Pierce Freelon is a hip hop artist, social entrepreneur and professor with a passion for creativity and community. Front man of the genre bending quartet, The Beast, Freelon's music has been hailed as a "natural, engaging blend of jazz and hip hop" by Jazz Times Magazine.  Freelon has taught courses in the departments of Music, African American Studies and Political Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina Central University. He is the co-founder, with producer Apple Juice Kid, of ARTVSM (pronounced Artivism),  which curates collaborations between progressive artists and community organizations. 

In 1970, Richard Branson founded Virgin as a mail order record retailer. Seven years later, Virgin Music was one of the top six record companies in the world, having signed legendary artists such as The Rolling Stones. Today, the Virgin Group has expanded into leisure, travel, tourism, mobile, broadband, TV, radio, music festivals, finance and health and, through Virgin Green Fund, they are investing in renewable energy and resource efficiency.

Gunilla Carlsson is the Swedish Minister for Development Cooperation and Chair of Commission on Climate Change and Development. From 1999 to 2006 Gunilla Carlsson was Leader of the Moderate Party delegation in the European Parliament. At the Swedish Parliament, she was member of numerous Committees, among others of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, on EU Affairs and on Education. 

José María Figueres served as President of Costa Rica from 1994 to 1998. During his presidency, he created a comprehensive national Sustainable Development strategy combining sound macroeconomic indicators, together with strategic investment in human development, and a strong alliance with nature through the implementation of innovative environmental policies. Today he continues to work in the fields of technology and development, and is currently the CEO of CONCORDIA 21, dedicated to the support of organizations which promote development and democratic values around the world.

Radha Muthiah is Executive Director of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, where she leads efforts to save lives, improve livelihoods, empower women and combat climate change by creating a thriving global market for clean and efficient household cooking solutions. Muthiah brings more than two decades of experience successfully fostering partnerships and alliances in both the for-profit and non-for-profit sectors; leading organizations through transition and toward new opportunities; and developing and executing innovative business models to promote economic development. She most recently served as Vice President for Strategic Partnerships and Alliances at CARE International, USA. Previously, she held senior leadership roles focused on branding, partnership development and management at ICF International, the American Red Cross and Mercer Management Consulting. 

Timothy Wirth is the President of the United Nations Foundation and the Better World Fund. As President of the UN Foundation (UNF) since its inception in early 1998, Wirth has organized and led the formulation of the Foundation’s mission and program priorities, which include the environment, women and population, and children’s health. Wirth was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986 where he focused on environmental issues. He was also national Co-chair of the Clinton-Gore campaign, and from 1993 to 1997 served in the U.S. Department of State as the first Undersecretary for Global Affairs. He helped organize U.S. foreign policy in the areas of refugees, population, environment, science, human rights and narcotics. He chaired the United States Delegation at the 1994 Cairo Conference on Population and Development, and was the lead U.S. negotiator for the Kyoto Climate Conference.

As Deputy Executive Director of 92Y, Henry oversees strategic direction, innovation and growth of the world-class cultural and community center. Since arriving in 2008 at 92nd Street Y Henry has created and produced many major initiatives that leverage technology to broaden the impact of 92Y. These include the annual Social Good Summit, in partnership with Mashable and the UN Foundation, which has opened up the UN Week conversation to over 120,000 across the world. He moved to New York City from London, where he was international director for the Louise Blouin Foundation, overseeing the Foundation’s strategy, communications and activities. Earlier in his career, Henry oversaw corporate strategy for Arts & Business, one of HRH The Prince of Wales’ charities, and helped to launch the Prince’s Foundation for Children and the Arts. 

Stephen Levitin, a.k.a. Apple Juice Kid, is a producer, DJ, and drummer—he's produced singles for Wale, Camp Lo, Mos Def and MC Lyte. Stephen is an adjunct professor in the Music Department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he teaches a Beat Making Lab.  His latest projects include the DJ event Big Beat and composing the original score for a nationally touring play, Poetic Portraits of a Revolution. His score entitled Beats of a Revolution was inspired by the Arab Spring uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia and will be released through ARTVSM (pronounced Artivism), a company he co-founded with Professor Pierce Freelon to merge the worlds of art and activism.

On 1 May 2010, Anthony Lake became the sixth Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund, bringing to the position more than 45 years of public service. During his career, Anthony Lake has worked with leaders and policy makers across the world. Anthony Lake’s ties with UNICEF are long-standing, dating back to 1993.

Ana Maria Fernandes is CEO of EDP Brazil. She joined Gás de Portugal as Director of Strategic Planning, in 2000, became Director of Strategy and Portfolio Management of Galp Business. She later became President of Galp Power and Director of Transgás. From 2004 until 2006 she was director of the Board of Galp Energia. She was CEO of EDP Renewables between 2008 and 2011.

Mary Robinson, the first woman President of Ireland (1990-1997), former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (1997-2002), and founder and President of Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative (2002-2010), has spent most of her life as a human rights advocate. She is also the recipient of numerous honors and awards throughout the world including the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama. In addition, Mary Robinson is a member of the Elders, former Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders and a member of the Club of Madrid.

Brazilian singer, Daniela Mercury is UNICEF Brazil ambassador since October 1995. She was chosen because as an artist and citizen has always been active in defending the rights of children, teenagers and women. In 1995, Daniela participated in her first campaign, along with UNICEF, against the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents. During her 12 years as ambassador of UNICEF, she has been active in campaigns and events related to HIV/AIDS, indians rights, the semi-arid Brazilian areas, among other topics. In October 2005, Daniela launched with UNICEF, the global campaign Unidos for children and adolescents - United we are going resist AIDS! In August 2006, Daniela attended the first Latin American meeting of Global Initiative of Media about AIDS. She is an advocate of racial equality.

Helen Clark became the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme in April 2009, and is the first woman to lead the organization. She is also the Chair of the United Nations Development Group. Prior to her appointment with UNDP, Helen Clark served for nine years as Prime Minister of New Zealand. Throughout her tenure as Prime Minister, Helen Clark engaged widely in policy development and advocacy across the international, economic, social and cultural spheres.

Linkin Park is an American Rock band that has sold over 50 million albums worldwide and has won two Grammy Awards. Formed in 1996, the band rose to quick international fame with their debut album Hybrid Theory. With five studio albums, Billboard ranked the band No. 19 on the Best Artists of the Decade chart. The band has recently launched a new campaign, Power the World, bringing solar power to health clinics in Uganda and is encouraging fan to sign a pledge in support of the UN Secretary General’s Sustainable Energy for All  initiative.

Dr. Alain Labrique is the founding director of the Johns Hopkins University Global mHealth Initiative, a multi-disciplinary consortium of faculty and students engaged in mHealth innovation and research across the Johns Hopkins system. An infectious disease epidemiologist, Dr. Labrique serves on the faculty in the Global Disease Epidemiology and Control Program of the Department of International Health. He holds joint appointments in the Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Department of Community-Public Health in the School of Nursing of the Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Labrique also was recognized as one of the Top 11 mHealth Innovators in 2011 for his mCARE research project in Bangladesh. Labrique serves as an mHealth advisor for WHO, USAID, NIH and the mHealth Alliance / UN Foundation.

Luís Faria is the Energy for Development Director at EDP Foundation where he designs access to energy programmes to contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. He holds a masters in management from Universidade Católica Portuguesa and a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico

Professor Muhammad Yunus, founder of the Grameen Movement and winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, is responsible for many innovative programs benefiting the rural poor. In 1974, Dr. Yunus pioneered the idea of Gram Sarker (village government) as a form of local government based on the participation of rural people. Dr. Yunus is also noted for the creation of "micro-credit," which provides "micro" loans to the poor and serves as a catalyst for improving their socio-economic conditions. He has received widespread recognition for his work, including the Nobel Peace Prize, the Ramon Magsaysay Award from Manila, the Aga Khan Award for Architecture from Geneva, the Mohamed Shabdeen Award for Science from Sri Lanka and the World Food Prize from the United States.

Alnoor’s work focuses on the intersection of online organizing, brand strategy, policy, and technology. He is leading a new global anti-poverty initiative called The Rules, which aims to address the root causes of poverty rather than simply focusing on aid. Prior to joining Purpose, Alnoor spent a decade creating social strategies for progressive organizations in both the private and public sector. His clients have included Amnesty International, MTV Exit, Greenpeace, Global Zero, TED, Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, Google, Livestrong, Conservation International and the Gates Foundation. Alnoor is an industry writer and speaker on the structural causes of inequality, new forms of activism, movement entrepreneurship and social innovation, with a focus on emerging economies

A former Portuguese prime minister, António Guterres became the 10th UN High Commissioner for Refugees on June 15, 2005. He heads one of the world's foremost humanitarian organizations. UNHCR has won two Nobel Peace Prizes.

Ertharin Cousin began her tenure as the twelfth Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme on 5 April 2012. Ms Cousin brings more than twenty-five years of national and international non-profit, government, and corporate leadership experience focusing on hunger, food, and resilience strategies. Cousin guides the World Food Programme in meeting urgent food needs while championing longer-term solutions to food insecurity and hunger.

Peter A. Seligmann is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Conservation International (CI), and has been a leader in creating conservation solutions for the past 36 years. He has developed strong partnerships between CI and leaders in science, industry, government, entertainment and communities around the world. He continues to prove that healthy ecosystems are essential for the present and future well-being of humanity and all life on Earth. Seligmann began his career in 1976 at The Nature Conservancy.