Dr Soumya Swaminathan was appointed as the World Health Organisation's first Chief Scientist in March 2019. A paediatrician from India and a globally recognized researcher on tuberculosis and HIV, she has more than 30 years' experience in clinical care and research, and has worked throughout her career to translate research into impactful programmes. Dr Swaminathan was Secretary to the Government of India for Health Research and Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research from 2015 to 2017. From 2009 to 2011, she also served as Coordinator of the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases in Geneva. She received her academic training in India, the UK, and the USA, and has published more than 350 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. Dr Swaminathan was interviewed by Penelope Allen from Abbotsholme School.
Dr Lee Howell was Managing Director at the World Economic Forum (WEF) and responsible for its flagship Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters from 2009 until 2020. He currently serves as a Senior Advisor to the President of the World Economic Forum. Effective 1st August 2021 he was appointed Visiting Professor at the Geneva School of Economics and Management at The University of Geneva. Lee began his career in international affairs as a Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and served as a Senior Advisor at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). In addition, he worked to launch economic initiatives to promote reconciliation in communities scarred by ethnic violence at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). He writes frequently about global trends, systems leadership, risk resilience and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. His research topics include digital platforms, global risks, strategic narratives, and technological innovation. Lee was interviewed by Zowe Curtin from Thomas More College in South Africa.
Adedoyin Olayiwola "Ade" Adepitan is a Nigerian-born British television presenter and Wheelchair basketball player. As a presenter, he has hosted a range of travel documentaries and sports programmes for BBC television. Born in Lagos, Ade contracted Polio in infancy, resulting in damage to his legs that left him a wheelchair user. At the age of three, he moved with his family to the UK, where he grew up in East London. Becoming a wheelchair basketball player, he was ultimately part of the British team that played at the 2004 Paralympics, securing a bronze medal. Ade is involved with a range of charities promoting access to sport for disabled people, in 2005 he was made an MBE for services to disability sport. Over the past decade Ade has been a regular TV presenter including sports programmes and travel documentaries, including the BBC series Africa with Ade Adepitan (2019) and Climate Change: Ade on the Frontline (2021). Ade was interviewed by Orissa Patnaik from SAI International School in India.
British-Iranian author and Founder and Executive Director of the International Civil Society Action Network, Sanam Naraghi Anderlini MBE is a peace strategist working on conflicts, crises and violent extremism and as a consultant to the United Nations on the subject of women and conflict. Her current appointments include serving on the Steering Board of the UK’s National Action Plan on Women Peace and Security, the Commonwealth’s Panel of Experts on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE), UNDP’s Civil Society Advisory Council and as adjunct professor at Columbia University. She was the 2014 recipient of the UN Association Perdita Huston Award for human rights and the 2016 Greeley Peace Scholar at the University of Massachusetts. She was awarded an MBE in 2020 for services to International peacebuilding and Women’s Rights. Sanam is an Alum of RS School, Cobham Hall, and was interviewed by Fatima Mahouassa from Roedean School in South Africa.
Alex Sheen is the founder of because I said I would, a social movement and non profit dedicated to bettering humanity through promises made and kept. Sparked by the loss of his father, Alex and his organization send “promise cards” to anyone anywhere in the world at no cost. Alex is someone who truly honors commitment. He once walked over 240 miles across the entire state of Ohio in 10 days to fulfil a promise. In just two years, because I said I would has sent over 12.3 million promise cards to over 153 different countries. The promises written on these cards have made headlines around the world. Alex is a five time TedxTalk speaker and his charitable work has been featured on ABC World News with Diane Sawyer, CNN, The Today Show, NPR, The Los Angeles Times and many other programs.... Alex was interviewed by Nuren Alahee from Chittagong Grammar School in Bangladesh.
Industrialist and adventurer, Sir David Hempleman Adams OBE, is the first person to complete the Adventurers Grand Slam, by reaching the Geographic and Magnetic North and South Poles as well as climbing the highest peaks in all seven continents, the first person to fly to the North Pole in a balloon, and the first person to make a balloon crossing of the Atlantic in an open basket.... David was interviewed by Michael Arias from Palmer Trinity School in Florida, USA.
Dr Vandana Shiva is an Indian scholar, environmental activist, food sovereignty advocate, ecofeminist and anti-globalization author. Dr Shiva has written more than 20 books and is often referred as "Gandhi of grain" for her activism associated with anti-GMO movement. She is one of the leaders and board members of the International Forum on Globalization, and a member of the International Organization for a Participatory Society. She received the Right Livelihood Award in 1993, an award regarded as an "Alternative Nobel Prize". Time magazine named Dr. Shiva an “environmental hero” in 2003. Dr Shiva was interviewed by John Bryant from Whanganui Collegiate School in New Zealand.
Ofentse Lekwane works in youth unemployment in South Africa, and is also a “skinfluencer” for major skincare brands including Gilette and Nivea, bringing positive light to the narrative around persons living with disabilities, specifically those living with Albinism, a disability she too lives with. After 6 years in corporate consulting, Ofentse ollowed her dream of empowering young people and making education accessible, first working in education and now in youth unemployment, where she focuses on unlocking learning and earning opportunities for youth. Ofentse was interviewed by Pedro Veliz from St George’s College in Peru.
An entrepreneur and founder of Young & Able (SA) and Mindgro Consulting (Canada), Buhle Dlamini consults for multinational corporations on organizational culture, diversity and the creation of effective, inclusive workplaces. Author of six books, Buhle received a Nation-Building award from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and has worked with leaders around the world including Nelson Mandela, who was a Round Square Patron. Buhle was interviewed by María Rodriguez from Colegio Los Nogales, in Colombia.
Ellen Windemuth is founder and CEO of WaterBear Network, a free interactive streaming platform dedicated to the future of our planet, and focusing on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Ellen is a media entrepreneur who’s been working in documentary most of her career. She is also owner and CEO of the documentary film production company Off The Fence, which has a catalog of over 6,000 hours of diverse programming across Wildlife, Science, History, Travel, People & Culture and Lifestyle genres. Ellen was Executive Producer of the Oscar-winning documentary ‘My Octopus Teacher’, which narrates the story of a man who healed himself by swimming in cold water and building a friendly relationship with a baby octopus. Ellen was interviewed by Miles Knapp from Ecole Alsacienne in Paris, France.
Tenured professor, speaker, actor, author Dr Ronnie Gladden, who writes, teaches and consults on topics of gender inclusion, critical diversity and transgracial identity. Dr Gladden is creator of “Ronnie and the Others”, an educational outreach project that examines LGBTQ issues and alternative racial, gender, and sexual identities.... Ronnie was Interviewed by Shirleen Birech from Brookhouse School in Nairobi, Kenya.
Dr Anantha Duraiappah is a science-policy pacesetter, with over 33 years’ experience, and inaugural Director of the UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) based in New Delhi, India. Dr Duraiappah received his PhD in economics specialising in mathematical and computational modelling from the University of Texas in Austin, USA. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed books and journal articles and sits on the editorial boards of a number of international peer reviewed journals. Dr Duraiappah was interviewed by Mia Cappuccitti-Gutierrez from Appleby College in Canada.
In 2017, at the age of 12, Solli Raphael was the youngest ever winner of the Australian Poetry Slam. His winning performance of 'Australian Air', a poem about political wisdom, environmental awareness and the importance of social consciousness, was viewed online over four million times in 24 hours. Now aged 16, Solli is a globally renowned poet and published author, who uses his voice and platform to promote action on environmental and humanitarian issues through his original work. Solli also works with charities and other organisations on issues he is passionate about including as ambassador for Dymocks Children’s Charities, and through collaboration with Greenpeace Asia Pacific. Solli was interviewed by Rayyan Kiswani from the Amman Baccalaureate School in Jordan.
A former pupil of Round Square School, Tiger Kloof, Lesego Serolong is founder and CEO of Bokamoso Impact Investments, a social enterprise dedicated to connect invisible rural populations in South Africa to economic opportunities using diverse agricultural and entrepreneurial platforms as change catalysts. Lesego is also co-founder of Raise The Children International, a non-profit company that funds and coordinates a programme of secondary boarding school scholarships for orphans from rural areas. Lesego was interviewed by Jackson Peace from Ryde School on the Isle of Wight, UK.
