Members of the Helena Brain Trust.

Aaswath Raman

Harnessing deep space to fight emissions.

Aaswath Raman
Harnessing deep space to fight emissions.
Climate, Science, Technology
Conservation, Engineering, Physics, Sustainability
SkyCool Systems, University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, Harvard University

Adam Robinson

Prescience.

Adam Robinson
Prescience.
Author, Business, Entrepreneur, Technology
Cryptology, Education, Finance, Investment
Robinson Global Strategies, The Princeton Review, Oxford University, The Wharton School

Alex Wirth

Bringing the legislative process to our fingertips.

Alex Wirth
Bringing the legislative process to our fingertips.
Entrepreneur, Government & Politics, Technology
Policy, Software
Quorum, Harvard University

Alyse Nelson

Vital Voices.

Alyse Nelson
Vital Voices.
Author, Entrepreneur, Government & Politics, Non-Profits & Humanitarianism
Human Rights, Public Health, Policy, Women's Empowerment
Vital Voices Global Partnership, Council on Foreign Relations

Amory Lovins

Co-Founder and Chief Scientist: The Rocky Mountain Institute

Amory Lovins
Co-Founder and Chief Scientist: The Rocky Mountain Institute
Science, Climate, Non-Profits & Humanitarianism, Entrepreneur, Author, Research & Academia
Energy, Conservation, Policy, Education, Sustainability, Engineering
Rocky Mountain Institute, Stanford University, U.S. National Petroleum Council, U.S. Chief of Naval Operations’ Advisory Board

Anne Madden

Deciphering the Microbiome.

Anne Madden
Deciphering the Microbiome.
Research & Academia, Science, Technology
Biotechnology, Education, Public Health
North Carolina State University, Lachancea LLC, Tufts University, Novobiotic Pharmaceuticals LLC

Barry M. Popkin

Reshaping the environments of obesity.

Barry M. Popkin
Reshaping the environments of obesity.
Food & Nutrition, Research & Academia, Government & Politics, Medicine & Healthcare, Science, Author
Public Health, Economics, Policy, Education, Consulting
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), UNC Interdisciplinary Obesity Center, Global Food Research Program of UNC(GFRPUNC)

Bruce Heyman

The Former U.S. Ambassador to Canada

Bruce Heyman
The Former U.S. Ambassador to Canada
Business, Government & Politics
Geopolitics, Investment, Policy
Canada 2020, Uptake, Council of Great Lakes Region, Goldman Sachs

Captain Don Walsh

One of history's greatest explorers.

Captain Don Walsh
One of history's greatest explorers.
Exploration, Research & Academia, Science
Conservation, Engineering, Oceans
NASA, U.S. Department of State, National Research Council, Navy

Christoph Gebald and Jan Wurzbacher

The Masterminds Behind Climeworks: The World's First Commercial Plant to Suck Carbon Dioxide Directly From the Air.

Christoph Gebald and Jan Wurzbacher
The Masterminds Behind Climeworks: The World's First Commercial Plant to Suck Carbon Dioxide Directly From the Air.
Climate, Science, Technology
Conservation, Engineering, Inventor, Hardware, Sustainability
Climeworks, University of California, Berkeley, ETH Zürich, University of New South Wales

Craig Hatkoff

Founder: TriBeCa Film Festival

Craig Hatkoff
Founder: TriBeCa Film Festival
Arts & Entertainment, Business,
Finance, Investment, Film and Television,
Disruptor Foundation, Capital Trust, Turtle Pond Publications LLC, SL Green Realty Corporation,

Curren Krasnoff

The serial inventor revolutionizing concrete.

Curren Krasnoff
The serial inventor revolutionizing concrete.
Climate, Entrepreneur, Technology
Engineering, Inventor, Hardware, Sustainability
Cortex Composites Inc., Hamilton College

D.A. Wallach

The Polymath Bridging Music and Technology.

D.A. Wallach
The Polymath Bridging Music and Technology.
Arts & Entertainment, Author, Business, Entrepreneur, Technology
Art, Investment, Film & Television, Finance, Music, Poetry
Harvard University, Spotify, SpaceX, Doctor On Demand, Ripple Labs, DAQRI

David Ambroz

Shaping community and culture.

David Ambroz
Shaping community and culture.
Arts & Entertainment, Technology, Non-Profits & Humanitarianism,
Policy, Film & Television,
Disney, ABC Television, Los Angeles City College Foundation, Los Angeles City Planning Commission,

David Yarnold

CEO: National Audubon Society & Former Executive Director: Environmental Defense Fund

David Yarnold
CEO: National Audubon Society & Former Executive Director: Environmental Defense Fund
Climate, Business, News, Non-Profits & Humanitarianism
Conservation, Policy, Sustainability
National Audubon Society, Environmental Defense Fund, San Jose Mercury News, San Jose University

Deepak Chopra

"One of the Top Heroes and Icons of the 21st Century."

Deepak Chopra
"One of the Top Heroes and Icons of the 21st Century."
Medicine & Healthcare, Science, Entrepreneur, Author
Public Health, Wellness
The Chopra Foundation, The Chopra Center, American College of Physicians, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists

Dr. Julio Friedmann

The Carbon Wrangler.

Dr. Julio Friedmann
The Carbon Wrangler.
Climate, Research & Academia, Technology
Conservation, Engineering, Hardware, Language, Policy, Sustainability
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Department of Energy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Southern California

Darius Sankey

Chaos Theory.

Darius Sankey
Chaos Theory.
Technology, Business, Research & Academia
Software, Hardware, Physics, Finance, Education, Law, Investment, Economics
3Discoverd Inc., Sway Ventures, Ocean Tomo LLC, University of California – San Diego (UCSD)

Dr. Norman E. Rosenthal

The world-renowned psychiatrist who first discovered Season Affective Disorder (SAD).

Dr. Norman E. Rosenthal
The world-renowned psychiatrist who first discovered Season Affective Disorder (SAD).
Author, Medicine & Healthcare, Research & Academia, Science
Engineering, Public Health
National Institute of Health, Georgetown University School of Medicine, University of Witwatersrand, Columbia University

Dr. Rebecca Brachman

The Moonshot Project to Prevent Depression.

Dr. Rebecca Brachman
The Moonshot Project to Prevent Depression.
Medicine & Healthcare, Research & Academia, Science, Technology
Biotechnology, Education, Finance, Neuroscience, Public Health
Aision Biotechnologies, Columbia University, National Institute of Mental Health, NeuWrite

Dwayne Betts

Winner of the NAACP Image Award.

Dwayne Betts
Winner of the NAACP Image Award.
Author, Arts & Entertainment, Non-Profits & Humanitarianism
Human Rights, Poetry, Policy
Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, University of Maryland, Warren Wilson College

Eli Pariser

Making Good Stories Win.

Eli Pariser
Making Good Stories Win.
Author, Business, Government & Politics, News
Conservation, Finance, News, Policy
Upworthy, MoveOn.org, Avaaz.org

Erin Schrode

Citizen activist and journalist.

Erin Schrode
Citizen activist and journalist.
Government & Politics, News, Non-Profits & Humanitarianism
Conservation, Public Health, Policy, Sustainability
Turning Green, New York University, The Schoolbag

Fred & Ethan Kent

Placemaking.

Fred & Ethan Kent
Placemaking.
Non-Profits & Humanitarianism,
Policy, Sustainability,

Gen. (Ret.) James “Spider” Marks

Military Intelligence.

Gen. (Ret.) James “Spider” Marks
Military Intelligence.
Business, Government & Politics, Security
Geopolitics, Military, Nuclear, Policy
The Marks Collaborative, Global Linguist Solutions, University of Phoenix, Georgetown University, United States Army

Hafsat Abiola

"Nigeria's Architect of Peace".

Hafsat Abiola
"Nigeria's Architect of Peace".
Government & Politics, Non-Profits & Humanitarianism, Security, Technology
Education, Public Health, Women's Empowerment
Ogun State Government World Future Council, Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, Harvard University, Tsinghua University

James Fishkin

Deliberative Democracy.

James Fishkin
Deliberative Democracy.
Author, Government & Politics, Research & Academia
Education, Geopolitics, Policy
Center for Deliberative Democracy, Stanford University, Yale University, Cambridge University

R. James Woolsey

Former Director: Central Intelligence Agency

R. James Woolsey
Former Director: Central Intelligence Agency
Business, Government & Politics, Security
Geopolitics, Finance, Law, Military, Private Equity
Central Intelligence Agency, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Lux Capital Management, Stanford University, Oxford University, Yale Law School

Jason Silva

Awestruck.

Jason Silva
Awestruck.
Arts & Entertainment, Entrepreneur
Film & Television, Philosophy
National Geographic Channel

Jeff Orlowski

Chasing Climate Solutions.

Jeff Orlowski
Chasing Climate Solutions.
Arts & Entertainment, Climate, Entrepreneur, Non-Profits & Humanitarianism
Conservation, Film & Television
Exposure Labs, Sundance Institute

Jennifer Wilcox

Carbon Capture.

Jennifer Wilcox
Carbon Capture.
Climate, Research & Academia
Conservation, Education, Engineering
Worcester Polytechnic, National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, National Academy of Sciences, American Physical Society

Joshua Roman

“A cellist of extraordinary technical and musical gifts.”

Joshua Roman
“A cellist of extraordinary technical and musical gifts.”
Arts & Entertainment
Music
Seattle Symphony

Justin Lewis-Weber

Charting the ambitious plan for space-based solar power.

Justin Lewis-Weber
Charting the ambitious plan for space-based solar power.
Climate, Entrepreneur, Research & Academia, Security, Science
Inventor, Engineering, Physics
Access Inc., Empower Earth Inc., Stanford University

Karen Tse

Working to end torture.

Karen Tse
Working to end torture.
Government & Politics, Non-Profits & Humanitarianism
Human Rights, Law, Public Health, Policy, Women's Empowerment
International Bridges to Justice, United Nations

Kelly Brownell

Redefining How We Think About Food.

Kelly Brownell
Redefining How We Think About Food.
Author, Food & Nutrition, Research & Academia
Neuroscience, Policy, Public Health
World Food Policy Center, Duke University, National Academy of Medicine, Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity

Kevin Yorn

Managing Partner, Morris Yorn Entertainment Law

Kevin Yorn
Managing Partner, Morris Yorn Entertainment Law
Business, Arts & Entertainment
Film & Television, Law, Music, Sports
Morris Yorn Barnes Levine, Tulane Law School, Warby Parker, Spotify

Laura Galante

The Threat Intelligence Expert Focused on Cyber-Espionage.

Laura Galante
The Threat Intelligence Expert Focused on Cyber-Espionage.
Government & Politics, Research & Academia, Security, Technology,
Finance, Military
Galante Strategies, FireEye, United States Department of Defense, Catholic University of America, University of Virginia

Lee Cooper

Professor Emeritus, UCLA

Lee Cooper
Professor Emeritus, UCLA
Author, Business, Climate, Research & Academia, Technology
Art, Education, Marketing, Sustainability
University of California, Los Angeles, Conservation Action Research Network

Li Lu

Founder and Chairman: Himalaya Capital

Li Lu
Founder and Chairman: Himalaya Capital
Business, Non-Profits & Humanitarianism, Government & Politics
Economics, Investment, Law
Himalaya Capital, Columbia University

Mark McClellan

The Former FDA Commissioner Shaping Value in Healthcare.

Mark McClellan
The Former FDA Commissioner Shaping Value in Healthcare.
Government & Politics, Medicine & Healthcare, Non-Profits & Humanitarianism, Research & Academia
Education, Policy, Public Health
Duke University, Brookings Institution, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, United States Food and Drug Administration

Meredith Perry

Wireless power.

Meredith Perry
Wireless power.
Entrepreneur, Science, Technology
Engineering, Hardware, Inventor
uBeam, University of Pennsylvania, NASA

Omar Wasow

"Silicon Valley's Philosopher-Prince".

Omar Wasow
"Silicon Valley's Philosopher-Prince".
Author, Business, Government & Politics, Non-Profits & Humanitarianism, Research & Academia
Education, Geopolitics, Human Rights, News
BlackPlanet.com, Princeton University, Harvard University, Stanford University

Pamela Meyer

Defeating Deception.

Pamela Meyer
Defeating Deception.
Author, Business, Security
Policy
Calibrate, Harvard University, Claremont Graduate School

Parag Khanna

Connectography.

Parag Khanna
Connectography.
Author, Business, Government & Politics, Non-Profits & Humanitarianism, Research & Academia, Security
Education, Finance, Geopolitics, Policy
CNN, Lee Kuan Yew School, National University of Singapore, Hybrid Reality, Factotum, United States National Intelligence Council

Petra Nemcova

Reinventing How We Rebuild.

Petra Nemcova
Reinventing How We Rebuild.
Author, Arts & Entertainment, Entrepreneur, Non-Profits & Humanitarianism
Human Rights, Modeling, Public Health, Women's Empowerment
All Hands and Heart, Happy Hearts Fund, Be the Light New York

Princess Alia Al-Senussi

Charting the Future of International Art.

Princess Alia Al-Senussi
Charting the Future of International Art.
Arts & Entertainment
Art
Tate Modern Advisory Council, Art Dubai, London School of Economics, Brown University, Aiglon College

Quincy Jones III

QD3.

Quincy Jones III
QD3.
Arts & Entertainment, Business, Entrepreneur, Technology
Film & Television, Music, Poetry
QD3 Entertainment, Berklee College of Music

Richard Browning

"The Real-Life Iron Man."

Richard Browning
"The Real-Life Iron Man."
Business, Entrepreneur, Technology
Engineering, Inventor, Physics
Gravity

Rob Rhinehart

A new way to feed the world.

Rob Rhinehart
A new way to feed the world.
Entrepreneur, Food & Nutrition, Technology
Public Health
Soylent, Y-Combinator, Georgia Institute of Technology

Robert Hertzberg

Energizing government.

Robert Hertzberg
Energizing government.
Business, Entrepreneur, Government & Politics, Non-Profits & Humanitarianism
Elected Official, Education, Law, Policy
California State Assembly, California Forward, The Think Long Committee of California

Robert M. Shrum

Navigating American politics.

Robert M. Shrum
Navigating American politics.
Government & Politics, Research & Academia, Author
Policy, Education, Geopolitics, Consulting, Philosophy
Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, University of Southern California

Samy Kamkar

Outwitting insecurity.

Samy Kamkar
Outwitting insecurity.

ShaoLan Hsueh

Revolutionzing language learning.

ShaoLan Hsueh
Revolutionzing language learning.
Author, Entrepreneur, Technology
Art, Language, Women's Empowerment
Chineasy, pAsia, University of Cambridge

Simon Sinek

"Start With Why".

Simon Sinek
"Start With Why".
Author, Business
Artificial Intelligence, Education, Geopolitics, Military, Social Media
Ernst & Young, RAND Corporations

Stan Christensen

The Negotiator.

Stan Christensen
The Negotiator.
Business, Government & Politics, Research & Academia
Education, Finance, Investment, Public Health
Stanford University, Harvard University, Arbor Advisors, Brigham Young University, The Council of Foreign Relations

Sylvia Earle

Time Magazine's "Hero for the Planet".

Sylvia Earle
Time Magazine's "Hero for the Planet".
Author, Business, Climate, Exploration, Government & Politics, Non-Profit & Humanitarianism, Science, Technology
Conservation, Engineering, Oceans
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Deep Ocean Engineering, Deep Ocean Technologies, Mission Blue, National Geographic Society

Tim Fain

Music, differently.

Tim Fain
Music, differently.
Arts & Entertainment, Technology
Film & Television, Music

Tristan Harris

Silicon Valley's conscience.

Tristan Harris
Silicon Valley's conscience.

Veronika Scott

The CNN Hero empowering homeless women through entrepreneurship.

Veronika Scott
The CNN Hero empowering homeless women through entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneur, Non-Profits & Humanitarianism
Public Health, Women's Empowerment
Empowerment Plan, College for Creative Studies
The Helena Group

“There is a tendency in our planning to confuse the unfamiliar with the improbable.”

How Helena's Membership Works

The Helena Group and The Helena Brain Trust

Helena works alongside a small group of exceptional leaders throughout the year and around the world. They comprise The Helena Group and the Helena Brain Trust.

The Helena Brain Trust

Helena Brain Trust members are global experts in specific and focused domains. The Brain Trust is has no membership cap or quota, greatly broadening Helena’s knowledge base and increasing our capability to effect change.

Along with Helena Group members, Brain Trust members collaborate around the world and throughout the year to conduct a range of projects. Brain Trust members include cyber-intelligence experts, leading financiers, marine biologists, international human rights lawyers, counter-terrorism analysts, intelligence and special operations officers, historians, and more.

LAYERS