Programmer, amateur astronomer and both promoter and user of free software. Leader of the Linux Users Group of La Laguna, co-founder of the Astronomical Group of Gómez Palacio, mapper in Open Street Map. I have teached both in public and private universities. At this moment I'm trying to have open data again in my city.

Programmer, amateur astronomer and both promoter and user of free software. Leader of the Linux Users Group of La Laguna, co-founder of the Astronomical Group of Gómez Palacio, mapper in Open Street Map. I have teached both in public and private uni... Show more

Edwin leads a team of software and bioinformatics engineers at Genomics England, building orchestration products to support national-scale whole genome analysis for the NHS and researchers. Previously, he worked as an aerospace engineer at Rolls-Royce, where he started off designing jet engine components before moving into a team focused on harnessing digital technologies to analyse engine data and improve operations.

Edwin leads a team of software and bioinformatics engineers at Genomics England, building orchestration products to support national-scale whole genome analysis for the NHS and researchers. Previously, he worked as an aerospace engineer at Rolls-Royc... Show more

Ryan Bevin is a PhD student at Queen's University Belfast studying embedded hardware security. The project title is "Efficient RISC-V Chips with Future-proof Security", so he is looking specifically at the standardised Post-Quantum Cryptography algorithms and attempting to make one or more of these more efficient using the open source RISC-V Instruction Set Architecture. He has Industrial experience in embedded software engineering and loves video games! Especially DOOM (1993). Ryan studied a MEng honours in Electronic Engineering at Ulster University before working for 5 years.

Ryan Bevin is a PhD student at Queen's University Belfast studying embedded hardware security. The project title is "Efficient RISC-V Chips with Future-proof Security", so he is looking specifically at the standardised Post-Quantum Cryptography algor... Show more

Gwendoline has a bachelor's in animal biology and ecology from Paris XI University (France). She graduated from a Master in animal and human behavior (Rennes I University, France).
She began to work in farm animal welfare during this Master. She worked on aggressiveness in young sows (French Institute of Agronomy Research, INRAE) and the mother-young relationship in dairy cows (Aarhus University, Denmark).
She is now a PhD. candidate in animal sciences at University Laval (Quebec city, Canada). She works on emotional welfare in piglets.

Gwendoline has a bachelor's in animal biology and ecology from Paris XI University (France). She graduated from a Master in animal and human behavior (Rennes I University, France). She began to work in farm animal welfare during this Master. She wo... Show more

Ken Brewer is a Senior Developer Advocate at Seqera, where he supports the scientific community in adopting modern software tooling and best practices. Prior to joining Seqera, he was one of the first computational biologists to join the early-stage startup ProFound Therapeutics, where he helped build out a computational platform for exploring the unannotated human proteome. He then joined GeneDx where he provided technical leadership in building a bioinformatics platform designed to meet the data-intensive needs of the future of genetic medicine. Ken has a B.A. in Chemistry from Harvard College and a Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University, where he developed computational methods for discovering structured noncoding RNA families in bacteria. He is passionate about open-source science and is a member of the Cytomining and nf-core organizations, which are dedicated to providing high-quality software for analyzing microscopy images using machine learning and building bioinformatics pipelines, respectively.

Ken Brewer is a Senior Developer Advocate at Seqera, where he supports the scientific community in adopting modern software tooling and best practices. Prior to joining Seqera, he was one of the first computational biologists to join the early-stage... Show more

Jeremiah Landi started his career as a “GO’FER” in an architecture firm (98’) and made his way into an animatronics creator for shows like Phantom of the Opera (10’); little did he know that the skills he picked up along his journey would play very synergistically within a highly technical, rigid world and within the Government Bureaucracy, even putting him in front of the US Congress (08’).

Throughout his career, he has traveled the world working in a range of different project environments (Nobel Prize to ESPN) and cultural environments having worked through both the “America's” and all around Europe (with a little Asia).

He enjoys bringing dynamic thought processes and design first problem-solving to many different companies now through his own company deploying products (i.e.military helicopter fuel pumps, basketball medical devices) and Modified Agile Hardware Development (MAHD). The company he started back in 2016 now spans from physical manufacturing (i.e. stamping, welding, 3D printing) to algorithmic software development (i.e. traveling salesman); so it is easy to say the problems he solves aren’t easily fixed in a remote world.

Jeremiah Landi started his career as a “GO’FER” in an architecture firm (98’) and made his way into an animatronics creator for shows like Phantom of the Opera (10’); little did he know that the skills he picked up along his journey would play very s... Show more

Con experiencia profesional en Desarrollo Web 🕸️, Ciencia de Datos 📃 y Computación en la Nube ☁️, soy un apasionado Licenciado en Física, con un sólido trasfondo en matemáticas, programación y comunidades (GitHub Campus Expert 🚩). Tengo un profundo amor por el aprendizaje y siempre estoy dispuesto a enfrentar nuevos desafíos para seguir desarrollando mis habilidades. Me encantan Python 🐍, JavaScript 💛, Neovim 💚, el volleyball 🏐 y los perritos 🐕.

Con experiencia profesional en Desarrollo Web 🕸️, Ciencia de Datos 📃 y Computación en la Nube ☁️, soy un apasionado Licenciado en Física, con un sólido trasfondo en matemáticas, programación y comunidades (GitHub Campus Expert 🚩). Tengo un profund... Show more

Lorenzo Belli is the Director of Engineering at Blockchain.com, working in the FinTech and Cryptocurrency industries, with a focus on payments, brokerage, and trading. Active in the cryptocurrency space since 2015, he has navigated multiple market cycles. Previously, he developed trading platforms for sports betting and holds patents for GPU designs from his research era. Lorenzo is passionate about leading teams and empowering engineers to build better, more profitable products.

Lorenzo Belli is the Director of Engineering at Blockchain.com, working in the FinTech and Cryptocurrency industries, with a focus on payments, brokerage, and trading. Active in the cryptocurrency space since 2015, he has navigated multiple market cy... Show more

Jaleann M. McClurg, MPH, SSM6, CSM, CSPO, CLSSBB, DTM

Digital Computer Scientist | BAPM| Scrum Master | Trainer| Thought Leader| Public Speaker| High Impact Communicator
Jaleann M McClurg is a high-impact Agile Strategic Healthcare Business Analyst known for her persuasive communication, passion for data, servant leadership, and mentorship. As a former VP of Membership for the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) Greater Atlanta, she was pivotal in securing the first-time global award for best professional development for business analysts in the world in 2015-2016 tenure at the board of directors.
Jaleann specializes in turning around business performance through expert analysis of complex problems and applying strategic planning to operationalize business models and blueprints for success. Her deep technical acumen enables her to optimize technical resources and harness the full potential of technology assets, driving significant business improvements.
Her extensive speaking engagements include the Project Management Institute (PMI) Atlanta Healthcare Forum, keynote Georgia Health Information Management Association (GHIMA), the World Congress for Business Analysts and International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) Global Webinar. She has worked for leading healthcare organizations such as Humana, Aetna, Kaiser Permanente, Anthem (now Elevance Health), Emory Healthcare, WellStar Health System contributing to their strategic and operational success.
As a board member of the Business Case Institute, Jaleann helped advance global best practices for maximizing the business value of technology. Her research in Cancer Prevention, funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), included developing a logistic regression model to improve patient screening processes prior to it becoming the “standard of care”. She has also done Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to do image processing of landscape feature on a time-series using Landsat MSS satellite data.
An accomplished Toastmaster with over 100+ unique business presentations, Jaleann has earned the Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) award in 2015—an honor achieved by only 1% of Toastmasters International www.toastmasters.org worldwide—reflecting her exceptional expertise in communication and leadership.

Jaleann M. McClurg, MPH, SSM6, CSM, CSPO, CLSSBB, DTM Digital Computer Scientist | BAPM| Scrum Master | Trainer| Thought Leader| Public Speaker| High Impact Communicator Jaleann M McClurg is a high-impact Agile Strategic Healthcare Business Anal... Show more

James Etter is a skilled professional in sales and business development at Meta Power Solutions, a leading North American manufacturer of liquid-filled transformers. Meta Power Solutions has built a strong reputation for its expertise in designing, engineering, and manufacturing transformers that cater to a wide range of applications, including solar energy, data centers, oil and gas, bitcoin mining, and utility services. The company is recognized as one of the most experienced and diversified manufacturers in the industry, specializing in dry-type, oil-filled, and power and distribution transformers. Meta Power Solutions has become the go-to resource for its clients during the most critical phases of their projects, thanks in part to the dedication and expertise of individuals like him.

In his role at Meta Power Solutions, James excels by bringing his strong communication and problem-solving skills to every client interaction. He is deeply committed to providing effective solutions and is passionate about helping clients achieve their goals. He operates with a philosophy that emphasizes the importance of genuine care and understanding in building successful relationships. He believes that clients are more likely to trust and collaborate with someone who truly cares about their needs. This approach drives him to view every phone call, email, and face-to-face meeting as an opportunity to strengthen his connections with clients and create lasting partnerships.

Jim thrives in the dynamic environment that sales and business development offer. He enjoys the variety that each day brings, as well as the opportunity to engage with clients from different industries and regions across the country. His role involves extensive travel, which he embraces as a chance to directly support the company's efforts in client retention and business growth. The constant change and the diverse challenges he encounters keep him motivated and enthusiastic about his work. His adaptability and resourcefulness have made him a pivotal contributor to Meta Power Solutions' ongoing success, as he continuously seeks innovative ways to meet the evolving needs of the industry.

Beyond his professional achievements, Jim Etter finds great satisfaction in the competitive nature of sales and manufacturing. He is particularly drawn to the creative problem-solving aspects of his role, where thinking outside the box is often required to develop effective solutions. This approach not only contributes to his professional growth but also aligns with his values of continuous learning and improvement. His commitment to excellence and his ability to navigate complex challenges have been integral to his success at Meta Power Solutions, where he consistently meets and exceeds expectations.

Etter's journey began in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he spent the first five years of his life. One of his most cherished memories from this time is being a bat boy for the Cincinnati Reds, a team he still supports with enthusiasm. Following his parents' divorce, he experienced a childhood marked by frequent relocations, living in states such as California, Texas, and Wyoming. Despite the changes, he found stability in the work he did on his father's ranch during his high school years. Here, he developed a strong work ethic and a love for the outdoors as he helped raise livestock and maintain the property.

In addition to his responsibilities on the ranch, James Etter was an active participant in his high school's wrestling team. His involvement in the sport helped him develop discipline and resilience, qualities that would later serve him well in his professional life. After graduating from high school, he decided to serve his country by joining the United States Navy, where he worked as a cryptologist for Naval Intelligence. This experience provided him with valuable skills and a sense of purpose, which have continued to influence his approach to both his personal and professional life. His dedication to excellence, his commitment to continuous improvement, and his ability to thrive under pressure are qualities that have defined his successful career.

Portfolio Website: https://jamesetter.com

James Etter is a skilled professional in sales and business development at Meta Power Solutions, a leading North American manufacturer of liquid-filled transformers. Meta Power Solutions has built a strong reputation for its expertise in designing, e... Show more

As a seasoned Information Security professional specializing in Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC), I bring a wealth of experience in implementing robust security frameworks and controls. My work is centered on ensuring compliance with key standards and enhancing organizational security postures through comprehensive assessments and policy development.

My passion extends to cloud computing, with a strong focus on AWS and Azure. I have developed strategies that integrate cloud security practices, making use of AWS Infrastructure.

I am excited to contribute to the AWS Community Day West Africa 2024, where I will share practical insights and real-world experiences on leveraging AWS for secure and efficient cloud deployments. My presentation will focus on the latest industry trends, best practices, and case studies, providing attendees with actionable knowledge and inspiration to enhance their own cloud security strategies.

As a seasoned Information Security professional specializing in Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC), I bring a wealth of experience in implementing robust security frameworks and controls. My work is centered on ensuring compliance with key standa... Show more

Cheryl Parks, the driving force behind The Sales Growth Coach, is an esteemed expert dedicated to elevating sales teams and individual performers. With a profound understanding of the challenges and nuances in sales, Cheryl crafts bespoke strategies that not only boost performance but also foster a culture of success and resilience. Her approach integrates cutting-edge techniques with timeless principles, ensuring her clients not only meet but exceed their objectives. At the helm of transformative leadership, Cheryl's guidance is a beacon for those aspiring to redefine the norms and achieve unparalleled excellence in their sales endeavors.

Cheryl Parks, the driving force behind The Sales Growth Coach, is an esteemed expert dedicated to elevating sales teams and individual performers. With a profound understanding of the challenges and nuances in sales, Cheryl crafts bespoke strategies ... Show more

Marcello Marrocos is a passionate and advocate for DevOps and Cloud, with +20 years of experience in development and architecture of solutions.

Natural from Brazil, have worked on consulting companies like Avanade and Accenture attending clients on different areas.

He is now living in Washington, DC, working for IDB Invest, where he believes that his work is part of a bigger effort to improve lives on countries of Latin America.

He proudly contributed to "97 Things Every Cloud Engineer Should Known", and it is very important to mention that he is becoming addicted to DevOps Days events!

Marcello Marrocos is a passionate and advocate for DevOps and Cloud, with +20 years of experience in development and architecture of solutions. Natural from Brazil, have worked on consulting companies like Avanade and Accenture attending clients o... Show more

Doctoral researcher at the Department of Geoinformatics - Z_GIS of the University of Salzburg. Part of the research groups Risk, Hazard and Climate and EO Analytics. I focus on the analysis of big Earth observation data to map and monitor landscape dynamics and I am researching the bridge between EO data cubes and temporal GIS for spatio-temporal analyses. I use R for spatial data handling and analysis, automate EO workflows and for scientific writing and visualization.

Doctoral researcher at the Department of Geoinformatics - Z_GIS of the University of Salzburg. Part of the research groups Risk, Hazard and Climate and EO Analytics. I focus on the analysis of big Earth observation data to map and monitor landscape d... Show more

Abbey joined Alias in the summer of 2021 as Executive Assistant after spending 7 years working in the nonprofit sector. Since that time, she has transitioned into Alias’ Chief of Staff to include Operations (overseeing construction and the move into our new HQ!), Human Relations, Sales, Communications, and Marketing. She oversees Alias’ daily operations and contributes to the planning and execution of strategic goals.

Abbey joined Alias in the summer of 2021 as Executive Assistant after spending 7 years working in the nonprofit sector. Since that time, she has transitioned into Alias’ Chief of Staff to include Operations (overseeing construction and the move into ... Show more

Daniel is a Software Manager with OVO - leading the Developer Platforms team as they enable over 400 engineers to work more effectively, with greater guidance and guardrails, lowering their cognitive load and improving their everyday lived experience.
The overall goal being to increase engineering productivity, staff retention and ensure OVO is considered a great place to work.

Daniel is a former Head of Engineering leading 50+ engineers. Over 5 years they transformed from being an Embedded Software team delivering Custom Hardware solutions to being software focused, developing primarily for the Cloud. To achieve this they transformed teams, ways of working, adopted Cloud platforms with CI and CD pipelines and looked at adopting a full DevOps model.

Daniel strongly believes in empowered teams, and ensuring that they have the freedom to innovate both in process and tooling.

Daniel believes that People, Process and Tech are the key to success, and in that order.

Daniel is a Software Manager with OVO - leading the Developer Platforms team as they enable over 400 engineers to work more effectively, with greater guidance and guardrails, lowering their cognitive load and improving their everyday lived experience... Show more

Having spent nearly a decade as an Automation Developer writing test cases and delivering automated results for clients, I recently moved into the community side of DevOps when I found myself in the Salesforce space. My automations have mainly been frameworks of my own design in C# and other backend languages, but I know just enough Javascript to be dangerous. When I’m not achievement hunting, I like to complete RCA on software bugs. I have dual degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science, know how to do some classic ballroom dancing, love Dungeons and Dragons, and have never turned down a learning opportunity.

Having spent nearly a decade as an Automation Developer writing test cases and delivering automated results for clients, I recently moved into the community side of DevOps when I found myself in the Salesforce space. My automations have mainly been f... Show more

Akram Sheriff is an Senior AI_ML IoT Software Engineering leader / Product leader/ Technologist with the Cisco IoT BU. Akram holds 30+ software patents, both granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and currently pending review at USPTO and in the Germany/EU region.

He specializes on different wireless protocols, IoT software stacks, and technologies for IoT products, and leads various product series. He is also an active peer reviewer of IEEE publications in areas related to WiFi, BLE, Wireless networking trends, AI/Machine learning, Enterprise WiFi, IoT architectures, Edge computing and the Cloud networking domain.

Akram is also an active member in some IETF working groups related to 6LoWPAN, RAW related to different low power wireless technologies.

Akram is also a frequent presenter in many Internal Cisco Live, Devnet, APJC SecCon -2020 and external conferences in topics related to AI/ML, Wireless Networking, IoT, and Cloud technologies.

You can also follow Akram on Medium.

Akram Sheriff is an Senior AI_ML IoT Software Engineering leader / Product leader/ Technologist with the Cisco IoT BU. Akram holds 30+ software patents, both granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and currently pending r... Show more

Pawel Jasionowski is Senior Data Scientist in Kyndryl Cybersecurity Risk Department. He hold The Open Group Master Data Scientist and MS Azure Data Scientist Associate certifications. His current role is mainly focused on Cybersecurity Risk and Cybersecurity Risk Management process automation. Moreover, Pawel is a contributor in the Quantum Safe core team, working on new innovative business solutions.
Pawel is Doctor of Computer Science, Master of Science in Mathematics, recognized Speaker and author of numerous patents in Cybersecurity Risk Management, Quantum and Service Excellence areas.

Pawel Jasionowski is Senior Data Scientist in Kyndryl Cybersecurity Risk Department. He hold The Open Group Master Data Scientist and MS Azure Data Scientist Associate certifications. His current role is mainly focused on Cybersecurity Risk and Cyber... Show more

Since his college years, Sheng-Wen Cheng has devoted himself to Unmanned Aerial Vehicle development. He completed his master's degree in Robotics at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, where he led the software development of a Quadrotor flight controller in an academic collaboration project with the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA). He is currently a Ph.D. student of Electrical Engineering at National Taiwan University.

Since his college years, Sheng-Wen Cheng has devoted himself to Unmanned Aerial Vehicle development. He completed his master's degree in Robotics at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, where he led the software development of a Quadrotor flight... Show more

Dr. (Chelsea) “Green Queen” is a forever young pharmacist and a preventative medicine and genetics health consultant. She is the founder of Green Roots Optimized Wellness (GROW) where she works as a genetic genius helping her clients reach sustainable, optimal wellness results utilizing their unique genetic makeup.

Dr. Green is passionate about preventative medicine and is re-writing her story after genetic factors were unveiled. Her goal is to help clients with physical pain, mental strains, and hormone irregularities achieve optimized wellness by uncovering the root causes of their illnesses. Your genetics don’t have to predict your future; learn how to age optimistically through getting to know your genes.

Dr. (Chelsea) “Green Queen” is a forever young pharmacist and a preventative medicine and genetics health consultant. She is the founder of Green Roots Optimized Wellness (GROW) where she works as a genetic genius helping her clients reach sustainab... Show more

John Darrington has been working for the Idaho National Laboratory for the last five years. As the lead architect in the digital engineering department, he works very closely with those seeking to change the world through clean energy. John is a software engineer by trade, and has worked in that field for almost ten years. He has experience in delivering large scale products and leading various sized teams.

John Darrington has been working for the Idaho National Laboratory for the last five years. As the lead architect in the digital engineering department, he works very closely with those seeking to change the world through clean energy. John is a soft... Show more

Gabriel is university dropout, turned engineers, turned educator of all ages, turned learning experience designer. Yes, he has been around the block a few times and that journey he took, the road less taken, is what he shares with the people of the world. His various experiences made him feel that he had a big role to play in the K12 scene.

He wanted to connect the students globally through learning. Not to learning but through learning. Yes, there is a difference. A decade ago, he started building Score Campus, the learning eco system. Took him a decade but today, Gabriel brings authentic learning experiences to the world.

Gabriel is university dropout, turned engineers, turned educator of all ages, turned learning experience designer. Yes, he has been around the block a few times and that journey he took, the road less taken, is what he shares with the people of the w... Show more

Dipankar is currently a Developer Advocate at Dremio where his primary focus is advocating data engineers/architects/scientists on Dremio’s lakehouse platform & various open-sourced projects such as Apache Iceberg, Arrow, Project Nessie, etc. that helps data teams apply & scale analytics. In his past roles, he worked at the intersection of Machine Learning & Data visualization. Dipankar is a co-author of the upcoming O’Reilly book - ‘Apache Iceberg: The Definitive Guide’. He also holds a Masters degree in Computer Science with a research area focused on ExplainableAI.

Dipankar is currently a Developer Advocate at Dremio where his primary focus is advocating data engineers/architects/scientists on Dremio’s lakehouse platform & various open-sourced projects such as Apache Iceberg, Arrow, Project Nessie, etc. that he... Show more

Community Lead, Microsoft Teams Engineering

Laurie has spent 17 years at Microsoft managing user adoption and pre-release programs for Live Meeting, OCS, Lync, Skype for Business and Teams - helping to build better products and getting people to use them. Laurie's current role as Community Lead within the Microsoft Teams Engineering team is unique and demonstrates the commitment from Teams to understand, listen, and build a high-quality product around the needs of users. She manages the virtual Microsoft Tech Community, creating a robust network of worldwide community events and user groups, and continues to mobilize the MVP Community to share their expertise with community and help shape Microsoft Teams. In 2021, Laurie led the creation of the Women in Teams Community to help support the Women in Technology initiative and bring together experts and passionate Teams users looking to learn and share with others. Laurie's always listening for success stories, looking to make connections, and learning through experience.

@lauriepottmeyer

Community Lead, Microsoft Teams Engineering Laurie has spent 17 years at Microsoft managing user adoption and pre-release programs for Live Meeting, OCS, Lync, Skype for Business and Teams - helping to build better products and getting people to u... Show more

Biotechnology student, bioprocess engineering oriented, from Peru, focused on programming applied to make decision, in laboratory.

Biotechnology student, bioprocess engineering oriented, from Peru, focused on programming applied to make decision, in laboratory. Show more

Shalini Thirunilathil is an award-winning technology leader, currently combining two roles at Hargreaves Lansdown - Agile Coach Lead and a Brand and Outreach Lead. She has extensive experience in improving organisational agility, coaching, mentoring, and developing talent in the organisation. Her career has included a diverse range of roles, including Software Developer, Software Tester, Test Manager, Delivery Manager, Scrum Master, and Agile Coach for various top-notch organisations like Civica, Proactis, IBM, SAP, O2, Springer Nature, Lexis Nexis, and IRIS Software Group. Shalini has spoken at 10+ meetup events and panel discussions, including the 'Agile20Reflect Mini Festival' an international meetup event.

In 2021, Shalini won the Team Leader of the Year (SME) at the Computing Women in Tech Excellence awards. On International Women's day 2021, the Synapse QA community recognised her as an inspirational leader. In 2019 and 2021, she was one of the finalists for the Role Model of the Year category in the WIT Excellence awards. Outside work, Shalini enjoys music, travel, and cooking. She is also a trained Indian classical and Bollywood dancer and has taken part in dance performances across the UK.

Shalini Thirunilathil is an award-winning technology leader, currently combining two roles at Hargreaves Lansdown - Agile Coach Lead and a Brand and Outreach Lead. She has extensive experience in improving organisational agility, coaching, mentoring,... Show more

I am currently doing my Ph.D. at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, and my area of research includes variational quantum algorithms, tensor networks, and quantum computing. I have plenty of exposure to Python, specifically working with Qiskit, and TensorNetwork. I have already given introductory talks on quantum computing at PyCon Indonesia, Python Ireland, Pycode, Pyjamas, and Scipy India.

I am currently doing my Ph.D. at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, and my area of research includes variational quantum algorithms, tensor networks, and quantum computing. I have plenty of exposure to Python, specifically working with Qi... Show more

Transformational leader bend on re-inventing life sciences for the benefits of patients. No patient should wait for innovative drugs due to lack of technology adoption.

Transformational leader bend on re-inventing life sciences for the benefits of patients. No patient should wait for innovative drugs due to lack of technology adoption. Show more

Gisli Olafsson currently serves as an executive coach to transformational leaders around the world. Prior to that he served as the Chief Technology Officer of One Acre Fund, a social enterprise that is helping bring over 1.2 million small-holder farmers out of extreme poverty.

Prior to joining One Acre Fund, he served as a Humanitarian Advisor to NetHope, a consortium of 60+ leading non-profit organizations around the world, and as the Chief Technology Officer of Beringer Finance, the largest technology focused investment bank in Europe. Gisli has been active in the IT industry for over 30 year, ever since he sold his first program at the age of 14. He worked for 10 years at Microsoft, where he was involved in product development, sales, technical evangelism, and most recently as a trusted advisor to national governments and international organizations on the effective use of technology in their operations.

Gisli’s deep understanding of technology, his long-time software product development expertise, and his extensive network inside and outside of the technology industry enables him to quickly provide value to technology companies. Gisli has also over the past 15 years worked closely with the startup community and is an advisory board member and member of board of directors of numerous startups and venture funds. Gisli is also a sought after mentor for innovation accelerators.

Prior to joining Beringer Finance in 2015, Gisli served as the Emergency Response Director of NetHope. Gisli is one of the leading experts in the world on the use of technology in disaster response and is a sought after speaker, trainer, and advisor on the role technology can play in enhancing the response to large scale natural and man-made disasters.

Prior to joining NetHope, Gisli has over 20 years of experience in the field of disaster management and was an active member of the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team, a team of experienced disaster managers which are on stand-by to deploy anywhere in the world on a 6 hour notice to coordinate the first response of the international community to disasters on behalf of the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Gisli has participated in disaster field missions in connections with floods in Ghana (2007), Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar (2008), Hurricane Ike in Texas (2008), Sichuan Earthquake (2008), Pandemic Outbreak (2009), West Sumatra Earthquake (2009), Haiti Earthquake (2010), Japan Earthquake/Tsunami (2011), Horn of Africa Famine (2011), Philippine’s Typhoons (2012 and 2013), West Africa Ebola Outbreak (2014-2015), European Refugee Crisis (2015), Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico (2017), and Tropical Cyclone Idai in Mozambique (2019). Following the devastating earthquake in Haiti 2010, Gisli led the first international rescue team that arrived in the country.

The combination of Gisli’s extensive field experience in disaster management and technology background provides Gisli a deep understanding how technology can be applied to solve the most challenging collaboration issues faced in austere environments. This has led him to be appointed to various advisory boards and committees, such as the US State Department’s sub-committee on the use of technology in international disasters. Gisli was named a UNICEF Humanitarian Innovation Fellow and a Technology Partner Network Advisor to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2013.

Gisli’s deep experience in leading transformation efforts around the world, made him a sought after executive coach in the field of digital transformations. Leveraging his own experience in leading digital transformation efforts for large organizations, and in serving as a trusted advisor to governments and international organizations, Gisli focuses his executive coaching on working with transformational leaders and helping them tackle the challenges of leading digital transformation journeys.

In 2014, Gisli published the book The Crisis Leader, about the role of leadership in times of crisis, leveraging examples from his missions around the world to provide readers with an insight into the key aspects of leadership critical during chaotic times like disasters. The book has been translated into two languages and been sold worldwide.

Gisli holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Computer Science and Chemistry from Copenhagen University (Denmark 1993), a Diploma in International Development from University of Iceland (2017), and is endlessly writing his Master’s thesis on the use of technology in humanitarian response. Gisli currently lives in Iceland, along with his wife, five children, two grandchildren, dog, and a cat.

Gisli Olafsson currently serves as an executive coach to transformational leaders around the world. Prior to that he served as the Chief Technology Officer of One Acre Fund, a social enterprise that is helping bring over 1.2 million small-holder farm... Show more