Mosongo Danfold is a Tech Policy Advocate & Cybersecurity and Forensics Engineer. He is the founder of TECH.PATHS, an initiative that equips African youth with digital literacy, mentorship, and pathways into technology careers. Often referred to as a tech diplomat and statesman, he works at the intersection of cybersecurity, digital governance, and youth empowerment. His work bridges technical cybersecurity expertise with practical policy design, always advocating for ethical, sovereign, and inclusive digital futures. The role of young Africans in shaping the continent's technology agenda.

Mosongo Danfold is a Tech Policy Advocate & Cybersecurity and Forensics Engineer. He is the founder of TECH.PATHS, an initiative that equips African youth with digital literacy, mentorship, and pathways into technology careers. Often referred to as a... Show more

Emerald Akhaumere, a 22-year-old Nigerian trailblazer, is rewriting the narrative in the world of technology. Her journey began at the age of 15, fueled by an unquenchable passion for tech and a fierce determination to make a difference.

Emerald's tech odyssey has been nothing short of remarkable. Her early involvement in SWENext kindled her love for the field, setting the stage for an incredible transformation. From these roots, she ascended to become a Collegiate Member and a Collegiate Club Lead, championing inclusivity in STEM.

Emerald's accomplishments in the SWE Recruitment Challenge, where she clinched top positions multiple times, speak volumes about her zeal for SWE's mission and the advancement of women in tech. She believes that innovation thrives in diversity, and she's a living testament to this ideology.

But her journey didn't stop there. Emerald's commitment transcends borders; she proudly serves as a SWE Global Ambassador, amplifying the organization's impact and values globally. She's passionate about fostering a global community that empowers women to thrive in the tech universe.

As the newly appointed GDSC Lead at BAZE University, Emerald is poised to make an indelible mark. Her leadership and dedication are set to empower a new generation of tech enthusiasts.

Emerald's story is a testament to the incredible potential that emerges when passion meets dedication. She's breaking barriers, paving the way for underrepresented voices in tech, and proving that age is no limit when it comes to making waves in the world of technology.

Emerald Akhaumere, a 22-year-old Nigerian trailblazer, is rewriting the narrative in the world of technology. Her journey began at the age of 15, fueled by an unquenchable passion for tech and a fierce determination to make a difference. Emerald's... Show more

My journey has been largely around technology, digital skills, education and using technology to solve practical problems.

Through Soteria Technologies, I have had the opportunity to work on initiatives around digital literacy, education technology, ICT infrastructure, Internet governance and community digital access.

But one thing I have learned is that having a good technology solution is only one part of the journey.

You also have to understand the people you are serving, build relationships, manage resources, find sustainable ways to operate, build partnerships and create systems that allow the work to continue.

That is why I chose this topic.

I want us to look beyond the excitement of building the product and talk about what it really takes to turn that product into a functioning and sustainable organization.

My journey has been largely around technology, digital skills, education and using technology to solve practical problems. Through Soteria Technologies, I have had the opportunity to work on initiatives around digital literacy, education technolog... Show more

Laura has over 12 years of experience in civil engineering with a focus on water. She holds dual credentials as a licensed Professional Engineer and Certified Learning & Development Specialist, and currently serves as Organizational Development Lead at Grayling Engineers. She founded Oxsen Learning to address the skill gaps she observed firsthand in engineering firms, particularly around CAD proficiency and project communication.

Laura has over 12 years of experience in civil engineering with a focus on water. She holds dual credentials as a licensed Professional Engineer and Certified Learning & Development Specialist, and currently serves as Organizational Development Lead ... Show more

I'm a Principal Architect at Microsoft specializing in the Microsoft Power Platform, Dynamics 365, Microsoft Copilot, and agentic AI solutions for U.S. State and Local Government.

Throughout my career, I've been driven by a simple belief: the people who understand a business problem best should have a meaningful voice in building the solution. That's why I'm so passionate about Microsoft's low-code and no-code platform. I love helping organizations empower business users to work alongside professional developers to create applications, automations, and AI experiences that solve real problems and deliver measurable value.

For more than two decades, I've worked with government organizations to modernize business processes, improve citizen services, and accelerate digital transformation. I've partnered with agencies of every size to design solutions that combine enterprise architecture, modern application development, automation, data, and artificial intelligence into practical outcomes that users can embrace.

My favorite conversations are the ones where technology becomes accessible. Whether I'm presenting on Power Platform, Dynamics 365, Copilot Studio, or the latest advancements in agentic AI, my goal is always the same: to make complex technology approachable, demonstrate what's possible, and give people the confidence to build solutions they didn't think they could create themselves.

I believe the future of software development isn't about replacing professional developers—it's about expanding who gets to participate in creating great software. When analysts, subject matter experts, makers, architects, and developers collaborate using the Microsoft Power Platform, organizations build better solutions, faster. That's the future I'm excited to help shape.

I'm a Principal Architect at Microsoft specializing in the Microsoft Power Platform, Dynamics 365, Microsoft Copilot, and agentic AI solutions for U.S. State and Local Government. Throughout my career, I've been driven by a simple belief: the peop... Show more

Mr. Cruz is an associate who provides planning and strategic services to colleges and universities. Mr. Cruz brings a diverse range of experiences from across the entire education sector, with expertise in business operations and information technology management. A strong collaborator and relationship developer, Mr. Cruz is driven toward identifying solutions that create a bridge between institutional knowledge, strategic partnership, and operational success.

Mr. Cruz is an associate who provides planning and strategic services to colleges and universities. Mr. Cruz brings a diverse range of experiences from across the entire education sector, with expertise in business operations and information technolo... Show more

Viktor Viljac founded Udruga Neutroni in 2021 with four schoolmates, all
of them between 14 and 18 at the time. He builds digital products for
organizations that work with young people, and free tools for students.
The most recent is Bodomat, a calculator that works out eligibility
scores for student housing in Croatia across more than 280 parameters.

Viktor Viljac founded Udruga Neutroni in 2021 with four schoolmates, all of them between 14 and 18 at the time. He builds digital products for organizations that work with young people, and free tools for students. The most recent is Bodomat, a ca... Show more

Jackson Bostian is an Assistant Professor of User Experience Design at William Peace University, where he teaches both UX and game development and serves as co-chair of the university's AI Task Force. His background focuses heavily on designing and developing for XR technologies and immersive spaces, with a concentration on embodiment, interaction philosophy, and game UX. Jackson spends his spare time reading, cooking, and wondering why people keep walking away when he starts talking about design systems.

Jackson Bostian is an Assistant Professor of User Experience Design at William Peace University, where he teaches both UX and game development and serves as co-chair of the university's AI Task Force. His background focuses heavily on designing and d... Show more

Quinn Fitzgerald is a founder coach and mission-driven entrepreneur who helps early-stage founders lead with clarity, resilience, and intention. She founded and sold Flare, a VC-backed women’s safety tech company recognized by Time as a Best Invention and by Fast Company as one of the Most Innovative Companies. Previously, Quinn served in the Obama White House and earned her MBA from Harvard Business School, where she won the New Venture Competition.

She coaches a referral-only roster of founders - backed by firms like YC, Khosla, Collaborative Fund, Techstars, and Lowercarbon - and runs a collaborative Fundraising Sprint for early-stage founders. Her approach blends tactical business support and startup expertise with deep inner work. Quinn has spoken at SXSW, Harvard, Forbes, Bain Capital Ventures, Chief, CBS’ Innovation Nation, and more.

Quinn Fitzgerald is a founder coach and mission-driven entrepreneur who helps early-stage founders lead with clarity, resilience, and intention. She founded and sold Flare, a VC-backed women’s safety tech company recognized by Time as a Best Inventio... Show more

Amanda Brock is CEO of OpenUK and has built one of the most recognised and impactful organisations in open source. She is also the Executive Producer of State of Open Con 25 taking place 4 - 5 February 2025 in London having founded and produced the ‘23 and ‘24 events building to over 800 attendees, and over 200 speakers.

A lawyer with 25 years’ experience, 5 as GC of Canonical, she’s been instrumental in shaping open source’s legal frameworks, as she was in shaping internet law during the early 2000’s.
Regularly contributing to tech press, she edited “Open Source: Law, Policy and Practice”, (2022).

Amanda is a sought-after and contagious international keynote speaker, speaking at tech events and international events like COP29 on topics from open source software to AI. A regular contributor to the tech press across a wider range of areas, Amanda is the editor of Open Source Law, Policy and Practice (2nd edition) published by Oxford University Press in October ‘22, with open access thanks to the Vietsch Foundation https://amandabrock.com/books

Current Advisory: UK Cabinet Office Open Standards Board; UKRI Digital Research Infrastructure; UKRI Exascale; KDE; commercial boards – Mimoto, Scarf, FerretDB and Space Aye; and is Fellow Open Forum Academy; Distinguished Fellow Rust Foundation; European Representative, OIN.

Past Advisory includes: Chair, UN Technology and Innovation Labs Open Source and IP Advisory Group’; OASIS Open Projects Initiative; British Computer Society Inaugural Influence Board; UK Government Energy Sector Digitalisation Task Force; elected Board Member Open Source Initiative; and Commercial Advisory Boards at Beamery and Everseen.

Recognition: Computer Weekly’s 50 Most Influential Women in UK TechC(2023, 2024) listed as #20 in 2024; Computing IT Leaders 100 (2023, 2024); ‘ INvolve HERoes list “(2023, 2024); “Women Who Will”, Changemaker (2023); INvolve Heroes (2022, 2023); and Novi Awards Advocate for Change in Gender Equality Honouree (2024); Ambassador Open Charge Alliance. Amanda was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Women, Influence & Power in Law UK 2022.

Judging: IDG Foundry CIO 100 2023, 2024); and Senior Judge, First Enable Role Model List by Dow (2024) having been a Judge in the We are Tech Women Rising Star Awards in (2021, 2022).

linkedin.com/in/amandabrocktech
@amandabrockUK
@openuk_uk
https://openuk.uk
https://amandabrock.com/

Amanda Brock is CEO of OpenUK and has built one of the most recognised and impactful organisations in open source. She is also the Executive Producer of State of Open Con 25 taking place 4 - 5 February 2025 in London having founded and produced the ‘... Show more

Victoria is a Junior Software Engineer at 4TU.ResearchData and a Master's student in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at TU Delft. With a strong passion for open science and research, she brings a unique, interdisciplinary perspective to tech, currently also completing a second Bachelor's in Philosophy. Alongside her work and studies, Victoria is engaged in AI research, recently authoring a deep learning paper accepted for the 2026 BCI Conference in Graz.

Victoria is a Junior Software Engineer at 4TU.ResearchData and a Master's student in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at TU Delft. With a strong passion for open science and research, she brings a unique, interdisciplinary perspective to tech... Show more

Senior Microsoft cloud security engineer with over 25 years of experience in enterprise IT, cybersecurity, and U.S. government environments. A U.S. Air Force veteran and retired member of the Illinois Air National Guard, with a strong focus on mentoring career transitions into cybersecurity. Experienced instructor and writer focused on practical, real-world security guidance. This will be his fifth year attending DEF CON.

Senior Microsoft cloud security engineer with over 25 years of experience in enterprise IT, cybersecurity, and U.S. government environments. A U.S. Air Force veteran and retired member of the Illinois Air National Guard, with a strong focus on mentor... Show more

Gursimar, a Consultant and Google Developer Educator, is dedicated to empowering individuals through Education, Mentorship, and Open-Source. As an author for freeCodeCamp and Top Contributor, he shares his expertise globally. He's a sought-after speaker at international conferences and universities, fostering a culture of learning. His passion lies in mentoring others, evident in his roles as a Section Leader for Code in Place and Google Cloud Facilitator.

Gursimar, a Consultant and Google Developer Educator, is dedicated to empowering individuals through Education, Mentorship, and Open-Source. As an author for freeCodeCamp and Top Contributor, he shares his expertise globally. He's a sought-after spea... Show more

Dr. Seema Sidhu is a transformative district leader and the 2026 AUHSD ACSA Central Office Administrator of the Year. Currently serving as the Director of Learning and Development for the Anaheim Union High School District, Dr. Sidhu oversees the strategic "braiding" of millions in state and federal programs to move the needle on equity and justice. A former English teacher, Assistant Principal, and Principal, her career is defined by a refusal to accept the status quo of top-down governance. Dr. Sidhu is recognized for bringing innovation to compliance, dismantling administrative silos to institutionalize authentic democratic school governance. Her leadership in operationalizing the "Voice to Action" Equity Transformation Cycle has resulted in historic academic gains for English Learners and at-promise youth. A recipient of the Woman of Distinction Award from the California State Senate, Dr. Sidhu is a sought-after speaker on AI implementation, strategic planning, and the power of shared leadership. She holds an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership from the University of La Verne and is dedicated to equipping leaders with the tools to transform school systems and level up through student voice and agency.

Dr. Seema Sidhu is a transformative district leader and the 2026 AUHSD ACSA Central Office Administrator of the Year. Currently serving as the Director of Learning and Development for the Anaheim Union High School District, Dr. Sidhu oversees the str... Show more

Lister Potter is a CTO, consultant, and elected Mayor focused on designing systems that scale — in software and in governance.

He leads the architecture of a next-generation multi-tenant platform built around a repository-centric workflow where documentation, architecture decisions, backlog, and code live together. His work explores what it means to build AI-native development environments where clarity and structure are designed in from the start.

Across technology leadership and civic governance, Lister applies the same principle: tools don’t solve systemic problems — well-forged systems do.

Lister Potter is a CTO, consultant, and elected Mayor focused on designing systems that scale — in software and in governance. He leads the architecture of a next-generation multi-tenant platform built around a repository-centric workflow where do... Show more

Named the 2025 ACSA Special Education Administrator of the Year, Dr. Julie Hong is an award-winning educational leader, author, and systems designer with over 21 years of experience across general, special, and alternative education. She currently serves as Director of Instructional Support, Innovation, and Competitive Advantage at the Riverside County Office of Education, where she leads systems that unify Alternative Education, Special Education, and career pathways through student-centered, future-ready design. She is the author of Toward Pedagogy-First AI Integration: A Conceptual Framework Grounded in Relevance to Rigor Flow and Pedagogy in the Loop. Her work advances a human-centered approach to AI integration that aligns with UNESCO’s emphasis on ethical, inclusive, and human-centered AI in education. She has led transformative change across three school districts and two county offices, building instructional coherence in diverse settings. Her work centers on AI Integrated Learning, Project-Based Learning, Universal Design for Learning, and Design Thinking. Dr. Hong also serves as Vice President of Membership for ACSA Region XIX, Past President-Elect of the SWAA Charter, board member for Mosaic Legacy, and CAAPLE mentor to aspiring administrators. She is known for Sparking Joy in Education and reimagining schools through purpose, people, and possibility.

Named the 2025 ACSA Special Education Administrator of the Year, Dr. Julie Hong is an award-winning educational leader, author, and systems designer with over 21 years of experience across general, special, and alternative education. She currently se... Show more

Sreedhar Ailu is a software quality practitioner specializing in User Acceptance Testing (UAT) governance, release readiness oversight, and quality risk management for large-scale regulated enterprise systems. With more than 13 years of experience, he has led and supported acceptance testing, deployment governance, and release decision-making across complex multi-vendor healthcare and public-sector technology programs.

His work focuses on the often-overlooked gap between successful testing and true production readiness. Drawing from real-world experience in highly regulated environments, he explores challenges related to regulatory interpretation alignment, testability coverage, release governance, and operational risk. His interests center on helping organizations make more informed release decisions when dependencies, integrations, and compliance requirements introduce hidden risk.

Sreedhar is an accepted speaker at CAST 2026 and an accepted author at PNSQC 2026. He actively contributes to the software quality community through practitioner research, conference participation, peer review, and knowledge sharing. His current areas of exploration include release readiness metrics, regulatory interpretation alignment, testability coverage, quality risk management, and governance approaches that improve confidence in enterprise software delivery.

When not working on quality and governance challenges, he enjoys mentoring practitioners, studying software delivery patterns, and contributing to discussions that advance the practice of software quality engineering.

Sreedhar Ailu is a software quality practitioner specializing in User Acceptance Testing (UAT) governance, release readiness oversight, and quality risk management for large-scale regulated enterprise systems. With more than 13 years of experience, h... Show more

Passionate and experienced educator with over 15 years of experience within the education industry, specializing in faculty administration, organizational leadership, and curriculum development. Adept in overseeing the overall management of educational programs while remaining committed to the organization’s mission and vision. Dynamic communicator with a proven ability to build lasting relationships with teachers, students, and parents. A motivational leader who enjoys actively engaging with all educational partners. Strategic planner and program designer; developed strategic plans, implemented and monitored change initiatives. Sought out collaborator by top leadership within the organization to lead positive outcomes for the betterment of students and faculty.

Passionate and experienced educator with over 15 years of experience within the education industry, specializing in faculty administration, organizational leadership, and curriculum development. Adept in overseeing the overall management of education... Show more

I am a Alabama Native. Military Army Veteran. I am Natural Hair and Microlocs Specialist, licensed instructor and Salon Owner with over 15yrs in the Natural Hair Industry.
I have a huge 30,000+ social Media following with clients all over the US.

I am a Alabama Native. Military Army Veteran. I am Natural Hair and Microlocs Specialist, licensed instructor and Salon Owner with over 15yrs in the Natural Hair Industry. I have a huge 30,000+ social Media following with clients all over the US. Show more

Audrey Long is a Gaming Cloud Security Architect at Microsoft apart of the Microsoft Gaming Security team. With a keen eye for creating secure coding solutions and performing comprehensive security risk assessments, Audrey excels in threat modeling and evaluating security in architecture. Her expertise extends to implementing robust security practices that safeguard digital landscapes.
Passionate about making security accessible, Audrey is dedicated to empowering software engineers and inspiring girls to pursue careers in STEM. She holds a DoD secret clearance and a Master of Science degree in Cyber Security from Johns Hopkins. Additionally, Audrey is a proud ambassador for Google's Women Techmakers program, championing diversity and inclusion in tech.
As an international speaker, Audrey has shared her insights and expertise at conferences and events around the world, inspiring audiences with her knowledge and passion for cybersecurity.

Audrey Long is a Gaming Cloud Security Architect at Microsoft apart of the Microsoft Gaming Security team. With a keen eye for creating secure coding solutions and performing comprehensive security risk assessments, Audrey excels in threat modeling a... Show more

Soy Product Designer con foco en UX/UI y más de 5 años diseñando interfaces digitales que funcionen para personas reales, en contextos reales.

Soy Trabajador Social, y eso cambia cómo miro los productos, antes de pensar en flujos, arquitecturas e interfaces, pienso en quién queda afuera de ellas. Ese recorrido me llevó a especializarme en accesibilidad y usabilidad de plataformas de gobierno digital, que es lo que investigo actualmente en mi maestría.

Combino evaluaciones técnicas con metodologías de Diseño Centrado en el Usuario para entender no solo qué falla en una plataforma, sino por qué falla para determinadas personas. Cuento con certificación en WCAG 2.2 otorgada por la IAAP (International Association of Accessibility Professionals).

Creo que una buena experiencia de usuario no puede existir sin accesibilidad, y que la accesibilidad digital no es una lista de criterios que cumplir, claro que es un punto de partida.

Soy Product Designer con foco en UX/UI y más de 5 años diseñando interfaces digitales que funcionen para personas reales, en contextos reales. Soy Trabajador Social, y eso cambia cómo miro los productos, antes de pensar en flujos, arquitecturas e ... Show more

Espen Holtebu started his career as a solar engineer before moving into data engineering. A strong foundation in SQL and analytical thinking made the transition natural and fun.

Today Espen works with modern data platforms in the public sector, helping teams navigate the shift from legacy, GUI‑based tooling to code‑driven, transparent workflows. He focuses on practical enablement, organizational change, and building sustainable ways of working with data at scale.

Outside of work, Espen enjoys fishing and spending time in nature with his family.

Espen Holtebu started his career as a solar engineer before moving into data engineering. A strong foundation in SQL and analytical thinking made the transition natural and fun. Today Espen works with modern data platforms in the public sector, he... Show more

Impulsando el cambio desde la acción, acumulo más de 35 años de experiencia liderando proyectos estratégicos en empresas del sector tecnológico, industrial, servicios y tercer sector. Ha acompañado a cientos de equipos y líderes en su evolución hacia modelos más ágiles, humanos y sostenibles.

Fundador de Agile DISruptivo (ADIS), evento internacional con +30 expertos y cientos de asistentes. En la primera Edición, sigue creciento con mas ediciones.

Mentor y catalizador de procesos de cambio en organizaciones complejas y ecosistemas digitales.

Ha dirigido iniciativas de transformación en empresas de telecomunicaciones, salud, e-commerce, servicios públicos, empresas y organizaciones sociales.

Especialidades
- Agile Coaching y Liderazgo Adaptativo
- Transformación cultural y gestión del cambio
- Innovación empresarial y metodologías disruptivas
- OKRs, Scrum, Kanban, Design Thinking, Agile HR
- Ciberseguridad, calidad y gestión IT (ISO 27001, ITIL, PRINCE2)

Formador y Embajador del Conocimiento
- CEO y Co-Fundador de Mobiliza Consulting & Academy
- Formador oficial certificado por Scrum Manager, CertiProf, PECB
- Cibercooperante INCIBE y Embajador CertiProf
- Máster en Formación del Profesorado y Licenciado en Informática (UPV)
- Colegiado COIICV e ISACA

Misión
Facilitar que organizaciones y profesionales prosperen en entornos inciertos, aplicando metodologías ágiles, inteligencia colectiva y liderazgo transformador. Cree firmemente que escuchar, co-crear y experimentar son los pilares de la evolución real.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨 𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐬:
Blog: Mobiliza Academy
YouTube: AgileValencia
Certificaciones: Scrum Manager, Certiprof, PECB

Impulsando el cambio desde la acción, acumulo más de 35 años de experiencia liderando proyectos estratégicos en empresas del sector tecnológico, industrial, servicios y tercer sector. Ha acompañado a cientos de equipos y líderes en su evolución hacia... Show more

Building Outskill, worlds largest Generative AI education platform, We've trained 10 Million professionals on Generative AI across 150+ countries

Building Outskill, worlds largest Generative AI education platform, We've trained 10 Million professionals on Generative AI across 150+ countries Show more

As a Business Analyst for Olmsted County, Mike has successfully worked as a resource for the Project Management Office and both elicited requirements for projects but also provided Project Management for department specific projects.
Mike has entered the world as a hobby beekeeper and would like to share how this important insect and its successful colony of 30,000 worker bees, one queen, and many drones could benefit our work lives.
Mike has an MBA from the University of St Thomas, in St Paul, MN and grew up on a farm in southern Minnesota.

As a Business Analyst for Olmsted County, Mike has successfully worked as a resource for the Project Management Office and both elicited requirements for projects but also provided Project Management for department specific projects. Mike has ente... Show more

Hi! My name is Sam. I'm a proud Minnesotan covering the 2026 midterm elections in Orlando, Florida. Before this, I covered the 89th Texas Legislature in Austin, Texas and reported on local government, schools, state agencies, campaign finance and more for four years in Ketchikan, Alaska. I also love bringing coding and data visualization into the newsroom and helping share my enthusiasm with the rest of the world!

Hi! My name is Sam. I'm a proud Minnesotan covering the 2026 midterm elections in Orlando, Florida. Before this, I covered the 89th Texas Legislature in Austin, Texas and reported on local government, schools, state agencies, campaign finance and mor... Show more

Mestre em Gestão de Riscos pelo Departamento de Computação Aplicada da Universidade de Brasília (UnB), com especializações em Gestão da Segurança da Informação e Comunicações (UnB), Regulação de Telecomunicações (Inatel) e Gestão Pública (IFSC). Possui 18 anos de experiência no setor privado de telecomunicações, atuando em funções técnicas e de gestão antes de ingressar no serviço público.
É servidor de carreira da Anatel desde 2007, onde ocupou diversos cargos estratégicos: Gerente Operacional de Redes na área de Gestão da Informação, Gerente da Unidade Operacional no Maranhão , Assessor na Secretaria do Conselho Diretor, Assessor e Gerente substituto na Gerência de Canais de Relacionamento com os Consumidores, e atualmente, ocupa o cargo de Gerente de Planejamento, Desenvolvimento e Segurança de Sistemas na Superintendência de Gestão Interna da Informação.

Mestre em Gestão de Riscos pelo Departamento de Computação Aplicada da Universidade de Brasília (UnB), com especializações em Gestão da Segurança da Informação e Comunicações (UnB), Regulação de Telecomunicações (Inatel) e Gestão Pública (IFSC). Poss... Show more

Marcel Schade studied chemical engineering at TU Dortmund University and is a research associate at TU Dortmund University as well as an external PhD student at the University of Wuppertal.
He is currently working on the JuModel and Access@DigitalLabs projects, funded by the Foundation for Innovation in Higher Education. His work focuses on digital teaching – particularly in cross-reality laboratories – engineering education and accessibility.

Marcel Schade studied chemical engineering at TU Dortmund University and is a research associate at TU Dortmund University as well as an external PhD student at the University of Wuppertal. He is currently working on the JuModel and Access@DigitalLa... Show more

Anja Lorenz ist Instructional Designerin am Institut für Interaktive Systeme an der Technischen Hochschule Lübeck. Nach ihrem Studium der Medieninformatik an der Technischen Universität Dresden setzte sie ihre wissenschaftlichen Schwerpunkte in den Bereichen E-Learning, Social Media und Open Education. Seit 2013 entwickelt und erforscht sie MOOCs in unterschiedlichen Formaten und engagiert sich für OER und Open Access. Sie hofft, dass die Internetkompetenz im Wissenschaftsbetrieb bald dafür sorgt, dass sie keine Vitas mehr schreiben muss.

Anja Lorenz ist Instructional Designerin am Institut für Interaktive Systeme an der Technischen Hochschule Lübeck. Nach ihrem Studium der Medieninformatik an der Technischen Universität Dresden setzte sie ihre wissenschaftlichen Schwerpunkte in den B... Show more

This is Muhammad Shahbaz, a Senior Solution Architect and Cybersecurity Advisor with 16 years of experience AI, ML, DL, data science transformation and securing IT infrastructures across enterprises, banks, hospitals, and government sectors in Saudi Arabia. I have contributed to modernizing national datacenters, cloud adoption strategies, and cybersecurity frameworks, playing a key role in digital transformation programs aligned with Saudi Vision 2030. My expertise includes designing and securing high-performance infrastructure platforms, implementing advanced network architectures, and deploying automation solutions to enhance resilience and efficiency in AI-enhanced datacenters. In cybersecurity, I have developed governance frameworks, enforced NCA and ISO-aligned standards, performed assessments, and implemented strong data protection measures. My contributions include authoring multiple AI and cybersecurity publications, conducting threat-hunting campaigns, building attack-and-restore simulations, and delivering AI-driven Google projects, including deployments with the Google team in London. These efforts strengthened defenses for national projects including Tawakkalna, SDAIA DEEM Cloud, NCA, the National Data Platform, and the National Data Bank, advancing Saudi Arabia’s vision 2030 digital ecosystem and cybersecurity posture.

This is Muhammad Shahbaz, a Senior Solution Architect and Cybersecurity Advisor with 16 years of experience AI, ML, DL, data science transformation and securing IT infrastructures across enterprises, banks, hospitals, and government sectors in Saudi ... Show more