Government, Social Sector & Education

Valued individuals involved in shaping public policies, providing essential services, and promoting education, tirelessly looking to improve society and empower citizens

Hari Vamsi Krishna Nukala

Hari Vamsi Krishna Nukala

Hari Vamsi Krishna is a wastewater infrastructure analytics specialist focused on GIS, spatial-temporal analytics, and data-driven decision-making for municipal infrastructure systems. His work combines geospatial intelligence, condition assessment analytics, enterprise data management, and business intelligence to support infrastructure planning, rehabilitation prioritization, and operational performance improvement. He has experience developing analytical frameworks, dashboards, and digital workflows using GIS, Power BI, Python, and enterprise geodatabases. His research and speaking interests include infrastructure intelligence, predictive analytics, sewer rehabilitation planning, and digital transformation in utility asset management.

Hari Vamsi Krishna is a wastewater infrastructure analytics specialist focused on GIS, spatial-temporal analytics, and data-driven decision-making for municipal infrastructure systems. His work combines geospatial intelligence, condition assessment a... Show more

Olubayo Adekanmbi

Olubayo Adekanmbi

Dr. Olubayo Adekanmbi is one of Africa’s leading voices in artificial intelligence, inclusive innovation, and digital transformation. He is the Founder and CEO of Data Science Nigeria and Co-Founder and CEO of EqualyzAI, an African AI company building voice-first, agentic intelligence that works in local languages, dialects, and accents, on any device, with or without the internet. Through EqualyzAI, he is helping pioneer a new model of inclusive AI, where voice becomes the primary interface for intelligence and action, particularly for underserved communities often excluded from digital innovation.

With more than 24 years of executive and technical experience, Dr. Adekanmbi has held senior leadership roles at MTN Nigeria, MTN Group South Africa, and Airtel Africa UK, leading strategy, analytics, innovation, and digital transformation across more than 30 African markets and impacting over 300 million people. He is widely recognized for combining deep technical expertise with practical business and policy leadership. He co-facilitated Nigeria’s National AI Strategy with more than 120 global experts and has contributed to international efforts on AI safety, governance, and responsible innovation with organizations including GSMA, Meta, Google, Microsoft, NVIDIA, the Tony Blair Institute, and the UK AI Safety Institute. He also served as a senior adviser to the International Scientific Report 2025 on Advanced AI Safety led by Yoshua Bengio.

A strong advocate for AI inclusion through language, Dr. Adekanmbi has led major AI localization efforts, including the creation of AI knowledge and learning resources in Hausa and Yoruba, two Nigerian languages spoken by over 100 million people, with support from Google.org. This work reflects his commitment to ensuring that AI understanding and access are not limited to English-speaking or digitally privileged populations, but are extended to communities in their own languages and cultural contexts.

Dr. Adekanmbi’s work has earned global recognition. Five of the AI solutions he has led were selected among the UNESCO/IRCAI Top 100 AI Projects for Social Good, and he received the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Global Grand Challenge Award for developing AI-driven financial inclusion tools for low-income populations. A respected researcher and thought leader, he has authored and presented work at leading conferences, including NeurIPS, ICLR, AAAI, CVPR, and ICML. He holds a PhD from the University of London, has trained more than 500,000 young Africans in AI and data science through Data Science Nigeria, and is the author of several books, including Africa’s first AI book for children.

Dr. Olubayo Adekanmbi is one of Africa’s leading voices in artificial intelligence, inclusive innovation, and digital transformation. He is the Founder and CEO of Data Science Nigeria and Co-Founder and CEO of EqualyzAI, an African AI company buildin... Show more

Cooper Squirrell

Cooper Squirrell

Cooper Squirrell is the founder of UrVote and Veri Network. He's building practical blockchain products focused on governance, identity, and digital trust. With a focus on making blockchain simple enough to integrate into everyday life.

Cooper Squirrell is the founder of UrVote and Veri Network. He's building practical blockchain products focused on governance, identity, and digital trust. With a focus on making blockchain simple enough to integrate into everyday life. Show more

Rebson Mendes

Rebson Mendes

Rebson Mendes é Tecnólogo em Processos Gerenciais e mestrando em Administração pela UFRN. Atualmente, ocupa o cargo de Gerente Técnico na Empresa Gestora de Ativos do Rio Grande do Norte (EMGERN), onde lidera projetos focados em eficiência administrativa e governança pública. Sua formação académica inclui pós-graduações em Gestão Pública, Auditoria e Perícia Contábil. Com mais de 20 anos de experiência na área de tecnologia, é autor dos livros "Excel do Básico ao Dashboard" e "Governança na Prática: Como Estruturas Públicas Enxutas Podem Alcançar Alta Eficiência". Como educador e criador de conteúdo, acumula mais de 160 mil visualizações em seu canal no YouTube, onde promove a interseção entre tecnologia, gestão e agilidade.

Rebson Mendes é Tecnólogo em Processos Gerenciais e mestrando em Administração pela UFRN. Atualmente, ocupa o cargo de Gerente Técnico na Empresa Gestora de Ativos do Rio Grande do Norte (EMGERN), onde lidera projetos focados em eficiência administra... Show more

Cara Turner

Cara Turner

I build teams that thrive. I’m an impact-driven leader, blending innovation, creativity and agile leadership to create inclusive cultures centred on learning and delivering - and having fun doing it.

I build teams that thrive. I’m an impact-driven leader, blending innovation, creativity and agile leadership to create inclusive cultures centred on learning and delivering - and having fun doing it. Show more

Dr. Don Barden

Dr. Don Barden

Dr. Don Barden is an internationally recognized behavioral economist, author, and corporate strategist with more than 30 years of transformative leadership experience. Named one of North America’s Top 30 Most Transformational Leaders by John Maxwell and Entrepreneur of the Year by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Dr. Barden has built billion-dollar sales teams and reshaped organizational cultures across the globe.

His Wall Street–backed research, The Perfect Plan, uncovered the behavioral patterns that drive elite leadership performance. His latest doctoral study, Here Come the Girls, reveals the next global paradigm shift in leadership—forecasting that between 2028 and 2032, women’s rise to power will redefine how organizations grow, innovate, and lead. Dr. Barden’s message equips leaders to adapt, embrace inclusive collaboration, and prepare for the future of business through measurable 3× impact in growth, profit, and retention.

Dr. Don Barden is an internationally recognized behavioral economist, author, and corporate strategist with more than 30 years of transformative leadership experience. Named one of North America’s Top 30 Most Transformational Leaders by John Maxwell ... Show more

Tyrone Grandison

Tyrone Grandison

Dr. Tyrone W. A. Grandison is a technologist, entrepreneur, and social advocate with many years of experience . As a Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft and Founder of The Data-Driven Institute, he drives innovation and empowers communities through data. A White House Presidential Innovation Fellow and co-creator of groundbreaking initiatives.

Dr. Tyrone W. A. Grandison is a technologist, entrepreneur, and social advocate with many years of experience . As a Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft and Founder of The Data-Driven Institute, he drives innovation and empowers communities through... Show more

Martino Bettucci

Martino Bettucci

Martino Bettucci est fondateur de P2Enjoy Studio, organisme spécialisé dans l’IA, le NLP et la blockchain. Conférencier, formateur et co-créateur du salon IA-WEB3 Event, il accompagne professionnels, écoles et organisations dans la compréhension des technologies émergentes et de leurs usages concrets. Il intervient régulièrement sur les enjeux d’intelligence artificielle, d’automatisation, de Web3 et de transformation des pratiques métiers.

Martino Bettucci est fondateur de P2Enjoy Studio, organisme spécialisé dans l’IA, le NLP et la blockchain. Conférencier, formateur et co-créateur du salon IA-WEB3 Event, il accompagne professionnels, écoles et organisations dans la compréhension des ... Show more

Sara Hoshooley

Sara Hoshooley

Sara Hoshooley is a fundraising consultant and coach who LOVES working with small fundraising teams to create customized strategies that raise more money.

As a former small charity Executive Director she understands the challenges and opportunities facing small but mighty nonprofits and teams. She is the founder of Charity Shift, a Toronto based company that offers customized fundraising plans, strategy and coaching to organizations in Canada and internationally

Sara Hoshooley is a fundraising consultant and coach who LOVES working with small fundraising teams to create customized strategies that raise more money. As a former small charity Executive Director she understands the challenges and opportunitie... Show more

Dan Aburto

Dan Aburto

Daniella leads Microsoft’s AI Business Processes partner ecosystem for nonprofit and K–12 education across Asia. She works with Business Central, Power Platform, and Dynamics 365 Sales partners to help nonprofits and educational institutions modernize operations and adopt AI responsibly through the Microsoft Elevate program.
A purpose‑driven leader with over 20 years of experience, Daniella has led large‑scale, multi‑stakeholder initiatives spanning digital transformation, sustainability, and enterprise AI. Her career includes driving renewable energy adoption across Latin America at GE and enabling enterprise AI adoption through strategic partnerships at AWS.
Before joining Microsoft, Daniella founded LEMA, a play‑based, screen‑free AI literacy initiative focused on child wellbeing and future readiness. She is passionate about human‑centred technology, ethical AI, and helping partners grow scalable practices that deliver both commercial success and social impact.

Daniella leads Microsoft’s AI Business Processes partner ecosystem for nonprofit and K–12 education across Asia. She works with Business Central, Power Platform, and Dynamics 365 Sales partners to help nonprofits and educational institutions moderniz... Show more

Thuy Pham

Thuy Pham

Thuy is an entrepreneur and business executive with international experience across Vietnam, India, Cambodia, Ghana, Nigeria, and the United States. Her work spans fintech, blockchain, banking, digital transformation and innovation that connect technology with real-work impacts. Throughout her career, she worked with startups, financial institutions and government agencies to develop innovation ecosystems, and support inclusive economic growth. She co-founded FADO Go, a blockchain ecommerce company that provides loyalty solutions to businesses. Currently, she leads the development of a large-scale cultural infrastructure project that combines culture, education, technology and community engagement through collaboration between government and private-sector partners in Vietnam. The initative explores how emerging technologies can strengthen public trust, cultural participation, and long-term sustainability.
As a speaker, Thuy has spoken at blockchain and innovation conferences in Vietnam and internationally, advocating for decentralization and real-world applications that improve everyday life.

Thuy is an entrepreneur and business executive with international experience across Vietnam, India, Cambodia, Ghana, Nigeria, and the United States. Her work spans fintech, blockchain, banking, digital transformation and innovation that connect techn... Show more

Dr. Mikel Chamblee, CISA

Dr. Mikel Chamblee, CISA

Dr. Mikel Chamblee is a Marine Corps veteran, cybersecurity executive, educator, and researcher with extensive experience in IT audit, cybersecurity, governance, risk, and compliance (GRC). His professional background spans the military, financial services, higher education, and consulting sectors, including leading cybersecurity and third-party risk audits for a Department of Defense-affiliated financial institution and co-founding a cybersecurity consulting firm.

Dr. Chamblee holds a Ph.D. in Information Technology with a focus on cybersecurity, an MBA in Information Assurance with military honors, and a B.S. from The University of Texas at Dallas. He also holds CISA, CDPSE, CTPRP, and CRVPM certifications, along with multiple machine learning and generative AI credentials. His doctoral research examined the influence of organizational culture on security behavior through the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM).

He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the ISACA Greater Houston Chapter and supports cybersecurity initiatives through Texas VIRT and the Marine Corps Cyber Auxiliary. An active researcher and speaker, his work focuses on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, governance, and security culture. His recent publication, Empowering AI-Driven Health Data Sovereignty for Ethical Transformation, reflects his ongoing commitment to advancing responsible technology practices.

Outside of his professional work, Dr. Chamblee enjoys living aboard his sailboat, mentoring future cybersecurity professionals through CyberPatriot and the U.S. Cyber Team, and managing a wildlife refuge ranch that includes a certified Monarch Butterfly Waystation.

Dr. Mikel Chamblee is a Marine Corps veteran, cybersecurity executive, educator, and researcher with extensive experience in IT audit, cybersecurity, governance, risk, and compliance (GRC). His professional background spans the military, financial se... Show more

Dr. Irene Ekene Udebuana

Dr. Irene Ekene Udebuana

Dr. Irene Udebuana is a doctor, medical robotics developer and social impact leader working at the intersection of healthcare, artificial intelligence and innovation.

She is the founder of RobotProf, a healthcare ed-tech startup helping healthcare professionals learn and use AI for research, clinical practice and innovation. Through RobotProf, she works with healthcare professionals to build practical skills in AI, data and technology.

Her work has been recognised with the She Leads Africa 50 Under 30 Rising Motherland Mogul Award 2026 and the Global Sustainability Awards 2025, SME100 Nigeria 25 under 25 awards, among other recognitions. n 2023, she became the first Nigerian student interviewed and featured in the British Dental Journal for her work at the intersection of medicine and robotics. She has built AI projects in healthcare research and is interested in how AI, machine learning and robotics can be applied to real healthcare challenges, particularly in Nigeria.

At 22, while in her final year of med school, Irene founded Kids in LET, a nonprofit introducing children in underserved communities to climate technology.

She graduated from the University of Nigeria with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery in 2024, receiving distinctions and being named Best Graduating Female Student.

Dr. Irene Udebuana is a doctor, medical robotics developer and social impact leader working at the intersection of healthcare, artificial intelligence and innovation. She is the founder of RobotProf, a healthcare ed-tech startup helping healthcar... Show more

Dr. Annis Stubbs

Dr. Annis Stubbs

Dr. Annis Stubbs is a C-suite executive, executive coach, and the founder of The Papyrus Group. Over two decades she has led brand, people, and community work inside mission-driven organizations, including as a Chief People Officer. She has spoken at the Clinton Global Initiative, the University of Michigan, and Techonomy. She speaks on brand, people, and equity, and on what it takes to lead through growth and change. She is an Aspen Institute Fellow and holds a Ph.D. from Michigan State University.

Dr. Annis Stubbs is a C-suite executive, executive coach, and the founder of The Papyrus Group. Over two decades she has led brand, people, and community work inside mission-driven organizations, including as a Chief People Officer. She has spoken at... Show more

Israel Odeajo

Israel Odeajo

Israel Odeajo is an accomplished professional with over ten years of diverse experience in technology and data science. Currently, he serves as an AI Engineer and Data Coach at Join Momentum in the United Kingdom and as a Machine Learning Engineer at BTC Creative Labs in Germany. His career spans key roles including software engineer, database administrator, team lead, data analyst, data scientist, machine learning engineer, and AI engineer—across multiple sectors such as education, politics, energy, law, fintech, and NGOs.

Israel’s expertise extends to academic contributions, having published approximately five research papers and presented at renowned conferences, including Deep Learning Indaba, ICLR, Data Science Africa, and Data Science Nigeria. As an invited speaker and faculty member, he has shared his insights at various international forums in Africa, Europe, Asia, and America.

In addition to his technical and academic achievements, Israel has served as a facilitator with Techskill, UK, and as a teaching assistant with Neuroscience Academy, where he imparts advanced knowledge in deep learning. His influence in the technology space is further recognized through his ambassadorial roles with Zindi Africa and Data Dev Ambassador for Tableau. Israel is also a certified data trainer with Atlan Turing College, UK, following an intensive eight-week training program.

His professional certifications include credentials as a Google IT Specialist, Google Web/Mobile Specialist, Microsoft Data Scientist, and Microsoft AI Responsible Certified professional, among others. This diverse blend of experience and expertise underscores his commitment to advancing technology and data innovation on a global scale.

Israel Odeajo is an accomplished professional with over ten years of diverse experience in technology and data science. Currently, he serves as an AI Engineer and Data Coach at Join Momentum in the United Kingdom and as a Machine Learning Engineer at... Show more

Miłosz Gaczkowski

Miłosz Gaczkowski

Miłosz is a mobile security specialist at Reversec, having previously spent entirely too much time working in academia. Outside of technical work, his primary interests are in education and the culture of education.

Miłosz is a mobile security specialist at Reversec, having previously spent entirely too much time working in academia. Outside of technical work, his primary interests are in education and the culture of education. Show more

Matt Johnson

Matt Johnson

Matt has been working with AWS technology since 2011, including 8.5 years at AWS itself; first as a Solutions Architect, and then in a Chief Technologist role for the UK public sector team.

During that time he has presented at 6 separate re:Invents and dozens of other AWS and 3rd party events, covering a range of topics including: networking, DNS, cost optimisation, and the Amazon Culture of Innovation.

Now as CEO of Rayo (an AWS Advanced Partner), Matt continues to help customers make use of cloud to deliver great outcomes for the public sector and beyond.

Matt has been working with AWS technology since 2011, including 8.5 years at AWS itself; first as a Solutions Architect, and then in a Chief Technologist role for the UK public sector team. During that time he has presented at 6 separate re:Invent... Show more

Shawnta Hooks

Shawnta Hooks

Equipping leaders to regulate pressure, repair trust, and lead in the age of uncertainty.

Shawntà Hooks is an award-winning global keynote speaker, author, and Leadership & Clarity Strategist known for unlocking clarity in high-pressure cultures. With a background as a former Fortune 100 Vice President of Automation Transformation and Certified Public Accountant, she brings rare executive credibility to the human side of leadership.

Through neuroscience-backed, multisensory experiences — integrating music, movement, mindfulness, and storytelling — Shawntà teaches leaders the bio hacks of presence, regulation, and influence. Her work reveals what’s felt but rarely named in modern organizations: how overstimulation, unregulated pressure, and emotional misalignment quietly erode performance, trust, and decision-making.

She is the founder of The Clarity Lab™ and creator of the Catch → Convert → Create™ system of nervous system regulation.

Equipping leaders to regulate pressure, repair trust, and lead in the age of uncertainty. Shawntà Hooks is an award-winning global keynote speaker, author, and Leadership & Clarity Strategist known for unlocking clarity in high-pressure cultures. ... Show more

Ayobangira Safari Nshuti

Ayobangira Safari Nshuti

I’m Member of Parliament, vice-President of our Telecommunications subcommittee and executive member of the African Parliamentary Network on Internet Governance (APNIG) and the UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF) – Policy Network on Artificial Intelligence (PNAI).
Also executive member of AFSPaN, the African Food Systems Parliamentary Network, a pan-African, legislator-led platform uniting current and former parliamentarians from 28 countries to champion agricultural and food systems transformation

I’m Member of Parliament, vice-President of our Telecommunications subcommittee and executive member of the African Parliamentary Network on Internet Governance (APNIG) and the UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF) – Policy Network on Artificial Intelli... Show more

Alisson Fernandes

Alisson Fernandes

Innovation, Strategy, and Agility Consultant with 15 years of experience driving organizational and agile transformations across industries, service areas, and teams in over 15 countries.

A recognized trainer and facilitator, I have helped develop thousands of professionals in high-performance leadership, design thinking, agile principles and practices, continuous improvement, Kanban, flow metrics, and customer experience.

As a specialist in performance indicators and business metrics, I have extensive experience implementing KPIs, Balanced Scorecard (BSC), and OKRs, enabling teams to reach new performance levels through data-driven decision-making.

Passionate about mentoring and coaching, I support teams and individuals in open innovation, business agility, agile high-performance teams, continuous improvement, performance management, and value stream optimization.

A community leader and event organizer, I have played key roles in Agile Brazil, Agile Coach Camp, Caipira Ágil, Agile Beer, and Agile Campinas, bringing practitioners together to share knowledge and advance agility. As a speaker and facilitator, I have contributed to global conferences, fostering collaboration and practical learning.

Currently serving as Executive Director at Agile Alliance Brazil, I am dedicated to expanding agile practices and mindset by supporting communities and industry events nationwide.

Innovation, Strategy, and Agility Consultant with 15 years of experience driving organizational and agile transformations across industries, service areas, and teams in over 15 countries. A recognized trainer and facilitator, I have helped develop... Show more

Pavithra Addanki

Pavithra Addanki

Pavithra Addanki is an entrepreneur, mentor, and student leader passionate about bridging the gap between academia and industry. Founder & CEO of MXC Ignite LLP, she has collaborated with leading institutions and innovation hubs to create outcome-based learning opportunities. She is Co-Founder for Sri Raagni Organics. A Startup World Cup Mentor and advocate for personal branding, she also works in data analytics and has a LinkedIn community of over 11K followers with 9,05,400 + annual impressions.

Pavithra Addanki is an entrepreneur, mentor, and student leader passionate about bridging the gap between academia and industry. Founder & CEO of MXC Ignite LLP, she has collaborated with leading institutions and innovation hubs to create outcome-bas... Show more

Prince Kumar

Prince Kumar

I am a Software Engineer 2 at ServiceNow, where I develop and maintain cloud-based applications using technologies such as Node.js, AWS, and C++. I enjoy solving complex problems and delivering high-quality solutions that meet the needs of our clients and users.

I am also passionate about sharing my knowledge and expertise in programming and software development through my Youtube channel, Hello World. I have a BTech degree in Computer Science from Indian Institute of Information Technology Una, and I specialize in teaching data structures and algorithms. I have helped thousands of students prepare for technical interviews and secure positions at top companies. My channel has over 50,000 subscribers, and I am proud to have contributed to their success.

I am a Software Engineer 2 at ServiceNow, where I develop and maintain cloud-based applications using technologies such as Node.js, AWS, and C++. I enjoy solving complex problems and delivering high-quality solutions that meet the needs of our client... Show more

Lubna Jabeen Ahmed

Lubna Jabeen Ahmed

Lubna Jabeen Ahmed is an international educational leader and Careers & University Guidance specialist with over 17 years of experience in the UAE. She specializes in student progression, curriculum design, and university guidance. Passionate about preparing young adults for the future workforce, Lubna focuses on building independent thinking, adaptive agility, and the human-centric skills students need to step confidently onto the global stage.

Lubna Jabeen Ahmed is an international educational leader and Careers & University Guidance specialist with over 17 years of experience in the UAE. She specializes in student progression, curriculum design, and university guidance. Passionate about p... Show more

Damien House

Damien House

Damien House is a platform architect and Drupal developer with 20+ years of experience delivering complex technical outcomes across public-sector programs, enterprise environments, and open-source communities. His federal platform work spans USDA, the International Trade Administration (trade.gov), and NTIA, where he led migrations, modernized infrastructure, and built governed content systems at enterprise scale. He now focuses on applied AI — building and evaluating agentic workflows, retrieval-backed systems, and permission-aware architectures with Drupal as the center of gravity. He is currently developing Drupal modules for Azure-backed RAG and AI context management, and is based in Washington, DC.

Damien House is a platform architect and Drupal developer with 20+ years of experience delivering complex technical outcomes across public-sector programs, enterprise environments, and open-source communities. His federal platform work spans USDA, th... Show more

Philip Obiorah

Philip Obiorah

Philip Obiorah is a Data Scientist, Co-Organizer PyData Milton Keynes , Lead of GDG Cloud Port Harcourt, a Google Explore ML Facilitator, and a researcher with interests in Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing. He is a former Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Buckingham, United Kingdom, and currently serves as a Learning Development Coach in Computing at the University of Buckingham. An Oracle Certified Professional and a member of the British Computer Society, Philip has a diverse academic and professional background.

Philip holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Port Harcourt. In addition, he has earned two Master's degrees: an MSc in Applied Data Science from the University of Buckingham, graduating with distinction, and an MSc in Computer Science from the University of Port Harcourt. He also holds a BA in Philosophy from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria.

Philip is deeply committed to community development and has volunteered extensively to mentor participants in AI and data science programs through initiatives like AI School Africa, the Google Africa Developers Scholarship, and Google Explore ML with Crowdsource. His academic contributions include several research publications, notably "Topic Modeling Using Latent Dirichlet Allocation & Multinomial Logistic Regression," published in the Journal of Digital Innovations & Contemporary Research in Science, Engineering & Technology (Vol. 10, No. 4).

Philip’s efforts have earned him numerous accolades. He was a Global Nominee at NASA SpaceApps 2018 and received the Tech Social Impact Icon (Green) Award in 2022 from Techrity. He was also honored with a special plaque from Google Developer Groups for fostering a vibrant developer community at GDG Cloud Port Harcourt.

Passionate about teaching, community building, and bridging the gap between academia and the tech industry, Philip is dedicated to continuing his impactful journey and achieving even greater milestones in the future.

Philip Obiorah is a Data Scientist, Co-Organizer PyData Milton Keynes , Lead of GDG Cloud Port Harcourt, a Google Explore ML Facilitator, and a researcher with interests in Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing. He is a former Graduate Te... Show more

Dr. Thomas Faulkner

Dr. Thomas Faulkner

Dr. Thomas Faulkner is the Principal Consultant of Faulkner HR Solutions, where he helps organizations diagnose the systems behind workplace dysfunction, compliance risk, turnover, and leadership breakdowns. A U.S. Army veteran, SPHR, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and former municipal HR director, Dr. Faulkner brings a direct, practical approach to problems most organizations prefer to politely rename instead of fix.

Known for blending humor, operational clarity, and a “call it what it is” teaching style, Dr. Faulkner helps leaders move past surface-level explanations and identify the process gaps, authority issues, documentation failures, and management habits that create recurring workplace problems. His sessions are designed for leaders who want practical tools, defensible decisions, and less polished language that avoids the real problem.

Dr. Thomas Faulkner is the Principal Consultant of Faulkner HR Solutions, where he helps organizations diagnose the systems behind workplace dysfunction, compliance risk, turnover, and leadership breakdowns. A U.S. Army veteran, SPHR, Lean Six Sigma ... Show more

Edward Bezerra

Edward Bezerra

Edward Bezerra is the CEO and Founder of CertiVend, where he helps organizations strengthen cybersecurity, vendor risk management, AI governance, and third-party assurance through practical, business-focused security strategies.

With more than 30 years of experience in information technology and cybersecurity, Edward has held executive leadership positions for Fortune 500 organizations, including serving in infrastructure, cybersecurity, IT risk, and executive leadership roles with organizations such as AIG, Herbalife, K. Hovnanian, and Party City. Throughout his career, he has led global teams, managed multimillion-dollar technology and cybersecurity budgets, and developed enterprise security, governance, and risk management programs supporting complex business environments.

Edward is also the Founder of CertiVend Academy, where he works to bridge the gap between certification training and real-world cybersecurity experience by developing hands-on learning programs focused on practical skills that employers expect.

A frequent speaker, educator, and industry mentor, Edward enjoys sharing practical insights on cybersecurity leadership, governance, vendor risk management, AI governance, cloud security, data governance, career development, and building effective security programs. His presentations emphasize actionable guidance, real-world lessons learned, and strategies that security professionals can immediately apply within their own organizations.

Edward holds numerous industry certifications, including CCISO, ITIL Foundation, Microsoft, Citrix, and other technical certifications, and is currently completing his Doctor of Computer Science (Cybersecurity), with research focused on optimizing cybersecurity resource allocation within enterprise data centers.

Edward Bezerra is the CEO and Founder of CertiVend, where he helps organizations strengthen cybersecurity, vendor risk management, AI governance, and third-party assurance through practical, business-focused security strategies. With more than 30 ... Show more

Dr. Noe Lorona

Dr. Noe Lorona

Dr. Noe Lorona is an Army officer currently serving as a platform engineer for the Army where he plans, develops and deploys cloud architecture to support Agile application development. He later transitioned to to become a platform product manager where he leads his team through tactical platform product development. Noe holds a Doctor of Management from Colorado Technical University. He began giving back to the academic community by teaching online courses and publishing articles about software development and general technology topics in several professional magazines. Noe holds several IT, UX, and Project Management certifications.

Dr. Noe Lorona is an Army officer currently serving as a platform engineer for the Army where he plans, develops and deploys cloud architecture to support Agile application development. He later transitioned to to become a platform product manager w... Show more

Anthea Armar

Anthea Armar

Anthea Armar has been the person in the room with something to say and no voice to say it with. That experience shaped everything she does now.

She's the founder of Amarkai Group and creator of the A.C.T. framework, a psychology-first approach to speaking confidence. With over 20 years in learning and development, the last four have been focused specifically on one problem: why capable professionals freeze the moment visibility is required.

Anthea has worked with organisations including Network Rail and Women in Rail, delivering keynotes and programmes that address speaking anxiety at the root rather than layering technique on top of a problem that runs deeper.

Her talks are direct, story-led and built to give audiences a starting point they can act on immediately, not just a moment of inspiration that fades by Monday.

Anthea Armar has been the person in the room with something to say and no voice to say it with. That experience shaped everything she does now. She's the founder of Amarkai Group and creator of the A.C.T. framework, a psychology-first approach to ... Show more

Zack Knight

Zack Knight

Zack Knight is the founder of ATLVets (Advancing The Line for Veterans), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping veterans successfully transition from military service to civilian life through leadership development, professional networking, entrepreneurship, and community engagement.
A former police officer, Army infantry officer, entrepreneur, author, speaker, and business leader, Zack has built his career around a commitment to service. Following a medical retirement from the military, he experienced firsthand many of the challenges veterans face when transitioning to civilian life—redefining purpose, building new professional relationships, and navigating an unfamiliar path forward.
Rather than allowing those challenges to become obstacles, Zack transformed them into a mission. He founded ATLVets to provide veterans with the resources, connections, and support he wished had existed during his own transition. Today, the organization serves as a trusted community where veterans can find opportunities, develop professionally, and build meaningful relationships that extend far beyond their military service.
Through his leadership, advocacy, and dedication to helping others succeed, Zack has become a respected voice in the veteran and business communities. His work demonstrates that trust is not built through titles or credentials—it is earned through authenticity, shared experiences, and a genuine commitment to serving others.

Zack Knight is the founder of ATLVets (Advancing The Line for Veterans), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping veterans successfully transition from military service to civilian life through leadership development, professional networking, en... Show more

Please note that Sessionize is not responsible for the accuracy or validity of the data provided by speakers.

Join Speakers Directory

Join our Speakers Directory today and amplify your reach! Showcase your expertise to a global audience hungry for your insights. Let your voice be heard!

Create Profile