Distinguished speaker seminar series

Our distinguished speakers are invited from all industry sectors and reflect the career aspirations and interests of our MBA class and wider University.

Speakers are founders, chairman, CEOs and other senior management and are drawn from all over the world.

 

Previous speakers

Graham Love
Graham Love

Graham Love

Graham Love, Chairman of the Royal Mint, shares this Distinguished Speaker Seminar with Canada-based Aaron Logan, CEO of clean tech company Excir. The two discuss their partnership to extract precious metals from e-waste.

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Stephane Bancel
Stephane Bancel

Stéphane Bancel

Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, talks about the future of healthcare

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Sergio Ermotti

UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti inspires and challenges at the launch of MBA 2024, covering careers, the future of banking and leading the integration between UBS and Credit Suisse.

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Barbara Oakley

In this insightful lecture, Dr Barbara Oakley, creator of the popular 'Learning how to learn' MOOC and a leading expert on the neuroscience of learning, will explore how understanding the brain's learning processes can help learners effectively leverage generative AI to enhance skill acquisition and drive innovation.

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Sarah Kent

Journalist Sarah Kent discusses the fashion industry’s long and winding road to sustainability.

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Professor Daron Acemoglu

Professor Daron Acemoglu delivered the 2024 Sanjaya Lall Memorial Lecture, arguing that the choices we make now will determine how AI affects our jobs and future prosperity.

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Sanjaya Lall panel
Sanjaya Lall panel

Professor Helen Margetts, Professor Sir Christopher Pissarides

These two distinguished speakers joined Sanjaya Lall Visiting Professor Daron Acemoglu in a panel discussion on AI and the future of work, chaired by Professor Sir John Vickers.

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Bill Browder

Join international financier, political activist and bestselling author Bill Browder as he discusses his new book in conversation with Rupert Younger, Director of the Oxford University Centre for Corporate Reputation.

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Dr Albert Bourla

The Chairman and CEO of Pfizer Inc focuses on fairness and the future in the pharmaceutical industry.

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Manal Al Madi

Manal Al Madi, Deputy Governor of Strategic Partnerships and Communication at the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC). She spoke about Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 development plan includes major policy changes designed to provide greater opportunities for women.

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Vivienne Cox

Vivienne Cox, Vice-Chair of the Saïd Business School Board and formerly head of oil giant BP’s alternative energy division. She spoke about the future of energy in the context of the climate emergency.

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Hiro Mizuno

Hiro Mizuno, Chief Investment Officer and Executive Managing Director of Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF). He shared his vision on key ideas that help create more sustainable capital markets.

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Muhtar Kent

Former chairman of Coca-Cola and CEO Muhtar Kent offers a distinguished speaker seminar. Kent focused his talk on the ‘Three Ws programme he initiated - focusing on water, women and wellbeing.

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John Mahama

Ghana’s former president John Mahama shared his thoughts on democracy and elections in contemporary Africa.

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