Maria Livanos Cattaui

Maria Livanos Cattaui served as Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce from July 1996 to June 2005.

She has championed the role of world business in the global economy. She has been instrumental in establishing a global partnership between business and the United Nations, leading to greater business input into UN economic activities.

Mrs Cattaui worked with the World Economic Forum in Geneva from 1977 to 1996, where she became Managing Director, responsible for the celebrated Annual Meeting in Davos, building the public awareness it enjoys today.

She chairs the Balkan Youth Foundation and holds board and advisory board memberships on the EastWest Institute (New York), the Institute of International Education (New York), the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR), the International Youth Foundation (Baltimore), the Schulich School of Business (York University, Toronto), the Elliott School of International Affairs (George Washington University, Washington D.C.).

Mrs Cattaui, who is of Swiss nationality and Greek origin, was educated in the United States. She is an Honours graduate of Harvard University. She holds an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from York University, Toronto.