Daniele Mario Areddu is a young Italian technologist, international conference speaker, Backend and AI Developer at Global Technologies Italia, and Computer Science student at the University of Calabria.

Over the past two years, he has delivered around 30 technical talks across Europe, the United States and Central Asia, taking the stage in New York, Dallas, Madrid, Sofia, Bucharest, Tirana, Almaty and Bishkek, to name just a few. His sessions explore autonomous AI agents, Retrieval-Augmented Generation, LLM-powered applications, cloud-to-edge architectures and production-ready backend systems.

Daniele develops AI-powered applications and scalable backend services using Python, Flask, Node.js and REST APIs. His experience also includes PySpark, Microsoft Fabric and Power Platform, with a focus on integrating agentic AI, contextual retrieval and on-device intelligence into real-world software architectures.

Passionate about Artificial Intelligence, youth empowerment, community building and knowledge sharing, he is the founder and Community Lead of Velletri.dev. Through meetups and technical initiatives, he creates opportunities for young people, students and developers to connect, exchange ideas and grow together.

Daniele Mario Areddu is a young Italian technologist, international conference speaker, Backend and AI Developer at Global Technologies Italia, and Computer Science student at the University of Calabria. Over the past two years, he has delivered a... Show more

They call me Shortcut Shari...Why? I believe we should all work smarter, not harder and I love keyboards shortcuts. I've been using SharePoint since before it was even called SharePoint and I'm excited to share my knowledge and expertise who are as excited as technology as I am. I know stuff and I love to SHARE it!

My focus is the "People Side of Change". As a Microsoft 365 Solutions Architect and Consultant that grew up right along with SharePoint, my practical knowledge of the Microsoft Productivity stack coupled with my passion for empowerment via learning makes me an excellent resource as a consultant and evangelist for Microsoft 365. My philosophies for information architecture and SharePoint design are centered on solving business challenges with technology and ensuring usability and adoption for the organization.

As for my experience, I'm a Microsoft Certified Trainer, a Microsoft Certified Specialist Master, consultant, presenter, author and evangelist. When I'm not architecting SharePoint magic as a consultant, I'm in the classroom or creating online learning for LinkedIN Learning, ClipTraining.com and Pluralsight. Join me for my sessions, I promise they will not only be informative, but they will also be FUN!

They call me Shortcut Shari...Why? I believe we should all work smarter, not harder and I love keyboards shortcuts. I've been using SharePoint since before it was even called SharePoint and I'm excited to share my knowledge and expertise who are as ... Show more

Jerry Nixon is a Principal Product Manager in Microsoft Data & AI on the Developer Experiences and Community Enablement team, championing data integrity and agentic safety. He focuses on practical engineering and maintainable architectures that safeguard operational data. With more than two decades of experience, Jerry is an engineer at heart, a university CS professor, and a regular speaker & author who has trained thousands of developers throughout his career.

Jerry Nixon is a Principal Product Manager in Microsoft Data & AI on the Developer Experiences and Community Enablement team, championing data integrity and agentic safety. He focuses on practical engineering and maintainable architectures that safeg... Show more

An AI Specialist and Wizard at Leading EDJE who is known to teach software engineering, AI, and data science concepts in the most ridiculous ways possible. Matthew-Hope has used machine learning to settle debates over whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie, reinforcement learning to drive the behavior of digital squirrels, data analytics to suggest improvements to his favorite TV show, and AI agents to play board games and create an AI agent with the personality of a dog. Matthew-Hope is the author of "Practical C# Projects with .NET", "Refactoring with C#", and "Data Science in .NET with Polyglot Notebooks", several entries in the Game AI Uncovered anthology, and a pair of LinkedIn Learning courses. They help organize the Central Ohio .NET Developer Group, run several blogs and a YouTube channel, and hold a Master’s of Science in Data Analytics and a growing number of Microsoft MVP awards.

An AI Specialist and Wizard at Leading EDJE who is known to teach software engineering, AI, and data science concepts in the most ridiculous ways possible. Matthew-Hope has used machine learning to settle debates over whether Die Hard is a Christmas ... Show more

Dr. Maryleen Amaizu is a seasoned machine learning engineer and AI specialist with extensive experience developing privacy-aware AI and data solutions across diverse domains including healthcare, finance, public sector, and beyond. She holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Leicester, where she focused on privacy-preserving machine learning systems.

At Redgate Software, Maryleen builds privacy-aware AI-integrated software to ensure compliance and safe test data sharing. She has worked on synthetic data generation, text anonymisation, LLM-based masking dataset generation, intelligent PII classification, and privacy evaluation framework.

Her expertise and impact have been recognized with several accolades, including the AI Champion of the Year award by Bupa Everywoman in Technology in 2025 and the Excellence Award in Data Protection and Information Privacy from the Young CISO Network in 2022.

Dr. Maryleen Amaizu is a seasoned machine learning engineer and AI specialist with extensive experience developing privacy-aware AI and data solutions across diverse domains including healthcare, finance, public sector, and beyond. She holds a PhD in... Show more

Hafedh is an independent consultant, coach and trainer based in Paris. For over 13 years he has worked inside organisations going through large-scale agile transformations, Lean and flow improvement, and now AI adoption.

He looks at change through two lenses: systemic practice from the Palo Alto school, and the cognitive science of learning, as a certified Training from the Back of the Room trainer. He has spoken at many conferences worldwide.

His current question: how do organisations protect their capacity to learn and adapt when technology moves faster than people can absorb it? His sessions start with an experience participants live through, then give them tools they can use the very next day.

Hafedh is an independent consultant, coach and trainer based in Paris. For over 13 years he has worked inside organisations going through large-scale agile transformations, Lean and flow improvement, and now AI adoption. He looks at change through... Show more

David Campbell is the former Head of AI Security Research at Scale AI, where he architected and lead some of the most advanced AI red teaming and resilience programs in the world. A two-decade veteran of Silicon Valley, David built his career at the intersection of infrastructure, security, and developer experience before becoming one of the industry’s most trusted voices on AI risk.

He pioneered Discovery, one of the first and largest large-scale AI Red Teaming platforms deployed across governments and Fortune 100 companies. His work has shaped how organizations probe, stress-test, and harden generative models against real adversaries, operational failures, and emergent behavior.

David’s expertise is sought globally. He has briefed the U.S. Congress, the White House, U.K. Parliament, NATO, Korea AISI, UK AISI, Qatar NCSA, and senior public-sector leaders on AI risk, misuse, and national resilience. He is a founding member of OWASP AIVSS and a core member of AIUC-1, the industry consortium defining how enterprises evaluate, insure, and underwrite AI systems. He also contributes to collaborative defense efforts such as CISA’s JCDC.AI series on AI-driven cyber threats.

Before Scale, David shaped platform security and engineering culture at Uber, DoorDash, and Nest Labs, where he built systems and practices that scaled to thousands of engineers. Across his career, he has been recognized for turning fragmented engineering environments into resilient, high-trust, high-standards organizations.

Today, David helps companies bridge the gap between rapid AI innovation and enterprise-grade safety. His mission is simple: align technology with the future of the business, and ensure that AI systems are deployed responsibly, securely, and with confidence.

David Campbell is the former Head of AI Security Research at Scale AI, where he architected and lead some of the most advanced AI red teaming and resilience programs in the world. A two-decade veteran of Silicon Valley, David built his career at the ... Show more

Maurizio is a CTO, Solution Architect, and AWS Hero based in Basilicata, Italy. With a technical core rooted in Java, Python, and Django, he blends deep architectural expertise with a decade of experience in Project Management and community leadership.

As the founder of the AWS User Group Basilicata and co-founder of 'Come To Code'—the largest IT conference in Southern Italy—Maurizio is a driving force in the Italian tech ecosystem. He also leads GDG Basilicata and the PLUG (Pignola Linux User Group), where he has spent over 10 years promoting Open Source culture and digital literacy.

Maurizio’s mission is to prove that innovation knows no boundaries. Whether speaking at international stages or hosting local meetups, he focuses on bridging the gap between high-level cloud innovation and regional territories. He believes that real progress happens through human connection and is dedicated to fostering inclusive spaces where tech hubs can thrive anywhere—from major cities to small mountain villages.

Maurizio is a CTO, Solution Architect, and AWS Hero based in Basilicata, Italy. With a technical core rooted in Java, Python, and Django, he blends deep architectural expertise with a decade of experience in Project Management and community leadershi... Show more

Dr. Joe Perez is a game-changing professional who has made an impressive impact on the world of IT, health & human services, and higher education. With advanced degrees in education, Joe started his career as an educator and continued to further his education by earning a doctorate in education with a double minor in computers and theology. His career focus changed to IT in the early 1990’s when he started working as a Computer Consultant at NC State University. Three promotions later, Dr. Perez ended his successful 25-year career at NC State as Business Intelligence Specialist when he took another promotion to become Senior Business Analyst at the NC Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) in the fall of 2017.

Notably, Dr. Perez has been featured on multiple billboards in the iconic Times Square, a testament to his remarkable achievements and influence worldwide. This recognition, along with his Top 10 Global Thought Leader Rankings in IT Strategy & Big Data on Thinkers360 for four consecutive years (2023 through 2026) and Gartner Peer Community Ambassador of the Year (2023-2024), reflect his dedication and impact in the industry.

Having achieved significant success throughout his career, Dr. Perez's accomplishments include being promoted to Senior Systems Specialist and Team Leader, a position he has excelled in while showcasing his expertise and leadership skills. In addition to his full-time analytics/BI leadership role at DHHS, Joe was named fractional Chief Technology Officer at a North Carolina firm in October 2020 and Strategy Director at InnovoraMind in March 2026. A prolific, Amazon bestselling author with multiple #1 new releases, more than 22,000 followers on LinkedIn, and several professional certifications, he has consistently proven to be a much sought-after resource, highly-recommended international keynote speaker, data analytics & visualization expert, and specialist in efficiency and process improvement.

Perez, a recipient of the IOT Industry Insights 2021 Thought Leader of the Year award, speaks at numerous conferences each year, and continues to be in high demand to this day, expanding his reach into dozens of countries around the globe, impacting thousands. Thanks to these outstanding accomplishments and influential presence as a leading expert in the industry, Dr. Perez has been welcomed into several prestigious Thought Leader communities. He was recently inducted into both the IIBA Bluegrass Hall of Fame and the United Nations Global Network of Data Officers and Statisticians and was selected to be a Distinguished Fellow in the Public Sector Network's Future Government Institute.

Dr. Perez's passion for teaching has never waned, whether as a speaker, workshop facilitator, podcast guest, conference emcee, or team leader; inspiring countless individuals to strive for excellence. He cherishes spending time with his wife and children, who he considers to be the "best things that ever happened to me." Besides being a gifted musician, singer, pianist, and composer, Joe serves in his church's Hispanic ministry. He even manages to publish a monthly military newsletter, The Patriot News, which has gained widespread recognition. His unwavering commitment to his community is an inspiration to all. To stay in shape, Perez hits the gym, and he loves watching Star Trek reruns to relax. "I'm a firm believer that if I'm not innovating, then I'm stagnating," says Joe. His devotion to innovation, his boundless energy, and his constant drive for excellence are the hallmarks of a truly exceptional individual, thus making Dr. Joe a perfect fit to inspire and engage your audience, leaving a lasting impact on your event.

Dr. Joe Perez is a game-changing professional who has made an impressive impact on the world of IT, health & human services, and higher education. With advanced degrees in education, Joe started his career as an educator and continued to further his ... Show more

Himanshu Goil is a technology founder, CEO, global speaker, and AI thought leader focused on implementing artificial intelligence in regulated and public sector environments. As the CEO of Ignatiuz and founder of TechForGov, he focuses on bringing practical, scalable, and ethical AI to organizations that want to modernize the way they work and serve their communities. He has built and exited ventures such as MyLink and Accelance Partners, along with launching products like ScoutFoto and WebTalkx.

Himanshu is the creator of IGNA®, an AI platform designed to help governments, schools, and enterprises adopt Agentic AI systems with trust, structure, and measurable outcomes.

With more than two decades of experience across SaaS development, cloud modernization, and intelligent automation, he has led transformation programs for local governments, school districts, nonprofit organizations, and global enterprises. He is a frequent speaker at technology and AI conferences, where he shares insights on Responsible AI, AI governance, and the practical rise of Agentic AI.

Himanshu Goil is a technology founder, CEO, global speaker, and AI thought leader focused on implementing artificial intelligence in regulated and public sector environments. As the CEO of Ignatiuz and founder of TechForGov, he focuses on bringing ... Show more

For more than three decades, Dave has been building database‑driven applications, teaching developers, and energizing technical communities. A Microsoft Certified Trainer since 2001 and an eight‑time Microsoft MVP, he’s known for making complex topics click.

Dave runs three active user groups—MAD SharePoint, MACEME, and the Baltimore Cloud Meetup—where he brings people together across the SharePoint, cybersecurity, and cloud ecosystems.

At DSA, Inc., Dave supports U.S. Army missions at Aberdeen Proving Ground through SharePoint training and custom application development. His certification wall includes MCSD App Builder, MCSE for SharePoint, and MCSA SQL Server.

When he’s not building solutions, he’s teaching the next generation of technologists at UMD’s iSchool, Towson University, and Stevenson University.

He also co‑hosts PatrickPerspective.com, where he and his daughter Sarah share their sometimes‑aligned, sometimes‑hilariously‑different takes on technology.

For more than three decades, Dave has been building database‑driven applications, teaching developers, and energizing technical communities. A Microsoft Certified Trainer since 2001 and an eight‑time Microsoft MVP, he’s known for making complex topic... Show more

Samir Makwana empowers enterprises and government agencies to harness the full power of Microsoft Cloud—and especially its cutting-edge AI stack—to build secure, value-driven businesses. With 17 years as a software developer, pre-sales engineer, and solution architect, he’s architected end-to-end IT transformations that blend security, automation, and collaboration.

A true AI evangelist, Samir designs PoCs and production systems leveraging Azure AI services (Cognitive Services, Azure OpenAI, Semantic Kernel), Copilot Studio, and Power Platform AI—applying deep prompt engineering, vector search/RAG patterns, and grounding techniques to deliver next-gen user experiences. He’s integrated generative AI agents into Office 365 and custom apps, automated workflows with Power Automate and Logic Apps, and secured data with Zero Trust and Microsoft Purview.

As Founder & Principal Architect of Cloudtrify Inc., Samir crafts both short- and long-term cloud-native and AI solutions that drive ROI, user adoption, and maintainability—always with responsible AI and compliance top-of-mind.

Samir Makwana empowers enterprises and government agencies to harness the full power of Microsoft Cloud—and especially its cutting-edge AI stack—to build secure, value-driven businesses. With 17 years as a software developer, pre-sales engineer, and ... Show more

I’m Mati Armándola, an Information Security leader with over 20 years of experience in technology and more than a decade focused on asset protection, regulatory compliance, and organizational culture.

I speak internationally on AI security, risk and governance, offensive security, and awareness, at conferences such as DEF CON, Ekoparty, Nerdearla, and DevOpsDays. In 2026 I was recognized with the Best Talk award at Ekoparty’s AI Resilience Village. I’m also part of the organizing team for DevOpsDays Buenos Aires.

Beyond the stage, I train the next generation of professionals in security, cloud, and leadership across several institutions and educational platforms.

My motto: LEAD – TEACH – PROTECT

I’m Mati Armándola, an Information Security leader with over 20 years of experience in technology and more than a decade focused on asset protection, regulatory compliance, and organizational culture. I speak internationally on AI security, risk a... Show more

Lindsay is an MVP (Business Applications, M365 Copilot), MCT alumni, Digital Workplace Advisor, international speaker, and user group organizer who is committed to keeping business productive by embracing technology as a tool to problem-solve. Having worked in education for over half of her career, she understands that technology can be a challenge for many users, and she knows how to be a change agent, encouraging the reluctant to give it a try and the inexperienced to dive on in. Her roles as a Digital Workplace Advisor, Application Programmer, and technology consultant showcase her ability to excel in complex projects, while her active participation in the tech community highlights her commitment to knowledge sharing in formats such as speaking at events and blogging. Her aim is to empower makers to create and thrive while doing so in a secure, governed way.

Lindsay spent the last decade teaching English Language Arts and was selected to receive training to become a technology and pre-engineering teacher based on her aptitude for learning and adapting new technologies with her own students and colleagues.

She holds a BS in Secondary English Education from the University of Kansas and an MS in Curriculum and Instruction from Emporia State University.

In her spare time, Lindsay enjoys spending time with her two cats Charlie and Trixie, and marathoning a wide variety of television shows.

Lindsay is an MVP (Business Applications, M365 Copilot), MCT alumni, Digital Workplace Advisor, international speaker, and user group organizer who is committed to keeping business productive by embracing technology as a tool to problem-solve. Having... Show more

Dennie has experience in accessibility with Microsoft technologies. In daily life Dennie is president and developer at DDSoft, a nonprofit that connects IT to People who are less tech-savvy. Dennie works for more than 10 years in the intersection of the IT industry and the social industry and creates technical solutions and systems to help people with disabilities to participate in their daily life. Thanks to his autism he's the right man at the right spot to contribute as a volunteer in function of people with disabilities.

Dennie has experience in accessibility with Microsoft technologies. In daily life Dennie is president and developer at DDSoft, a nonprofit that connects IT to People who are less tech-savvy. Dennie works for more than 10 years in the intersection of ... Show more

Doing AI stuff since before it was cool!
• Developer / DBA / Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) focusing on Microsoft's Data Platform, AI, Azure, IoT and Security.
• Developing information and multimedia systems, DBA, project and IT management, for over 27 years.
• Speaker with over 350+ sessions delivered since 2015 at international conferences and community events (mostly in-person before pandemic times) on multiple technologies, Internet Governance and Human Rights, as well as volunteer and moderator.
• Organiser and founder at technical communities: IT Pro Portugal, PowerShell Portugal, Data Community Portugal, and multiple other online communities such as IPv6 Portugal, DNSSEC Portugal, etc.
• Organiser of technical events: Global AI Bootcamp Lisboa, Global Power Platform Bootcamp Lisboa, Ctrl-Alt-Shell, Ctrl-Alt-Xmas, Global Diversity CFP Day Lisboa, Power BI Roadshow Lisboa, Programar Saturday, Community Evenings, etc.
• Go to https://Andy.PT and you'll know the same as the NSA...

Note: The sessions listed below have been presented in at least one or more events. The list of events below only includes Sessionize-driven events.

Doing AI stuff since before it was cool! • Developer / DBA / Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) focusing on Microsoft's Data Platform, AI, Azure, IoT and Security. • Developing information and multimedia systems, DBA, project and IT management, for ... Show more

Lucky is an Executive and the Head of Specialised Consulting, Research and Development at BBD - a global bespoke software solutions firm. As a software engineer, he has experience in building and maintaining enterprise software in the banking, insurance, telecommunications and education sectors. Lucky is an educator, teaching Game Design and Computer Science at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg and is the co-organiser of the Johannesburg-based JavaScript-focused meetup: Jozi.JS.

Lucky is an Executive and the Head of Specialised Consulting, Research and Development at BBD - a global bespoke software solutions firm. As a software engineer, he has experience in building and maintaining enterprise software in the banking, insura... Show more

Zain Hasan is a Staff AI/ML DX Engineer at Together AI a company that allows people to train, fine-tune, and inference generative AI models faster, at lower cost, and at production scale. He is an engineer and data scientist by training, who pursued his undergraduate and graduate work at the University of Toronto building artificially intelligent assistive technologies. He then founded his company developing a digital health platform that leveraged machine learning to remotely monitor chronically ill patients. More recently he practiced as a consultant senior data scientist in Toronto. He is passionate about open-source software, education, community, and machine learning and has delivered workshops and talks at multiple events and conferences.

Zain Hasan is a Staff AI/ML DX Engineer at Together AI a company that allows people to train, fine-tune, and inference generative AI models faster, at lower cost, and at production scale. He is an engineer and data scientist by training, who pursued ... Show more

Emanuele is an entrepreneur, engineer, and researcher passionate about achieving impact with AI.

After earning his PhD in machine learning and working as a guest researcher at EPFL in Lausanne, he is now co-founder and Head of AI at xtream, a company that applies AI to solve complex business challenges. xtream was acquired by TeamSystem in September 2025.

Emanuele is also a professor of AI at the Catholic University of Milan and has been a guest lecturer at Italian, Swiss, and Polish universities.

He has published 8 papers in international journals with 175+ citations and contributed to over 30 international conferences, including AMLD Lausanne, ODSC London, WeAreDevelopers Berlin, PyData Berlin, PyData Paris, PyCon Italy, the Swiss Python Summit, and Codemotion Milan and Rome.

Emanuele is an entrepreneur, engineer, and researcher passionate about achieving impact with AI. After earning his PhD in machine learning and working as a guest researcher at EPFL in Lausanne, he is now co-founder and Head of AI at xtream, a comp... Show more

From humble beginnings in Brazil, Jeferson has reshaped his life via open-source, significantly impacting his family. With 20 years of OSS experience, he advocates for open-source, knowledge-sharing, and community growth. He runs a YouTube channel with 99k subscribers. His initiatives like "Chama as Mina" have trained 4000+ women in tech skills, and another program has empowered 1000+ black individuals with Docker, K8s, and Istio expertise. Jeferson holds CKA, CKAD, and RHCE certifications.

From humble beginnings in Brazil, Jeferson has reshaped his life via open-source, significantly impacting his family. With 20 years of OSS experience, he advocates for open-source, knowledge-sharing, and community growth. He runs a YouTube channel wi... Show more

I am a Microsoft MVP (Azure AI Platform), Microsoft Certified Trainer and a Technophilic! I like exploring technology, especially the Cloud, IoT, and Networking. I am more of an IT Infrastructure person than I am a Software Developer/Engineer, and even so, I like to code! I am pursuing a Master in Engineering Technology (Electrical and Electronics) at Universiti Kuala Lumpur, and my research objective is to integrate Cloud (Azure) functions into IoT applications. Putting all my technical experiences aside, I also like to lead, and my goal is to empower and contribute as much as possible to the community. Given my past experiences as a Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador, I have hosted countless events and workshops for my student community at my university. I also like creating tech-related videos (https://www.youtube.com/@suzarilshah) and blogs ( https://blog.suzarilshah.uk ).

I am a Microsoft MVP (Azure AI Platform), Microsoft Certified Trainer and a Technophilic! I like exploring technology, especially the Cloud, IoT, and Networking. I am more of an IT Infrastructure person than I am a Software Developer/Engineer, and ev... Show more

Andrew Madson leads Developer Relations at Perplexity, where he builds global programs that help developers and data teams adopt modern data and AI tooling. He has built DevRel, education, and evangelism functions at Fivetran, Tobiko Data, and Dremio, delivering technical content, large-scale community programs, and keynotes across major industry conferences.

Andrew is a published author of the O’Reilly “Definitive Guide to Apache Polaris” and a graduate professor of data science and engineering. Andrew previously led AI and data teams at Arizona State University, J.P. Morgan Chase, and MassMutual among others.

Andrew Madson leads Developer Relations at Perplexity, where he builds global programs that help developers and data teams adopt modern data and AI tooling. He has built DevRel, education, and evangelism functions at Fivetran, Tobiko Data, and Dremio... Show more

Amy Barthelemy is the solo founder of GovParti (govparti.org), a free civic intelligence platform covering all 3,127 US counties. The platform stores data from almost 50 federal sources locally, functioning as a living civic archive resilient to federal data removal. She is a published researcher (SSRN: 10928268), Latina first-generation American, military spouse, and mom.

Amy Barthelemy is the solo founder of GovParti (govparti.org), a free civic intelligence platform covering all 3,127 US counties. The platform stores data from almost 50 federal sources locally, functioning as a living civic archive resilient to fede... Show more

An MVP, solutions architect , Microsoft Certified Trainer with a passion for the Power Platform, M365 Copilot, GenAI, Azure technology.

Empowering enterprises to thrive with Microsoft Copilot & Modern Workplace AI solution frameworks to solve challenges and to drive impactful change across Health & Public Sector. I have an intense enthusiasm for technology and innovation along with its governance and security aspects. An advocate of women empowerment through Information Technology.

An MVP, solutions architect , Microsoft Certified Trainer with a passion for the Power Platform, M365 Copilot, GenAI, Azure technology. Empowering enterprises to thrive with Microsoft Copilot & Modern Workplace AI solution frameworks to solve chal... Show more

Ahlam Ansari has spent 17 years asking an uncomfortable question: Why do organizations trust AI systems they cannot explain? That question drives everything she does—from her PhD research in trustworthy and responsible AI to her work training professionals who have inherited AI tools they did not choose and do not fully understand. She is a member of MIT's Abdul Latif Jameel World Education Lab (J-WEL) and a Google Certified Educator, and her practice sits at the intersection of Explainable AI, data governance, and the kind of privacy-preserving design that actually holds up under GDPR scrutiny. Over 17 years she has moved between academia and applied technology—mentoring award-winning innovation teams, leading digital transformation efforts, and building methodologies for auditing AI outputs and tracing how automated decisions get made. The technical work matters, but what she is really doing is helping people stop taking AI on faith. Her sessions don't offer hype. They offer frameworks educators and leaders can use the week they return to school—grounded in research, tested in practice, and built around one belief: that AI is only as trustworthy as the people who understand it.

Ahlam Ansari has spent 17 years asking an uncomfortable question: Why do organizations trust AI systems they cannot explain? That question drives everything she does—from her PhD research in trustworthy and responsible AI to her work training profess... Show more

Adebunmi Adeola Akinbo, widely known as "Opomulero," is a distinguished leader in the African digital landscape with over two decades of expertise in internet governance and community empowerment. A visionary strategist operating from the grassroots, he serves as the ICANN At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) Representative for Africa and is the Vice President of the Internet Society (ISOC) Nigeria Chapter.

A trailblazer in the technical community, Adebunmi was the first African to serve as Vice-Chair of the Chapter Advisory Council (ChAC). As CEO of DNS World Media and Communications, Managing Director of KOBOKINGs Limited, and President, Success Bridge Community Development Foundation, he leverages technology to drive the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and poverty reduction strategies. From his base in a rural area, he provides free digital empowerment to citizens through two specialized online radio stations.

A recipient of the ICANN Paul Muchane Fellowship Award, Culture Ambassador and Digital Activist, Adebunmi is also an accomplished poet, researcher, and sportsman, dedicated to bridging the gap between global technology and local culture.

A polymath, and a champion for local content and global inclusion, connect with him on https://akinbo.ng.

Adebunmi Adeola Akinbo, widely known as "Opomulero," is a distinguished leader in the African digital landscape with over two decades of expertise in internet governance and community empowerment. A visionary strategist operating from the grassroots,... Show more

Andy Crotty is a TS/SCI-cleared cybersecurity professional with over a decade of experience in cyber threat detection, incident response, and security engineering across federal, financial, and enterprise environments. He currently serves as Sr CTI Analyst 3 with Leidos, supporting the Department of Homeland Security in a 24x7x365 NOSC environment. In this role, Andy leads high-impact investigations, develops and optimizes detection logic aligned to MITRE ATT&CK, and mentors junior analysts to strengthen operational readiness and cyber defense capabilities.

A U.S. Army Warrant Officer with over 15 years of military service, Andy has led teams in advanced persistent threat (APT) analysis, cyber threat hunting, and defensive operations for the Department of Defense. His civilian career includes senior roles in security operations for Wells Fargo and the State of Arizona Department of Homeland Security, where he enhanced detection strategies, streamlined incident response workflows, and strengthened enterprise security postures.

Beyond his operational work, Andy is passionate about cybersecurity community engagement and mentorship. At DEFCON 33, he served as a staff member for Noob Village, where he coordinated community-focused activities including volunteer outreach, CTF raffle setup, and securing sponsors to provide prizes. Through his YouTube channel GingerHacker and mentorship initiatives, Andy continues to guide aspiring cybersecurity professionals, sharing practical insights on breaking into the field, building technical skills, and navigating a rapidly evolving threat landscape.

Andy Crotty is a TS/SCI-cleared cybersecurity professional with over a decade of experience in cyber threat detection, incident response, and security engineering across federal, financial, and enterprise environments. He currently serves as Sr CTI A... Show more

Sammie Walker Herrera runs a public speaking coaching consultancy called Speak Y'all (yes, she's from Texas), leveraging 10+ years coaching leaders on their impromptu speaking, interviewing, and leadership skills. Her clients are senior leaders at companies like Amazon, IBM, Oracle, and Microsoft. She focuses on creating a fun, non-judgmental space for folks to hone their speaking strengths. Sammie is a Certified ADHD Coach through the ADD Coach Academy & the International Coaching Federation. She is passionate about supporting fellow neurodivergent professionals. Sammie earned two Bachelor's degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and a Master's of Arts in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Slippery Rock University. Sammie is also a Latin dance instructor and performs improv comedy.

Sammie Walker Herrera runs a public speaking coaching consultancy called Speak Y'all (yes, she's from Texas), leveraging 10+ years coaching leaders on their impromptu speaking, interviewing, and leadership skills. Her clients are senior leaders at co... Show more

Melissa Hale is a Power Platform Developer who transitioned from pursuing a PhD in venom and parasite research to finding a more fulfilling career and work-life balance in tech. With a strong background in SharePoint, Power Automate and Canvas Apps, Melissa has transformed business practices in both start ups and large firms. Beyond her professional role, she dedicates her expertise to the charity "Collaboration for Kids," enhancing their operations through the Power Platform. Based in Liverpool, United Kingdom, Melissa is enthusiastic about learning and growing within the Power Platform community. Melissa is dedicated to leveraging ethical AI and responsible technology to create meaningful and efficient solutions for organisations.

Melissa Hale is a Power Platform Developer who transitioned from pursuing a PhD in venom and parasite research to finding a more fulfilling career and work-life balance in tech. With a strong background in SharePoint, Power Automate and Canvas Apps, ... Show more

Naga Santhosh Reddy Vootukuri, a seasoned professional with over 17+ years at Microsoft, reflects on his journey from India to the USA. Graduating from Sreenidhi Institute of Science and Technology in 2008, he now serves as a Senior Software Engineering Manager for Azure SQL. His role involves leading his team through software development cycles, ensuring successful product launches.

Currently, Naga focuses on a significant initiative in Azure SQL Deployment, emphasizing high availability for SQL customers during feature rollouts. Previously, he managed Master Data Services (MDS) within SQL Server, gaining community connections and contributing actively to Microsoft forums.

Aside from technical responsibilities, Naga engages in Microsoft hackathons and mentors junior engineers, finding fulfillment in guiding their career paths. He also champions diversity and inclusion, advocating for equality within the tech industry. Naga sees himself not only as a technical leader but also as a catalyst for positive change at Microsoft.

Naga Santhosh Reddy Vootukuri, a seasoned professional with over 17+ years at Microsoft, reflects on his journey from India to the USA. Graduating from Sreenidhi Institute of Science and Technology in 2008, he now serves as a Senior Software Engineer... Show more