Backed by pros.
Our advisory board: Comprised of leaders in politics, business and academia.
Advisory Board
Amb. (ret.) Prof. Dr. h.c Wolfgang Ischinger
Chair
Wolfgang Ischinger is the Chairman of the Munich Security Conference and Germany’s most distinguished diplomat. Under his leadership, the Munich Security Conference evolved into the world’s leading forum for strategic dialogue. Previously, he served as German Ambassador to the United States and later to the United Kingdom, as well as State Secretary in the German Foreign Office. Throughout his career, he has acted as a mediator in major international conflicts, advised governments and international institutions on security policy, and shaped debates on European and transatlantic relations. His career exemplifies Germany’s diplomatic influence and enduring commitment to multilateralism.
Omid Nouripour MP
Omid Nouripour is a leading figure in German politics and currently serving as the Vice President of the German Bundestag. As a senior member of Bündnis 90/ Die Grünen, he has served in the Bundestag since 2006, focusing on foreign affairs, defence, and migration policy. From 2022 to 2024, he served as co-leader of his party and his been central in shaping its role within the governing coalition at the time. With expertise in international relations and a long-standing commitment to human rights and European integration, he plays a key role in connecting German domestic politics with broader geopolitical challenges.
Jill Gallard CMG CVO
Jill Gallard CMG CVO is a career diplomat, currently based in London, whose expertise is Europe, foreign & security policy and corporate issues. She served as the first female British Ambassador to Germany 2020-2024. Prior to that, she was Deputy Political Director and Director of Human Resources and a member of the Board of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. From 2011 to 2014 Jill served as British Ambassador to Portugal, and was previously posted to Prague, Madrid and Brussels. She studied modern languages at Edinburgh University and now speaks fluent French, Spanish, Portuguese and German, alongside Czech.
Dr. Benedikt Franke
Dr. Benedikt Franke is Chief Executive Officer and Vice-Chairman of the Munich Security Conference. Before assuming this role, he served as Chief Operating Officer of the Conference and previously held positions at the European Council on Foreign Relations and the United Nations. He has been instrumental in expanding the MSC’s global reach, developing its networks, and shaping its role as the foremost platform for international security dialogue. His career reflects a focus on strengthening multilateral cooperation and fostering dialogue between policymakers, business leaders, and civil society.
Angie Gifford
Angie Gifford is one of Germany’s most accomplished technology leaders. She currently serves as Senior Advisor to the Chief Operating Officer at Meta and as a Member of the Supervisory Board of ThyssenKrupp AG. With over three decades of leadership experience in the technology and consumer sectors, she has held senior positions at Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, and most recently as Vice President for Europe, Middle East, and Africa at Meta. In this role, she played a pivotal part in shaping Meta’s engagement with European institutions, governments, and businesses, driving discussions on digital innovation and technology development.
The Rt. Hon Greg Hands
Greg Hands is a British Conservative politician who has held several senior government positions, including Minister for London and Minister for Trade Policy (2023–2024), as well as Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth (2021–2022). He represented Chelsea and Fulham in Parliament from 2005 to 2024 and served as Chairman of the Conservative Party in 2023.
With a professional background in finance and extensive experience in international trade, Greg Hands has been instrumental in shaping the United Kingdom’s commercial and economic strategy in the post-Brexit era. A fluent German speaker with a deep interest in Germany, he has long played a key role in strengthening UK–German relations.
Bobby Vedral
Bobby Vedral is a macro-political expert and strategist, LSE alumnus, and founder of MacroEagle, an independent platform providing strategic analysis on global markets and geopolitics. He has over 25 years of experience in financial markets, having served as Partner and Global Head of Market Strats at Goldman Sachs, and later as Partner at Toscafund.
Beyond finance, Bobby serves as the UK Representative of the German Economic Council (Wirtschaftsrat Deutschland), where he promotes dialogue on German-British relations in the post-Brexit era. He is widely recognised for his ability to bridge economic, political, and strategic perspectives across Europe and the UK.
Susanne Baumann
Her Excellency Susanne Baumann is the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United Kingdom and one of Germany’s most accomplished diplomats. Before her appointment to London, she served as State Secretary at the Federal Foreign Office and as the Federal Government Commissioner for Disarmament and Arms Control. Throughout her distinguished career, she has led key divisions shaping Germany’s foreign and security policy, including international order, the United Nations, and arms control. Her work reflects Germany’s enduring commitment to diplomacy, multilateral cooperation, and global peace and security.