Professor Klaus Schwab is an engineer and economist, best known as the Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, a not-for-profit foundation established in 1971. Professor Schwab has since built into the foremost international institution for public-private cooperation.

Between 1972 and 2003, Professor Schwab was Professor of Business Policy, University of Geneva. In 1998, Professor Schwab, along with his wife Hilde, co-founded the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, supporting social innovation around the world. In 2004, Professor Schwab founded the Forum of Young Global Leaders and, in 2011, founded the Global Shapers Community.

Professor Schwab studied at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, University of Fribourg and Harvard University; degrees include doctorates in Mechanical Engineering and Economics (summa cum laude). In addition, Professor Schwab holds numerous honorary doctorates and several honorary professorships besides being recipient of international and highest national honours for initiatives undertaken in the spirit of entrepreneurship in the global public interest and for peace and reconciliation efforts in several regions.