Andrei Illarionov is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute’s Centre for Global Liberty and Prosperity. From 2000 to December 2005 he was the chief economic adviser of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Illarionov also served as the president’s personal representative (Sherpa) in the G-8. He is one of Russia’s most forceful and articulate advocates of an open society and democratic capitalism, and has been a long-time friend of the Cato Institute. Illarionov received his Ph.D. from St. Petersburg University in 1987. From 1993 to 1994 Illarionov served as chief economic adviser to the prime minister of the Russian Federation, Viktor Chernomyrdin. He resigned in February 1994 to protest against changes in the government’s economic policy. In July 1994 Illarionov founded the Institute of Economic Analysis and became its director. Illarionov has co-authored several economic programs for Russian governments and has written three books and more than 300 articles on Russian economic and social policies.

Mamadou Lamine Ba has a Doctorate in Political Sciences from the University of Berlin, where he specialised in International Relations. In the Senegalese government, he has held various ministerial positions including Minister for the Environment and Nature Conservancy where he played an instrumental part in passing the first environmental laws in Senegal. His other posts include Minister Special Adviser of President Wade in charge of co-operation, Minister for Prevention, Public Health and Sanitation and Minister for Planning, Sustainable Development and International Cooperation. Since April 2008, Dr. Lamine Ba has been the Minister Special Adviser of the President of the Republic of Senegal in charge of International Affairs.  He has also held various political positions such as Deputy Administrator of the Democratic Party of Senegal (PDS), Member of the Management Committee of the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS), National Secretary in charge of the International Relations and Education of the PDS and Permanent representative of the PDS to the Liberal International. Dr. Lamine Ba also speaks several languages including French, English and German. He continues to work in the Senegalese government on issues such as economic development, human rights, democracy, the environment and sustainable development. He is the current President of LI cooperating organisation, the Africa Liberal Network.