Abdool Karim, is an infectious diseases epidemiologist whose seminal contributions spanning over three decades have shaped the global HIV prevention landscape, notably in prevention technologies for women. She demonstrated that ARVs prevent sexually transmitted HIV that laid the foundation for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP); and has provided insights in Africa and globally on the impact of Covid-19 on HIV and in the evaluation of Covid-19 vaccines and therapeutics. Abdool Karim is the President of the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). She is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine (USA); and Fellow of The World Academy of Science, Royal Society of South Africa, Academy of Science of South Africa and the African Academy of Science. Her research contributions have been recognized nationally and internationally with over 30 honors including South Africa’s Order of Mapungubwe, 2014 TWAS-Lenovo Prize; the John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award; the 2020 Christophe Mérieux Prize; and the 4th Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize for Medical Research. She is the Associate Scientific Director of CAPRISA; Professor in Clinical Epidemiology, Columbia University; and Pro-Vice Chancellor for African Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Since September 2023, Dr. Driss El Hadani has served as Deputy Director / Senior Adviser for Space Science and Education at the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). In this role, he provides expert strategic advice and leads research initiatives in the fields of space science and education, supporting various programmes and activities implemented by UNOOSA. He also oversees the Office’s engagement with United Nations-affiliated Regional Centres for Space Science and Technology Education, ensuring alignment with global capacity-building goals. Driss has over 30 years of experience in space technology applications, remote sensing, and international space policy development. He has built extensive expertise in space diplomacy, having negotiated with international cooperation agencies and contributed to multilateral mechanisms. He previously served as Director of the Moroccan Royal Center for Remote Sensing (1998-2023) and played a pivotal role in advancing national and regional space initiatives. At the international level, Driss has been actively involved in United Nations affairs, serving as First Vice-President of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) from 2000 to 2004. He continues to represent UNOOSA in high-level meetings, negotiations, and policy discussions related to space science, education, and international cooperation. As Deputy Director, he plays a key leadership role within UNOOSA, supporting the strategic planning of the Office, coordinating activities across different sections, and representing the Director at high-level forums. He also leads capacity-building initiatives, strengthens cooperation with Member States, and oversees fundraising efforts for educational programmes. Driss holds a Master’s Degree in Physical Sciences with a focus on Applied Remote Sensing from Pierre et Marie Curie University in Paris, an Engineering Degree from the Mohammed V University in Rabat, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Management from the Higher Institute of Commerce and Business Administration in Morocco, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Law.

中国工程院院士，鹏城实验室主任，北京大学博雅讲席教授，国际电气和电子工程师协会会士（IEEE Fellow）、美国计算机协会会士（ACＭ Fellow）。现任第十四届全国人大代表，曾任第十届、十一届、十二届全国政协委员，国家自然科学基金委副主任，中国计算机学会理事长，计算机学报主编等。 以第一完成人身份，一次获得国家技术发明一等奖、一次获得国家技术发明二等奖、五次获得国家科技进步二等奖。荣获IEEE社会基建创新奖（2025年）、全国五一劳动奖章（2023年）、吴文俊人工智能最高成就奖（2023年）、广东省科技进步特等奖（2023年）、何梁何利基金科学与技术进步奖（2022年）、广东省南粤突出贡献奖（2021年）、“2005中国十大教育英才”称号和中国计算机学会王选奖。 主要从事人工智能应用和多媒体技术、计算机视觉、模式识别与图像处理、虚拟现实方面的研究，主要著作有《数字视频编码技术原理》《Advanced Video Coding Systems》等，在本领域国际期刊上发表论文300余篇。

可持续发展大数据国际研究中心主任，研究员，博士生导师。中国科学院院士、俄罗斯科学院外籍院士、芬兰科学与人文院外籍院士、发展中国家科学院院士。现任国际数字地球学会名誉主席、UNESCO国际自然与文化遗产空间技术中心主任、“数字丝路”国际科学计划主席、《国际数字地球学报》和《地球大数据》主编，曾任联合国可持续发展目标技术促进机制10人组成员（2018-2021）、国际环境遥感委员会主席（2017-2020）、国际数字地球学会主席（2015-2019）、国际科技数据委员会主席（2010-2014）等职。从事空间地球信息科学研究，在遥感信息机理、雷达对地观测、数字地球科学等方面取得系列成果。现为中国科学院战略性先导科技专项“地球大数据科学工程”负责人。发表论文500余篇，出版著作24部，获国内外科技奖励18项。

As a career diplomat, he has spent his entire professional life in public service, combining national duties with assignments received from various international communities.

Simon Redfern is President's Chair in Earth Sciences at the Asian School of the Environment and Earth Observatory of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University (NTU). A mineralogist and geochemist by training, he connects the properties of Earth materials with pressing challenges in climate mitigation and sustainable development.

Dr. Moctar Touré is currently President of the Senegalese National Academy of Sciences and Technics, and Vice President of ANSO. He is a founding member of the African Academy of Sciences and first-generation member of the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). He earned his PhD in soil sciences and has consistently used his energy, talents, and scientific abilities to promote science-based sustainable agriculture development in Africa. He held leadership positions in several science-based institutions in Senegal, and abroad. For more than 32 years he has played a pioneering role in building national and regional scientific institutions across the African continent. In Senegal, he held several positions ranging from field scientist up to Director General of the National Agricultural Research Institute. At regional and international levels, he worked at the World Bank, holding several lead positions, including Executive Secretary of the Special Program for African Research, Lead Specialist for agriculture and land management and finally Team Leader for Land and Water Resources at the Global Environment Facility. He was instrumental in the establishment of regional agricultural research coordination bodies in West and Central, East Africa and Southern Africa. He was actively associated with the CGIAR, served on a dozen of Boards of Trustees of International Agricultural Research Centers. Since retiring from the World Bank in 2006, he has remained actively engaged in promoting the interface between science, policy, environment, and sustainable development.