This year we went through some of the key ingredients to ensure our economy can continue growing – and grow faster – even amid disruption. We began by looking at some of the immediate and nearer-term implications for growth, including new political cycles in 2024 in the US, Europe and South America; a structural shift in global interest rates; and geopolitical conflict and tensions in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

We also reflected on the longer-term dynamics that are changing the world: the impact of AI, blockchain and other transformative technologies on our lives; fundamental changes to demographics and immigration; energy security and the transition; as well as other challenges to the international economic order. We examined the proactive and reactive role that banks and financial institutions must play to support growth the world over.

Opening

Ana Botín, Executive Chair, Banco Santander 

Growth and Competitiveness in Europe

Ana Botín, Executive Chair, Banco Santander 
Roberta Metsola, President, European Parliament 


Moderated by James Harding, Co-Founder and Editor, Tortoise Media

European Growth – The Role of the European Investment Bank

Nadia Calviño, President, European Investment Bank


Interviewed by Jamil Anderlini, Editor-in-Chief, Politico Europe

Geopolitical Horizon and the role of the US in the Middle East

David Petraeus, former Director of the CIA
 

Interviewed by Dr. Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer, Acting President, German Marshall Fund of The United States

The Future of Finance

Agustín Carstens, General Manager, Bank for International Settlements

In conversation with Héctor Grisi, Chief Executive Officer, Banco Santander

Speech: Growth and Competitiveness

José Luis Escrivá, Governor, Bank of Spain

Reflections

James Harding, Co-Founder and Editor, Tortoise Media

Investing in European Growth

Enrico Letta, former Prime Minister, Italy
Mairead McGuinness, European Commissioner, Financial services, financial stability and Capital Markets Union


Interviewed by José M. Linares, Global head Santander CIB and SEVP Santander

Financial Stability

Klaas Knot, President of De Nederlandsche Bank and Chair of the Financial Stability Board
 

Interviewed by Andreas Dombret, Member, Santander International Advisory Board, Banco Santander

Latin America: Politics, Economics and Growth

Speech: 
Alejandro Díaz de León
, Former Governor, Bank of Mexico


Panel:
Jason Marczak
, Vice President and Senior Director, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

José Juan Ruiz, President, Real Instituto Elcano


Moderated by Marisela Alvarenga, Chief Investment Officer, IDB Invest

The Impact of AI on Financial Services

Uljan Sharka, Founder and CEO, iGenius

Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl, Director-General, DigitalEurope


Interviewed by Hazel Díez, Chief Information Security Officer, Banco Santander

Virtual Interview: Challenges to Global Security

Jens Stoltenberg, former General Secretary, NATO
 

Interviewed by Jamil Anderlini, Editor-in-Chief, Politico Europe

US elections: A fork in the road?

Jim Messina, former Deputy Chief of Staff to President Obama and CEO, The Mesina Group


Interviewed by Christiana Riley, Regional Head of North America, Banco Santander

Conclusions from the Day

James Harding, Co-Founder and Editor, Tortoise Media