My name is Akhmad Sofwan, I am a lecturer in Records and Archive Management, Vocational Education Program, Universitas Indonesia. I also involve in Tangguh Expansion Project cost service as Senior Data Analyst in PT.Surveyor Indonesia.

My name is Akhmad Sofwan, I am a lecturer in Records and Archive Management, Vocational Education Program, Universitas Indonesia. I also involve in Tangguh Expansion Project cost service as Senior Data Analyst in PT.Surveyor Indonesia. Show more

Licenciado en Comunicación Social y actualmente colaborador en el Proyecto de Investigación Plataformización de servicios de Inteligencia Artificial de la Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Autor del libro Esports: la espectacularización del deporte.
Trabaja en Endava Argentina como Ssr. Engineer y tech lead del equipo de Workplace Argentina.
Disfruta de la carpintería, es papá de dos hijas y es hincha de Unión y de G2

Licenciado en Comunicación Social y actualmente colaborador en el Proyecto de Investigación Plataformización de servicios de Inteligencia Artificial de la Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Autor del libro Esports: la espectacularización del deport... Show more

Dr. Khaled Farag is a senior educational leader, Arabic curriculum specialist, and researcher in Educational Technology with over ten years of leadership experience in leading international schools in the UAE. He currently serves as Assistant Principal and Head of MOE Subjects, overseeing Arabic, Islamic Studies, Social Studies, Moral Education, and UAE Culture from Early Years to Grade 12.

He holds a PhD in Educational Technology, a Master of Education, NPQSL, and a Bachelor’s degree in Arabic Language and Education. His expertise spans curriculum leadership, assessment reform, digital transformation, and whole-school improvement.

Dr. Farag has led strategic initiatives focused on moving Arabic and Islamic Education from compliance-driven practice to impact-focused systems that improve teaching quality and student outcomes. He works across IB and British curricula, supporting schools in data-informed leadership, fluency development, and curriculum coherence.

He is also a teacher trainer and consultant with expertise in educational technology, AI integration, and sustainable leadership models across MOE subjects.

Dr. Khaled Farag is a senior educational leader, Arabic curriculum specialist, and researcher in Educational Technology with over ten years of leadership experience in leading international schools in the UAE. He currently serves as Assistant Princip... Show more

Carmina Catena is the co-founder and CEO of HiPe Kids EU, an online language school specialising in neurodiverse and mixed-ability learners. She holds a Master's in Applied Linguistics (Sussex University), a DELTA, and a CELTA, and brings over 20 years of teaching and teacher training experience across the UK, France and internationally.
For nine years she served as a Pedagogical Consultant for Cambridge English across the PACA region, delivering teacher training seminars in France and Europe, supporting schools on language assessment, and speaking at national education events.
She has founded two language schools, developed original curricula, and trained teachers in evidence-based methodology. She is currently building an AI-powered Teacher Companion - a tool to help educators better understand and support neurodiverse learners - which is already attracting interest from key players in the international education space.
Her work sits at the intersection of cognitive science, language acquisition, inclusion and educational technology, with a particular focus on keeping teachers at the heart of the learning process.

Carmina Catena is the co-founder and CEO of HiPe Kids EU, an online language school specialising in neurodiverse and mixed-ability learners. She holds a Master's in Applied Linguistics (Sussex University), a DELTA, and a CELTA, and brings over 20 yea... Show more

Kes Smith-Green is a mental Health First Aid and Safeguarding instructor, to UK Ofqual regulation level. He is also a corporate wellbeing and stress consultant. Kes has been in the region for 14 years and has worked in schools to support students as an ILSA and also to support better behaviours within classrooms. He is also a Positive Psychology and Mindfulness coach, working with individuals on their emotional response regulation.

Kes Smith-Green is a mental Health First Aid and Safeguarding instructor, to UK Ofqual regulation level. He is also a corporate wellbeing and stress consultant. Kes has been in the region for 14 years and has worked in schools to support students as ... Show more

Alveena Abrar is an educator, researcher, parent, & digital transformation leader who has spent years at the intersection of human development and emerging technology. As Head of Educational Research and Innovation, she works with schools and leadership teams across the UAE to design future-ready frameworks that integrate AI, robotics, coding, cybersecurity, and blockchain into K–12 learning always with one guiding question: how do we ensure technology serves human flourishing, not the other way around?
Her current research investigates a challenge she observes daily in classrooms and at home the growing emotional dependency young people are forming with AI chatbots, and what this means for their ability to connect, empathies, and relate to real human beings.
A published author & AI curriculum developer, she is also completing a deeply reflective book exploring consciousness, emotion, & the meaning embedded in everyday human experience a project that mirrors her conviction that no technology, however intelligent, can replace the depth of what it means to be human.
She speaks and trains internationally on ethical AI literacy, teacher development, and technology-driven school transformation, inspiring educators and institutions to embrace the future with vision and purpose.

Alveena Abrar is an educator, researcher, parent, & digital transformation leader who has spent years at the intersection of human development and emerging technology. As Head of Educational Research and Innovation, she works with schools and leaders... Show more

Ibo van de Poel is hoogleraar Ethiek en Technologie aan de faculteit Techniek, Bestuur en Management van de TU Delft. Hij is wetenschappelijk directeur van het Delft Design for Values Institute (https://www.delftdesignforvalues.nl/).

Ibo van de Poel is hoogleraar Ethiek en Technologie aan de faculteit Techniek, Bestuur en Management van de TU Delft. Hij is wetenschappelijk directeur van het Delft Design for Values Institute (https://www.delftdesignforvalues.nl/). Show more

Mestre em economia pelo PPGEcon/UFPE. Assessor na Diretoria-geral de Fomento, Inovação e Arranjos Produtivos na ADEPE desde 2024. Trabalha com análise de dados econômicos e auxilia na gestão de projetos como o Desenvolve.AI, Ponte Tech e Arena de Negócios no Rec N' Play. Responsável pelos projetos de Inovação, trabalha com análise de dados. Utiliza, principalmente, Python, R, BigQuery e JavaScrip. Além disso, frequentemente analisa o Impacto Econômico de Políticas Públicas de Desenvolvimento Regional.

Mestre em economia pelo PPGEcon/UFPE. Assessor na Diretoria-geral de Fomento, Inovação e Arranjos Produtivos na ADEPE desde 2024. Trabalha com análise de dados econômicos e auxilia na gestão de projetos como o Desenvolve.AI, Ponte Tech e Arena de Neg... Show more

I'm Andreas Stenhall and my work passion is the Windows client in combination with security. I do consulting, I produce and teach my own courses, I lecture and I present, and my formal work title is trusted advisor and principal workplace architect at Coligo in Stockholm, Sweden. I'm also proud to be a Microsoft MVP since 2009. I have presented at BUILD, TechEd in the US and Europe, Experts Live Amsterdam, Workplace Ninjas Norway, and regional TechDays and various user groups and other events.

I'm Andreas Stenhall and my work passion is the Windows client in combination with security. I do consulting, I produce and teach my own courses, I lecture and I present, and my formal work title is trusted advisor and principal workplace architect a... Show more

Dr. Helga Breuninger, klinische Psychologin, Volkswirtin, Lerntherapeutin, Stifterin und Mitbegründerin von intus³ beziehungslernen.
In der Arbeit mit über 800 Kindern mit besonderem Unterstützungsbedarf hat Helga Breuninger die Wirkmacht des Potenzialblicks erkannt: Er verbindet Resonanz und Zutrauen mit dem Fokus auf Stärken! Mit ihrer Stiftung hat Helga intus3 Beziehungslernen in die Welt gebracht, damit der Potenzialblick mit der resonanten Haltung intuitiv und interaktiv erlernt und geübt werden kann.

Dr. Helga Breuninger, klinische Psychologin, Volkswirtin, Lerntherapeutin, Stifterin und Mitbegründerin von intus³ beziehungslernen. In der Arbeit mit über 800 Kindern mit besonderem Unterstützungsbedarf hat Helga Breuninger die Wirkmacht des Potenz... Show more

Domitila Barros is one of the most credentialed and compelling voices in global sustainability. Born in the Linha do Tiro favela in Recife, Brazil, she moved to Germany at age 15 and built a career at the intersection of climate justice, ESG strategy, social entrepreneurship, and ocean conservation.
She holds a Master of Arts in Political and Social Science from Freie Universität Berlin and has completed executive programmes at Wharton Business School (Lauder Institute, University of Pennsylvania), WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management (SensAbility Leadership), and Harvard & MIT (Brazil Conference 2026, Invited Speaker).
In 2022, she became the first racialised migrant woman elected Miss Germany. She immediately reframed the title as a platform for climate advocacy, achieving 250,000+ media appearances internationally in that year alone.
Her global stage experience includes: Brazil Conference at Harvard & MIT (2026), Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2025 and 2026, SensAbility WHU (2023, 2024, 2026), European Parliament (2024), G20 Sustainability Working Group (2024), COP 2025, Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis (2024, 2025), German Foreign Ministry alongside Annalena Baerbock (2023), and the Wharton Lauder Institute (2022, 2025).
She serves as jury member for the UNESCO BNE Prize and the German National Sustainability Prize (Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis). She is a PADI AmbassaDiver, BAUM Environmental Prize laureate (2026), and Greenpeace International sustainability ambassador with Amazon field experience.
Her book Rebel Dreamer (Ullstein Verlag, 2023) is an Amazon bestseller. Media: Vogue Italia, Forbes Germany, ZDF, SAT1, RTL, Globo. Instagram: 1.1M followers, 5M+ monthly views.
Languages: Portuguese, German, English, Spanish. Based between Berlin, Dubai (UAE), Koh Samui, and Recife.

Talk Title Suggestions for CFP Submissions
From Compliance to Competitive Advantage: How Sustainability Shapes the Future of Business
Justice First: Why ESG Without the Global South Is Not ESG at All
The Ocean as Governance: Marine Conservation as a Model for Climate Leadership
Circular Power: Favela Innovation and What the Global North Gets Wrong About Sustainability
Post-COP Reality: What Brazil's Climate Moment Means for Global Markets
Decolonising ESG: Rethinking Who Gets to Define the Green Economy

Tags / Topics for Sessionize profile
Sustainability, Climate Justice, ESG, Global South, Ocean Conservation, Circular Economy, Leadership, Diversity & Inclusion, Social Innovation, Corporate Governance, Nature Finance, Keynote

Domitila Barros is one of the most credentialed and compelling voices in global sustainability. Born in the Linha do Tiro favela in Recife, Brazil, she moved to Germany at age 15 and built a career at the intersection of climate justice, ESG strategy... Show more

Anna Litou is an experienced Security Engineer, having worked in companies like IBM and Meta.

At Meta, she proactively hunted undetected coordinated abuse using AI, internal data, and open-source intelligence. She led Meta's Access & Compromise Escalations function — a team of over 300 contractors — and designed automated solutions that prevented billions in revenue churn from business users. She is actively developing her focus in AI integrity and governance, bringing both research depth and operational scale to the intersection of human behavior and AI risk.

Before Meta, she led engineering and research for the NATO account at IBM Benelux, designing ML, AI, and NLP solutions and performing software security risk analysis. She holds a PhD in Computer Science from Athens University of Economics and Business, where her doctoral research focused on misinformation propagation, influence maximization, and information diffusion in online social networks. Her work has been published in IEEE Big Data, IEEE ICDCS, and Elsevier's Online Social Networks and Media journal (IBM Best Student Paper runner-up, MDM 2014).

She serves on the Advisory Board of the University of Nicosia and the Scientific Committee of the International Conference on Data Science and Digital Innovation (DSDI 2026). She is currently studying psychology to understand how human bias gets encoded in AI systems at scale.

Anna Litou is an experienced Security Engineer, having worked in companies like IBM and Meta. At Meta, she proactively hunted undetected coordinated abuse using AI, internal data, and open-source intelligence. She led Meta's Access & Compromise ... Show more

Senior Business-Systems Analyst & Product Owner. In love with IT. Fascinated by the process of coding. Speaker at international conferences. I truly believe that communication matters.
When I'm not at work, you can find me at IT conferences, meetup’s, volunteering somewhere, or spot me when enjoying nature in the middle of mountains or forests.
I'm usually the one, who will challenge your idea to make it bulletproof!

Senior Business-Systems Analyst & Product Owner. In love with IT. Fascinated by the process of coding. Speaker at international conferences. I truly believe that communication matters. When I'm not at work, you can find me at IT conferences, meetup... Show more

Profesor povijesti i kroatistike, doktor etnologije i antropologije, poslijediplomski student predmoderne povijesti; urednik udžbeničkih i izvanudžbeničkih povijesnih izdanja 12 godina u renomiranoj izdavačkoj kući Školska knjiga d. d. Od 2009. do 2012. tajnik jedne od najstarijih hrvatskih udruga za oživljenu povijest Red srebrnog zmaja iz Zagreba; od 2012. do danas suosnivač i predsjednik udruge za antičku, srednjovjekovnu i ranonovovjekovnu europsku i hrvatsku oživljenu povijest i kulturu Red Čuvara grada Zagreba. Organizator i art-direktor festivala oživljene povijesti ZmaJurjevo 2016. – 2018., Suorganizator i art-direktor festivala oživljene povijesti Viteški turnir Franje Tahyja pod starim gradom Susedgradom od 2010. do 2020. godine. Autor i voditelj projekta Povijest u slikama 2018. i 2020. godine u suradnji sa Školskom knjigom, 16 hrvatskih škola pod pokroviteljstvom Ministarstva znanosti i obrazovanja RH. Autor i voditelj projekata rimske medicine, rimskog govorništva i srednjovjekovne kuhinje. Stručnjak za oživljenu povijest u teoriji i praksi te autor znanstvenih i stručnih radova na tu temu te predavanja i edukacija o metodama oživljene povijesti u nastavi povijesti za brojne hrvatske učitelje i nastavnike predmeta povijesti u osnovnim i srednjim školama. Suradnik brojnih obrazovnih ustanova, muzeja, turističkih zajednica, festivala, televizijskih i filmskih produkcija.

Profesor povijesti i kroatistike, doktor etnologije i antropologije, poslijediplomski student predmoderne povijesti; urednik udžbeničkih i izvanudžbeničkih povijesnih izdanja 12 godina u renomiranoj izdavačkoj kući Školska knjiga d. d. Od 2009. do 20... Show more

Thomas Sommerer is a media researcher with a PhD from the University of Graz. His research focuses on AI-generated content, digital culture, and the philosophy of technology. He investigates how AI-generated content transforms media and our relation to reality. His work has been published in Philosophy & Technology and featured in media outlets including ZDF, Deutschlandfunk, and Ö1. He currently works as an AI researcher at WU Vienna.

Thomas Sommerer is a media researcher with a PhD from the University of Graz. His research focuses on AI-generated content, digital culture, and the philosophy of technology. He investigates how AI-generated content transforms media and our relation ... Show more

Emmanuel Elolo Agbenonwossi is a specialist in artificial intelligence public policy, digital governance and cyber diplomacy, with more than 10 years of experience advising governments, regional organisations and multilateral institutions in Africa and the Global South. He is the architect of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy of the Republic of Guinea, developed with the United Nations Development Programme, where he led the national AI ecosystem assessment and structured the strategic vision for 2026–2035. At the regional level, he drafted AI ethical governance guidelines for 7 francophone African countries, supporting the integration of human rights, accountability and public interest safeguards into AI policy frameworks. He regularly serves as a lead expert for institutions including the African Union, ECOWAS, UNECA, ITU, UNESCO, Smart Africa, the Internet Society and ICANN. His work focuses on AI governance, ethics and human rights, data governance, digital sovereignty and the geopolitical implications of algorithmic systems.

Emmanuel Elolo Agbenonwossi is a specialist in artificial intelligence public policy, digital governance and cyber diplomacy, with more than 10 years of experience advising governments, regional organisations and multilateral institutions in Africa a... Show more

Susi Bauer (She/her or They/them) is a freelance ADHD Coach, Facilitator, Training Designer, and consultant.

After a decade in the video games industry, she changed career paths following a late ADHD diagnosis. Her mission is to share kind conversations, knowledge, and tools with individuals and organisations to foster growth. Susi loves to collaborate to find better answers to old questions and create spaces where everyone's needs are recognised and met.

As a coach, she helps people embrace their authentic, curious selves. She's qualified in Knowledge-Based Coaching & ADHD Coaching and often works with adults with ADHD, entry- to mid-level managers, career changers, and leaders of volunteer organisations.
She also offers training, facilitation, and consulting to organisations and teams.

Susi Bauer (She/her or They/them) is a freelance ADHD Coach, Facilitator, Training Designer, and consultant. After a decade in the video games industry, she changed career paths following a late ADHD diagnosis. Her mission is to share kind convers... Show more

Sainan Zhang is a Programme Specialist on Megatrends in the Programme Division at UNFPA Headquarters. Her work focuses on exploring the linkages between population dynamics, megatrends, and broader sustainable development issues. She has worked on projects including geospatial analysis for climate change and population vulnerability mapping, degree of urbanization, demographic dividend, small area estimation, and mapping access to family planning and sexual and reproductive health services. She also supports countries in building national capacity for census data analysis.

Her technical expertise includes geospatial analysis, statistics, demographic analysis, and data visualization. Previously, she worked with the Chinese central government and international organizations on UN- and EC-funded sustainable development projects. She holds a Ph.D. in Sustainability and an M.Sc. in Urban Environmental Management.

Sainan Zhang is a Programme Specialist on Megatrends in the Programme Division at UNFPA Headquarters. Her work focuses on exploring the linkages between population dynamics, megatrends, and broader sustainable development issues. She has worked on pr... Show more

Oluwaseyi Oluwawumiju
Oluwaseyi Oluwawumiju is a dynamic Technical Consultant, Public Speaker, and Author, affiliated with Covenant Technologies, a Microsoft Certified Partner based in Lagos, Nigeria. With over 25 years of professional experience, he is recognized as a leader in the IT industry, specializing in Microsoft infrastructure, data, and artificial intelligence solutions.

Oluwaseyi is a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), a Most Valuable Professional (MVP) in Office Services & Apps, and the MCT Regional Lead for Nigeria. He also serves as the Manager of Data & AI at Wragby Solutions & Technologies Limited, where he drives cutting-edge innovations in AI, data analytics, and cloud technologies. As a Fellow of the Institute of Information Management Africa (FIIM Africa), he holds one of the highest honors for excellence in data and information management.

At Covenant Technologies, Oluwaseyi plays a pivotal role as a senior consulting partner, helping organizations maximize the value of their Microsoft technologies, including Azure, Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, and AI-powered solutions. His expertise extends beyond technical implementations, focusing on empowering businesses to leverage IT for strategic growth.

Prior to joining Covenant Technologies, Oluwaseyi was a Senior Technical Consultant and Support Manager at 1st Intellit Solution, where he led outsourcing teams and spearheaded the development of innovative client systems.

Driven by his passion for IT evolution in Africa, Oluwaseyi is a prominent advocate for cloud technologies and modern workplace solutions across West, East, and Central Africa (WECA). His campaigns for adopting tools like SharePoint, Yammer, Office 365, Azure, and Microsoft Teams have significantly influenced medium and large organizations. The growing response from the Nigerian market and beyond highlights the transformative impact of his efforts in fostering a modern IT ecosystem across Africa.

Oluwaseyi Oluwawumiju Oluwaseyi Oluwawumiju is a dynamic Technical Consultant, Public Speaker, and Author, affiliated with Covenant Technologies, a Microsoft Certified Partner based in Lagos, Nigeria. With over 25 years of professional experience, h... Show more

I’m a Digital Project Coordinator with experience managing complex, cross-functional initiatives across tech, academia, EU-funded programs, and product environments.

My core strength is turning complexity into structured delivery. I coordinate stakeholders, clarify scope, manage dependencies, and ensure that projects move from ambiguity to execution. I’m comfortable working between technical teams, leadership, and external partners, translating needs into clear plans and measurable outcomes. I am now focusing on Technical / Digital Project Management roles within product and tech-driven organizations in the Skåneregion.

Empowered with more than a decade of project management and executive at the Visual Culture Research Center, and the Kyiv Biennial.
Fluent in English and professionally proficient in Swedish.

I’m a Digital Project Coordinator with experience managing complex, cross-functional initiatives across tech, academia, EU-funded programs, and product environments. My core strength is turning complexity into structured delivery. I coordinate sta... Show more

Olga Nova studiert im Masterstudiengang Transforming Digitality an der Hochschule Düsseldorf und beschäftigt sich mit digitaler Transformation, Hochschulentwicklung und dem Einsatz von KI in Studium und Lehre. In ihrer Bachelorarbeit im Studiengang Soziale Arbeit rekonstruierte sie wie Studierende KI im Studienalltag nutzen und entwickelte daraus ein Modell studentischer KI-Nutzung. Als DigitalChangeMaker 2026 und durch ihre aktive Beteiligung in der akademischen Selbstverwaltung verbindet sie studentische Perspektiven mit Fragen von Teilhabe, Bildungsgerechtigkeit und verantwortungsvoller Hochschulgestaltung. Ihre Erfahrungen aus Gremienarbeit und studentischer Praxis fließen dabei in ihre Perspektive auf eine soziale, didaktische und partizipative Gestaltung von KI an Hochschulen ein.

Olga Nova studiert im Masterstudiengang Transforming Digitality an der Hochschule Düsseldorf und beschäftigt sich mit digitaler Transformation, Hochschulentwicklung und dem Einsatz von KI in Studium und Lehre. In ihrer Bachelorarbeit im Studiengang S... Show more

Studied Forensic Science and Engineering as well as Land Use and Water Management at BTU Cottbus–Senftenberg. Later taught methods of forensic biological analysis, 3D printing, drones, LoRa, sensor technology, and open-source tools. For several years, worked in the Education Department at Cottbus Zoo. Since 2023, drone pilot and member of the EXPAND+ER project at BTU Cottbus–Senftenberg. Currently project coordinator at IQ@BB.

Studied Forensic Science and Engineering as well as Land Use and Water Management at BTU Cottbus–Senftenberg. Later taught methods of forensic biological analysis, 3D printing, drones, LoRa, sensor technology, and open-source tools. For several years... Show more

I help organizations achieve ISO 27001 certification and implement AI governance frameworks (ISO 42001), leading end-to-end compliance and cybersecurity transformation programs that improve risk posture by 30–60%.

I am an AI Governance, Cybersecurity, and Risk & Compliance leader with 19+ years of experience delivering enterprise-scale programs across healthcare, fintech, and SaaS organizations. My expertise spans ISO 27001 implementation, audit readiness, AI governance (ISO 42001), and AI risk management aligned with NIST AI RMF.
I have led several enterprise risk and compliance programs, driving end-to-end execution—from risk assessment and control design to remediation, audit readiness, and certification outcomes. My work combines deep domain expertise with strong program leadership, enabling organizations to translate regulatory requirements into structured, scalable implementation roadmaps.

I led large-scale cybersecurity audit and compliance programs, improving audit pass rates from ~70% to 98%, managing 150+ remediation actions, and strengthening governance practices in a highly regulated environment.
I bring a unique combination of:
AI governance and cybersecurity expertise
Program / project leadership and execution
Stakeholder alignment at enterprise scale
This allows me to operate effectively as both:
1: Strategic advisor to leadership
2: Hands-on program leader driving execution

I can contribute in roles involving:
Subject Matter Expert on EU AI Act Compliance.
AI Governance and AI Risk Management (ISO 42001, NIST AI RMF)
ISO 27001 implementation, audit readiness, and certification
Cybersecurity governance and compliance transformation programs
Enterprise risk management and regulatory compliance (including DPDPA)
Program / Project / Delivery Management in GRC and AI-enabled environments
I hold a PhD in Management, with research focused on digital systems and technology governance.
I actively share insights on AI governance, cybersecurity, and compliance through research and expert discussions.

I help organizations achieve ISO 27001 certification and implement AI governance frameworks (ISO 42001), leading end-to-end compliance and cybersecurity transformation programs that improve risk posture by 30–60%. I am an AI Governance, Cybersecur... Show more

Falene McKenna is a product manager with a strong background in software development, conversational experience design, and data analysis. Specializing in Robot VUIs, she is passionate about using technology, particularly social robots and Conversational AI, to improve people's lives.

Coming from a background Linguistics, Falene began her Social Robotics career at Intuition Robotics, working on their flagship project ElliQ—an AI-powered social companion robot for older adults—and developing in-car voice experiences. She later collaborated on a proof-of-concept for Fur Hat Robotics and Microsoft PVA before serving as the Head of Product for Aico, an AI-driven early childhood learning robot by Curiosity Robotics.

In October of 2023, Falene started her own company, Lingua Robotica, with the hopes of bringing ethical and holistic design into multimodal development.

A voice in the conversational AI space, Falene has presented at various events, including the Conversation Design Festival 2022, emphasizing the importance of bot building standards, language expertise in AI experiences, and persona building. She is also an active member of Women in Voice, promoting gender diversity in the voice technology industry.

Falene McKenna is a product manager with a strong background in software development, conversational experience design, and data analysis. Specializing in Robot VUIs, she is passionate about using technology, particularly social robots and Conversati... Show more

Harender Bisht, PhD, is a Technical Architect and Lead Developer with over 10 years of experience designing and implementing enterprise systems across insurance, reinsurance, finance, and regulatory reporting domains. Based in New Jersey, he currently serves as Lead Developer and Technical Architect at Crum & Forster, where he leads large-scale initiatives spanning IFRS 17, reinsurance platforms, finance automation, and enterprise data architecture.

His work includes designing and implementing a company-wide IFRS 17 data and calculation framework, integrating claims, premiums, reinsurance, and actuarial data with Moody��s Analytics and OneStream. He has architected enterprise integrations for Sapiens Reinsurance, supporting modernization efforts and the retirement of legacy systems, and developed a hybrid cloud/on-premises enterprise job orchestration platform to centralize, monitor, and audit batch operations. Harender has also designed microservices for OFAC sanctions screening using Azure Cognitive Search and contributed to AI-powered reporting solutions using retrieval-augmented generation, offline large language models, and enterprise data pipelines.

Harender’s technical expertise spans Azure cloud architecture, microservices, .NET, C#, Python, data engineering, Snowflake, OneStream, and insurance-specific platforms and regulatory frameworks, including IFRS 17 and reinsurance systems. He works closely with finance, actuarial, compliance, operations, and technology stakeholders to align technical architecture with business, regulatory, governance, and operational needs.

Harender earned his PhD in Artificial Intelligence from the University of the Cumberlands, where his research focused on the ethical implications of explainable artificial intelligence in insurance fraud detection, with emphasis on fairness, accountability, transparency, trust, and auditability in high-stakes AI-supported decision-making. He also holds a Master’s degree in Computer Applications from the University of Bridgeport and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Amity University.

Harender Bisht, PhD, is a Technical Architect and Lead Developer with over 10 years of experience designing and implementing enterprise systems across insurance, reinsurance, finance, and regulatory reporting domains. Based in New Jersey, he currentl... Show more

Michelle Risinger is an award-winning entrepreneur, behavioral designer, international public speaker, and certified professional life coach. She is currently the owner and principal strategist at Rising Solutions, a global innovation strategy firm for social impact that works with clients such as the United Nations, the Rainforest Alliance, the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) and AstraZeneca. She is also the founder and CEO of Restore, a technology company that revolutionizes productivity and scheduling with chronobiology, and co-founder of Moonwake Retreats, a luxury travel company.

Michelle is the national recipient of the 2019 End-User Transformation Award by Design Thinking USA and was formerly the founding member and Director of Innovation at global nonprofit, Pact where her work was featured in Forbes Asia and funded by Hewlett Packard Enterprises, Gates Foundation, USAID, US Dept of State, SIDA, Trafigura Foundation and Pan African Energy. She has a Master’s in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of St Andrews, Scotland, and began her career as an Assistant Station Manager for the American Red Cross, serving multiple assignments to Iraq and Afghanistan. She was the recipient of the American Red Cross 2008 National Employee Spirit of Excellence Award. She has previously guest lectured at Georgetown University, American University, the School for Visual Arts and the Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Michelle is a certified professional life coach, a certified practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), and coaches executives on transformational change management. She holds a certificate from Cornell University in the Psychology of Leadership and is certified as a Wellness Coach by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). Her research focus is on innovation culture and psychological safety in the workplace, unpacking invisible barriers to innovation (workplace design, status quo bias, creativity bias, burnout and anxiety), bringing more creativity neuroscience and chronobiology to the future of work and documenting how rest leads to breakthrough innovations. She is a certified fitness and yoga instructor, as well as a certified mindfulness practitioner. A former member of the Scottish National Water Polo team, she is an avid lover of travel, exploring new countries through open water swimming.

Michelle Risinger is an award-winning entrepreneur, behavioral designer, international public speaker, and certified professional life coach. She is currently the owner and principal strategist at Rising Solutions, a global innovation strategy fir... Show more

Rebecca Grier, Ph.D. is a behavioural scientist with 20 years experience in product development across various business sectors. Most recently she was the lead for Customer-Driven: EMEA at Microsoft, with the goal to change product making culture to be more customer obsessed. Previously she moved Ford to consider people with disabilities in the design of their autonomous vehicles and the US DoD to include user experience in testing of systems. She currently lives in Dublin with her husband and son.

Rebecca Grier, Ph.D. is a behavioural scientist with 20 years experience in product development across various business sectors. Most recently she was the lead for Customer-Driven: EMEA at Microsoft, with the goal to change product making culture to ... Show more

Arne Mertz has been working with modern and not-so-modern C++ codebases for over 15 years in various kinds of embedded and enterprise contexts. He is a mentor and teacher for clean code and modern C++ for colleagues and customers at Zühlke Engineering. Since 2015 he has written more or less frequently about those topics on his blog "Simplify C++!"

Arne Mertz has been working with modern and not-so-modern C++ codebases for over 15 years in various kinds of embedded and enterprise contexts. He is a mentor and teacher for clean code and modern C++ for colleagues and customers at Zühlke Engineerin... Show more

Atlanta-based activist, author, and attorney Sandra Barnhill ignites transformation through powerful storytelling, empowering audiences to build an equitable society with both tough-minded wisdom and tender-hearted grace.

Atlanta-based activist, author, and attorney Sandra Barnhill ignites transformation through powerful storytelling, empowering audiences to build an equitable society with both tough-minded wisdom and tender-hearted grace. Show more

My PhD journey in the cold of northern Sweden has led me down a path to much of the latest cloud-native tech. Between that and my somewhat alarmingly high interest in homelabbing, I really live in the cloud-native ecosystem. But those are just side-hustles, cat-dad is my main occupation.

My PhD journey in the cold of northern Sweden has led me down a path to much of the latest cloud-native tech. Between that and my somewhat alarmingly high interest in homelabbing, I really live in the cloud-native ecosystem. But those are just side-h... Show more