Born in Pointe Claire, Quebec, Jean Louis (JL) has undergraduate degrees in Computer Science from Concordia University. He also has his MSc in Statistics from Queens University and an MBA from the John Molson School of Business.

After working in the public sector early in his career, JL moved into the private sector by joining Rogers Communications in 1996 where he focused heavily on database development, reporting and Customer analytics in the wireless industry. JL was recruited to join MT&T (Now Aliant), and enjoyed success in a number of roles of increasing responsibility. In fact, in 2000 JL was made a Computerworld Smithsonian Laureate for advancements made in business applications of data science.

During this time, his work was featured in various industry publications – Including being featured in the cover story of SAS Exec Solutions magazine.

Since that time, JL has taken on increasingly more senior positions in analytics, data science, and consulting across a variety of industries such as retail, automotive, finance and gaming. During this time JL has also been an adjunct professor at Mount Saint Vincent University and Georgian College. His teaching dossier includes courses in Data Science, AI, Statistics, and MIS.

JL is now a VP of Business Solutions with Massive Insights - A leading Canadian Analytics and AI consultancy. JL posts three articles per week on Linkedin, covering a wide range of AI and analytical topics.

JL lives in Toronto, Ontario with his wife and son and is an active volunteer in numerous charitable and educational organizations across both Canada and the US.

Born in Pointe Claire, Quebec, Jean Louis (JL) has undergraduate degrees in Computer Science from Concordia University. He also has his MSc in Statistics from Queens University and an MBA from the John Molson School of Business. After working in... Show more

Lebogang Madise is an Account Technology Strategist at Microsoft, where she drives AI and security strategies for education organizations across Africa, empowering developers and institutions to modernize applications and streamline workflows. As the founder of Difela Hymns, she has digitized African hymns, enhancing accessibility and preserving cultural heritage for global audiences.
A passionate advocate for Women in STEM, Lebogang has been honoured with the Women in STEM Award and Inspiring50 South Africa Award. She is an active IEEE member and champions continuous learning, teamwork, and responsible AI adoption. Her work bridges cutting-edge technology with human impact, from mentoring developers to promoting innovation in education. Lebogang brings her expertise in AI tools like GitHub Copilot and insights on cognitive biases to inspire developers of all levels to code smarter and grow faster.

Lebogang Madise is an Account Technology Strategist at Microsoft, where she drives AI and security strategies for education organizations across Africa, empowering developers and institutions to modernize applications and streamline workflows. As the... Show more

Rachel Roumeliotis, Director, Open Source Strategy, Intel is led by the belief that open source is key to growth and innovation, Rachel is focused on partnering with fellow Intel colleagues to incorporate these tenets into its larger business strategy. She is also working with other companies, foundations, and voices in the open-source community to ensure a strong and sustainable open source ecosystem. Most recently she was Vice President, Content Strategy at O'Reilly Media.

Rachel Roumeliotis, Director, Open Source Strategy, Intel is led by the belief that open source is key to growth and innovation, Rachel is focused on partnering with fellow Intel colleagues to incorporate these tenets into its larger business strateg... Show more

Indra Books is a global transformation strategist with over 30 years of experience leading culture change and high-performance turnarounds in complex, high-pressure environments. From finance to fintech, aviation to public safety, she’s worked across 46 countries helping teams unlock trust, alignment, and scalable momentum.

Known for cutting through fluff and fixing the human problems behind delivery breakdowns, Indra brings a deeply practical, story-rich approach to organizational change. Her work doesn’t end with slide decks—it sticks because it’s built on real trust, deep listening, and performance that outlives the program.

Whether guiding skeptical tech teams or supporting leaders in navigating pressure and change, she teaches people to see differently, act with intention, and build cultures that last longer than a keynote.

Her sessions are high-energy, no-fluff, and packed with tools that outlive the event.

Indra Books is a global transformation strategist with over 30 years of experience leading culture change and high-performance turnarounds in complex, high-pressure environments. From finance to fintech, aviation to public safety, she’s worked across... Show more

Mark has been working with Microsoft Business Applications since 2003 and has run practices of various sizes in multiple countries. He is the creator of the 90 Day Mentoring Challenge. He is a Business Applications MVP, MCT, Mentor and Speaker.

Mark has been working with Microsoft Business Applications since 2003 and has run practices of various sizes in multiple countries. He is the creator of the 90 Day Mentoring Challenge. He is a Business Applications MVP, MCT, Mentor and Speaker. Show more

30 years writing business apps. In love with functional programming since learning LISP in college. Co-founder of Logic Studio, a software house with over a hundred friends in Quito, Ecuador. Ecuador Technology Chamber Board of Directors. Microsoft Regional Director. Aspiring trail runner and triathlete.

30 years writing business apps. In love with functional programming since learning LISP in college. Co-founder of Logic Studio, a software house with over a hundred friends in Quito, Ecuador. Ecuador Technology Chamber Board of Directors. Microsoft R... Show more

Paul has been in the IT industry since 1984. In that time he has successfully assisted hundreds of companies architect software applications to solve their toughest business problems. Paul has been a teacher and mentor through various mediums such as video courses, blogs, articles and speaking engagements at user groups and conferences around the world. Paul has multiple courses in the www.pluralsight.com library (https://bit.ly/3gvXgvj) and on his YouTube channel at (https://www.youtube.com/@pauldsheriff) on topics ranging from C#, LINQ, JavaScript, Angular, MVC, WPF, XML, jQuery and Bootstrap. Contact Paul at psheriff@pdsa.com.

Paul has been in the IT industry since 1984. In that time he has successfully assisted hundreds of companies architect software applications to solve their toughest business problems. Paul has been a teacher and mentor through various mediums such as... Show more

Santosh Durgam is a data engineering & analytics leader with 20+ years building governed, high-scale data platforms across retirement/401(k), broader financial services, and healthcare. He leads cross-functional teams that deliver production-grade data lakes, lineage-aware pipelines, and ML-enabled analytics on cloud—translating governance into measurable business outcomes.

Recent speaking includes SQL Saturday Minnesota 2025, where he presented “From Ingestion to Insights: Building Robust Data Pipelines in AWS” to an in-person community audience. He has also contributed to international research forums and science conferences, and is invited to speak at ICDPN-2025 (International Conference on Data Processing & Networking), engaging practitioners and scholars on data engineering, governance, and analytics at scale. Santosh actively publishes/curates work via Google Scholar and shares practical playbooks for data quality, metadata/lineage, and operating models that connect data platforms to financial decisioning.

Beyond delivery, Santosh serves the community as a peer reviewer of scholarly work on data/ML methodologies and as a judge/mentor for select industry and academic competitions, reinforcing peer validation and public recognition. He champions modern data culture—mentoring engineers and product leaders, and advocating automation (incl. AI agents) to elevate reliability, speed, and auditability in regulated environments. Santosh recently completed his Executive MBA, sharpening strategy and value-creation at the intersection of data, risk, and growth

Santosh Durgam is a data engineering & analytics leader with 20+ years building governed, high-scale data platforms across retirement/401(k), broader financial services, and healthcare. He leads cross-functional teams that deliver production-grade da... Show more

I began my professional journey as an OSS Compliance Specialist, reviewing open-source components integrated into software products. Later, qualifying as a lawyer in Romania, I developed my legal analytical skills and gained experience in negotiating commercial agreements and handling complex legal matters. I now apply this primarily in the technology and digital content sectors, from IT contracts and IP rights to advisory relating to online activities.

I began my professional journey as an OSS Compliance Specialist, reviewing open-source components integrated into software products. Later, qualifying as a lawyer in Romania, I developed my legal analytical skills and gained experience in negotiating... Show more

Cameron McKay is a Microsoft Azure Integration MVP with a strong background in web, integration, and business analysis. Cameron is a thought leader in Azure integration services and has spoken at numerous conferences on topics related to Microsoft Azure. Cameron has blended his expertise in software development and business analysis to deliver a variety of enterprise web, integrations and cloud applications using the Microsoft technology stack.

Cameron spends his off-hours as a tabletop board game enthusiast, cooking up delicious meals, watching anime and training his husky dogs. Cameron is always up for any tabletop game, but he especially enjoys strategy games such as Settlers of Catan and Go (Baduk).

Cameron McKay is a Microsoft Azure Integration MVP with a strong background in web, integration, and business analysis. Cameron is a thought leader in Azure integration services and has spoken at numerous conferences on topics related to Microsoft Az... Show more

Based in Costa Rica, Luis Ramirez has more than 9 years of working experience in the Open Source world.

He gained experience in the cloud and the data center segment, working at Intel Corporation, where he was additionally part of the local Innovation Center committee.

In addition, he was involved in the embedded market working at Wind River as part of the team in charge of Wind River Linux. He was also responsible for performing talks and mentorship to current CS students promoting the yocto-based system.

Currently, Luis is part of the Open Source OTA solution Mender at Northern.tech securing the world’s connected devices.

Based in Costa Rica, Luis Ramirez has more than 9 years of working experience in the Open Source world. He gained experience in the cloud and the data center segment, working at Intel Corporation, where he was additionally part of the local Innova... Show more

Venkata Kartheek Reddy Somasani is an accomplished Information Technology Security and Cybersecurity Engineer with over nine years of specialized experience designing, implementing, and securing enterprise-scale network infrastructures across on-premises and cloud environments. Based in Dallas, Texas, he has built a distinguished career focused on protecting critical public sector systems and safeguarding sensitive government operations.
Since May 2018, Venkata has served the City of Dallas through KC Synergy Solutions Inc., where he plays a pivotal role in securing vital municipal infrastructure. His responsibilities include comprehensive cybersecurity defense for the Dallas Police Department and Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS), ensuring the protection of sensitive law enforcement data through multi-layered security controls such as OKTA two-factor authentication, advanced VPN architectures, and strict CJIS compliance. He has engineered secure, disaster-resilient communication channels between CAD911 dispatch systems and the Texas Department of Public Safety, ensuring uninterrupted emergency response coordination statewide.
One of Venkata’s most significant accomplishments is the architecture of a secure, multi-zoned SCADA network for Dallas’s freshwater, wastewater, and stormwater treatment facilities. By implementing air-gapped environments, zero-internet-access zones, and IDS/IPS protections, he has directly safeguarded critical public health infrastructure from cyber threats. His expertise was further demonstrated during a major ransomware incident, where he successfully detected, contained, and eradicated malware by isolating compromised systems and blocking communication with the Royal ransomware group.
Venkata’s technical expertise spans Cisco ASA, Firepower Threat Defense, SD-WAN, Palo Alto firewalls, F5 BIG-IP, and web application firewalls. He has architected secure hybrid cloud environments using AWS Direct Connect, Azure ExpressRoute, and IPSEC tunnels, supported by AWS architect level certifications. He holds a Master’s degree in Information Assurance and maintains advanced certifications, including CJIS Level 4 and Cisco Firepower NGFW, consistently ensuring compliance with NIST and federal cybersecurity standards.

Venkata Kartheek Reddy Somasani is an accomplished Information Technology Security and Cybersecurity Engineer with over nine years of specialized experience designing, implementing, and securing enterprise-scale network infrastructures across on-prem... Show more

Daniel is a software engineer specialising in .NET and Azure, with experience spanning DevOps and project teams. A strong advocate for continuous improvement, Daniel is currently focused on agentic development and regularly shares insights through writing and mentoring. Daniel is passionate about software architecture and loves connecting with others who are building the future of intelligent software.

Daniel is a software engineer specialising in .NET and Azure, with experience spanning DevOps and project teams. A strong advocate for continuous improvement, Daniel is currently focused on agentic development and regularly shares insights through wr... Show more

I’m a Software Engineer focused on backend development, cloud architecture, and observability.

I thrive in high-impact, fast-paced environments where I can take full ownership, especially in startups.

I help companies grow their products from early ideas into reliable platforms used by thousands of users, building scalable backend systems and secure cloud infrastructure.

I’m a Software Engineer focused on backend development, cloud architecture, and observability. I thrive in high-impact, fast-paced environments where I can take full ownership, especially in startups. I help companies grow their products from ... Show more

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

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

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

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

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

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

Anderson is a Senior Software Engineer at Elastic who has been crafting software for over 15 years, turning a hobby into a profession that has spanned academic research, fintech, and the travel industry. With a rich background in breaking down monoliths into reliable microservices, he now develops observability tools at Elastic to ingest all sorts of data. He is passionate about solving complex system-level puzzles and challenging assumptions through rigorous testing.

Anderson is a Senior Software Engineer at Elastic who has been crafting software for over 15 years, turning a hobby into a profession that has spanned academic research, fintech, and the travel industry. With a rich background in breaking down monoli... Show more

Ashish Jaiswal is CTO at Obmondo, a Danish open-source infrastructure company (DOSL member), leading a team of 40+ running self-hosted Kubernetes and Linux for organisations that want to own their platforms.

In infrastructure since 2011, ex-Red Hat, and maintainer of KubeAid, kubeaid-cli and LinuxAid. Believes in catching design errors before anything is deployed. Proud father.

Ashish Jaiswal is CTO at Obmondo, a Danish open-source infrastructure company (DOSL member), leading a team of 40+ running self-hosted Kubernetes and Linux for organisations that want to own their platforms. In infrastructure since 2011, ex-Red H... Show more

Toby Brandenburg - Problem Solver.
Son of Adelaide based father-son founding team of the Electric Air Shipping project.
Creator of the VS/VE maths and design framework for cargo airships. Designer of The Sunship, the world's first sustainable, ultra-heavy lift cargo airship.
Vibe-coder of the EAS Fleet Calculator software.
Former music tutor, creative and performing musician, also former youth worker in remote outback Australian communities.

Toby Brandenburg - Problem Solver. Son of Adelaide based father-son founding team of the Electric Air Shipping project. Creator of the VS/VE maths and design framework for cargo airships. Designer of The Sunship, the world's first sustainable, ultr... Show more

I lead cloud and AI projects across Central America and the Caribbean, helping organizations in financial services, logistics, and retail turn business challenges into secure, scalable architectures on AWS. My work spans the full journey — from understanding business requirements to designing infrastructure, security, and AI governance strategies that actually make it to production.

I've spoken at Banking Summit Panama 2025, AgentCon Panama, AWS Community Day Panama across multiple editions, and regional technology events in Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad & Tobago — always focused on how security, governance, and data strategy are the foundation that makes AI solutions production-ready, not just demo-ready.

Building AI agents for regulated industries taught me that the hard part isn't making them smart — it's making them safe. That's the perspective I bring to this talk.

I lead cloud and AI projects across Central America and the Caribbean, helping organizations in financial services, logistics, and retail turn business challenges into secure, scalable architectures on AWS. My work spans the full journey — from under... Show more

Tina Thomas is a Lead Developer Consultant at Thoughtworks with over a decade of experience building resilient, distributed systems. Working across diverse tech stacks—including Kotlin, .NET, and Go—she bridges the gap between complex business strategy and execution throughout the delivery lifecycle. Currently active in MLE, she remains passionate about working with stakeholders to build software that solves real-world problems.

Tina Thomas is a Lead Developer Consultant at Thoughtworks with over a decade of experience building resilient, distributed systems. Working across diverse tech stacks—including Kotlin, .NET, and Go—she bridges the gap between complex business strate... Show more

As a seasoned DevOps engineer, I pride myself on ensuring the quality of products by drawing parallels between complex issues and simpler, everyday scenarios. This unique approach aids my team and me in delivering value, ensuring that our products are not only built correctly but also offer the right functionalities.

As a seasoned DevOps engineer, I pride myself on ensuring the quality of products by drawing parallels between complex issues and simpler, everyday scenarios. This unique approach aids my team and me in delivering value, ensuring that our products ar... Show more

With 10+ years of experience working in New York City, San Francisco, China, Singapore, and now Australia, Jay Demetillo has built an impressive resume of experience and creating impact. ‍

Jay has designed for Twitter, Pinterest, Yahoo, and Grab. Jay was an adjunct professor at California College of the Arts in San Francisco and has spoken/lectured in China for ACG. He’s worked on notable projects like the Bay Lights, Gaspar Brasserie, San Francisco’s Park System SFPark, GrabFood, Grab's Facial Recognition for Drivers, and Grab AudioProtect.

Jay is passionate about building products and designs that are inclusive, having empathy for your users, and dismantling your biases. Currently, he's at Canva and has launched Canva Sheets.

With 10+ years of experience working in New York City, San Francisco, China, Singapore, and now Australia, Jay Demetillo has built an impressive resume of experience and creating impact. ‍ Jay has designed for Twitter, Pinterest, Yahoo, and Grab. ... Show more

Ibrahim Gana is Head of Partnerships at TRI AI, working at the intersection of impact, product & AI. He focuses on building partnerships and communities that create opportunities for more people across Africa to learn, build, and shape the future of AI.

Ibrahim Gana is Head of Partnerships at TRI AI, working at the intersection of impact, product & AI. He focuses on building partnerships and communities that create opportunities for more people across Africa to learn, build, and shape the future of ... Show more

I lead the AI Agents team at WisdomAI, where I build production AI agent systems and work on agent architecture, reliability, evaluation, and efficiency. Previously, I worked at Samsung Research HQ in South Korea on multimodal AI and 5G/6G systems, and later co-founded an AI startup. My work spans AI agents, LLM systems, distributed systems, and production ML infrastructure. I hold a B.Tech. in Computer Science from IIT Delhi.

I lead the AI Agents team at WisdomAI, where I build production AI agent systems and work on agent architecture, reliability, evaluation, and efficiency. Previously, I worked at Samsung Research HQ in South Korea on multimodal AI and 5G/6G systems, a... Show more

Traci Saulsberry is a senior communications executive, leadership coach, and writer. At twenty-seven, she became one of the youngest Black executives at NBC, where she spent fourteen years shaping narratives at the highest levels of entertainment. She later built and led the communications team at Peacock, managing a team of more than thirty people during the platform’s launch and growth.

She is currently a host and narrator for Calm, the world’s leading meditation and sleep app, where she guides original series including Workplace Wellbeing, Professional Growth, and Processing World Events, designed to help audiences navigate life with clarity and care.

As a leadership coach, keynote speaker, and learning facilitator, Saulsberry works with early-career professionals, executives, and business owners, with a focus on helping individuals find and own their voice—particularly while navigating spaces where they are underrepresented. She also serves as an adjunct professor at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School, where she teaches entertainment publicity.

Traci Saulsberry is a senior communications executive, leadership coach, and writer. At twenty-seven, she became one of the youngest Black executives at NBC, where she spent fourteen years shaping narratives at the highest levels of entertainment. Sh... Show more

Lisa Vanderlip is an AI value realization leader who helps organizations prove whether their AI was worth what it cost. Over twelve years at Microsoft she co-founded FastTrack's at-scale adoption approach, built two commercial M365 business-value offers Microsoft sold as products, and served as a global SME on Microsoft's Responsible AI team. She is Founder & Managing Principal of WyseMinds Advisors, helping Fortune 500 and other clients attain key outcomes from their AI investments, creator of the AI VALUE Framework, and publisher of the AI Value Report.

Lisa Vanderlip is an AI value realization leader who helps organizations prove whether their AI was worth what it cost. Over twelve years at Microsoft she co-founded FastTrack's at-scale adoption approach, built two commercial M365 business-value off... Show more

Endrit Shaqiri is a security researcher and developer with a background in offensive security, AI, and cybersecurity research. He is pursuing graduate studies in Artificial Intelligence at Boston University and has completed graduate work in Cybersecurity Engineering and Cryptography at Istanbul Technical University.

His work focuses on the intersection of security, identity, cloud systems, and AI-driven threats. He has built research tools and prototypes exploring malware simulation, evasion techniques, OAuth abuse, and emerging attack paths in modern enterprise environments.

Endrit has presented at DEF CON 33 Demo Labs and the Red Team Village. Outside of cybersecurity, he is an international karate and kickboxing competitor, and Kosovo national team athlete.

Endrit Shaqiri is a security researcher and developer with a background in offensive security, AI, and cybersecurity research. He is pursuing graduate studies in Artificial Intelligence at Boston University and has completed graduate work in Cybersec... Show more

Ramya M is a cybersecurity professional at Okta, Inc., specializing in application security, product security, identity security, and secure SDLC automation. She has led enterprise-scale initiatives across secure coding, DevSecOps hardening, vulnerability triage, and autonomous threat detection for enterprise-scale security products, and has contributed to security capabilities spanning secure identity protocols, SIEM, XDR, and application security platforms.

Her work and research focus on cyber forensics, and AI security, including adversarial manipulation of AI agents, policy-drift attacks in ML-assisted CI/CD pipelines, defensive architectures for AI-augmented development environments. Ramya holds a Master’s degree in Cybersecurity and actively contributes to the community through conference speaking, mentorship, training, and technical writing, helping teams build secure-by-design systems.

Ramya M is a cybersecurity professional at Okta, Inc., specializing in application security, product security, identity security, and secure SDLC automation. She has led enterprise-scale initiatives across secure coding, DevSecOps hardening, vulnerab... Show more

Vamshidhar Reddy Vemula is a globally recognized cloud security architect and AI innovator with multiple international patents in AI-driven cloud security solutions. He has collaborated with Fortune 500 companies and global enterprises, developing transformative technologies in cybersecurity, cloud computing, and digital forensics. His pioneering work in AI-powered threat detection and forensic analysis systems has earned him prestigious recognitions. A prolific researcher, Vamshidhar has published numerous high-impact papers on AI, cloud security, and machine learning, which are widely cited by industry experts. His thought leadership and frequent appearances at global tech conferences showcase his dedication to shaping the future of digital security.

Vamshidhar Reddy Vemula is a globally recognized cloud security architect and AI innovator with multiple international patents in AI-driven cloud security solutions. He has collaborated with Fortune 500 companies and global enterprises, developing tr... Show more

Wisdom Chisom is a business and sales strategist, entrepreneur, and speaker focused on helping businesses build the systems required for sustainable growth.

His work sits at the intersection of sales psychology, business strategy, sales systems, human behaviour, and technology. He works with businesses to examine their internal structures, improve sales processes, strengthen sales performance, and develop systems that can support growth beyond the efforts of individual employees.

Wisdom is particularly interested in the challenges facing African businesses as they move from informal and relationship-driven approaches to more structured, measurable, and scalable business operations. His perspective is grounded in a practical principle: knowledge creates value when it is translated into systems, execution, and measurable results.

As a speaker, he explores topics including sales psychology, scalable sales systems, business growth, entrepreneurship, sales-team performance, technology-enabled business, and the development of sustainable enterprises in Africa.

Wisdom Chisom is a business and sales strategist, entrepreneur, and speaker focused on helping businesses build the systems required for sustainable growth. His work sits at the intersection of sales psychology, business strategy, sales systems, h... Show more