Humanities & Social Sciences

Esteemed speakers contributing their insights into human culture, behavior, and societal development

Sarah Becker

Sarah Becker

Sarah Becker ist seit Winter 2025 als Werkstudentin im CHE-Team des Hochschulforums Digitalisierung tätig. In ihrer Rolle unterstützt sie das Projektmanagement in den Bereichen Bildung und Digitalisierung.
Sarah studiert aktuell an der Ruhr-Universität Bochum im Master Philosophie mit einem persönlichen Fokus auf Technikphilosophie und Technikethik, insbesondere mit Schwerpunkt auf Bildungstechnologien und Künstliche Intelligenz.

Sarah Becker ist seit Winter 2025 als Werkstudentin im CHE-Team des Hochschulforums Digitalisierung tätig. In ihrer Rolle unterstützt sie das Projektmanagement in den Bereichen Bildung und Digitalisierung. Sarah studiert aktuell an der Ruhr-Universi... Show more

Deirdre Morrison

Deirdre Morrison

Deirdre Morrison is Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer (CSIO) at ION (Institute for Organisational Neuroscience) and founder of Leading Mind Strategies, where she helps professionals apply practical neuroscience to leadership, resilience, decision-making, and other key areas. A sought-after speaker and consultant, she delivers engaging workshops and talks on brain science for real-world leadership challenges. With a background in strategy, communications, and human development, she translates cutting-edge neuroscience into tools leaders and teams can use every day.

Deirdre Morrison is Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer (CSIO) at ION (Institute for Organisational Neuroscience) and founder of Leading Mind Strategies, where she helps professionals apply practical neuroscience to leadership, resilience, decision-m... Show more

Jan Schlatter

Jan Schlatter

Studium der Geschichtswissenschaft (Passau, Potsdam)
Arbeitsorte:
ZDF (Redaktion Zeitgeschichte / ZDF History), Mainz
Kulturstiftung des Bundes, Halle
Lehrstuhl Neueste Geschichte, Universität Würzburg
Lehrstuhl Fränkische Landesgeschichte, Universität Würzburg
Stabsstelle Kompetenzentwicklung in Studium und Lehre, Universität Passau

Aktuell Instructional Designer, mediendidaktische Beratung zu digitaler Lehre, KI-Implementierungen in der Hochschullehre

Studium der Geschichtswissenschaft (Passau, Potsdam) Arbeitsorte: ZDF (Redaktion Zeitgeschichte / ZDF History), Mainz Kulturstiftung des Bundes, Halle Lehrstuhl Neueste Geschichte, Universität Würzburg Lehrstuhl Fränkische Landesgeschichte, Univ... Show more

Sierra Domb

Sierra Domb

Sierra Domb is a globally recognized speaker, health communicator, medical advocate, and research collaborator who has helped advance education, physician-patient communication, and care for under-recognized neurological and chronic conditions, including Visual Snow Syndrome, Erythromelalgia, autoimmune disorders, and overlooked topics in women’s health and neuroscience. She has created research collaborations, global educational resources, and patient-centered humanitarian programs that promote health literacy, resilience through adversity, and healthcare reform. Drawing on her personal experience living with complex medical conditions, Sierra has transformed challenges into actionable efforts that educate, inspire, and bridge gaps between patients, doctors, and researchers. Her presentations combine personal, professional, and academic expertise with compassion and science, making complex ideas accessible, highlighting the connection between physical and mental health, and providing practical, evidence-based strategies to help audiences better understand and navigate healthcare.

Sierra Domb is a globally recognized speaker, health communicator, medical advocate, and research collaborator who has helped advance education, physician-patient communication, and care for under-recognized neurological and chronic conditions, inclu... Show more

David Chege

David Chege

I am passionate about market research, focusing on SME market segments and business ecosystems. My work revolves around need-based innovation, particularly within social entrepreneurship spaces, where I explore sustainable solutions that drive long-term impact.

With a keen eye for emerging trends, I specialize in identifying opportunities for social sustainability ventures. I bridge gaps between market needs and transformative innovations, and I thrive on fostering collaborations that create business models with lasting social value.

I am passionate about market research, focusing on SME market segments and business ecosystems. My work revolves around need-based innovation, particularly within social entrepreneurship spaces, where I explore sustainable solutions that drive long-t... Show more

Derek Porter

Derek Porter

Dr. Derek Porter works with educators, teams, and institutions who care deeply about their work—but are carrying too much of it alone. His work supports people navigating burnout, complexity, and constant demand by helping them slow down, think more clearly, and reconnect daily work to their purpose. Through coaching, consulting, and facilitation, he helps individuals move from overwhelm to steadiness by reducing cognitive overload, reframing unhelpful narratives, and creating space for reflection, alignment, and intentional choice. A graduate of Yale University and the College of William & Mary, Derek is known for creating spaces where difficult conversations feel safer, trust deepens, and sustainable growth becomes possible.

Derek is known for translating big ideas into practical, humane frameworks that restore energy and strengthen workplace culture without asking people to do more. His approach honors both excellence and humanity, helping organizations protect conditions where people can contribute fully without sacrificing well-being. Whether working with individuals or entire systems, his focus is the same: creating clarity, shared responsibility, and sustainable ways of working so difference and belonging can sustain excellence.

Dr. Derek Porter works with educators, teams, and institutions who care deeply about their work—but are carrying too much of it alone. His work supports people navigating burnout, complexity, and constant demand by helping them slow down, think more ... Show more

Stella Ihenacho

Stella Ihenacho

Stella Ihenacho is a dynamic speaker and multifaceted professional who shares her expertise on global platforms, including TEDx, covering topics such as Agile, Project Management, Leadership, DEI Advocacy, and Career Development. Her goal in every engagement is to create transformation and lasting change in her diverse audiences.

Stella is the Co-Founder and Agile Faculty Lead at NSTAR Technologies, an ed-tech work force development institution in Atlanta, GA, where she has transforms the learning landscape for students/professionals through innovative training programs. Her work has enabled countless professionals to advance their careers, contributing to their communities and the local economy.

With over a decade of experience in Agile coaching, Stella leads enterprise agile transformations in the Data and AI organization at Red Hat, the world’s leading provider of open-source solutions. She spearheads initiatives that foster agility, innovation, and collaboration unlocking new possibilities for data-driven customer experiences. Her efforts enhance Red Hat’s products and services, contributing to the company’s ongoing business transformation

Beyond her professional roles, Stella is deeply committed to social and community impact. Passionate about immigrant advocacy, she plays a key role in the African Immigrant Collective, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating the ecosystem and infrastructures for African immigrants to thrive in the diaspora. Additionally, she is involved in diverse-empowered networks such as Women Doing It Afraid, Women of Project Management and Women in Software Engineering. These initiatives align with her mission to create inclusive spaces and advocating for underrepresented groups and championing change.

As a distinct voice in the workplace, she is dedicated to championing the causes where women, immigrants, and business leaders can achieve their fullest potential. Her vision is to uplift diverse voices in the tech industry and beyond and empower individuals to take ownership of their careers and lives.

Stella Ihenacho is a dynamic speaker and multifaceted professional who shares her expertise on global platforms, including TEDx, covering topics such as Agile, Project Management, Leadership, DEI Advocacy, and Career Development. Her goal in every en... Show more

Lee Tonouchi

Lee Tonouchi

Lee A. Tonouchi stay one Okinawan American writer known as "Da Pidgin Guerrilla" for his activism in campaigning for Pidgin a.k.a. Hawai‘i Creole for be accepted as one legitimate language. He wuz da 2023 recipient of da American Association for Applied Linguistics Distinguished Public Service Award for his work in raising public awareness of important language-related issues and promoting linguistic social justice.

Lee has always been one leader. When he wuz just starting out back in 2000, he wuz one of twelve selected participants nationwide for attend da Emerging Asian Pacific American Leaders in the Arts Convening in New York, one summit sponsored by da Ford Foundation. Lee wen organize and edit Da Kine Dictionary, da first eva community Pidgin dictionary project that came out from Bess Press. He wen write da first eva essay in Pidgin about Pidgin that wuz publish inside College English, das da Journal of Composition and Rhetoric from da National Council of Teachers of English. He wen create da first eva college course devoted soley to Pidgin Literature and for doing so he got recognitions on top da front page of The Wall Street Journal in 2005.

Lee stay one very prolific Pidgin author and playwright. He get one award-winning Pidgin short story collection called Da Word from Bamboo Ridge Press and one collection of Pidgin essays called Living Pidgin: Contemplations on Pidgin Culture from Tinfish Press. He wen also edit da anthology Buss Laugh: Stand Up Poetry from Hawai‘i. Lee had several of his plays produce before by Kumu Kahua Theatre, da Hawai‘i Conservatory of Performing Arts, da Honolulu Theatre for Youth, and East West Players in LA. His Pidgin play Three Year Swim Club wuz even one Los Angeles Times Critic's Choice Selection.

He one multiple time winning Honolulu magazine fiction contest Grand Prize Winner. He get several Kumu Kahua Playwriting Contest prizes. Lee won da Cades Award for Literature and da Tony Quagliano Poetry Prize. His Pidgin pieces wuz publish in numerous literary magazine in Hawai‘i, on top da continent, and internationally. An'den Lee stay kinda da only Pidgin journalist. For decades he been writing Pidgin reviews, articles, and interviews for various publications. He currently get one Pidgin column called Much Mahalos that he does for Discover Nikkei, das da online magazine for The Japanese American National Museum.

In his more recent works, Lee stay exploring more of his Uchinaanchu identity. His Pidgin poetry collection Significant Moments in da Life of Oriental Faddah and Son: One Hawai'i Okinawan Journal won da Association for Asian American Studies Book Award. His children's picture book Okinawan Princess: Da Legend of Hajichi Tattoos got one Skipping Stones Honor Award. His latest book wuz da anthology, Chiburu: Anthology of Hawai'i Okinawan Literature. Currently he stay working with Playbuilders Hawai‘i and The Hawai‘i United Okinawa Association for write one community-based play inspired by da stories he stay gathering from Hawai‘i's Local Okinawan community.

Lee A. Tonouchi stay one Okinawan American writer known as "Da Pidgin Guerrilla" for his activism in campaigning for Pidgin a.k.a. Hawai‘i Creole for be accepted as one legitimate language. He wuz da 2023 recipient of da American Association for Appl... Show more

Antonieta Herrera

Antonieta Herrera

Antonieta Herrera es la fundadora de ZEAZE, un ecosistema de impacto social y Venture Builder de nueva generación enfocado en construir resiliencia económica y digital para Latinoamérica.

Lidera iniciativas internas pro-bono de Impulso para el acompañamiento estratégico a ONGs dedicadas a derechos humanos y sostenibilidad. Además, crea el currículum para laboratorios de incubación donde los participantes aprenden a construir soluciones (MVPs) para problemas reales de la región. Es también CEO y Arquitecta de Producto de Enhacy, un asistente de marketing inteligente para democratizar la creación de autoridad orgánica para emprendedores.

Como creadora y anfitriona, expande el ecosistema a través de sus dos podcasts: Reimagina Latam, un espacio para visibilizar a los héroes que construyen activamente el futuro de nuestra región; y Reimagina Blueprints, una serie enfocada en analizar y documentar los frameworks de innovación de líderes globales. Su participación activa en comunidades como Voice of Women in Innovation contribuye a fortalecer un ecosistema tecnológico más inclusivo y diverso.

Su misión: es fomentar una cultura de adopción tecnológica que sea ética y consciente para nuestra Región.

Antonieta Herrera es la fundadora de ZEAZE, un ecosistema de impacto social y Venture Builder de nueva generación enfocado en construir resiliencia económica y digital para Latinoamérica. Lidera iniciativas internas pro-bono de Impulso para el aco... Show more

Sandya Venugopal

Sandya Venugopal

Dr. Sandya Venugopal is an award-winning neurosurgeon-scientist, public policy scholar, and interdisciplinary leader with accomplishments across academic, government, and private sectors. Her global expertise spans healthcare, public health, scientific research, health policy, data analytics, bioethics, regulatory compliance, and technological innovation—all applied to advancing impactful solutions for societal and policy challenges.

Committed to fostering inclusive and forward-thinking dialogue, Sandya leverages her diverse background to inspire meaningful change. Her contributions bridge the gap between advanced technologies and humanity’s needs, offering fresh perspectives on how innovation can transform lives ethically and equitably.

Dr. Sandya Venugopal is an award-winning neurosurgeon-scientist, public policy scholar, and interdisciplinary leader with accomplishments across academic, government, and private sectors. Her global expertise spans healthcare, public health, scientif... Show more

Bonita Pannell

Bonita Pannell

Bonita Pannell brings over 30 years of experience in healthcare and currently serves as the Director of Community Outreach at UPMC Women’s Magee Hospital. In this role, she acts as a liaison between the hospital and the community, working to enhance access to care, broaden care options, and foster meaningful partnerships. A passionate advocate for the BIPOC community, Pannell develops and leads initiatives aimed at raising awareness and promoting self-empowerment. Her initiatives include organizing Community Health Fairs featuring on-site health screenings, hosting Maternal Health educational baby showers, and providing ongoing mentoring and support groups.
Pannell is an active member of several UPMC councils, including the Diversity Council, the Family Advisory Council, and the Community Doula & Birth Worker Advisory Board, where she advocates for policy changes that strengthen trust and collaboration between healthcare providers and the community. Additionally, she serves as the Director of the UPMC Affiliate Council of Girls on the Run, a national nonprofit organization focused on empowering girls in grades 3 through 8 by strengthening their social, emotional, physical, and behavioral skills. The program operates at 64 school sites and serves over 1,500 girls annually.
Before joining UPMC, Bonita was part of the Gateway Health Plan case management team, where she managed insurance authorizations and cases for individuals with special needs. She also served as the General Manager for Hospice Care of Pittsburgh and Viator Hospice, overseeing care for terminally ill patients for 16 years and Director of Lutheran Senior Life Home Care.
Bonita holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Waynesburg University, a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science from Slippery Rock University. She is also a licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and earned a certificate in Project Management from Villanova University.
A devoted mother, Bonita has two children—Aaron Burden and Tyler-Nicole Pannell—as well as two bonus children, Teona Williams and Brandon Pannell. She is an active member of Triumph Church, where she serves as a Deacon and the Coordinator of the Usher Ministry. Bonita is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Alpha Alpha Omega Chapter.

Bonita Pannell brings over 30 years of experience in healthcare and currently serves as the Director of Community Outreach at UPMC Women’s Magee Hospital. In this role, she acts as a liaison between the hospital and the community, working to enhance ... Show more

Moiz Penkar

Moiz Penkar

Moiz feels the Internet can be more mindful and friendlier to not just the end-users but also the developers and adopt more lean principles. He has worked in various roles including front-end development, product management, consulting, research (in Human-Computer Interaction), and teaching. He also organises the monthly TED-Style Talks and, if he has any free time left, enjoys some photography, badminton, and squash.

Moiz feels the Internet can be more mindful and friendlier to not just the end-users but also the developers and adopt more lean principles. He has worked in various roles including front-end development, product management, consulting, research (in ... Show more

Matty Stevenson

Matty Stevenson

Matty Stevenson is the Founder & Lead Facilitator of Conscious Ground, where he works to heal division and loneliness by fostering authentic connection, conscious leadership, and solidarity for action. With over a decade of group facilitation experience and 20 years exploring how people work together in corporate environments, Matty creates transformative experiences that help people communicate and collaborate across differences, reclaim their shared humanity, and take collective action toward a world where everyone can thrive.

Matty's work is grounded in the belief that we have more in common than we have differences, and that the systems keeping us divided and polarized can be overcome when we show up authentically, take radical responsibility, and practice solidarity as a living commitment. His sessions blend practical communication frameworks, conscious leadership practices, and community-building strategies that participants can immediately apply to their relationships, teams, and organizations.

As a Sr. Solutions Architect at Amazon Web Services (AWS) and 2x AWS re:Invent speaker, Matty brings unique perspective on navigating technological transformation, particularly AI's impact on work, connection, and leadership. He helps audiences understand not just what's changing, but how to lead consciously through rapid change while maintaining our humanity and strengthening our bonds.

Based in Ventura, California, Matty's facilitation style emphasizes experimentation, curiosity, and creating spaces where difficult conversations lead to breakthrough moments. Whether working with corporate teams, community groups, or public audiences, he inspires people to remember their power to create change and make a meaningful difference in the world.

For conference organizers: Looking to bring some inspiration to your next event? Matty's sessions spark genuine connection among participants, inspire creative thinking about challenges they're facing, and leave people feeling energized and empowered to take action. If you're looking for a speaker who will help your audience feel a sense of belonging, experience moments of "wow," and leave ecstatic they attended, Matty brings the perfect blend of substance, heart, and practical tools to make that happen.

Matty Stevenson is the Founder & Lead Facilitator of Conscious Ground, where he works to heal division and loneliness by fostering authentic connection, conscious leadership, and solidarity for action. With over a decade of group facilitation experie... Show more

Héctor Vicente Delgado

Héctor Vicente Delgado

Un historiador del Arte reconvertido al mundo de los datos que trabaja con tecnología Microsoft y disfruta creando comunidad.

Un historiador del Arte reconvertido al mundo de los datos que trabaja con tecnología Microsoft y disfruta creando comunidad. Show more

Nyasha Chikowore

Nyasha Chikowore

Dr. Nyasha Chikowore is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Washington, DC metropolitan area of Zimbabwean descent. She provides individual, family, couples and group therapy for individuals aged 5 and up, along with psychological evaluations to identify neurocognitive and mood concerns. Dr. Nyasha is well-versed in depression, anxiety, academic & work stress, diversity issues and trauma. She is also the author of a children’s book, Giraffe Asks For Help, which promotes help-seeking in children aged 4-8 and an adjunct professor, teaching principles of Black psychology and preparing doctoral students for internship. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Baltimore in Applied Psychology, and a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Nyasha Chikowore is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Washington, DC metropolitan area of Zimbabwean descent. She provides individual, family, couples and group therapy for individuals aged 5 and up, along with psychological evaluations to ... Show more

Carmen Graciela Diaz

Carmen Graciela Diaz

Carmen Graciela Díaz is a Puerto Rican journalist and author with more than 15 years of experience in writing and publishing in Spanish and English. With a decade of teaching experience, she is the Distinguished Lecturer/Director for the Bilingual Journalism Program at CUNY’s Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism.

She is the author of “Huele a Bomba: la paradójica esencia del periodismo de Avance,” a book on groundbreaking Puerto Rican publication, Avance. Her storytelling centers on arts, culture, education, and Puerto Rican and Latino issues. Carmen Graciela has worked with Univision News Digital, El Nuevo Día, and Primera Hora and her writing has appeared in Hyperallergic, El País, Centro Journal, The Miami Herald, The Common, and Reasons to be Cheerful, among other publications. Her freelance work includes research for the biopic Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It and being a contributing writer of a book documenting the work and the story of ArtPlace America. She holds master’s degrees from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism (New York) in Arts and Culture Reporting and Universidad del Sagrado Corazón (San Juan) in Cultural Studies. Her teaching and journalism have been recognized by the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and the Overseas Press Club (Puerto Rico chapter). From 2024 to 2025 she was a member of the Center for Cooperative Media's Racial Equity Advisory Board.

Carmen Graciela is currently working on her second book centered on Puerto Ricans in New York to be published in 2026 by Periodística Editorial.

Carmen Graciela Díaz is a Puerto Rican journalist and author with more than 15 years of experience in writing and publishing in Spanish and English. With a decade of teaching experience, she is the Distinguished Lecturer/Director for the Bilingual Jo... Show more

Elie Alhajjar

Elie Alhajjar

Elie Alhajjar, PhD, is a Senior Scientist at RAND, leading projects at the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, and government. Prior to that, he was an Associate Professor at the United States Military Academy and a Senior Research Scientist at the Army Cyber Institute in West Point, New York. Previously, Alhajjar served as a Research Scientist in the Computing and Communications Theory Group at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Maryland. He holds a PhD in applied mathematics from George Mason University.

Elie Alhajjar, PhD, is a Senior Scientist at RAND, leading projects at the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, and government. Prior to that, he was an Associate Professor at the United States Military Academy and a Senior Research Scientist at the Ar... Show more

Stephane Vandenbussche

Stephane Vandenbussche

Facilitateur graphique & coach agile, je combine pensée visuelle, intelligence collective et agilité pour accompagner les organisations dans leurs transformations.
Passionné par la transmission et la dynamique des groupes, j’anime des ateliers qui rendent les idées visibles et les échanges plus vivants.
Fondateur des Ateliers du Bosquet, j'explore des approches sur-mesure pour cultiver l’Humain et faire grandir le collectif.

Facilitateur graphique & coach agile, je combine pensée visuelle, intelligence collective et agilité pour accompagner les organisations dans leurs transformations. Passionné par la transmission et la dynamique des groupes, j’anime des ateliers qui r... Show more

Kevin Wilkie

Kevin Wilkie

Kevin has been wrangling data and dodging dirty reads for over 15 years — back when SQL Server 6.5 was considered "modern" and query tuning meant praying to the optimizer gods.

His journey began as an "Accidental DBA" — one misfired report and suddenly he was deep in sys.objects, pretending sp_who2 was an actual plan. Since then, he's played nearly every role in the SQL Server ecosystem: SQL Developer, BI Associate, Production DBA, and now a Data Architect with a mission.

These days, Kevin spends his time normalizing chaos, denormalizing silos, and preaching the gospel of clean, well-modeled data. He’s been known to pivot on the fly, avoid Cartesian relationships, and bring deadlocks back to life — all while gently reminding teams that SELECT * is a cry for help.

If it involves data, Kevin's in — tuning queries, architecting solutions, or just nerding out about why surrogate keys are misunderstood. He’s not just passionate about data — he’s got a clustered index on it.

Kevin has been wrangling data and dodging dirty reads for over 15 years — back when SQL Server 6.5 was considered "modern" and query tuning meant praying to the optimizer gods. His journey began as an "Accidental DBA" — one misfired report and sud... Show more

Dane Maddams

Dane Maddams

Dane Maddams, named one of Amplitude’s Product 50 leaders, is a Director of Product at Culture Amp specialising in HR tech. He operates at the intersection of product strategy and organisational psychology, leveraging 1.5 billion data points on workplace engagement to design systems where performance and people thrive together. Known for cutting through jargon and telling it like it is, Dane leaves audiences with practical frameworks, sharper thinking, and the confidence to lead with both ambition and empathy.

Dane Maddams, named one of Amplitude’s Product 50 leaders, is a Director of Product at Culture Amp specialising in HR tech. He operates at the intersection of product strategy and organisational psychology, leveraging 1.5 billion data points on workp... Show more

Ashley Thibodeaux

Ashley Thibodeaux

Ms. Thibodeaux has dedicated the past eight years to the field of higher education, excelling in both administrative and faculty roles. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in English from Lamar University. Currently, she serves as the Assistant Director of Academic Enrichment for Student Tutoring and Retention (STAR) services at her alma mater. Outside of her professional commitments, Ms. Thibodeaux is passionate about reading, traveling, and innovating new strategies to enhance student success.

Ms. Thibodeaux has dedicated the past eight years to the field of higher education, excelling in both administrative and faculty roles. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in English from Lamar University. Currently, she serves as the A... Show more

Vanessa Ajagu

Vanessa Ajagu

Vanessa Ajagu is an attorney in the New York office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. She is a member of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group.

Vanessa has broad experience in high-stakes complex litigation before federal and state courts, representing clients in the technology, labor and employment, and finance sectors. These matters include defending a major technology company in a securities class action, representing clients in multiple shareholder litigation matters before the Delaware Court of Chancery, achieving victory on behalf of a leading beverage company in arbitration, and reversing a lower court ruling in favor of a streaming company in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Vanessa has a robust pro bono practice centered on appellate advocacy and women’s rights. She has argued and briefed matters before appellate courts, including successfully challenging a decision that reduced attorneys’ fees awarded to The Legal Aid Society based solely on its nonprofit status. She has also contributed to multiple amicus briefs before the U.S. Supreme Court. Beyond her appellate work, Vanessa advocates for survivors of domestic violence—obtaining a restraining order on behalf of one client following an evidentiary hearing and successfully achieving a reduced sentence for another under New York’s Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (DVSJA).

Before joining the firm, Vanessa served as a law clerk to the Honorable Gerard E. Lynch of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the Honorable Margo K. Brodie of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

Vanessa received her Juris Doctor in 2020 from Columbia Law School, where she was named a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and served as a Senior Editor of the Columbia Law Review. At Columbia Law, she was awarded a Parker School Recognition of Achievement in International and Comparative Law and selected as a fellow for the Salzburg Lloyd N. Cutler Fellows Program in International Law. She received a Master’s in International Criminal Law from the University of Amsterdam in 2020 and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with high distinction from Queen’s University in 2017.

Vanessa is admitted to practice before the Southern and Eastern District Courts of New York as well as New York state courts.

Vanessa Ajagu is an attorney in the New York office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. She is a member of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. Vanessa has broad experience in high-stakes complex litigation before federal and state courts, representi... Show more

Beril Aydingor

Beril Aydingor

Beril is a growth marketer with a deep background in consumer psychology. She currently leads multi-market acquisition at ClassPass, managing £10M+ annual performance budgets and scaling growth across global regions. With 6+ years of experience across startups, scaleups and global brands, her work focuses on how people really think and decide — not just what dashboards show.

She holds both a BA and MSc in psychology, specialising in consumer behaviour at King’s College London, and works at the intersection of growth strategy, behavioural science, and human-centred decision design.

Beril is a growth marketer with a deep background in consumer psychology. She currently leads multi-market acquisition at ClassPass, managing £10M+ annual performance budgets and scaling growth across global regions. With 6+ years of experience acros... Show more

Veronika Ilina

Veronika Ilina

I believe that effective communication helps us all live our best work lives. With over 10 years of experience focused on communication between people and companies, I’m always happy to share my expertise with the tech community.

I believe that effective communication helps us all live our best work lives. With over 10 years of experience focused on communication between people and companies, I’m always happy to share my expertise with the tech community. Show more

Kelly Cuesta

Kelly Cuesta

Kelly, multi-award winning Brand Marketing and Communications leader in tech, excels in driving DEIB.
With vast experience in Spain and the UK, she's led teams for major clients and focused on organisational culture at Ingram Micro.
Her commitment to DEI is evident in her role as the founder of Latinas In Tech Madrid, mentoring young professionals and entrepreneurs.

Kelly, multi-award winning Brand Marketing and Communications leader in tech, excels in driving DEIB. With vast experience in Spain and the UK, she's led teams for major clients and focused on organisational culture at Ingram Micro. Her commitmen... Show more

Aleksandra Pinar

Aleksandra Pinar

I am a systems thinker, AI governance practitioner, and founder of the Regen AI Institute, where I develop system-level approaches to Responsible and Safe AI. My work focuses on the intersection of human cognition, organizational decision-making, and artificial intelligence, with the goal of designing AI systems that remain stable, trustworthy, and resilient at scale.
My background spans enterprise transformation, data-driven decision systems, and AI deployment in complex organizational and regulated environments. Through hands-on work with large-scale AI and automation initiatives, I observed that many AI failures do not originate from technical limitations, but from misalignment between human incentives, institutional decision structures, and machine intelligence.
I am the originator of the Cognitive Alignment framework, which reframes Responsible AI as a coordination challenge across human, organizational, and machine cognition rather than a purely ethical or compliance-driven exercise. My research draws on systems theory, cognitive science, and cybernetics, and is applied to AI governance, risk management, and human–AI collaboration.
I publish and speak on Cognitive Alignment, AI governance, and the emerging Cognitive Economy, with a focus on translating Responsible AI principles into operational practice. My work aims to help organizations design AI systems that support high-quality decision-making under complexity, rather than amplify systemic risk.

I am a systems thinker, AI governance practitioner, and founder of the Regen AI Institute, where I develop system-level approaches to Responsible and Safe AI. My work focuses on the intersection of human cognition, organizational decision-making, and... Show more

Abdouramane Issoufa

Abdouramane Issoufa

Abdouramane Issoufa est un leader scout et acteur communautaire engagé sur les questions de droits numériques, de cybersécurité et de lutte contre la désinformation dans les pays du Sahel. Il est coordinateur régional des Cyber-Gardiens pour le projet Laafi-Kurabi, couvrant le Mali, le Niger et le Burkina Faso, et chef d’équipe du projet Digitalise Youth Niger, une initiative portée par des jeunes pour promouvoir un usage responsable et sécurisé du numérique. Son travail repose sur des approches de terrain, centrées sur les langues locales, l’implication des jeunes et l’adaptation aux réalités des communautés rurales et périurbaines.

Abdouramane Issoufa est un leader scout et acteur communautaire engagé sur les questions de droits numériques, de cybersécurité et de lutte contre la désinformation dans les pays du Sahel. Il est coordinateur régional des Cyber-Gardiens pour le proje... Show more

Matt Treadwell

Matt Treadwell

I started off my career as an academic librarian many moons ago and information has been the golden thread that has connected all my subsequent roles.

I have worked in a range of customer focused information governance, representation, and cybersecurity roles building up a portfolio of skills that can help any business soar. My approach is people centred and tailored to your specific needs, so any engagement will always start with a conversation focussed on understanding the challenges you face. Any package of services delivered will then be driven by your unique requirements and based on a detailed risk assessment and analysis of your business needs.

I am a lifelong humanist and support a range of charities focused upon on ethical, rights and equalities issues.

I started off my career as an academic librarian many moons ago and information has been the golden thread that has connected all my subsequent roles. I have worked in a range of customer focused information governance, representation, and cyberse... Show more

Jérôme Nicolas

Jérôme Nicolas

A la fois scientifique de formation dans le domaine de la biologie et serious game designer, j'anime le dialogue sciences & société autour des biotechnologies en utilisant le jeu comme ressource principale pour impliquer les citoyens.

A la fois scientifique de formation dans le domaine de la biologie et serious game designer, j'anime le dialogue sciences & société autour des biotechnologies en utilisant le jeu comme ressource principale pour impliquer les citoyens. Show more

Madhura Borikar

Madhura Borikar

An Undergraduate B.tech Student, pursuing career in Data Science

An Undergraduate B.tech Student, pursuing career in Data Science Show more

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