W. Brian Arthur has been described by Fortune Magazine as “one of the US’s leading economic thinkers.” He was formerly Morrison Professor of Population Studies and Economics, and Professor of Human Biology, at Stanford University. 

Arthur is one of the pioneers of the science of complexity and has had a long association with the Santa Fe Institute, (he has served on its Board of Trustees, and Science Board). He is currently Senior Advisor to the President of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. 

He is the recipient of the Schumpeter Prize in Economics (1990), the Lagrange Prize in Complexity Science (2008), and two honorary doctorates. Arthur grew up in N. Ireland, and has lived for several decades in California.

The Dowager Countess Cawdor has lived at Cawdor Castle since 1979.  Her passions include care of the environment, organic farming and a host of other scientific interests. She engages in business activities and community development as well as art and cultural events.

A long-standing interest in consciousness studies has led her to develop close links with leading philosophers and scientists and she has consequently hosted a number of conferences that have brought world class leaders to Cawdor.

The Dowager Countess Cawdor strongly supports the sustainable development vision of the Shen Foundation, both in Scotland, Sweden and worldwide

Dr. Rasmussen iis a medical doctor and the CEO for Infinitum Humanitarian Systems (IHS). He is also a Research Professor in Environmental Security and Global Medicine at San Diego State University, and an instructor in disaster medicine within the International Disaster Academy in Bonn, Germany. 

Rasmussen has extensive experience in critical humanitarian support and has worked with highly vulnerable communities on five continents. Prior to IHS he served in the US Navy for 25 years aboard nuclear submarines, amphibious ships, and aircraft carriers before being selected as the Founding CEO of InSTEDD, a humanitarian NGO established from a TED Prize awarded to Dr. Larry Brilliant, then Executive Director of Google.org.