Brian Platt is Partner and Director of Public Policy for UMusic Hotels Development (UMHD), a real estate development company created in partnership with Universal Music Group. The organization develops music and entertainment hubs in cities across North America, bringing together culture, economic development, and collaboration between the public and private sectors. These hubs include performance venues, recording studios, a music school, and Universal Music Group-branded luxury hotels and residences. The projects are designed to serve as spaces for creativity, idea exchange, and music tourism, while helping emerging artists and the next generation of talent gain greater visibility in the music industry.

Before joining UMHD, Brian spent 12 years working in city government, most notably as City Manager for Kansas City, Missouri, and Jersey City, New Jersey. In Kansas City, he served as City Manager and helped launch and manage more than $5 billion in redevelopment projects in less than 5 years. This period marked significant growth and development across the city. He also introduced sustainability initiatives, including planting 10,000 trees within three years and advancing plans for one of the largest solar arrays in the United States to strengthen long-term environmental resilience.

In Jersey City, Brian first worked as Chief Innovation Officer and later served as Business Administrator and City Manager. In this role, he helped the city reach record levels of housing construction, comparable to those in Manhattan, New York City. In both cities, he focused on improving core municipal services, including increasing street resurfacing and strengthening snow removal operations. He also worked to improve the quality of life for low-income families and individuals experiencing homelessness by expanding access to supportive resources.

Earlier in his career, he worked in management consulting at McKinsey & Company and served as a kindergarten teacher through Teach For America. He also volunteered as an Emergency Medical Responder with United Rescue in Jersey City and spent 10 years as a volunteer firefighter in his hometown of Mountain Lakes, NJ.

Brian Platt earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Emory University in Georgia and later completed a Master’s in Public Administration at Columbia University in New York. Throughout his career, he has received recognition for leadership, academic achievement, and public service.

Brian Platt is Partner and Director of Public Policy for UMusic Hotels Development (UMHD), a real estate development company created in partnership with Universal Music Group. The organization develops music and entertainment hubs in cities across No... Show more

Yuang has been a specialist in Kotlin development for the past 6 years and am now employed as a mobile development expert at Trip.com. He is the creator of two open-source Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile (KMP) projects as well as the organizer of the Kotlin User Group (KUG) Shanghai. Some of his efforts for the Kotlin community include organizing and speaking at local tech-sharing events and conferences hosted by JetBrains, the Kotlin User Group (KUG), and the Google Developer Group (GDG). And, he is certified as a Google Developer Expert (GDE) for Android. He also localized the "Kotlin Cookbook" by O'Reilly into Chinese for publication in China. Lastly, Shengyou Fan, JetBrains Developer Advocate, and him co-host the podcast "Kotlin Fireside Chat"(Chinese name: Kotlin 炉边漫谈) alongside Kotlin Developer Maggie Kuo from Taiwan.

Yuang has been a specialist in Kotlin development for the past 6 years and am now employed as a mobile development expert at Trip.com. He is the creator of two open-source Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile (KMP) projects as well as the organizer of the Kot... Show more

Allison Kozel is a seasoned educator, creative leader, and current district-level administrator with a passion for human-centered leadership. With a background that spans teaching, program management, and communications through work as a videographer aboard Princess Cruises, Allison brings a unique blend of strategic insight and heartfelt storytelling to her work. Her career took a transformative turn when she was forced to confront burnout head-on during her second year in district leadership—a moment that reshaped her perspective on wellness, balance, and what it means to lead sustainably.

Today, Allison uses her voice to advocate for the well-being of educators and administrators, weaving personal experience with practical tools that support healthier work cultures in schools. She believes that taking care of ourselves is not a luxury—it’s a leadership imperative.

Allison Kozel is a seasoned educator, creative leader, and current district-level administrator with a passion for human-centered leadership. With a background that spans teaching, program management, and communications through work as a videographer... Show more

Afif Akbar Iskandar, a data science professional with over 9 years of experience in the field.

Having earned a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and a Master's degree in Computer Science from Universitas Indonesia, Afif boasts a solid academic foundation in the field.

As a dedicated data science mentor, Afif utilizes his extensive knowledge to educate others. Driven by his enthusiasm for technology, he operates the YouTube channel "NgodingPython," featuring insightful content on Python programming, data science, IoT, and beyond.

Afif Akbar Iskandar, a data science professional with over 9 years of experience in the field. Having earned a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and a Master's degree in Computer Science from Universitas Indonesia, Afif boasts a solid academic fou... Show more

I am a backend engineer specializing in requirements engineering, API design, and building maintainable server-side systems.
My strength is translating ambiguous business needs into clear domain models, practical specifications, and reliable implementations.

Beyond requirements engineering, I focus on system design, developer experience, observability, and long-term maintainability.
I enjoy bridging product and engineering perspectives, helping teams make better technical decisions while keeping software simple, robust, and aligned with real user needs.

I am a backend engineer specializing in requirements engineering, API design, and building maintainable server-side systems. My strength is translating ambiguous business needs into clear domain models, practical specifications, and reliable implem... Show more

Facilitation in chaos is where the magic happens. Workshops get teams unstuck, but the real work goes deeper: driving strategy, shaping company-wide OKRs, making complex systems visible, designing end-to-end experiences. The design industry sometimes warns against being "just a workshopper," but companies desperately need people who bring structure to ambiguity and turn messy ideas into action.
At Mews, a hospitality tech unicorn, the last 3.5 years have been about scaling service design across the organization. A stint in management helped spread the practice, but the real pull was back to craft where I now work hands-on with the Ecosystem team, shaping experiences across all products and contributing to company-wide OKRs.
Before that, nearly 5 years at Globant meant designing Salesforce products for BBVA Enterprise and collaborating with major clients across finance and automotive. Learning from talented people who fundamentally shaped how design thinking works in complex organizations.
Public speaking and facilitation have become a regular part of my practice: presenting future narratives at Mews Con, mapping adventures at R&D Con, facilitating workshops for OKR alignment, delivering talks at Celonis Madrid about moving beyond design buzzwords. Serving as 2025 Women's ERG Ambassador added another dimension, advocating for DEI through community building and public presentations.

Facilitation in chaos is where the magic happens. Workshops get teams unstuck, but the real work goes deeper: driving strategy, shaping company-wide OKRs, making complex systems visible, designing end-to-end experiences. The design industry sometimes... Show more

Hi there, I am Umesh, a Senior Cloud Engineer focused on making enterprise operations simpler, smarter, and highly efficient. He specializes in cloud migration, AI integration, and observability cost optimization. Passionate about building cloud solutions that positively impact society, and also a continuous learner who thrives on implementing next-generation technologies to create robust, future-ready systems.

Hi there, I am Umesh, a Senior Cloud Engineer focused on making enterprise operations simpler, smarter, and highly efficient. He specializes in cloud migration, AI integration, and observability cost optimization. Passionate about building cloud solu... Show more

Lauren is an award-winning creative and strategic leader passionate about building meaningful connections between people, brands and experiences. She leads integrated brand activations and partnerships across digital and real-world environments, blending insight-driven strategy with bold creativity. Her work spans destinations - from Wyoming to Maine and Reno Tahoe to Ocean City, Maryland - and has been recognized by the Effies, Webbys, The Drum, AICP, and more. Known for her curiosity, energy and collaborative spirit, Lauren brings a sharp eye for innovation and a deep understanding of how to turn audience insights into standout brand moments.

Lauren is an award-winning creative and strategic leader passionate about building meaningful connections between people, brands and experiences. She leads integrated brand activations and partnerships across digital and real-world environments, blen... Show more

100% agile DNA, boosted with Solution-Focus brief coaching, narrative practices, MGT3.0, Host-Leadership, Heart of Agile, I'm currently on the road to my new life, 100% focused on my NGO Agility With No Borders (www.awnb.org). Our mission is to help people achieve financial, social and professional autonomy, using the best practices of agile culture, enhanced by our dialogic signature. On our agenda: employability, social & eco-responsabile agile micro-entrepreneurship, development of essential 21st century skills (critical thinking, innovative problem-solving, creativity, teamwork, leadership, resilience... and AI). www.awnb.org.

100% agile DNA, boosted with Solution-Focus brief coaching, narrative practices, MGT3.0, Host-Leadership, Heart of Agile, I'm currently on the road to my new life, 100% focused on my NGO Agility With No Borders (www.awnb.org). Our mission is to help ... Show more

Cloud Strategist & Tech Evangelist with a background in architecting and building software & services. Currently working at Dynatrace, where I help to shape cloud strategy. Opinions are my own!

Cloud Strategist & Tech Evangelist with a background in architecting and building software & services. Currently working at Dynatrace, where I help to shape cloud strategy. Opinions are my own! Show more

Paul Michaels is a Microsoft MVP and a Head of Technology, working across Azure and AWS. He's been programming professionally since 1997, and likes finding neat solutions to problems.

Paul Michaels is a Microsoft MVP and a Head of Technology, working across Azure and AWS. He's been programming professionally since 1997, and likes finding neat solutions to problems. Show more

Quiana Berry is an international speaker, AI ethics advocate, and community builder with a background in anthropology and technology. With years of experience driving innovation in product development at Red Hat/IBM, she has worked across open-source communities, large enterprises, and tech ecosystems to ensure that agility leads to responsible and inclusive innovation.

Passionate about the intersection of AI, ethics, and diversity, Quiana has spoken at major conferences worldwide, including Open Source Summit and Linux Foundation events, sharing insights on ethical AI, inclusive Agile practices, and career growth in tech. She specializes in helping organizations navigate the challenges of Agile adoption, ensuring that Agile isn’t just about speed, but also sustainability, accessibility, and equity in tech.

Through her work, Quiana empowers organizations to break barriers, integrate ethical development, and embrace agility as a tool for driving innovation and inclusion.

Quiana Berry is an international speaker, AI ethics advocate, and community builder with a background in anthropology and technology. With years of experience driving innovation in product development at Red Hat/IBM, she has worked across open-source... Show more

A cybersecurity leader who built security programs from scratch at two high-growth startups while navigating intense investor diligence. Chad helps AI-first startups and small businesses turn security requirements into a competitive advantage. He consults with companies to deliver tools that quickly improve their security program while delivering a technology radar and investor-grade artifacts. A former board member ISSA Los Angeles & Cloud Security Alliance SoCal, Chad is a frequent speaker on cyber security for startups, AI governance, and cognitive security.

A cybersecurity leader who built security programs from scratch at two high-growth startups while navigating intense investor diligence. Chad helps AI-first startups and small businesses turn security requirements into a competitive advantage. He ... Show more

Weiwei Yang is a Foundation Model Infrastructure Engineer at Apple, Apache Member, Apache Incubator Mentor, and PMC member for Apache Hadoop and YuniKorn. He specializes in evolving ML platforms to accelerate large-scale model training and inference.

Weiwei Yang is a Foundation Model Infrastructure Engineer at Apple, Apache Member, Apache Incubator Mentor, and PMC member for Apache Hadoop and YuniKorn. He specializes in evolving ML platforms to accelerate large-scale model training and inference. Show more

Rachelle Williams is an Agile Coach, Consultant, and Certified “Training from the BACK of the Room!” (TBR) Trainer with over a decade of experience helping teams and leaders learn, adapt, and continuously improve across industries from defence and pharma to media, retail, and oil & gas. Through her company Furnell Projects Ltd, Rachelle brings people-first agility to life blending brain-science-based learning with Agile principles to help people not just learn new skills but remember and apply them. Known for her energy, authenticity, and practical approach, Rachelle creates safe, engaging spaces where everyone contributes. When she’s not coaching or training, you’ll find her exploring new countries (43 and counting!), taking inspiration from her travels to design workshops that spark curiosity, connection, and continuous improvement.

Rachelle Williams is an Agile Coach, Consultant, and Certified “Training from the BACK of the Room!” (TBR) Trainer with over a decade of experience helping teams and leaders learn, adapt, and continuously improve across industries from defence and ph... Show more

Beatriz is an inclusive user experience professional living in Cologne, Germany.
She leads Accessibility and Digital Inclusion in Central Europe at Atos, the GermanUPA Accessibility working group and its fronta11y.org project.

She is part of the leadership council of IAAP DACH and a member of the IAAP Global Ethics Committee, where she represents and supports Accessibility Professionals, People with disabilities and people with cross-cultural and Multilanguage backgrounds.

Beatriz has worked as a frontend developer, Designer and UX consultant across several countries and in six languages. Her passion is problem solving for all, no exceptions, and she loves creating bridges among colleagues, peers and customers.

She's a Certified Accessible Documents Specialist (ADS) and Certified Professional Web Accessibility CPWA ( IAAP's WASCPACC), Certified User Requirements Engineer (CPUX-Fl+ CPUX-UR), and holds a Postgraduate study University Expert in Accessibility and Usability of Web contents (by the University of Alcalá de Henares).

Beatriz speaks and writes about Accessibility, inclusive design and user experience, neurodiversity, tools to increase productivity and is interested in all things related to travel, tech and DIY.

Beatriz is an inclusive user experience professional living in Cologne, Germany. She leads Accessibility and Digital Inclusion in Central Europe at Atos, the GermanUPA Accessibility working group and its fronta11y.org project. She is part of th... Show more

Suzanne Rath: High-Performance Strategist, Endurance Athlete, Founder

Suzanne Rath is a keynote speaker and high-performance strategist who helps founders and leaders sustain peak performance without breaking. Her authority is forged through a rare combination of research, clinical expertise and lived experience.

For more than nine years she has led an award-winning multi-site Allied Health business, building resilient teams and pioneering innovative approaches to workplace wellbeing. As a physiotherapist with twenty years of experience across three continents, she brings a deep understanding of human performance, recovery and longevity.

Suzanne is also an endurance athlete of eighteen years, having completed marathons, ultras, and multi-day cycling expeditions across continents. After surviving a life-changing accident in Sydney, she rebuilt her health and career from the ground up- an experience that informs her work with leaders navigating pressure, uncertainty and burnout. This journey became the foundation of her signature framework, ENDURES, a system for sustainable high performance.

From the boardroom to the marathon trail, Suzanne understands what it takes to recover, reset and rise stronger, again and again.

How Suzanne Helps
Keynote Speaking

Beyond the Peak: Unlocking Sustainable High Performance
Suzanne blends endurance stories, leadership insight and evidence-based strategies to show audiences how to move from collapsing performance to sustained momentum. Participants gain:

the courage to set bold goals

the capacity to navigate challenge with clarity

practical tools to recover, reset and elevate to greater summits

Workshops & Extended Programs

Suzanne’s workshops transform insight into capability. Designed for real-world application, they help teams:

- reclaim energy and focus

- clarify priorities

- build daily rhythms and systems that drive consistent high performance

Coaching for Leaders & Founders

Suzanne works privately with leaders to apply the ENDURES framework to their own lives and organisations. Her coaching strengthens resilience, adaptability and sustainable performance — ensuring high achievers maintain their edge without burning out.
The ENDURES Membership Program launches in February 2026.

Suzanne Rath: High-Performance Strategist, Endurance Athlete, Founder Suzanne Rath is a keynote speaker and high-performance strategist who helps founders and leaders sustain peak performance without breaking. Her authority is forged through a rar... Show more

Chris Aleman is a seasoned Data Analytics Manager at Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative (GVEC), where he leverages his expertise to drive data-driven decision-making and optimize business processes.

His passion for data analytics extends beyond his professional responsibilities. As a Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate, a Co-Leader of the San Antonio Power BI User Group (PUG), and a speaker at Community Summit NA 2024 and Spark 2024, hosted by the Alamo Regional Data Alliance, Chris is actively involved in the data community, sharing his knowledge and experience.

When not immersed in data, Chris loves to travel with his wife, having explored 22 countries and covered over 61,000 miles together. Back home, they enjoy the company of their family of furbabies, including five cats, two dogs, a turtle, and too many fish to count.

Chris Aleman is a seasoned Data Analytics Manager at Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative (GVEC), where he leverages his expertise to drive data-driven decision-making and optimize business processes. His passion for data analytics extends beyond... Show more

Dr. Ben Lippe is a licensed psychologist who is Board Certified in Clinical Health Psychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology.

He is an expert on topics related to health, wellness, fitness, and behavior change.

Award-winning instructor, psychologist, author, and consultant.

He is available for workshops and keynote addresses for:
Healthcare organizations
Professional associations
Clinical teams seeking insight, clarity, and practical inspiration
Support Group organizations (e.g., cancer, chronic pain, transplant)

He speaks candidly about the realities of modern medicine—burnout, leadership challenges, patient communication, healthy behaviors, system constraints—while offering practical strategies that audiences can immediately apply in their own settings.

Dr. Ben Lippe is a licensed psychologist who is Board Certified in Clinical Health Psychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology. He is an expert on topics related to health, wellness, fitness, and behavior change. Award-... Show more

Pasionate about techs

Pasionate about techs Show more

I’m a Partner at Civitta and a product leader with over eight years of experience building and scaling digital products across SaaS, event technology, and AI-powered solutions. Throughout my career, I’ve worked on products ranging from event marketing platforms to AI automation tools, including AI Front Desk and several products within the Banzai ecosystem.

My work focuses on translating complex business problems into meaningful, user-centered solutions. I enjoy collaborating with cross-functional teams of product managers, designers, and engineers to turn ideas into products that create real value for users and businesses.

Beyond my professional work, I actively contribute to the product community through research, writing, and speaking. I’ve spoken at events such as the European Product Summit and regularly share insights on product leadership, customer interviews, and collaboration between product and UX teams.

I’m passionate about building products that truly resonate with users and about helping teams create environments where experimentation, learning, and innovation thrive.

I’m a Partner at Civitta and a product leader with over eight years of experience building and scaling digital products across SaaS, event technology, and AI-powered solutions. Throughout my career, I’ve worked on products ranging from event marketin... Show more

Outside of enjoying engineering, Connor Peshek is a musician, frequent traveler, and enjoyer of picking up heavy things and putting them back down. He's done DevRel for 4+ years at companies like Cloudflare and authentik

Outside of enjoying engineering, Connor Peshek is a musician, frequent traveler, and enjoyer of picking up heavy things and putting them back down. He's done DevRel for 4+ years at companies like Cloudflare and authentik Show more

Steven Kelly is a British TV survivalist, resilience speaker, and founder of South West Survival. With 23 years of military service and experience operating in extreme environments around the world, he brings real-world lessons in resilience, leadership, decision-making under pressure, teamwork, and mindset.

Steven is known for appearing on Naked and Afraid, Naked and Afraid: Apocalypse, Naked Alone and Racing to Get Home, and Bear Grylls: Wild Reckoning. He combines survival expertise, operational experience, and television credibility to deliver practical, engaging talks that challenge audiences to think clearly, adapt fast, and perform under pressure.

Through speaking, training, and media work, Steven helps people and teams build resilience, develop a stronger mindset, and apply survival principles to business, leadership, and everyday life.

Steven Kelly is a British TV survivalist, resilience speaker, and founder of South West Survival. With 23 years of military service and experience operating in extreme environments around the world, he brings real-world lessons in resilience, leaders... Show more

Pragmatic technologist with a background in software development and a focus on systems, automation, and AI. I build practical solutions that improve everyday life.

I believe in leadership driven by responsibility, clarity, and real-world impact. Less hype, more systems that work.

Pragmatic technologist with a background in software development and a focus on systems, automation, and AI. I build practical solutions that improve everyday life. I believe in leadership driven by responsibility, clarity, and real-world impact. ... Show more

I am a Lead Sitecore Developer with 8 years of experience in building scalable and high-performance digital experience platforms. I specialize in Sitecore XP, XM Cloud, headless architecture, and modern frontend frameworks like Next.js, and I am a certified developer in Sitecore 10, XM Cloud, and Sitecore AI.
I have executed multiple AI-driven Sitecore projects across domains including healthcare, law firms, and travel. I also created a customizable application on the Sitecore AI Marketplace. I actively explore AI-driven development approaches, including automating design-to-code workflows using tools like Figma and generative AI, helping bridge the gap between design and development while improving delivery speed and accuracy.

I am a Lead Sitecore Developer with 8 years of experience in building scalable and high-performance digital experience platforms. I specialize in Sitecore XP, XM Cloud, headless architecture, and modern frontend frameworks like Next.js, and I am a ce... Show more

Patrick Dunn is a keynote speaker, workshop facilitator, and leadership development consultant with 30 years of experience leading high-stakes global teams in operational resilience — disaster recovery, business continuity, and crisis management.

He works with leaders who are performing at a high level and want to keep performing — without losing themselves in the process. His keynotes and workshops draw on three decades of real-world experience in rooms where the wrong call had real consequences, combined with a storytelling approach shaped by folklorist Sandy Ives and author Stephen King.

Patrick is the author of Lead with Soul: How to Lead When Running on Empty and the creator of the Lead with Soul framework — built on four pillars: Presence, Purpose, Renewal, and Service. His keynote Your Resilience Is Killing You speaks directly to the hidden cost of sustained high-stakes leadership, while Strong Enough to Break reframes what it means to lead with endurance and depth.

He is a three-time NCAA Division I All-American and nationally ranked mascot at the University of Maine, a former Fortune 200 resilience leader, and an active member of the Association of Continuity Professionals and Disaster Recovery Journal communities.
Patrick has delivered keynotes and leadership sessions across association, corporate, healthcare, and government audiences. He is based in Reno, Nevada and speaks throughout the United States.

Website: https://www.patrickdunnintl.com
Speaker Reel: https://youtu.be/SmgmQcj0Hxg

Patrick Dunn is a keynote speaker, workshop facilitator, and leadership development consultant with 30 years of experience leading high-stakes global teams in operational resilience — disaster recovery, business continuity, and crisis management. ... Show more

Digital marketing trainer, speaker, and practitioner focused on enabling entrepreneurs and businesses to scale using AI-driven marketing and data-backed strategies. With experience in training MSMEs, startups, and emerging entrepreneurs, I specialize in simplifying complex digital concepts into practical frameworks that drive real business outcomes.

My work revolves around integrating AI tools with branding, performance marketing, and content strategy—helping businesses unlock new growth opportunities. Through workshops, mentorship, and conferences, I actively contribute to building future-ready entrepreneurs who can leverage technology to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Digital marketing trainer, speaker, and practitioner focused on enabling entrepreneurs and businesses to scale using AI-driven marketing and data-backed strategies. With experience in training MSMEs, startups, and emerging entrepreneurs, I specialize... Show more

CPO at Magma, a Web3 platform pioneering real-world asset digitization in the real estate sector. I invented the Digital Twin Token (DTT®) concept and lead end-to-end product strategy — from roadmap to client onboarding — while driving go-to-market, partnerships, and international expansion across France, UAE, and Miami.
With a background spanning product, marketing, and digital strategy (Dentsu, Omnicom), I specialize in making complex blockchain topics — tokenization, smart contracts, on-chain data — legible and actionable for traditional industries. I've spoken and participated in panels at Paris Blockchain Week, Finance Innovation, BIM World, MIPIM, and the Miami Digital Real Estate Summit.
I speak at the intersection of Web3, proptech, and product strategy.

CPO at Magma, a Web3 platform pioneering real-world asset digitization in the real estate sector. I invented the Digital Twin Token (DTT®) concept and lead end-to-end product strategy — from roadmap to client onboarding — while driving go-to-market, ... Show more

JavaScript, Vim and Community

JavaScript, Vim and Community Show more

Vijay Kumar Soni is the Founder and CEO of Maghraut Technologies, with over eight years of experience supporting organizations in the practical and scalable adoption of modern technologies. He is an active contributor to the Salesforce community and regularly participates in community-led events. Vijay works closely with small and growing businesses to simplify digital transformation using Salesforce and other modern platforms. His approach is grounded in real-world experience, focused on solving real business challenges, and driven by a strong belief in learning through shared stories and community collaboration.

Vijay Kumar Soni is the Founder and CEO of Maghraut Technologies, with over eight years of experience supporting organizations in the practical and scalable adoption of modern technologies. He is an active contributor to the Salesforce community and ... Show more