Who Comes?

Our participants have come from 73 countries. Learn more about them through the interactive map or use the list below.

Agatti Lima,
Edson

Brazil and United States
Director of strategy at UNICEPLAC, a for-profit higher education institution in Brazil; former tax adviser at KPMG in Budapest; co-founder of Eagles for Liberty, a market-liberal student organization at Florida Gulf Coast University; developing Hayek Global College

Aguirre,
Esperanza

Spain

Former minister of education and culture; former president of the Senate; former president of the Community of Madrid; president of the Popular Party of Madrid

Aldana,
Juan Fernando

Guatemala

Manager, corporate investment at Inversiones Centroamericanas, S.A.; former associate director of corporate finance at SABMiller in London; former associate at Deutsche Bank; professor of economics and monetary and fiscal policy at UFM

Allman,
David

United States
Owner and chairman of Regent Partners, a real estate company with more than $2.5 billion in assets; chairman of numerous philanthropic initiatives, including Opportunity International Nicaragua, which fights poverty through business training and economic development projects

Alt,
Robert

United States
President, chief executive officer, and trustee of Buckeye Institute, a free-market public policy think tank; legal scholar with expertise in criminal justice, national security, and constitutional law; former director of Heritage Foundation’s Center for Legal and Judicial Studies

Altmaier,
Paulette

United States

Board member of Learning Equality, an ed-tech nonprofit; board member of Concord Consortium; former executive at Cisco, Dell, and Juniper Networks; adviser and mentor focused on education and the preservation of classical-liberal principles

Alvarez,
David

Puerto Rico
Executive director of the Puerto Rico Public-Private Partnerships Authority; former senior adviser to the chairman and president of the Government Development Bank of Puerto Rico

Amez-Droz,
Elise

United States
Program associate at Mercatus Center at George Mason University, leading Open Health program to foster and disseminate innovative health-policy research; former analyst in the pharmaceutical industry; former manager with Duke Interdisciplinary Social Innovators, a nonprofit consultancy

Antillón,
Federico

Guatemala and United States
Pediatrician and cellular biologist; medical director at National Pediatric Oncology Unit (UNOP); board member, UFM School of Medicine; fellowship director of joint program between UNOP and UFM; author of more than seventy medical articles and book chapters

Aragón,
Luis

Guatemala
Physician, entrepreneur, and professor; founder of Médicos en Libertad (doctors in freedom), a multidisciplinary group committed to improving the health system in Guatemala; professor and clinical coordinator at the School of Medicine at UFM

Arellano,
Soledad

Chile
Undersecretary for the Ministry of Social Planning; former economic minister responsible for advising Chilean antitrust authority

Arewa,
Olufunmilayo

United States and Nigeria
Professor at Temple University Beasley School of Law; consultant on projects related to education and scientific and technological capacity in Africa; worked on copyright reform in Nigeria; author of forthcoming books on African American music and technology disruption in Africa

Arosemena,
Pablo

Ecuador
Entrepreneur and president of restaurant chain Subway Ecuador; president of the chamber of commerce in Guayaquil; president of Inteligencia Estratégica, a firm specializing in the economic impact of public policies; former president of Fundación Ecuador Libre, a market-liberal think tank

Arria,
Diego

Venezuela
Former president of the United Nations Security Council; former permanent representative of Venezuela to the UN; member of Advisory Council of International Crisis Group; former governor of Caracas; filed charges against Hugo Chávez at the ICC for crimes against humanity

Arunga,
June

Kenya

CEO of Usafi Comfort, a wastewater management solutions provider; partner at Black Star Line, a technology provider for mobile payments; advocate for property rights in Africa; one of Forbes’ 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa 2011 and Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in Business 2010

Aslam,
Azhar

Pakistan and United Kingdom
Founder and chairman of Istanbul Network for Liberty, which promotes market-liberal policies in the Muslim world; founder and executive director of Vision 21, which promotes literacy and liberty-related values and policies in Pakistan; plastic surgeon with practice in London

Avishai,
Elisheva

United States and Canada

Strategist, teacher, and nonprofit leader; co-director of Mill Institute at University of Austin; founder of the I-Think Initiative at Rotman School of Management in Toronto

Bader,
Lawson

United States

President and CEO of DonorsTrust, a foundation serving libertarian and conservative philanthropists; former president of Competitive Enterprise Institute; former vice president of Mercatus Center; board member of Atlas Network and State Policy Network; president of Antigua Forum 2019

Bader,
Cynthia

United States

President of CEB Teaching and Learning, developing educational projects with viewpoint diversity and intellectual rigor; former elementary school teacher at National Cathedral School in Washington, DC; former professional development instructor at Bill of Rights Institute, leading popular projects on US history and civics

Baehr,
Evan

United States
Founder and CEO of Teneo, a leadership network that develops practical solutions to pressing issues; serial founder of tech companies, venture investor, and adviser; best-selling author of Get Backed, a guide to launching a company; professor at University of Texas

Baehr,
James

United States

Constitutional litigator with the Pelican Institute for Public Policy and a founder of the Pelican Center for Justice, a public-interest law firm; former special assistant to the president in the White House Domestic Policy Council; attorney and officer in the US Marine Corps Reserves

Bailey,
Cody Marx

Mexico and United States

Quietly working on projects in the blockchain ecosystem that help to bring the promises of decentralization to the masses; managing partner of XRAM Capital, a cryptoasset investment firm; cofounder and chief technology officer of Smart Kx

Baker,
Steve

United Kingdom

Conservative Party MP for Wycombe; former aerospace engineer with Royal Air Force; former software engineer; co-founder of Cobden Center, a market-liberal think tank focusing on monetary policy.

Balcerowicz,
Leszek

Poland

Former head of the central bank; architect of post-Soviet economic reforms.
Video interview

Baptista Leite,
Ricardo

Portugal and Canada
Co-founder of Estoril Conferences, which focus on globalization issues; medical doctor; member of Portuguese parliament, serving on health and foreign affairs committees; head of public health at the Institute of Health Sciences at Catholic University of Portugal; Cascais city councilor

Barbee,
Scott

United States
Owner and president of Aegis Financial Corporation, an award-winning wealth management firm; director of the Donald and Paula Smith Family Foundation, which organizes political debates and supports organizations such as Cato Institute, Atlas Network, and Manhattan Institute

Bare,
John

United States

Member of the leadership team at John Templeton Foundation and head of programs focused on human sciences, character development, and individual freedom and free markets; former senior vice president at Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation; former disruptor-in-residence at Babson College

Barrows,
Stephen

United States

Chief operating officer at Acton Institute; former executive vice president, provost, and dean of faculty at Aquinas College; former officer in US Air Force and professor of economics at US Air Force Academy

Beacom,
Nathan

United States

Founder and executive director of Lyceum Movement, a project to build meaningful communities by providing space for neighbors to learn from each other; former freelance writer and policy analyst

Belghazi,
Mouatassim

Morocco
Founder and CEO of FONDEP Microcredit (Albaraka), a leader in financial services for small businesses; chairman of Saraya Holdings, which has interests in agribusiness, distribution, real estate, and tourism; former CEO of SOMED Group and ONA-SNI Group, Morocco’s first private financial and industrial holding

Bell,
Tom W.

United States

Professor at Chapman University School of Law; legal adviser to Elevator Cities Development Corporation, which promotes and designs startup cities; author of Intellectual Privilege: Copyright, Common Law, and the Common Good

Bendukidze,
Kakha (1956 -2017)

Georgia

Former minister of economy; former state minister on reforms; architect of economic liberalization during the Rose Revolution

Bernstein,
Sheldon

United States and Guatemala

Chief strategy officer at Blue Ocean IQ, offering strategic advice and coaching to businesses in Central America; former executive at Google, responsible for customer acquisition, strategy, and operations; executive board member of Aly.ai, Nukunem, and Thurgood Studios, and strategy advisor at El Cubo Center

Besa,
Jaime

Chile
Investment manager at Drake Capital; former adviser to the Ministry of Social Planning; co-founder of MBAChile.com, a worldwide collaboration of MBA graduates and students

Betters,
Ryan

United States and Haiti
Executive director of Copenhagen Consensus Center, a think tank that uses cost-benefit analysis to develop smart solutions for the world’s biggest problems; decorated US Marine Corps combat veteran; former food industry entrepreneur; former USAID business development consultant

Bleazard,
Emily

United States

Communications strategist, digital marketer, and content creator; chief digital officer at Iron Light; former director of digital marketing for Texas Public Policy Foundation

Blousson,
Gonzalo

Argentina

Businessman; founder and president of Partido Liberal Libertario, Argentina’s libertarian party.
Video interview

Blumenthal,
Jesse

United States
Head of technology and innovation policy at Charles Koch Institute and Charles Koch Foundation, which work to foster a national conversation on critical issues that have an impact on the advancement of societal well-being; former director of client strategy at the digital media firm Engage

Bookman,
Zac

United States

Co-founder and CEO of OpenGov Inc.; principal at Formation 8 Partners; former special advisor to General HR McMaster, commander of Anticorruption Task Force in Kabul Afghanistan.
Video interview

Borders,
Max

United States
Author of The Social Singularity: A Decentralist Manifesto; founder and executive director of Social Evolution, a nonprofit dedicated to solving social problems through innovation; former editor at Foundation for Economic Education (FEE); futurist, speaker, and author.

Boteo,
Paul

Guatemala
Executive director of Fundación Libertad y Desarrollo, an independent and private think tank dedicated to the study of social, economic, and political issues to advance the principles of a free society; university professor and a regular guest in local media for the economic and social analysis of Guatemalan affairs

Boudreaux,
Karol

United States and Ethiopia
Land tenure and resource rights specialist at the Cloudburst Group; former Africa land tenure specialist at USAID; former member of the property rights working group for UN Commission on Legal Empowerment of the Poor

Bowman,
Sam

United Kingdom and Ireland

Economist and executive director of Adam Smith Institute, one of Britain’s leading market-liberal think tanks; frequent commentator and writer for the Wall Street Journal, BBC, and the Guardian

Boyack,
Connor

United States

Founder and president of Libertas Institute, a public policy think tank in Utah; author of the Tuttle Twins children’s book series, which teaches kids of all ages the principles of liberty; policy reformer and regular media commentator

Boyd,
Karen

United States
Strategic and financial consultant to early-stage and established companies; board member of several community associations; former president of a nonprofit specializing in educational innovation in developing countries

Boyd,
Robert

United Kingdom
Managing trustee at Institute of Economic Affairs; trustee at Network for a Free Society; member of Atlas Network’s advisory council; founding member of Atlas Network’s board of directors; former CEO of a multinational investment firm

Bradbury,
James

United States
Private practice attorney focusing on environmental issues, water policy, business law, eminent domain, and regulatory and legislative matters; adjunct professor of law at Texas A&M University School of Law; policy adviser to elected officials on environmental and natural resource issues

Braly,
Angela

United States
Former CEO of Wellpoint, Inc. (now Anthem); president of Braly Group; co-founder of Policy Circle, an organization of professional women who meet to discuss economics and policy; member of the board of directors of Brookfield Asset Management, ExxonMobil, Lowe’s, Procter & Gamble

Brien,
Stephen

United Kingdom

Senior fellow at Future Africa Forum; former policy director at Legatum Institute; chair of UK Social Security Advisory Committee; advised governments in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa

Brimen,
Erick

United States and Honduras
CEO of NeWay Capital and its subsidiary Honduras Próspera, investment firms working with governments and local leaders to enable development in free economic zones; entrepreneur with a background in investment banking; former CFO of Latin American operations for Borealis Group

Brito,
Jerry

United States

Executive director of Coin Center, a new nonprofit research and advocacy center focused on public policy issues facing cryptocurrency technologies such as Bitcoin; adjunct professor of law and former director of the Technology Policy Program at Mercatus Center at George Mason University.

Brooks,
Greg

United States

Co-founder of Better Cities Project, which advances market-oriented policy solutions to urban challenges; former principal at West Third Group, a marketing and public affairs firm in policy and advocacy communications; former public affairs director with Reason Foundation and Goldwater Institute

Brown,
Montgomery

United States
Program director at Earhart Foundation

Bullard,
Alfredo

Peru
Practicing lawyer with specialty in arbitration, mediation and antitrust issues; law professor; former head of national antitrust authority (Indecopi)

Bunge,
Thomas

Guatemala
Pediatrician; founding partner of Pediatric Clinical Center; panel physician for US Embassy in Guatemala; designated medical practitioner of Health Management Branch, Citizenship and Immigration, Canada; UFM trustee.

Bydalek,
Grace

United States

Manager of Dissident Project, a venture of Young Voices to educate students about socialism; performer and writer with appearances on HBO and Netflix, and experience writing for political candidates and magazines

Caceres,
Zach

United States and Guatemala
Former executive director of the Michael Polanyi College, a school of creative development, as well as the Startup Cities Institute, a research center studying startup communities that innovate in law and policy; former editor of Radical Social Entrepreneurs, an online magazine that promotes innovation in education and governance

Cachanosky,
Iván

Argentina
Chief economist and researcher at Fundación Libertad y Progreso, a think tank that investigates, develops, and promotes public policy initiatives; team member at Corporate Training Group, Inc.; columnist, economic analyst, and consultant.

Calabrese,
Denis

United States

Political, policy, and business strategist with expertise in crisis communications, litigation support, media relations; co-founder and chief strategist at Texans for Lawsuit Reform, the most successful state-based civil justice reform group in the country; former president of Laura and John Arnold Foundation

Calzada,
Gabriel

Spain

President of Universidad Hesperides in the Canary Islands; former president of Universidad Francisco Marroquín; president of Mont Pelerin
Society and board member of Rising Tide Foundation; founding president of Juan de Mariana Institute in Spain, a libertarian think tank

Capella,
Francisco

Spain
Founding member of Instituto Juan de Mariana, one of Spain’s leading market-liberal think tanks; founding member and professor at OMMA, which offers advanced degrees in economics and finance online; former consultant to US and European industry and governments

Čekerevac,
Petar

Republic of Serbia and United States

Director of project on decentralizing technologies at Atlas Network, focused on bringing technology expertise to policy debates; executive manager of Libertarian Club Libek in Belgrade; cofounder of Talas, a media platform in Serbia; entrepreneur in social media platforms

Chafuen,
Alex

United States and Argentina
President of Atlas Network, one of the world’s largest market-liberal organizations; president of Hispanic American Center for Economic Research; trustee of Grove City College; serves on the boards of Acton Institute and Chase Foundation of the Commonwealth of Virginia; author of Faith and Liberty; Forbes columnist

Chait,
Arthur

United States

Founder of semiconductor firm EoPlex; former division president at Stanford Research Institute; instructor at Stanford University, adjunct professor at Notre Dame, and Menlo College; mentor at Stanford’s accelerator program and Draper University’s bootcamp; visiting professor at UFM and president of Antigua Forum 2016

Chamlee-Wright,
Emily

United States
President and CEO of Institute for Humane Studies, which supports scholars working in the classical liberal tradition; board member and senior scholar at Mercatus Center at George Mason University; former provost and dean at Washington College; lecturer, public speaker, and author.

Chatfield,
Robert

United States

President and CEO of Free to Choose Network, a global media organization that uses media to build support for personal, economic, and political freedom; former CFO of Fluid Imaging Technologies, a manufacturer of scientific instruments; former merger and acquisition adviser to private firms

Chilson,
Neil

United States
Senior research fellow for technology and innovation at Charles Koch Institute; former acting chief technologist at US Federal Trade Commission; former attorney adviser to FTC commissioner Maureen K. Ohlhausen; computer scientist, lawyer, and technology policy expert.

Chisholm,
John

United States

Technology entrepreneur and investor; CEO of John Chisholm Ventures; founder and former CEO of Decisive Technology (now part of Google) and CustomerSat (now part of FocusVision); past president and chair of worldwide MIT Alumni Association; trustee of MIT and Santa Fe Institute
Video interview

Choden,
Karma

Bhutan
Program coordinator at QED Consulting Group, a firm that advises major international organizations and governments; former program officer at the Bhutanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry; former program officer for the king of Bhutan

Clavijo,
Julio

Ecuador
Adviser to the head of the CREO political party, the second largest in the country’s legislature; international executive board member and former Latin American chairman of Students for Liberty

Coates,
Ken S.

Canada

Co-director of Aboriginal People and Natural Resources program at Macdonald-Laurier Institute; Canada Research Chair in Regional Innovation at University of Saskatchewan; consultant to indigenous groups, governments and think tanks in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and for United Nations

Conko,
Carrie

United States

Senior vice president of State Policy Network; former senior vice president at Mercatus Center at George Mason University; expert in strategic guidance and communications

Contreras,
Isabel

Guatemala

Director of Disruptive Education Center at Universidad Francisco Marroquin, leading development of education projects designed to disrupt the traditional K-12 education system; previously served as international partnerships and administrative coordinator at UFM

Costa,
Diogo

Brazil and United Kingdom
Executive director of Institute for Innovation and Governance, a market-liberal foundation in Brazil; advisory board member at Students for Liberty; researcher affiliated with Cato Institute and Atlas Network; taught political economy at King’s College London

Costa,
Mickey

United States
Co-founder and CEO of FundElevator.com, a crowd-sourcing platform to support causes and politicians

Cranberg,
Alex

United States
Founder of Alliance for Choice in Education; member of University of Texas System Board of Regents; founder and chairman of Aspect Energy

Crowley,
Brian Lee

Canada

Managing director of Macdonald-Laurier Institute; founding president of Atlantic Institute for Market Studies; member of Alberta Premier’s Advisory Council on Health; expert on Canadian health care reform

Daboub,
Juan José

El Salvador
Former managing director of the World Bank; former finance minister and architect of privatizations and dollarization in El Salvador; founding CEO of the Global Adaptation Institute; chairman and CEO of the Daboub Partnership

Dalio,
Matt

United States and Guatemala

Founder of China Care Foundation, which provides medical, social, and educational programs for orphans with disabilities in China; founder and CEO of Endless Mobile, a computer platform aimed at the developing world and built with technology at a fraction of the cost of traditional PCs.
Video interview

Dauphin,
Steven

United States, Mexico and Canada

Founding partner of Bonaventure Capital, which invests in underserved capital markets in the US and abroad; director of Kirchner Impact Foundation, which developed an experimental model to invest equity in historically unservable regions, including in the US, Mexico, and Nigeria

Davidovich,
Marianna

United States and Ukraine

Education entrepreneur, business strategist, and chief external affairs officer at Foundation for Economic Education; previously responsible for curriculum development in character and values programs at FEE; former Russian language linguist with US Air Force

Davidson,
Todd

United States
Senior director of strategic development and director of policy leadership development at State Policy Network, a nonprofit that cultivates free-market, state-based movements rooted in economic and political freedom; former fiscal policy analyst at Kansas Policy Institute

De Gance,
Jon Paul

United States

Executive vice president of Philanthropy Roundtable, where he runs Philanthropy Labs and is co-founder of the Culture of Freedom Initiative; former vice president of external affairs at Americans for Prosperity and Americans for Prosperity Foundation

de Tezanos,
Matías

Guatemala and United States
Internet entrepreneur and investor; named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum; founder of Hoteles.com, the most visited hotel reservation site in Spanish (acquired by Expedia); founding CEO and chairman of PeopleFund, which invests in tech startups

Delgado,
Gabriel

Guatemala and Honduras
Entrepreneur and co-founder of several companies operating in Latin America that focus on technology services and computer security for telecommunications, industry, and commerce; chief development officer at Honduras Próspera; partner at NeWay Capital; member of UFM Board of Trustees

Demeester,
Tuur

Belgium

Financial analyst and frequent media commentator on digital currencies; early investor and advocate of Bitcoin; owner of AdamantResearch, a financial research firm; former editor of MacroTrends, a financial newsletter.
Video interview

Deming,
John

United States and New Zealand

Angel investor and entrepreneur specializing in medical access technology, health-care technology, and innovative models for linking entrepreneurs and investors; seed investor in firms and technologies that challenge harmful government regulations and inefficient business structures

Dennis,
Kimberly

United States
President and CEO of Searle Freedom Trust, a grantmaking foundation that supports public policy research; first executive director and former board member of Philanthropy Roundtable; co-founder and chairman of the board of DonorsTrust; former board member of George Mason University.

DeVos,
Brad

United States

Chief operating officer of Independent Institute; former program director at American Institute for Economic Research (AIER) and president and CEO of Bastiat Society, a business outreach program; worked as an engineer for nine years and owned a consulting company

Diaz,
Hugo

Guatemala and United States

Serial entrepreneur in interactive learning and health care technology; co-founder of TeamLogiQ, an interactive learning firm; co-founder of Vital Interaction, a patient engagement company for medical services providers; director of Acton MBA program at UFM

Díaz Cuervo,
Jorge Carlos

Mexico

President of Universidad de La Libertad in Mexico; former director of Kybernus, a nonprofit formed by Grupo Salina to create social value; previously served in Mexico’s federal government as director general of regional development; served as president of Mexico’s Social Democratic Party; member of the board of trustees of Soutwestern University.

Díaz Lupian,
Ebal Jair

Honduras
Legislative director of Honduran congress, responsible for advancing legislation on critical issues; key leader of efforts to establish autonomous development zones in Honduras

DiFiglia,
Joseph

United States

Director of education outreach at izzit.org, a teaching resource website; founder and executive director of New Jersey Council for Economic Education; founder of VoEx, an NFT marketplace

Dogar,
Andreea

United Kingdom

Senior research associate at University of Buckingham, developing teacher training program for low-cost private schools in India and Nigeria; teacher and education consultant with experience developing training programs in Asia, Africa, and Central Europe

Donaire,
Susana

Mexico
Coordinator of institutional development at México Evalúa, a think tank that evaluates and monitors public policy outcomes to improve efficiency and quality; Smith Fellow at Atlas Network; expert in fundraising, monitoring and evaluation systems, and institutional strengthening.

Dourado,
Eli

United States
Senior research fellow at Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University; former head of global policy and communications at aviation startup Boom Supersonic; former senior research fellow at Mercatus Center at George Mason University and director of its technology policy program

Dowell,
Will

United States

Managing director at Stand Together Foundation, a philanthropic community supporting bottom-up solutions to empower people facing barriers in communities; vice chairman of the board of Behind Every Door, an organization providing services to improve life in underserved neighborhoods

Dufort,
Daniel

Canada

President and CEO of Montreal Economic Institute, a Canadian free-market think tank; worked in federal politics as speech writer, issues manager, and advisor; worked in major public relations firms

Durana,
Richard

Slovakia
Co-founder and director of Institute of Economic and Social Studies (INESS), Slovakia’s leading market-liberal think tank; former research scientist at Institute of Chemistry at Slovak Academy of Sciences

Dyer,
Don

United States

Founder and CEO of Professional Janitorial Services, a commercial cleaning firm; former founding chairman of the board of Regents School of Austin, a private school with classical Christian education; board member of CORE Fellowship, a sponsor of the National Prayer Breakfast and outreach to political leaders

Ealy,
Lenore T.

United States

Senior fellow for communities at Charles Koch Institute, working on strategy and research priorities; founding president of the Philanthropic Enterprise; founder of Thinkitecture, Inc., a boutique consultancy for social entrepreneurs, nonprofit executives, and donors; executive director of the Philadelphia Society

El Harmouzi,
Nouh

Morocco and Egypt

Director of the Arab Center for Scientific Research and Humane Studies; editor of news website MinbarAlHurriyya.org; professor of economics at Ibn Toufail University in Morocco; recognized for his speech calling for economic freedom in Egypt’s Tahrir Square during the Arab Spring
Video interview

Espada,
Joao Carlos

Portugal

Professor of political studies and director of the Institute for Political Studies at the Catholic University of Portugal; former adviser to two presidents of Portugal; awarded the Order of Merit by the Portuguese government and the highest civil recognition given by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Evans,
Richard

United States and India

Senior research fellow and director of open policy at Center for Growth and Opportunity, leading a 50-state microsimulation of policy; core maintainer of the OG-USA open source; director of the Open Source Economics Laboratory

FAN,
Gang

China

Secretary general of China Reform Foundation; former member of the Monetary Policy Committee of China’s central bank; economic professor and director of the National Economic Research Institute; a Foreign Policy Top 100 Global Thinker.
Video interview

Farquharson,
Tracey

The Bahamas

Senior program officer at Templeton World Charity Foundation, overseeing annual planning of strategic initiatives and grant development; leads the development of local initiatives in The Bahamas; twenty years of experience in teaching and teacher training

Fedorowich,
Richard

United States

Managing partner at J. Locke & Company, a boutique merchant bank; former executive at several growth-stage companies; led over 100 buy side and 50 sell side public and private transactions totaling over US$10 billion; investment and business strategist, corporate value maximizer

Fernández-Lasquetty,
Javier

Spain

UFM vice president; former minister of health for Community of Madrid; former deputy chief of staff for president José María Aznar; former chief of staff in Spanish Ministry of Education; former secretary general of FAES (Foundation for Social Studies and Analysis), the country’s leading market-liberal think tank.
Video interview

Figar,
Lucía

Spain
Education reformer; head of Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports for Madrid; former head of Madrid’s immigration agency; former secretary at Ministry of Social Affairs; member of national board for Partido Popular

Files,
Burke

United States and Ireland

President of Financial Examinations and Evaluations, specializing in due diligence, financial and fraud investigations, and asset recovery; president of American Anti-Corruption Institute; founding professor at Hayek Global College; expert on fraud, finance, and intellectual property

Flores,
Ronald

Guatemala

Director of Michael Polanyi College and Department of Education at UFM; author of numerous novels, essays, and short stories, including Last Silence, Signs of Fire, Conjectures of Hoax, The Native Informant, and The Zendale Rebellion

Foretia,
Denis

Cameroon and United States

Co-chair of the Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation; executive chairman of the Nkafu Policy Institute, a leading Cameroonian think tank; surgeon and president of Association of Cameroonian Physicians in the Americas; surgeon with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Frazier,
Mark

United States
President of Openworld, a US-based nonprofit specializing in land value appreciation as a means of privately funding public goods; developer of market-oriented initiatives for private and public sector clients in fifty-six countries

Frezza,
Bill

United States

Consigliere at Boston Microfluidics, an innovative lab testing company; former host of syndicated talk show RealClear Radio Hour; former tech entrepreneur and venture capitalist; Competitive Enterprise Institute fellow; author of 2015 Antigua Forum case study on New Zealand’s market-based reforms
Video interview

Ganley,
Declan

Ireland and United States

Chairman and CEO of Rivada Networks, a telecommunications firm that specializes in arbitrage and use of radio spectrum; founder and chairman of the pan-European political party Libertas
Video interview

García de la Granja,
Pilar

Spain

Award-winning journalist; US bureau chief correspondent for Telecinco TV of Spain; US correspondent for Diario el Economista; first Spanish-speaking journalist to transmit live from the NYSE; winner of 2007 Golden Antenna award for economics broadcasting in Spain.
Video interview

Gebel,
Titus

Germany

Co-founder and former CEO of Deutsche Rohstoff, a German investment company with interests in mining and oil production; former asset manager; founder of Free Private Cities Limited, a for-profit venture designed to offer the basic services of government in voluntary arrangements

Geddes,
Rick

United States and Costa Rica
Expert on public-private partnerships and other innovations to improve financing of transportation, water, and infrastructure projects; professor and director of the Program in Infrastructure Policy at Cornell University; former senior economist on the White House Council of Economic Advisers

Gharred,
Mohamed

Tunisia and Canada
Adviser on bilateral relations between Tunisia and Canada; member of international office of Center for Strategic and Diplomatic Studies; activist and former strategic adviser for elections in Saint Laurent with Liberal Party of Canada

Ghersi,
Lucas

Peru

Lawyer at Estudio Ghersi; professor of constitutional law and economic analysis at various universities; former adviser at the Constitutional Court in Peru; prominent opponent of recent efforts to revise Peru’s constitution; adviser to civil society groups opposed to the abuse of executive power during the Covid-19 pandemic

Gibson,
Michael

United States
Co-founder and general partner at 1517 Fund, which invests in young innovators and entrepreneurs; venture capitalist; principal at Thiel Capital; vice president for grants at Thiel Foundation, where he helps run the 20 Under 20 Thiel Fellowship

Given,
Casey

United States
Executive director of Young Voices, a nonprofit that trains early-career market-liberal journalists and analysts and connects them with media outlets around the world; former director of communications at Students for Liberty; political columnist at news website Rare

Glasgall,
Bill

United States
Director of state and local program at Volcker Alliance, which helps bring transparency and best practices into state-level budgeting; award-winning journalist; former Bloomberg News managing editor; former senior editor and writer at Businessweek

Glustrom,
Eric

United States

Founder and CEO of Watson Institute, an innovative education program for entrepreneurs that combines seminars, project development, and mentorship; founder of Educate!, which educates future leaders in Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya; named twice to Forbes 30 Social Entrepreneurs Under 30

González,
José Raúl

Guatemala
Chief executive officer of Grupo Progreso, a regional leader in the building materials sector; professor of finance and economics and former dean of UFM School of Economic Sciences; member of the UFM Board of Trustees; former president of CIEN, a think tank in Guatemala

Gonzalez,
Francisco

United States and Guatemala

Writer, podcaster and fundraiser; founder and CEO at Fearless Journeys, a collaborative community; host of Agents of Innovation podcast; former director of philanthropy at National Review Institute; former vice president for advancement at James Madison Institute; visiting professor at UFM

Granier,
Marcel

Venezuela

President and CEO of Empresas 1BC, a major media company in Venezuela; president of the board and general director of Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV), one of the country’s most-watched television channels; activist and critic of the Venezuelan government

Green,
Daniel

United States

Program director of Templeton Religion Trust; former director of Individual Freedom and Free Markets program at John Templeton Foundation; former fellow and resident scholar at Liberty Fund; lawyer, CPA, economist, theologian, and musician

Gregg,
Ingrid

United States
President and trustee of Earhart Foundation; member of board of directors of Citizens Research Council of Michigan; member of advisory board of Mackinac Center for Public Policy; fellow of Royal Historical Society; trustee of Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, Philadelphia Society, and Foundation for Economic Education

Gribbin,
DJ

United States
Founder of Madrus, a consulting firm dedicated to developing critical infrastructure more efficiently; senior operating partner at Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners; nonresident senior fellow at Brookings Institution; former special assistant for infrastructure to the US president

Grossman,
Dan

United States
Chairman of Atlas Network; founder and owner of several companies; board member of the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE), Students for Liberty, and Future of Freedom Foundation

Guerra,
Gerardo

El Salvador
Vice president of Movimiento 300, a civic movement dedicated to defending ideas of freedom; director of Curul85, a media platform designed to secure transparency in the legislature by informing the public about its delegates; founder, owner, and director of Organika, a landscape design firm

Guido,
John

United States
Director of strategic initiatives and external relationships at the Foundation for Harmony and Prosperity; consultant to startup ventures in agriculture and food industries; Bastiat Society board member

Gularte,
Emily

Guatemala and United States
Filmmaker, producer, and screenwriter; director of several short films and advertising videos; director of mini-documentary series Lifeline, highlighting activists from around the world; producer of videos for Oslo Freedom Forum run by Human Rights Foundation

Haldenby,
Andrew

United Kingdom
Co-founder and director of Reform and trustee of Reform Scotland, both market-liberal think tanks; former head of political section of the Conservative Party's research department

Hammond,
Eleanor

Czech Republic

Program and partnerships director of the Economics Fundamental Initiative (EFI), an economic literacy program spanning Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia; former director of external relations at CERGE-EI; director of Economic Fundamentals Initiative, bringing economic texts to countries of the former Soviet Union

Hanson,
Robin

United States
Expert in prediction markets and idea futures; associate professor of economics at George Mason University; research associate with the Future of Humanity Institute at Oxford University; collaborator with DARPA’s Future Map project

Harding,
Philip

United States
Co-founder of Impact Junkie, an organization that invests in and scales life-changing ventures; former adviser to US Department of Defense and other US government agencies; proven entrepreneur with over a decade of experience leading high-performing teams in private and public sectors.

Harris,
Tim

South Africa
Member of parliament; shadow minister of finance; party whip and international liaison for the Democratic Alliance, the official opposition party

Harsh,
Lynn

United States

Vice president of strategy for State Policy Network, a nonprofit that cultivates thriving free-market, state-based movements rooted in economic and political freedom; member of Leadership Development Initiative; cofounder and former CEO of Washington State’s Freedom Foundation

Hartjen,
Florian

Germany

Director of strategy and development for Prometheus, a nonprofit dedicated to an open and liberal society in Germany; project lead for Hekaton Berlin, an accelerator for freedom projects; research interests include migration and informal markets

Hazlett,
Thomas

United States

Hugh H. Macaulay Endowed Professor of Economics, Clemson University; former chief economist at US Federal Communications Commission; author of The Political Spectrum, which describes the history and politics of wireless technology; prolific writer on economics and technology policy

Video interview

Heckathorn,
Jason

United States
Founding president of Forever Oceans Corporation, which develops sustainable fish farms that operate in oceans; founder of Lockheed Martin’s mobile fish pens, which reuse the company’s defense technologies for sustainable fish farming, named one of Time magazine’s best inventions of 2012

Henneberger,
David

Costa Rica and Mexico
Project director for Central America at Friedrich Naumann Foundation, a German-based organization that supports freedom, rule of law, and democracy initiatives in sixty countries; member of German Council on Foreign Relations; affiliated with Germany’s Free Democratic Party

Herzberg,
Roberta

United States
Assistant director of Freedom and Free Enterprise program at John Templeton Foundation; professor emeritus of political economy at Utah State University; president of the Public Choice Society

Heufers,
Rainer

Indonesia
Co-founder and executive director of the Center for Indonesian Policy Studies, a market-liberal think tank that works with policymakers to advance prosperity in Indonesia; founder and managing director of SIAP Solutions, a consulting firm that provides policy advice and training to think tanks, political parties, corporations, and governments

Heywood,
Jamie

United States

Founder of PatientsLikeMe.com, a social media tool that shares disease-related information to improve patient outcomes, one of “15 companies that will change the world” (CNN Money).
Video interview

Hiner,
Leslie

United States
Vice president of legal affairs at EdChoice, an advocate for educational freedom and leader in school choice research; founding board member of one of Indiana’s first charter schools and helped develop the state’s original charter school and voucher laws; speaker on educational issues

Hirs,
Isabelle

Switzerland

Senior program manager at Rising Tide Foundation, working on strategic direction for the Freedom in Practice funding area; member of the advisory board at Yova, an investment platform; supervisory board member at Kunststoff Helmbrechts, a plastics company

Hohlbein,
Patricia

United States

Vice president of training and events at Atlas Network, leading the Atlas Network Academy and Liberty Forums series; member of the board of the Columbus, Ohio, chapter of Conscious Capitalism; former faculty and administrator at Ohio Dominican University and Otterbein University

Horner,
Chris

United States
Senior staff attorney and clinical instructor at Free Market Environmental Law Clinic; senior fellow at Competitive Enterprise Institute; attorney in Washington, DC specializing in energy, environment, and transparency issues at the domestic and international levels

Hultin,
Anders

Sweden

Architect of Sweden’s school choice reforms; former advisor to minister of education; entrepreneur in education sector; founder of Sweden’s largest nongovernmental school.
Video interview

Hurwitz,
Justin (Gus)

United States

Co-director of space, cyber, and telecommunications law program at University of Nebraska College of Law; former research fellow at University of Pennsylvania Law School’s Center for Technology, Innovation, and Competition; expert in law and economics and antitrust, telecom, and tech law.

Ibáñez,
Nicolás

Chile
Entrepreneur and reform advocate; director of Walmart Chile

Ibárgüen,
Sebastian

Software engineer and tech-driven entrepreneur; chief technology officer at Simera, which uses AI to build remote teams; cofounder of three technology ventures; former lecturer in computer science at Universidad Francisco Marroquín

Illarionov,
Andrei

Russia and Ukraine
Economist and former senior economic adviser to Vladimir Putin; senior fellow at the Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity; played a key role in implementing Russia’s flat income tax, repaying the foreign debt, and making the country a full-fledged member of the G8

Jain,
Rajesh

India
Serial tech entrepreneur; founder and managing director of Netcore Solutions, a global marketing technology firm; founder of IndiaWorld Communications, one of India’s first Internet portals; founder of Free a Billion, a nonprofit designed to mobilize popular support for market-liberal reforms

James,
Wilmot G.

South Africa

Member of parliament; federal chairperson of the national opposition party, the Democratic Alliance

Jones,
Kara

United States
Vice president at the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, a think tank that conducts original research on expanding economic opportunity to those who least have; former deputy director of research and operations at the American Health Policy Institute

Jones,
Bill

United States

Cofounder of Acton Academy Dripping Springs; cofounder of Local Voice Solutions, a consulting firm that assists political candidates who support accountable, representative, and transparent government; former investor and entrepreneur in the energy industry; former professor at Acton School of Business

Jones,
James

United States

Entrepreneur in the oil and gas industry; cofounder of Local Voice Solutions, a consulting firm that assists political candidates who support accountable, representative, and transparent government; cofounder of Accountability First, a political action committee; president of Antigua Forum 2022

Jordan,
Jerry

United States
President of Pacific Academy for Advanced Studies; president of Association for Private Enterprise Education; senior fellow at Fraser Institute and Cato Institute; former president of Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland; member of Ronald Reagan’s Council of Economic Advisers

Jorgensen,
Vidar

United States and Mexico
Founding vice chairman of Grameen America, a microfinance entity; founding director of Grameen Health, a health-care program for low-income immigrant women and families; majority owner of conference and research companies Cambridge Healthtech Institute and World Health Care Congress

Junker,
Simon

Guatemala and Denmark

Founder and executive director of Network Ventures; cofounder of Scalefront, which helps Scandinavian SaaS companies to scale their businesses and recruit talent; founder of bienchilero.com, an e-commerce company in Latin America; professor at Acton MBA at UFM

Kanelos,
Pano

United States

Founding president of University of Austin; former president of St. John’s College in Annapolis; former dean of Christ College at Valparaiso University; founding director of Interdisciplinary Shakespeare Studies Program at Loyola University Chicago

Karl,
Magno

Brazil

Political scientist and executive director of Livres, advocating for an open economy; served as political coordinator for Novo at Brazil’s national parliament; political commentator in national media and publications

Kelly-Gagnon,
Michel

Canada
President and CEO of Montreal Economic Institute; former president of Quebec Employers Council; one of Canada’s 2008 Top 40 Under 40; widely recognized influencer among those who form public policy in Quebec.

Kenney,
Jason

Canada
Leader of Alberta Conservative Party; member of Alberta legislature; former member of parliament and former shadow finance minister, minister of national defense, minister of employment and social development, minister of multiculturalism; former vice chair of cabinet planning and priorities committee

Kibbe,
Matt

United States

President of Free the People, a nonprofit that promotes libertarian ideals; host of the Kibbe on Liberty podcast; founder of FreedomWorks; author of Don’t Hurt People and Don’t Take Their Stuff: A Libertarian Manifesto; former budget director for the US Chamber of Commerce

Kibbe,
Terry

United States

CEO of Free the People, a nonprofit that promotes libertarian ideals; partner of Fight the Power Productions, a video company for the liberty curious; former president of Curated Innovation; former adviser to Global Philanthropic Trust and Rising Tide Foundation

Kirby,
David

United States

Cofounder of Acton Academy of Washington, DC; cofounder of Acton Children’s Business Fair of Washington, DC, which showcases the power of entrepreneurship for children ages six to fourteen; adjunct scholar at Cato Institute; former vice president of opinion research and data analysis at FreedomWorks

Klugmann,
Mark

El Salvador and Honduras

Creator of Radical Specificity, a language tool for competitive advantage; strategist for seven Latin American presidents; former speechwriter to US presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush; originator of Reformistry, a method for achieving reforms; cochair of ZEDE (free zones) reform team for Honduran government

Klun,
Alexandra

United States
Business strategy and marketing consultant to startups, nonprofits, and political campaigns; manager of Tim Draper’s Innovate Your State initiative, a nonprofit dedicated to educating and encouraging public participation to fundamentally improve government

Klutsey,
Benjamin

United States

Director of Academic Outreach and of the Program on Pluralism and Civil Exchange at Mercatus Center; former program manager for Financial Markets Working Group and Program on Monetary Policy at Mercatus; former analyst at Institute of International Finance

Knake,
Renee

United States
Professor of law and Doherty Chair in Legal Ethics at University of Houston; former co-director of ReInvent Law Laboratory at Michigan State University; former reporter to American Bar Association’s Presidential Commission on the Future of Legal Services

Koerner,
Robin

United States and United Kingdom

Political commentator and consultant; academic dean at John Locke Institute; faculty member at Foundation for Economic Education; founder and publisher of WatchingAmerica.com; creator of Weapons of Mass Persuasion, a source of effective techniques for advancing liberty

Korosec,
Jason

United States
Vice president and head of Roku Pay; adviser at Flexa, an app that makes cryptocurrency spendable everywhere; disruptive innovator, business launcher, university professor; former senior vice president of Vocalink, a Mastercard company; expert in digital payments, data insights, and identity.

Koulibaly,
Mamadou

Ivory Coast

Former president of the National Assembly; former minister of the budget; former minister of economy and finance

Koym,
Kevin

United States
Serial tech entrepreneur; creator of the world’s first Internet banking application; co-founder of Tech Ranch, which provides Austin-based tech entrepreneurs with a support community; co-founder of Prueba el Mundo, a Latin American entrepreneurship development program

Kurtz,
Robert

Experienced finance executive working in private consulting; former finance executive at Boeing, supporting the Boeing/Embraer joint venture planning, and other teams

Lamm,
Birgit

Mexico and Germany
Regional director for Latin America at Friedrich Naumann Foundation, which promotes rule of law, good governance, and individual freedom; former director of the International Academy for Leadership and program coordinator at Theodor Heuss Academy

Lattanner,
Alan

United States
Geoengineer, investor, and serial entrepreneur with over twenty-five years of experience in the software, environmental, and energy industries; advisory board member at Monterey Venture Partners, which invests in sustainable technologies

Lawson,
Robert

United States

Jerome W. Fullinwider Centennial Chair in Economic Freedom at Southern Methodist University (SMU); director of Bridwell Institute for Economic Freedom at SMU; founding co-author of Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom of the World annual report

Lazanski,
Dominique

United Kingdom and United States
Director of public policy and institutional relations at GSM Association, responsible for Internet governance and cybersecurity policy; owner of Last Press Label, a public policy and cybersecurity advisory firm; former member of advisory group for UN Internet Governance Forum.

Lehrer,
Eli

United States

Cofounder and president of R Street Institute, a nonpartisan research organization that promotes free markets and limited government; former vice president of Heartland Institute; former speechwriter to the US Senate majority leader; former senior editor of American Enterprise magazine

Leontjeva,
Elena

Lithuania

Cofounder and president of Lithuanian Free Market Institute; played a key role in building legal and institutional foundations for Lithuania’s economy; pioneered and led multidisciplinary research on scarcity and lack; author of The Market Square, or the Story of Two Joannes

Lewis,
Adrien

United States

Founder and president of CarePortal, a technology platform that drives action for children and families in crisis; spent ten years working as a business development professional in health care, technology, and education companies

Liljenquist,
Dan

United States
Former Utah state senator; architect of major public pension reform and Medicaid reform in Utah; nationally recognized expert on reforms related to pensions and benefits

Lim,
Joyce

Indonesia

Director of SIAP Solutions, a firm that provides policy advice to think tanks, political parties, and governments; consultant to Center for Indonesian Policy Studies; former director of Sense of Money Group, a financial literacy enterprise; adviser to fintech startups and nonprofits.

Lips,
Brad

United States

CEO of Atlas Network, a nonprofit that connects more than five hundred market-liberal organizations; member of Mont Pelerin Society and John Templeton Foundation; former Internet entrepreneur and Wall Street analyst; author of Liberalism and the Free Society in 2021

Lips,
Stephanie

United States

Philanthropic adviser at DonorsTrust, a donor advised fund that supports and promotes the principles of liberty; former director of outreach at Atlas Network, a nonprofit that connects more than five hundred market-liberal organizations; mentor of think tank leaders within Atlas Network

Littorin,
Sven Otto

Sweden

Former minister of employment, responsible for overhaul of unemployment insurance and civil service system during the first Reinfeldt administration; adviser at Gibran Associates, focusing on policy reform issues

López,
Edward J.

United States
Professor of economics and BB&T Distinguished Professor of Capitalism at Western Carolina University; executive director of Public Choice Society; member of the board of directors of the Association for Private Enterprise Education

López Murphy,
Ricardo

Argentina
Former minister of defense; former minister of economy; presidential candidate in 2003 and 2007

Loprete,
Marcelo

Argentina and Uruguay
Lawyer and business consultant; general trustee of Argentina’s National Social Security Agency; former chief financial officer at the Ministry of Education in the Buenos Aires city government; chair of political economy program at Universidad Austral

Lorenc,
Richard

United States and Poland

Executive vice president of Foundation for Economic Education; chairman of America’s Future Foundation, a network of liberty-minded young professionals; chairman of Coalition to Reduce Spending; next-generation educator on free-market values and policy solutions

Loria,
Luis

Costa Rica
Director of the Opportunity for All program at IDEAS, a market-liberal think tank; president of Strategic Advantage Consulting Group, which provides services to public- and private-sector leaders, including top-level government officials, in ten Latin American countries

Lüders,
Rolf

Chile
Former minister of finance; former minister of economy

Lupták,
Pavol

Slovakia and Czech Republic
IT security expert, crypto-anarchist, and certified ethical hacker; owner/CEO of Nethemba, an IT security company; co-founder of Progressbar and Parallel Polis, hackerspaces in Bratislava and Prague; member of Czech guerilla artist group Ztohoven, which protests many government policies

Madden,
Bart

United States

Entrepreneur and author of Free To Choose Medicine , a bold reform proposal for the Food and Drug Administration to allow faster access to cheaper drugs; co-founder of Callard, Madden & Associates.
Video interview

Magness,
Phillip

United States

Senior fellow and David J. Theroux chair in political economy at Independent Institute; former research faculty at American Institute for Economic Research; former professor of public policy; economic historian with expertise in slavery, discrimination, taxation and income inequality; author of The 1619 Project: A Critique

Manners,
Ron

Australia
Founder and chairman of Mannkal Economic Education Foundation, a market-liberal think tank that introduces students to market-based solutions to current problems; executive director of Mannwest Group, which has interests in mining; director of other mining businesses

Mardini,
Patrick

Lebanon
Founder and president of Lebanese Institute for Market Studies, the country’s first market-liberal think tank promoting institutional reforms; associate professor at University of Balamand; lecturer and writer focused on financial crises, institutional factors, and government intervention.

Mardini,
Kristelle

Lebanon

Director at Lebanese Institute for Market Studies, a market-liberal think tank and platform for research, collaboration and innovation in public policy; former marketing specialist with IAXCESS, a software firm, and with Al Jadeed Television in Beirut

Martin,
Rod

United States
Technology entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and futurist; member of the PayPal startup team; past president of National Federation of Republican Assemblies

Martínez de Vara,
Art

United States
First mayor of Von Ormy, Texas; principal of a private practice law firm; former chief of staff for Texas state senator Konni Burton and former chief of staff for state representative John Garza; author, lawyer, theologian, historian.

Maslauskaitė,
Edita

Lithuania
Acting president of Lithuanian Free Market Institute, a think tank that promotes individual freedom and responsibility, with principles grounded in Austrian economics; head of Government Watch program; former supervisor of the international Intellectual Entrepreneurship project

Matheson Miller,
Michael

United States

Senior research fellow and director of Acton Media at Acton Institute; responsible for leading PovertyCure, Acton’s initiative to promote entrepreneurial solutions to poverty in the developing world; director and host of Acton’s PovertyCure DVD series

Mauren,
Kris

United States

Cofounder and president of Acton Institute; entrepreneurial institution builder and governance leader with more than thirty years of executive management, fundraising, training, and philanthropy leadership experience; trustee of John Templeton Foundation

Mazibuko,
Lindiwe

South Africa

Former member of parliament, fourth youngest in the country’s history; former parliamentary leader for the Democratic Alliance, the country’s official opposition party; currently studying public policy at John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Video interview

Mazzone,
Massimo

Honduras and Italy
Founder, president, and CEO of Centro American Consulting & Capital, with interests in pharmaceuticals, energy, real estate, and agriculture; formerly worked at Boston Consulting Group; previously ran Celtel-Motorola, at the time the only cellular telephone operator in Honduras.

McCobin,
Alexander

United States
Co-founder and president of Students For Liberty, the largest libertarian student organization in the world, with fifty thousand members; member of the board of advisers of the Atlas Society and Our America Initiative; former Koch Associate at Cato Institute

McKay,
Eric

United States
Co-founder at OpenCapital, making early stage investing in ventures available to passive investors; Peter Thiel Fellow 2011

McKay,
Michael

United States
Founder and former president of Iowa Capital Management; retired general partner of several commodity funds; host of market-oriented educational project Radio Free Market

McMahon,
Fred

Canada
Resident fellow and Dr. Michael A. Walker Research Chair in Economic Freedom at the Fraser Institute; general manager of the Economic Freedom of the World project

Medina,
Gustavo

Spain and United States
Founder and CEO of half a dozen tech companies in e-commerce, biotechnology, and gaming, including Wupplier (value chain management) and TheSingularFactory (online business development); consultant to the Spanish Algae Bank, a research and development center focusing on microalgae

Medina,
Guillermo

Guatemala
Chief disruption officer and former chief investment officer at Grupo Pantaleón, a leading agro-industrial conglomerate with more than 170 years dedicated to the responsible processing of sugar cane; facilitator, promoter of change, and corporate strategist

Melián,
Gonzalo

Spain
Director of OMMA, an online graduate school based in Madrid powered by UFM; associate professor of economics at IE University; UFM visiting professor; partner at Instituto Juan de Mariana; architect specialized in urban planning according to market-liberal principles

Melnyk,
Nataliya

Ukraine

Executive director at Bendukidze Free Market Center, a think tank that promotes individual liberty, limited open government, and markets; cocreator of Teacher’s Toolkit for Common Sense Economics; organizational development manager; researcher on national sovereignty and political identification

Méndez,
Daniela

Guatemala

Professor of organizational behavior, behavioral economics, and game theory at UFM’s School of Economics; partner at FranklinCovey; former project coordinator with Behavioral Insights Team (BIT); former executive director at Fundación Desarrolla Guatemala

Metcalfe,
Julia

United States
Adviser to a seed-stage biotech company; board member of Camden International Film Festival, a leading documentary festival; former product manager for applied machine learning and head of product experience analytics at Facebook

Metcalfe,
Robert

United States

General partner emeritus, Polaris Venture Partners, an investment firm that works with entrepreneurs in health care and tech; professor of innovation and Murchison Fellow of Free Enterprise at University of Texas at Austin; inventor of the Ethernet and other Internet-related technologies.

Metcalfe,
Robyn

United States and Guatemala

Director of community engagement at The University of Texas at Austin; author of four books and producer of three films; former publisher with Sunset Magazine; founder and former director of Kelmscott Rare Breeds Foundation and Farm

Meyerson,
Adam

United States
President of Philanthropy Roundtable, a network of donors committed to advancing liberty; member of the board of State Policy Network; former vice president of educational affairs at the Heritage Foundation; former Wall Street Journal editorial writer

Milani,
Rodolfo

United States and Argentina

Senior managing director at B. Riley Wealth Management, a full-service wealth management firm; president of Friends of UFM; trustee of Hispanic American Center for Economic Research; member of Mont Pelerin Society; director of InterAmerican Institute for Democracy; founder and chairman of Miami Freedom Forum

Mitchell,
Matthew D.

United States
Senior research fellow and director of the Equal Liberty Initiative at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University; expert in public choice economics and the economics of government favoritism; adviser to federal, state, and local government policymakers on both fiscal and regulatory policy

Mitra,
Sugata

India and United Kingdom

Chief scientist emeritus at NIIT, an operator of higher education institutions in India; creator of the Hole-in-the-Wall experiment that showed the value of informal learning and inspired the movie Slumdog Millionaire; professor of educational technology at Newcastle University
Video interview

Mofya,
Sid

Zambia and United Kingdom
Director and COO at Draper Venture Network, a global alliance of independent venture capital firms investing in entrepreneurs across the globe; board chair of Kalene Education Fund in Zambia, a microfinance company pioneering new ways of financing education; musician with Mofya Music

Mongelli,
Luca

Italy

Scientific director of the Market, Culture, and Ethics Research Center at Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome; professor of management at University of Aquila; cofounder of the social start-up Ridaje, which helps empower the homeless as gardeners

Montaner,
Carlos Alberto

Cuba and Spain

Commentator and author of more than twenty-five books and thousands of articles, mostly on the Cuban dictatorship; named one of the fifty most influential Ibero-American intellectuals by Foreign Policy magazine; political analyst for CNN en Español

Montes,
Leonidas

Chile
Dean of School of Government at Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez; former chairman of the board at Televisión Nacional de Chile

Morin,
Daniel

Honduras
Founder and CEO of Mariposa, a startup city to be established in Honduras; founder and CEO of GenoPro, a software to draw family trees and genograms; creator of a peer-to-peer decentralized software with a built-in cryptocurrency wallet and function for creating blockchain-based digital contracts

Morin,
Katerina

Honduras
Founder and communications officer at Mariposa, a startup city to be established in Honduras; founder, ecstatic birth educator and doula at www.BirthWithPleasure.com ; psychologist and nonviolent communication trainer; expert in organizational and intercultural communication

Morriss,
Andrew

United States
Dean of School of Innovation at Texas A&M University; vice president for entrepreneurship and economic development at Texas A&M; former dean of Texas A&M School of Law

Mortimer,
Colin

United States
Executive director of Neoliberal Project, which works to develop a neoliberal identity within US political discourse; incoming director of Neoliberal Project at Progressive Policy Institute (merger to occur in 2020); recipient of a 2019 Emergent Ventures grant from Mercatus Center

Murray,
Michael

United States
Senior vice president at John Templeton Foundation; senior visiting scholar in philosophy at Franklin and Marshall College; former Arthur and Katherine Shadek Humanities Professor of Philosophy; author or co-author of numerous books and articles on philosophy and theology

Nadeem,
Asra

United States and Pakistan

Managing partner at Draper University Ventures; director of entrepreneurial programs at Draper University; expert in product strategy for emerging markets; interested in building technologies that skyrocket human potential

Naguib,
Emad

Egypt

Executive director for the Capital Center for Studies, an Egyptian classical liberal think tank; founder of Cairo Liberal Club, a liberal political group; CEO of Kemet Dynamics, a consultancy business focusing on AI and digital transformation

Narang,
Prashant

India
Associate director of research at the Centre for Civil Society; activist, advocate, and academic; analyzes law and policy related to K–12 education, street vendors, and ease of doing business; former manager of legal department at CCS; formerly practiced law before India’s Supreme Court

Navarro,
Isabel

Spain
Marketing expert currently affiliated with UFM marketing department; former project coordinator on landscaping projects at Sainz de Rozas Paisajismo; five-year experience at Inditex, a world leading retail company that comprises of eight brands where she was product manager and a buyer in Zara

Neamtu,
Mihail

Romania
Politician and theologian; founder and president of New Republic, a new political party; former scientific director of Institute for Investigation of Communist Crimes and the Memory of the Romanian Exile; member of the Alliance for the European Conservatives and Reformists

Nepal,
Arpita

Nepal

Co-founder and director of research at Samriddhi, a foundation that advances ideas for a free and prosperous Nepal through entrepreneurial projects and by working with the national government; honored by John Templeton Foundation for promoting economic liberty and fighting corruption
Video interview

Neri,
Massimiliano

Italy
Director of enterprise risk solutions for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Moody’s Analytics; subject matter expert for financial risk management at Professional Risk Managers’ International Association; instructor in risk analysis at Center for Advanced Studies OMMA in Madrid

Newman,
Ben

United States

Mediator and arbitrator at Newman ADR, an alternative dispute resolution practice in Florida; civil litigator, mediator, and arbitrator; former partner and shareholder of renowned law firms

Nixon,
Bill

United States
Chairman and CEO of Policy Impact Communications, a government affairs and public relations firm; chairman and CEO of iSchool Campus and ISC Federal, which provide schools, governments, and organizations with a platform for integrating multiple technologies for education and training

Nixon,
John E.

United States

Chief financial officer at University of Utah; former budget director for the state of Michigan and head of the Department of Technology, Management and Budget; responsible for leading major pension reforms in Michigan; former president of the National Association of State Budget Officers.
Video interview

Nixon Jr.,
John

United States
Professional involved in international supply chain management; global supply planner at Traeger Wood Fire Grills, LLC; recently graduated from the University of Utah and his senior thesis focused on sourcing potential in LATAM region

Novelli,
Hervé

France
Mayor of Richelieu and former member of national assembly; former undersecretary for business and foreign trade; former undersecretary for trade, crafts, small and medium enterprises; founder Les Reformateurs, a market- liberal faction within the Union for a Popular Movement

Nowrasteh,
Alex

United States
Director of immigration studies at Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity; author of academic papers and articles in major US publications; co-author of the 2014 booklet Open Immigration: Yea and Nay; commentator on Bloomberg, Fox News, MSNBC, NPR, and radio programs

O'Hearn,
Kathleen

United States
Senior director of policy advancement at State Policy Network, a nonprofit that cultivates free-market, state-based movements rooted in economic and political freedom; former associate director of state outreach and external relations at Mercatus Center at George Mason University

O’Grady,
Mary Anastasia

United States
Editor of the Wall Street Journal ’s The Americas column; member of the editorial board at the Wall Street Journal

Oakley,
Barbara

United States

Distinguished professor of engineering at Oakland University; taught the popular MOOC Learning How to Learn; author of the best-selling book A Mind for Numbers; headlined conferences around the world

Omojuwa,
Japheth

Nigeria and Kenya

Political commentator and editor of Atlas Network’s AfricanLiberty.org, one of Africa’s largest websites on economics and governance; World Economic Forum Global Shaper; featured on CNN, BBC, and Al Jazeera; named one of Africa’s 50 Movers and Shakers by Credit Suisse

Ortiz,
Alfredo

United States
President and CEO of Job Creators Network, which advocates for more than thirty million small business owners; former marketing and corporate strategy consultant for Fortune 500 companies; frequent guest on national cable news networks and radio programs, author published in major media

Pacheco,
Emilio

United States and Venezuela
Executive vice president and COO at Liberty Fund; formerly the chief information officer at the central bank of Venezuela

Palmer,
Tom

United States
Vice president for international programs at Atlas Economic Research Foundation; general director of Atlas Global Initiative for Free Trade, Peace, and Prosperity; senior fellow at Cato Institute; author of Realizing Freedom and editor of Why Liberty , The Morality of Capitalism , and After the Welfare State

Panaritis,
Elena

Greece and United States

Former senior economic adviser to the Greek prime minister and minister of finance; former member of parliament; social entrepreneur and founder of Panel Group, a policy advisory firm; founder of Thought for Action Foundation; former World Bank economist specializing in property rights reform

Patterson,
Sam

United States
Co-founder of OB1 and OpenBazaar, a peer-to-peer marketplace that uses blockchain technology; former senior policy analyst and creator of the tech policy program at Charles Koch Institute; author of Bitcoin Beginner, one of the most popular Bitcoin books on Amazon

Pažitný,
Peter

Slovakia
Founding partner and director of Health Policy Institute; former principal adviser to Minister of Health; expert on health care policy in Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia

Peña Panting,
Guillermo

Honduras

Executive director of Fundación Eléutera, a market-liberal think tank promoting freedom in Honduras; CEO of Blackbeard media group; political economist involved in policy reform, opening markets, protecting taxpayers, and government transparency

Peters,
Dan

United States
President of Lovett and Ruth Peters Foundation, focused on improving K-12 education; co- founder of Alliance for Charitable Reform, advocating reform in non-profit sector; former chairman of Philanthropy Roundtable

Peters,
Kellie

United States
Trustee of Lovett and Ruth Peters Foundation, focused on improving K-12 education; co- founder of Liberty Alliance Cincinnati, an activist group dedicated to limited government

Peterson,
Patrick

United States
Creator of Silicon Valley Mises Celebration; cofounder and former president of Free Market Society of Chicago, a nonprofit educational organization; former adviser on fundraising and development for market-liberal think tanks; worked in marketing and finance at Verisign.

Pierpoint,
Surse

Panama and United States

General manager of Colón Logistics Park; former manager of Colón Free Trade Zone; appointed by the president of Panama to establish rules for this free economic zone; former head of Colón Free Trade Zone Users Association; president of the market-liberal think tank Fundación Libertad Panamá

Pifer,
Casey

United States

Vice president of institute relations at Atlas Network; responsible for grants and awards programs, distributing over six million dollars annually to promote choice, peace, and dignity; manager the prestigious annual Templeton Freedom Award; former events associate at Atlas Network

Pina,
Juan

Spain
Secretary general of Foundation for the Advancement of Liberty, a libertarian think tank; co-founder and first president of Spain’s Libertarian Party; founder of Taxpayers Union; former corporate communications executive; author, columnist, and regular media contributor

Plott,
Charles

United States

Pioneer in the use of experiments to test economic and political theories; professor of economics and political science and director of the Laboratory for Experimental Economics and Political Science at California Institute of Technology

Polk,
Joshua

United States
Attorney with Pacific Legal Foundation; experienced litigator in matters related to property rights, economic liberty, and free speech; frequent writer on economic freedom; former researcher at University of Alabama School of Law

Poole,
Robert

United States
Co-founder of Reason Foundation; author of Cutting Back City Hall, which heavily influenced Margaret Thatcher’s privatization efforts; former adviser to Reagan, Clinton, and Bush administrations; named the leading national expert on transportation privatization by the New York Times

Porter,
Oliver

United States

Cofounder of the city of Sandy Springs, Georgia, where all services except public safety are provided by private industry—a model that has since been replicated in other cities; author of four books on local governance and The Contract City, the first e-book in Antigua Forum’s Disruptor Series

Post,
Matthew D.

United States and United Kingdom
Associate dean and assistant professor of humanities at Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts, University of Dallas; fellow at Institute for Classical Education; founding member of steering committee at National Council for Classical Educators; expert on political philosophy and character education

Premachandra,
Anuki

Sri Lanka
Communications manager at Advocata Institute, which researches and promotes sound policy ideas that support freedom and prosperity; previously worked in communications for World Bank Sri Lanka

Prieto,
Marcela

Colombia
Executive director of Political Science Institute of Colombia; former adviser to Ministry of Interior

Proulx,
Amy

United States

Director of Individual Freedom and Free Markets at John Templeton Foundation; former director of academic talent at Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University.

Quintana,
Joan

United States

Managing partner of AdventGX, an economic and community development consulting and tech company; associate director of Texas A&M’s Internet 2 Technology Evaluation Center; entrepreneur, writer, and facilitator; former public official working in academia and state government

Quintana,
Jose

United States and Belgium

President of AdventGX, an economic and community development consulting and tech company; founder of Innovation Underground, which helps small businesses get their start; lifelong entrepreneur and consultant to clients from Disney to Verizon, as well as the states of California and Texas

Quirk,
Joe

United States

Communications director and “seavangelist” at the Seasteading Institute, an organization that researches and promotes floating cities; bestselling science writer, novelist, and memoir ghostwriter; co-author of upcoming book Why Seastead? How Floating Nations Will Liberate Humanity

Rachman,
Fred

United States
CEO and chief medical officer at Alliance Chicago, an organization working to improve health through technology and innovation; formerly with the Joint Commission, a prominent standards-setting and accrediting body in health care; pediatrician and former CEO of Erie Health Care.

Raisbeck,
Daniel

Colombia

Candidate for mayor of Bogotá and Colombia’s first libertarian political candidate; classical scholar at Universidad del Rosario in Bogotá; columnist for the PanAm Post , and el Tiempo ; prominent speaker and advocate for limited government

Rast,
Ben

United States
Founder and senior partner of the Rast Group at Morgan Stanley, a provider of wealth management services; co-founder and president of the Bastiat Society, an international nonprofit dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and the business community promote a society of free and responsible individuals

Ray,
Madison

United States
Director of strategic engagement at State Policy Network, a nonprofit that cultivates free-market, state-based movements rooted in economic and political freedom; former program coordinator at SPN

Redstone,
Ilana

United States

Associate professor of sociology at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; codirector of Mill Institute at University of Austin, where she works with educators to challenge settled thinking; creator of Beyond Bigots and Snowflakes video series

Reed,
Larry

United States

Executive director of Thrive Lights, the US implementer of Poverty Spotlight, which measures and enables human thriving; founder of Soul of Finance, a blog that describes how finance can be a tool for liberation; former CEO of Opportunity International, a global microfinance network

Richardson,
Ruth

New Zealand

Former minister of finance; architect of far-reaching fiscal and macroeconomic reforms during the 1990s; current and former director of several dozen companies.
Video interview

Robb,
Andrew

Australia

Member of Parliament; Shadow Minister for Finance; chairman of the Coalition Policy Development Committee; former federal director of Liberal Party.
Video interview

Robertson,
Brian

United States
Co-founder and partner at HolacracyOne, which helps organizations radically improve performance through better rules, distributed authority, and empowerment; experienced entrepreneur and founder and former CEO of Ternary Software

Rodríguez,
Cristian

Guatemala
CEO and president of EDISA, a distributor of automotive parts and power tools; president of Soluciones Analíticas, a lab services firm serving the agricultural and industrial sectors; trustee or director of various foundations focused on education and reform in Guatemala

Rodríguez,
Juan

Guatemala and Colombia
Co-founder and CEO of Kingo Energy, a solar energy company that serves off-grid communities in Guatemala, Colombia, and South Africa; one of MIT Technology Review’s 2014 Central American Innovators under 35

Rodríguez,
José Carlos

Spain

Cofounder and executive director of Instituto Juan de Mariana; writer, journalist, and branded content producer; specialist in economics and international politics; columnist at Libertad Digital, The Objective, Factual, and other media; member of the advisory board of the journal Procesos de Mercado

Roeder,
Fred

Germany and United States
Vice president of finance and operations at Students for Liberty, a global forum for student advocates of economic, social, and academic freedom; co-founder of European Students for Liberty; founder of Healthcare Solutions, which provides consulting on health systems and services in Central and Eastern Europe

Rojas,
Mauricio

Sweden and Chile

Former member of the Swedish parliament for the Liberal People’s Party; senior fellow at Fundación para el Progreso, a market-liberal think tank in Chile; author of several books on immigration, economics, and the Swedish model; former president of the market-liberal think tank Timbro

Romeo,
Tom

United States

Associate director of health care at the Charles Koch Foundation, where he leads health care investment and strategy; former program officer at Stand Together; former policy analyst at the Goldwater Institute, where he provided analysis for both federal and state policy

Rose,
Flemming

Denmark

Danish journalist, author, and foreign affairs editor at Jyllands-Posten; responsible for the 2005 publication of controversial Muhammad cartoons, which made him a target of Al-Qaeda; senior fellow at Cato Institute; awarded 2016 Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty Economist’s Mexico Business Forum; director of Alamos Alliance conferences; President of the Antigua Forum 2012

Ross,
Terry

Canada

Director of Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Centre for Corporate Sustainability at University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business; research director at Alberta Blockchain Consortium; founder of YYChain, a nonprofit upgrading Calgary’s blockchain ecosystem

Rothschild,
Daniel M.

United States

Executive director of Mercatus Center at George Mason University; former senior fellow and director of state projects at R Street Institute, a policy research organization; former director of external affairs at American Enterprise Institute; strategist, writer, and policy analyst

Roy,
Avik

United States

Cofounder and president of Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity; policy editor at Forbes; former policy adviser to presidential candidates Mitt Romney, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, and former Texas governor Rick Perry; author of numerous studies on health care reform, fiscal policy, and Bitcoin

Rubin,
Robert

United States

Founder and president of Rubin Wealth Advisors, specializing in estate, charitable, and business succession planning; member of the advisory council of Turning Point USA and former trustee of Florida Atlantic University; former senior vice president at Wachovia Wealth Management

Rutherford,
John

United States
Director of Enterprise Products and senior advisor to Energy Capital Partners; former executive vice president of Plains All American Pipeline; former investment banker with twenty years experience in mergers and acquisitions, structuring, and providing strategic advice

Saeed Al Mutar,
Faisal

Iraq and Afghanistan

Social entrepreneur; founder and president of Ideas Beyond Borders, seeking to end authoritarianism in the Middle East; writer of The International Correspondent, a Substack publication

Salinas,
Roberto

Mexico
President of the Economist’s Mexico Business Forum; director of Alamos Alliance conferences; President of the Antigua Forum 2012

Salman,
Ali

Pakistan
Founder and executive director of the Policy Research Institute of Market Economy, Pakistan’s only market-liberal think tank; visiting fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs in London; author of several books, including Discord between Economic Freedom and Social Justice in Islam

Sánchez,
Octavio

Honduras
Chief of staff to President Porfirio Lobo; named by president to lead free cities project in Honduras

Sandefer,
Charlie

United States
Co-founder of Acton Children’s Business Fair, the largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America, which he started in 2008 with his five-year-old brother Sam; at age sixteen he has completed the first portion of high school studies and four hands-on apprenticeships

Sandefer,
Jeff

United States

Entrepreneur, teacher, and educational disruptor; cofounder of Acton School of Business and Acton Academy (K–12); cofounder of Acton Children’s Business Fair; founder of Sandefer Capital Partners, a multibillion-dollar energy firm; Socratic teacher; president of Antigua Forum 2013
Video interview

Sandefer,
Laura

United States
Educational entrepreneur and co-founder of Acton Academy, a learner-driven network of private schools that focus on Socratic teaching; author of Courage to Grow: How Acton Academy Turns Learning Upside Down

Sangha,
Sunny

United Kingdom and India
Co-Founder of 225 Academy, which aims to reinvent education globally and currently creates personal learning experiences for young people in Asia and the Middle East; founder of the World Forum for Institutional Experimentation, which promotes experimental jurisdictions and communities

Sargeant,
Kimon

United States

Vice president of programs at John Templeton Foundation, responsible for developing research and initiatives on virtues and how they contribute to human flourishing; former program officer at Pew Charitable Trusts; historian, sociologist, and author.

Schaeffer,
Sabrina

United States
Senior director of White House Writers Group, a pro-freedom, pro-prosperity strategic communications firm; former vice president of Herald Group, an advocacy consulting firm; former executive director of Independent Women’s Forum

Schimenz,
Robert

United States

President of Center for Independent Thought, a nonprofit that works with teachers to expand awareness of liberty, markets, and peace, leveraging Stossel in the Classroom educational materials; former high school teacher and adjunct professor at LaGuardia Community College

Schramm,
Carl

United States

University professor at Syracuse University; former president of Kauffman Foundation, world’s largest funder of research in entrepreneurship; cofounder of Global Entrepreneurship Week, operating in 170 countries; former president of Health Insurance Association of America; former entrepreneur in health care finance and IT

Schuler,
James

United States
Co-founder and CTO of FundElevator.com, a crowd-sourcing platform to support causes and politicians; creator of Eligible, a platform to help healthcare companies engage in financial transactions; Y-Combinator graduate; Peter Thiel “20 Under 20” Fellow 2013

Schwartz,
Frederic

United States, India and Ethiopia

Physician educator; founder of medical schools; innovator in combined local/distance education and use of simulation technology to enhance learning and safety; CEO of Global Medical University, a project to create a freer, cost-effective alternative to the medical education monopoly

Segerfeldt,
Fredrik

Sweden
Incoming director of the pro-immigration think tank Migro; former program director at Timbro, Sweden’s leading market-liberal think tank; author of upcoming book on colonization; author of Water For Sale; commentator featured in the Wall Street Journal, BBC, and other media outlets

Serra,
Jaime

Mexico
Former minister of commerce and industry; architect of NAFTA

Seymour,
David

New Zealand and Canada

Member of Parliament representing the Epsom electorate, including parts of Auckland and suburbs; leader of the pro-market ACT party; former government adviser on partnership/charter schools; former policy analyst with think tanks in Canada and New Zealand
Video interview

Shah,
Parth

India

Founder and president of Centre for Civil Society, a market liberal think tank in Delhi
Video interview

Shandley,
Robert

United States and Germany
Associate dean, School of Innovation at Texas A&M University; former head of Department of International Studies at Texas A&M; former executive director of Confucius Institute at Texas A&M; expert on media history and theory; university professor, lecturer, and writer.

Sharp,
Tracie

United States
President of State Policy Network; trustee of the Roe Foundation; founder of HOPE-Oregon; former executive director of Cascade Policy Institute

Sheppard,
Sean

United States
Founding partner of GrowthX, a seed-stage venture capital company; co-founder and lead instructor at GrowthX Academy, a school that trains growth talent for tech companies; Huffington Post contributor; sales influencer and serial entrepreneur who has successfully grown dozens of companies.

Shoulong,
Mao

China
Professor and dean of School of Public Management at Renmin University in Beijing; expert on public administration in China

Šimašius,
Remigijus

Lithuania

Mayor of Vilnius; former minister of justice; former head of Lithuanian Free Market Institute
Video interview

Simpson,
Steve

United States

Senior attorney at Pacific Legal Foundation, a nonprofit legal organization; former employee of Institute for Justice and Ayn Rand Institute; litigator of high-profile Supreme Court cases; has spoken and written on a wide variety of legal and policy issues; editor of Defending Free Speech

Sitoula,
Robin

Nepal
Executive director at Samriddhi, a foundation that advances ideas for a free and prosperous Nepal through entrepreneurial projects and by working with government to create a business-friendly environment; honored by John Templeton Foundation for promoting economic liberty and fighting corruption

Skorup,
Brent

United States

Senior research fellow at Mercatus Center at George Mason University; member of federal and state-level advisory groups on issues such as broadband deployment and autonomous vehicles; research has been cited by the White House, federal agencies and state-level supreme courts

Slivka,
Ben

United States

Software and biotech investor, philanthropist, software engineer; led Microsoft’s Internet Explorer team through release of version 3.0; cofounder of Wissner-Slivka Foundation

Smith,
Kelly

United States
Founder and CEO of Prenda, a network of innovative, independent microschools; founder of Code Clubs of Arizona, which help young children learn computer programming through self-guided, technology-enabled, project-based group learning; software developer

Smith,
Vernon

United States
Pioneer of experimental economics; 2002 Nobel laureate in economics; professor of economics at Chapman University

Solis,
Benito

Mexico
Recently retired member of the board of Bank Deposit Protection Institute (IPAB), with responsibility for insuring deposits and addressing bank solvency issues; former director general of Moody’s in Mexico

Stagnaro,
Carlo

Italy

Research and studies director at Istituto Bruno Leoni, Italy; former chief of technical staff to the minister of Italy’s Ministry of Economic Development; author of several books

Stahlman,
Mark

United States and China

President of Center for the Study of Digital Life, a nonprofit strategic research group studying the effects of digital technologies on civilizations; retired Wall Street technology strategist, investment banker, serial entrepreneur; designer of computer and networking systems

Stefanska,
Joanna

Switzerland

Executive director of Rising Tide Foundation with responsibility for funding, partnership, and impact strategies in cancer research and libertarian and social/education programs; founder of Responsible Corporate Leadership Forum; author and coach on meaningful careers

Stephenson,
Shawn

United States
Co-founder and chief strategy officer of Rising Tide, a firm providing investment research and intellectual property and innovation management services; chairman of the board of Rising Tide Foundation and Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research

Stephenson,
Morgan

United States
Managing director of Brown Legacy Group, responsible for promoting ethical and efficient business and investment activities throughout the entities within the Stephenson family enterprise and conveying relevant information and analysis to the shareholder group

Stergios,
Jim

United States
Executive director of Pioneer Institute, a free-market think tank in Boston; former chief of staff and undersecretary for policy in Massachusetts’s Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, where he drove efforts on water policy, regulatory and permit reform, and urban revitalization

Storr,
Virgil

United States and The Bahamas

Professor of economics at George Mason University; vice president for academic and student programs at Mercatus Center; author of policy papers, book reviews, journal articles, and books

Strachman,
Danielle

United States
Co-founder and general partner at 1517 Fund, which invests in young innovators and entrepreneurs; former program director for the 20 Under 20 Thiel Fellowship; co-founder and board member of Innovations Academy, an inquiry-based public charter school

Strong,
Michael

United States
Chairman of Elevator Cities Development Corporation, dedicated to promoting and designing Startup Cities; chief visionary officer of Freedom Lights Our World (FLOW); board member of the Seasteading Institute; lead author of Be the Solution: How Entrepreneurs and Conscious Capitalists Can Solve All the World’s Problems
Video interview

Swim,
Lyall

United States and Russia

Chief innovation officer of Atlas Network, responsible for special initiatives and exploring new opportunities; researcher and speaker on innovation diffusion and leadership; managing partner at Junto Strategy, an organizational consulting and executive coaching company; former higher education policy fellow at United States Senate

Szalay,
Tomas

Slovakia
Medical doctor and adviser on health reforms to governments in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, and Western Balkans; partner at the Health Policy Institute, a market-oriented think tank that promotes health policy reforms

Tabuchi,
Sam

Japan and United States
Professor in the Public Private Partnership Graduate School and Global Innovation Studies Program at Toyo University; vice chairman of a PPP initiative at the United Nations; deputy director of the Asia PPP Institute; led the implementation of a billion-dollar PPP project in Florida

Templeton Dill,
Heather

United States
President of John Templeton Foundation; former trustee and member of the foundation’s executive, finance, and strategic planning committees; board member at First Trust Bank; former member of the Templeton Religion Trust steering committee and Templeton World Charity board

Theroux,
Mary

United States and Argentina

Chairman of the board of directors and CEO of the Independent Institute; directed nine corporations and three foundations; coauthor of Beyond Homeless: Good Intentions, Bad Outcomes, Transformative Solutions; serves on the National Advisory Board of The Salvation Army

Thompson,
Joshua

United States

Director of legal operations at Pacific Legal Foundation, a public interest law firm that defends Americans’ liberties when threatened by government overreach or abuse, responsible for developing attorneys and setting litigation goals; litigator with experience arguing before the US Supreme Court

Thompson,
Gene

United Kingdom

Entrepreneur in real estate development; director of Thompson Development Ltd, a leading development company in the Cayman Islands; director of Health City Cayman Islands, a tertiary care hospital

Thompson,
Jennifer

United States

Executive director of Center for the Study of Liberty, which engages the business community with market-liberal ideas; former senior director of programs at Institute for Humane Studies; former vice president of co-sponsored programs at Liberty Fund

Tillman,
John

United States

Founder and CEO of the American Culture Project; chairman of Illinois Policy Institute; organized litigation team representing the plaintiff in landmark Supreme Court case Janus vs. AFSCME, which affirmed workers’ rights; co-founder of Liberty Justice Center, a public interest firm, and Iron Light LLC, a strategic marketing firm

Timermans,
Alfredo

Spain
CEO of Telefónica Internacional USA; former secretary of state for communications and former deputy chief of staff under President José María Aznar; former director of the Foundation for Social Studies and Analysis (FAES).
Video interview

Tjirimuje,
Nathan

Namibia and South Africa
Founder of Chevauchee Foundation, which works to spread liberty in Africa and has partnered with sixty high schools and universities; winner of Atlas Network’s Africa Liberty Award; former water entrepreneur who encountered government corruption and regulation firsthand

Tompson,
William J.

United Kingdom
Head of OECD’s Unit for Regional Economics and Governance; former senior counselor for Regional Development Policy Division of the OECD; author of several OECD studies on the political economy of reform

Torres,
José

Colombia and United States
Fellow at Stanford Law School’s Legal Design Lab, which researches legal innovation; former director of Center for Legal Innovation at Sergio Arboleda University; former adviser at World Trade Organization in Geneva; former lawyer at Skadden Arps in London

Turney,
Meredith

United States
Senior director of leadership development and strategic communications at State Policy Network, a nonprofit that cultivates free-market, state-based movements rooted in economic and political freedom; transformational coach

Tynan,
Carrie

United States
Executive director of Adolph Coors Foundation, an organization that supports causes throughout the United States that promote free enterprise, traditional Judeo-Christian values, and rule of law; works with numerous nonprofits in Colorado; former high school teacher

Ullman,
Chris

United States
Founder and president of Ullman Communications, a strategic advisory firm. He is former director and managing director of global communications for Carlyle Group, one of the world’s largest private equity firms; former director of communications for US Office of Management and Budget and House of Representatives Commerce Committee; expert in strategy and crisis management

Urízar,
Carmen

Guatemala
Adviser on economics and infrastructure to the new government; former minister of energy and mines; former president of Guatemala Petroleum Commission; founder of private investment consultant groups

Vaine,
Aneta

Lithuania

Vice president of the Lithuania Free Market Institute (LFMI), a free-market think tank; author of numerous national and international policy research projects on deregulation and economic and civic education projects; expert on government regulation and economic policy reform in Lithuania

Vallée,
Luc

Canada and United States

Strategist, financier, and economist; chief operating officer and chief economist at Montreal Economic Institute, a public policy think tank; former chief strategist at Laurentian Bank Securities; experience with geopolitical issues involving North Korea, China, Mexico, and Brexit

van Hattem,
Marcel

Brazil and Netherlands

Member of the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of Congress in Brazil; vice-leader of the political party Partido Novo; former city council member first elected at age 18; journalist and political scientist; author of the book Nos Com Uma Voz (It’s Us With One Voice)

Vásquez,
Ian

United States and Peru
Director of Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity at Cato Institute; area of expertise in Latin America, especially in economic development

Villasmil,
Gustavo

Venezuela
Secretary of health for the state of Miranda and principal builder of its new public health system; surgeon and specialist in internal medicine at the Central University of Venezuela; author of more than twenty peer-reviewed academic papers and two books on health care and policy

Villegas,
Bernardo M.

Philippines
Chairman of Center for Research and Communication; adviser to recent presidents.
Video interview

von Baer,
Ena

Chile
Member of the Chilean Senate; former minister of communications to president Sebastian Piñera; former head of political and social program at Liberty & Development Institute; political scientist and former journalist

von Laer,
Wolf

United States and Germany
CEO of Students for Liberty; co-founder of European Students for Liberty; recent PhD in political economy from King’s College London with focus on entrepreneurship, public choice, and Austrian economics

von Rekowsky,
Bob

United States

Investor, strategist, and team leader at J. Locke & Co., a boutique merchant bank; former strategist and head of global emerging-market equity funds for Fidelity Investments; founding member of Armenia 2020, a scenario-building initiative seeking alternative development models

Wade,
Magatte

Senegal and United States

Entrepreneur; advocate for positive change in business, women’s rights, and Africa; founder and CEO of Skin Is Skin and Tiossan, skin-care companies that bring Senegalese recipes to US markets; advisory board member of Whole Planet Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to microloans.

Wagner,
Bridgett

United States
Vice president for policy promotion at Heritage Foundation, oversees coalition relations, lecture and seminar series, young leader development, and strategic outreach; trustee at University of Dallas and Intercollegiate Studies Institute.

Walker,
Michael

Canada
Founder of Fraser Institute, Canada’s highest-ranked think tank; appointed to Order of Canada, the government’s highest honor, for his work at Fraser; co-founder, with Milton and Rose Friedman, of Economic Freedom of the World project, a collaboration of eighty institutes worldwide

Wallsten,
Scott

United States
President of Technology Policy Institute, a think tank focused on technology and regulation; former economics director of the Federal Communications Commission’s Broadband Task Force; former economist on the White House Council of Economic Advisers.

Wan Saiful,
Wan Jan

Malaysia
Founder of Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS); life member of Islamic Party of Malaysia; former head of Conservative Muslim Forum in the United Kingdom
Video interview

Warner,
Matt

United States
Chief operating officer at Atlas Network; former public affairs director at James Madison Institute; former director of energy and education at American Legislative Exchange Council; published in several journals and newspapers; testified before several state legislative bodies

Weber,
Mark

United States
Project manager for Digital Currency Initiative at MIT Labs, which is developing a blockchain-based finance and land title system for Mexico’s Ministry of Finance; co-producer of Poverty, Inc., an award-winning documentary that explores how entrepreneurship can alleviate poverty

Weekley,
Richard

United States

Chairman of Texans for Lawsuit Reform; chairman of Weekley Development Group.
Video interview

Westhoff,
Elise

United States

President and CEO at the Philanthropy Roundtable, a national association pursuing philanthropic excellence and freedom; member of the board of directors of the Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives; former executive director of the Snider Foundation

Whetstone,
Linda (1942-2021)

United Kingdom

Chairman of Network for a Free Society; former chairman of International Policy Network; board member of Institute of Economic Affairs and Atlas Network

Whetstone,
Rachel

United States
Global head of communications and public policy at Google; former Political Secretary to then Conservative leader Michael Howard

Widmer,
Andreas

Switzerland and United States

Director of Arthur and Carlyse Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship; professor of entrepreneurship at Catholic University of America; co-founder of SEVEN Fund; former Vatican Swiss Guard and author of The Pope and the CEO: Pope John Paul II’s Lessons to a Young Swiss Guard

Woislaw,
Daniel

United States
Attorney at Pacific Legal Foundation, working to advance freedom by litigating cases defending property rights and economic liberty; constitutional civil rights attorney specializing in the Takings Clause, separation of powers, and the Fourth Amendment; former public defender

Woislaw,
Julia

United States
Senior manager for CPA evolution at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants; former research assistant at Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives at Cato Institute; expert in jurisprudence and risk management

Wolcott,
Greg

United States

Program officer in Individual Freedom and Free Markets at John Templeton Foundation; former professor in philosophy and business ethics; former faculty liaison at Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University; researcher in entrepreneurship and the moral foundations of markets

Woodlief,
Tony

United States

Executive vice president at State Policy Network (SPN), which generates solutions to economic, political, and social problems; former president of Bill of Rights Institute and Market-Based Management Institute; author of I, Citizen, a book about reclaiming American self-governance

Yonk,
Ryan

United States

Senior research faculty at American Institute for Economic Research; held academic positions at several universities, including North Dakota State University, Utah State University, and Southern Utah University; author and editor of numerous books and academic articles

Younas,
Adnan

United States and Pakistan
Engineer building intelligent systems; founder, CEO, and chief data scientist at Opus, the future of art and entertainment; DARPA Challenge contender; former chief software architect at System View, Inc.; former senior software development engineer at Ericsson

Zambone,
Jennifer

United States
Chief operating officer of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University; former director of foundations strategy at the Institute for Humane Studies and Mercatus Center; her research work focused on science and public health, pesticides, regulation, and civil society

Zebral,
Silverio

Brazil and United States
Chief economist and head of Government Innovation Unit at the Organization of American States (OAS); adjunct professor at George Washington University; awarded the Pedro Ernesto Medal by the city of Rio de Janeiro, that government’s highest honor