Thomas Grieser

Career Mayor in Oppenau

Mr. Thomas Grieser is since 1986 the Mayor of Oppenau/Germany, the city in which the European Art of Living Center is situated.

Mr. Thomas d’Ansembourg

International Trainer & Lecturer in Non-violent Communication, Belgium.

In order to contribute to justice and conflict resolution, I first worked as a lawyer for 15 years. Meanwhile, by dedicating my free time with an association for teenagers from the street, I gained a better understanding of the mechanisms leading to violence, addiction, prostitution and criminality. In order to deepen my understanding of people, I became a psychotherapist. Since 1994, I’ve worked as an international trainer and lecturer in Belgium, France, Switzerland, Quebec and Morocco, giving workshops leading to personal transformation, heart-opening, and spiritual awareness. My books, Cessez d’etre gentil, soyez vrai (2001), and Etre heureux cen’est past necessairement comfortable (2004), have been best sellers and translated into many languages.

Prof. Fahri Saatcioglu

Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Oslo, Norway

Fahri Saatcioglu is professor in molecular and cell biology at the Department of Molecular Biosciences at the University of Oslo, Norway. His research focuses on basic molecular and cell biological mechanisms of how hormones work in the normal physiology as well as disease states, especially cancer. He has been practicing yoga for over 25 years and is a part-time yoga teacher. He also conducts research on the biological effects and physiological mechanisms of yogic breathing exercises.

Ms. Erika Mann

The former member of European Parliament, Germany

Erika Mann is serving her third term in the European Parliament, and is a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany. She is chairwoman of the Delegation to the EU-Mexico Joint Parliamentary Committee, as well as a member of both the Committee on International Trade, and the Delegation for Relations with the United States. She is Senator of the Max Planck Society and Board Vice Chair of ‘Frauen für Technik neue Impulse’ (women promoting technology), a German association based in Berlin. She is the Chair and Co-Founder of the European Internet Foundation, and European Chairwoman of the Transatlantic Policy Network. In 2006, she received an award for Outstanding Transatlantic Commitment from the European American Business Council. She is a qualified teacher, and was a researcher at the University of Hanover before becoming an IT business consultant. She is a member of the International Informatization Academy of the United Nations.

Mr. Nirj Deva

Member of European Parliament

President, Europe India Chamber of Commerce

Nirj Deva was born in Sri Lanka and holds Sri Lankan and British citizenship. He became Chairman of the Bow Group (leading British political think-tank) in 1981. He was Chairman of the Department of Transport/National Consumer Council Committee on De-regulation of Air Transport, which resulted in low-fare airlines in Europe. In 1992, he was elected as Member of the House of Commons, and in 1999 as Conservative Member of the European Parliament, where he is a member of the Committee on Overseas Development and Cooperation and the Foreign Affairs Committee. He is a Fellow of Britain’s Royal Society of Arts, Chairman of the EU-India Chamber of Commerce and patron of the International Monarchist League. In April 2005, he was chairman of the European Parliament’s delegation to the UN Commission on Sustainable Development in New York.

Mr. Hans-Martin Schempp CEO

Schempp Group of Companies President, International Association for Human Values

Prof. Dr. Dr. Hans-Peter Durr

Founder, Global Challenges Network, Germany

Hans-Peter Durr, Prof. PhD, Dr. h.c., Dir.em. Max-Planck-Institut fuer Physik, Munich, Germany. Nuclear physicist:MS 1953 Univ. Stuttgart, PhD 1956 Univ. California, Berkeley, ScM 1962 Max-Planck-Society, Munich, Prof. 1969 Univ. Munich, Emeritus 1997; Visit. Prof.: UoC Berkeley 1961, 1968, Matscience Madras(India) 1962, Nagoya(Japan) 2007; Dir. MPI for Physics 1971-1997. Publications: Elementary particle physics, Unified quantum field theory, Gravitation, Epistemology (ca. 100); Scientists’ Responsibility, Disarmament, Peace, Security, Development, Justice, Culture, Ecology, trans-disciplinary Issues (ca. 300); 22 books. International Organizations (founder, board member, advisor): Scientists’ Initiative for Peace 1983, Acad. Leopoldina 1975, Council Pugwash 1983 (Nobel Peace Prize 1995), Greenpeace 1986, Global Challenges Network 1987, International Foundation for the Survival and Development of Humanity (Moscow) 1988, Vienna International Academy for Future Problems 1990, Economic Development of Hainan (PR China) 1990, Club of Rome 1991, State of the World Forum 1995, Int. Advisory Group UN HabitatII 1996, Global Forum of Spiritual and Parliamentary Leaders 1999, Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts 2000, Friends of Health 2000 Wash.DC), Commission on Globalization 2001. Awards: Right Livelihood Award (Alternative Nobel Prize) 1987, Natura Obligat 1991, E.&W. Haas Int. Award 1993, Culture Golden Medal Munich 1996, Great Cross of’ Service Medal of FR Germany 2004., Honorary Citizen Munich 2007.

Mr. Rutger Koopmans

President, Netherlands-India Chamber of Commerce and Trade

Former Senior Executive Vice President, ING Bank, The Netherlands

Rutger Koopmans studied Political Science and Law at the University of Leiden, writing his thesis on future opportunities for the modern welfare state. He then joined Bank Mees & Hope, a medium sized bank and the oldest financial institution in The Netherlands. Here he worked in corporate and investment banking in Amsterdam/ Rotterdam, as well as abroad in London and New York. In 1996, Koopmans joined ING Group, one of the first ‘bancassurance’ institutions in the world, which had the challenging ambition to become a first-class corporate bank in The Netherlands and abroad. Within this organization, he took his first steps as a manager and a leader. During his years at ING, he aimed to be himself as a leader which taught him a lot about personal effectiveness, as well as his impact on other people. It earned him the nickname of the ‘non-bankerish banker’ when he left ING in September 2008. His ultimate aim is to have a career in the public domain where he can combine his 25 years of knowledge and experience as a banker and a leader, with his vision to add sustainable leadership value to society and create ‘a better world’ for our children.

Mr. Chauduri

Director of new SriSriAyurveda Center in Dortmund.