Alasdair RossModerator & The World Ahead Countries Editor
At The Economist Intelligence Unit, EIU, Alasdair Ross has long experience in editorial responsibility for Risk Briefing and a range of publications on themes of global interest. His experience and responsibilities give him a strong insight into global economic and political trends, their implications for multinational corporations, and the strategies those companies use for managing risk. He brings these insights to high-level audiences around the world in an engaging and stimulating manner, bringing complex issues to life in bright and straightforward language.
Alasdair is a psychology graduate and has a master's degree in economics.
Tom StandageDeputy Editor The Economist & Editor The World Ahead 2026
Tom Standage, joined The Economist as science correspondent in 1998 and was subsequently appointed technology editor, business editor and digital editor. He is the author of seven history books, including “Writing on the Wall” (2013), “The Victorian Internet” (1998) and “A History of the World in 6 Glasses” (2005). He studied engineering and computing at Oxford University and has written for other publications including the New York Times, Daily Telegraph, Guardian and Wired, taking a particular interest in technology’s cultural and historical significance.
Ebba BuschDeputy Prime Minister & Minister for Energy, Business and Industry, Sweden
Ebba Busch is one of Sweden’s most prominent political leaders and serves as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Business and Industry. As party leader of the Christian Democrats since 2015, she has been a key figure in shaping Sweden’s energy transition, industrial policy, and competitiveness agenda. Known for her clear communication and pragmatic leadership, Busch plays a central role in advancing collaboration between government and industry to strengthen Sweden’s position in a changing global economy.
Joakim PaasikiviSenior Geopolitical Advisor, Mannheimer Swartling
Joakim Paasikivi is a Military expert and Senior geopolitical advisor at Mannheimer Swartling. A former lieutenant colonel in the Swedish Armed Forces, he became widely known to the public during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when he frequently appeared in Swedish media to analyze and comment on the war. Paasikivi has served in both Sweden and Finland and held several senior positions in military intelligence and security. He previously taught military strategy at the Swedish Defence University in Stockholm and has also lectured at the Baltic Defence College in Estonia.
Johan NorbergHistorian & Author “Peak Human”
Johan Norberg is senior fellow at the Cato Institute, an internationally recognized writer on globalization, progress, and ideas. He is the author and editor of more than 20 books, translated into over 30 languages. His works include In Defense of Global Capitalism, Progress: Ten Reasons to Look Forward to the Future (Economist Book of the Year, 2016) and Open: The Story of Human Progress (Economist Book of the Year, 2020) and Peak Human (2025)
Ruth Kvarnström-JonesAuthor & Historian
Ruth Kvarnström-Jones is a British-Swedish author and historian, celebrated for her compelling narratives that illuminate the lives of pioneering women in Swedish history. Drawing from her background as a copywriter, Ruth crafts richly detailed stories that blend historical accuracy with engaging storytelling.
Her acclaimed works include: De fenomenala fruntimren på Grand Hôtel, Väninnorna på Nordiska Kompaniet & Halleholm series.
Samantha JobHis Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Sweden
Her Excellency Samantha Job CMG MVO appointed British Ambassador to Sweden in September 2024. Prior to her current role, she was Director of Defence and International Security at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office from 2019 to 2022.
Anders MadsenManaging Director & Senior Partner, BCG Sweden
Anders Madsen is Managing Director and Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group in Stockholm, where he leads the Swedish office. He specializes in large-scale transformations, Performance improvement programs, AI/Digital strategy, M&A for larger blue chips and PE across industries including automotive, process industries, transport, and logistics. Anders holds an M.Sc. in Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark.
Anna WieslanderDirector for Northern Europe & Head of the Stockholm Office Atlantic Council
Anna Wieslander chairs the Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP) and serves as Secretary General of the Swedish Defence Association. Dr. Wieslander is a lifetime member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences and the Swedish Society for International Affairs, an Adjunct Professor at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, and a member of both the Alphen Group and RUSI’s European Security Advisory Group.
Jessica RosencrantzSweden’s Minister for EU Affairs
Jessica Rosencrantz is Sweden’s Minister for EU Affairs, leading the country’s work on EU and Nordic cooperation. With over a decade in the Swedish Riksdag, she has held senior roles including Chair of the Committee on EU Affairs and Deputy Leader of the Moderate Party Group. She previously served in key committees on social insurance, environment, agriculture and transport. Rosencrantz holds a Master’s degree from the Stockholm School of Economics and brings deep experience in European policymaking.
Anton OsikaFounder & CEO, Lovable
Anton Osika is the co-founder and CEO of Lovable, the Swedish AI startup that enables anyone to build apps and websites simply by chatting with AI. Founded with the mission to democratise software creation and unlock human creativity, Lovable has rapidly become one of Europe’s fastest-growing tech companies.
The company reached a $1.8 billion valuation following its $200 million Series A round in July 2025, earning unicorn status.
Before founding Lovable, Anton worked in particle physics at CERN, was the first engineer at Sana Labs, helping improve learning outcomes for millions worldwide, and later co-founded Depict.ai, which scaled to billions of product recommendations and raised over $20 million from leading investors.
Charlotta SundCEO of Swedish Space Corporation
Charlotta Sund, vd för Swedish Space Corporation sedan oktober 2023. Innan dess vd för Tekniska verken i Linköping. Haft flera ledande positioner inom Ericsson, bland annat chef för regionen Norra Europa och Centralasien. Charlotta Sund har också flera styrelseuppdrag.
Johan NylanderAsia Correspondent, Di
Johan Nylander, Asienkorrespondent för Dagens Industri och prisbelönt författare. Hans arbete publiceras av CNN, National Geographic Travel, Forbes och många andra internationella medier.
Daniel SackManaging Director & Partner, BCG
Daniel Sack leads BCG X in the Nordics and co-leads BCG’s generative and agentic AI initiatives. He builds digital products with a focus on AI and machine learning, and co-leads Plan AI, applying advanced analytics to planning processes. Daniel holds an MBA from Stanford, a BE in mechanical engineering from Dartmouth, and a summa cum laude BA in mathematics and physics from Colby College, where he won the Marston Morse Prize for top achievement in mathematics.
Sofia WallströmCEO, LiF & member of the Board of EFPIA
Sofia Wallström is the CEO, Lif – The Research-Based Pharmaceutical Industry in Sweden, and a member of the Board of EFPIA.
A seasoned executive with extensive leadership experience across Government and the Life Sciences sector. Former Director General of the Dental and Pharmaceutical benefits Agency (TLV) as well as the Health and Social Care Inspectorate. Senior official at the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Finance, and as Special Government Investigator on national healthcare and pharmaceutical policy. Brings a deep understanding of market access, pricing and innovation policy within the Nordic and European healthcare and business landscape. Passionate about fostering collaboration between industry, government and healthcare to ensure prosperity and health.
Maria HåkanssonCEO, Swedfund
Maria Håkansson is the CEO of Swedfund International, Sweden’s development finance institution, driving sustainable investments that create impact and inclusive growth. With a career spanning over two decades at Ericsson, she has led global, multi-cultural teams across finance, M&A, IoT, and strategic business development. A strong business acumen and a deep commitment to sustainability and innovation define her leadership.
Maria has served on the boards of the European Development Finance Institutions (EDFI), the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), and the Stockholm Sustainable Finance Centre. She is passionate about transforming strategy into tangible results and fostering partnerships that contribute to sustainable economic progress.
Christina BacklundCEO, Shibuya
Christina Backlund is the CEO of Shibuya, a Swedish hybrid cloud service provider. Christina has a proven track record of driving growth, sales performance, and organizational excellence by aligning technology with business value. With nearly two decades within tech and IT industries, Christina has held executive roles at Ericsson, Schneider Electric, and IBM. She has led major transformations that accelerated growth, strengthened customer value, and built high-performing global teams.
Christina holds an MSc in Engineering and Management of Technology from Chalmers University of Technology and has also studied at École Polytechnique in Grenoble. She is passionate about leadership, innovation and the intersection of technology and business.
Jan LarssonCEO, Business Sweden
Jan Larsson has been CEO of Business Sweden since May 2021. He brings broad experience from business, government, and politics, having held senior positions at McKinsey & Company, Brunswick, YrkesAkademin, Nordea, and Handelsbanken, and served as State Secretary and Chief of Staff to the former Swedish Prime Minister. Larsson has also acted as Sherpa to the Prime Minister in the Progressive Governance Network and held board roles in both companies and public authorities. He holds a degree in Economics and Theoretical Philosophy from Uppsala University and pursued research studies at the University of Ljubljana.
