Sawani Goonatilleke currently serves as the Assistant Director of Sustainability at the University of California, Merced, where she supports campus-wide efforts to advance climate action, operational sustainability, and student-centered environmental leadership. Her work is driven by the belief that universities are living laboratories places where sustainability is not only planned, but practiced, measured, and experienced every day.She brings a strong background in sustainability strategy, green building, and project management across higher education, real estate, and consulting.

Previously, she managed LEED and GreenPoint Rated projects for affordable housing developments across California and supported corporate and institutional clients in developing and implementing sustainability strategies. Her experience includes ESG benchmarking, climate resiliency assessments, stakeholder engagement, and translating complex sustainability goals into actionable plans.She holds an MBA in Management and a B.S. in Sustainability Studies from the University of California, Riverside, and is a LEED Green Associate, Certified Green Building Professional, and Fitwel Ambassador.

She is passionate about equity-centered sustainability, data-driven decision-making, and mentoring the next generation of climate leaders. She thrives at the intersection of strategy, implementation, and collaboration working to ensure sustainability initiatives create real, lasting impact.

Sawani Goonatilleke currently serves as the Assistant Director of Sustainability at the University of California, Merced, where she supports campus-wide efforts to advance climate action, operational sustainability, and student-centered environmental... Show more

Software Engineer como más de 6 años de experiencia.

Software Engineer como más de 6 años de experiencia. Show more

Edith Ijeh operates at the intersection of workforce strategy, technical labor mobility, and informal economy formalization across African and international markets. As a bilingual creativity coach and cross-cultural strategist fluent in both Anglophone and Francophone economic zones, she enables organizations, development partners, and industrial firms to navigate complex labor landscapes and build resilient, future-ready workforces.

Grounded in over a decade of dedicated humanitarian service and impact-driven initiatives, Edith’s work focuses on restoring human dignity and driving grassroots economic empowerment. She strongly advocates that the blue-collar and skilled trade sector is an economic engine, not a charity sector. Through Skills HR Africa and digital platforms like the Connect Nigeria app, she bridges critical economic gaps by standardizing artisan qualifications (such as National Trade Tests), connecting verified technical talent directly to enterprise opportunities, dismantling systemic barriers for skilled women in industrial fields, and designing structured systems to leverage expatriate expertise for local talent development.

Key Stage Themes & Core Focus Areas
The Blue-Collar Sector as a Commercial Powerhouse

Reframing technical and artisanal labor from social welfare or charity into bankable, scalable, and highly profitable human capital.

Digital Talent Ecosystems & Technical Integration

Leveraging technology platforms like Connect Nigeria to verify, map, and deploy skilled artisans, creating direct digital pipelines between informal technical labor and formal corporate supply chains.

Dismantling Barriers for Skilled Women in Industrial Enterprise

Addressing systemic discrimination and procurement bias that prevent verified female artisans, mechanics, and technicians from accessing corporate contracts, major industrial sites, and technical employment.

Expatriate-to-Local Knowledge Transfer & Workforce Development

Structuring mandatory shadow programs, cross-cultural training, and formal mentorship models that use foreign technical expatriates to upskill, certify, and empower local African talent.

Humanitarian Leadership & Impact-Driven Community Building

Combining grassroots advocacy with institutional reform to protect worker dignity, build resilience, and transform vulnerable populations into structured technical communities.

Bilingual Cross-Cultural Trade & Regional Mobility (Anglophone–Francophone)

Facilitating workforce integration, policy alignment, and communication across English and French-speaking trade corridors.

Creativity Coaching & Practical Vocational Thought Leadership

Author of NOW THAT YOU ARE SKILLED! a practical guide assisting technical workers and artisans with contract compliance, workplace safety, pricing models, and transitioning from raw skill to business enterprise.

Signature Keynote & Panel Topics
Skilled Labor is Enterprise, Not Charity: Unlocking Economic Value in the Blue-Collar Economy

Focus: Why governments, corporate leaders, and investors must treat technical skills development as a high-return commercial strategy rather than a corporate social responsibility (CSR) project.

Digitizing the Informal Workforce: How Platforms like Connect Nigeria Standardize & Scale African Talent

Focus: Using digital infrastructure to verify qualifications, streamline artisan procurement, and bridge the gap between unstructured labor and enterprise demand.

Breaking the Industrial Glass Ceiling: Integrating Skilled Women into Corporate Supply Chains

Focus: Overcoming systemic barriers that exclude female technical talent from corporate projects, job sites, and industrial contracts and how to build inclusive, high-performing technical teams.

The Expatriate Advantage: Structuring Expatriate Knowledge Transfer to Build Local Capacity

Focus: Practical models for organizations to pair foreign expatriate experts with local African artisans to ensure sustainable knowledge transfer, skill upgrading, and long-term local talent retention.

Bridging the Divide: Cross-Border Workforce Mobility Across Anglophone and Francophone Corridors

Focus: Strategies for navigating language, policy, and qualification barriers to enable seamless labor movement and cross-border trade.

Contact & Professional Details
Location: Lagos, Nigeria (Available for global, continental, and virtual engagements)

Languages: English (Native/Anglophone), French (Working Proficiency/Francophone)

Engagement Roles: Keynote Speaker, Panelist, Creativity Coach, Workshop Facilitator, TVET & Workforce Advisor

Inquiries & Strategic Partnerships: edithnijeh@gmail.com

Whether collaborating with international development agencies, trade ministries, digital platforms, or grassroots technical communities, her mission is clear: to ensure Africa’s skilled artisans and technical workforce receive the investment, recognition, and global opportunities they deserve.

📩 Open to strategic partnerships, ocean-economy workforce advisory roles, and cross-border technical initiatives.

Edith Ijeh operates at the intersection of workforce strategy, technical labor mobility, and informal economy formalization across African and international markets. As a bilingual creativity coach and cross-cultural strategist fluent in both Angloph... Show more

Venezolano de 33 años, residente en Bogotá, con más de 10 años de experiencia en el área de desarrollo de software, 7 de ellos dedicados a startups. Soy apasionado por el impacto real que estas empresas tienen en la región. Actualmente soy engineering manager en Habi, una fintech líder en LATAM en compra y venta de inmuebles.

Venezolano de 33 años, residente en Bogotá, con más de 10 años de experiencia en el área de desarrollo de software, 7 de ellos dedicados a startups. Soy apasionado por el impacto real que estas empresas tienen en la región. Actualmente soy engineerin... Show more

Steve Johnson, MSc, CISSP, C|CISO
Steve earned his MSc in Cybersecurity from Essex University in Colchester, England, following a career in the U.S. Army as a Communications Security Specialist. He has over 20 years of experience in the design of large-scale intelligent transportation systems, including 7 years as the program manager and principal investigator for a USDOT research project on Connected Vehicle technology.

Steve currently leads cybersecurity design and consulting services for several state DoTs, transit rail operators, and aviation facilities. He also leads cybersecurity design projects for the Department of War pertaining to building management systems, access control, anti-terrorism standards, and other facility protection systems.
He is a Professional Associate at HDR, a global A&E firm.

Steve Johnson, MSc, CISSP, C|CISO Steve earned his MSc in Cybersecurity from Essex University in Colchester, England, following a career in the U.S. Army as a Communications Security Specialist. He has over 20 years of experience in the design of la... Show more

Experienced cloud architect with 15 years of experience in the software industry. Designing and implementing Efficient and resilient architectures is my key focus areas

Experienced cloud architect with 15 years of experience in the software industry. Designing and implementing Efficient and resilient architectures is my key focus areas Show more

AI, Sustainability & Smart Cities Strategist | Startup Ecosystem Leader

Isaac Agya Koomson is a Ghanaian sustainability strategist, AI innovation advocate, and startup ecosystem builder focused on advancing Africa’s economic transformation through technology, entrepreneurship, and smart systems development.

He is the Founder & CEO of KIA-Start Up Consult, Civitas Estate & Maintenance, and Farmers Haven, and Team Lead of HopeFusion Africa — an initiative with a bold vision to reduce Africa’s unemployment by 10% by 2030. His work integrates AI-driven innovation, smart urbanization, renewable energy, and agribusiness transformation to build scalable, impact-driven enterprises.

Isaac has delivered keynote addresses on AI for smart urbanization, the Human + AI hybrid workforce, and reskilling for the generative AI age at platforms including Ghana Digital & Innovation Week, Africa Education Trust Fund, and DataGlobal Hub. He has represented Ghana and African youth as an official delegate at the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings, World Bank Youth Summit, UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7), IPBES-12, Global Youth Environment Assembly, and the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) in Seville, contributing to global discussions on climate finance, sustainable development, and digital transformation.

With over seven years of leadership across entrepreneurship, humanitarian operations, and green innovation, Isaac has supported more than 50 startups in achieving product-market fit, investment readiness, and scalable growth. His thought leadership publications have generated over 2 million views, shaping conversations around AI infrastructure, economic resilience, and Africa’s future of work.

Recognized as Young Entrepreneur of the Year (2023) by the Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs, Isaac speaks at the intersection of technology, sustainability, policy, and inclusive economic growth — challenging audiences to rethink how Africa builds its future.

AI, Sustainability & Smart Cities Strategist | Startup Ecosystem Leader Isaac Agya Koomson is a Ghanaian sustainability strategist, AI innovation advocate, and startup ecosystem builder focused on advancing Africa’s economic transformation through... Show more

As a dedicated Technical Consulting Engineer at Cisco TAC with over five years of professional experience, I have developed deep expertise in network troubleshooting and complex problem resolution. My commitment to continuous learning drives me to currently prepare for the rigorous CCIE Wireless certification, as I aim to further sharpen my technical mastery within the ever-evolving wireless landscape. Outside of my professional responsibilities, I find great joy in playing strategic board games and staying active through volleyball, which helps me maintain a healthy and productive balance between my career goals and personal well-being.

As a dedicated Technical Consulting Engineer at Cisco TAC with over five years of professional experience, I have developed deep expertise in network troubleshooting and complex problem resolution. My commitment to continuous learning drives me to cu... Show more

Technology Enthusiast.

Technology Enthusiast. Show more

Associate Product Developer specializing in test automation, IMS technologies, and quality assurance, focused on building reliable solutions and enhancing customer success using automations in products and processes.

Associate Product Developer specializing in test automation, IMS technologies, and quality assurance, focused on building reliable solutions and enhancing customer success using automations in products and processes. Show more

I am a Solution Architect working mainly with Spark framework architectures such as microsoft fabric and Azure Databricks

I am a Solution Architect working mainly with Spark framework architectures such as microsoft fabric and Azure Databricks Show more

Fernando has been working with Linux and open source for the past 20 years, first in a DevOps role and later specializing in database technologies. He joined Percona in 2013 and has been focusing on the universe of PostgreSQL and MySQL with a pinch of Kubernetes.

Fernando has been working with Linux and open source for the past 20 years, first in a DevOps role and later specializing in database technologies. He joined Percona in 2013 and has been focusing on the universe of PostgreSQL and MySQL with a pinch o... Show more

Herb is currently a Principal Solutions Architect for AWS, where he provides expert guidance to customers leveraging containers-based solutions. Prior to this role, Herb served as the CTO at La Haus, a leading PropTech in LatAm. During his tenure at La Haus, he successfully led the migration from monolithic to a microservices which included the early adoption of Karpenter.

Herb is currently a Principal Solutions Architect for AWS, where he provides expert guidance to customers leveraging containers-based solutions. Prior to this role, Herb served as the CTO at La Haus, a leading PropTech in LatAm. During his tenure at ... Show more

I am a Cost Control Engineer specializing in project controls for large-scale infrastructure projects. My work focuses on cost management, schedule performance, forecasting, and applying artificial intelligence to improve project decision-making and early risk detection. I am passionate about developing practical AI-driven solutions for the construction industry and am actively researching predictive analytics, cost forecasting, and infrastructure program management.

I am a Cost Control Engineer specializing in project controls for large-scale infrastructure projects. My work focuses on cost management, schedule performance, forecasting, and applying artificial intelligence to improve project decision-making and ... Show more

Peter Judge is a software architect at Consultingwerk, and has been working with Progress since 1996. Over the years, he has gone from writing reports, to building customer applications, to writing frameworks, to designing and building libraries, and generally makes stuff work together. Peter's background is in application and application toolkit design and development, and more recently has worked on server and integration technologies, but his interests span the whole SDLC from design through to deployment, regardless of language and technology. Peter is a frequent poster to various forums, a regular speaker at conferences and user groups, and enjoys bad puns and relaxing listening to records.

Peter Judge is a software architect at Consultingwerk, and has been working with Progress since 1996. Over the years, he has gone from writing reports, to building customer applications, to writing frameworks, to designing and building libraries, and... Show more

Maciej Piec is a Senior Business-Systems Analyst and Team Leader at Lufthansa Systems Poland, where he leads a BA stream in the biggest middleware harmonization project within Lufthansa Group. With experience spanning software houses, startups, and corporate environments, he possesses a strong background in business analysis, project management, and system integrations. Maciej holds a Master's degree in Computer Systems and Networks and is known for his analytical skills and ability to bridge business needs with technical solutions.

Maciej Piec is a Senior Business-Systems Analyst and Team Leader at Lufthansa Systems Poland, where he leads a BA stream in the biggest middleware harmonization project within Lufthansa Group. With experience spanning software houses, startups, and c... Show more

Mike Klingler gained his love for security while a obtaining his Computer Science degree at BYU. Since then he has worked as Anti-Virus support, PCI DSS penetration testing, SOC Analysis, and now as a Scientist and Senior Manager in Cybersecurity at L3Harris. In addition to security work, Mike has a family with 8 children and a side business in real estate.

Mike Klingler gained his love for security while a obtaining his Computer Science degree at BYU. Since then he has worked as Anti-Virus support, PCI DSS penetration testing, SOC Analysis, and now as a Scientist and Senior Manager in Cybersecurity at ... Show more

Priyanka Neelakrishnan is an accomplished and forward-thinking cybersecurity product leader, boasting over a decade of specialized expertise in AI-driven data security. Renowned for her groundbreaking contributions, she has played a pivotal role in driving sustained business development within esteemed organizations such as Palo Alto Networks, Symantec, ServiceNow. Priyanka's exceptional combination of a customer-first mindset and strong technical acumen sets her apart as a distinctive business leader dedicated to developing cutting-edge and innovative products. She is the author of security and product management books including "Autonomous Data Security"; "Jailbreaking LLMs" and "Problem Pioneering".

Her journey in the cybersecurity domain reflects a commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements. Priyanka has consistently demonstrated a visionary approach in anticipating and addressing the evolving challenges in data security. Her leadership style is characterized by a relentless pursuit of excellence, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.

Priyanka Neelakrishnan is an accomplished and forward-thinking cybersecurity product leader, boasting over a decade of specialized expertise in AI-driven data security. Renowned for her groundbreaking contributions, she has played a pivotal role in d... Show more

Lydia Sampson is the Assistant Director at the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, MA. She holds an MLS from Simmons University, and a Master of Science In Management. Outside of her professional life, Lydia is a foster cat mom, an avid adventure traveler, and a true crime enthusiast.

Lydia Sampson is the Assistant Director at the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, MA. She holds an MLS from Simmons University, and a Master of Science In Management. Outside of her professional life, Lydia is a foster cat mom, an avid adventure tr... Show more

Engineer using sessionize to test the API and see if I can help make finding events easier for my company.

Engineer using sessionize to test the API and see if I can help make finding events easier for my company. Show more

Catherine Pepper, MLIS, MPH, is a Senior Associate Professor for the Department of Medical Education and teaches in evidence-based medicine and interprofessional education courses. She retired from the Medical Sciences Library at Texas A&M University in August 2022 as the Regional Services Coordinator and holds the rank of tenured Associate Professor Emerita. Based in Austin, TX, as medical librarian for the Round Rock campus of the Texas A&M Health Science Center, Cathy also served as the liaison librarian for HSC campuses and residencies in locations outside of College Station, including Houston, Corpus Christi, Temple, Dallas, and McAllen. She has taught evidence-based medicine/practice for medical, nursing, and public health students and a credit-bearing course on public health informatics.

Cathy earned her master's degree in Library and Information Science at the University of Texas and her Master of Public Health in health informatics at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. Cathy is a graduate from the CDC’s Public Health Informatics Fellowship Program (PHIFP) and was recognized for outstanding service to the Informatics Office at the Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases. Cathy’s primary research has focused on qualitative studies on teaching evidence-based medicine.

Catherine Pepper, MLIS, MPH, is a Senior Associate Professor for the Department of Medical Education and teaches in evidence-based medicine and interprofessional education courses. She retired from the Medical Sciences Library at Texas A&M University... Show more

Eric is a software and firmware engineer with over 30 years of experience in C and C++–based systems development, spanning embedded firmware, low-level infrastructure, and hardware–software interfaces. His work emphasizes stable abstractions, precise interface contracts, and long-term maintainability across implementations.

He has served as a technical contributor to the LXI Consortium and was a member of the working group for the LXI 1.6 specification, collaborating with multi-vendor teams to define interoperable, standards-based instrumentation interfaces. Eric brings a pragmatic, implementation-driven perspective to standards development, balancing technical rigor with deployability and backward compatibility.

Eric is a software and firmware engineer with over 30 years of experience in C and C++–based systems development, spanning embedded firmware, low-level infrastructure, and hardware–software interfaces. His work emphasizes stable abstractions, precise... Show more

Seale Rapolai is a problem solver and critical thinker with a passion for science and technology. A self-driven, enthusiastic full-stack developer, he is experienced in both web and app development. Seale enjoys learning and creating efficient software applications that solve complex problems – applications that are also maintainable and scalable. He’s always keen to meet new people and discover new ideas.

Seale Rapolai is a problem solver and critical thinker with a passion for science and technology. A self-driven, enthusiastic full-stack developer, he is experienced in both web and app development. Seale enjoys learning and creating efficient softwa... Show more

Likes coding, climbing, and cats, among other things

Likes coding, climbing, and cats, among other things Show more

Navaneeth Komirisetty is a senior cybersecurity architect and platform security practitioner specializing in secure enterprise infrastructure and cloud-native modernization. His work focuses on designing, operating, and hardening Linux and Kubernetes platforms that support mission-critical, data-intensive workloads in complex enterprise environments. He brings a strong blend of security architecture, DevOps practices, and operational governance, with an emphasis on building platforms that are resilient, auditable, and secure by default.
In his current role, Navaneeth leads the modernization and security of large-scale analytics and container platforms, with responsibility for Kubernetes lifecycle management, platform hardening, and vulnerability remediation in highly controlled environments. He has deep hands-on experience operating Rancher-managed Kubernetes platforms, including air-gapped deployments, upgrade planning, and day-two operations. His work routinely spans cross-functional collaboration with security, application, and infrastructure teams to align platform capabilities with enterprise risk management and compliance objectives.
Navaneeth has supported a wide range of high-security workloads across industries, including regulated environments and critical infrastructure systems. His background includes securing Linux and virtualized platforms, implementing identity-driven access controls, automating infrastructure workflows, and establishing repeatable operational practices through runbooks, standard operating procedures, and knowledge transfer. He has contributed to platform enablement efforts that improve reliability, observability, and operational readiness for both engineering and security operations teams.
He holds a graduate degree in Computer information systems and formal training across cloud-native platforms, observability, and security tooling. Navaneeth is passionate about treating platforms as products, where security architecture, operational discipline, and developer enablement work together to support sustainable modernization and emerging workloads such as advanced analytics and artificial intelligence.

Navaneeth Komirisetty is a senior cybersecurity architect and platform security practitioner specializing in secure enterprise infrastructure and cloud-native modernization. His work focuses on designing, operating, and hardening Linux and Kubernetes... Show more

I am a Full Stack Software Engineer with hands-on experience building scalable, user-focused web and data-driven applications. My work spans frontend development with React and Angular, backend systems using C# and Python, and cloud-native architectures on Azure with Kubernetes. I have delivered end-to-end solutions, from user interfaces to backend services, and regularly collaborate with product managers, designers, and infrastructure teams. In addition, I have experience in AI and data engineering, including machine learning and PySpark, supported by a Master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence (Distinction) from the University of East London.

I am a Full Stack Software Engineer with hands-on experience building scalable, user-focused web and data-driven applications. My work spans frontend development with React and Angular, backend systems using C# and Python, and cloud-native architectu... Show more

Contact for details

Contact for details Show more

Project Management Professional with relevant work experience in Construction, Maintenance and IT projects and International certifications in Project and Risk Management. Arts & Métiers mechanical and structures engineer and future laureate of the Executive Master Management of Energy Project at Ecole des Ponts ParisTech.

Project Management Professional with relevant work experience in Construction, Maintenance and IT projects and International certifications in Project and Risk Management. Arts & Métiers mechanical and structures engineer and future laureate of the E... Show more

My name is Harsh Patel. I am Dynamics Business Central/ NAV functional consultant, having 10 years of experience in ERP implementation, business process optimization, and digital transformation with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central/ NAV solutions for businesses across various industries.

As a functional consultant, I have a good understanding of business processes and requirements, enabling to design tailored solutions that align with clients' unique needs and objectives.

My name is Harsh Patel. I am Dynamics Business Central/ NAV functional consultant, having 10 years of experience in ERP implementation, business process optimization, and digital transformation with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central/ NAV soluti... Show more

Kimberly is an award-winning designer and planner with a unique ability to bring together diverse stakeholders through cultural competency and meaningful engagement, resulting in collaborative, consensus-based solutions to address complex systemic issues. The daughter of a pediatric nurse practitioner and a respiratory therapist, Kimberly grew up working in several health facilities in her native Florida. Early on, she witnessed numerous birth defects and ailments that were suspicious in origin, many of which coincided with occupancy in certain buildings or near polluting industries. This experience left a lasting impression that underscores her chosen career creating healthy, sustainable environments.

In 2004 Kimberly founded Blue Water Studio, a commercial design and planning firm, specializing in Healthcare, Community and Sustainability projects for built and outdoor environments. With specialty credentials like LEED AP (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Accredited Professional) and EDAC (Evidence Based Design & Construction Accreditation & Certification) Kimberly gets to do what she loves for a living while serving her community through the design of holistic spaces and places. She can frequently be found advocating for equitable access to greenspaces, clean air, water, and nutritious food for all, through responsible, adaptive reuse and sustainable new development projects.

In addition to these fun adventures, Kimberly is also co-founder of RoKi Design. RoKi is a silk scarf & accessories company that produces sustainable, wearable works of art while supporting non-profit organizations, collaborating with amazing artists and re-purposing vintage luxury silk scarves.

Kimberly is also a Leadership Houston Class XL Alum, where she won two awards from her classmates for her work on the class project “Harmony in Houston,” an outdoor musical instrument installation in Denver Harbor’s Selena Quintanilla Perez Park. She is a member of the Rotary Club of West U (Houston) and currently serves as Vice President of the Board for Friends of Columbia Tap.

Kimberly is an award-winning designer and planner with a unique ability to bring together diverse stakeholders through cultural competency and meaningful engagement, resulting in collaborative, consensus-based solutions to address complex systemic is... Show more