Eric is former President at International School of Economics at TSU (ISET) and advisor to Georgian Minister of Economy. Currently he chairs the Economic Commission with the International Chamber of Commerce-Georgia.

Dr. Appleby is an Australian veterinary scientist and agronomist, and has been operating Hong Kong-based agribusiness group Yu Feng Nong Holdings since 1997. His companies are engaged in M&A consulting, infrastructure financing, agricultural engineering, technical training, farm and asset management.

Lawyer by training, BA and LL.M in International Business Law. 15 + years of investment banking, legal counseling of donor organizations, IFIs and corporate clients. Over 17 years of lecturing business law, securities regulation & international commercial law.

David Aprasidze is political scientist focusing on political transformation and democratization issues. He has expertise in higher education management and reform. At various times, he has worked for public agencies and international CSOs operating in Georgia. Currently he is a professor at Ilia State University.

Luciano is a creative economy expert and a cultural manager with over 40 years experience in the sector, including over 20 as an entrepreneur. He is a member of European cultural policy networks. In Georgia he has worked with private and public entities, the Tbilisi City Hall and the Ministry of Culture.

Maia Miminoshvili is an education expert, she was a director of NAEC (National Assessment and Examinations center) from the day of its foundation. Her name is fairly associated with success of Unified Entrance Examinations Project – revolutionary reform of Georgian Higher Education System. She holds a PHD in Math.

Mariam Lashkhi has 12 years of working experience in Georgia’s public and private sectors, international organizations and civil society. An expert in innovation policy reform and startup ecosystem development, Mariam was recognized in 2017 as a Woman Leader in Government for her outstanding commitment to the public sector.

Ali likes to connect ideas, peoples, and disciplines. Born in Iran and raised in the United States, he worked on telecom and internet projects in different countries, occasionally traveling, teaching, and volunteering. His passions are the environment, human communication and culture of all sorts, music and travel.

Academic experience in oriental studies for 35 years, author of 4 books and over 150 articles. International information & consulting businesses since 1989.CEO & Co-founder of Maximov & Partners holding including a few companies in Georgia, Russia and China doing business in logistics, exports-imports activities and management services. CEO of Seeing Differently Charity Foundation.

Bastian developed software at 14 years old and became an IT apprentice for a Fortune 200 company at age 17. He holds a Masters from Copenhagen Business School. Bastian has lived in 9 countries, attended 4 universities and co-founded startups which received more than 2 million dollar in venture funding.