Before being elected High Commissioner, Salih served as President of Iraq (2018–2022). He also served twice as Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (2001–2004; 2009–2012) and as Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq (2004–2009), concurrently serving as Minister of Planning (2004–2006).

With a career spanning more than three decades of governmental service in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, Salih brings senior diplomatic, political and administrative leadership experience, including engagement with international and regional institutions, with human rights and humanitarian vision and experience, including as refugee, crisis negotiator and architect of national reforms.

He served as a Senior Fellow (non-resident) at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School, United States and as Leadership Fellow (non-resident) at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C, United States.

Founder and Chairman of the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani (AUIS), he holds a PhD in Statistics and Computer Applications in Engineering from the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom and a BSc in Civil Engineering from Cardiff University, United Kingdom.

Barham Salih was born in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, in 1960. In addition to his native Kurdish and Arabic, he is fluent in English.

Ulf Englund is a prolific and versatile light designer and guitarist. He began his career in 1983 at The Royal Dramatic Theater, Stockholm where he created light designs for many major productions as well as in all of Sweden’s major theaters.

He has toured all over the world with Barbara Hendricks and the Magnus Lindgren quartet as a light designer in addition to being also a guitarist in Barbara’s Blues Band with Max Schultz and Mathias Algotsson.

Mei Li Powell is Chief Executive of the Euroclear Foundation, which invests in stronger futures for underserved young people and more resilient communities. Through long-term partnerships, capacity-building and targeted philanthropy, the Foundation helps build opportunity, skills and confidence where they are needed most. The Foundation also supports humanitarian response efforts, recognising that resilience depends on helping people navigate crisis as well as opportunity. Under Mei Li's leadership, the Foundation has established a multi-year partnership with UNHCR, providing flexible, unearmarked funding that enables rapid response and protection for people forced to flee conflict, disaster and persecution wherever needs are greatest.

Born in Rwanda, Liliane Bahufite became a refugee at the age of 14, spending several years in refugee camps in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In 1998, she arrived in Belgium, where she began the journey of rebuilding her life.
That experience has profoundly shaped her perspective on resilience, opportunity, belonging and human potential.

An author of several books, Liliane uses storytelling to bring refugee experiences and voices to life.

Alongside her writing, she works at Euroclear as a culture transformation and inclusion professional.
She is passionate about building environments where people feel able to contribute, grow and thrive. She has a particular passion for unlocking the potential of diverse talent and creating opportunities for people to lead.

Her personal and professional journeys are connected by a belief in the power of people to transform their circumstances and their communities.