Keynote speakers

  Valdis Dombrovskis (Latvia) Valdis Dombrovskis is the Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the Euro and Social Dialogue, also in charge of Financial Stability, Financial Services and the Capital Markets Union. Prior to that, he served three consecutive terms as Prime Minister of Latvia, becoming the longest serving elected head of government in Latvia’s history. Before becoming European Commission Vice-President, Valdis Dombrovskis was elected for the second time as a Member of the European Parliament (first, 2004-2009) and Head of the Latvian Delegation in the EPP Group. He served as a Member of the Saeima (Parliament) of Latvia (March 2004 - June 2004; January 2014 - June 2014) and was Latvia’s Minister of Finance from 2002 to 2004. Prior to joining politics, he worked as a senior economist and Chief Economist at the Bank of Latvia (1998-2002). Together with Anders Aslund, he co-authored the book "How Latvia came through the financial crisis”, which was published in 2011.         Prof. Inna Šteinbuka (University of Latvia, Latvia) Inna Šteinbuka is currently Head of the European Commission Representation in Latvia. She started her career in the EC in 2005 when she was holding the position of Director for Economic and Regional Statistics at Eurostat. In 2009 Inna Šteinbuka became Director for Social and Information Society Statistics at Eurostat. From 2001 until 2005 she was Chair of the Latvian Public Utilities Commission in charge of regulation of electricity, gas and telecommunication markets as well as railway and postal services. From 1999 until 2001 she was Senior Advisor to Executive Director in the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC. From 1991 until 1999 Inna Šteinbuka was Director of Economic Analyses and Fiscal Policy Department in the Latvian Ministry of Finance and Advisor to Minister of Finance. Inna Šteinbuka is Professor of economics at the University of Latvia and full member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. She holds a PhD in Economics from St. Petersburg State University of Economics and Finance. Her research interests are competitiveness, productivity, tax, budget and fiscal policy.         Prof. Alan Barrell (United Kingdom) Alan Barrell has worked in Health Care and Medical Research, as Chairman and Chief Executive of large multi-national companies and smaller technology start-ups. He teaches in Universities in United Kingdom, Europe, North America and Asia with Professorships in European and Chinese Universities. He has raised and managed a Venture Capital Fund and, is a Business Angel Investor and Trustee of charities. His current work is focussed heavily on the development of UK-China Trade and Relationships including cross-continental investment. Most recently appointed Chairman of a 3billion RMB Chinese Technology Venture Fund. Alan promotes the vision of "A World Without Borders".