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

Toby Rao

Toby Rao

Enterprise Agile Coach

Toby Rao is an Agile leader, speaker, coach, and community builder based in the Washington DC Metro area. He specializes in Strategic Agile Transformation, Change Management, Program Management, Leadership Development, AI-driven Agile, and Organizational Development. With over 15 years of experience, Toby helps organizations address today’s VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) challenges by guiding leaders and teams to understand, apply, and evangelize Lean and Agile practices.

Toby is an ICF-Credentialed Coach, an IC-Agile Accredited Trainer, a Certified Executive Coach and holds several top Agile certifications from Scrum Alliance and ICAgile. He also has certifications in AI, including AI for Product Management (IBM/Pendo.io), Generative AI Fundamentals (Academy Accreditation from Databricks), and AI & Agility (Scrum Alliance).

He is passionate about developing people’s capabilities through coaching, consulting, training, and mentoring. A dedicated advocate for the Agile community, Toby co-founded the A20 Agile Conference in 2020 and leads the Loudoun Agile Network (LAN), a vibrant community of over 2,000 members in the Washington DC Metro area. He frequently speaks at Agile conferences and industry events worldwide.

As an early adopter of AI, Toby uses AI tools extensively as an Enterprise Coach, enhancing productivity and streamlining workflows. He has hosted six AI-related presentations at LAN, and is invested in continuously expanding his AI knowledge.

LinkedIn: Toby Rao

Enterprise Agile Coach Toby Rao is an Agile leader, speaker, coach, and community builder based in the Washington DC Metro area. He specializes in Strategic Agile Transformation, Change Management, Program Management, Leadership Development, AI-dr... Show more

Darya Yegorina

Darya Yegorina

Dr. Darya Yegorina is a globally recognized thought leader, futurist, and transformational business strategist who empowers organizations and individuals to thrive in the era of digital disruption. With a career spanning 20+ years at the intersection of leadership, technology, and business innovation, Darya is a driving force in digital transformation, AI, and future workforce development.

As a C-level executive, entrepreneur, and mentor, Darya has shaped the success of enterprises, startups, and global initiatives by integrating emerging technologies with strategic growth frameworks. She is a sought-after keynote speaker on leadership, innovation, and the future of work, addressing audiences at major global conferences, corporate summits, and executive retreats.

A passionate advocate for future-ready leadership, Darya believes that true innovation begins with a bold vision and the courage to challenge the status quo. She inspires business leaders to embrace AI, digital transformation, and agile leadership strategies to navigate uncertainty, unlock new opportunities, and foster a culture of continuous learning.

Global Impact & Achievements:
✅ Executive & Board Leadership: C-Level strategist with expertise in business transformation, revenue operations (RevOps), and strategic growth across global markets. Advisor to enterprises, government bodies, and tech innovators.
✅ Digital Transformation & AI Thought Leader: Recognized as a Top Thought Leader in AR/VR, AI, and Digital Transformation by Thinkers 360, shaping the dialogue on the future of business and technology.
✅ Award-Winning Entrepreneur & Speaker: Winner of the Global Female Leader Award in Entrepreneurship, Young European Leader (#EYL40), Women in IT, and featured in Forbes, Inc.com, Business & Finance, and Irish Times.
✅ Future Workforce & EdTech Visionary: Led transformative EdTech initiatives, including EU-backed projects on AI and AR in education, impacting thousands of students across Europe.
✅ Women in Leadership & DEI Advocate: A strong voice in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), mentoring female founders, startup leaders, and executives to break barriers in tech and business.

Speaking & Expertise:
🔹 Leadership in the Age of AI & Digital Disruption
🔹 The Future of Work: Skills, Adaptability & Innovation
🔹 Women in Leadership: Breaking Barriers & Building Legacies
🔹 Strategic Growth & Business Transformation
🔹 Inspiring Change: Leading with Purpose & Resilience

Darya’s leadership journey, from entrepreneurial success to executive impact, serves as an inspiration for leaders seeking to drive meaningful change in their organizations and industries. She brings a unique blend of business acumen, technological foresight, and human-centric leadership, making her a powerful voice in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape.

🚀 Inspire. Lead. Transform. 🚀

Dr. Darya Yegorina is a globally recognized thought leader, futurist, and transformational business strategist who empowers organizations and individuals to thrive in the era of digital disruption. With a career spanning 20+ years at the intersection... Show more

昌彦 庄司

昌彦 庄司

東京都葛飾区出身。2002年中央大学大学院総合政策研究科博士前期課程修了。2002年より国際大学GLOCOM研究員。同准教授・主幹研究員を経て2019年より現職。武蔵学園データサイエンス研究所副所長、東京大学空間情報科学研究センター客員教授、国際大学GLOCOM主幹研究員も務める。
社会的な活動として、デジタル庁オープンデータ伝道師、総務省「地方自治体のデジタルトランスフォーメーション推進に係る検討会」座長、総務省「自治体システム等標準化検討会(住民記録システム・税務システム・選挙人名簿管理システム)」座長、三重県デジタル推進フェロー、一般社団法人オープン・ナレッジ・ファウンデーション・ジャパン代表理事なども務めている。

東京都葛飾区出身。2002年中央大学大学院総合政策研究科博士前期課程修了。2002年より国際大学GLOCOM研究員。同准教授・主幹研究員を経て2019年より現職。武蔵学園データサイエンス研究所副所長、東京大学空間情報科学研究センター客員教授、国際大学GLOCOM主幹研究員も務める。 社会的な活動として、デジタル庁オープンデータ伝道師、総務省「地方自治体のデジタルトランスフォーメーション推進に係る検討会」座長、総務省「自治体システム等標準化検討会(住民記録システム・税務システム・選挙人名簿管理シ... Show more

Elizabeth Ruiz

Elizabeth Ruiz

Elizabeth A. Ruiz, PhD, is a Leadership Psychology Scholar-Practitioner. She is a dynamic force in strategic communication and leadership development. With over 35 years of experience, she has honed a unique expertise in leadership psychology, human capital, and organizational growth. As a Leadership Psychology Architect and Transformation Facilitator, Elizabeth empowers individuals and organizations to unlock their full potential through tailored business solutions, cutting-edge training, and strategic insights. Elizabeth’s passion for helping others grow is the driving force behind her career. She specializes in developing leaders who can navigate the complexities of today's business landscape with confidence and resilience. Through learning assessments, leadership training, or strategic business solutions, Elizabeth’s work empowers others with the skills they need to succeed. Elizabeth is not just a scholar-practitioner—she is a catalyst for transformation, inspiring leaders to reach new heights and organizations to achieve sustainable growth.

Elizabeth A. Ruiz, PhD, is a Leadership Psychology Scholar-Practitioner. She is a dynamic force in strategic communication and leadership development. With over 35 years of experience, she has honed a unique expertise in leadership psychology, human ... Show more

E Veal

E Veal

As an ethical AI advocate, she focuses on proactively driving organizational change in small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) to ensure ethical AI is at the forefront of AI development and deployment. Her current collaborations intersect technology, governance, and social impact to build robust ethical AI governance that takes a human-first approach. Currently, her focus is on merging customer success and AI governance in the federal space.

In her spare time, she serves as the Non-Technical Lead for the DC Chapter of Black Girls CODE and the Technology Committee Co-chair and Webmistress for the Portsmouth Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. When she isn’t doing those things, she is a mentor to women at Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs). Her mission is to inspire, empower, & impact underrepresented individuals and protect the data associated with them. For a full bio, please find it here: www.eveal.ai.

As an ethical AI advocate, she focuses on proactively driving organizational change in small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) to ensure ethical AI is at the forefront of AI development and deployment. Her current collaborations intersect technology... Show more

Carrie Randolph

Carrie Randolph

Carrie Randolph is a CISSP-certified cybersecurity leader and international speaker with fourteen years of experience. Prior to joining the private sector, Carrie was the CIO for the Oklahoma State Department of Education, with over a decade of public service.

Carrie has her Bachelors of Technology from Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology in Information Assurance and Digital Forensics, and she is a co-founder of BSides Oklahoma and a founding member of Techlahoma.

Carrie Randolph is a CISSP-certified cybersecurity leader and international speaker with fourteen years of experience. Prior to joining the private sector, Carrie was the CIO for the Oklahoma State Department of Education, with over a decade of publi... Show more

Colette Grail

Colette Grail

Colette Grail is a Big Data advocate and author of The Fallacy of Laying Flat - the Fuzzy, Hairy Truth about Data Decision Making. She authors work on emerging technology, data concepts, leadership, and inspiration. Her 25+ years in the US Navy include five major commands working policy, strategy and program management. She currently works for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) leading strategy development for the Emergency Communications Division. Her mission is reporting on the opportunities and challenges of the Big Data world and how Big Data is solving Big Problems.

Colette Grail is a Big Data advocate and author of The Fallacy of Laying Flat - the Fuzzy, Hairy Truth about Data Decision Making. She authors work on emerging technology, data concepts, leadership, and inspiration. Her 25+ years in the US Navy inc... Show more

Elisa Bárcena Martín

Elisa Bárcena Martín

Scientist and teacher by vocation
I arrived in the Power Platform world 4 years ago and I was captured by it. I believe in continuous improvement and learning.

"To excellence you have to go and knock on the door, it is an everyday job".

Scientist and teacher by vocation I arrived in the Power Platform world 4 years ago and I was captured by it. I believe in continuous improvement and learning. "To excellence you have to go and knock on the door, it is an everyday job". Show more

Elle O'Flaherty

Elle O'Flaherty

Engaging and funny, performance strategist and workplace satisfaction leader Elle O'Flaherty delivers game-changing messages that interweave real-world examples and cutting-edge research. Elle's presentations are full of insights, highly interactive, and fun. She helps clients tailor their professional life to their unique brains, allowing their talents and genius to shine. Following a 17+ year legal career and certifications in ICF-accredited executive, ADHD, and career coaching, Elle founded Interlace Solutions, a coaching firm that taps into clients' potential to accelerate their achievement. Her team coaches executives, executive teams, and professionals with a subspecialty in ADHD coaching.

Elle is a sought-after keynote speaker and facilitator who consistently draws large crowds. Her goal is for participants to walk away with meaty new learning for practical application. Elle has been published in national and international outlets and speaks on productivity, professional motivation, creating ADHD-friendly environments, and innovations to support mental health, among other topics. Elle is a subject matter expert on international agricultural trade, which doesn’t come up a lot. She lives in Washington, DC, with her dog Penny, the most beautiful dog in the world. And a great family, but the dog is hard to beat.

Engaging and funny, performance strategist and workplace satisfaction leader Elle O'Flaherty delivers game-changing messages that interweave real-world examples and cutting-edge research. Elle's presentations are full of insights, highly interactive,... Show more

Debra Cleaver

Debra Cleaver

Debra Cleaver is the Founder & CEO of VoteAmerica, a national nonpartisan nonprofit organization which conducts data-informed campaigns to register and turnout the 100+ million Americans traditionally excluded by partisan political outreach efforts. A serial founder whose previous organizations have included Vote.org (2016), ElectionDay.org (2018), Long Distance Voter (2008), and Swing the State (2004), she's been working at the intersection of technology and democracy since 2004, several years before “civic tech” and “online organization” entered the cultural lexicon. Her various organizations have collectively registered over 4 million people, conducted mass marketing campaigns reaching tens of millions, and pioneered tactics now considered industry standards. She is an alumna of Pomona College and Y Combinator, a former Draper Richards Kaplan Fellow for Social Entrepreneurship. She frequently speaks on issues impacting voter turnout and digital innovations to increase access to the polls, with appearances at events such as SXSW, Netroots Nation, Harvard Law, the Harvard School of Government, University of Michigan, SUMMIT Ideas Festival, Lesbians Who Tech, and Accelerate Good Global.

Debra Cleaver is the Founder & CEO of VoteAmerica, a national nonpartisan nonprofit organization which conducts data-informed campaigns to register and turnout the 100+ million Americans traditionally excluded by partisan political outreach efforts. ... Show more

Anja Lorenz

Anja Lorenz

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

Obed Nwachukwu

Obed Nwachukwu

Obed is a Senior Data Analyst and Educator with a strong focus on turning complex data into actionable insights that drive strategic decision-making with strong regulatory compliance within the public sector. Currently working on scalable data pipelines and analytics solutions, he brings real-world industry experience into the conference.

Alongside his professional work, Obed has delivered over 500 mentoring sessions and supported 50+ students in achieving top career breakthroughs, as well as coaching over 1,000 university students. Passionate about education and inclusion, Obed is committed to helping more young children and underrepresented groups build confidence and careers in tech.

Obed is a Senior Data Analyst and Educator with a strong focus on turning complex data into actionable insights that drive strategic decision-making with strong regulatory compliance within the public sector. Currently working on scalable data pipeli... Show more

Benedikt Weygandt

Benedikt Weygandt

Secondary school teacher (mathematics & physics), Ph.D. in mathematics (with specialization in the teaching of mathematics at the university level)

Research Interests: instructional design of mathematics courses, mathematical sophistication & enculturation, mathematical beliefs, fostering giftedness, future skills, AI & data literacy

Secondary school teacher (mathematics & physics), Ph.D. in mathematics (with specialization in the teaching of mathematics at the university level) Research Interests: instructional design of mathematics courses, mathematical sophistication & encu... Show more

Noreen Krause

Noreen Krause

Noreen Krause ist als Projektleitung an der TIB in Hannover aktiv.
Nach dem Diplom am Georg-Elias-Müller-Institut für Psychologie der Universität Göttingen war sie an den Universitäten Wien und Tübingen tätig. In Wien war sie am Institut für Wirtschaftspsychologie, Bildungspsychologie und Evaluation mit dem Schwerpunkt Lebenslanges Lernen. Ab 2013 übernahm Noreen Krause die Leitung für ein Pilotprojekt der Universitäten Tübingen und Dresden, gefördert durch das Auswärtige Amt. In Tübingen war sie als erste wissenschaftliche Stabstelle am Dezernat für Forschung, Strategie und Recht und als Geschäftsführung einer Großfakultät. Ab 2017 wirkte Noreen Krause als Beraterin und E-Learning Professional in Verbundprojekten, z.B. an der Leibniz Universität Hannover, Hochschule Hannover und im E-Learning Academic Network Niedersachsen mit den Schwerpunkten Strategie und Nachhaltigkeit.
Gemeinsam mit dem Team gestaltet sie seit 2019 den Auf- u. Ausbau für das nds. OER-Portal twillo.

Noreen Krause ist als Projektleitung an der TIB in Hannover aktiv. Nach dem Diplom am Georg-Elias-Müller-Institut für Psychologie der Universität Göttingen war sie an den Universitäten Wien und Tübingen tätig. In Wien war sie am Institut für Wirtsc... Show more

Wanda Möller

Wanda Möller

Wanda Möller

Aktuell Themen: Zukunftsfähige Lehrprofessionalität

Wanda Möller Aktuell Themen: Zukunftsfähige Lehrprofessionalität Show more

Matt Doherty

Matt Doherty

Matt Doherty is Head of Delivery Capability at The Pensions Regulator, where he works at organisational scale to improve flow, outcomes and safety in digital delivery.
He specialises in the intersection of team design and technical architecture, applying ideas from Team Topologies, Fast Flow and BVSSH to real, large‑scale organisations. Matt currently leads the design of TPR’s Service Delivery Model, focusing on empowered teams, financial ownership, and delivery coaching across a 200‑person DDaT function.
He is particularly recognised for creating psychologically safe environments that enable teams to learn, challenge and deliver sustainably in complex, regulated contexts.

Matt Doherty is Head of Delivery Capability at The Pensions Regulator, where he works at organisational scale to improve flow, outcomes and safety in digital delivery. He specialises in the intersection of team design and technical architecture, app... Show more

Mekitmfon AwakEssien

Mekitmfon AwakEssien

Mekitmfon AwakEssien is a Digital Innovation Expert with experience leading digital transformation programs across 30 African countries. He has designed and deployed AI-powered platforms for underserved communities, managed large-scale multi-country digital initiatives within intergovernmental institutions, and built open source tools serving informal entrepreneurs and learners. He is an active contributor and community lead in the WordPress open source ecosystem and a board member of AREAi (Aid for Rural Education Access Initiative). Mekitmfon is passionate about building inclusive, community-centered technology for emerging markets and advancing open source adoption across Africa and beyond.

Mekitmfon AwakEssien is a Digital Innovation Expert with experience leading digital transformation programs across 30 African countries. He has designed and deployed AI-powered platforms for underserved communities, managed large-scale multi-country ... Show more

Patrick Henley

Patrick Henley

Patrick Henley has served as the Director of Human Resources and Risk Management with the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority for more than seven years. He has worked in various HR and Risk Management leadership roles for more than 20 years. Additionally, he teaches courses in HR, Management, & Technology at the college level. Patrick earned his bachelor’s in psychology from Kennesaw State University, a master’s in business administration from Troy University, and recently earned a doctorate in business administration at the Florida Institute of Technology. He holds both the SPHR & SHRM-SCP certifications.

Patrick Henley has served as the Director of Human Resources and Risk Management with the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority for more than seven years. He has worked in various HR and Risk Management leadership roles for more than 20 years. Additio... Show more

Zuzana Tkáčová

Zuzana Tkáčová

Vyštudovala umelú inteligenciu a potom pôsobila ako učiteľka profesijného rozvoja na bývalom MPC a ako expertka pre didaktické inovácie vo vyučovaní informatiky v Národnom projekte IT akadémia - Vzdelávanie pre 21. storočie. V súčasnosti je učiteľkou informatiky a školským digitálnym koordinátorom na Škole umeleckého priemyslu v Košiciach, kde vedie Laboratórium inteligentných a interaktívnych technológií v umení. Je autorkou viacerých metodických publikácií, lektoruje kurzy pre učiteľov/ky informatiky a pracuje aj ako VŠ učiteľka na Ústave informatiky Prírodovedeckej fakulte UPJŠ v Košiciach.

Vyštudovala umelú inteligenciu a potom pôsobila ako učiteľka profesijného rozvoja na bývalom MPC a ako expertka pre didaktické inovácie vo vyučovaní informatiky v Národnom projekte IT akadémia - Vzdelávanie pre 21. storočie. V súčasnosti je učiteľkou... Show more

Emilia Pietrikova

Emilia Pietrikova

Ema (Emília) Pietriková is an associate professor at TUKE, Slovakia. Her work lies at the intersection of computing education, software engineering, and digital game design. She enjoys helping students turn ideas into real projects through teamwork, creativity, and authentic development experience. She is particularly interested in making technical education both rigorous and meaningful, with a strong emphasis on learning by doing. Even outside classes, papers, and academic deadlines, she is often thinking about new ways to make computing education more creative and alive. Each year, she is involved in events like Lab IT Creativity, Live IT Projects, Košice Game Jam, and NamakanyDen.sk.

Ema (Emília) Pietriková is an associate professor at TUKE, Slovakia. Her work lies at the intersection of computing education, software engineering, and digital game design. She enjoys helping students turn ideas into real projects through teamwork, ... Show more

Tiangay Samandia Massaquoi

Tiangay Samandia Massaquoi

Tiangay Samandia Massaquoi is a Data and AI governance practitioner, software engineer, policy expert, and emerging technology strategist working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, public sector data systems, and digital governance in West Africa.
She currently serves as a Data Expert under a Global Partnership for Education Programme, embedded within the Planning and Policy Directorate of Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education — where she works directly on data systems, policy design, and evidence-based planning at the heart of government.
As a software engineer, Tiangay is passionate about building applications that solve real, everyday problems for Sierra Leoneans — grounded in the belief that technology should be felt in people’s lives, not just debated in policy rooms. She is a passionate advocate for harnessing artificial intelligence to transform Sierra Leone and the broader West African region from reactive societies into predictive ones — using data and intelligent systems to anticipate challenges, allocate resources smarter, and get ahead of crises before they arrive.

Tiangay’s academic formation is both unusually broad and deliberately interconnected. She holds a Master’s in Global Public Policy with Distinction from SOAS University of London, where her research interrogated how donor-driven implementation shapes policy practice in Sierra Leone’s education sector. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence at the University of York — extending her expertise to the technical frontier of AI. She further holds a Postgraduate qualification in Education from University College London, and a Postgraduate qualification in Poverty and Development from the University of Sussex — giving her a rigorous grounding in the human development conditions that technology must ultimately serve.

Her work spans AI readiness, data governance frameworks, and the institutional conditions that determine whether technology serves public good or bypasses it. She is a vocal advocate for rethinking AI priorities in African public institutions — arguing that governance infrastructure must be built alongside, not after, AI deployment.
Tiangay is based in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and brings to every platform the rare combination of technical knowledge, policy fluency, hands-on engineering experience, and the lived perspective of a practitioner working inside a West African government institution.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Tiangay Samandia Massaquoi is a Data and AI governance practitioner, software engineer, policy expert, and emerging technology strategist working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, public sector data systems, and digital governance in We... Show more

Stephanie Davis

Stephanie Davis

Stephanie served as a turnaround principal in Arizona at a Title One school. Focused on high yield strategies, the school became an A-rated Arizona School, A+ School of Excellence, ICLE Model School for Growth, and Stephanie was named a top ten principal in Arizona for student growth. She believes effective school improvement focuses on changing school culture with high school wide expectations; using a research-based curriculum with integrity; and using data effectively to focus on individual student growth. As a WestEd School and District Improvement Specialist she coaches school and district leaders in strengthening tier one instructional practices and data systems and practices.
Stephanie holds an Ed.S. in Leadership (Oakland University), M.Ed. in Media & Technology (Eastern Michigan University), and a B.A. in Journalism. (Grand Valley State University). She has extensive knowledge through continued doctoral level courses and leadership experiences in effective K-12 organizations and has presented at many national conferences, including The National Elementary and Secondary Act (ESEA) Conference, Center for Model Schools, and the Arizona Department of Education Teachers' Institute for Leading and Change (TILC) Conference.

Stephanie served as a turnaround principal in Arizona at a Title One school. Focused on high yield strategies, the school became an A-rated Arizona School, A+ School of Excellence, ICLE Model School for Growth, and Stephanie was named a top ten princ... Show more

Katerina Brandes

Katerina Brandes

Katerina Brandes hat einen Bildungshintergrund in Ressourcenmanagement und Entwicklungszusammenarbeit und verfügt über Forschungserfahrung zu globalen Nachhaltigkeitsthemen, unter anderem in Tansania und Indien. Ihre freiberufliche Arbeitserfahrung in der Erwachsenenbildung führten sie an das Zentrum für Lehrentwicklung der TH Köln. Dort arbeitet sie in einem Karriereentwicklungsprogramm für Wissenschaftler*innen früher Karrierestufen mit dem Schwerpunkt transformative Wissenschaft. Ihr besonderes Interesse liegt in der Gestaltung kreativer, interaktiver Workshopformate mit körperorientierten und theaterpädagogischen Methoden.

Katerina Brandes hat einen Bildungshintergrund in Ressourcenmanagement und Entwicklungszusammenarbeit und verfügt über Forschungserfahrung zu globalen Nachhaltigkeitsthemen, unter anderem in Tansania und Indien. Ihre freiberufliche Arbeitserfahrung i... Show more

Charlie-Sam Newman

Charlie-Sam Newman

I’m driven by 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍.

My daily motivation is knowing I personally make a difference to the future development of each and every individual. Whether that’s building high-performing teams, coaching professionals to grow their careers or supporting wellbeing and life balance.

With over a decade of experience spanning multiple industries, I’ve led large-scale teams in the gaming industry, driven sales performance in fitness and managed people and operations in hospitality. Beyond that, I’ve coached and trained apprentices, helping individuals step into careers while closing work with major organisations in transportation and facilities management. In Technology Services, I’ve helped scale businesses, guided clients with their people development strategies and enabled internal teams to thrive.

I step on stage, sharing my story and lessons, helping people see possibility in themselves and act on it.
My own journey has shaped how I show up as a leader and speaker. Having faced challenges with homelessness, prison, domestic abuse and longterm mental health, I carry a perspective that fuels my advocacy for inclusion, diversity and second chances. I’m proud to support not for profit organisations and initiatives that give people the opportunity to rebuild and succeed.

People often describe me as authentic, enthusiastic and a good listener - someone who lifts others up. I believe in feedback as a gift, the power of connection and the importance of showing up - consistently, with integrity.

I’m driven by 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍. My daily motivation is knowing I personally make a difference to the future development of each and every individual. Wh... Show more

Cole Pirelli

Cole Pirelli

Cole Pirelli brings a cross-sector perspective to business continuity, emergency management, and workforce development, with experience in corporate retail operations, disaster response, and large-scale training initiatives.

Many organizations have plans in place but struggle to operationalize them during real-world disruptions. Cole focuses on closing that gap—helping teams move from theory to execution through practical, field-informed training and real-world scenarios.

His work emphasizes simplifying complex processes, strengthening team readiness, and building scalable systems that perform under pressure. Whether supporting frontline teams or leadership, his sessions are designed to be immediately actionable, ensuring participants leave with tools they can apply right away.

Cole Pirelli brings a cross-sector perspective to business continuity, emergency management, and workforce development, with experience in corporate retail operations, disaster response, and large-scale training initiatives. Many organizations hav... Show more

Giselle Cunanan

Giselle Cunanan

Giselle Dejamco Cunanan is an Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies and Asian American Studies at California State University, Sacramento. Her research centers on the institutionalization and defense of Ethnic Studies, analyzing the racial labor of student activism and key grassroots community organizations. Her current work documents the legislative and political battles that threaten academic freedom and critical pedagogy. She maintains a scholarly focus on U.S.-based Filipinxs and their organizing history in the long struggle for Ethnic Studies curriculum.

Giselle Dejamco Cunanan is an Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies and Asian American Studies at California State University, Sacramento. Her research centers on the institutionalization and defense of Ethnic Studies, analyzing the racial labor of s... Show more

Claire Van Der Meulen

Claire Van Der Meulen

Claire is a seasoned Agile Coach with a passion for people and building relationships that matter. She has a creative mind in continuous search of new conundrums to master and solve.

With close to 2 decades of experience in project and program management, working in diverse sectors ranging from automotive to government, Claire has a down-to-earth approach when it comes to people, processes and challenges. Over the past decade, her focus grew more towards the people side, so she took the lead in setting up a mentorship program, mentoring & coaching coworkers.

She loves the outdoors, takes pleasure in the simple joys of life and recently grew her family with Tess, the German Shepherd, and Wolf, the Malinois. She firmly believes in mens sana in corpore sano. Her motto? Live. Love. Life!

Claire is a seasoned Agile Coach with a passion for people and building relationships that matter. She has a creative mind in continuous search of new conundrums to master and solve. With close to 2 decades of experience in project and program man... Show more

Alin Zamfiroiu

Alin Zamfiroiu

Alin ZAMFIROIU finished his PhD in Economic Informatics in 2014 at the Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania. He is currently an Associate Professor at Department of Economic Informatics and Cybernetics in Bucharest University of Economic Studies and a Senior Researcher at “National Institute for Research & Development in Informatics, Bucharest”. In 2025 he served as a Visiting Professor in Cybersecurity at Utah Tech University.

Alin ZAMFIROIU finished his PhD in Economic Informatics in 2014 at the Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania. He is currently an Associate Professor at Department of Economic Informatics and Cybernetics in Bucharest University of Economi... Show more

Noreen Naseem Rodríguez

Noreen Naseem Rodríguez

Noreen Naseem Rodríguez is an Associate Professor of Elementary Education and Educational Justice in the Department of Teacher Education and core faculty in the Asian Pacific American Studies and Muslim Studies Programs at Michigan State University. Her current research, funded by the Spencer Foundation, examines the implementation of Asian American Studies in K-12 classrooms across the U.S. She has published over fifty peer-reviewed book chapters and articles in scholarly and practitioner journals such as Harvard Educational Review, Curriculum Inquiry, and Journal of Children's Literature, and is co-author of Social Studies for a Better World: An Anti-Oppressive Approach for Elementary Educators with Katy Swalwell and Teaching Asian America in Elementary Classrooms with Sohyun An and Esther Kim. Before becoming an award-winning researcher and teacher educator, Noreen was a bilingual elementary teacher in Austin, Texas for nine years.

Noreen Naseem Rodríguez is an Associate Professor of Elementary Education and Educational Justice in the Department of Teacher Education and core faculty in the Asian Pacific American Studies and Muslim Studies Programs at Michigan State University. ... Show more

Peter Kipkosgei

Peter Kipkosgei

Peter Kipkosgei is a Senior Technical Trainer with Kenya’s Ministry of Education – State Department of TVET, where he has been training and mentoring the next generation of geospatial and surveying professionals since 2021. He specializes in delivering competency-based training in surveying, mapping, planning, GIS and remote sensing, while also setting and marking national examinations.
Beyond the classroom, Peter is an accomplished Environmental and GIS Specialist with extensive experience in spatial data analysis, geodatabase design, land use mapping, remote sensing, and environmental projects. He has worked across private sector, consultancy, and climate-focused initiatives, including project management, technical operations oversight, and capacity building.
He is an all-rounded professional who values teamwork, strategic planning, and disciplined time management. He bridges technical expertise with practical training to strengthen Kenya’s human capital in the geospatial and environmental sectors.

Peter Kipkosgei is a Senior Technical Trainer with Kenya’s Ministry of Education – State Department of TVET, where he has been training and mentoring the next generation of geospatial and surveying professionals since 2021. He specializes in deliveri... 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