Heads of state and influential leaders from the business and public sector such as former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus and South African President Thabo Mbeki have given keynote speeches in the past.

In 2006 Felipe Calderon was sworn in as President of Mexico for the 2006-2012 term.

During his professional career Mr Calderon worked in civil and labor law at the firms of Goodrich, Riquelme and Partners and Multibanco Comermex. In 2003 Mr Calderón was appointed General Director of the National Bank of Public Works and Services (BANOBRAS). Later that year he was appointed Secretary of Energy by then President Vicente Fox.

Mr Calderon was awarded the “NAFTA Congressional Leadership Award” from the Mexico-US Chamber of Commerce, and the “CANACINTRA Eagle Award for Legislative Merit” from the National Chamber of the Manufacturing Industry. Mr Calderon was also member of the “World Leaders of the Future” of the World Economic Forum from 1997 to 2000.

Mr Kent joined The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta in 1978 and has held a variety of marketing and operations roles throughout his career.

Mr Kent was named President and Chief Operating Officer of The Coca-Cola Company's North Asia, Eurasia and Middle East Group from 2005 until early 2006, where he was responsible for the operations across a broad and diverse geographic region that included China, Japan and Russia. Mr Kent served as President of Coca-Cola International through most of 2006, responsible for operations outside of North America, until his appointment as President and Chief Operating Officer of The Coca-Cola Company, overseeing all operations of the business, including Bottling Investments. He succeeded Neville Isdell as Chief Executive Officer of the Company on July 2008, and as Chairman of the Board of Directors on April 2009.