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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Brian Vermeer is a Staff Developer Advocate at Snyk and a respected authority in Java and secure software development. He is an internationally recognized Java Champion and Oracle ACE Pro, honored for his outstanding contributions to Java and open source advocacy.
With over 15 years of hands-on software engineering experience, Brian specializes in Java, cybersecurity, and AI. He has authored numerous articles on this and has contributed to a wide range of open source projects within the ecosystem.
Brian is an active developer community leader, serving as a JUG leader for both the NLJUG and VirtualJUG, co-leading DevSecCon, and conference organizer for J-Fall and J-Spring. He is also a frequent speaker at leading international conferences, including JavaOne, Devoxx, and Devnexus.
Beyond his professional work in technology, Brian serves as a reservist in the Royal Netherlands Air Force in the rank of Captain and is a Taekwondo Master and instructor.

Brian Vermeer is a Staff Developer Advocate at Snyk and a respected authority in Java and secure software development. He is an internationally recognized Java Champion and Oracle ACE Pro, honored for his outstanding contributions to Java and open so... Show more

Mika is a dual-category Microsoft MVP (Cloud Security, and Azure Operations & Management) and Chief AI Officer at Netox, a Finnish Microsoft partner.
He works where identity, cloud security and AI collide, and his current focus is the governance problem that arrived with agents: how to inventory the non-human identities already sitting in a tenant, design Entra Agent ID blueprints per trust boundary, put permissions on the agent instead of the template, and stop user-built Copilot Studio agents from quietly becoming unmanaged automation with real data access. That work does not stop at the tenant boundary, so he also builds the enterprise layer above it: tool evaluation and autonomy classification frameworks mapped into ServiceNow AI Control Tower, so an organisation has one register of every agent it runs regardless of which platform built it. Around that he designs Azure AI landing zones, secures AI workloads with Defender for Cloud, Purview and Conditional Access, and still spends plenty of time on the unglamorous parts: landing zones, policy as code, and PowerShell that has to run correctly at three in the morning.

In addition to his work in cloud and AI, Mika is deeply involved in humanitarian efforts. He serves as Head of Disaster Management for his local Red Cross branch and has been deployed as an information management delegate during natural disasters in Finland and abroad. His expertise in crisis response and data coordination plays a crucial role in emergency operations.

When he is not securing cloud environments, building AI solutions, or managing disaster response, you will likely find him enjoying craft beer.

Mika is a dual-category Microsoft MVP (Cloud Security, and Azure Operations & Management) and Chief AI Officer at Netox, a Finnish Microsoft partner. He works where identity, cloud security and AI collide, and his current focus is the governance pro... Show more

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

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

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

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

Tiffany Songvilay is a powerhouse in modern workplace transformation and AI enablement. As the Global Tech Lead for Avanade’s Copilot Adoption Program and a key player on the North America Copilot Rapid Response Team, she’s helped enterprise clients go from “just testing” to “fully thriving” with AI—boosting productivity, collaboration, and digital know-how along the way.

A Copilot MVP and go-to advisor, Tiffany leads global teams, builds enablement and security frameworks, and hosts Prompt-a-thons that make prompt engineering feel less like rocket science and more like second nature. She’s a pro at showing off Copilot in action—whether it’s in Microsoft 365, SharePoint Premium, Viva, or Power Platform—and her sessions are known for being both insightful and refreshingly real.

From breaking down metadata extraction in SharePoint to helping teams master the new collab stack (hello Loop, Teams, and Copilot!), Tiffany brings clarity, energy, and a whole lot of credibility to every stage she steps on.

Outside of work, she’s a fierce advocate for women of color in STEM and a champion for diversity and LGBTQ+ inclusion. Her LinkedIn posts are packed with practical tips on prompt engineering, and she’s a fan favorite for making even the nerdiest topics fun. Oh—and when she’s not leading AI transformations? You’ll find her on a motorcycle or cuddling her senior rescue dog.

Tiffany Songvilay is a powerhouse in modern workplace transformation and AI enablement. As the Global Tech Lead for Avanade’s Copilot Adoption Program and a key player on the North America Copilot Rapid Response Team, she’s helped enterprise clients ... Show more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dennie is Microsoft MVP Developer Technologies and has experience in accessibility with Microsoft technologies. In daily life Dennie is president and developer at DDSoft, a nonprofit that connects IT to People who are less tech-savvy. Dennie invented technical solutions and systems to help people with disabilities to participate in their daily life. Thanks to his autism he's the right man at the right spot to contribute as a volunteer in function of people with disabilities.

Dennie is Microsoft MVP Developer Technologies and has experience in accessibility with Microsoft technologies. In daily life Dennie is president and developer at DDSoft, a nonprofit that connects IT to People who are less tech-savvy. Dennie invented... Show more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I have led teams and projects in companies with regional reach and have participated as an international speaker at conferences such as Ekoparty, DevOpsDays, Nerdearla, and DEF CON, addressing topics such as offensive security, awareness, applied AI, and governance.

In addition to my work as a teacher at various institutions and educational platforms, training the next generation of professionals in security, cloud computing, and leadership.

My motto is LEAD – TEACH – PROTECT

I'm Mati Armándola, an Information Security leader with over 20 years of experience in technology and more than a decade dedicated exclusively to asset protection, regulatory compliance, and organizational culture. I have led teams and projects in... Show more

I am a seasoned Solution Architect with over a decade of experience in delivering technology solutions within the Non-profit, Medical, and Investment firm industries. My expertise spans a mix of consulting and industry-specific roles. In these positions, I have successfully designed and executed numerous projects involving Microsoft products, including Dynamics CRM for Sales, Service, and Marketing, as well as Office 365 Administration. Additionally, I have been actively engaged in the community, contributing my skills and knowledge to further our collective goals.

I am a seasoned Solution Architect with over a decade of experience in delivering technology solutions within the Non-profit, Medical, and Investment firm industries. My expertise spans a mix of consulting and industry-specific roles. In these positi... Show more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Executive leader in cybersecurity, university professor, and former Dean of the Faculty of Information Technologies in Mostar. Throughout his career, he has designed, implemented, and led security verticals within Mistral and HTEC, with experience spanning the leadership of offensive and defensive security teams. His work has placed particular emphasis on managing SOC teams and incident response operations, as well as implementing and continuously improving ISO 27001 standards and the SOC 2 Type II framework.

He has been professionally engaged in information security, privacy, forensic analysis, and database systems for 25 years.

He is the author of the books Writing T-SQL Queries for Beginners Using Microsoft SQL Server 2012, Securing SQL Server 2012, and SQL Server on Linux. He is a Microsoft Security MVP and an active speaker at numerous IT conferences, events, and panels, with more than 170 speaking engagements over the past 19 years.

Executive leader in cybersecurity, university professor, and former Dean of the Faculty of Information Technologies in Mostar. Throughout his career, he has designed, implemented, and led security verticals within Mistral and HTEC, with experience sp... Show more

Tomislav Bronzin is one of only 165 Microsoft Regional Directors worldwide and a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (M365). He is the founder and CEO of CITUS, a Microsoft partner company specializing in digital transformation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and modern workplace solutions. As an innovator, he has received 120+ international innovation awards and holds six patents in AI, mixed reality, and cloud technologies.

With over 25 years of experience, Tomislav has worked on global and EU projects across 40+ countries, advising governments, IT associations, company boards, and development teams. He helps organizations turn technological innovation into strategic advantage, measurable business outcomes, and sustainable change.

Tomislav focuses on AI as a catalyst for enhancing human potential—improving decision‑making, productivity, and collaboration. He is an expert in AI strategy and adoption, particularly through Microsoft 365, Copilot, Power Platform, and Azure.

His involvement in the IT and business community has accelerated the digital growth of organizations across Europe. As a Vice President of the IT Association of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, he represents the business community and, as a member of the National Council for Digital Transformation of the Republic of Croatia, promotes influential digital initiatives.

Tomislav is a frequent speaker at international conferences, a Senior Lecturer at Algebra Bernays University, author of 40+ research papers, and a member of the National Human Resources Council of the Republic of Croatia.

Tomislav Bronzin is one of only 165 Microsoft Regional Directors worldwide and a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (M365). He is the founder and CEO of CITUS, a Microsoft partner company specializing in digital transformation, artificial intellige... Show more

With 20 years of experience in web development, usability, and accessibility, Karl Groves is widely regarded as a pragmatic solution-finder and thought leader in the accessibility industry. In his role as accessibility consultant at AFixt, Karl focuses on pragmatic and efficient ways of improving the accessibility of websites and software.

With 20 years of experience in web development, usability, and accessibility, Karl Groves is widely regarded as a pragmatic solution-finder and thought leader in the accessibility industry. In his role as accessibility consultant at AFixt, Karl focus... Show more

Zoe leads the Digital Workplace Services Consult practice globally for Kyndryl, covering all Microsoft AI Business Solutions technology, ServiceNow, and other ecosystem partners, driving technology-based innovation and owning the future of work vision for clients.

In this role, Zoe works with colleagues from across the Kyndryl organisation to drive innovation, centered around business problems, leveraging the full range of modern work technologies including agentic capabilities, to help organisations reinvent work. Driving individual productivity gains, deploying solutions that allow people to self-serve their employee needs, and then transforming work with process reinvention, to deliver value across all facets of the connected employee experience.

Innovation and technology evangelism are both core to the success of this role, as well as a passion for delighting and exciting customers with the art of the possible. In this role, Zoe works closely with partners like Microsoft and ServiceNow on technology innovations, and alongside this contributes to many events across the Microsoft tech community through speaking, volunteering as part of various event teams, and is the co-organiser of the Scottish Summit conference.

Zoe brings together a customer-focused solution background with several years of technology leadership experience and almost 20 years experience working with collaborative tools such as SharePoint and other Microsoft technologies. She is passionate about solving business problems in an innovative and exciting way, and although her primary tech focus has been SharePoint, Teams and Microsoft 365, she now has the pleasure of working across a much broader range of technologies.

Zoe is the co-host of the popular Copilot Connection podcast and the monthly Copilot Fireside Chat series, and one of the founding members of the New Speaker Workshop, an initiative that focuses on developing the next generation of community leaders.

Zoe leads the Digital Workplace Services Consult practice globally for Kyndryl, covering all Microsoft AI Business Solutions technology, ServiceNow, and other ecosystem partners, driving technology-based innovation and owning the future of work visio... Show more

Dr. Estera Kot is the Chief Technology Officer at Clouds On Mars, where she drives the company’s innovation in Data & AI strategy and execution. A former Principal Product Manager at Microsoft, she played a key role in building performance-critical components of Azure Synapse Analytics and Microsoft Fabric, focusing on Apache Spark and high-efficiency analytical engines.

Estera is a Polish-born engineer by passion, fluent in several programming languages and recognized for her hands-on technical depth. She earned her Ph.D. in Computer Science with distinction, specializing in machine and deep learning for medical imaging. Her research has led to numerous scientific publications and a U.S. patent in big data processing.

Her career spans global tech leaders like Intel, Sony, and Procter & Gamble. She is a respected educator and mentor, having designed full-time and postgraduate AI-in-Cloud programs at the Warsaw University of Technology. Her students now work at CERN, Google, Meta, and other top-tier institutions worldwide. Estera is a guest lecturer at UCLA—one of the top public research universities in the U.S.—and Łazarski University in Warsaw.

As a speaker, she’s presented at top industry events including MLADS (Microsoft’s internal AI and data science conference in Redmond), the inaugural FabCon in Las Vegas, and several AI and cloud conferences across Europe. She also produces educational content on YouTube, making complex AI topics accessible and practical.

Estera is committed to building scalable, ethical, and real-world-driven AI solutions, with a focus on impact over hype.

Dr. Estera Kot is the Chief Technology Officer at Clouds On Mars, where she drives the company’s innovation in Data & AI strategy and execution. A former Principal Product Manager at Microsoft, she played a key role in building performance-critical c... Show more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chime is a Microsoft MVP and Senior Power Platform Consultant with a strong focus on helping organisations deliver impactful low-code solutions using Microsoft Power Platform. As a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), he is passionate about knowledge sharing, enabling rapid learning, and improving team effectiveness.

Beyond consulting, Chime is a Careers Mentor at the University of Greenwich (UK), where he supports students through career guidance and STEM engagement, encouraging the next generation to pursue opportunities in technology.

His commitment to learning, mentorship, and innovation reflects a clear belief in technology as a driver of growth, opportunity, and positive community impact.

Chime is a Microsoft MVP and Senior Power Platform Consultant with a strong focus on helping organisations deliver impactful low-code solutions using Microsoft Power Platform. As a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), he is passionate about knowledge s... Show more

12x Microsoft Azure MVP . Founder of the Polish Microsoft Azure User Group. Cloud Lead and Azure Lead Architect working with enterprises and gov also building Dynamics 365 Managed Environments for large business. Experienced in regulated envs like Banking and Insurance.

12x Microsoft Azure MVP . Founder of the Polish Microsoft Azure User Group. Cloud Lead and Azure Lead Architect working with enterprises and gov also building Dynamics 365 Managed Environments for large business. Experienced in regulated envs like Ba... Show more

Alison Cossette is founder and CEO of ClariTrace, where she's building graph-based intelligence for AI systems. Her work spans AI governance, physical AI, and retrieval research—she recently won "Most Impressive Project" at Physical AI Hack 2026 for a VLA-powered robot that reads books to children. Alison serves on the US NIST Generative AI Public Working Group and has studied AI and Data Science at Northwestern University at the Master's level. She speaks globally on building AI systems that are capable, controllable, and worth trusting.

Alison Cossette is founder and CEO of ClariTrace, where she's building graph-based intelligence for AI systems. Her work spans AI governance, physical AI, and retrieval research—she recently won "Most Impressive Project" at Physical AI Hack 2026 for ... Show more

Devika Toprani is a UAE-based human-AI learning systems architect who pioneered the pre-AI sense-making layer on March 6, 2026, independently and without funding or institutional backing, after identifying a gap no existing AI literacy framework had named. Her framework, Map Before Machine™, gives users a structured way to externalize their own reasoning before any AI interaction begins, grounded in embodied cognition and cognitive load theory.

Born in Oman, Devika holds an MS in Management from the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, dual degrees in Psychology from George Mason University and the University of Mumbai, and a Google UX Design certification. She has built her career across India, the UAE, and the US, coordinating national accreditation and competency evaluation pipelines at UIUC's School of Social Work and developing centralized learning infrastructure across K-12 and higher education.

Devika is an Individual Contributor to the Oxford AIEOU Human Flourishing Lab, with work archived in the Oxford University Research Archive alongside 550+ global educators. She authored the chapter "Pre-AI Sense-making Before Scale" in AI Everywhere Vol. 3 (Six Peas Press, Nov 2026).

She has spoken about human-centered AI at University of Illinois WebCon 2026 and Northwestern University TEACHx 2026, with upcoming appearances at the Global Data & AI Virtual Tech Conference and Microsoft's Data Platform DEI Group. Her work has been featured in the Global Citizenship Education Interview Series, She Leads AI, Teach Coach Mentor, She Writes AI, Cornucopia of STEM and Empowered by AI.

Devika believes that "Learning is not AI-made. It's Soul-made. AI only refines what YOU bring to the chatbot." She writes the Substack newsletter, Soulful Learning with AI, read by 700+ subscribers.

Devika Toprani is a UAE-based human-AI learning systems architect who pioneered the pre-AI sense-making layer on March 6, 2026, independently and without funding or institutional backing, after identifying a gap no existing AI literacy framework had ... Show more

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

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