Gerard Lemos CMG, Partner Lemos&Crane, UK
Gerard Lemos is a Partner at social researchers Lemos&Crane. He leads a team of researchers investigating social policy issues including race equality and the needs of vulnerable people. He has served on a range of working parties and task forces for British Government departments including the Treasury, the Cabinet Office and the Social Exclusion Unit. He is currently a Member of the Home Secretary's race equality advisory panel. Gerard Lemos is a Civil Service Commissioner, Chair of Notting Hill Housing Group and Deputy Chair of the British Council.
--- Gerard will be chairing the Big Debate on 15 June.

Josie Appleton, Writer for Spiked, UK
Josie Appleton is a journalist and writer based in London. She is a convenor of the Manifesto Club, a new initiative that seeks to put human experience and interests at the heart of politics. The club aims at people from different political traditions, but who share a similar frustration with the way that contemporary culture restrains individuals, and stifles their aspirations. Josie has written for a variety of publications, including the online magazine spiked, and freelances for the Spectator, the Times, the Guardian, Sunday Telegraph, Blueprint Magazine, the TLS. She has researched and written on cultural policy, writing 'Museums for The People?', a critical take on museums policy, and organising two spiked online debates with the Arts Council on the subject of cultural diversity policy in the arts. She is a regular commentator on British politics, writing a number of reports on the aftermath of the 9/11 and 7/7 bombings in London's different communities - and organising a conference in 2002, 'Fear and Loathing in the West?'.
--- Josie will be speaking on 'Cities are the solution'

Yakut Mellema Eyuboglu, representative ARI Movement, Turkey
The ARI Movement is an independent social movement, founded in 1994 in order to produce information-based and participatory solutions to the challenges faced by Turkey domestically as well as in the international arena.
Through ARI, Yakut has been involved in NGO's volunteer projects including fund raising for homeless children, children with leukaemia and provided various trainings for women from rural areas in Turkey. She is currently an ARI representative to the Netherlands and since 2005 she is also active in promoting education of academically gifted girls in impoverished areas of Turkey through the ANNE foundation and Turkish Women Charity.
Yakut has more than ten years banking experience in private banking and gained cross cultural experiences through professional work and social commitments in several countries such as Turkey, USA, Australia and the Netherlands.
--- Yakut will be speaking on 'Empowerment of young Turkish women'