Børge Brende is the President of the World Economic Forum and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway (2013-2017). Before becoming FM he was a managing director at the World Economic Forum in Geneva. From 2009-2011 Brende was Secretary General of Red Cross Norway. Brende has been a Cabinet Minister of the Environment (2001-2004) and a Cabinet Minister of Trade and Industry (2004-05). Brende was Chairman of the UN Commission of Sustainable Development (2003-04). He has been the Chairman of Mesta, Norway’s largest contracting group in the area of road and highway maintenance. He was also a member of the board of Statoil. Brende was a Member of the Norwegian Parliament (1997-2007), the last period as Deputy Chairman of the Standing Committee on Energy and Environment. Since 2005, Brende was International Vice-Chairman of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (an advisory board to the State Council). Brende was the deputy chairman of the Conservative party from 1994-98.
Brende has also been the chairperson of the International Network of Political Leaders Promoting Democracy in Burma - and a Member of the Board of Aid to Afghanistan. Member of the Steering Committee Bilderberg Meetings. As Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry, Brende improved the framework conditions for trade and industry, and for innovation and development. By the end of his term in office, funding for innovation had increased by 30%. As a minister of the Environment he was in charge of an increase of the national park area of Norway of more than 50%. As Secretary General of Norwegian Red Cross Brende was leading two of the largest relief operations in the societie's history; in Haiti and Pakistan. As Foreign Minister Brende normalised relations between Norway and China and was together with the Cuban FM guarantor of the Colombian peace process. During Brende’s tenure as FM Norway doubled foreign assistance for education and humanitarian assistance.
Chris Christie was inaugurated as the 55th Governor of the State of New Jersey on January 19, 2010. He was re-elected with 60% of the vote in November of 2013 and served two terms as Governor. He left office in January of 2018.
During his time in office, Governor Christie emphasized the issues of budget reform, pension and health benefit reform, school choice and education reform and the opioid crisis gripping his state and the nation. His March 2017 law restricting opioid prescriptions led to a 26% reduction in those prescriptions in its first year. He also devised the state’s groundbreaking response to Superstorm Sandy, leading the rebuilding of the state’s housing, infrastructure and public schools and setting a bi-partisan example for storm recovery.
Governor Christie was a leader among his colleagues as Governor. He was elected Chairman of the Republican Governors Association in 2014, leading the organization to a record fundraising effort and the election of 31 Republican Governors. He also was elected to the Executive Committee of the National Governors Association and served from 2010-2013.
In 2017, President Donald J. Trump appointed Governor Christie as Chairman of the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. Governor Christie led the Commission on a seven-month investigation of this issue, holding hearings around the country. The Commission issued a final report on November 1, 2017. The report contained more than 65 substantive recommendations, all of which were adopted by President Trump.
As Governor, he was also the lead plaintiff in challenging the federal prohibition on sports gambling. His six-year fight against the four major professional sports leagues and the NCAA concluded with a win before the U.S. Supreme Court in May of 2018, invalidating the law against legal sports gaming across the nation.
Prior to his service as Governor, he served as the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey from January 2002 to December 2008. He was nominated by President George W. Bush on December 7, 2001. His office brought 130 cases prosecuting political corruption at all levels of New Jersey government and never lost a case. He served as one of seventeen U.S. Attorneys on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee in Washington, DC.
He was in the private practice of law from 1987-2001 specializing in corporate law, securities matters and appellate advocacy. He graduated from the University of Delaware with a B.A. in Political Science in 1984. He was awarded a Juris Doctor degree by Seton Hall University School of Law in 1987. He is admitted to the Bar of the State of New Jersey, the U.S. District Court of New Jersey and the United States Supreme Court.
In 2019, he authored The New York Times best seller, Let Me Finish, about his life and career in New Jersey and as a candidate for President.
He is now a Senior Legal and Political Commentator for ABC News and the Managing Member of the Christie Law Firm and Christie 55 Solutions, LLC in Morristown, NJ.
Governor Christie also serves on the Board of Directors of the New York Mets, appointed by owner Steve Cohen, Pacira Pharmaceuticals in Parsippany, NJ, LifePoint Health in Nashville, TN, Saker Holdings in Middletown, NJ, and Maxim Crane in Bridgeville, PA. He also served from May 2018-May 2021 as Executive Chairman of Beach House Recovery Centers in Juno Beach, Florida, a BelHealth portfolio company.
Governor Christie married his wife Mary Pat in 1986. They have four children: Andrew, Sarah Anne, Patrick and Bridget. They currently reside in Mendham and Bay Head, New Jersey.
Jon Dorenbos played 14 seasons in the NFL, notably making the Pro Bowl twice as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, as well as being the Ed Block Courage Award recipient and the Eagles Walter Payton Man of the Year. He also holds the record for the most consecutive games played in Philadelphia Eagles franchise history. Jon competed on Season 11 of America’s Got Talent where he showcased his skills as a sleight-of-hand magician, making it to the finals and placing third overall amongst over 100,000 competitors. He then put his talent on display as a guest on Ellen, who quickly became one of his biggest fans and advocates. Jon appeared on Ellen more than any other guest in the history of the show. He also has been featured on HBO Real Sports more than any other guest in the history of that show as well. He retired from the NFL after he was diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition requiring 15 hours of emergency open-heart surgery.
Known for his great sense of humor and positive outlook on life, Jon uses his skills as a magician and his incredible life story to inspire audiences around the world. He wrote a book titled Life Is Magic that draws a roadmap for how to shut that self-doubting voice up by choosing to find happiness in every situation. Producer Mike Tollin has optioned the book and is making it into a feature film. The screenplay is being written by John Gatins, who was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the drama film Flight with Denzel Washington.
Mr. Pete G. Perez was selected to the Senior Executive Service in November 2013 and currently serves as the Chief of Engineering and Construction for Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). He provides executive leadership for all technical engineering activities during planning, design, and construction for the military, civil works, environmental, support to others, and international programs within USACE with a budget influence of over $40 billion and a worldwide workforce of over 35,000.
Previously, Pete G. Perez was the Director of Programs for the Southwestern Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Dallas, Texas, a position he had held since October 2019. In this position, he was responsible for the development and execution of Civil Works, Military Missions, and Interagency Support within the Division. He provided leadership and supervision for the SWD Programs Directorate and has staff oversight for programs, planning, and project management activities in the division’s four district offices.
Prior to his SWD assignment Perez managed the operations of the Regional Business Center and oversaw three divisions: the Business Technical Division, Business Management Division, and Business Resources Division. He was the lead liaison on efforts between regional boards and functional boards, synchronizing activities with a particular focus on regional issues.
Previously he served as the Deputy District Engineer for Programs and Project Management for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District, a position he had held since 2011.
Perez previously served as the chief of the Galveston District’s Engineering and Construction Division. While chief, Perez served an eight-month tour in Afghanistan Engineer District-South. Prior to this position, Perez was the former chief of Construction Operations at the Alaska District, held the position of an area engineer in the Southern Area Office, was a resident engineer in the Central Resident Office, and was a project engineer and resident engineer in the USACE Far East District in Korea. He began his career with the Corps as a project engineer in the Fort Worth District’s San Antonio Area Office.
In 2002, Perez was recognized with the Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Award and earned a Professional Achievement Award from the Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Conference. He received a Department of the Army Superior Civilian Award in 2008 and 2010, and earned the prestigious Bronze de Fleury Medal in 2008.
Marci Rossell is a world-renowned economist and financial expert who speaks candidly on the nexus of economics, politics, culture, and the media.
She honed her animated style serving as the popular, lively Chief Economist for CNBC, where she became a household name and a must-watch source of financial news. The former co-host of the well-known “pre-market” morning news and talk show Squawk Box, Rossell is revered for taking complex economic issues, often dull in the button-down business press, and making them relevant to people's lives, families, and careers.
She discusses America’s current and future role in the global economy, factors responsible for recessions, how Washington influences Wall Street and the markets, and the specific forecast for the U.S. economy over the course of the next 18-24 months. She is also well-versed in the stock market, investor behavior, consumer confidence, and what accountable capitalism looks like this year and beyond. With a knack for making complex topics more digestible, Rossell’s authentic, high-energy talks deliver a stimulating and often optimistic economic outlook, providing an insider’s perspective on key factors of economic disruption.
Prior to her career in broadcast journalism, Marci served as Corporate Economist and Investment Spokesperson for OppenheimerFunds, one of the nation’s largest mutual fund companies. Her success in the private sector led to her economic commentary being revered and ultimately her appointments on nationally syndicated talk shows. Before moving to Wall Street, she was an expert witness for Deloitte & Touche in court cases involving economic issues. Marci began her career as an economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
Marci earned a Ph.D. in Economics from Southern Methodist University, where she was named one of the Young Alumni of the Year in 2002. She brings a world of experience — from Main Street to Wall Street — when discussing the U.S. economy, international events, and movements in capital markets.
