MAHDI, DR SAYED

Iranian Profesionally  Researcher , Author and Instructor  in field of  Creativity and Innovation , Developer of Creatology as inter-disciplinary and Multi-disciplinary Science of Creativity and Innovation. Developer of " Total Creativity and Innovation Management "(TCIM ) or ( TIM ) , and BIOISC ( BIOISCical Creatology ). Founder and Head of the Iran Research Center for Creatology, Innovation & TRIZ ( IRCCIT). Founder and Head of the International Center for Creatology ( ICC ). Founder and President of the Iran Creativity and Innovation Development Association ( ICIDA ). Editor-in- chief , Journal of Creatology & TRIZ. Author of "An Introduction to Science of Creatology " and  five else books ( in Persian ). Author of more than 35 articles in field of Creatology. Bsc ( Chemistry ) , Msc ( Management ) , Msc ( Psychology ) , Phd( Management ). Website : www.creatology-triz.ac.ir. Email : GolestanHashemi@gmail.com.Golestan@creatology-triz.ac.ir

MARQUEZ, SID

Sid works as a creative resource with Olwen Wolfe at Worlding. He attended CPSI's Youth Program when he was nine years old, and is now fully immersed the world of creativity at the age of 21. Sid loves multi-culturalism and is fluent in three languages. He is an expert in the international Hip-Hop movement, one that he has passionately been a part of for most of his life. In 2007, he facilitated two workshops on Hip Hop at CREA Conference, and two at Mindcamp in Canada. He occasionally facilitates for the American School in Paris. Some of his areas of interest include all kinds of artistic expression, as well as topics dealing with the inner-city and its various issues. Of course, he also has a huge love for creativity and fully identifies with its many tools, methods and mindsets.

MICHAELIDES, DIMIS

Dimis Michaelides combines his unique experience as a business executive and creativity leader with his talents as a speaker and magician to inspire people in organizations. In a very real and entertaining way, Dimis demonstrates how uncreative entities can become creative, how creative entities can become more so, and how innovation improves both business performance and happiness at work.

Dimis’ experience in finance, marketing and general management was acquired in Europe, North and South America and Africa in insurance, chemicals and banking. In a 25-year career, Dimis held various positions including CEO, Cyprialife; Marketing and Sales Director, Zeneca; Investment Officer, World Bank/IFC; Deputy Development Director, Council of Europe Development Bank. He is now active as a business speaker, author, consultant, creativity leader, lecturer (London University – Queen Mary) and Managing Director of his own company, Performa Consulting, that is dedicated to developing creativity and innovation in organizations.

A graduate of the London Business School, the London School of Economics and the University of Sussex, Dimis has always used his love of art, history, music and magic to contribute fresh perspectives to the business world.

Dimis is the author of The Art of Innovation – Integrating Creativity in Organizations, a management-art book with art by Umit Inatci (2007) and an introduction by Constantinos Markides.

MOECKS, RUTH

Ruth is President of a full-service Market Research Institute (MKS) with offices in Germany and Luxembourg, conducting business world-wide. Her experiences and long-term work for international companies – 25 years of research in 48 countries – have given expertise and confidence for her transition to consultancy (greatly inspired by CPSI). Currently she is focusing on b2b-problem-solving and creative concept-/oridyct/name-finding. She loves to give creative input and to initialise changes in organizations. Ruth holds a diploma in Sociology/Psychology. She is expanding her learning in creative problem-solving methods with her work in the United States. She is lecturer for market research and creative product development at her home University for the past 16 years. In 2004 she moved to California to build a bridge between US and European research & creativity methods as well as to transfer knowledge about markets, cultures and multi-sensory effects. She is also a passionate cook and as a member of SlowFood, she is dedicated to the idea of organic and quality food.

MOTANA, MAKHENI

‘The world’s greatest resource stands in your shoes!’ Sound like a cliché? Not when it is stated by the energetic, passionate and enthusiastic Makheni. This vibrant mother of two juggles Speaking, MC-ing, Selling and Training her Soft skills Programs as well as being an associate at TceeDee HR Consulting and Milzet HR Consulting. In 2003, her company, Real Solutions Training, launched an inspirational CD series, the Listen and Grow series which she distributes through Exclusive Books. Real Solutions Training also offers Refresher Courses in the form of training packaged in 60-minute speaking sessions.

She is positive, up beat, light-hearted and brings her own unique brand of humour and human insight to any conference/event. Her presentations are both funny and thought provoking.

Makheni speaks of a former colleague, Rina Thorne and her mother the way most people speak of Madiba. In 1981 Rina gave her the first book she ever read on personal development and that, she says, led to her becoming a ‘Possibilitarian’.

She grew up in Pretoria and did her Secondary education in two different boarding schools. She did her tertiary education in different Universities and Colleges. Apart from studying Psychology and Philosophy, She studied in a variety of unrelated fields and has worked in different sectors of the economy, in different industries and at different levels. She gives another meaning to versatility.

Amongst her work experience, she lists College Lecturer, Insurance Consultant, Pharmaceutical Rep, Call Centre Manager, Communication and Marketing Senior Manager, Account Executive, O.D. Manager, Trainer and Computer Programmer (this she began at the age of 44!). She started a new career as a TV talk show co-host at age 50! When she talks about change and re-inventing yourself; you are bound to listen.

And whilst being so busy building this long CV, she also found time to co-found the Child Abuse Action Group in 1994. She is involved with other children’s charities. She previously volunteered at POWA and other organizations such as the Mental Health Society. She has developed a unique method of teaching Statistics to students who do not have basic computational skills.

She has the ability to say something very serious in a very funny way. The achievement she is most proud of is graduating cum laude with a Doctorate in Life from the University of Hard Knocks because like everyone else, life has not been a walk in the park for her.

MULEJ, LUCIJA

Dr. Lucija Mulej is a researcher at the Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts. She is working as a researcher and EU project manager at the directorate general of SRC SASA in the Section for Interdisciplinary Research in Humanities. Her research filed is the theory of knowledge (sociology and philosophy of science) with special emphasis on creativity and essential question: »Is knowledge really possible«. She is a lecturer at the University of Nova Gorica, Faculty of Environmental Studies where she teaches Science and the Media and Environmental Psychology. Previously years she had been lecturing Methodology in Social Sciences, Sociology of Science, Feminism and Linguistic Anthropology at the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Social Sciences. She had been active in non-governmental spheres with voluntary work (Slovenian Movement for Justice and Development) as well as in working with children with special needs. Her belief is that crossing of different paradigms and cosmologies is necessary for reaching higher peaks of human creativity and potentials.

Contact: lucija.mulej@zrc-sazu.si

NEETHLING, KOBUS

Africa's leading creativity expert and one of the most respected creativity leaders in the world. Winner of the most prestigeous creativity award in the world. Founder and Director of the SA Creativity Foundation and the Kobus Neethling Group. 6 University degrees including two Master's Degrees and a Post Doctorate (Cum Laude). Author and Co-author of 70 books including a number of best-sellers: Creative people can perform miracles; Courage to shake hands with tomorrow; Am I clever or am I stupid; Whole-brain sexuality and relationships; Smart Parents; Creative Rugby; Think like Jesus.. Also a number of TV series including Eureka (13 episodes); Creating a Miracle (13 episodes); Courage (26 episodes). Included in 9 International Who's Who publications; Included in 5000 Personalities of the World; Member of the World Institute of Achievement (one of only a few selected members). Included in 2000 Outstanding People of the 20th Century (Cambridge, England), etc. Motivational speeches, training programmes, development programmes to most of South Africa's leading companies and organisations and numerous international companies including Shell, BMW, Ogilvy & Mather, Mercedes Benz, Anglo Platinum, Anglo Gold, Old Mutual, Sanlam, ABSA, First National Bank, Standard Bank, Toyota, Multi Choice, Annique Johnson & Johnson, Past President Mandela's office staff, etc. Played provincial rugby and mental coach for three Olympic athletes. Whole-brain adviser of UK County Cricket team.

PERKINS, CHERYL

Cheryl Perkins is a thought leader in innovation and a creative catalyst in brand-building initiatives that contribute to rewarding consumer experiences and improved business performance. She was identified as one of the Top 25 Champions of Innovation by Business Week magazine, and named as a top executive driving vision within the consumer goods industry by Consumer Goods Technology magazine. She also was recently awarded the “Excellence in Innovation” Award by the Asia Pacific Congress in Mumbai, India.

As President of Innovation edge LLC, she is leading companies across many industries build creativity and innovation capabilities and define sustainable growth opportunities.

Cheryl has over 23 years experience directing growth and innovation and most recently served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer for Kimberly-Clark Corporation, reporting to the CEO and Chairman of the Board. She serves on several boards and has been granted eleven U.S. Patents.