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

Jordan Kasper

Jordan Kasper

Jordan started programming in 1993 and has developed systems on platforms ranging from IBM mainframes to TI calculators and everything in between. Jordan's experience includes software development, instruction, mentorship, and technical leadership at startups, Fortune 100 companies, universities, and state and federal governments. He is an open source maintainer and regular conference speaker. Outside of work Jordan is a community organizer, board game enthusiast, and aspiring author.

Jordan started programming in 1993 and has developed systems on platforms ranging from IBM mainframes to TI calculators and everything in between. Jordan's experience includes software development, instruction, mentorship, and technical leadership at... Show more

Samuel Rangel

Samuel Rangel

Meet Samuel Rangel

Samuel Rangel, a proud Merced, California native, is a devoted husband, father of seven, and grandfather of eight. He currently serves with the Merced County Human Services Agency’s All Dad’s Matter Program, where he empowers fathers and families through support, education, and advocacy.

With over two decades of service, Samuel has established himself as a licensed substance abuse counselor, Certified Lactation Education Counselor, author, court-appointed gang culture expert, motivational speaker, and community advocate. He is also the co-founder of two nonprofit organizations—Mentoring Odd Jobs Organization (MOJO) and Distinguished Outreach Services—both of which are dedicated to improving the quality of life for Merced County residents with a strong emphasis on youth engagement, prevention, and fatherhood initiatives.

Samuel’s work extends beyond titles. He is widely recognized for his ability to connect with people from all walks of life, often using his own experiences to inspire others. Having overcome personal challenges, he understands the struggles many in his community face today. His story of resilience fuels his mission: to help individuals break cycles of hardship and to create pathways toward healthier families and stronger communities.

Outside of his professional and nonprofit leadership, Samuel has lived a dynamic and inspiring life. He is a former MMA coach and fighter, a recording artist with seven albums, and a five-time competitive BBQ rib champion. Each of these pursuits reflects his belief in discipline, creativity, and the importance of pursuing one’s passions fully.

His passion and dedication have earned him numerous accolades, including Safeway’s Humanitarian of the Year Award, recognition as Hispanic Man of the Year by the Merced County Hispanic Chamber, and formal accommodations from both the California State Assembly and the United States House of Representatives. These honors reflect not only his personal achievements but also the profound impact he continues to make on families, youth, and the broader community.

Looking ahead, Samuel remains committed to expanding his work in advocacy, mentorship, and fatherhood education. His vision is to see every father equipped with the tools to lead with love, responsibility, and purpose—because stronger fathers create stronger families, and stronger families build stronger communities.

Samuel often shares this guiding belief:

“You can spend a lifetime looking for your purpose, but when you find your passion, you begin to live.”

Meet Samuel Rangel Samuel Rangel, a proud Merced, California native, is a devoted husband, father of seven, and grandfather of eight. He currently serves with the Merced County Human Services Agency’s All Dad’s Matter Program, where he empowers fa... Show more

Paul Innella

Paul Innella

Paul Innella, CEO of TDI, is a globally recognized cybersecurity executive with over 30 years of experience advising critical infrastructure, government, and enterprise organizations. He pioneered Cybersecurity Performance Management (CPM), a strategic approach to measuring cybersecurity effectiveness in operational environments. Paul has guided top institutions including DARPA, the U.S. Navy, Deutsche Bank, and the IMF. His insights have appeared in Forbes, Financial Times, CNBC, and ABC News. He holds CISSP-ISSMP, CISM, and NSA IAM certifications and completed executive programs at Cambridge, IMD, and Edinburgh Business School. He also chairs White Hat USA, supporting Children’s National Medical Center.

Paul Innella, CEO of TDI, is a globally recognized cybersecurity executive with over 30 years of experience advising critical infrastructure, government, and enterprise organizations. He pioneered Cybersecurity Performance Management (CPM), a strateg... Show more

Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Kaliva

Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Kaliva

Dr. Elisabeth Kaliva is Professor for Digital Design at the Department of Computer Science and Scientific Lead of the Digital Open Learning Lab (DOLL) at Technical University of Cologne (TH Köln). Her teaching and research focus on the analysis, design, and critical reflection of interactive AI systems, with a strong emphasis on user experience and social computing. She explores how AI-driven decision-making processes can be made more explainable, human-centered, and adaptive, enhancing personalization while supporting meaningful knowledge exchange and collaboration. At the Digital Open Learning Lab, she investigate how uses centered digital design, innovative learning methodologies, and emerging technologies can enrich and transform social learning in higher education. She is also actively involved in the Data Literacy Initiative (DaLI) at TH Köln, contributing to interdisciplinary learning environments that foster data and AI literacy across disciplines.

Dr. Elisabeth Kaliva is Professor for Digital Design at the Department of Computer Science and Scientific Lead of the Digital Open Learning Lab (DOLL) at Technical University of Cologne (TH Köln). Her teaching and research focus on the analysis, desi... Show more

Frank Victory

Frank Victory

Frank Victory is a seasoned cybersecurity leader with over 30 years of experience shaping impactful security strategies. Focused on results rather than titles, he has excelled in both technical and leadership roles, bringing deep expertise in defensive and offensive security—spanning blue and red team operations, incident response, and threat & risk management.

Passionate about developing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals, Frank teaches at local community colleges and leads instruction for CU Boulder’s programs in Social Engineering, Ethical Hacking, DFIR, and Threat Hunting. As Vice President of the Denver OWASP chapter, he fosters community engagement through meetups and conferences, including SnowFROC.

Frank also co-hosts the Colorado=Security Podcast, where he interviews local cybersecurity professionals, delving into their journeys, challenges, and insights—always ending with the question: What is the biggest challenge in cybersecurity today?

Frank Victory is a seasoned cybersecurity leader with over 30 years of experience shaping impactful security strategies. Focused on results rather than titles, he has excelled in both technical and leadership roles, bringing deep expertise in defensi... Show more

Dr. Aday Adetosoye

Dr. Aday Adetosoye

Dr. Aday E. Adetosoye is an international speaker and leadership strategist specializing in human-centered AI adoption and women's leadership in tech. With 25 years as a U.S. diplomat (USAID, CDC, HRSA) and former Vice President overseeing global health programs in 37 countries, she brings high-stakes communication expertise to the digital landscape.

Recent speaking engagements include moderating at the International AIDS Conference 2024 (25,000+ attendees), featured panelist at the Weitzman Institute Virtual Symposium, presenter at the Women in Government Relations 50th Conference, and featured guest on "Lunch with Leaders" LinkedIn Live discussing women in STEM leadership.

As CEO of 1099 Impact Street and Maxwell Leadership Certified Speaker, Dr. Adetosoye helps leaders navigate technological transformation without sacrificing creativity, wellbeing, or authentic connection. She also provides training on public speaking. Her signature topic: "The Human Algorithm" for ethical AI leadership is a favorite.

Dr. Aday E. Adetosoye is an international speaker and leadership strategist specializing in human-centered AI adoption and women's leadership in tech. With 25 years as a U.S. diplomat (USAID, CDC, HRSA) and former Vice President overseeing global hea... Show more

Adelegan Oluseyi Abiodun

Adelegan Oluseyi Abiodun

I am CTO of Dokilink, iVentMaster, and PHS Consult, and Senior IT Manager at ZODML. As a founding member of Drupal Nigeria, I’ve led Drupal projects across healthcare, education, and government, including Dokilink, ZODML library integrated with Koha LMS, LASAMBUS, HEFAMAA, and currently HotelPaddie, a Drupal 11 + React OTA. I am passionate about open-source innovation and expanding Drupal across Nigeria and Africa.

I am CTO of Dokilink, iVentMaster, and PHS Consult, and Senior IT Manager at ZODML. As a founding member of Drupal Nigeria, I’ve led Drupal projects across healthcare, education, and government, including Dokilink, ZODML library integrated with Koha ... Show more

Shirley Madeley Sosa Muro

Shirley Madeley Sosa Muro

UX Conversational Designer especializada en Responsible AI por la Universidad de Michigan, con más de 5 años de experiencia en diseño de experiencias digitales y liderazgo de producto.
Graduada en Marketing e Innovación y egresada de Laboratoria.

Ha sido consultora de diseño en el sector educativo del Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo por más de 3 años, liderando proyectos en la intersección entre tecnología, innovación y experiencia de usuario. Actualmente se desempeña como UX Conversational Designer en Laureate Education.

Fundadora de Juntas Comunidad, una comunidad que impulsa a mujeres en IA desde el desarrollo, el diseño y el liderazgo. Desde 2023 es embajadora de Women Techmakers, con eventos que han impactado a más de 4,500 mujeres en el ecosistema STEM.

Siempre en la frontera entre el diseño y la tecnología emergente.

UX Conversational Designer especializada en Responsible AI por la Universidad de Michigan, con más de 5 años de experiencia en diseño de experiencias digitales y liderazgo de producto. Graduada en Marketing e Innovación y egresada de Laboratoria. ... Show more

Madeleine Mewis

Madeleine Mewis

Madeleine Mewis is the Regional Academic & Vocational Training Lead at the Project Management Institute, where she develops and manages initiatives for academic and vocational institutions in Germany and France. Previously, she served as the Head of Project and Business Development at Cognos International, focusing on project management and business opportunities in education with a special focus on cooperation development in many different countries. Madeleine has extensive experience in international education, project management, and stakeholder relations, having participated in numerous global education programs and training initiatives. She also lectured on project management at the Technical University of Cologne.

Madeleine Mewis is the Regional Academic & Vocational Training Lead at the Project Management Institute, where she develops and manages initiatives for academic and vocational institutions in Germany and France. Previously, she served as the Head of ... Show more

Seconde Nimenya

Seconde Nimenya

Renowned for her ability to captivate audiences globally, Seconde Nimenya draws on her rich life experiences and multicultural heritage to inspire and empower individuals. With a compelling repertoire of life-changing insights, she offers invaluable perspectives on navigating adversities and achieving personal growth.

Nimenya is an author with five published books, including her latest, "Unlocking Diversity: Your Guide to Becoming an Inclusive Leader Beyond Surface Level," a book that delves into the timely and thought-provoking topic of inclusive leadership. Her TEDx talk, "We Are Not All That Different," is an exploration of race and other identity constructs that has garnered widespread acclaim and continues to serve as a powerful catalyst for embracing diversity across the globe.

Recognized for her leadership and unwavering commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion, Nimenya has been instrumental in forging connections across varied multicultural communities.
Her academic credentials include a master's degree in business administration and a graduate certificate in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging leadership from Harvard University.

For further details about Seconde Nimenya's work, visit: https://www.bechangegroup.com/home

Renowned for her ability to captivate audiences globally, Seconde Nimenya draws on her rich life experiences and multicultural heritage to inspire and empower individuals. With a compelling repertoire of life-changing insights, she offers invaluable ... Show more

Omoniyi Lawson

Omoniyi Lawson

Omoniyi Lawson is a Digital Development practitioner with almost a decade of experience working at the intersection of technology, policy, and social impact across Africa. He is the Managing Partner at the Centre for Digital Development and Innovation Research, where he leads research and advocacy on digital inclusion, platform accountability, and digital governance.

Omoniyi is an active contributor to the Internet Governance Forum ecosystem and previously presented at the West African Internet Governance Forum 2025 in Abuja, Nigeria. He is also a member of the Internet Society. Currently, he serves as Co-Chair of the AI, Digital Learning and Digital Transformation Working Group under the UNESCO-hosted Education 2030 framework, contributing to global discussions on AI, digital transformation, and inclusive education systems.
His work focuses on how emerging technologies and platform policies shape access, safety, and economic participation in developing contexts, with particular attention to data governance, encryption, and platform accountability.

He is the Founder of DigiShield, an initiative focused on protecting young people from online harm, and has worked with thousands of young Nigerians on digital safety, privacy, and responsible technology use. His research spans multiple areas, including digital inclusion, sustainability, and the societal impacts of technology, with contributions to both national and international discourse.

Omoniyi has collaborated with global stakeholders, including UNESCO and was recognised as a top 10 finalist in the USAID Youth Well-being Prize (Digital Harm category). He is committed to advancing inclusive, rights-based digital development and strengthening West Africa’s capacity to shape its digital future.

Omoniyi Lawson is a Digital Development practitioner with almost a decade of experience working at the intersection of technology, policy, and social impact across Africa. He is the Managing Partner at the Centre for Digital Development and Innovatio... Show more

Oluwatosin Iseniyi

Oluwatosin Iseniyi

Oluwatosin Iseniyi is a seasoned public policy, research, and data analyst with extensive experience in translating complex operational directives into practical, data-driven insights. His expertise lies in public finance reform, budget analysis, and strategic policy advisory. Over the years, he has played a key role in promoting transparency and accountability by facilitating town hall engagements with policymakers and stakeholders. Oluwatosin has authored and co-authored over 60 comprehensive studies on topics such as beneficial ownership, illicit financial flows, institutional performance, and public policy in Nigeria. He currently leads the AI and Data Unit at BudgIT, where he drives innovative approaches to data use in governance and development.

Oluwatosin Iseniyi is a seasoned public policy, research, and data analyst with extensive experience in translating complex operational directives into practical, data-driven insights. His expertise lies in public finance reform, budget analysis, and... Show more

Chanel Power

Chanel Power

Chanel Power doesn't just build technology — she builds the systems that determine who gets to.

A Senior Machine Learning Engineer, Developer Relations leader, and Founder & CEO of Mentor Me Collective, Chanel operates at the intersection of technical excellence and global access. She has shipped production ML systems, advised 30+ early-stage AI product teams annually, and built a global technical institute serving 40K+ developers across 120+ countries, generating $45M+ in career outcomes for 600+ first-generation technologists.

Mentor Me Collective is a Google for Startups partner, Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center alumni, and by every measure, a developer relations program at true scale, with enablement programs running at 3x industry engagement benchmarks and partnerships spanning Google Cloud, IBM, and Grow with Google.

Her technical range is matched by her ability to translate it across engineering rooms, executive briefings, and communities the industry too often overlooks.

Chanel works at the frontier of Generative AI, Agentic AI, and accelerated computing. She builds fast, speaks plain, and closes the gap between what's possible and who gets to build it.

She is not building toward legacy. She is already living it.

Chanel Power doesn't just build technology — she builds the systems that determine who gets to. A Senior Machine Learning Engineer, Developer Relations leader, and Founder & CEO of Mentor Me Collective, Chanel operates at the intersection of techn... Show more

David Agbolade

David Agbolade

David is a Senior Data Scientist working in UK Government, where he applies AI and machine learning to real-world public sector challenges. He holds an MSc in AI & Data Science (Distinction) and BSc in Software Engineering.

His research on deploying deep learning for automated radiology reports was published in the Journal of Informatics and Web Engineering (JIWE) and earned Best Presenter Award at NexSymp 2025 in Malaysia. Beyond government work, he founded SheerFit, an AI-powered wellness platform serving users across communities.

David's work focuses on building production AI systems that actually work in resource-constrained environments, not just in labs. He's passionate about honest conversations about what it really takes to deploy AI in the real world: the failures, the compromises, and the unglamorous solutions that actually ship.

David is a Senior Data Scientist working in UK Government, where he applies AI and machine learning to real-world public sector challenges. He holds an MSc in AI & Data Science (Distinction) and BSc in Software Engineering. His research on deployi... Show more

Zahra Al-Saloom

Zahra Al-Saloom

Zahra Al-Saloom (she/hers) is a Program Manager under the Colorado Energy Office’s Transportation team. She co-manages the Charge Ahead Colorado program; this program provides grant funding for community-based Level 2 and DC fast charging. Under this program, Zahra leads multifamily housing EV charging efforts, including developing and implementing Colorado’s first EV charging portfolio application for MFH. Her work aims to reduce barriers for multifamily properties, including income-qualified housing, to ensure that MFH residents are charging where they live. Zahra obtained her Masters of Arts in Political Science, specializing in Environmental Policy and Comparative Politics, at Colorado State University (Go Rams!).

Zahra Al-Saloom (she/hers) is a Program Manager under the Colorado Energy Office’s Transportation team. She co-manages the Charge Ahead Colorado program; this program provides grant funding for community-based Level 2 and DC fast charging. Under this... Show more

Julia Hampl

Julia Hampl

Julia Hampl ist Wirtschaftspädagogin und zertifizierte E-Learning Managerin. Aktuell ist sie als Expertin der Digitalen Lehre an der Technischen Universität Wien angestellt und arbeitet im Rahmen einer Selbständigkeit als Zertifizierungsprüferin bei Austrian Standards, Lehrgangsleiterin für einen betreuten online Selbstlernlehrgang und Vortragende zu Themen rund um Online Lehre. Sie hat bereits einige Jahre Berufserfahrung als Lehrende im schulischen und außerschulischen Bereich und im E-Learning.

Julia Hampl ist Wirtschaftspädagogin und zertifizierte E-Learning Managerin. Aktuell ist sie als Expertin der Digitalen Lehre an der Technischen Universität Wien angestellt und arbeitet im Rahmen einer Selbständigkeit als Zertifizierungsprüferin bei ... Show more

Maristela de Carvalho

Maristela de Carvalho

Analista de Políticas Sociais, vencedora do Prêmio Espírito Público, engenheira e mestranda em Psicologia pela UnB. Egressa, ex-coordenadora e pesquisadora do Programa LideraGOV. Com 11 anos de experiência em políticas públicas relacionadas a trabalho, emprego, gestão governamental, educação e liderança, também atuou por outros 10 anos com automação industrial e mercado de energia. Com ampla experiência em relações internacionais, já integrou Assessorias Internacionais em diversas pastas governamentais, com destaque para o papel de Assessora Especial para Assuntos Internacionais no Ministério da Educação, onde contribuiu para o aprimoramento da educação e a promoção de boas práticas globais. Além disso, dedica-se à construção de redes estratégicas, é facilitadora de processos de transformação governamental, free-la no LA-BORA!gov e entusiasta da formação de lideranças públicas. Une competências técnicas à paixão por pessoas e inovação no serviço público.

Analista de Políticas Sociais, vencedora do Prêmio Espírito Público, engenheira e mestranda em Psicologia pela UnB. Egressa, ex-coordenadora e pesquisadora do Programa LideraGOV. Com 11 anos de experiência em políticas públicas relacionadas a trabalh... Show more

Heather Wilde Renze

Heather Wilde Renze

Heather Wilde is CTO of TheDifference and is also known as the Unicorn Whisperer because of her special focus on entrepreneurs. She is a professional growth expert, executive coach, best-selling author, and speaker. One of the founding team of Evernote, and co-founder of TWIP, she has won multiple awards for her writing, technology, coaching, and mentorship, including the 2020 International Impact Award for her latest book, "Birth of a Unicorn".

Both a patent inventor and game designer, she is trailblazing the way for other women to do the same.
She has appeared on Huffpost Live and ABC News, and has appeared in Mashable, BBC News, Huffington Post, and in the Wall Street Journal as well as many other industry publications. Her clients cover North America, Australia, Asia, and the Middle East and she offers training internationally on tech topics such as Cybersecurity, Anticipatory Design, and the Dangers of Overwork.

Wilde's popular Inc and Forbes columns span social media, entrepreneurialism, startups, leadership, fundraising, and diversity issues. She lives in Las Vegas.

Heather Wilde is CTO of TheDifference and is also known as the Unicorn Whisperer because of her special focus on entrepreneurs. She is a professional growth expert, executive coach, best-selling author, and speaker. One of the founding team of Everno... Show more

Nicolas Ploquin

Nicolas Ploquin

Nicolas, Lean addict, coauteur de "Culture Kaizen", ex Scrum Master, ex Chef de projet, ex développeur.
J'oppose l'agilité aux méthodes agiles.
Ma vision de l'agilité, c'est le Lean.

Nicolas, Lean addict, coauteur de "Culture Kaizen", ex Scrum Master, ex Chef de projet, ex développeur. J'oppose l'agilité aux méthodes agiles. Ma vision de l'agilité, c'est le Lean. Show more

Erin Haugen, PhD, LP, CMPC

Erin Haugen, PhD, LP, CMPC

I am passionate about fostering mental health that helps teams perform under pressure.

I am driven to help people use performance psychology principles to improve their lives! After nearly 20 years as a sport and performance psychologist, I’ve learned that high performance is not only a set of tools but a way of being that we bring to everything we do. Yet, in several high performing industries, we’re behind in taking action on mental health—and in some ways I get it because how we’ve talked about mental health in these spaces doesn’t consider important nuances of high performance.

Fortunately, the message I share is informed by two decades of experience within several demanding industries that also have high mental health stigma including healthcare, higher education, and collegiate and professional sport (including collision sports, such as football and ice hockey). I’m also from a family of rural farmers, so my message is designed to reach even the most skeptical audience members! You can simply trust that what I have to say will reach the high performers on your team.

I’m a passionate and enthusiastic speaker (who might talk too fast at times) and am skilled at translating important concepts into practical strategies that you can immediately use. (You can thank my herding rescue dogs for helping me streamline my communication strategies!)

I have a PhD in Clinical Psychology, am a Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC), and am a Licensed Psychologist, specializing in high performing populations. I am the Founder and CEO of Haugen Performance Consulting, a firm that provides education, training, and performance psychology solutions for sport organizations, corporations, and professionals. I've held a variety of positions including the Director of Mental Health and Performance Psychology at a Division I NCAA member institution and former Board member (2017-2019) and Past-President (2018-2019) of the North Dakota State Board of Psychologist Examiners (NDSBPE).

Throughout my career, I have actively involved in training the next generation of healthcare leaders. I am an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Psychology at the University of North Dakota and former faculty member at the Altru Family Medicine Residency (2016-2020). I continue providing mental health and performance psychology training to sports medicine fellows in physical therapy, athletic training students, and graduate students in clinical and counseling psychology. In 2023, I was also awarded the prestigious Jack Weakley Award of Distinction from the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) for lifetime contributions to athletics, athletic training, and sports medicine, and I am the first mental health professional to receive this award.

I am passionate about fostering mental health that helps teams perform under pressure. I am driven to help people use performance psychology principles to improve their lives! After nearly 20 years as a sport and performance psychologist, I’ve lea... Show more

Anna Lill

Anna Lill

Dr. Anna Lill, DSocSci, is a Prevention Scientist, High School Health Education and Psychology Teacher, and Fellow with the Center for Psychedelic Public Health. She earned her doctorate in Prevention Science from Wilmington University, where her dissertation, Healing the Root Cause: Classic Psychedelics as Prevention Interventions for Alcohol Use Disorder, addressed a previously unexamined gap in the prevention science literature by offering the first formal exploration of psychedelic-assisted prevention for Alcohol Use Disorder. She also holds graduate and undergraduate degrees in human services and behavioral science. With nearly two decades of experience across the behavioral health continuum of care, public health, and education, Dr. Lill integrates research, teaching, and advocacy to advance health equity, harm reduction, and innovative prevention strategies. As a licensed educator and Co-Owner of TE Recovery Homes, she works to bridge science and compassion in addressing the root causes of suffering while strengthening protective factors and expanding ethical, evidence-informed pathways to care across education, treatment, and community systems.

Dr. Anna Lill, DSocSci, is a Prevention Scientist, High School Health Education and Psychology Teacher, and Fellow with the Center for Psychedelic Public Health. She earned her doctorate in Prevention Science from Wilmington University, where her dis... Show more

Josh Harr

Josh Harr

Josh Harr is a senior cybersecurity advisor and security executive with 17 years of experience spanning U.S. federal government, military operations, critical infrastructure, healthcare, private industry, and international defense organizations. His work focuses on helping leaders understand and manage cyber risk shaped by geopolitics, operational reality, and real‑world consequences.

Josh currently serves as a Business Information Security Officer (BISO) within a large U.S. healthcare organization, aligning cybersecurity strategy with business growth, regulatory requirements, and patient care. He translates technical risk into executive decision‑making and embeds security into enterprise transformation initiatives.

In parallel, Josh supports international cyber capacity‑building as a senior advisor to the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense Cyber Defense Center, where he helps design incident response frameworks, organizational models, workforce pipelines, large‑scale cyber exercises, and governance aligned with NATO and EUCOM objectives.

Josh is also an officer in the U.S. Air National Guard, specializing in cyberspace operations and international security advising, with experience integrating cyber considerations into joint and multi‑domain environments.

Across government, military, and private‑sector roles, Josh designs executive‑level exercises and crisis simulations focused on risk‑based decision‑making under uncertainty. His work consistently operates at the intersection of cybersecurity, geopolitics, and leadership—helping organizations understand not just what could happen, but why it matters and how to act.

Josh Harr is a senior cybersecurity advisor and security executive with 17 years of experience spanning U.S. federal government, military operations, critical infrastructure, healthcare, private industry, and international defense organizations. His ... Show more

Samia Durrani

Samia Durrani

Samia leads the pre sales and delivery of large scale and complex security projects across a diverse portfolio of financial services clients. Samia is passionate about encouraging people from diverse backgrounds into technology careers. She does this by providing mentoring sessions, guest lectures to university courses and helping to lead D&I initiatives.

Samia leads the pre sales and delivery of large scale and complex security projects across a diverse portfolio of financial services clients. Samia is passionate about encouraging people from diverse backgrounds into technology careers. She does this... Show more

Kieran Holmes

Kieran Holmes

Kieran is a Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform Solution Architect with over a decade of Microsoft Business Applications delivery experience across enterprise clients in both the public and private sector.

As a Microsoft Certified Trainer, Kieran supports organisations through digital transformation and the adoption of new Microsoft technologies, including AI-powered business applications and agents.

Kieran is a Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform Solution Architect with over a decade of Microsoft Business Applications delivery experience across enterprise clients in both the public and private sector. As a Microsoft Certified Trainer, K... 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

Kurtis Minder

Kurtis Minder

Kurtis’ book, “Cyber Recon: My Life in Cyber Espionage and Ransomware Negotiation” (Wiley, 2025), is an exposé of the private cyber espionage industry and the economic impact of cyberattacks on the US economy.

Kurtis Minder is the founder of GroupSense, a leading provider of digital risk solutions. He built a robust cyber reconnaissance operation that protects some of the world’s largest enterprises and government organizations. Having exited GroupSense in 2025, he now consults for cybersecurity technology companies and serves as a cyber board advisor.

Kurtis is a recognized expert in ransomware response, having served as the lead negotiator in some of the largest ransomware, breach, and data extortion cases globally. His experiences and insights are captured in his book, Cyber Recon, which explores the high-stakes world of cyber threat actor engagement and ransomware response.

He holds a FEMA certification in Critical Infrastructure Protection and actively contributes to public good projects. He is the program lead for RAPIDS, a regional initiative based in Grand Junction, Colorado, focused on measuring and managing the health of the Colorado River through innovative technology and data collaboration.

Kurtis is consistently tapped to lead discussions and keynotes for enterprises and organizations like Wired, the New York Independent Bankers Association, The International Bar Association. Trellix, The State of California, The State of Pennsylvania, RSA Conference, DEFCON, and many others.

Kurtis’s work has been featured in major media outlets, including The New Yorker, Fortune, VICE, WIRED, CNN, and Good Morning America, among others.

Kurtis’ book, “Cyber Recon: My Life in Cyber Espionage and Ransomware Negotiation” (Wiley, 2025), is an exposé of the private cyber espionage industry and the economic impact of cyberattacks on the US economy. Kurtis Minder is the founder of Group... Show more

Celestine Kleinesper

Celestine Kleinesper

Celestine Kleinesper ist Erziehungs- und Bildungswissenschaftlerin (M.A.) und derzeit für die Deutsche Kinder- und Jugendstiftung im Programm zukunft.digital tätig. Dabei werden Studierende und Lehrkräfte zusammengebracht, um KI-bezogene Projekte wie Chatbots, Projektwochen oder Mikrofortbildungen umzusetzen. Durch ihre Tätigkeiten bei der "Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study - TIMSS", "Synergien für Lehren und Lernen durch Open Educational Resources" (SynLLOER), an der Hamburg Open Online University (HOOU) und bei OERinfo verfügt sie über vielfältige Erfahrungen im Bereich Open Education und Digitalisierung an Hochschulen.

Celestine Kleinesper ist Erziehungs- und Bildungswissenschaftlerin (M.A.) und derzeit für die Deutsche Kinder- und Jugendstiftung im Programm zukunft.digital tätig. Dabei werden Studierende und Lehrkräfte zusammengebracht, um KI-bezogene Projekte wie... Show more

Mesgana Gormley

Mesgana Gormley

Mesgana Gormley is a Senior Database Specialist Solutions Architect at Amazon Web Services who focuses on providing technical guidance to AWS customers in the public sector, helping them successfully design, implement, and optimize secure, scalable, and cost-effective database solutions on AWS.

Mesgana Gormley is a Senior Database Specialist Solutions Architect at Amazon Web Services who focuses on providing technical guidance to AWS customers in the public sector, helping them successfully design, implement, and optimize secure, scalable, ... Show more

Varsha Verma

Varsha Verma

With a rich background of over 6+ years in the industry, I personally take charge of steering global Cloud. Currently, I'm hands-on, managing end-to-end responsibilities while prioritizing best practices.

But it's more than just Cloud, Devops, build and Operations for me. I'm here to share my expertise on a personal level. I want to coach individuals guiding them toward becoming not just job-ready, but corporate-ready with all my experiences and learnings. Let's embark on this journey together with a sprinkle of my expertise☺️.

Conducted Online and offline sessions for IT enthusiasts and Working Professionals.
✅AWS Community Builder

I was speaker in below events:
🏆AWS Community Event
🏆 Women In Tech India
🏆 All Day DevOps
🏆Lunch & Learn
🏆Engineer HUB

🏆 LinkedIn Top Voice for Cloud Computing
🏆 LinkedIn Top Voice for DevOps

✅Technical Content Writer at Hashnode👩‍💻

With a rich background of over 6+ years in the industry, I personally take charge of steering global Cloud. Currently, I'm hands-on, managing end-to-end responsibilities while prioritizing best practices. But it's more than just Cloud, Devops, bui... Show more

Jeremy Darling

Jeremy Darling

Jeremy Darling is a Principal Consultant at Centroid, where he partners with organizations to design and deliver resilient, secure, and scalable technology platforms in complex and regulated environments. With decades of experience across distributed systems, cloud and edge architectures, and Kubernetes-based platforms, Jeremy specializes in translating ambitious technical goals into operational reality.

His work spans data-driven systems in healthcare, public sector, and higher education, including large-scale analytics initiatives and mission-critical platforms operating under strict security and compliance constraints. Known for navigating high-stakes technical challenges, Jeremy brings a pragmatic, systems-thinking approach to architecture, delivery, and long-term sustainability.

Beyond the technology, Jeremy is deeply committed to the human side of engineering. As a leadership speaker and mental health advocate, he focuses on empathy, resilience, and communication during moments of stress, loss, and organizational change. He believes strong systems are built by healthy teams—and that leadership matters most when things don’t go as planned.

Outside of client work and speaking engagements, Jeremy practices yoga and continues exploring the intersection of mental health, leadership, and sustainable engineering culture.

Jeremy Darling is a Principal Consultant at Centroid, where he partners with organizations to design and deliver resilient, secure, and scalable technology platforms in complex and regulated environments. With decades of experience across distributed... 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