Register now!

World Chambers Competition

Competition judges

13WCC Competition judges
  • Christophe Eken

    President Conférence permanente des chambres consulaires africaines et francophones (CPCCAF) ; Cameroon Chamber of Commerce

    Christophe Eken

    President Conférence permanente des chambres consulaires africaines et francophones (CPCCAF) ; Cameroon Chamber of Commerce

    Businessman and engineer. Graduated from the Special School of Public Works in Paris, the Special School of Mechanics and Electricity in Paris and the Ecole Centrale in Paris. The current president of the Cameroon Chamber of Commerce has worked in large companies in Europe (France and Holland) and in Africa France (Tunisia and Côte d’Ivoire). In Cameroon in 1975, he joined the Air Liquide Cameroon subsidiary, where he was deputy director, then director of Camoa, then director of Saticam before becoming general secretary of the Air Liquide group in Central Africa.

    A former member of the National Assembly, he is the promoter of Globauto and the intercity transport company “Centrale voyages”. After a first appointment as President of the Chamber of Commerce in 2008, Christophe Eken was reappointed for the first time on February 24, 2012, four years later, he is still at the head of the oldest consular institution in Cameroon.

    Since April 2022 he has been President of the Permanent Conference of African and Francophone Consular Chambers

  • Dario Gallina

    President Chamber of Commerce Torino

    Dario Gallina

    President Chamber of Commerce Torino

    Dario Gallina was born on 5th June 1966 in Torino, he is married with 3 children. After obtaining a Master’s degree in Economics, he became CEO of “Dottor Gallina s.r.l.”, a family-owned company specialized in the production of polycarbonate sheets for construction and automotive industry applications. “Dottor Gallina s.r.l.” is today a leading company in Italy, also positioned among the major players of the polycarbonate industry international market, with branches in Greece, USA, Turkey, Germany and India.

    From 2007 he is member of the General Council of the National Federation o Rubber and Plastics and from March 2023 member of Board of Directors fo the Employer’s Association of Torino (Unione Industriale di Torino). From 2012 to 2014 he has also been member of EUPC (European Plastic Converters) Steering Committee. In the framework of Torino Institutional network, from 2004 to 2007 Mr. Gallina was Vicepresident of the Employers’ Association of Turin Young Entrepreneurs Group, and from 2014 to 2016 he became President of the Small Industries Group. In 2016 he was elected President of the Employer’s Association of Torino (Unione Industriale di Torino) and Member of the Steering Committee of Confindustria (the National Employer’s Federation).

    In March 2020 Dario Gallina has been elected President of the Torino Chamber of commerce and Industry, in June 2020 he has become Vice-President of the Union of Chambers of commerce of Piedmont (Unioncamere Piemonte) and from september 2021 he has become Member of the Executive Board of the National Union of Chambers of commerce (Unioncamere Italiana).

    At international level, in July 2020 Mr. Gallina has been nominated member of the ICC Executive Board – International Chamber of commerce –, and member of the ICC International Netcom Committee.

    In July 2022 Mr. Gallina has been elected as the Council World Chamber Federation Vice-President for the 3-years period 2022 -2025, with mandate for Europe

  • Maria Fernanda Garza

    Chair International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)

    Maria Fernanda Garza

    Chair International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)

    Mexican, CEO of Orestia, business leader, strong advocate of business ethics, board member of several business organizations. She was VP of Employers at the 98th Session of the International Labour Organization. She is currently Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce and is part of the group of advisors and leaders of the B20 and the United Nations Internet Governance Forum. 

     Maria Fernanda Garza is a Mexican businesswoman, CEO of Orestia, a manufacturing home improvement- water solutions company, with exports to USMCA region, Latin-America and Asia. 

     Her interest in improving the business environment, made her a prominent business leader at a young age. Board member of Mexico´s leading business organizations such as COPARMEX, CCE, ALIARSE, among others. 

     For ten years, Mexico’s Employer Delegate to the International Labour Organization Conference, where she became appointed Employer’s Vice Chair at the ILO’s 98th Session. 

     Maria Fernanda Garza was Chair of ICC México from 2014 – 2020.  

     Regional Coordinator for the Americas 2012-2020. 

     Member of the Governing Body of the International Court of Arbitration. 

     She is currently, Chairwoman of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). 

     Member of the Advisory Committee on Sustainable Urbanization of the President of the UN General Assembly’s. 

     Member of the International Advocacy Caucus of Indonesia B20, and 

     She was appointed to serve on the United Nations Secretary-General’s inaugural Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Leadership Panel for two years since 2022. 

  • Karima-Catherine Goundiam

    CEO B2BeeMatch

    Karima-Catherine Goundiam

    CEO B2BeeMatch

    Karima-Catherine (KC) Goundiam is a Canadian entrepreneur and CEO of B2BeeMatch, a global business matchmaking platform, and Red Dot Digital, a digital transformation and management consulting firm. In addition to her business activities, she serves as the regional delegate of the International Chamber of Commerce and holds positions in two federal government committees. Moreover, KC shares her expertise as a guest speaker at the master’s level in various universities. She is also a speaker in Canada and internationally and is frequently featured in the media.

  • Peter Hill

    Past Chairman Santiago Chamber of Commerce

    Peter Hill

    Past Chairman Santiago Chamber of Commerce

    Peter Hill is a prominent figure in the business world, having held numerous positions of leadership throughout his career. He served as President of the Santiago Chamber of Commerce on two separate occasions – first from 1995 to 1999, and then again from 2007 to 2021. Additionally he was a Board Member of the Chamber since 1990.
    In addition to his work with the Santiago Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Hill was also a past President and Board member of the Iberoamerican Chambers Association. He was appointed as the Honorary Business Representative of Singapore in Chile from 1998 to 2018 and became a Council Member of the World Chambers Federation in 2013.
    Furthermore, Mr. Hill has served as Vice President and Director of Fundación Independízate since 2014, and as Vice President and Director of Alta Dirección Capital since 2015. Since 2002, he has been the President and Partner of ASTA Chile SA, a leading company in his sector. With his extensive experience and leadership skills, Mr. Hill has made a significant impact in the business community in Chile and beyond.

  • Todd Letts

    Chief Executive Officer Brampton Board of Trade

    Todd Letts

    Chief Executive Officer Brampton Board of Trade

    Todd Letts is Vice-Chair of the Americas for the World Chambers Federation (WCF) and a recognized thought leader in the chamber industry. With over 25 years of experience helping chambers build strong businesses and communities, he currently serves as CEO for the Board of Trade in Brampton, Canada’s 9th largest and fastest-growing major city.
    Todd is often invited to speak to international business audiences, and frequently facilitates strategic planning sessions focused on building future-ready chambers of commerce.
    In 2022, he was named Canadian Chamber Executive of the Year. In 2021, Todd served on the WCF’s Chamber 4.0 Task Force and spoke at the 12th World Chambers Congress in Dubai. In 2020, Todd was appointed as a commissioner on the international Certified Chamber Executive Commission.
    In 2015, Todd was awarded the James Carnegie Award for leadership and mentorship by Chamber Executives of Ontario. He is a founding member of the Canadian Global Cities Council and Canada’s Innovation Corridor Business Council. He is the former chair of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Executives Council (CCEC) and current director of the U.S.-based Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE).
    Todd is also an active distance runner and has participated in over twenty marathons worldwide.

  • Toki Mabogunje

    Vice Chair for Africa ICC World Chambers Federation

    Toki Mabogunje

    Vice Chair for Africa ICC World Chambers Federation

    Toki Mabogunje is a business development consultant with a wealth of experience working in the public and the private sectors, giving her a well-rounded perspective of business enterprise in Nigeria, Africa and Globally. She is a seasoned leader with strong board and governance experience. She is currently the Vice Chair Africa for the World Chamber Federation. Her Board leadership experience spans more than a decade. She is a Past President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), a National Vice-President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, and a Trustee, Association of Nigeria Women Business Network; amongst others.  

    Toki loves impacting business and society positively. She has impacted small and medium enterprises in Nigeria and across Africa as a Business Development Consultant. Toki has received numerous awards, including the outstanding volunteer award from Fate Foundation and an Achievement award by the Ghana Association of Women Entrepreneurs, for breaking the glass ceiling, amongst others.  

    Toki is a Poet and supporter of the arts. In recognition of her support of the arts, the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners awarded her the World Theatre Day Personality and Cultural Ambassador 2014. 

  • Peter McMullin

    President Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI)

    Peter McMullin

    President Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI)

    Peter McMullin AM has an extensive legal and business career encompassing prominent roles in both the public and private sectors. 
     
    In business Peter is the Chairman and Director of McMullin Group. A diversified family business based in Melbourne, Australia. Peter is also President of the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) spanning 26 countries in the region with offices in Melbourne, Singapore and Taipei. In 2019 Peter established the Good Business Foundation (GBF) which focuses on supporting inclusive and sustainable small and medium sized businesses in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2022 he was appointed as the President of Timor-Leste, Jose Ramos-Horta to the position of Presidential Envoy – Private Sector and Investment Co-operation for Timor-Leste.  
     
    In his legal work Peter is Special Counsel for Cornwalls. Peter also holds Board Director positions with WorkSafe Victoria and the Melbourne Recital Centre. He is also the Honorary Consul of Georgia in Victoria and former Honorary Consul for Timor-Leste in Victoria. 
     
    As an active philanthropist supported the establishment of the world’s first academic Centre dedicated to the issue of Statelessness at Melbourne University Law School as well as the establishment of the Science Gallery Melbourne. 

  • Marie-Christine Oghly

    World President Femmes Chefs d'Entreprises Mondiales (FCEM)

    Marie-Christine Oghly

    World President Femmes Chefs d'Entreprises Mondiales (FCEM)

    Marie-Christine Oghly is a French Business woman and civil leader born in Lorraine, France. She holds a diploma in Hydrology and an MBA from the Business School of Nancy, which led her to start her career in Public Relations at ELF Group in 1980. She then worked at Amazon Technology as the Marketing Manager for Europe and went on to become Manager Director. In 1992, she founded Fluid Dynamics International and later, in 2006, became President of Esteco France. In 2008, she established EnginSoft France, specialized in Numerican Simulation Engineering. Besides her professional achievements, Oghly has also been actively involved in civil and associative activities. She was a councilor at Gennevilliers City Hall and the National President of Femmes Chefs d’Entreprises. Oghly has also served on several boards, including Nafems, Micao, Solendi and Immobilière 3F. In June 2016, she was elected President of Comité Régional Action Logement for Ile de France. Oghly was appointed World President of Femmes Chefs d’Entreprises in November 2017. In February 2022, she was elected Vice Chair of Paris Ile de France Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chair of the International Committee.

  • Chanelle Pearson

    Chief of Staff Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

    Chanelle Pearson

    Chief of Staff Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

    Chanelle is Chief of Staff, providing strategic counsel to the Chief Executive and overseeing the Victorian Chamber’s Media and Communication, Events, Chamber Change (Women in Business) and World Chambers Congress 2025 functions.
    Prior to joining the Victorian Chamber, Chanelle was a co-Director of her own consultancy and Director – Education and Communication at the Office of the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner.
    Chanelle has held a range of media, communication, and stakeholder engagement roles across local, state, and federal government, as well as industry associations.

  • Giulia Rocchi

    Eurochambres Member Relations Manager

    Giulia Rocchi

    Eurochambres Member Relations Manager

    Giulia Rocchi is Member Relations Manager at Eurochambres. Among her responsibilities, she takes care of relations with the European Chambers of commerce, and also overviews the Eurochambres’ activities aiming at facilitating the interaction and collaboration among the whole network of European chambers, thus including not only the national ones, but also the regional and local chambers. She is also managing the Eurochambres Women Network, focusing on the promotion of female entrepreneurship across Europe.

  • Yazeed Salah

    Strategy and Excellence Director Dubai Chambers

    Yazeed Salah

    Strategy and Excellence Director Dubai Chambers

    Yazeed Salah has more than 20 years of experience in the field of business and strategy consulting, He is the Strategy and Excellence Director at Dubai Chambers. He has been with Dubai Chambers for more than 7 years, working with leading top tear consulting partners to drive strategy transformation and develop new Dubai Chamber Strategic directions with unique operating model and performance framework. He is also leading the Chamber Model Innovation (CMI) initiative at Dubai Chambers, also work as part of an educational campaign of the key legacy initiatives introduced by the ICC Chamber 4.0 Task Force. Mr. Salah is an expert in Strategy, Digital Transformation, Management and Business consultation with expertise in Innovation Management, Operational/ Business Excellence, Strategy Development and Management, and Process Improvement with world-class Operational Excellence methodologies and best practices, in the government and private sectors.

  • Rim Siam

    President Economic Businesswomen Council and Egyptian chambers of commerce

    Rim Siam

    President Economic Businesswomen Council and Egyptian chambers of commerce

    Rim Siam is an Egyptian role model and advocate for women’s economic empowerment and inclusion in business. She has been actively working to increase the representation of women in leadership roles and building a pipeline of talent and entrepreneurs through partnerships and initiatives such as “Empowering 20,000 Women and Youth by 2020” and “Teaching Women Art & Craft Carpentry Skills.”
    Rim has been influential in creating an inclusive women’s culture at the Chambers of Commerce in Egypt, focusing on increasing the number of female owners/partners and creating an inclusive atmosphere for all. She founded and became the president of the “Economic Business Women Council” in Egyptian Chambers of Commerce in March 2015.
    Externally, Rim launched #WEBB-middleeast.com, an internet-based women’s marketplace that brings together female entrepreneurs to form a powerful economic force of change. She has participated in corporate social responsibility and sustainability activities, focusing on equipping women business owners with knowledge of the importance of being a socially responsible company to increase their competitiveness in business.
    Rim has received several awards for her work in women’s economic empowerment, including being named one of the 16 UNIDO Women Economic Empowerment success stories and being a notable alumni ambassador of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES2016-2019). In December 2022, she was elected to become a member of the ICC World Chambers Federation General Council 2023-2025. Rim’s advocacy and leadership have made a significant impact in creating a more inclusive business environment for women, not only in the MENA region but globally.

  • Ted Souder

    Former senior executive Google

    Ted Souder

    Former senior executive Google

    Ted Souder is a true visionary and a recognized authority on the transformative power of embracing a digital mindset in today’s fast-paced business world. As one of Google’s earliest employees, Ted spent over 20 years there helping write one of the greatest business success stories of all time, and now he is bringing the best of the “Google Playbook” to Chambers around the globe. As the the Founder of Chamber Strategy Group, Ted shares an inspiring vision and playbook for how Chambers should be the convener of business, government, education, nonprofit and civic organizations in the name of digital transformation. By building and supporting entrepreneurial ecosystems, Chambers can take the lead in driving economic vitality and job growth in a digital
    first future. But Ted’s impact doesn’t end there. He is also a part-owner of the Monthly Barometer, a boutique economic and geopolitical advisory firm based in Chamonix, France, and a board director at 1871, one of the most successful and highly regarded tech incubators in the world. Teds passion for the potential of Chambers started in Chicago where he is a former Vice-Chair of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, one of the oldest and largest chambers in the United States. Throughout his career, Ted has been spreading the good news about how technology can positively impact the workplace, boardroom, non-profit, and peoples lives. With his vast knowledge and expertise, he is an inspirational leader who motivates others to embrace the digital age with confidence and enthusiasm.

  • Ian Talbot

    Chief Executive Chambers Ireland

    Ian Talbot

    Chief Executive Chambers Ireland

    Ian Talbot is Chief Executive of Chambers Ireland and Secretary General of ICC Ireland. Prior to those appointments Ian held positions as a Director of Citigroup and JP Morgan Chase in Ireland for 18 years. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse, working in their Dublin and Luxembourg offices, and also holds MA and BBS degrees from Trinity College, Dublin. Ian is Deputy President of Eurochambres – the Association of European Chambers of Commerce. 

  • Jianlong Yu

    Vice Chairman China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT)

    Jianlong Yu

    Vice Chairman China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT)

    Dr. Yu Jianlong, born in February 1965, was appointed Vice Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) in August 2022. He is also Vice Chairman of the China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC). Dr. Yu concurrently serves as Vice Chairman of the ICC World Chambers Federation (ICC WCF).

    Dr. Yu Jianlong received his Doctoral degree in International Economic Law from the Beijing University of International Business and Economics, and EMBA from Beijing University. Mr. Yu was a post-graduate student majoring in Inter-Cultural Communications at Beijing University. He got his B.A. in American and British Literature from the Beijing Capital Normal University in 1988.

    Dr. Yu served as Vice Chairman of the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) and the China Maritime Arbitration Commission from 2006 to 2021, and he was also Secretary General of CIETAC from 2006 to 2016. Prior to working in CIETAC and CMAC, he was Director General of Economic Information Department (2004-2006) and Deputy Director General of International Relations Department (1998-2004) of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).

  • Min Yu

    Director-General ICC China Secretariat of China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC)

    Min Yu

    Director-General ICC China Secretariat of China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC)

    Ms. YU Min has been served as the Director-General of ICC China Secretariat of China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC) since 2018. She was elected as the General Council member of ICC WCF in January 2023. Previously, she served as the Deputy Director General of ICC China Secretariat from 2015 to 2018. She joined the CCOIC Secretariat in July 2006. Ms. YU Min was appointed the Section Chief of Training Services in June 2011 and from Nov. 2012 to Oct. 2015, she was the Section Chief of Financial Services.

    Ms. YU Min is the PHD of Political Economy of Beijing Normal University and Master of Economic Management of Sichuan Normal University.

IMPORTANT DATES

Standard registration

OPEN

Competition submissions
CLOSED

REGISTER
The world’s largest economic forum for chambers and businesses

Hamad Buamim

Chair of the World Chambers Competition

Honorary Chair, ICC World Chambers Federation (WCF), United Arab Emirates.

Hamad Buamim was President and CEO of Dubai Chamber of Commerce from April 2006 until September 2022 . He serves as the Chair of Dubai Multi Commodities Center (DMCC). Educated in the United States, Mr Buamim graduated with Magna Cum Laude from the University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He holds an MBA with Honors in Finance from the University of Missouri, Kansas City (UMKC).

Mr Buamim is also Chair of National General Insurance (PJSC), member of the board of directors of Dubai World, and Dubai Islamic Bank (PJSC).

He has served on the boards of various organisations including the UAE Central Bank, Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC), EmiratesNBD Bank (PJSC), Emirates Financial Services, ENBD Capital, Kerzner International, Atlantis the Palm Hotel, City Center Las Vegas (Aria Resort), Union Properties (PJSC) and Network International.