Agriculture, Food & Forestry

Experts in farming, food production, and forestry, contributing to sustainable agriculture, food security, and environmental conservation

Richard Hoehn

Richard Hoehn

Richard Hoehn is the co-founder and CTO of Aerton, an Ag Tech logistics platform focused on solving complex routing and scheduling challenges for rural America. He previously founded and successfully exited FreightWise, a leading logistics SaaS platform, and has deep technical experience building high-value, user-centric applications that turn messy operational problems into usable software.

Richard is also studying this space as a PhD student in Computational & Data Science, with a research focus on reinforcement learning (RL) and optimization for real-world logistics.

Richard Hoehn is the co-founder and CTO of Aerton, an Ag Tech logistics platform focused on solving complex routing and scheduling challenges for rural America. He previously founded and successfully exited FreightWise, a leading logistics SaaS platf... Show more

Simone Jennings

Simone Jennings

Simone is a Public Health Dietitian with the Healthy Communities team at Interior Health. She has 18 years of experience supporting food literacy education in schools and using evidence-informed approaches for teaching nutrition. Simone was a project lead for the development of the Hands on Food resource and she participated in the provincial working group that developed the Teach Food First toolkit. Simone holds a Bachelor of Sciences in Nutrition and Dietetics with the University of British Columbia and has a graduate certificate in Educational Neuroscience from the University of Calgary. She is grateful to live and work on the traditional, unceded territories of the Secwepemc peoples.

Simone is a Public Health Dietitian with the Healthy Communities team at Interior Health. She has 18 years of experience supporting food literacy education in schools and using evidence-informed approaches for teaching nutrition. Simone was a project... Show more

Hubert Gregoire

Hubert Gregoire

Hubert Grégoire is CTO at exFabrica, with degrees from EPITA and EMlyon in strategy. With experience at Rakuten, Thales, and other major software companies, he combines deep technical expertise with strategic insight. Passionate about web, app security, and generative AI since its early days, he recently led the large-scale deployment of AI coding assistants across teams on three continents. He now guides tech teams in modernization, AI adoption, and platform engineering, with a strong focus on quality, productivity, and real-world impact.

Hubert Grégoire is CTO at exFabrica, with degrees from EPITA and EMlyon in strategy. With experience at Rakuten, Thales, and other major software companies, he combines deep technical expertise with strategic insight. Passionate about web, app securi... Show more

Madhu Vadlamani

Madhu Vadlamani

15 + years of experience in AI and Data analytics. Speaker - mentor and trainer

15 + years of experience in AI and Data analytics. Speaker - mentor and trainer Show more

Beatrice Großjohann

Beatrice Großjohann

Chemikerin, Promotion in medizinischer Biochemie
Geschäftsführerin der Fa. Micromun Institut für mikrobiologische Forschung GmbH
Geschäftsführende Gesellschafterin der BioResQ gGmbH
seit 18 Jahren Lehrtätigkeit an der Hochschule Neubrandenburg

Chemikerin, Promotion in medizinischer Biochemie Geschäftsführerin der Fa. Micromun Institut für mikrobiologische Forschung GmbH Geschäftsführende Gesellschafterin der BioResQ gGmbH seit 18 Jahren Lehrtätigkeit an der Hochschule Neubrandenburg Show more

Aleksandar Stoisavljevic

Aleksandar Stoisavljevic

Aleksandar is accomplished individual with a strong background in Java (20+ years in IT business). He believes in the power of the Internet, have a desire to learn more and to also be involved in its future development. Goal oriented, analytical and sharp individual with a lot of energy and also spread that inspiration among his co-workers. Coming from city of Novi Sad, one of the biggest IT development center in Serbia, Aleksandar has been working in various environments. His professional career starts as desktop application developer using Delphi IDE. In 2007. joins international company Levi9 as Java Web developer. As from 2015. actively learning and helping clients to prepare and adopt for The Cloud. In 2017. joins NovaCode d.o.o. where he works nowadays as Software Architect. In private life husband, father of 2: a boy and a girl, likes to play table tennis.

Aleksandar is accomplished individual with a strong background in Java (20+ years in IT business). He believes in the power of the Internet, have a desire to learn more and to also be involved in its future development. Goal oriented, analytical and ... Show more

Vinay Sati

Vinay Sati

I am a cybersecurity professional with a proven track record of identifying and securing vulnerabilities across several high-profile platforms, including Google, Facebook, NASA, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. My expertise in ethical hacking and cyber defense has earned me recognition at both national and international levels.

I have had the honor of being invited as a speaker by prestigious institutions and government bodies such as the National Informatics Centre (NIC), National Investigation Agency (NIA), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Delhi University, IIT Delhi, and IIT Roorkee. In these engagements, I have shared my insights and expertise with senior scientists, government officials, and academic leaders.

My work in securing leading Indian banks—including Axis Bank, State Bank of India (SBI), and IndusInd Bank—demonstrates my commitment to enhancing cybersecurity in critical financial sectors. I have also collaborated closely with various government agencies to strengthen digital infrastructure and cyber resilience.

My contributions have been featured in prominent media outlets, including Dailyhunt News, and my recent session with NIC was broadcast live on DD News and is archived on the Government Webcast Portal.

I am a cybersecurity professional with a proven track record of identifying and securing vulnerabilities across several high-profile platforms, including Google, Facebook, NASA, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. My expertise in ethical ha... Show more

Matthew Pothoff

Matthew Pothoff

Matthew Pothoff is a dedicated individual from Dubuque County, Iowa, whose life is defined by hard work, curiosity, and passion. Growing up, he found joy in sports such as baseball, football, basketball, and tennis, each of which shaped his character and developed his teamwork skills. His appreciation for history and craftsmanship led him to collect military rifles, where his interest in both mechanical design and historical context continues to grow.

Raised in Epworth, Iowa, Matthew attended Western Dubuque High School after spending his early education years in Catholic school. The structured environment taught him values of respect, focus, and perseverance. These formative lessons became the foundation for his professional and personal life. His upbringing in a close-knit community instilled in him an appreciation for tradition, discipline, and the value of self-improvement through hard work.

After high school, he pursued a degree in Criminal Justice at Hawkeye Community College, which deepened his sense of integrity and responsibility. Professionally, he began working in the automotive industry, where he developed hands-on skills and a strong work ethic. Now employed as a paint line laborer in a metal fabrication company, he applies coatings with precision, ensuring each product meets quality standards while maintaining a high level of craftsmanship.

Sports remain an enduring part of his life and identity. Baseball was his first love, one that he played until he turned nineteen. Throughout high school, he stayed active in football, basketball, and tennis, finding motivation and purpose through competition. Matt Pothoff still follows his favorite teams—the St. Louis Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, and Cleveland Cavaliers—remaining an enthusiastic supporter of the games he grew up loving.

Beyond athletics, his fascination with firearms and military history reflects his curiosity about the intersection of technology and human innovation. Collecting surplus military rifles allows him to connect with historical eras and craftsmanship from around the world. He takes pride in understanding the function and history behind each piece, exploring the strategies and stories that shaped military development over time.

Outside of work, Matthew enjoys outdoor activities like hunting, camping, and hiking. He values time spent in nature for its balance and clarity, often engaging in deer and turkey hunts. Health and fitness are also priorities for him, as he experiments with new diets and routines to stay active. His lifestyle reflects discipline, passion, and respect for both history and the natural world.

Matthew Pothoff is a dedicated individual from Dubuque County, Iowa, whose life is defined by hard work, curiosity, and passion. Growing up, he found joy in sports such as baseball, football, basketball, and tennis, each of which shaped his character... Show more

Amber Hasan

Amber Hasan

Amber Hasan is an interdisciplinary artist and community organizer focused on using Creative Practice as a tool for change. Amber is Co-Founder of The Sister Tour collective, she has worked with photographer LaToya Ruby Frazier regarding the Flint Water Crisis, she is a Board Member of Title Track Michigan, and a Board Member of Commongrounds, where she is the advocate for the Boardman River in Traverse City, Michigan.

Amber Hasan is an interdisciplinary artist and community organizer focused on using Creative Practice as a tool for change. Amber is Co-Founder of The Sister Tour collective, she has worked with photographer LaToya Ruby Frazier regarding the Flint W... Show more

Dr. Gururaj HL

Dr. Gururaj HL

Dr. Gururaj H L currently working as Associate Professor in the Department of Information Technology, Manipal Institute of Technology, Bengaluru. He holds a Ph.D. Degree in Computer Science and Engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belagavi 2019. He has 13 years of teaching and research experience at both UG and PG level. He is a professional member of ACM. He is the founder of Wireless Internetworking Group (WiNG) a research community. He is a senior member of IEEE Computer Society and Lifetime member of Cryptology Society of India. Dr. Gururaj appointed as ACM Distinguish Speaker (2018-2021) by ACM US council, and he is one among 15 speakers across India. He received YOUNG SCIENTIST International Travel Grant from SERB, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India in December 2016. He also received BEST PROJECT GUIDE awards consecutively for four years at Malnad College of Engineering, India during 2015, 2016 and 2017. He worked as Special Issue Editor of MDPI and Guest Editor of Multimedia Springer Journal. He also worked as Special editor for IoP Conference proceedings (AICDMB-2021). He has published 13 Edited Books at Springer, Taylor and Francis, IGI global and IET publishers. He is an Editorial Board member of various International Journals. He has published more than 150 research papers in peer reviewed international journals and book chapters. He has presented more than 60 papers at various international Conferences and received BEST PAPER awards. He has granted with one Australian patent, Indian design patent and one Indian copyright. He worked as reviewer for various journals and conferences. He has delivered more than 500 technical talks across globe to name a few ACM Distinguished Talk at IIT Kanpur in 2019, Plenary Talk at NIT Surat in 2020, Keynote Speaker at UPDATE Europe Conference in 2020. He is also serving as Advisory committee member of Cyber Security Council of India and Subject expert at Administrative Training Institute (ATI), Mysuru, Government of Karnataka. He has honored as Session chair, Keynote Speaker, TPC member, Advisory committee member at National and International Seminars, Workshops and Conferences across Globe. He received grants from SERB-DST, CSIR and AICTE (Government of India) to organize International Conferences and Seminars. He has International Collaboration with top-notch researchers from University of Maryland, University of Texas, University of Houston and many more. His research interests include Block Chain Technology, Cyber Security, Wireless Senor Network, Ad-hoc networks, IOT, Data Mining, Cloud Computing and Machine Learning

Dr. Gururaj H L currently working as Associate Professor in the Department of Information Technology, Manipal Institute of Technology, Bengaluru. He holds a Ph.D. Degree in Computer Science and Engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University, ... Show more

John Athayde

John Athayde

John Athayde is a designer and developer who spends his days fighting bad coding practices in the Rails view layer. He runs Meticulous, a product design & branding consultancy that has been shipping with Rails since 1.0. He also is a partner in Ocufii, a startup focused on improving safety through movement notifications. He lives on a small permaculture farm outside of Charlottesville where he can garden and play in the dirt with his wife and four children, chickens, goats, and dairy cow.

John Athayde is a designer and developer who spends his days fighting bad coding practices in the Rails view layer. He runs Meticulous, a product design & branding consultancy that has been shipping with Rails since 1.0. He also is a partner in Ocufi... Show more

Matthew Brandt

Matthew Brandt

With over a decade of experience, Matthew, aka the "Decision Engineer", excels in many aspects of the data analytics spectrum. He focuses on smart decision-making, outcome measurement, and operationalising data with strong stakeholder management, and is also a prolific content creator.

With over a decade of experience, Matthew, aka the "Decision Engineer", excels in many aspects of the data analytics spectrum. He focuses on smart decision-making, outcome measurement, and operationalising data with strong stakeholder management, and... Show more

Dipl.-Wirt.-Ing. (FH) Elisa Schmidt

Dipl.-Wirt.-Ing. (FH) Elisa Schmidt

Frankfurter Buchmesse 2024 & 2025
Leipziger Buchmesse 2025
Werde Eigentümer*in Konferenz
Buchpremiere Gewandhaus Dresden
Wirtschaftsfrauen e.V.
MamaMeetingBusinessClub
Waldbund Konferenzen u.a. Schloss Lieser 2025
AgrarLausitz Stammtisch

Frankfurter Buchmesse 2024 & 2025 Leipziger Buchmesse 2025 Werde Eigentümer*in Konferenz Buchpremiere Gewandhaus Dresden Wirtschaftsfrauen e.V. MamaMeetingBusinessClub Waldbund Konferenzen u.a. Schloss Lieser 2025 AgrarLausitz Stammtisch Show more

Viv Mendes

Viv Mendes

Vivaldo Cândido é Engenheiro Informático e Especialista em Desenvolvimento de Soluções Tecnológicas, reconhecido pela sua capacidade de transformar desafios complexos em soluções digitais inovadoras. Actua como Responsável pelo Departamento de IT da Mwango Brain, onde lidera iniciativas de modernização tecnológica, integração de plataformas e transformação digital orientada a resultados.

Paralelamente, desempenha funções como Técnico de Análise e Desenvolvimento de Soluções na Unitel, contribuindo para a construção de sistemas de grande escala e processos críticos que sustentam milhões de utilizadores a nível nacional.

Scrum Master certificado e Especialista em Jira, Vivaldo domina metodologias ágeis, gestão de processos, modelação empresarial e frameworks modernas de produtividade. É igualmente formado em BPM e BPMN, reforçando a sua capacidade de alinhar tecnologia, processos e estratégia organizacional.

Recentemente, consolidou o seu posicionamento no panorama tecnológico global através da certificação Advanced Digital Transformation & AI, fortalecendo a sua competência na aplicação de inteligência artificial em projectos corporativos. Participou também no Function1, um dos eventos mais avançados de AI e inovação tecnológica realizado no Dubai, onde teve contacto direto com líderes mundiais, tendências emergentes e práticas de ponta em AI/ML.

Nos últimos anos, tem aprofundado o seu foco em componentes de Inteligência Artificial e Machine Learning, integrando estas tecnologias nos seus projectos, nos seus estudos e na sua visão de futuro para o ecossistema digital angolano.

Além da sua vertente técnica, é Educador Financeiro, Investidor e Empreendedor, dedicando-se a promover literacia financeira, autonomia económica e mentalidade de crescimento entre jovens profissionais. A sua abordagem multidisciplinar faz dele uma das vozes mais influentes na interseção entre tecnologia, inovação, negócios e desenvolvimento humano em Angola.

Vivaldo Cândido é Engenheiro Informático e Especialista em Desenvolvimento de Soluções Tecnológicas, reconhecido pela sua capacidade de transformar desafios complexos em soluções digitais inovadoras. Actua como Responsável pelo Departamento de IT da ... Show more

Karl Wester-Ebbinghaus

Karl Wester-Ebbinghaus

Currently being most passionate about Azure Local and Azure Arc. Coming down a long way with Microsoft tech only, since the 90s

Currently being most passionate about Azure Local and Azure Arc. Coming down a long way with Microsoft tech only, since the 90s Show more

Tutaleni Ilonga

Tutaleni Ilonga

Tutaleni, is the driving force behind the growth of Game Development in Namibia and in Africa as a whole, as well as the bridge between South America and Africa when it comes to the Game Development space. After successfully completing the Enter Africa game development program Mr, Ilonga created his own game studio/company called TL Entertainment whereby he created games and was successfully able to import Global Game Jam and Game Jam +, whereby together with the partnership between TL Entertainment and Game Jam+ there was a bridge built between Namibia and Brazil.

With the games that where created not proving to be profitable, Mr Ilonga would take part in a CEP program whereby he would like up with Vaughan, Veronica and Ndamono and together they would form Edu-Game Namibia to create an innovation hub around gaming to ensure that the market because sustainable around gaming and ensure future Namibian generations will be able to profit from it.

With 7 Years’ experience in Gaming Mr Ilonga has won a few awards and also became the flag career for Gaming especially at the Forbes where he and Vaughan would help Edu-Game Namibia make it to the top 3 pitch battle final. Currently Mr Ilonga together with Edu-Game are working on a curriculum to gamify the education system.

List of Achievements
Forbes 30 Under 30 Top 3 Pitch Battle Finalist 2024
Boost Up Pitch Winner 2023
Xbox Games Camp Alumni 2023
Sanlam Bridge Beneficiary 2023
CEP WINNER 2022
Game Industry Africa Awards Winner 2022
Class of 2022 Game Developers Conference SCHOLARS:

Events/Interviews I have Spoken At
Xbox Games Camp - Topic - Why Africa Is The Best Place To Invest When It Comes To Gaming
Africa Partnership For Growth Symposium - Topic - Why Investing In Gaming is Profitable
PathfindinGS -Topic - Gamifying the Namibian Education System
Africa Comicade Topic -Getting Local Businesses to Invest in Game Development
Game Jam Plus Topic -Importance of Game Jam In The Local Ecosystem
African Creative Meeting Topic -E-Sports In Africa
ESQUENTA Topic - Importance of GJ + For the Local Ecosystem
BBC World Service TV Topic - CES 2020: What’s in it for Africa?

Tutaleni, is the driving force behind the growth of Game Development in Namibia and in Africa as a whole, as well as the bridge between South America and Africa when it comes to the Game Development space. After successfully completing the Enter Afri... Show more

Josué Gutiérrez

Josué Gutiérrez

Soy Josué Ángel Gutiérrez Cuéllar, estudiante de Ingeniería de Software en la Universidad Tecnológica del Perú y un convencido de que la tecnología debe tener propósito. Desde niño, siempre tuve la curiosidad de entender cómo funcionaba la tecnología. Aprendí a programar de manera autodidacta a los 9 años usando Game Maker Studio, un entorno que emplea una versión modificada de C y un paradigma orientado a objetos. Sin saberlo, comencé a programar de una manera no tan sencilla, sin cursos formales, pero impulsado por tutoriales y desafíos personales. Así nació mi mentalidad: “tal vez no lo sé todo, pero haré todo lo que pueda con lo que sé”.

Aunque Game Maker estaba pensado para videojuegos, yo lo utilizaba para crear herramientas funcionales que me sirvieran en mi día a día, como un "Word" simplificado para hacer mis mapas conceptuales en el colegio o un horario con enlaces directos a mis clases de Zoom en pandemia. Desde entonces, nunca me alejé de la programación. Aprendí HTML, CSS y JavaScript en mis tiempos libres, y luego Python. En segundo año de secundaria decidí que quería estudiar Ingeniería de Software.

Ingresé a la universidad con 16 años y ese mismo año obtuve una beca en EdX para llevar de manera remota el curso CS50x de la Universidad de Harvard, el cual culminé con nota perfecta. Como proyecto final desarrollé Sleep Watch Alert, una plataforma con inteligencia artificial que detecta si un bebé está dormido o despierto y envía alertas a un smartwatch. Esta idea nació por una necesidad familiar: ayudar a cuidar a mi sobrina recién nacida. Con el tiempo, el proyecto fue mejorado y me permitió ganar un hackathon en la Universidad de Concordia en Montreal, Canadá.

Más adelante, me convertí en voluntario en RobBuild, enseñando programación a niños, y gracias a una asociación tuve la oportunidad de enseñar de manera activa durante medio año en la Municipalidad de Lima. Gracias al impacto de estas sesiones, fui invitado a ser el primero en grabar una clase modelo para una plataforma educativa gratuita dirigida a niños de bajos recursos para que obtengan certificados en tecnología.

También lideré un equipo finalista en la Datatón del Ministerio de Trabajo, donde diseñamos una mano robótica para personas con parálisis que permite controlar una computadora, y desarrollamos una plataforma inclusiva de búsqueda de empleo conectada al portal del Ministerio. En este evento, tuve la oportunidad de dialogar y aprender con ingenieros de Google, Huawei y un representante de la Unión Europea especializado en economía.

Después, gané el primer lugar en el hackathon internacional CodePi, con sede en Francia, desarrollando un videojuego educativo para niños. El jurado estuvo compuesto por profesionales de empresas como Google, Apple, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft y Disney Streaming.

Actualmente tengo 19 años y recientemente, fui seleccionado entre más de 10 mil postulantes para ser representante activo en el Capítulo Nacional de la Juventud, impulsado por el Foro Mundial de Alimentación y la FAO - ONU, donde ya he presentado una propuesta disruptiva ante entidades gubernamentales internacionales, representantes de la FAO - ONU y SENAJU sobre un nuevo paradigma para el futuro de la agricultura en el país, llevando la tecnología y la inteligencia artificial al servicio de los agricultores rurales con ayuda de plataformas del Estado, entre otras cosas.

Gracias a todos estos logros es que he sido reconocido en más de una ocasión por mi universidad como un orgullo, y han destacado mis logros en LinkedIn. Realmente estoy muy agradecido por cada paso y lo que significa para mí y para la juventud en el Perú.

Cada parte de mi camino ha estado guiada por un propósito: usar la tecnología para mejorar vidas. Mi enfoque es claro: innovación responsable, inteligencia artificial con ética y desarrollo con sentido humano. Creo en el potencial humano y creo en un mañana mejor.

Soy Josué Ángel Gutiérrez Cuéllar, estudiante de Ingeniería de Software en la Universidad Tecnológica del Perú y un convencido de que la tecnología debe tener propósito. Desde niño, siempre tuve la curiosidad de entender cómo funcionaba la tecnología... Show more

Soorya Narayan Satheesh

Soorya Narayan Satheesh

Soorya Narayan Satheesh is a distinguished technology leader and former Indian Forest Service Officer who combines extensive public service experience with cutting-edge technical expertise. A graduate of UC Berkeley's Information Management Systems program and recipient of the prestigious James R. Chen Award, Soorya brings over six years of experience in developing innovative information systems. As Deputy Conservator of Forests (Information Technology & Statistics), he earned a prestigious state-level award from the Government of Tripura for developing cutting-edge information systems that transformed forest management practices. His expertise spans full-stack development, data engineering, and machine learning, with a proven track record of developing award-winning solutions that bridge the gap between environmental management and digital transformation.

Soorya Narayan Satheesh is a distinguished technology leader and former Indian Forest Service Officer who combines extensive public service experience with cutting-edge technical expertise. A graduate of UC Berkeley's Information Management Systems p... Show more

Ferhat Oender

Ferhat Oender

Ferhat took over numerous international warehouse software & planning projects since 2006. More than 10 years of leadership responsibility in warehousing units followed. In 2021 he joined SIEVERS-GROUP to further develop a holistic WMS experience: SIEVERS WMS.

Ferhat took over numerous international warehouse software & planning projects since 2006. More than 10 years of leadership responsibility in warehousing units followed. In 2021 he joined SIEVERS-GROUP to further develop a holistic WMS experience: SI... Show more

Abdrahman Oladimeji

Abdrahman Oladimeji

Abdrahman Oladimeji is a passionate and results-driven Frontend Developer with an expertise in crafting modern, highly performant, and user-centric digital experiences. He specializes in bridging the gap between design and functionality, creating seamless interfaces that delight users across web and mobile platforms.

​A dedicated open source advocate, Abdrahman channels this passion not only into his code contributions but also into fostering a vibrant tech community. His commitment to excellence is evidenced by his multiple industry awards, which recognize his impact and innovative work in the development space.

He has a proven track record of organizing, co-organizing, and volunteering for several impactful tech communities and events, sharing his technical insights and mentoring emerging talent. His core mission is to empower others and bring out the best in them, making a tangible impact one collaboration and one line of code at a time.

Abdrahman Oladimeji is a passionate and results-driven Frontend Developer with an expertise in crafting modern, highly performant, and user-centric digital experiences. He specializes in bridging the gap between design and functionality, creating sea... Show more

Nandini Harihareswara

Nandini Harihareswara

Nandini Harihareswara is a Digital Finance, FinTech, Digital Development and Inclusive Digital Economies expert. She previously served as Senior Advisor on Inclusive Digital Economies, Gender Equality and Women’s Economic Empowerment for the UN Capital Development Fund. She also served as the Digital Finance Regional Technical Specialist from 2015-2019, responsible for the creation & implementation of the UNCDF Digital Economy Strategy in Zambia and Malawi. She also helped to author the Inclusive Digital Economies and Gender Equality Playbook, launched in 2021. In these roles, she worked with more 20 FinTechs, Banks, Telcos and e-commerce companies to successfully increase their women customers and partner MSME businesses, and increase their financial return on investment.

She was a founding member of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Digital Development Division. Prior to working for the Digital Development team, Nandini worked as an Investment Officer for the USAID Development Credit Authority Office, and a Presidential Management Fellow at the US Department of Transportation as well as the Urban Transport Division of the World Bank.

She is the author of numerous publications on the intersection of finance, technology and international development. Nandini has an MBA and a Masters in International Trade and Investment Policy from the George Washington University. She also holds a BS in Psychology and a BA in Political Science from the University of California at San Diego.

Nandini Harihareswara is a Digital Finance, FinTech, Digital Development and Inclusive Digital Economies expert. She previously served as Senior Advisor on Inclusive Digital Economies, Gender Equality and Women’s Economic Empowerment for the UN Capit... Show more

Pranay Patel

Pranay Patel

SDE - Android. Mostly doing stuff around Kotlin, Flutter, KMP. Open-source enthusiast, blogger and self motivated equity investor. His hobbies are farming, cooking and Investing!

SDE - Android. Mostly doing stuff around Kotlin, Flutter, KMP. Open-source enthusiast, blogger and self motivated equity investor. His hobbies are farming, cooking and Investing! Show more

Aakash Gupta

Aakash Gupta

Aakash is a US patent holder, multiple hackathon winner, pulished author and an open source advocate. He has completed his engineering from Savitribai University and a PGP from IIM Indore. He is passionate about building products for the next billion users and creating a positive social change through technology.

Aakash is a US patent holder, multiple hackathon winner, pulished author and an open source advocate. He has completed his engineering from Savitribai University and a PGP from IIM Indore. He is passionate about building products for the next billio... Show more

Anjali Mehta

Anjali Mehta

Anjali is a human rights and law of war attorney, speaker, athlete, and professional artist, who currently runs a nonprofit dedicated to combating gender-based violence. She is a TEDx speaker and Fulbright Scholarship grantee.

Anjali has worked at the intersection of women's rights, gender-based violence, art, and law in India, the U.K., Colombia, Brazil, and Chile. Her work as a lawyer includes representing foreign governments in human rights cases before international courts, achieving asylum for asylum-seekers persecuted on the basis of their gender, and working on Constitutional rights cases to protect the rights of transgender girl athletes in the U.S.

As an artist, Anjali explores themes of social justice through art. Her movement films have been nominated for several awards, including at the Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase, and Anjali has received a Bessie nomination for outstanding performer for her achievement in dance.

She is currently climbing the Seven Summits to amplify the voices and power of survivors, while building a coalition of organizations around the world. She's on track to be the first Indian-American woman to do so. The coalition she is building through this campaign will be part of the first ever global digital hub for survivors, advocates, and grassroots organizations combating gender-based violence to connect in real time, all the time.

Anjali is a human rights and law of war attorney, speaker, athlete, and professional artist, who currently runs a nonprofit dedicated to combating gender-based violence. She is a TEDx speaker and Fulbright Scholarship grantee. Anjali has worked a... Show more

Dr Fernando De La Peña Llaca

Dr Fernando De La Peña Llaca

Dr. Fernando De La Peña Llaca is CEO & President of Aexa Aerospace, a NASA and DoD contractor recognized globally for innovation. He led the first two-way holographic teleportation with astronauts on the International Space Station and has won NASA’s JSC Director’s Innovation Award and Exceptional Software Award. A sought-after futurist and author (AI in a Nutshell, 33 Predictions for the Next 33 Years), Dr. De La Peña bridges aerospace, defense, and commercial technology. His work has been featured by NASA, TIME, and international media, and he regularly speaks at global conferences including DEFCON, NDIA, and the International Astronautical Congress.

Dr. Fernando De La Peña Llaca is CEO & President of Aexa Aerospace, a NASA and DoD contractor recognized globally for innovation. He led the first two-way holographic teleportation with astronauts on the International Space Station and has won NASA’s... Show more

Kayode Makinde

Kayode Makinde

Kayode Makinde
AI Researcher | Data Scientist

Kayode Makinde is an AI researcher at Lawyers Hub, Africa's leading AI policy organization, where he explores the intersection of AI, law, and technology to drive ethical AI development and policymaking in Africa. He is also a multi-award-winning data scientist at Perizer, specializing in AI-driven research analysis, market trends, and optimization.

With a background in engineering, Kayode has gained recognition for his innovative research, including training reinforcement learning agents to play Ayo, a traditional Nigerian game. This project earned him the Best Poster award at the DSN AI Bootcamp and 3rd place at IndabaX Nigeria 2024. His achievements also include winning the Bluechip Data and AI Summit hackathon, the DataFest hackathon, and receiving the prestigious Mr. Algorithm award for excellence in AI.

Kayode is a skilled speaker and educator who has delivered impactful sessions at leading tech events, including DataFest Africa 2024 and TECH MEET Abeokuta 3.0, where he has shared insights on computer vision, object detection with YOLO, and reinforcement learning. His diverse projects demonstrate his practical approach to AI, from developing an AI-powered ripe orange plucking robot to designing optimization algorithms for real-world applications.

A passionate advocate for AI innovation in Africa, Kayode combines deep technical expertise with a commitment to community engagement. He leverages AI to solve local challenges in agriculture, cultural preservation, and beyond, while inspiring the next generation of AI practitioners to harness AI’s transformative potential for sustainable development.

Kayode Makinde AI Researcher | Data Scientist Kayode Makinde is an AI researcher at Lawyers Hub, Africa's leading AI policy organization, where he explores the intersection of AI, law, and technology to drive ethical AI development and policymaki... Show more

Eric Muli

Eric Muli

I am a Flutter Developer! I love building, and testing things out, and never tired of learning.

I love building and empowering developer communities: Flutter Kenya. An Engineer, and reader, I play bass guitar and piano.

I am a Flutter Developer! I love building, and testing things out, and never tired of learning. I love building and empowering developer communities: Flutter Kenya. An Engineer, and reader, I play bass guitar and piano. Show more

Allie Reitz

Allie Reitz

Over the past ten years, Allie has built and run businesses in various industries including audio engineering, wellness tech, software development and user experience design, and accelerator programming. She has worked closely with dozens of entrepreneurs to build their climate and social impact organizations through coaching, fractional leadership roles, and her original entrepreneurship curriculum. Her clients include impact organizations like CrowdSolve, CU Boulder, Glazier Clinics, Conscious Capitalism, and the Downtown Denver Partnership.

Outside of work, Allie is passionate about her work supporting and mentoring youth, nonprofits, and impact entrepreneurs in partnership with capacity-building economic development organizations including SVP Denver, Rocky Mountain Microfinance Institute, Good Business Colorado, and SEA Change. She has been instrumental in cultivating thriving and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems in Denver, Reno, and Greeley, CO. Allie is an experienced audio engineer, musical composer, UX/UI designer, yoga teacher, no-code developer, workshop facilitator, design thinking expert, and entreprenerd.

She currently designs curriculum for hackathons and pitch competitions through her company, Meep, and works with the City of Greeley and nationally ranked venture capital firm gener8tor to run the gBETA Greeley AgTech pre-accelerator program.

Over the past ten years, Allie has built and run businesses in various industries including audio engineering, wellness tech, software development and user experience design, and accelerator programming. She has worked closely with dozens of entrepre... Show more

Elizabeth Okuneye

Elizabeth Okuneye

I’m a CX and product leader obsessed with designing experiences that feel as good as they work. From building customer journeys and operational systems from scratch, to driving adoption and loyalty with behavioral nudges—I help brands move with clarity, empathy, and intention.

Right now, I lead Customer Experience at Magnum Insight, where I shape service design and experience strategy across key touchpoints. I’ve worked across tech, AI, fintech, and immigration—especially in fast-moving environments where nothing existed before.

Whether it’s CX, ops, or product thinking, I care about structure that serves both customers and teams. I also mentor up-and-coming CX professionals and believe the best systems are the ones that make people feel seen.

I’m a CX and product leader obsessed with designing experiences that feel as good as they work. From building customer journeys and operational systems from scratch, to driving adoption and loyalty with behavioral nudges—I help brands move with clari... Show more

Contressa Oliver

Contressa Oliver

Meet celebrity hairstylist and barber, Contressa Oliver. As a published licensed master cosmetologist, barber, and instructor in the state of Georgia, Contressa is a serial entrepreneur and a mogul in the beauty industry. While working for companies such as the very popular Regis Corporation, Contressa has earned a reputation in the beauty industry and is a member of the Professional Beauty Association. As an educator for the Bronner Bros. International Beauty Show, Contressa is able to showcase her skills while continuously spreading her knowledge to cosmetologists and instructors worldwide. Her work has been featured on MSN and Rolling Out.

With over 25 years under her belt, Contressa teaches for the Georgia Department of Education and for the Technical College System of Georgia. "As a high school educator, teaching the cosmetology pathway is a great way for students to not only get a jump start on earning college credits but also a great opportunity for students to gain knowledge and hands-on experience. Students graduate from high school with a certificate(s), diploma, and/or an associate’s degree that allows them to go straight into their career field.

"Teaching post-secondary education allows me to prep students for their state board licensure exams and teach them the rules and regulations of their state. My number one priority is building their confidence, pushing them to their highest potential, and helping them accomplish their goals. I’ve served as a judge and advisor for Georgia’s SkillsUSA Cosmetology for the past two years. By having experience in both areas, I can properly train students for regional, state, and national competitions."

Contressa is the founder and CEO of Noble Glam Hair Collection LLC, an e-commerce beauty supply store that services customers worldwide. She is also the founder of REVILO Gives, Inc., a nonprofit organization that bridges the gap between beauty and wellness and shares helpful articles for men and women to spread awareness on ways to increase inward health, leading to longer outward beauty.

Meet celebrity hairstylist and barber, Contressa Oliver. As a published licensed master cosmetologist, barber, and instructor in the state of Georgia, Contressa is a serial entrepreneur and a mogul in the beauty industry. While working for companie... Show more

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