M. A. Zuberi was born in Merehra, India in 1920. He was an innovator in the fields of economic and financial journalism in Pakistan, having entered the profession in 1945. He served as Senior Assistant Editor at Dawn before launching the Evening Star. He also later launched the Business Recorder, which became the first business daily publication of the Muslim World. He served as a founding member and President of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors as well as representing Pakistan at several international forums such as the U.N, The World Bank and International Monetary Fund meetings. His contribution to journalism saw him receive several high profile awards, most notably, the Sitara-i-Imtiaz.

Luis Garcia Berlanga was a Spanish film director and writer who played a prominent role in the revival of the Spanish film industry after World War II. His interest in film was cultivated whilst studying law and literature in Madrid. This pushed him to join the state run film school, The Institute of Cinematographic Investigations and Experiences in 1947. He debuted as a director in 1951 with the film, ‘That Happy Couple’ before establishing himself with the 1953 comedy ‘Bienvenido, Mister Marshall!’ The film parodies the supposed utopia the Franco regime had created and was lauded for the use of irony and satire in portraying its message. The film somehow escaped strict censorship laws but lost out at the Cannes Film Festival for being “anti- American”. In 1961 he directed ‘Pacido’, which was nominated for an Oscar in the best foreign language film section. His film ‘The Executioner’ was also critically acclaimed and was nominated for the critics’ choice award at the Venice Film Festival in 1963. In 1968 he became the head of the judging panel at the Berlin International film festival and by the late 1970’s he had re-established himself in the genre of erotic fiction. In 1986 he became the first director to win the Prince of Asturias Award.

Lopo do Nascimento, born in 1942 is an Angolan politician. He served as a member of the Presidential Council in the pre-independent transitional government before becoming the Angolan Prime Minister in 1975. He served as Prime Minster until 1978 and became the Minister of Foreign Trade the following year. He continued to maintain an active political life holding the positions of Minister of Planning, Governor of Huila Province and MPLA Secretary General. During his political career he maintained a reputation for consistency and integrity. In 2008 he won a seat in the parliamentary elections, with the MPLA winning with an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly.

Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo was a Spanish politician and former Prime Minister. He graduated as a civil engineer and went on to hold prominent positions in both public and private enterprises before becoming the President of RENFE in 1967. In 1971 Calvo Sotelo was elected as Deputy Solicitor of Franco’s Cortes, representing industrialists in the Union of Chemical Industries. With the end of Franco’s dictatorship, he became more actively involved in Spanish politics. He was appointed Minister of Commerce in the first government of the monarchy and he encouraged the destruction of Franco’s ideology. From 1977 to 1980 he served as Minister for Relations of the European Economic Community and later as Second Vice President in Charge of Economic Affairs. Following Prime Minister Suárez’s resignation in 1981,  Calvo Sotelo was appointed President before being voted in as Prime Minister by congress on the 25th February. During his time as Prime Minister he promoted a more moderate wage agreement between employers and unions and strongly advocated Spain’s entry to NATO.  After losing the election in 1982 he was succeeded by Felipe González. In 2002 King Juan Carlos I of Spain bestowed the position of Marquis of the Ría of Ribadeo on Calvo Sotelo.

Kauko Maijala was born in Finland in 1924. He began his career in the 1950’s working at Pellon Clearing Ltd, holding various positions at the company until he was elected to the Board of Directors in 1964 and Deputy Managing Director in 1966. In 1968 Pellon Clearing Ltd and its subsidiaries merged to form Basic Group Ltd. The group became actively involved in Finland’s agriculture industry, water supply and residential construction over the following years. Maijala was appointed the Group’s Vice President in 1974 and then it’s President in 1977. Under his leadership, Basic Group Ltd expanded into the Middle East and Africa, with exports in these countries and regions accounting for more than half of Basic Group’s net sales in 1978. In the 1980’s, mainly due to foreign expansion, Basic Group’s projects increased in size and number and due to his key involvement,  Maijala was elected as the European Construction Industry Association’s Vice President. During his career  Maijala was constantly recognised for his business and leadership skills. He  later worked with the Finnish Association of the Construction Industry as well as being appointed a Board member of Tapiola and KOP Banks.

Manuel Fraga Iribarne was a Spanish politician from the northwest region of Galicia. Fraga’s career in Spanish politics extended from both General Franco’s dictatorial regime to the current democracy. Fraga was Spanish Minister of Information and Tourism from 1962-1969, Spanish Minister of the Interior from 1975-1976 and Deputy for the Madrid Province within the Spanish Congress of Deputies from 1977-1989. He was the President of Galicia from 1990-2005 and also served as a Senator in the upper house of the Spanish Parliament. Fraga is one of the few distinguished figures who holds a Doctor Honoris Causa degree from the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon.

Hermann Gmeiner was born in Austria in 1919 and it was his experience of war, first as a soldier in Russia and then as a child welfare worker after the end of the Second World War, that spurred him to implement his idea for SOS Children’s Villages. Dr Gmeiner concluded that welfare assistance would not be effective for war orphans and homeless children unless they were able to grow up in a home of their own. In 1949 Dr Gmeiner established the SOS Children’s Village Association and set about developing plans for the first SOS Children’s Village which would be located in Imst. The child care concept implemented in villages was based on the idea of a mother, a house, brothers and sisters and a village all present in order to offer stability and normality to children. His success, in the following years, allowed him to set up further villages in Austria as well as villages in other European countries. Later, SOS Children’s Villages were also constructed outside of Europe and by 1985 there were 233 SOS Children’s Villages in 85 countries. His influence and commitment to improving the lives of children led him to being recognised with numerous awards and a Nobel Peace Prize nomination before his death in 1986.

Hans Süssenguth was born in Germany in 1913, studying at the Aircraft Technical University of Darmstadt where he received his degree. From 1939 to 1945 he worked at Lufthansa in Berlin as a technical assistant overseeing the development, workshop and production line. Following this he took up a similar position at the company A Reischel before working as a Test and Support Engineer at the Rubber Works. In 1952 he resumed work at Lufthansa as a technical employee, eventually being promoted to Technical Manager. In January 1958 he became Transport Director of the company and oversaw Lufthansa flight operations and ground handling. In 1959 he was appointed Deputy Member of the Board before becoming Chairman of the company.

Gunnar Engellau was a Swedish businessman who served as the CEO of Volvo from 1956 to 1971 and  as its Chairman until 1978.  Born in 1907,  Engellau graduated from the Royal Institute in Technology before being employed by SJ in 1932.  He went on to become the Head of Planning at Motala in 1935 and then Purchasing and Sales Manager in 1937. He became the President of Swedish Flygmotor in 1943, before taking over as CEO of AB Volvo in 1956. When he began at Volvo, the company produced 31,000 cars a year and by the time he retired production had risen to 205,000. During his time as CEO he developed Volvo into a global business, introducing it to the US, which became pivotal to its success during this period. He also opened new factories and expanded the business creating more jobs. He retired in 1956, when his son-in-law took over as CEO. During his career he was on numerous Boards, including Volvo, Scandinavian Bank, AB Electrolux and the Swedish American Foundation.

Count Sabino Fernandez Campo served as Secretary General of the Spanish Royal House between 1977 and 1993, appointed by King Juan Carlos I. Prior to this appointment, Count Campo served as Assistant Secretary for the Presidency of the Government and Deputy Minister of Information and Tourism in Spain. In 1980, Count Campo was appointed Comptroller General of the Army and was granted the honorary title of Lieutenant General. Between 1990 and 1993 he served as Chief of the Spanish Royal House. Count Campo holds a Law degree from the University of Oviedo, a diploma in the Economics of War from the Industrial College of the United States and has taught at the Academy of Military Intervention. In addition, Count Campo has received academic honours from the Royal Academy of Medicine of Asturias and Leon, is an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Doctors of Spain and is an academic of the Royal Academy of Moral and Political Sciences and the Royal Academy of Jurisprudence and Legislation.