William P Billy Davis is Executive Director of Bronzeville Community Development Partnership (BCDP), a Chicago-based nonprofit advancing preservation, economic revitalization, and clean mobility innovation in the historic Bronzeville Black Metropolis National Heritage Area community. Under his leadership, BCDP has developed initiatives spanning cultural tourism, smart mobility infrastructure, and zero-emission transportation, positioning Bronzeville as a model “Community of the Future.” His work integrates heritage preservation with climate-forward economic development strategies that expand equitable access to emerging technologies.

William P Billy Davis is Executive Director of Bronzeville Community Development Partnership (BCDP), a Chicago-based nonprofit advancing preservation, economic revitalization, and clean mobility innovation in the historic Bronzeville Black Metropolis... Show more

Fred Drapari is a digital security practitioner and a technology enthusiast working at the intersection of civic space, human rights protection, and technology. His work is shaped by close, hands-on engagement with civil society organisations, journalists, and land and environmental defenders operating under persistent digital risk, surveillance, and disruption. He focuses on digital resilience, organisational security, secure digital infrastructure, and digital accessibility, translating complex technical threats into practical tools, security clinics, audits, and trainings grounded in the lived realities of frontline actors. His work is guided by a clear conviction that technology is never neutral, and that access, power, and accountability must be confronted directly if digital systems are to serve the public good rather than quietly exclude or expose people to harm.

Fred Drapari is a digital security practitioner and a technology enthusiast working at the intersection of civic space, human rights protection, and technology. His work is shaped by close, hands-on engagement with civil society organisations, journa... Show more

My name is Richard Conway. I'm a Microsoft Regional Director and Microsoft Most Valuable Professional in Azure. I'm a Director of Elastacloud which is a Data Science consultancy working across key business sectors such as retail, finance, engineering and others.

As well as my role in business, I'm an author of books and courses and a key contributor to Apache open source projects with a love for all things cloud and data. Over the years I've become proficient in C++, C#, Java, Scala, Python and R and I mix and match these skills for my customers and community on a daily basis.

I love speaking to new audiences on aspects of cloud, data science and data platform and have spoken all across Europe over the last few years.

I'm a strong advocate of communities and over the years founded @ukazure and a few others.

As an advocate for child education in IT I've been working closely with Code Club in the UK. My most recent community contribution has been AzureCraft, an annual two day event for developers, parents and kids to teach the Cloud and Programming through Minecraft.

My name is Richard Conway. I'm a Microsoft Regional Director and Microsoft Most Valuable Professional in Azure. I'm a Director of Elastacloud which is a Data Science consultancy working across key business sectors such as retail, finance, engineering... Show more

Harikuttan Kochukunju is a global PMO and enterprise delivery transformation leader with over two decades of experience driving governance, portfolio management, and strategic execution across consulting, insurance, healthcare, engineering, and financial services. Recognized as a PMO Leader of the Year finalist, he has architected governance frameworks for portfolios exceeding $500M and led cross-functional teams of 20–100+ professionals to deliver measurable business outcomes. With certifications spanning PMP, DASSM, PRINCE2, ITIL, and CISA, Harikuttan blends operational rigor with visionary thinking, championing AI-first enterprise transformation, carbon-conscious PMO practices, and volunteer-driven impact. His passion lies in empowering organizations to scale responsibly, align strategy with delivery, and inspire communities through authentic leadership.

Harikuttan Kochukunju is a global PMO and enterprise delivery transformation leader with over two decades of experience driving governance, portfolio management, and strategic execution across consulting, insurance, healthcare, engineering, and finan... Show more

Suyash has helped in setting up projects and businesses including Codevigor (a startup specialized in the development of blockchain applications), Horizon Africa (a blockchain focused on NFTs and Metaverses), StoragePlus (the first commercial Blockchain Application in Mauritius), Loot NFT (an international NFT Metaverse project) and many other businesses in the last 8 years.

Suyash has helped in setting up projects and businesses including Codevigor (a startup specialized in the development of blockchain applications), Horizon Africa (a blockchain focused on NFTs and Metaverses), StoragePlus (the first commercial Blockch... Show more

Yuri Nijsen is a seasoned digital leader. CTO at the largest independent software vendor of Zeeland, (The Netherlands). On a mission to enable skilled trades workers to work more effective and assist them in changing the world to become more sustainable and transition to renewable energy solutions.

Yuri Nijsen is a seasoned digital leader. CTO at the largest independent software vendor of Zeeland, (The Netherlands). On a mission to enable skilled trades workers to work more effective and assist them in changing the world to become more sustaina... Show more

Passionate, solution-oriented, and creative platform engineer.

Passionate, solution-oriented, and creative platform engineer. Show more

In 2017, Tom Sherman discovered the 5th season of the year after nearly a decade of studying timekeeping and measurement systems. He then spent the next 3 years deconstructing the Gregorian Calendar and re-engineering a New Calendar system using modern math, science and logic that divides time evenly, precisely, and accurately, for the first time in the history of time. With humor, philosophy, and curiosity, Tom is able to expand your perception of reality and uncover new systems and patterns that are currently hiding in plain sight.

In 2017, Tom Sherman discovered the 5th season of the year after nearly a decade of studying timekeeping and measurement systems. He then spent the next 3 years deconstructing the Gregorian Calendar and re-engineering a New Calendar system using mode... Show more

Florence is all about making the digital world work for everyone, especially where technology, disability, and gender intersect.

Florence is all about making the digital world work for everyone, especially where technology, disability, and gender intersect. Show more

Shel Winkley is Climate Central's Weather & Climate Engagement Specialist, helping storytellers connect climate change to daily weather. He empowers accurate storytelling that shows audiences how warming affects their communities. Shel brings 17 years of broadcast meteorology experience, including nearly 15 as Chief Meteorologist at KBTX (CBS) in Bryan-College Station, Texas. He holds a B.S. in Meteorology from Texas A&M and is a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist.

Shel Winkley is Climate Central's Weather & Climate Engagement Specialist, helping storytellers connect climate change to daily weather. He empowers accurate storytelling that shows audiences how warming affects their communities. Shel brings 17 year... Show more

Mike Ullrich ist Managing Consultant bei der Objektkultur. Neben den 13 Jahren Erfahrungen im Projektgeschäft mit Microsoft Cloud Technologien zieht er seine Erfahrung aus 9 Jahren in einem KI-Start-Up, aus der Gründung und Skalierung eines eigenen Unternehmens. Sein Fokus ist Dynamics 365 Customer Experience, Power Platform und Copilot Studio.

Mike Ullrich ist Managing Consultant bei der Objektkultur. Neben den 13 Jahren Erfahrungen im Projektgeschäft mit Microsoft Cloud Technologien zieht er seine Erfahrung aus 9 Jahren in einem KI-Start-Up, aus der Gründung und Skalierung eines eigenen U... Show more

Elie Alhajjar, PhD, is a Senior Scientist at RAND, leading projects at the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, and government. Prior to that, he was an Associate Professor at the United States Military Academy and a Senior Research Scientist at the Army Cyber Institute in West Point, New York. Previously, Alhajjar served as a Research Scientist in the Computing and Communications Theory Group at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Maryland. He holds a PhD in applied mathematics from George Mason University.

Elie Alhajjar, PhD, is a Senior Scientist at RAND, leading projects at the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, and government. Prior to that, he was an Associate Professor at the United States Military Academy and a Senior Research Scientist at the Ar... Show more

Cette session va mettre en lumière la sororité, le soutien et l'activisme en ligne en montrant comment le numérique peut être un outil de mobilisation féministe et d'inclusion, et aussi en donnant des astuces pour assurer la sécurité en ligne tout en créant des stratégies concrètes pour contrer la violence en ligne et la désinformation genrée par le féministe avec un approche sororale.
Il sera question de mettre en lumière des témoignages, analyses d'expertises et sessions collaboratives pour produire des recommandations pratiques pour toutes parties prenantes dans le secteur du numérique.
Crispine Ngena, jeune autochtone, est une Juriste en droit public interne et international, qui a forgé sa pensée dans le droit international humanitaire et des droits humains. Elle est engagée dans L’écoféminisme et les droits numériques.
Expertise de terrains :
1. Pour la paix dans l’Est de la RDC : Nommée Ambassadrice pour la paix par la MONUSCO en 2025, Crispine combat sur la ligne de front de l’information. Dans une région meurtrie où la désinformation est une arme de guerre, elle milite pour un numérique responsable, factuel et apaisant. Elle travaille à déconstruire les récits toxiques et à favoriser une cohabitation pacifique, faisant du digital un espace de médiation et de dialogue.
2. Pour l’autonomie économique des femmes : Avec son initiative de transformation et de commercialisation de café bio « Mwenga », elle lie directement écologie, économie et empowerment. Ce projet démontre comment des circuits courts et transparents, potentiellement optimisés par des outils numériques adaptés.
3. la protection de l'environnement et les droits des femmes autochtones et marginalisées

Cette session va mettre en lumière la sororité, le soutien et l'activisme en ligne en montrant comment le numérique peut être un outil de mobilisation féministe et d'inclusion, et aussi en donnant des astuces pour assurer la sécurité en ligne tout en... Show more

Ashwin Prakash Nalwade is a Machine Learning Engineer with a strong track record across early-stage (Pre-seed, Series A) and late-stage (Series E) startups, complemented by research, teaching, and entrepreneurial experiences at NYU. As a founding ML engineer, he has built systems from 0→1, including large-scale data pipelines with significant cost savings. He also co-authored a research paper on wildfire spread prediction models, cited over 50 times, which has gained renewed relevance amid recent wildfire events in Los Angeles.

https://github.com/ashwinpn
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=mHMnqNQAAAAJ&hl

Ashwin Prakash Nalwade is a Machine Learning Engineer with a strong track record across early-stage (Pre-seed, Series A) and late-stage (Series E) startups, complemented by research, teaching, and entrepreneurial experiences at NYU. As a founding ML ... Show more

Gideon Adeyemi is a technology entrepreneur, product and technology leader, and Co-founder of Yana, a fintech platform serving 50,000+ SMEs. Recognised as a “Global UX Expert” by The Guardian, he has built products like COVr ($5B+ processed) and Gemspay, while championing AI, accessibility innovations, and sustainable technology. Gideon mentors future innovators and drives innovative, inclusive tech that delivers seamless product and enterprise experiences.

Gideon Adeyemi is a technology entrepreneur, product and technology leader, and Co-founder of Yana, a fintech platform serving 50,000+ SMEs. Recognised as a “Global UX Expert” by The Guardian, he has built products like COVr ($5B+ processed) and Gems... Show more

Doudou BA is Senegalese, Founder and CEO of OneNine, a Swedish Startup focused on AI data infrastructure for low-resource (African) languages, supplying training data to AI tier labs such as OpenAI, Google, Meta, Anthropic... His vision: make AI truly global so anyone can communicate with technology in their native language.
He also serves as Operations Research Scientist at A.P. Moller-Maersk, building intelligent systems across 200+ countries. His PhD at Charles University Prague focused on deep learning for environmental modeling. Publications in Journal of Hydroinformatics (2025) and Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics.

more: https://www.doudouba.tech/

Doudou BA is Senegalese, Founder and CEO of OneNine, a Swedish Startup focused on AI data infrastructure for low-resource (African) languages, supplying training data to AI tier labs such as OpenAI, Google, Meta, Anthropic... His vision: make AI trul... Show more

Accomplished executive and visionary leader, recognized as one of the top women in Web3 and AI by Unstoppable Women of Web3/AI and shortlisted by Wirex for Best Founder. With a distinguished track record in immersive entertainment, blockchain, and decentralized tech education, Stacy has built and scaled transformative ventures, including the first fully immersive, technology-driven entertainment complex in the U.S. and pioneering blockchain platforms in education and entertainment. A leader in tokenizing ticketing, streaming educational content on-chain, and using NFTs as souvenirs for events, she has also driven initiatives to fund artists and release new music through blockchain-backed models, enabling creators to connect directly with audiences and unlock new revenue streams. Known for driving strategic growth, building influential partnerships, and leading high-profile, tech-driven projects, Stacy excels at creating transformative opportunities within the Web3 space across industries. Skilled in investor relations, brand positioning, and team development, she is dedicated to reshaping the future of tech, entertainment, and decentralized learning, empowering communities, and fostering innovation in high-growth sectors.

Accomplished executive and visionary leader, recognized as one of the top women in Web3 and AI by Unstoppable Women of Web3/AI and shortlisted by Wirex for Best Founder. With a distinguished track record in immersive entertainment, blockchain, and de... Show more

Gerod Carfantan is a Managing Partner at Sente Ventures, an investment platform that invests globally in startups in the Industrial Circular Economy, Mobility, Logistics, AgTech and Energy domains. He joined Sente in 2016, holds board director positions at several startup companies and has also co-invested as an angel investor with Sente’s program startups. Prior to his role at Sente , Gerod was a management consultant and business development manager at Cisco Systems, and led partnerships, solution development and IT services engagements at technology companies such as VMware, Siemens and EMC. He received his MBA from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alberta.

Gerod Carfantan is a Managing Partner at Sente Ventures, an investment platform that invests globally in startups in the Industrial Circular Economy, Mobility, Logistics, AgTech and Energy domains. He joined Sente in 2016, holds board director posit... Show more

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

With six years of experience with Microsoft services, and being Microsoft Innovative Educator, I am crazy about AI and innovative technologies ⚙️
Areas of Expertise:
Azure AI Services, GitHub, Power Platform, Internet of Things (IoT) and Programming. Practical knowledge in Virtual & Mixed Reality and Quantum Computing 💡

With six years of experience with Microsoft services, and being Microsoft Innovative Educator, I am crazy about AI and innovative technologies ⚙️ Areas of Expertise: Azure AI Services, GitHub, Power Platform, Internet of Things (IoT) and Programmi... Show more

Akweley Abena Okai is a digital marketer and co-founder of Beeva AI, an AI-powered skincare platform transforming personal care through technology designed specifically for people of color. With half a decade of experience helping tech companies build community and partnerships, she's become a recognized voice in AI, wellness, and human-centered marketing.
As host of "Building Bytes" podcast and through her work at Beeva AI, Akweley has gained unique insights into building confidence-boosting AI solutions while maintaining the personal touch wellness applications require. Her approach focuses on creating inclusive AI systems that underrepresented communities actually want to use and trust.
Her expertise spans digital marketing, project management, and community building for tech startups. At DevFest Berlin 2025, she'll share actionable lessons from building AI that puts human confidence first, with practical frameworks developers can apply across industries.

Akweley Abena Okai is a digital marketer and co-founder of Beeva AI, an AI-powered skincare platform transforming personal care through technology designed specifically for people of color. With half a decade of experience helping tech companies buil... Show more

Alex Mwangi is a results-driven software engineer with strong expertise in web, mobile, and system development, actively building at the intersection of blockchain, artificial intelligence, and social impact. Over the past few years, he has evolved from hands-on development to leading projects that blend clean architecture, scalability, and real-world problem-solving.

Alex's technical experience spans frontend frameworks, backend systems, DevOps and modern security practices, with a foundation in cybersecurity from CyberTalents and IBM Cybersecurity programs. He has played key roles in team leadership, mentoring developers and streamlining development workflows for better collaboration and faster delivery.

Passionate about leveraging emerging technologies to address African challenges, Alex continues to integrate security-first thinking into every development stage and is driven by a commitment to continuous learning, innovation, and building technology that empowers communities.

Alex Mwangi is a results-driven software engineer with strong expertise in web, mobile, and system development, actively building at the intersection of blockchain, artificial intelligence, and social impact. Over the past few years, he has evolved f... Show more

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

Aliu Toheeb Olaitan is a Tech Educator, Innovator, and the Lead Partner at Bravpuls Technologies. With expertise in Blockchain, AI, and Web Development, he is passionate about emerging technologies and their intersection with education and community development, empowering individuals to embrace tech-driven solutions for a sustainable future.

Aliu Toheeb Olaitan is a Tech Educator, Innovator, and the Lead Partner at Bravpuls Technologies. With expertise in Blockchain, AI, and Web Development, he is passionate about emerging technologies and their intersection with education and community ... Show more

Consultant en management des systèmes d’information avec une spécialisation dans la gestion de programmes digitaux, la transformation d’organisation (agilité à l'échelle) et l’amélioration de processus (ISO 9001 et ITIL)

Dans mon travail, j'aime accompagner les directions informatiques et métiers à relever leurs défis :
- Réduire le time to market, augmenter la qualité, améliorer l’engagement des équipes
- Optimiser la productivité
- Accompagner les équipes (de 8 à 500 personnes) à transformer leur organisation, en utilisant les Valeurs et Principes Agile
- Aider les directions à revoir leurs modes de décision et leur système de gouvernance (Value Stream Mapping et Lean-Budget)

Consultant en management des systèmes d’information avec une spécialisation dans la gestion de programmes digitaux, la transformation d’organisation (agilité à l'échelle) et l’amélioration de processus (ISO 9001 et ITIL) Dans mon travail, j'aime a... Show more

My expertise lies in leading Agile Release Trains and overseeing operations upstream & downstream as a Scrum Master then Release Train Engineer, I am committed to executing projects that align with our mission of delivering innovative solutions. My role enables me to contribute diverse perspectives to our dynamic team, while my drive for excellence and passion for technology guide our collective efforts towards strategic objectives.

My current focus involves managing multiple release planning sessions, which are integral to our product and platform development. In this role, I leverage my skills in Agile scrum, project management and ICT project management to ensure that our Agile processes run smoothly. My background as a Release Manager and Change Management Contributor has equipped me with the acumen to address technical challenges proactively, streamline operations, and enforce stringent risk mitigation protocols.

My expertise lies in leading Agile Release Trains and overseeing operations upstream & downstream as a Scrum Master then Release Train Engineer, I am committed to executing projects that align with our mission of delivering innovative solutions. My ... Show more

My main focus these days is building accessible, inclusive products and digital experiences for a variety of clients. I most enjoy working on projects that challenge me to learn something new and push me to grow as a developer.

When I'm not at the computer, I'm usually reading tech blogs, exploring new technologies, or learning about system design and architecture patterns.

My main focus these days is building accessible, inclusive products and digital experiences for a variety of clients. I most enjoy working on projects that challenge me to learn something new and push me to grow as a developer. When I'm not at the... Show more

Chewie is a dynamic force in the worlds of marketing, gaming, and blockchain innovation. As a seasoned marketing strategist, Chewie crafts compelling narratives that bridge traditional strategies with cutting-edge digital ecosystems. A veteran semi-pro gamer, Chewie has a deep history in gaming having managed e-sports teams and running a large gaming community in the past, dominating leaderboards or driving community growth.

Chewie is the co-founder of @OnChainBrits, a vibrant collective championing on-chain culture and British blockchain enthusiasts. In the kitchen of crypto creativity, he collaborate on @ChewieTech_xo whipping up innovative strategy solutions driving UX and functionality. Chewie is also a proud member of @AvaxTeam1 on the Avalanche network where he promotes decentralised finance and Web3 adoption.

With a knack for community-building and a passion for pixels-to-protocols, Chewie isn't just playing the game he is rewriting the rules.

Chewie is a dynamic force in the worlds of marketing, gaming, and blockchain innovation. As a seasoned marketing strategist, Chewie crafts compelling narratives that bridge traditional strategies with cutting-edge digital ecosystems. A veteran semi-p... Show more

Design engineer with almost three decades bridging design and code, Victor brings a typographer's precision to web development. As Design Lead, Tech Lead and founding member of the Equinor Design System, he pursues print-quality typography on the web—applying optical and baseline grid alignment alongside algorithmically generated scales for both typography and colour. A champion of OKLCH and APCA for accessibility-first color systems, Victor believes that exceptional typography and accessibility aren't compromises but catalysts for better digital experiences.

Design engineer with almost three decades bridging design and code, Victor brings a typographer's precision to web development. As Design Lead, Tech Lead and founding member of the Equinor Design System, he pursues print-quality typography on the web... Show more

Results-Driven Marketing Strategist | Expertise in Product Marketing, GTM, Market Research & Gen AI/LLM Technologies

Results-Driven Marketing Strategist | Expertise in Product Marketing, GTM, Market Research & Gen AI/LLM Technologies Show more