Humanities & Social Sciences

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

Bowen Gillings

Bowen Gillings

Bowen Gillings writes to keep fiction fun. Known for his thrillers and fantasy fiction laced with snark, wit, and characters you could share a beer with, Bowen’s quirky, offbeat style “boggles the genre mind.” He loves giving back to fellow writers through media engagement and by leading workshops on the craft, business, and lifestyle of writing. He holds a Master of Education, five martial arts black belt certifications, and is an Army veteran. Travel enthusiast, lover of the outdoors, and habitual volunteer, Bowen’s secret joys include quiet moments by the fireplace and cooking big meals for family and friends.

Bowen Gillings writes to keep fiction fun. Known for his thrillers and fantasy fiction laced with snark, wit, and characters you could share a beer with, Bowen’s quirky, offbeat style “boggles the genre mind.” He loves giving back to fellow writers t... Show more

Gary McBride

Gary McBride

Gary McBride is the author of Literary Forensics: How Reading Can Make You a Better Writer, coming out in 2026. He also produces the Writers Who Read podcast, which features the novels analyzed at Writers Who Read LIVE!, a monthly workshop for writers in Boulder, CO, that Gary founded in 2018 and leads today. Writers Who Read apply Literary Forensics analysis to novels published within the past 18 months to gain insights into craft with the goal of becoming better writers. By September 2025 Gary and his group will have analyzed 72 novels, all published since 2017.

Gary McBride is the author of Literary Forensics: How Reading Can Make You a Better Writer, coming out in 2026. He also produces the Writers Who Read podcast, which features the novels analyzed at Writers Who Read LIVE!, a monthly workshop for writer... Show more

Kateryna Martin Bannikova

Kateryna Martin Bannikova

With 20 years of experience in HR leadership, workforce planning, and global talent acquisition strategy, I have built and scaled TA&HR functions for startups, scale-ups, and global enterprises across tech, fintech, and travel industries.

I have led Talent Acquisition and HRBP teams, built HR infrastructures, and scaled engineering and product hiring across the UK, US, LatAm, Europe, and Asia. As HR Director in the cruise industry, I managed complex, multinational HR operations. As a Product Owner for an in-house HR tech product, I developed solutions that enhanced workforce planning, HR analytics, and data-driven decision-making.

My Expertise:
- HR Business Partnering & Organizational Strategy – Aligning people strategies with business goals to enhance performance and engagement.
- Tech Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning – Optimizing hiring strategies, scaling engineering and product hiring, and ensuring strong leadership pipelines.
- HR Infrastructure & Global Expansion – Scaling HR functions in high-growth environments across multiple regions.
- Employee Relations & Compliance – Navigating complex labor laws and fostering a high-performance culture.
- HR Analytics & Data-Driven Decision-Making – Leveraging insights to improve talent strategies, retention, and workforce optimization.

Qualifications:
- PhD in Sociology (Organizational Culture & HR)
- CIPD Level 7 | SHRM Certified | GTML Certified
- Certified Career Coach | Certified Master Life Coach

I thrive on building scalable HR solutions that drive business success, support global expansion, and develop high-performing teams.

Currently, I’m also developing an AI-powered career coach, integrating insights from organizational culture, social capital, and behavioral science to help professionals grow and succeed.

Let’s connect - whether you’re hiring a strategic HR leader or investing in the future of AI-driven career coaching.

With 20 years of experience in HR leadership, workforce planning, and global talent acquisition strategy, I have built and scaled TA&HR functions for startups, scale-ups, and global enterprises across tech, fintech, and travel industries. I have ... Show more

Amanda Ralph

Amanda Ralph

Amanda is a digital product leader with a proven track record of delivering substantial commercial and customer value across diverse industries. With extensive experience in technology and product management, Amanda has worked with leading Australian organisations including Canva, AustralianSuper, Qantas, and Medibank Private.

Currently serving as the Accessibility Product Lead at Canva, Amanda brings a unique blend of strategic thinking, human-centered design, and cross-functional leadership. Her expertise spans product strategy, innovation, and inclusive design, with a particular strength in solving complex business challenges across B2B, B2B2C, and B2C markets. Amanda is a certified Lego Serious Play facilitator.

A recognised leader in the product management community, Amanda was named one of the 17 Leading Women in Product in Australasia (2017-2018) and one of 15 Global Inspirational Product Women (2022-2025).

In 2016, she co-founded Product Women, a professional network that has grown to over 6,000 members across Melbourne, Sydney, and London.

She is fluent in Japanese, an active member of product management communities, and regularly speaks and publishes insights on product leadership and best practices.

Beyond her professional achievements, Amanda lives in Melbourne with her adult daughters and dog Maisie. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, listening to podcasts, and exploring her neighborhood on foot.

Amanda is a digital product leader with a proven track record of delivering substantial commercial and customer value across diverse industries. With extensive experience in technology and product management, Amanda has worked with leading Australian... Show more

Jason Joseph

Jason Joseph

Rooted in his passion for transformative leadership, Jason Joseph utilizes his expertise in IT consulting and professional coaching to empower every audience he interacts with. With over a decade of experience, Jason's work has influenced hundreds of thousands of users across several countries, from Brazil to Thailand. Armed with several certifications, including AWS & Azure Solution Architect, ITIL Strategic Leadership, and Scrum Product Owner, his actionable insights go beyond personal and professional transformation. Jason's impact fortifies key foundations, from cloud solutions and their influence on business architecture to technological innovation and its direct correlation to purpose-driven living. With a compassionate yet direct style, Jason inspires individuals and organizations to overcome their complex hardships and redefine their potential.

Rooted in his passion for transformative leadership, Jason Joseph utilizes his expertise in IT consulting and professional coaching to empower every audience he interacts with. With over a decade of experience, Jason's work has influenced hundreds of... Show more

Mariia Bakhtina

Mariia Bakhtina

Mariia is a junior research fellow at the University of Tartu (UT), Estonia. Her research interests include the influence of technologies and digital products on organisations, particularly how intelligent systems should be managed in terms of information security and privacy. Mariia received an MA degree in Innovation and technology management from UT in 2021. Currently, Mariia is pursuing a PhD degree in computer science.

Mariia is a junior research fellow at the University of Tartu (UT), Estonia. Her research interests include the influence of technologies and digital products on organisations, particularly how intelligent systems should be managed in terms of inform... Show more

Z.J. Czupor

Z.J. Czupor

Z.J. Czupor publishes episodic mysteries and thrillers on Substack at zjames.substack.com and is the author of "THE BIG WEIRD: Haikus in Times of Pandemic and Chaos." He writes a monthly column "On Tour With Dead Writers" for Rogue Women Writers. He is immediate past president of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and is an active member of Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. He is represented by Terrie Wolf, founder and owner of AKA Literary Management. His mystery "Elrod" is out on submission as well as a nonfiction book about famous mystery writers.

Z.J. Czupor publishes episodic mysteries and thrillers on Substack at zjames.substack.com and is the author of "THE BIG WEIRD: Haikus in Times of Pandemic and Chaos." He writes a monthly column "On Tour With Dead Writers" for Rogue Women Writers. He ... Show more

Trudi Boatwright

Trudi Boatwright

Trudi is a professional actor turned global thought leader and one of the few Playful Experience Designers worldwide. Trudi combines play theory, design thinking, experiential learning and applied improvisation to bring a rare and invaluable blend of learning and development, the arts, and practical application to each of her presentations. She helps people develop a playful mindset to nurture the most required skills of the future.

Five reasons to book Trudi today
• Relevant: we can all be playful
• Experienced: 20+ years’ experience in organisational play
• High energy: the perfect post-lunch keynote
• Entertaining: laughter is the key to active learning
• Timely: the ability to apply playfulness to business is one of the most valuable skills for the future (Deloitte, 2024)

Trudi is a professional actor turned global thought leader and one of the few Playful Experience Designers worldwide. Trudi combines play theory, design thinking, experiential learning and applied improvisation to bring a rare and invaluable blend of... Show more

Eryka Parker

Eryka Parker

Eryka Parker is a powerhouse in the publishing industry, blending literary expertise with business acumen to help writers turn their passion into profit. As the founder of Legacy Book Coaching & Consulting, she guides authors, executives, and thought leaders in crafting impactful books that elevate their brands and solidify their authority.

A dynamic speaker and advocate for diversity in publishing, Eryka’s work amplifies underrepresented voices and champions authentic storytelling. She serves on the Editorial Advisory Committee for IBPA Independent magazine, is the Resident Editor for the Western Reserve Writers’ Conference, and contributes to Indie Author Magazine. Her developmental editing has led to multiple award-winning books, with her clients earning prestigious honors such as The Independent Author Network Award, The Eric Hoffer Award, and The Bookfest Award.

In addition to her editorial leadership, Eryka is a multi-award-winning contemporary romance author, writing under the pen name Zariah L. Banks. She brings a keen business mindset to the literary world, ensuring that both authors and entrepreneurs can leverage the power of storytelling to build lasting legacies.

Eryka Parker is a powerhouse in the publishing industry, blending literary expertise with business acumen to help writers turn their passion into profit. As the founder of Legacy Book Coaching & Consulting, she guides authors, executives, and thought... Show more

Heidi Waterhouse

Heidi Waterhouse

Heidi is an advocate for progressive delivery, organizational transformation, technical communication, and marketing you hate slightly less. She is a nerd about industrial psychology and patterns of progress. One of her favorite hobbies is talking to developers about things they already knew but had never thought of that way before. She sews all her conference dresses so that she's sure there is a pocket for the mic.

Heidi is an advocate for progressive delivery, organizational transformation, technical communication, and marketing you hate slightly less. She is a nerd about industrial psychology and patterns of progress. One of her favorite hobbies is talking to... Show more

Mike Torreano

Mike Torreano

Mike Torreano is a multiple award-winning author of historical fiction and traditional western mysteries set primarily in the Colorado and New Mexico Territories. In the fifth grade he read his first Zane Grey novel and has been hooked on the Old West ever since.
His debut western mystery, The Reckoning, was released in 2016 by The Wild Rose Press and the sequel, The Renewal, was released in 2018. Both are set in South Park, just west of the front range. He’s just released the third in the South Park series, The Return.
An interest in the Goodnight-Loving cattle trail inspired his first stand-alone western, A Score To Settle, which was set on that trail and came out in 2020.
A friend’s suggestion prompted Mike to write a second stand-alone western mystery, White Sands Gold, which was released by The Wild Rose Press in September 2022. It has received five literary awards.
His first historical novel, Fireflies at Dusk, is a multiple award-winning, coming-of-age tale about a young man torn between his pacifist family and his urge to fight against slavery as the Civil War breaks out.
Mike is a trustee of the Western Museum of Mining and Industry and belongs to several western organizations. He also speaks at clubs and organizations about the timeless values of the Old West and The Code of the West, and how those values are still relevant today.
He lives in Colorado Springs with his wife, Anne.

Mike Torreano is a multiple award-winning author of historical fiction and traditional western mysteries set primarily in the Colorado and New Mexico Territories. In the fifth grade he read his first Zane Grey novel and has been hooked on the Old Wes... Show more

April Williams

April Williams

April Williams is a Recruitment Marketing Specialist at Grady Health System, dedicated to enhancing employer branding, candidate engagement, and talent acquisition strategies. With an MBA and a passion for storytelling, she creates impactful recruitment campaigns that connect job seekers with meaningful career opportunities.

April specializes in recruitment marketing, employer branding, event planning, and talent pipeline development. She has successfully led networking events, built strong talent communities, and developed innovative strategies to attract top talent.

As a speaker, she shares insights on building a compelling employer brand, engaging candidates through strategic marketing, and optimizing the job seeker experience. Whether she’s hosting hiring events, mentoring job seekers, or collaborating with talent acquisition teams, April is committed to helping organizations stand out and making job searching more approachable for candidates.

Let’s talk about how to elevate recruitment strategies and create a seamless candidate journey!

April Williams is a Recruitment Marketing Specialist at Grady Health System, dedicated to enhancing employer branding, candidate engagement, and talent acquisition strategies. With an MBA and a passion for storytelling, she creates impactful recruitm... Show more

Edwin McDonough

Edwin McDonough

City of Chicago Department of Public Health Project Manager Continuous Improvement Team

City of Chicago Department of Public Health Project Manager Continuous Improvement Team Show more

Julia Ludwig

Julia Ludwig

Business Administration & Business Psychology (B. Sc.)
Agile Coach, Senior Consultant

Business Administration & Business Psychology (B. Sc.) Agile Coach, Senior Consultant Show more

Lucy Allison

Lucy Allison

Research Assistant, Bouve College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University

Research Assistant, Bouve College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University Show more

Øystein Brager

Øystein Brager

UNG TEKST er Unge Viken Teaters satsning på unge dramatikere.

UNG TEKST er Unge Viken Teaters satsning på unge dramatikere. Show more

Pierre Gervois

Pierre Gervois

Pierre Gervois is a crypto-poet exploring the relations of power in our society. His work is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Wild and Newfangled Art (NYC) and in the Tezos Foundation collection.

Pierre Gervois is a crypto-poet exploring the relations of power in our society. His work is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Wild and Newfangled Art (NYC) and in the Tezos Foundation collection. Show more

Aparna Sundar

Aparna Sundar

Aparna Sundar is a Senior Researcher at OpenSearch Project. She has decades of experience in the field of research and design. She actively publishes in cognitive science journals. Aparna gives talks in various domains including Technology, Psychology and Marketing.

Aparna Sundar is a Senior Researcher at OpenSearch Project. She has decades of experience in the field of research and design. She actively publishes in cognitive science journals. Aparna gives talks in various domains including Technology, Psycholog... 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

Cipson Thomas

Cipson Thomas

I'm a humane, pragmatic, and passionate Agile Kanban Coach, Trainer, Facilitator, Consultant and Public Speaker who helps improve peoples' work and organizations' services.

I'm a humane, pragmatic, and passionate Agile Kanban Coach, Trainer, Facilitator, Consultant and Public Speaker who helps improve peoples' work and organizations' services. Show more

Wim Dammans

Wim Dammans

For more than 12 years, I have worked as a sourcer and recruiter. I use my background in IT, Pschology and marketing to find the candidates and turn them into colleagues. The last few years, I've specialised in sourcing and all things recruitment tooling and technology.

For more than 12 years, I have worked as a sourcer and recruiter. I use my background in IT, Pschology and marketing to find the candidates and turn them into colleagues. The last few years, I've specialised in sourcing and all things recruitment t... Show more

Maria Ashby

Maria Ashby

Maria Ashby is a developer educator and engineer who is passionate democratizing advanced technical skills for women and minorities in tech. She is currently building the 3percentclub, a non-profit organization dedicated to this mission. Maria creates educational content and hosts events around Kubernetes and data. Before diving into the developer advocacy space, she worked in computer science education for K-12 students in lower-income communities and worked as a data scientist at a F500 company.

Maria Ashby is a developer educator and engineer who is passionate democratizing advanced technical skills for women and minorities in tech. She is currently building the 3percentclub, a non-profit organization dedicated to this mission. Maria creat... Show more

Valérie Ligneul De Santo

Valérie Ligneul De Santo

Formateur, Coach et Facilitateur, j’interviens depuis 30 ans avec agilité et enthousiasme auprès des individus et des équipes, pour les accompagner vers plus de travail collaboratif. Mes outils au quotidien ? La ludo-pédagogie, le coaching d’équipe et la facilitation collaborative, par la créativité et le plaisir du partage. Je laisse aussi une place prépondérante au CORPS dans tous mes processus collectifs et vous propose de l'expérimenter " in vivo corporellement" au travers de cet atelier.

Formateur, Coach et Facilitateur, j’interviens depuis 30 ans avec agilité et enthousiasme auprès des individus et des équipes, pour les accompagner vers plus de travail collaboratif. Mes outils au quotidien ? La ludo-pédagogie, le coaching d’équipe e... Show more

Keny López

Keny López

Profesional con experiencia en análisis de datos operacional y de gestión. Experto en los ecosistemas Office de Microsoft y Google Workspace. Analista de datos con Power BI, Looker Studio y Tableau y candidato a científico de datos.

Poseo habilidades analíticas y gestión de la información, con enfoque en la identificación y resolución de problemas. Cuento con habilidades para integrar equipos de alto desempeño y enfoque en el cumplimiento de los resultados.

Gran capacidad de adaptación y aprendizaje de nuevos entornos y aplicativos. Actualmente enfocado en seguir aprendiendo y aplicando las nuevas tecnologías, especialmente Big Data, con las que se están realizando los procesos ETL, BI y Análisis de Datos orientados a un enfoque "Data Driven" de la toma de decisiones.

Profesional con experiencia en análisis de datos operacional y de gestión. Experto en los ecosistemas Office de Microsoft y Google Workspace. Analista de datos con Power BI, Looker Studio y Tableau y candidato a científico de datos. Poseo habilida... Show more

Isaac Touza

Isaac Touza

I am a PhD student in computer, Machine learning researcher, Grand Nord Developers Community Leader,GDG Maroua co-organizer, google developer, computer science teacher

I am a PhD student in computer, Machine learning researcher, Grand Nord Developers Community Leader,GDG Maroua co-organizer, google developer, computer science teacher Show more

Eric Young

Eric Young

How should we manage trade-offs and ethics of critical mineral supply decisions? We need better scientific and normative information, and better systems to organize and discuss it.
Host of The Elements of Deep Sea Mining Podcast www.elementspod.com

How should we manage trade-offs and ethics of critical mineral supply decisions? We need better scientific and normative information, and better systems to organize and discuss it. Host of The Elements of Deep Sea Mining Podcast www.elementspod.com Show more

Andrew Buckley

Andrew Buckley

Andrew Buckley is a film school-educated writer, which means he’s spent most of his life with no money and a strong opinion about bad movies. Today, he’s a traditional and self-published novelist of rather silly, yet enjoyable speculative fiction for all ages, a comic book writer, screenwriter, podcaster, creator, and keynote speaker.

As a writer, Andrew favours playing in the fantasy and paranormal sandboxes and has a terrible habit of writing with a humorous and satirical slant despite being asked politely on numerous occasions to ‘please stop doing that’.

Andrew speaks to thousands of people each year, all over the world, about storytelling and writing through the delivery of interactive and engaging keynotes, workshops, and presentations at schools, colleges, writing conferences, teacher conferences, and comic cons.

At the time you’re reading this, he’s likely busy working on several new projects and attempting to bend time and space to allow for more hours in the day.

Andrew Buckley is a film school-educated writer, which means he’s spent most of his life with no money and a strong opinion about bad movies. Today, he’s a traditional and self-published novelist of rather silly, yet enjoyable speculative fiction for... Show more

Lockie Andrews

Lockie Andrews

Lockie Andrews is an award-winning executive who has revolutionized the art, fashion, beauty, and retail industries through innovation and technology.

As CEO of Catalyst Consulting and RICH Hair Care Americas, and Founder of Catalyzes.ai, she blends digital marketing with AI personalization to elevate brand engagement.

An avid art collector, Lockie influences the art scene as a board member of the National Academy of Design and an advisor to the MoMA. Her entrepreneurial ventures include co-founding NFT collections and an AI Agent platform.

Lockie is a published authority on NFTs, AI, and the disruptive forces shaping creative industries.

Lockie Andrews is an award-winning executive who has revolutionized the art, fashion, beauty, and retail industries through innovation and technology. As CEO of Catalyst Consulting and RICH Hair Care Americas, and Founder of Catalyzes.ai, she ble... Show more

A.W. Schultz

A.W. Schultz

A.W. Schultz is a distinguished keynote speaker and industry expert who collaborates with top-tier Maintenance, reliability, and Manufacturing professionals. With a focus on building employee engagement and fostering autonomy, A.W. has successfully partnered with multiple Fortune 500 companies to drive transformative change. As a corporate and international speaker, Schultz's dynamic presentations have resonated worldwide, inspiring leaders and teams alike. Over a decade, Schultz has delivered impactful messages to more than 800 factory leaders, significantly enhancing operational efficiencies and workforce morale.

Schultz's expertise is also highlighted by a highly acclaimed TEDx talk and the authorship of an Amazon best-selling book. This blend of practical experience and thought leadership has cemented Schultz's reputation as a trusted advisor and visionary in the manufacturing sector.

Dedicated to empowering organizations and individuals, A.W. Schultz continues to influence the industry with insightful, engaging, and motivational keynote addresses that make a lasting impact on audiences worldwide.

A.W. Schultz is a distinguished keynote speaker and industry expert who collaborates with top-tier Maintenance, reliability, and Manufacturing professionals. With a focus on building employee engagement and fostering autonomy, A.W. has successfully p... Show more

Friederike Meier

Friederike Meier

Friederike Meier ist studierte Grund- und Hauptschullehrerin u.a. mit dem Fach Kunst und ist seit 2020 in der digitalen Bildung tätig. Für den MINT-Campus gestaltet sie Onlinekurse und Lernvideos zu den Themen Mathematik, Informatik, Naturwissenschaften und Technik. Zudem ist sie als freischaffende Künstlerin aktiv und setzt sich seit 2023 dort aktiv mit KI auseinander. Als Künstlerin stellt sie regelmäßig in Berlin und Hamburg aus.

Friederike Meier ist studierte Grund- und Hauptschullehrerin u.a. mit dem Fach Kunst und ist seit 2020 in der digitalen Bildung tätig. Für den MINT-Campus gestaltet sie Onlinekurse und Lernvideos zu den Themen Mathematik, Informatik, Naturwissenschaf... Show more

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