Medellín, Colombia, is hosting the Horasis Global Summit from November 10 to 12, bringing together business leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and experts from different regions to discuss the forces shaping the future of the global economy.
Held under the theme “Building Tomorrow,” the 2026 edition is co-hosted by the City of Medellín and takes place at Universidad de Medellín. Its agenda covers subjects ranging from artificial intelligence and economic resilience to geopolitics, democracy, climate action, and the next generation of innovation ecosystems.
The summit brings together participants with experience in government, business, technology, international cooperation, and civil society. Among them are former heads of state, political figures, institutional leaders, and entrepreneurs whose work connects with some of the central questions on this year’s agenda.
Here are 15 speakers and participants to watch at Horasis Global Summit 2026.
Paloma Valencia, Former Senator and Presidential Candidate of Colombia
Paloma Valencia is scheduled to participate in the plenary session “Democracy as a Force for Tomorrow.” The discussion will examine the role of democratic institutions in expanding opportunity, strengthening public confidence, and shaping Colombia’s position across the Americas.
The session places Colombia’s democratic experience within a broader conversation about political participation, institutional strength, and the future of governance. Valencia’s participation brings a national political perspective to those questions.
Rosalia Arteaga, Former President of Ecuador
Rosalia Arteaga, who served as president of Ecuador, is among the participants in the plenary session “Building Tomorrow.” The conversation will explore how leadership, technology, and international cooperation can contribute to long-term prosperity amid economic and political uncertainty.
The session is designed to examine the choices that will influence whether societies become more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable. Arteaga is also one of the co-chairs of the 2026 summit.
Victor Ponta, Former Prime Minister of Romania
Victor Ponta joins the summit as a former head of government, bringing a political perspective to discussions on global leadership and institutional change. He is also listed among Horasis’ co-chairs for the 2026 edition.
His presence adds a European political perspective to a gathering that examines the relationship between national priorities and international cooperation. The summit’s agenda includes discussions on geopolitics, democracy, and the changing balance of power.
Mike Hoey, Founder of Source Meridian
Mike Hoey is participating in the session “Colombia and the Next Innovation Cycle,” which will examine how the country can help startups move from experimentation to sustainable scale. The discussion will also address the conditions needed to strengthen Colombia’s position as a competitive innovation hub.
The session brings together representatives from the Colombian startup ecosystem, investment, and innovation organizations. Its central questions include how to support companies as they grow and how to connect entrepreneurship with long-term national development.
Jerry Hultin, CEO of Global Futures Group and Former US Under Secretary of the Navy
Jerry Hultin combines experience in public service and global strategy. As CEO of Global Futures Group and a former US Under Secretary of the Navy, he brings an institutional perspective to conversations about leadership, international cooperation, and the forces shaping the future.
He is also one of the summit’s co-chairs, alongside leaders from business, government, and civil society. His professional background intersects with the event’s broader examination of global uncertainty and the institutions needed to navigate it.
Fahim Hashimi, Chairman of Hashimi Group and Former Minister of Communications and IT of Afghanistan
Fahim Hashimi brings experience from both the private and public sectors. He is listed among the participants in the plenary “Building Tomorrow,” which will consider how technological progress and cooperation can support more resilient and inclusive societies.
The session will address how leaders can align economic development, technological change, and social responsibility. Hashimi’s background in communications and information technology connects with the summit’s focus on the role of technology in shaping future societies.
Sekai Holland, Former Minister of State for National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration of Zimbabwe
Sekai Holland is the chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Zimbabwe Peacebuilding Initiative and a former minister responsible for national healing, reconciliation, and integration. Her work connects with the summit’s broader discussions on social cohesion, governance, and building more inclusive societies.
She is also among the co-chairs of Horasis Global Summit 2026. Her participation reflects the event’s attention to the social and institutional foundations required to build more stable and collaborative communities.
Dr. Frank-Jürgen Richter, Chairman of Horasis
As chairman of Horasis, Dr. Frank-Jürgen Richter is among the central figures behind the summit. He is scheduled to take part in the event’s opening activities and deliver closing words, helping frame the discussions around the theme of “Building Tomorrow.”
Jojo Mehta, Co-Founder and CEO of Stop Ecocide International
Jojo Mehta leads Stop Ecocide International, an organization focused on establishing ecocide as a crime under international law. She is scheduled to participate in the summit’s closing summary plenary, “Building Common Ground,” alongside leaders examining how cooperation can continue beyond the event.
The session will bring together perspectives on the main ideas and partnerships emerging from the summit. Mehta’s participation also connects with the event’s wider agenda on environmental challenges and the need for international cooperation.
Iván X. Eskildsen, Former Minister of Tourism of Panama and Founder and CEO of OGAYA Travel
Iván X. Eskildsen brings experience in tourism policy and entrepreneurship. A former tourism minister of Panama, he is also the founder and CEO of OGAYA Travel and one of the co-chairs of this year’s summit.
His participation adds a tourism and business perspective to a program that considers how economies can create new opportunities through innovation and collaboration. The summit also examines the relationship between sustainable development and the long-term prosperity of societies.
Bo Inge Andersson, President of Ivanhoe IV
Bo Inge Andersson is president of Ivanhoe IV and a co-chair of Horasis Global Summit 2026. He is also listed among the participants in “Building Together in a Fragmented World,” a plenary focused on the partnerships and shared frameworks needed to navigate global divisions.
The session examines how leaders can maintain cooperation across political and economic differences. It will also explore the role of common frameworks and partnerships in keeping institutions and societies functioning under pressure.
Claude Béglé, Chairman of Symbioswiss
Claude Béglé, chairman of Symbioswiss, is one of the summit’s co-chairs. He is scheduled to chair the plenary “Democracy as a Force for Tomorrow,” featuring Paloma Valencia, and is also among the participants in discussions on the future of economic and institutional cooperation.
His role extends across several parts of the program, including the event’s opening and closing activities. The agenda places particular emphasis on how international collaboration can help address economic uncertainty and changing geopolitical conditions.
William Bohnett, Chairman of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
William Bohnett leads the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center as its chairman. His participation brings an environmental perspective to a summit whose agenda includes planetary health, climate transformation, and the role of science and cooperation in addressing global challenges.
Environmental sustainability is one of the recurring themes of the 2026 edition. Dedicated sessions examine climate and nature, green technologies, and the conditions needed to protect planetary health for future generations.
Sadhvi Bhagawati, Secretary-General of the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance
Sadhvi Bhagawati serves as secretary-general of the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, which works at the intersection of faith, water, sanitation, and hygiene. She is among the summit’s co-chairs, reflecting the event’s focus on building inclusive societies and addressing challenges that cross national and institutional boundaries.
Her presence also broadens the range of perspectives represented at the gathering beyond business and government. The summit’s agenda includes discussions on inclusive societies, social progress, and the partnerships required to address shared challenges.
Jenny Lindo, National Comptroller for Economy and Public Finance of Colombia
Jenny Lindo serves as Colombia’s National Comptroller for Economy and Public Finance. She is scheduled to participate in the closing summary plenary, “Building Common Ground,” where participants will consider the ideas and partnerships that can help translate the summit’s discussions into longer-term cooperation.
Her participation brings a Colombian public finance perspective to the closing conversation. The session will look at how the relationships and insights developed during the gathering can contribute to cooperation beyond the event itself.
Horasis Global Summit 2026 brings together perspectives from government, business, civil society, and academia to examine how societies can respond to technological, economic, and geopolitical change. Across its sessions, the event places particular emphasis on the decisions and partnerships that will shape the next phase of global development.
