Physical & Life Sciences

Scholars dedicating their careers to the study of living organisms and non-living systems

Bandana Kaur

Bandana Kaur

Bandana Kaur is a recent high school graduate and cybersecurity researcher passionate about securing technology at every layer - from networks and APIs to AI systems and the humans behind them. Currently working as a Security Research Engineer at APISec, she investigates real-world vulnerabilities and explores the offensive side of cybersecurity, with a growing focus on AI red teaming.

Bandana has been discussing the impact of AI on the cybersecurity workforce since she was 15 and now serves as a board member at the UN Dynamic Teen Coalition, where she brings a youth perspective to global digital safety policy and leads their cybersecurity discussions. Her work bridges technical research and public impact, whether through hands-on testing, policy engagement, or speaking at international conferences and podcasts on topics ranging from OSINT and Social Engineering to attacks against LLM APIs.

An influential speaker, she's delivered talks on international forums while blending deep technical insight with clarity and simplicity. Through her online persona HackWithHer, Bandana is building a reputation as part of a new generation of researchers who see security not just as a profession, but as a responsibility.

Some of her previous talks include:
'Talk to Hack: Why the future of API abuse is conversational' at APISec | Con 2025
'OSINT and Social Engineering for CISOs' (2x) at the CISO Deep-Dive training programme, MeitY, NeGD & IIPA, 2024
'The Hackers Among Us: The Gen-Z guide to Cybersecurity' at NICE Cybersecurity Career Week 2024
STEAM Speaker Series Inaugural Speaker representing Technology at AWIS Washington DC, 2024
Also a guest speaker on various podcasts...

Her guiding motto as HackWitHer is “making the cyberspace liveable for all” - a vision that drives her to build safer, more inclusive systems. Blending curiosity with responsibility, she represents a new generation of security thinkers shaping the future of ethical hacking, AI safety, and internet freedom.

Bandana Kaur is a recent high school graduate and cybersecurity researcher passionate about securing technology at every layer - from networks and APIs to AI systems and the humans behind them. Currently working as a Security Research Engineer at API... Show more

Caio Beleza

Caio Beleza

Caio co-founded NP Digital Brazil and worked with Neil Patel for over a decade. After scaling the agency in Brazil, he moved to the U.S. to help grow NPD's SMB division as COO. Now, he leads International Growth, supporting NP Digital’s expansion across over 20 countries.

Caio co-founded NP Digital Brazil and worked with Neil Patel for over a decade. After scaling the agency in Brazil, he moved to the U.S. to help grow NPD's SMB division as COO. Now, he leads International Growth, supporting NP Digital’s expansion acr... Show more

Shawn Kyzer

Shawn Kyzer

Shawn is passionate about harnessing the power of data strategy, engineering, and analytics in order to help businesses uncover new opportunities. As an innovative technologist with over 15 years of experience, Shawn removes technology as a barrier and broadens the art of the possible for business and product leaders. His holistic view of technology and emphasis on developing and motivating strong engineering talent, with a focus on delivering outcomes whilst minimising outputs, is one of the characteristics which sets him apart from the crowd.

Shawn’s deep technical knowledge includes distributed computing, cloud architecture, data science, machine learning, and engineering analytics platforms. He has years of experience working as a consultant practitioner for a variety of prestigious clients ranging from secret clearance level government organizations to Fortune 500 companies.

Shawn is passionate about harnessing the power of data strategy, engineering, and analytics in order to help businesses uncover new opportunities. As an innovative technologist with over 15 years of experience, Shawn removes technology as a barrier a... Show more

Farhan Zahid

Farhan Zahid

Many of us are exhausted when our nervous systems carry more than they were ever designed to hold, while the world still expects peak performance. Farhan Zahid steps into that gap and turns all of that pressure into a doorway for sustainable power, clearer thinking, and real breakthroughs in personal and professional wellness.

Farhan is the founder and CEO of KNKO, a concierge wellness company for high-performing leaders, teams, and member communities based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Before KNKO, he spent years as a Chartered Accountant, Big 4 Internal Auditor and Head of Risk at a global investment firm. That experience means his keynotes and workshops connect wellbeing directly to performance, outcomes, and impact, helping individuals and organizations create tangible, measurable shifts instead of simply “feeling better.”

Alongside his corporate career, Farhan has trained as a clinical hypnotherapist, Master NLP practitioner, yoga teacher, massage therapist, and has worked as an auxiliary nurse in both clinical and psychiatric settings. He combines body-mind science, behavioral change, and practical tools into sessions that help people immediately regulate stress, deepen rest, and cultivate their energy in real-world conditions.

With 20+ years on stage, Farhan has spoken at organizational and industry conferences, board meetings, executive off-sites, company all-hands and private members clubs. Whether he is working with a leadership team, a full organization, or an individual, his aim is simple: to help people who carry a lot on their shoulders move through the world with more clarity, calm, sustainable power...and the capacity to perform at their best when it truly counts.

Many of us are exhausted when our nervous systems carry more than they were ever designed to hold, while the world still expects peak performance. Farhan Zahid steps into that gap and turns all of that pressure into a doorway for sustainable power, c... Show more

Vijay Shekhawat

Vijay Shekhawat

Vijay is a seasoned data and software engineer currently serving as the Staff Software Engineer for TRM Labs Next-Generation Data Platform. In his career, he has previously worked at companies like LinkedIn and Expedia, and he brings deep expertise in Data Lakehouse architectures, real-time streaming, and building secure, high-throughput pipelines for petabyte-scale customer facing analytics.

Vijay is a seasoned data and software engineer currently serving as the Staff Software Engineer for TRM Labs Next-Generation Data Platform. In his career, he has previously worked at companies like LinkedIn and Expedia, and he brings deep expertise i... Show more

Samuel Desseaux

Samuel Desseaux

Samuel Desseaux is a CTO & CIO Advisor focused on observability, edge AI, and IT/OT integration. He designs open-source observability labs and reproducible pipelines that help teams instrument, benchmark, and trust complex AI and high-performance systems deployed at the edge or within industrial infrastructures. His work spans factories, mobility systems, HPC-adjacent environments, and scientific instrumentation. Through his companies, Erythix in France and Aureonis in Belgium, he supports organizations in building transparent, resilient, vendor-neutral architectures that unify AI, OT, and HPC workflows.

Samuel Desseaux is a CTO & CIO Advisor focused on observability, edge AI, and IT/OT integration. He designs open-source observability labs and reproducible pipelines that help teams instrument, benchmark, and trust complex AI and high-performance sys... Show more

Sai Jagadish Bodapati

Sai Jagadish Bodapati

Sai Jagadish Bodapati is an automotive software engineer and researcher specializing in AUTOSAR-based architectures, and next-generation validation frameworks. Currently based in Michigan, he has contributed to multiple vehicle platforms, focusing on Electric Power Steering (EPS), Electric Park Brake (EPB), and advanced braking systems that integrate seamlessly across modern electronic architectures.

Jagadish began his career at Nexteer Automotive, where he led validation efforts for steering control modules and developed test methodologies bridging the application and hardware layers through MCAL, BSW, and RTE integration. His current work explores digital-twin-in-the-loop validation and AI-driven architecture evolution for adaptive and connected vehicle systems.

Beyond engineering, he actively publishes research on automotive innovation, safety, and cloud-based diagnostic ecosystems. His collaborative work emphasizes practical applications of intelligent vehicle systems and the future of mobility.

Driven by curiosity and a passion for continuous learning, Sai Jagadish Bodapati aims to build smarter, safer, and more sustainable automotive ecosystems that blend technology with human-centric design.

Sai Jagadish Bodapati is an automotive software engineer and researcher specializing in AUTOSAR-based architectures, and next-generation validation frameworks. Currently based in Michigan, he has contributed to multiple vehicle platforms, focusing on... Show more

Thomas Gebert

Thomas Gebert

Thomas Gebert is an adjunct lecturer at CUNY CityTech, a PhD student at the University of York, and a software engineer whose career has included companies such as Jet.com, Apple, Walmart Global Tech, and Reddit.

In addition to a bunch of technical tomfoolery, Thomas also enjoys watching cartoons, playing with professional audio equipment, and trying out various recipes for pizza.

Thomas Gebert is an adjunct lecturer at CUNY CityTech, a PhD student at the University of York, and a software engineer whose career has included companies such as Jet.com, Apple, Walmart Global Tech, and Reddit. In addition to a bunch of technic... Show more

Erica Burgess

Erica Burgess

Erica is currently an AI cybersecurity architect and consultant, and was a software engineer and cybersecurity hobbyist for several years before becoming an application security red-teamer in 2018. Since then, she has been earning bug bounties, releasing new CVEs and original exploit techniques, training penetration testers and conducting R&D projects as a cybersecurity technical lead. Erica organizes 2600, a local offensive cybersecurity meetup, and has spoken about hacking, bot writing, and various hacking topics at many conferences and meetups, including DC207, IC2, Tyler Connect, as well as SkyTalks, CactusCon, Live360! and DEFCON, the world's largest hacker conference. She has also volunteered at Red Team Village at DEFCON in Vegas. Erica holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Southern Maine.

Erica is currently an AI cybersecurity architect and consultant, and was a software engineer and cybersecurity hobbyist for several years before becoming an application security red-teamer in 2018. Since then, she has been earning bug bounties, relea... Show more

John Ajera

John Ajera

John Ajera is responsible for GeoNet’s platforms, security, and remote networks, ensuring the reliable delivery of critical geoscience information to emergency management agencies, the public, and the global scientific community.

John Ajera is responsible for GeoNet’s platforms, security, and remote networks, ensuring the reliable delivery of critical geoscience information to emergency management agencies, the public, and the global scientific community. Show more

Alvaro Rollín Guerro

Alvaro Rollín Guerro

Toledano, de un pequeño pueblo llamado 'Arcicóllar'. Me declaro fan de los perros, el fútbol y viajar. Siempre que puedo, me cojo un avión a cualquier parte del mundo. Otra de mis pasiones es la música y estoy haciendo mis pinitos como Dj.

Mi interés por el mundo de la tecnología empezó de la mano de los videojuegos. Llevo más de 8 años dándole a la tecla como programador y, actualmente, soy .NET & Cloud Developer en Tokiota. Estoy especializado en C# y .NET, y hago mis 'mezclas' con Azure DevOps, Entity Framework, Dapper, Angular, entre muchas otras.

Recientemente, he desarrollado mi faceta de presentador encargándome del canal de Twitch de Tokiota.

Toledano, de un pequeño pueblo llamado 'Arcicóllar'. Me declaro fan de los perros, el fútbol y viajar. Siempre que puedo, me cojo un avión a cualquier parte del mundo. Otra de mis pasiones es la música y estoy haciendo mis pinitos como Dj. Mi inte... Show more

Ankita Kulkarni

Ankita Kulkarni

Ankita is a Senior Engineering Technical Leader with 10+ years of Tech industry experience. She is currently an Educator and creates digital products such as her [E-book](http://bit.ly/3grSPSI) on taking control of your first 90 days, best suited for newer leaders or her [course](http://bit.ly/3tUPRcr) on Next.js.

She is passionate about growing developers and leaders. She worked for several companies such as WealthSimple, IBM, Loblaw Digital - ShoppersDrugMart, Rangle.io and more. As a senior leader, she has grown a lot of folks in her career, and her mission is to help mentor folks in all stages of their career. She has architected and scaled many web and mobile apps for clients using React, GraphQL, React Native and Next.js. You may know some of them: Tim Hortons, Borrowell, WealthSimple, Moleskine and more. In addition, she enjoys teaching, public speaking and being outdoors.

Ankita is a Senior Engineering Technical Leader with 10+ years of Tech industry experience. She is currently an Educator and creates digital products such as her [E-book](http://bit.ly/3grSPSI) on taking control of your first 90 days, best suited for... Show more

Stu Johnstone

Stu Johnstone

Stu Johnstone, data architect and founder of two successful startups. With 25+ years' experience, Stu leads tech teams across Mantel Group working with AWS, Azure and Databricks.

Stu Johnstone, data architect and founder of two successful startups. With 25+ years' experience, Stu leads tech teams across Mantel Group working with AWS, Azure and Databricks. Show more

Vinod Tiwari

Vinod Tiwari

Vinod has spent the past decade working in cybersecurity across financial services, government, and tech sectors. Currently a Staff Security Engineer at PIP Labs, he navigates the intersection of traditional enterprise security and the emerging world of Web3 and blockchain infrastructure.

His journey has taken him through companies like Amazon, Zapier, and HackerOne, where he's gained hands-on experience in penetration testing, cloud security architecture, and application security. He works with AWS, GCP, and Azure environments, focusing on threat modeling and secure DevOps practices while approaching security as an enabler rather than a blocker.

He shares his experiences and lessons learned through writing on Medium, breaking down complex security topics and exploring practical approaches to building security programs that work in real-world environments. Outside of his day job, he participates in bug bounty programs, mentors aspiring security professionals, and continues researching emerging threats and technologies in both traditional and Web3 security landscapes.

Vinod has spent the past decade working in cybersecurity across financial services, government, and tech sectors. Currently a Staff Security Engineer at PIP Labs, he navigates the intersection of traditional enterprise security and the emerging world... Show more

Chris Hetzler

Chris Hetzler

Hello! I'm a Solution Architect at Eide Bailly LLP, a top-notch accounting and business advisory firm, and a proud Featured Fabric Partner. I love working with clients and teams to craft and deliver innovative solutions to business challenges using Microsoft technologies and platforms.

With over 20 years of experience in software engineering, I hold master's degrees in both software engineering and data science. I'm also certified in over 20 industry areas, including Microsoft Solution Architect certifications for Azure, Power Platform, and Dynamics.

My expertise spans across Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Dynamics, Microsoft Fabric, Power Platform, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Development frameworks, tools, and DevOps, as well as major open-source development platforms. I specialize in designing and implementing no-code, low-code, and custom solutions, and I thrive on leading and collaborating with both on-shore and off-shore development teams to drive innovation and deliver customer value.

I'm known for my exceptional communication skills, which allow me to connect with both technical and non-technical audiences at all levels. I've had the pleasure of presenting at several industry conferences, including the Fabric Community Conference, Microsoft Ready, Microsoft Convergence, and StarWest / East.

In my spare time, I enjoy indulging in my interests in U.S.A. Swimming, space exploration, science, engineering, and Lego. I'm passionate about creating software that solves real problems and makes a positive impact.

Hello! I'm a Solution Architect at Eide Bailly LLP, a top-notch accounting and business advisory firm, and a proud Featured Fabric Partner. I love working with clients and teams to craft and deliver innovative solutions to business challenges using M... Show more

Payal Godhani

Payal Godhani

Payal Godhani is a Principal Member and Architect of the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure DevOps Deployment Service, specializing in Kubernetes, Helm, Terraform, and cloud-native technologies. She is also a founding member of Women in Tech Network. Her focus is on architecting efficient DevOps deployment services for distributed systems, optimizing Kubernetes environments, and ensuring reliable CI/CD automation. She leads teams in designing scalable, innovative solutions that enhance the deployment and management of cloud-native applications.
She is speaker of KCD Events Texas , KCD Washington, Conf42, and upcoming STARWest 2025, Kubecon NorthAmerica 2025 .

Payal Godhani is a Principal Member and Architect of the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure DevOps Deployment Service, specializing in Kubernetes, Helm, Terraform, and cloud-native technologies. She is also a founding member of Women in Tech Network. Her fo... Show more

Chris Leonard

Chris Leonard

Chris Leonard is a speaker and business coach who builds high-performing teams around complex problems and helps leaders do the same.
Drawing from Agile, LeanStartup, EOS, and more, Chris gives his clients the right skills to meet their goals. He founded No Impediments in 2023 where he serves clients in higher ed, retail, life sciences, and more.
Chris came to coaching as a second career after 10years on the road in the music industry. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife, two kids, a dog and a cat.

Chris Leonard is a speaker and business coach who builds high-performing teams around complex problems and helps leaders do the same. Drawing from Agile, LeanStartup, EOS, and more, Chris gives his clients the right skills to meet their goals. He fo... Show more

Marie Wiese

Marie Wiese

Marie Wiese is a marketing strategist and founder of Marketing Copilot®. She is a Microsoft MVP in AI and host of the international podcast, Women Talk Tech and the podcast The Hot Seat for Microsoft Partners. Marie has worked in the technology sector for 35 years and focuses on marketing automation/CRM and the digital transformation of the sales and marketing functions. Marie helps Microsoft partners, ISVs and customers build demand generation programs for their organizations.

Marie Wiese is a marketing strategist and founder of Marketing Copilot®. She is a Microsoft MVP in AI and host of the international podcast, Women Talk Tech and the podcast The Hot Seat for Microsoft Partners. Marie has worked in the technology secto... Show more

Luis Fernandez

Luis Fernandez

With a broad, multidisciplinary background in software development, architecture, product ownership, and marketing, Fernandez is a gifted technology leader. He holds degrees in informatics and computer science and a Master’s in Finance, which shaped his combined expertise in technical and business realms.

Over the past 20 years, Fernandez has overseen more than 250 projects across four continents and 25 countries, delivering technical solutions in content, commerce, mobile, and martech for some of the world’s most renowned companies. From writing code as a developer and designing systems as an architect to training teams, serving as a CTO, advising global enterprises, defining product roadmaps, and developing marketing strategies, he has taken on nearly every role in technology and digital innovation.

Fernandez has led multicultural teams of managers, content experts, engineers, strategists, and architects (he is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, and English). His professional mission is to constantly close the gap between business vision and technical execution. His work in media, retail, banking, hospitality, telecoms, and technology has given him a comprehensive view of the possibilities and challenges businesses face in the digital age.

Currently serving as Executive Director of Technology in VML, Fernandez is focused on the future of content, marketing, and automation platforms, investigating how companies can produce, distribute, and profit from emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, composable architectures, and data-driven personalization.

With a broad, multidisciplinary background in software development, architecture, product ownership, and marketing, Fernandez is a gifted technology leader. He holds degrees in informatics and computer science and a Master’s in Finance, which shaped ... Show more

Samuel Adesola

Samuel Adesola

Adesola Samuel is a graduate ofMechatronics and Systems Engineering. He is passionate about technology development in Nigeria; his research focus has been centered around making electronics and embedded devices AI and IoT-enabled. He sometimes conducts training on AI, IoT, and tinyML for students on campus and also via his YouTube channel.

Adesola Samuel is a graduate ofMechatronics and Systems Engineering. He is passionate about technology development in Nigeria; his research focus has been centered around making electronics and embedded devices AI and IoT-enabled. He sometimes conduc... Show more

Lawrence I. Morris BSE MBA

Lawrence I. Morris BSE MBA

Lawrence I. Morris is a best-selling & award-winning author, engineer, technologist, and entrepreneur whose background in data analytics, product development, AI and theology intersect in a search for deeper human understanding. With academic roots in NYU Stern School of Business and Columbia Engineering, Morris explores belief, truth, and structure in both the spiritual and scientific domains. He lives in Brooklyn, NY and continues to examine how revision as well as interpretation - both intellectually and spiritually - shapes the way we live and believe.

Lawrence I. Morris is a best-selling & award-winning author, engineer, technologist, and entrepreneur whose background in data analytics, product development, AI and theology intersect in a search for deeper human understanding. With academic roots i... Show more

Yael Daihes

Yael Daihes

Yael is a distinguished AI leader with a specialization in cybersecurity, shaped by her 8-year tenure in the Israeli defense forces. Her foundational experience equipped her with invaluable skills that led to her spearheading various R&D AI initiatives. Her leadership left a significant mark in both the defense forces and the private sector, notably contributing to the growth and success of a company that was later acquired for $600 million.
An accomplished strategist, Yael brings a unique blend of hands-on experience, strategic insight, and a proven track record of steering organizations towards data-driven excellence. With a wealth of experience spanning various industries, Yael serves as a trusted advisor and leader, guiding businesses across sectors to establish and manage highly successful AI ventures.

Yael is a distinguished AI leader with a specialization in cybersecurity, shaped by her 8-year tenure in the Israeli defense forces. Her foundational experience equipped her with invaluable skills that led to her spearheading various R&D AI initiativ... Show more

Izabela Gimenes

Izabela Gimenes

Doutora em Ciências e Biotecnologia (UFF), Bióloga (UFRJ), Mestra em Vigilância Sanitária e Especialista em Saúde Pública (INCQS/FIOCRUZ).

Destaca-se na área de inovação científica, onde coordena projetos premiados, como o 4º Prêmio Conexão Inova (2023) e o 5º Prêmio Conexão Inova (2025), além de ter trabalhos reconhecidos na 4ª Edição do encontro France-Brasil de Produtos Naturais (2024).

Atualmente, atua no Laboratório de Inovação na Gestão Pública, Pólen da ENSP/Fiocruz, como coordenadora do eixo de inovação aberta e comunidades. Como pesquisadora, dedica-se ao desenvolvimento de metodologias inovadoras e atua como revisora de periódicos científicos.

Possui formação complementar em intraempreendedorismo (DF Inovador/Softex; FAPDF), BioStartups (SEBRAE) e Mulheres na Ciência e Inovação (Museu do Amanhã e British Council). É mentora e avaliadora de projetos. É Head de Inovação da InovaHall.

Doutora em Ciências e Biotecnologia (UFF), Bióloga (UFRJ), Mestra em Vigilância Sanitária e Especialista em Saúde Pública (INCQS/FIOCRUZ). Destaca-se na área de inovação científica, onde coordena projetos premiados, como o 4º Prêmio Conexão Inova ... Show more

Naveen Suresh

Naveen Suresh

Naveen Suresh is an AI/ML Engineer at Teragonia, where he builds ontology-driven systems for schema matching, automated data modeling, and document intelligence. He previously engineered C++ low-latency trading systems at Morgan Stanley and conducted NLP and multimodal ML research at Carnegie Mellon University during his graduate studies in Computational Data Science. Naveen also worked on generative AI and reinforcement learning methods for de-novo drug discovery. His current work integrates knowledge graphs and LLMs to unify complex enterprise data.

Naveen Suresh is an AI/ML Engineer at Teragonia, where he builds ontology-driven systems for schema matching, automated data modeling, and document intelligence. He previously engineered C++ low-latency trading systems at Morgan Stanley and conducted... Show more

Moiz Khan Sherwani

Moiz Khan Sherwani

I did my Doctorate in the field computer vision for medical images. I have been working with images and textual data within medical domain. Currently, I have been involved in several projects related to bioinformatics, ML and multi-omics in veterinary science and evolutionary hologenomics. Apart from the main projects, I am working with other computer vision projects related to medical, infrastructure and other smaller projects. My future projects will include multi-modal models within health science.

I did my Doctorate in the field computer vision for medical images. I have been working with images and textual data within medical domain. Currently, I have been involved in several projects related to bioinformatics, ML and multi-omics in veterinar... Show more

Adam Salah

Adam Salah

Long time AI enthusiast from Prolog to Copilot, via MS-ML and several other stops.
Hands-on experience with various AI platforms, currently researching AI systems for deployment at SFU.
Educator: Taught at UBC, Langara and many schools around North America. Delivered dev/admin and user training as an MCT, around the globe.
Geek: Software architect, developer by training with over 30 years of hands-on expertise in Microsoft technologies, specializing in M365, Azure, data platforms, and analytics.
Over 20 years of SharePoint, many years of years of Teams, Power tools, SQL Server, and Viva stack experience.
Proficient in migrations, configuration, customization, and development.
Holds MCSE/MCSD certifications for SharePoint and Apps, MCSE SharePoint, and MCSE Data and analytics, Viva practitioner.

Long time AI enthusiast from Prolog to Copilot, via MS-ML and several other stops. Hands-on experience with various AI platforms, currently researching AI systems for deployment at SFU. Educator: Taught at UBC, Langara and many schools around Nort... Show more

Alexis Roig

Alexis Roig

Alexis Roig is the CEO of SciTech DiploHub, the world-leading think-and-do tank working at the intersection of science, technology, and foreign affairs, where he leads an international team of over 20 members committed to empowering science and technology to face global challenges.

He also serves in the pioneering role of Barcelona’s Chief Science and Tech Envoy, bringing the voice of evidence-based urban policies and innovations before the UN’s ECOSOC, UNESCO, UNFCCC, the United Nations Sustainable Solutions Network, the International Science Council, the Union for the Mediterranean, and the European Committee of the Regions, among other international organizations. He has over 15 years of experience as a Senior Advisor on Science Diplomacy and City Diplomacy for ministries of Foreign Affairs, Science, Research, and Education across Asia, Latin America, and Europe.

His academic roles include being a Professor at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology (USST), Associate Researcher at the Barcelona Centre for International Relations (CIDOB), Associate Professor at Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), and the Barcelona Institute for International Studies (IBEI) and Associate Research Fellow at United Nations University (UNU-CRIS), where he works as part of the Regions and Cities Governance Lab in the fields of Science and Technology Diplomacy. Professor Roig is a founder and board member of numerous non-profits and think tanks on Public Diplomacy, Science Advice, and Innovation Policy.

Among other roles, he has served as an advisor to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation of the Government of Spain, and to the European Commission and the United States’ Department of State on their respective Science, Technology, and City Diplomacy strategies, and as Commissioner for International Affairs of the Barcelona Metropolitan Region strategic plan.

Alexis Roig has developed numerous policy reports, strategic plans, and training programs in Science Diplomacy for regional and national governments of the United States, Mexico, Chile, Spain, France, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey, China, Korea, and Japan. He has taught in institutions such as Harvard University, Georgetown University, Sciences Po, CEIBS, Fudan University, Tsinghua University, and Johns Hopkins University, and in the last decade trained over 1,000 government officials from over 50 different nationalities.

He holds a master’s degree in Computer Science from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, an MBA from EM Normandie Business School, a Postgraduate degree in Diplomacy from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, an Executive Diploma in Nonprofit Foundation Management, and has completed Executive Education programs in Leadership and Public Administration at ESADE and IESE. He is fluent in English, Spanish, French, and Catalan, and is continuously improving his proficiency in Mandarin Chinese.

Alexis Roig is the CEO of SciTech DiploHub, the world-leading think-and-do tank working at the intersection of science, technology, and foreign affairs, where he leads an international team of over 20 members committed to empowering science and techn... Show more

Serban Mare

Serban Mare

What happens when your most committed people quietly burn out behind a mask of performance? Serban Mare has lived the answer and now helps companies fix it.
With 20 years of leading high-stakes engineering projects in the semiconductor industry, Serban understands the toll of chronic stress and quiet quitting from the inside out. Today, he speaks to teams across sectors on how to shift out of burnout, rewire their relationship with stress, and bring energy, optimism, and clarity back to the workplace.
Backed by science, grounded in experience, and delivered with heart, Serban’s keynotes help high performers pause, reflect, and reignite. His message resonates with professionals who feel overwhelmed but ambitious, tired, yet still driven to make an impact.
Serban brings a rare blend of corporate insight, actionable tools, and human storytelling to every stage. His mission is simple: help teams move from reactively burning out to proactively burning bright.
With a message tailored for high-performance cultures, Serban empowers professionals to lead with clarity, protect their well-being, and rediscover what makes their work matter.

What happens when your most committed people quietly burn out behind a mask of performance? Serban Mare has lived the answer and now helps companies fix it. With 20 years of leading high-stakes engineering projects in the semiconductor industry, Ser... Show more

Gilbert Bemwiz

Gilbert Bemwiz

Born in Kindu in 1999, Gilbert Bemwiz discovered computing at age 14 through mobile video games. Despite having an aptitude for mathematics, he chose the Computer Commerce program out of pure passion for technology.

At 16, his interest in tech led him to experiment - sometimes to the point of "crashing" phones! Graduating in 2017, he joined the first cohort at MAPON University where, finding the curriculum too general, he embarked on intensive self-directed learning in the computer lab.

In 2019, he co-created "Busoga," a local social network. In 2021, his "intelligent virtual ophthalmologist" project won an innovation award. Confronted with the lack of medical data adapted to the Congolese context, this field experience led him to develop "Tradition Learning."

Currently serving as the Professional Practice Officer at ISTA-Kindu, a freelance consultant, and a Data & ML Engineer Intern at Neotex.ai DRC, he applies his expertise to innovative projects while sharing his passion for developing artificial intelligence tailored to African realities.

Born in Kindu in 1999, Gilbert Bemwiz discovered computing at age 14 through mobile video games. Despite having an aptitude for mathematics, he chose the Computer Commerce program out of pure passion for technology. At 16, his interest in tech led... Show more

Nisha Joshi

Nisha Joshi

Nisha Joshi is an executive coach, transformation leader and podcaster with over two decades of experience driving impactful change across industries, from logistics and retail to broadcast media and startups. She specialises in aligning culture, leadership and execution to help organisations achieve strategic clarity and high-performing teams without friction or burnout.

Nisha is the co-host of The Delivery Space Podcast, where she and industry leaders explore the realities of leadership, culture and transformation through their direct experiences. She is also a frequent speaker at industry events, helping senior leaders shift from firefighting delivery challenges to creating cultures of autonomy, collaboration and innovation.

Beyond her work, Nisha is a lifelong learner, an avid reader and a podcast enthusiast. She once appeared in a Boy George music video, has a knack for winning Blackadder trivia battles, and loves deep conversations about the future of leadership.

Nisha Joshi is an executive coach, transformation leader and podcaster with over two decades of experience driving impactful change across industries, from logistics and retail to broadcast media and startups. She specialises in aligning culture, lea... Show more

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