Charles Mfouapon is the Founder of AfriScore, a B2B alternative-data credit scoring and decisioning infrastructure platform built to extend credit access to unbanked populations across Sub-Saharan Africa and the CEMAC region. His work sits at the intersection of law, quantitative finance, and financial infrastructure design in emerging markets.

His research focuses on regulatory and market-structure gaps in CEMAC’s financial system. He has authored four papers, including a working paper on the exclusion of mobile money operators as credit data furnishers under BEAC regulation and an analysis of the CEMAC SME financing gap currently under review at African Development Review; three of his papers are available on SSRN. He has also authored a book on African financial infrastructure.

Charles Mfouapon is the Founder of AfriScore, a B2B alternative-data credit scoring and decisioning infrastructure platform built to extend credit access to unbanked populations across Sub-Saharan Africa and the CEMAC region. His work sits at the int... Show more

Marina Sukhomlinova is the Founder & President of Womafreesm, a U.S. 501(c)(3) Public Charity and a global infrastructure for women’s influence. She designs systems that turn women’s lived experiences into data and evidence that can shape new rules, laws, standards, technologies and institutional decisions.

She leads the development of the Women’s Life-Cycle Economy Index, a global research programme examining where economies, healthcare, labour markets, law and AI rely on incomplete models of human life that overlook women’s real life cycles. This work provides the research foundation for the Equal Consideration Standard, a practical framework for assessing whether policies, technologies, medical protocols and workplace systems account for women’s lives.

Her current work also examines age and gender bias in AI, recruitment and marketing, with a focus on women aged 45-64. Marina speaks about women’s institutional influence, women’s life-cycle economics, AI bias, evidence-led policy and the design of systems that reflect women’s lived reality.

Marina Sukhomlinova is the Founder & President of Womafreesm, a U.S. 501(c)(3) Public Charity and a global infrastructure for women’s influence. She designs systems that turn women’s lived experiences into data and evidence that can shape new rules, ... Show more

Lani Gonzales helps successful women and high achievers who look accomplished on the outside—but feel exhausted, disconnected, or unfulfilled on the inside—create success without burnout and power without losing their soul.

Many of the women Lani works with have done everything “right.” They’ve built impressive careers, achieved financial independence, and earned respect—yet inside, they feel stuck, overextended, or quietly empty. The constant pressure to perform, produce, and prove has pulled them further from their intuition, their body, and their deeper sense of purpose.

After becoming a law firm partner at 23, Lani lived that same story. From the outside, she had it all. On the inside, she was driven by subconscious survival patterns and a nervous system locked in overdrive. Her own awakening led her to leave the legal profession and devote her life to studying the subconscious mind, human behavior, and the wisdom traditions that have guided healing and leadership for thousands of years.

Today, Lani blends neuroscience-based hypnotherapy, performance psychology, and ancient wisdom traditions to help high-achieving women:
- Rewire burnout and overdrive at the root
- Break free from subconscious self-sabotage
- Reconnect to clarity, intuition, and inner authority
- Build success that feels aligned, sustainable, and alive

Her talks are known for being raw, strategic, and deeply activating—combining modern science with timeless wisdom to create real, lasting transformation. Audiences leave with tools they can use immediately to change how they lead, live, and work.

Lani Gonzales helps successful women and high achievers who look accomplished on the outside—but feel exhausted, disconnected, or unfulfilled on the inside—create success without burnout and power without losing their soul. Many of the women Lani ... Show more

Graduação em Ciências Econômicas e em Direito. Especialista em Segurança Pública e Especialista em Direito Público. Mestre em Engenharia e Gestão do Conhecimento (UFSC). Doutor em Engenharia e Gestão do Conhecimento (UFSC). Foi Coordenador do Escritório de Gestão de Processos na Secretaria de Estado do Planejamento. Trabalhou na Controladoria-Geral do Estado atuando na função de Coordenador de Informações Estratégicas, foi Gestor do Portfólio de Projetos, Presidente da Comissão de Implementação da LGPD, Presidente da Comissão de Inovação e membro do Comitê Estratégico de Governança e Integridade. Gerente de Apoio Operacional na Diretoria Administrativa e Financeira da Secretaria de Estado da Segurança Pública; Gerente do Complexo Administrativo na Diretoria Administrativa e Financeira da Secretaria de Estado da Segurança Pública; Gestor de Sistemas de Conhecimento na Coordenação-Geral de Inteligência da SENASP/MJ; Chefe da Divisão de Informática e Tecnologia da Diretoria de Informação e Inteligência - Secretaria de Estado da Segurança Pública de Santa Catarina, conduzindo a Gestão Técnica do Projeto de Criação e Institucionalização do Sistema Integrado de Segurança Pública (SISP-SC).

Graduação em Ciências Econômicas e em Direito. Especialista em Segurança Pública e Especialista em Direito Público. Mestre em Engenharia e Gestão do Conhecimento (UFSC). Doutor em Engenharia e Gestão do Conhecimento (UFSC). Foi Coordenador do Escritó... Show more

KAMPIRE NADINE Temba is Congolese young Lawyer, she is the cofounder and the coordinator at Afia-Amani Grands-Lacs a community based online media outlet which provides news and educational contents on health, peace, natural disaster management and fight against fake news, disinformation and hate speech online for the communities of the Great Lakes countries, she is based in Goma in the North province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Before founding AFIA-AMANI Grands Lacs, she served as media consultant for many regional and international organizations such as INTERNEWS which have been operating in Eastern DRC.
She is among the first intake of East African women fellow at Media Defence (a UK based Ngos’which trained lawyers to advance digital rights and Technology law through strategic litigation and provide support and legal assistance to journalists, bloggers and independent Media), where she was a 2022 Fellow. She is a 2023 and 2025 CIPESA fellow and digital security trainer.
She has a particular interest in Human rights and Digital Rights with a special focus on Freedom of expression, Tech & Internet governance, regulation and Policy, digitat inclusion and digital transformation.

KAMPIRE NADINE Temba is Congolese young Lawyer, she is the cofounder and the coordinator at Afia-Amani Grands-Lacs a community based online media outlet which provides news and educational contents on health, peace, natural disaster management and fi... Show more

Named the YJP Professional of the Year in 2017 and a Super Lawyer for more than 15 consecutive years, Jonathan Pasternak is a distressed debt and commercial real estate advisor and consultant with more than thirty years of experience in managing complex financial transactions. The YJP honor recognized his long-term contributions to restructuring initiatives, and it was one of several notable accolades he received from peers and professional organizations. His many leadership roles have earned him considerable industry recognition.

His academic record begins at The Pingry School, where he graduated cum laude with the class of 1981. He continued at Brown University as a member of the class of 1985, majoring in American History and Literature. Education has been a significant influence on Jonathan Pasternak's professional and personal life, shaping his later career direction as well as his current commitments. He served as a class representative for both Pingry and Brown, coordinating alumni and class-based initiatives, and he maintains active ties with both communities to this day. His spouse and two of his three children are Brown graduates, and the family's alumni involvement includes ongoing participation and outreach.

He has also shared his knowledge from the podium and in the press. Jonathan has lectured at numerous industry conferences as well as at his former secondary and law schools. Throughout his career, he has been routinely sought for interviews and quotes concerning large-scale restructurings, and he has appeared on radio and television.

Those credentials rest on a 36-year career in restructuring and distressed debt, during which Jonathan Pasternak represented parties across a wide range of industries. His primary area of specialization has been the reorganization and restructuring of private and public companies, with hundreds of individual and corporate clients represented over the years. His expertise covers debtor and creditor representation, workouts, recapitalizations, asset sales, and complex court-supervised proceedings, delivered to business owners, institutional stakeholders, and court-appointed representatives tasked with overseeing financially distressed companies. His skill set centers on corporate reorganization, distressed debt, and commercial real estate, and he has carried a career in stabilization, restructuring, and matters both in and out of court-supervised proceedings.

Beyond court-supervised matters, he has extensive experience in commercial real estate and finance. That work has included distressed property issues, debt restructuring tied to real estate and business asset portfolios, and transaction-driven reorganizations. In every setting, he has applied financial analysis and legal strategy while keeping business objectives and circumstances in focus, through formal proceedings and negotiated resolutions alike. Even after receiving his accolades, he kept his commitment to commercial real estate, distressed debt, and finance-driven restructurings.

For more than 20 years, Jonathan managed his own boutique law firm focused on restructuring and reorganization matters. He directly led the firm's operations while maintaining an active and voluminous caseload, working closely with clients, interested parties, other professionals, and court institutions through reorganizations and court-supervised proceedings. Running a specialized firm for two decades required considerable operational oversight, astuteness in client advisory work, leadership, and matter-level strategy, and the experience strengthened his skills as both a practitioner and an organizational leader in the restructuring field.

Working in either a legal or an advisory capacity, Jonathan Pasternak has established mutually favorable relationships with companies, lenders, investors, fiduciaries, and other professionals. In commercial real estate, distressed debt, and corporate finance, he has often been called on to negotiate between multiple stakeholder groups, conduct detailed financial reviews, and carefully navigate court procedure. His work has focused on financially distressed environments where legal judgment and business evaluation are often intertwined, always with the goal of helping others.

His commitments extend well into his community. For 11 years, he served on the Board of Trustees of Temple Sinai of Bergen County, and as one of the board's longest-serving trustees, he was responsible for oversight of governance, planning, and fiduciary matters. Few individuals have held that position for as long as he has. He contributes to numerous charities and community efforts, including food and clothing drives and educational organizations, and he regularly donates to community initiatives launched by Pingry School, Brown University, and Tenafly, New Jersey, where he resides, aligning his philanthropy with the institutions that have played important roles in his development. Through various not-for-profit institutions, he actively contributes to educational, religious, and charitable initiatives. He has also provided pro bono legal services throughout his career to individuals, small businesses, and local not-for-profit organizations.

Jonathan Pasternak is an accomplished musician and performer, well known among his professional peers, and music remains an active pursuit that adds a creative dimension to his career. He relishes the preparation, timing, and technical control of performing, seeing those disciplines as equally rewarding as the skills he has employed throughout his restructuring career. He is also a well-known archivist and field recorder for live music and concerts, and he has donated significant time to Tenafly and the community by coaching at recreational and travel levels and performing at community events.

Named the YJP Professional of the Year in 2017 and a Super Lawyer for more than 15 consecutive years, Jonathan Pasternak is a distressed debt and commercial real estate advisor and consultant with more than thirty years of experience in managing comp... Show more

Louise Humpington brings nearly three decades of experience across commercial law (Financial Services Litigation), international development, human rights, and AI ethics and governance. She has worked in some of the world's most demanding governance environments, including as Country Director for Oxfam in Papua New Guinea and as a Non-Executive Director of Amnesty International UK. Her work focuses on applying those legal, regulatory and human impact lenses to the design, development, and deployment of AI and in interrogating the principles of fairness and accountability to that live within their datasets. She argues that governance must be viewed as a mycelium network and that ethical considerations are no longer a cultural nicety. They are foundational to mitigate risk, avoid legal and bottom line liability, and ensuring that real world harms are caught before damage is done. Governance must be preventative, not a mop up exercise.

Louise Humpington brings nearly three decades of experience across commercial law (Financial Services Litigation), international development, human rights, and AI ethics and governance. She has worked in some of the world's most demanding governance ... Show more

Dr. Tajah M. Gross is Founder & CEO of Ethilect, an AI governance, risk, and decision intelligence firm helping organizations confront the hidden human risks inside artificial intelligence systems. A recognized voice in responsible AI, escalation architecture, and operational oversight, she is known for translating complex AI risk into practical governance strategies leaders can actually use.

Her expertise spans agentic AI, autonomous decision systems, human oversight design, AI governance, and enterprise risk visibility. Through her signature frameworks, Question Everything and ReasonGate, Dr. Gross challenges organizations to rethink how AI decisions are monitored, escalated, interrupted, and trusted at scale.

Blending executive strategy with real-world implementation, she helps institutions design AI systems that remain observable, accountable, and human-centered under pressure—not just efficient. Dr. Gross has delivered high-impact sessions for nationally recognized venues including AI in the New Era, Nashville Microsoft Community Day, UN Blockchain Week, North Carolina A&T University, and Morgan State University.

Dr. Tajah M. Gross is Founder & CEO of Ethilect, an AI governance, risk, and decision intelligence firm helping organizations confront the hidden human risks inside artificial intelligence systems. A recognized voice in responsible AI, escalation arc... Show more

More than 37 years of legal practice have shaped JoAnn Coughtry into the divorce and matrimonial attorney she is today. Based in Albany, New York, her work centers on guiding clients through divorce, custody, support, and related family law matters, usually during what turns out to be one of the most difficult stretches of their lives. She has built a reputation across the region for steady judgment, careful preparation, and a calm presence in proceedings that rarely feel calm to the people going through them.

Her practice, according to colleagues, is measured and methodical. That descriptor carries weight in matrimonial work. Emotions run high in family law, and small details, financial, procedural, or personal, can move a case one way or the other. Clients often remark on her ability to explain difficult issues plainly, without minimizing what's at stake.

Family law, as JoAnn practices it, covers the full range of matters: divorce, child custody, child support, spousal maintenance, equitable distribution, and post-judgment enforcement. Some cases are uncontested and move through the system smoothly. Others involve substantial assets, business valuations, or contested custody disputes that stretch across months or years.

Thousands of clients have come through her practice over the course of her career. Volume alone tells part of the story, but the breadth of issues she has taken on tells the rest. Together they have built a depth of experience that is genuinely difficult to replicate. She has seen how cases unfold. She knows what arguments tend to land, where settlement is possible, and where it isn't.

Whether the case is simple or complex, her approach doesn't waver. She prepares thoroughly. She works from documents. She focuses on the practical resolution the client needs, not the one that looks good on paper.

Beyond her law degree, JoAnn holds a degree in accounting. The combination is uncommon among family law attorneys, and it has shaped her practice in ways that matter. Divorce cases frequently hinge on financial questions. How do you value a closely held business? How do you divide retirement accounts? How do you read a tax return that may not tell the whole story? Most family law attorneys turn to outside experts for those answers. JoAnn does much of that analysis herself.

The fluency shows up throughout her work. Equitable distribution disputes. Support calculations that depend on accurately characterizing income. Cases where one spouse holds a clearer picture of the marital finances than the other. The ability to work through bank records, business statements, and investment accounts without a translator gives her clients a real advantage.

Throughout her career, JoAnn has represented clients from a wide range of cultural and international backgrounds. Many of these clients face family law issues without the support systems they once had. Some came to the United States with limited family ties here, and now find themselves navigating divorce, custody disputes, or other domestic conflicts largely on their own.

The legal process is difficult under any circumstances. For these clients, it can feel especially overwhelming. The American court system is unfamiliar. The stakes are personal. There is often no one nearby to lean on. JoAnn takes pride in helping these clients understand their rights, walking them through each step, and providing steady representation during what is often a frightening period.

The work isn't tied to any single country or background. It's about ensuring that every client, no matter where they come from or what support they do or don't have, feels heard, informed, and protected.

For 25 years, JoAnn served as an Assistant Public Defender. She represented individuals accused of criminal offenses and worked to ensure that every client received the constitutional protections guaranteed under the law. The work was demanding, the caseloads heavy, but it built the foundation for courtroom and trial advocacy that she still draws on today.

Those years reinforced principles she still holds close. Thorough preparation. Effective negotiation. Clear client communication. Representing people during some of the worst moments of their lives taught her something she still believes: every client deserves to be listened to carefully, advocated for vigorously, and protected within the bounds of the law.

Those skills translate directly into her matrimonial work. Contested divorce and custody matters share fundamentals with criminal litigation. Careful case preparation. The ability to argue effectively in court. The judgment to know when to push and when to settle. The trial experience she built as a public defender continues to benefit her family law clients today, particularly in cases that ultimately go before a judge.

The constant thread across JoAnn's career has been her commitment to New York families. Divorce, custody, support, and post-judgment issues aren't abstract legal categories to her. They involve real people making major life decisions, often under stress, often with children in the picture.

She has always taken the view that family law cases are never just legal matters. The legal issues are real and have to be handled correctly, but so do the human ones. That perspective shapes how she runs an initial consultation, how she communicates with clients during a case, and how she handles enforcement proceedings after a judgment has been entered.

Outside of work, JoAnn spends time with family and continues her education in both law and finance. Family law shifts, sometimes in small ways, sometimes in significant ones, and she makes a point of staying current on developments that affect New York practice.

The combination of law and accounting reflects what has always interested her: working through complicated problems, especially ones that carry both financial and personal dimensions. That curiosity hasn't faded with time, and it continues to shape how she approaches her work.

"Divorce and matrimonial attorney" is a description of the work for JoAnn, not a brand. Clients who look up JoAnn Coughtry Law find an attorney whose reputation is built on the work itself. The career behind that description has been built case by case, client by client, over nearly four decades. Her path from the Public Defender's Office through years of matrimonial practice reflects a steady, purposeful commitment to the field rather than any single defining moment.

She continues to practice in Albany, New York, and surrounding counties. The same priorities that guided her from the beginning still guide her today: diligence, integrity, and a real respect for the people she represents. Her clients get personalized representation and an attorney who understands both the legal and financial sides of what they're going through.

More information about JoAnn Coughtry's law practice is available at https://www.coughtrylawalbany.com.

More than 37 years of legal practice have shaped JoAnn Coughtry into the divorce and matrimonial attorney she is today. Based in Albany, New York, her work centers on guiding clients through divorce, custody, support, and related family law matters, ... Show more

I’m a Research Ireland funded PhD candidate at Trinity College Dublin researching AI accountability standards and semantic web technology. An SPDX core contributor, I co-lead its AI working group, review specification, and maintain the NTIA Conformance Checker, spdx-python-model, and SPDX online tools.

I also created Pitloom, an AI SBOM generator creating SPDX 3 SBOM from Python projects and various AI model formats. Alongside my regulatory technology research, I volunteer with the Thai Netizen Network, a Bangkok-based digital rights group.

I’m a Research Ireland funded PhD candidate at Trinity College Dublin researching AI accountability standards and semantic web technology. An SPDX core contributor, I co-lead its AI working group, review specification, and maintain the NTIA Conforman... Show more

Jesse L. Foreman, Esq. is an attorney, NFLPA Certified Contract Advisor, entrepreneur, and technology advocate whose work sits at the intersection of law, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, sports, and emerging technologies.

As an attorney, Jesse advises clients on complex legal matters involving business, technology, regulatory compliance, risk management, and innovation. He is particularly focused on the legal and policy implications of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital assets, and emerging technologies, helping organizations navigate rapidly evolving legal and regulatory landscapes.

In the sports industry, Jesse serves as an NFLPA Certified Contract Advisor with Delta Sports Group, where he has represented professional athletes and participated in the negotiation of contracts and business opportunities valued at more than $100 million. His work extends beyond traditional player representation to include athlete branding, intellectual property strategy, and emerging technology opportunities.

Jesse is also the Founder of Young Money APAA Kingdom, the agency's Web3 and NFT division, where he helped pioneer initiatives that educate and guide athletes, entertainers, and brands through the evolving digital asset ecosystem. Through this work, he has advised clients on NFTs, blockchain technology, digital ownership rights, brand protection, community development, and the opportunities and legal challenges presented by Web3 technologies.

A frequent speaker and thought leader, Jesse has shared insights on technology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity policy, sports law, NIL, blockchain innovation, and the future of digital commerce. His unique perspective combines practical legal experience, business leadership, and firsthand involvement in emerging technologies, allowing him to bridge the gap between innovation and regulation.

Jesse earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Cincinnati College of Law and his undergraduate degrees from Northern Kentucky University. He is committed to helping businesses, athletes, policymakers, and communities prepare for the opportunities and challenges created by the next generation of technological innovation.

Jesse L. Foreman, Esq. is an attorney, NFLPA Certified Contract Advisor, entrepreneur, and technology advocate whose work sits at the intersection of law, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, sports, and emerging technologies. As an attorney, J... Show more

Jesse Davidson, Attorney, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Rutgers University in 2004. His interest in legal studies led him to continue his education at Nova Southeastern University, where he completed his Juris Doctor in 2008. This combination of academic experiences helped prepare him for a career centered on legal advocacy and personal injury representation.

Jesse Davidson, a lawyer, began developing practical legal experience before becoming a licensed attorney. In 2006, he worked as a law clerk at a personal injury law firm, where he gained exposure to the legal process and the responsibilities involved in handling injury-related claims. This role provided valuable insights into case preparation, legal research, and client communication, helping him establish a foundation for his future legal career.

Davidson entered the legal profession after earning his law degree and quickly focused on personal injury law. Rather than expanding into multiple practice areas, he focused on claims involving accidents, negligence, and preventable harm. His early work included motor vehicle accident cases, premises liability disputes, and general negligence claims. As his career progressed, he became involved in more complex legal matters, including catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases.

Jesse Davidson of JD Injury Law represents a practice focused entirely on personal injury. Under his leadership, the firm serves clients throughout Florida and handles matters involving physical injuries, financial losses, and wrongful death claims resulting from negligence. As managing partner, he oversees legal operations and helps guide the firm's ongoing growth and development.

Davidson has helped maintain a structure that emphasizes direct attorney involvement throughout the legal process. The firm provides free initial consultations for potential clients seeking information about their legal options. These consultations are used to evaluate case viability and discuss potential legal strategies. JD Injury Law also operates on a contingency fee basis, allowing clients to pursue legal claims without upfront legal fees unless compensation is recovered. In addition, the firm remains available for urgent injury matters and offers direct communication access, including 24/7 responsiveness for serious cases.

Jesse Davidson regularly handles motor vehicle accident claims, which make up a significant portion of his legal practice. These cases often involve liability, medical expenses, insurance disputes, lost wages, and pain and suffering. His work includes representing clients in both minor accident matters and more serious injury cases that require extensive legal attention.

Jesse also assists clients involved in premises liability cases. These matters concern injuries caused by unsafe conditions on another party’s property, including wet floors, poor lighting, or structural hazards. Determining responsibility in these cases often depends on evidence of negligence and compliance with property maintenance standards.

Jesse Davidson, a lawyer, also represents individuals and families involved in wrongful death, dog bite, and workplace injury claims. Wrongful death cases may involve claims related to funeral expenses, emotional damages, and lost financial support. Dog bite matters often include compensation requests for medical treatment, scarring, emotional distress, and lost income. Workplace injury cases may involve circumstances where third-party negligence creates legal options beyond workers’ compensation benefits.

Jesse has achieved important professional milestones by establishing and growing his law firm. Building a personal injury practice that serves clients across Florida remains one of the defining accomplishments of his legal career. The firm's reported recovery of millions of dollars for clients reflects outcomes achieved through settlements and litigation involving a variety of injury-related matters.

Jesse Davidson, Attorney, remains active in pursuits outside of the legal profession while continuing to lead his firm. He maintains an interest in chess, basketball, and martial arts, with chess playing a particularly meaningful role in his personal life. He holds a U.S. Chess Federation Chessmaster designation and has provided charitable support to chess-related organizations, including Chessbrah. His continued involvement in both professional and personal endeavors reflects a long-term dedication to leadership, learning, and service within the personal injury field.

Jesse Davidson, Attorney, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Rutgers University in 2004. His interest in legal studies led him to continue his education at Nova Southeastern University, where he completed his Juris Doctor in 2008. This comb... Show more

Mark Arensberg is a business transactional attorney with over four decades of experience advising companies on structuring, contracts, and complex commercial matters. He has practiced since September 1982 and is preparing to reach his 44th year in the legal profession in 2026.

Mark has built his career around transactional business law, with a clear focus on practical advice and long-term client relationships. After his admission to the United States Tax Court in December 1986, he expanded his ability to address detailed financial and tax-related matters across different industries. Alongside his legal work, he has remained active in literacy efforts, volunteer service, and family life.

Arensberg's work has consistently focused on business law and transactions. For more than 43 years, he has advised entrepreneurs, corporations, and professionals across the United States, offering guidance that reflects real business needs. His early Tax Court admission strengthened his ability to manage complex tax and financial issues.

Lawyer Mark Arensberg has maintained long-standing client relationships, including representing a Denmark-based company for 30 years as of September 2024 and providing legal services to another business since 1985. These relationships reflect steady performance over time.

After serving as General Counsel for a group of companies involved in investment advisory, asset management, and trust services, Mark established his law office in January 1990. The firm was created to provide reliable legal services without the structure of larger firms, offering direct communication, practical advice, and continuity. Its referral network extends across the United States and internationally.

Attorney Mark Arensberg's services include business structuring, contract drafting and negotiation, franchising systems, and commercial real estate matters, including development, acquisitions, and leasing. He also provides consulting in strategic planning, financial restructuring, private placements, and mergers and acquisitions. He has served as a bank board member and on its commercial loan review committee.

Outside of his professional work, Arensberg has supported community programs for more than 20 years alongside his spouse, helping foster children and families. He has worked as a reading mentor and contributed to literacy initiatives. His involvement also includes support for youth programs, educational institutions, health organizations, and faith-based outreach. He provides pro bono legal services and has coached youth sports.

Mark maintains an active lifestyle, including skiing, boating, and cycling. He will soon celebrate his 46th wedding anniversary and enjoys spending time with his four children and nine grandchildren. He also cares for two dogs.

Mark Arensberg continues to reflect a steady, service-focused approach to both his legal career and community involvement as he approaches his 44th year in practice.

Mark Arensberg is a business transactional attorney with over four decades of experience advising companies on structuring, contracts, and complex commercial matters. He has practiced since September 1982 and is preparing to reach his 44th year in th... Show more

Tory Hibbitt, LLM, CIPP/C, is a Partner at Embury & West LLP who helps innovators and tech vendors
understand regulatory frameworks governing their development and deployment of AI-enabled
products. Lead author of the Annotated Alberta Health Information Act, she recently testified before the
Senate on Bill S-5’s approach to connected health data and is frequent author and speaker on topics in
health privacy.

Tory Hibbitt, LLM, CIPP/C, is a Partner at Embury & West LLP who helps innovators and tech vendors understand regulatory frameworks governing their development and deployment of AI-enabled products. Lead author of the Annotated Alberta Health Infor... Show more

Ex-CEO turned author, consultant, and educator, I have spent thirty years of international leadership experience at the intersection of AI, Business Agility, and DevOps. I'm the author of The Supercharged Enterprise: Strategic Adaptation for Growth and Resilience (Business Expert Press) and Developing Agile Coaches, and I've distilled that experience into the Blueprint for Enterprise Agility — a framework built on eight Leadership Behaviours and eight Operational Processes that I teach and apply directly in client transformations.

My current work focuses on where AI meets governance and portfolio management: I've developed and deliver a course treating Lean Portfolio Management combined with AI as a control system, with AI as the sensing and optimisation layer — alongside advisory work helping financial services and other regulated organisations govern AI responsibly. I believe, and have proven repeatedly, that Enterprise Agility done well produces measurable growth and profit, not just cultural change for its own sake.

I've operated at every level from board to project team, across Financial Services, Banking, Payments, Insurance, FMCG, TV, and Retail — leading large-scale agile transformations and applying AI directly in software development and testing environments. That range across people, process, technology, and now AI governance lets me craft change initiatives that hold up under real organisational pressure, not just in the deck.

Ex-CEO turned author, consultant, and educator, I have spent thirty years of international leadership experience at the intersection of AI, Business Agility, and DevOps. I'm the author of The Supercharged Enterprise: Strategic Adaptation for Growth a... Show more

Jalal Abdallah has built three businesses. He runs one of them today, and closing the other two was as deliberate a decision as starting them.

An attorney based in Dearborn, Michigan, Jalal graduated from Fordson High School, earned a history degree at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, and completed his law degree at Cooley Law School in 2018. He passed the bar exam in 2020. In 2021, rather than take a position at an established firm, he founded his own practice, focused exclusively on personal injury law.

He did not stop there. Alongside the firm, Jalal opened, owned, and operated an insurance agency and a title insurance agency handling real estate closings. He describes himself plainly as someone who loves being an entrepreneur, and the appeal is the challenge and independence that come with building something from nothing.

The harder call came later. As his law practice grew and his political career took shape, Jalal recognized that running three businesses meant giving none of them everything they needed. He closed the insurance and title agencies so he could focus completely on his firm and on serving his community through public office. Knowing what to stop is a form of leadership that gets discussed less often than knowing what to start.

That focus has produced results. Jalal won the Democratic primary for Michigan House, District 15, an achievement he places alongside passing the bar exam and launching his practice as the ones that mean the most to him. He is also currently pursuing an MBA, driven by a conviction that leadership, whether in a courtroom, a company, or public office, requires ongoing learning rather than a fixed set of skills.

His approach to clients follows the same logic as his approach to business. Personal injury clients are dealing with real disruption to their lives, and Jalal built his practice so he could work with them directly rather than at a distance.

Jalal has been married to his wife, Leila, for nearly five years. Outside the office, his time belongs to family. He is a lifelong history enthusiast, a follower of sports and sports history, a dedicated film buff, and a regular at concerts and music festivals.

The pattern across all of it is consistent: build carefully, commit fully, and stay accountable to the people relying on you.

Jalal Abdallah has built three businesses. He runs one of them today, and closing the other two was as deliberate a decision as starting them. An attorney based in Dearborn, Michigan, Jalal graduated from Fordson High School, earned a history degr... Show more

Cybersecurity researcher, digital dissident, and founder of Cybermidnight Club. First person wrongfully imprisoned in Uruguay for a computer crime (2017). His case was documented in episode 25 of Darknet Diaries. Specialist in forensic analysis, quantification of investigative failures, and defense of radical transparency against narratives fabricated by state and corporate actors. Creator of the Forensic Risk Indicator (FRI).

Cybersecurity researcher, digital dissident, and founder of Cybermidnight Club. First person wrongfully imprisoned in Uruguay for a computer crime (2017). His case was documented in episode 25 of Darknet Diaries. Specialist in forensic analysis, quan... Show more

I lead Cycore Secure as Principal Advisor – Cybersecurity, Privacy & AI, where I wear multiple hats across strategy, delivery, and innovation. My day typically spans from coaching consultants on how to deliver world-class client outcomes, to managing complex cybersecurity and compliance portfolios, to ensuring that every engagement feels consistent, high-quality, and genuinely useful for our clients.

Beyond delivery, I’m deeply involved in shaping what’s next for Cycore — building new service lines from emerging trends, defining GTM strategies, and experimenting with new products at the intersection of security, privacy, and AI. I’m especially drawn to the challenge of turning complex regulatory frameworks into something approachable, automated, and scalable.

I lead Cycore Secure as Principal Advisor – Cybersecurity, Privacy & AI, where I wear multiple hats across strategy, delivery, and innovation. My day typically spans from coaching consultants on how to deliver world-class client outcomes, to managing... Show more

Vandana Taxali is a dynamic art-tech entrepreneur and intellectual property lawyer, blending legal expertise with creative and technological innovation. As the founder of Artcryption, she's revolutionizing how creative assets and intellectual property are protected and monetized using advanced technologies like blockchain and AI. Her career includes roles at CHUM/Citytv/MuchMusic, managing high-profile legal cases, and representing renowned artists like her brother Gary Taxali.

Vandana actively contributes to the art community advocating for artists' rights and driving the evolution of digital art and NFTs. Her insights on the interplay of law, art, and technology make her a pivotal voice at the forefront of the digital art revolution.

Vandana Taxali is a dynamic art-tech entrepreneur and intellectual property lawyer, blending legal expertise with creative and technological innovation. As the founder of Artcryption, she's revolutionizing how creative assets and intellectual propert... Show more

Lawyer & Psychologist | AI Ethics & Cognitive Sovereignty | Co-founder, EIA LATAM Committee | Lecturer (UBA & UTN FRBA)

Verónica Recchia is a lawyer, psychologist, university lecturer and independent researcher specializing in AI ethics, cognitive sovereignty and hybrid intelligence. She lectures at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) and UTN FRBA and is co-founder of the EIA LATAM Committee, an interdisciplinary initiative advancing ethical AI governance from a Latin American perspective.

She is co-author of the EIA LATAM Manifesto – AI Ethics in Latin America: A Female Perspective in Defense of Human Dignity and the Future of Human Decision-Making (Zenodo: https://zenodo.org/records/21212138), author of Agilidad y Talento. Egoísmo y Altruismo del Poder (Despite the MENTE CLICK Mindset) (Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNXD3GJQ), and is currently writing MENTECLICK.IA: The Continuity of the Species (ISBN 978-631-01-1706-5).

Her research focuses on AI ethics, cognitive sovereignty, algorithmic governance, hybrid intelligence and the future of human decision-making.

Lawyer & Psychologist | AI Ethics & Cognitive Sovereignty | Co-founder, EIA LATAM Committee | Lecturer (UBA & UTN FRBA) Verónica Recchia is a lawyer, psychologist, university lecturer and independent researcher specializing in AI ethics, cognitive... Show more

Kay Pang is a Tech & AI lawyer and senior board director with close to 30 years of experience across technology law, corporate governance and AI risk. Dual-qualified in England & Wales and Singapore, she advises organisations on technology, AI and governance matters, and has held global legal leadership roles at Hewlett-Packard, Schneider Electric, VMware/Broadcom and Cloudera.

As an independent director on SGX-listed companies and a Governing Council member of the Singapore Institute of Directors, she brings board-level perspective to the governance challenges that AI adoption presents across sectors.

She writes and speaks regularly on AI leadership and governance, including contributing to World Economic Forum white papers on the Responsible Use of Technology. She holds executive education credentials from Stanford, MIT, INSEAD, Cambridge and IMD.

Kay Pang is a Tech & AI lawyer and senior board director with close to 30 years of experience across technology law, corporate governance and AI risk. Dual-qualified in England & Wales and Singapore, she advises organisations on technology, AI and go... Show more

Kristi is a recognized leader and sought-after speaker in Information Governance and Technology, known for driving innovation, compliance, and AI readiness and adoption. She has deep expertise in digital transformation, business process efficiency, and risk reduction.

Kristi has founded 2 non-profit organizations and actively works to support Women in Tech. She has over 25 years' expertise in the Microsoft ecosystem and is a Microsoft Partner. Since launching Paintrock Consulting in 2012, she has advised across Energy, Healthcare, Engineering, FinTech, Big Pharma, Telecommunications, Web3, and Legal Services industries.

Kristi is a recognized leader and sought-after speaker in Information Governance and Technology, known for driving innovation, compliance, and AI readiness and adoption. She has deep expertise in digital transformation, business process efficiency, a... 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

William Janssen is founder, CTO & Head of Engineering at TrustEngine. He has spent his career on the supplier side of software: he founded and ran companies that built patient portals for healthcare and a platform-as-a-service, and worked at Red Hat. He has seen what shipped software costs to support over its lifetime. He is the author of Einde van het MVP-tijdperk, a Dutch-language book on the EU Cyber Resilience Act, and speaks on the regulation at events including the Linux Foundation Member European Forum in Prague and Code & Compliance in Brussels.

William Janssen is founder, CTO & Head of Engineering at TrustEngine. He has spent his career on the supplier side of software: he founded and ran companies that built patient portals for healthcare and a platform-as-a-service, and worked at Red Hat.... Show more

Head of Security | Strategic Leader in Cybersecurity, Compliance & DevSecOps

Strategic Information Security leader with extensive experience safeguarding critical infrastructure and navigating complex regulatory landscapes. As Head of Security at fyn, oversees the security architecture of global Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) platforms, ensuring top-tier operational resilience and business continuity.

Bridging the gap between deep technical execution (SysAdmin & DevSecOps) and high-level risk management, turning cybersecurity from a operational requirement into a core business driver. Steadfastly dedicated to upholding the CIA triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability), combining actionable auditing with proactive threat mitigation.
💡 Keynote & Panel Topics: Cloud Security & DevSecOps
Compliance as a Business Enabler: Navigating PCI DSS v4 certification and leveraging ISO 27001 & NIST frameworks for strategic growth.

Proactive Risk Management & Internal Audit: Building operational resilience and mitigating threats in mission-critical infrastructure.

Head of Security | Strategic Leader in Cybersecurity, Compliance & DevSecOps Strategic Information Security leader with extensive experience safeguarding critical infrastructure and navigating complex regulatory landscapes. As Head of Security at ... Show more

Emem Washington, J.D., LL.M., is an Executive Communication Consultant, speechwriter, two-time TEDx speaker, best-selling author, and founder of Lead, Speak & Impact, a leadership communication and speaker development firm.

After more than 20 years as an attorney, working in rooms where unclear communication had real and expensive consequences, Emem now helps executives, teams, and experts communicate with clarity, credibility, and confidence in high-stakes moments. Her work focuses on executive presence, message clarity, and thought leadership, along with turning big ideas into talks people remember.

She’s also a former TEDx selection committee member and speaker coach for multiple TEDx events, and has helped over 150 people bring their ideas to the TEDx stage. Her first TEDx talk, “Life Lessons My Iron Taught Me About Overcoming Adversity,” reflects her knack for finding leadership lessons in everyday life.

Emem has spoken to audiences ranging from corporate leadership teams and professional associations to law schools and K–12 students. Her sessions are interactive, direct, and immediately useful, because she believes clarity is currency.

An unapologetic optimist, she loves blue-sky days, extra-fine-tipped pens, and anything she can write on (napkins included).

Emem Washington, J.D., LL.M., is an Executive Communication Consultant, speechwriter, two-time TEDx speaker, best-selling author, and founder of Lead, Speak & Impact, a leadership communication and speaker development firm. After more than 20 year... Show more

Andrea Palumbo è avvocato e si occupa di privacy, cybersecuirty e diritto delle penale dell'informatica e dell'impresa, materie nelle quali svolge anche attività di consulenza e formazione presso imprese e pubbliche amministrazioni. E’ spesso relatore a convegni e conferenze specialistici sui temi legati al mondo ICT.

Andrea Palumbo è avvocato e si occupa di privacy, cybersecuirty e diritto delle penale dell'informatica e dell'impresa, materie nelle quali svolge anche attività di consulenza e formazione presso imprese e pubbliche amministrazioni. E’ spesso relator... Show more

Paul-Werner Müller – German Bar Association lawyer directory (Deutsche Anwaltauskunft):
https://anwaltauskunft.de/rechtsanwalt/mueller-a416827f/

Paul-Werner Müller has practised as a lawyer in Cologne since 1988 and is the owner of Kanzlei Müller. He advises businesses on German and European funding programmes, business valuations and commercial matters. He has also headed the office of the Association of Clinical Research Centers.
Wikipedia (German): https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Clinical_Research_Centers

His proposed talks explore how companies can prepare a funding project: identifying suitable programmes, organising application documents and understanding the obligations that follow an award. He brings a legal perspective to the practical and commercial questions facing businesses.

His topics are aimed at business owners, executives and people responsible for finance, innovation and project development.

Portrait: Jana Stening, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Paul-Werner Müller – German Bar Association lawyer directory (Deutsche Anwaltauskunft): https://anwaltauskunft.de/rechtsanwalt/mueller-a416827f/ Paul-Werner Müller has practised as a lawyer in Cologne since 1988 and is the owner of Kanzlei Müller... Show more

Anton Ditchev is a New York criminal defense attorney whose career began in the hearing rooms of Rikers Island. Over fifteen years at The Legal Aid Society, he represented clients in parole hearings, administrative proceedings, and criminal cases ranging from misdemeanors to attempted murder. In September 2026, he began opening his own firm, Ditchev Law PLLC.

In 2011, Anton Ditchev joined the Parole Revocation Defense Unit of The Legal Aid Society. His clients were people on community supervision facing re-incarceration, and their hearings took place at the Rikers Island judicial center. As a young lawyer, he drove into a locked-down detention center to handle those hearings, some of which involved serious criminal charges. He has said the experience is hard to put into words, and he credits it with teaching him to think on his feet.

The job required work at every stage of the revocation process, from investigations, witness interviews, and case conferences to plea negotiations, writs of habeas corpus, motions, and administrative appeals. He also worked alongside social workers to identify clients with special needs and develop alternatives to incarceration.

In 2014, Ditchev moved to the Trial Practice in New York County. Managing a full caseload in Manhattan, he handled trial strategy, pre-trial and post-trial motions, discovery, investigations, and witness preparation, and he tried multiple cases to verdict. He also helped clients address the collateral consequences of criminal cases, including employment, housing, and immigration matters.

Three years later, he joined the Queens County Trial Practice as a Senior Trial Attorney. There, he represented clients from arrest through plea or verdict in felony and misdemeanor cases, including attempted murder and felony assault cases tried to jury verdict. His motion practice included omnibus motions, motions to dismiss, and motions to controvert search warrants. He litigated suppression hearings and DNA evidence and prepared witnesses for the grand jury. Outside criminal court, he handled civil forfeiture proceedings and OATH, Krimstock, and DMV refusal hearings. He also helped train and mentor junior attorneys and taught Continuing Legal Education (CLE) classes.

In the past year, Ditchev took three felony weapons charges to trial. Two ended in acquittals. The third ended in a mistrial, after which the client was offered a favorable plea.

Many of the people Anton Ditchev has represented were dealing with mental health or substance use issues in addition to their legal cases. He has provided dedicated representation regardless of their circumstances. He has had no disciplinary complaints in his career, a record he attributes to treating clients with dignity and respect.

Ditchev's path to the courtroom began far from New York. He was born in Bulgaria in 1983, when the country was under communist rule. His parents, Dimo and Dora, both came from villages and were well educated and ambitious. In 1991, after communism fell, his father received a NATO grant to conduct research at Cornell University. The family, including Ditchev's three-year-old sister, moved to Ithaca, New York, when he was seven. He spoke little English, and the move was a major culture shock. He has said that being a young immigrant shaped his view of the world.

The family later moved to Reno, Nevada. There, he spent time in the Sierra Nevada and around Lake Tahoe, worked as a snowboard instructor at Mount Rose Ski Resort, and sometimes spent summers with relatives in Bulgaria. He graduated with honors from McQueen High School in 2001 and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Reed College in Portland, Oregon, in 2005, writing his thesis on Wittgenstein and his early works. He played upright and electric bass and, after college, performed with the band Monroe in Northern California, Reno, and Las Vegas.

He moved to New York in 2007 to attend Brooklyn Law School. While there, he worked for the Law Office of David Fainkich and, through the Capital Defender Federal Habeas Clinic, helped draft and file a federal habeas petition in a capital case from Alabama. He represented claimants through the Unemployment Action Center and mentored high school students in a moot court program. He also studied for a summer in Bologna, Italy, hiking and backpacking through the Cinque Terre and visiting Lake Como. After earning his Juris Doctor in 2010, he worked briefly as an investigator-lawyer for Casale Associates, a boutique private investigation firm.

Anton Ditchev met his wife, Celena Rodriguez, in 2014 while he was working at Rikers Island. They married in May 2015 and are raising four children on Long Island. He coaches with his local soccer club, where he has coached many intramural teams and the U9 travel team and now coaches the U13 team. He has volunteered with other local organizations, and his family has been active in Scouting. They support their parish, Our Lady of Victory in Floral Park, as well as St. Gregory the Great in New York, and give to the Salvation Army each year.

In his free time, he camps, backpacks, and hikes, and each summer the family camps at a beachside campground in eastern Long Island. Visits to his parents in Reno mean skiing, and visits to his sister in San Diego mean surfing. He also enjoys basketball, running and fitness, and jazz.

Alongside launching his firm, Anton Ditchev, attorney, is working to establish the New York Bulgarian-American Bar Association, which he notes would be the first such association in the nation.

Anton Ditchev is a New York criminal defense attorney whose career began in the hearing rooms of Rikers Island. Over fifteen years at The Legal Aid Society, he represented clients in parole hearings, administrative proceedings, and criminal cases ran... Show more

Glenda R. Snodgrass has been President, lead consultant and project manager at The Net Effect since the company's inception in 1996. She is a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), CMMC Certified Professional (CCP), CMMC Certified Assessor (CCA), Lead CCA, and ITAR Export Control Professional (ECoP®) specializing in helping organizations meet their security and compliance requirements. She has conducted numerous workshops covering GLBA, PCI DSS, HIPAA, FAR 52.204-21, DFARS 252.204-7012, NIST 800-171, NIST CSF and CMMC. Her dynamic personality and effective teaching style have made her a sought-after public speaker and corporate trainer for more than twenty years.

Glenda R. Snodgrass has been President, lead consultant and project manager at The Net Effect since the company's inception in 1996. She is a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), CMMC Certified Professional (CCP), CMMC Certified Assessor (C... Show more