing reforms, and strengthening justice and accountability.

He is the Founder & Managing Director of YY Ventures, a global social business platform that builds, funds, and supports early-stage social businesses across emerging markets. Since inception the company has supported 130+ enterprises, created nearly 2,000 jobs, and positively impacted over 1 million lives, with a strong emphasis on women‑led ventures. He also co-founded Impact Hub Dhaka, helping build a leading entrepreneurship community connected to a global network.

An Obama Scholar (2020–21) and global advocate for Social Business, Shazeeb has served on the board of multiple Grameen social businesses and lectured at institutions including Columbia University, New York University, and Kyushu University. His work continues to bridge entrepreneurship, policy, and global collaboration to shape a more sustainable and just future.

Chairman, Yunus Centre

2006 Nobel Peace Laureate, Founder of Grameen Bank
 
Professor Muhammad Yunus is a global visionary from Bangladesh who pioneered the concepts of microcredit and social business, transforming the lives of millions living in poverty. In 2006, he and Grameen Bank were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He has founded more than 50 social business companies, and Fortune Magazine named him "one of the greatest entrepreneurs of our time" in 2012.

Professor Yunus received the US Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2013, making him one of only seven individuals in history to hold all three distinctions. He has also received the Olympic Laurel Award at the Tokyo 2020 Games and the Vatican's Lamp of Peace of St. Francis in 2019. He holds 66 honorary degrees from universities across 26 countries and has received 145 awards from 33 countries, including state honours from 10 nations.

He devotes his energy to inspiring a world of Three Zeros: zero net carbon emission, zero wealth concentration, and zero unemployment. To this end, he has built a global network of Yunus Social Business Centres across 108 universities in 39 countries, and over 530 Three Zero Clubs in 46 countries, engaging young people in finding creative solutions to the world's most pressing problems.

In August 2024, Professor Yunus assumed leadership of Bangladesh's interim government, driving institutional reform and restoring the democratic rights of its citizens. Upon the conclusion of his tenure in February 2026, he stepped down and returned to his life's work for the people

Vice Chancellor and President, Albukhary International University

Professor Dr. Mohd. Saleh bin Jaafar is a highly accomplished individual with a remarkable journey from a challenging family background to becoming a prominent figure in the field of academia and institutional leadership. Born in Kg. Kandang, Melaka, he was the 13th child among 19 siblings to Hj. Jaafar Yon and Hjh. Embok Chik Alias.

Despite the tough early life, Professor Dato’ Saleh persevered and excelled in his academic pursuits. He was a top student at various educational institutions, ultimately earning a BSc in Civil Engineering with honors from Michigan State University (1985). He furthered his academic journey, obtaining an MS in Structures from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor (1988) and a PhD from Sheffield University, in 1998.

His career has been marked by his diverse leadership roles in academia and institutions. He started his leadership journey early, heading the Civil Engineering Department at UPM in 1999. Under his leadership, the department achieved remarkable success in research and teaching, securing substantial research grants and improving journal publications. The department earned a place in the world top 150-200 in QS subject rankings.

Throughout his career, Professor Dato’ Saleh held various positions, such as being the Deputy Dean, Dean of Engineering, and Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at UPM. He introduced and implemented strategic initiatives to enhance research and innovation, leading to increased research grants, publications, and impact factors. He integrated research across faculties, established research clusters, programs, and centers, and significantly improved laboratory accreditations.

He also played a pivotal role in promoting innovation and showcasing UPM & expertise and technologies through initiatives like Edu-park. His leadership resulted in numerous awards and recognition for UPM, making it a leader in research and innovation in Malaysia.

Professor Dato’ Saleh was seconded to the Ministry of Higher Education from 2014 to 2016 where he was instrumental in the development of the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2015-2025 (Higher Education). From 2019 to 2020 he was again seconded to the Ministry to serve as Deputy Director General. He is now appointed by the Ministry as an expert panel to develop a new Blueprint for Higher Education, 2026-2035.

Prior to the appointment as the Vice Chancellor and President of Albukhary International University (AIU), Professor Dato’ Saleh was the Pro Vice-Chancellor of UCSI University Bangladesh Branch Campus.

CEO, Youth Trust Foundation

Nurfarini is the CEO of myHarapan, a foundation fueling youth empowerment and positive social change since 2010. Leveraging 24 years of experience in startup development, including training and mentoring SMEs and graduates, she honed her skills by contributing across sectors in government agencies like the Multimedia Development Corporation and in technology companies.

This Warwick University alumna boasts an INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Program certificate and teaching credentials. She was also a DIVA-Ashoka cohort in 2022. Her dedication earned her the 2015 Social Innovation Leadership award and nominations for prestigious recognitions like Malaysian Great Women of Our Time. In 2017, her work was further celebrated, later receiving a Social Enterprise Research Academy Fellowship, the Wiki Impact Top 100 honour in 2022 and is a Top50 Women Leader honouree by Affin Invikta in 2025.
She loves play and fun and hopes to help us channel our inner child throughout our lives.

Mayor, Sakai Town,Ibaraki

Born in 1975 in Sakai-machi, Ibaraki Prefecture.Graduated from the Department of Architectural Engineering, Shibaura Institute of Technology.Graduated from the Graduate School of Public Policy, Meiji University. In 1999, he worked at the Sakai Town Hall.In 2003, he was elected for the first time in the Sakai Town Council election and served for four terms.In 2011, he became the youngest person in Japan to become chairman.He was elected mayor of Sakai Town for the first time in 2014 and is currently in his third term.After taking office, he won the first place in Ibaraki Prefecture for hometown tax payment for 9 consecutive years, the first place in Kanto for 7 consecutive years since 2017, and the 11th place in Japan in 2023.He has worked on many initiatives that were ahead of the rest of the country, such as the development of Kengo Kuma's building facilities, which is the largest number of towns and villages in Japan, and the start of regular operation of self-driving buses on public roads, and measures have been featured on TV and other means.He is a visiting professor at Marikina City University in the Republic of the Philippines and a specially appointed researcher at the Institute of Social Design, Rikkyo University.Member of the Digital Agency's "Study Group on the Ideal of Digital Public Transportation".Member of the Cabinet Office's "Regional Revitalization SDGs Financial Research and Study Group".

Member, 3ZERO Club

Mahmudul Hassan is a youth leader, social entrepreneur, and active member of the 3ZERO Club movement, committed to creating practical solutions to pressing social and environmental challenges. He is the founder of Swaccha and the Elite Youth Foundation, an internationally recognized youth-led organization through which he has mobilized more than 4,000 young people and inspired over 50,000 civic behavioural changes across Bangladesh. An Ashoka Changemaker and recipient of the Glocal Teen Hero Bangladesh 2025 award, Mahmudul is passionate about empowering young people to drive meaningful change through innovation, community action, and purpose-driven leadership. His work has been featured in leading media outlets including The Daily Star, Prothom Alo, and Channel 24, and he regularly speaks on topics such as empathetic leadership, social impact, and youth engagement. Driven by the belief that lasting change begins with action, collaboration, and a shared commitment to solving real-world problems, Mahmudul continues to build initiatives that create both social value and sustainable impact.

Program Manager, atomcamp,

Executive Vice Chairman, Grameen Trust

Abdul Hai Khan is a prominent practitioner of microfinance and social business. He serves as the Executive Vice Chairman of Grameen Trust (GT) and previously held the position of Managing Director of Grameen Trust from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2022.
Before joining GT, Mr. Khan worked as the Deputy General Manager of Grameen Bank and served as the Head of Training and the Special Programs Department. He has worked with Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus for over 40 years.

Mr. Khan has extensive experience with GT’s worldwide replication programs based on the Grameen Bank Approach (GBA). He has conducted numerous international training programs on various issues related to microcredit and social business in various countries, as well as conducted monitoring and evaluation visits to microcredit projects operated and/or managed by GT globally. He had an opportunity to work as CEO of Grameen Kosovo and General Manager of Family Bank, Bahrain. He has also directed ‘Fact Finding Missions’ in Nepal, Bolivia, South Africa, and Yemen.

Mr. Khan serves on the boards of several microfinance organizations and social business entities in Bangladesh, India, Kosovo, China, and other countries.

Executive Vice Chairman, Grameen Communications

Nazneen Sultana is currently serving as the Executive Vice Chairman of Grameen Communications. She played a foundational role in the organization, having served as its Managing Director since its inception in 1997. Under her leadership, Grameen Communications pioneered several groundbreaking initiatives, including the development of the world’s first complete micro-banking software, now widely used by microfinance institutions including Grameen Bank. She also spearheaded efforts to extend ICT access to remote rural areas of Bangladesh.

Ms. Sultana has contributed significantly to the social business movement. She was actively involved in establishing several social business ventures, including Grameen Euglena. She now serves as the Country Manager of Euglena Corporation Japan’s liaison office in Bangladesh.

In recognition of her contributions and leadership, she was recently appointed as a Director on the Board of Grameen Bank.
Ms. Sultana began her professional journey with Grameen Bank in 1984, where she served until 1997 and played a key role in establishing the Bank’s ICT division.

She holds both BS and MS degrees in Applied Mathematics from the University of Chittagong, Bangladesh, and earned a diploma in Management Information Systems from the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. With over 30 years of experience in the IT field, she serves as a director in several ICT companies, including Accenture Bangladesh.

In addition to her professional roles, she actively contributes to various non-profit initiatives, serving as an executive member of several NGOs focused on gender equity, affordable healthcare, women’s empowerment, and ICT for development.