Innovation Factory

As a creative artist, tech entrepreneur, the Founder & CEO of FYI.AI, a Goodwill Ambassador, AI Skills Coalition for the United Nations International Telecommunications Union, and Professor of Practice in the GAME School at Arizona State University, will.i.am has been recognized by a CLIO Award, an Emmy Award, nine Grammy Awards, the James C. Morgan Global Humanitarian Award, a TIME 100 Impact Award, the World Economic Forum’s Crystal Award, and an Honorary Fellowship by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET – UK).
He is simultaneously a creative innovation advisor, futurist, multi-platinum Grammy-winning music artist, producer, entertainer and a tech entrepreneur as part of his cross-disciplinary career.  He invests in and develops businesses in a range of sectors including the FYI Web 3.0 creativity & productivity tool, automotive, consumer-tech, fashion, food & beverage, software (AI, Natural Language Understanding, Voice Computing) and telecom.
His early work as Futurist and market opportunity spotter was with Beats Electronics. As a founding equity stakeholder in the company, will.i.am was instrumental in helping to transform Beats By Dre™ into a global consumer electronics brand.  Beats Electronics was purchased by Apple in 2014 for US$3 billion.
will.i.am teams with the world’s leading companies helping them to embrace future technologies, what’s next in cultural trends and to develop new business initiatives.  A sampling of multinational organizations he has collaborated with include Apple, Arizona State University, Coca-Cola, Deutsche Telekom, Formula 1, Honeywell, Intel, LG, Marvel Comics, Mercedes-AMG, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Qualcomm, Pepsi, Salesforce, SiriusXM and UPROXX Studios.
In philanthropy will.i.am established his i.am Angel Foundation in 2009 to transform lives through education, inspiration and opportunity incorporating STEAM (science, tech, engineering, arts and mathematics) education resources and robotics clubs in schools.  i.am Angel Foundation programs also include after-school tutoring and scholarship aid for university-bound students in underserved areas. With a 99% graduation rate, participating students are often the first in their families to attend a four-year college or university.

Cherie Blair CBE KC is a leading King’s Counsel, committed campaigner for women’s rights and wife of the former British Prime Minister. Cherie set up the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women in 2008 to support women in low and middle income countries to start, sustain and grow successful businesses so that they can be financially independent, have a stronger voice in their societies, and contribute to their communities and economies. She is also founder of Omnia Strategy, a pioneering international law firm that provides strategic counsel to governments, corporates and private clients.

Cherie is an advocate and ambassador for women entrepreneurs globally, working tirelessly to encourage the private sector, governments and civil society to do more to support women business owners. She generously gives her time, expertise and resources to advance women’s economic empowerment through the Foundation, travelling to visit our projects and partners, building collaborations, inspiring change and mobilising what’s needed to close the gender gap in business ownership.

Cherie was awarded a CBE in the 2013 New Year’s Honours List for services to women’s issues and to charities in both the UK and overseas.

Dr. Werner Vogels is Chief Technology Officer at Amazon.com where he is responsible for driving the company’s customer-centric technology vision. As one of the forces behind Amazon’s approach to cloud computing, he is passionate about helping young businesses reach global scale, and transforming enterprises into fast-moving digital organizations. Vogels joined Amazon in 2004 from Cornell University where he was a distributed systems researcher. He has held technology leadership positions in companies that handle the transition of academic technology into industry. Vogels holds a PhD from the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam and has authored many articles on distributed systems technologies for enterprise computing.

Senior Executive Vice President and CTO Corporate Executive Officer of Sony Group Corporation, KITANO is President and CEO of Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc., CEO of Sony AI Inc., President of The Systems Biology Institute, and Professor at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University. He is also a Founding President of the RoboCup Federation, President of International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI) (2009-2011), and Member of the AI & Robotics Council (2016-2018), and Quantum Computing Council (2019-2020) of The World Economic Forum, Fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) (2021-). 

Anna Marks is Chair of the Deloitte Global Board of Directors, responsible for leading the Deloitte Global Board in its role to govern and oversee the most significant matters to the organisation, thereby enabling its success and protecting its resilience.  Anna is dedicated to driving responsible growth and positive societal impact through collaboration, effective governance and ethical leadership. She speaks and writes on topics including the evolution of governance and organisational resilience, effective AI governance,  leadership and inclusion. 

Anna is an active member of a number of advisory boards including the British American Business International Advisory Board and the World Economic Forum Community of Chairpersons. She is also Sponsoring Chair of the Deloitte UK Ethnicity Council, a fellow and former board member of the Royal Hospital for Neurodisability in the UK, and a board member and trustee of Power2. She is a former member of the B20 Brazil and South Africa International Advisory Caucuses and a former non-executive director of the Confederation of British Industry. 

Prior to becoming the Deloitte Global Chair, Anna held various leadership, board and executive roles for Deloitte Global, Deloitte North & South Europe (NSE) and Deloitte UK. She also has 20 years’ experience as a practicing audit partner.  

Pamela Coke-Hamilton, an international trade lawyer and expert with a heart for development, has served as Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (ITC) since October 2020. Her appointment was announced by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

Since joining the organization at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Coke-Hamilton has placed the spotlight on the fact that trade is a human story and that ITC’s work is, at its core, about transforming trade and changing lives. It is about ensuring the smallest, least developed, most vulnerable, hardest-to-reach countries have equal standing as their counterparts in global trade, and that their small businesses are empowered to achieve their full potential.

As ITC Executive Director, she co-chairs the Working Group on Our Common Agenda, the UN Secretary-General’s blueprint for global cooperation to reinvigorate multilateralism and serve as a booster shot for the Sustainable Development Goals. She also serves as a Broadband Commissioner for Sustainable Development – an ITU-led public-private partnership fostering digital cooperation to achieve universal connectivity – and as co-chair of the Broadband Commission Working Group on Connectivity for MSMEs.

Before joining ITC, Ms. Coke-Hamilton served as UNCTAD’s Director of the Division on International Trade and Commodities, having worked extensively with the private sector, government and academia across African, Caribbean and Pacific countries to build their trade-related institutional strength.

She began her career in Jamaica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, with her first posting at the Permanent Mission of Jamaica in Geneva during the Uruguay Round Negotiations. She later served in Washington, D.C., at various regional institutions, including as Director of Trade, Tourism and Competitiveness at the Organization of American States and as Regional Hub Coordinator for the Caribbean in the Integration and Trade Department of the Inter-American Development Bank.

As Executive Director of the Caribbean Export Development Agency, Ms. Coke-Hamilton was instrumental in fostering the growth of regional businesses, enhancing their capacity to increase exports, attract investment and transform to meet requirements of the new international trading system. Notably, she established the Women Empowered through Export (WE-Xport) platform to address the disadvantages that women-owned businesses face in accessing markets.

She holds a Juris Doctor in Law from Georgetown University and an undergraduate degree in International Relations from the University of the West Indies. She is the founder of the Shridath Ramphal Centre and the Masters in International Trade Policy programme at the University of the West Indies. When she is not working, she enjoys sports, art, history, reading and traveling.

Her Royal Highness Princess Lamia Bint Majed Saud AlSaud is the Secretary General and member of the Board of Trustees at Alwaleed Philanthropies. Princess Lamia was appointed Secretary General of Alwaleed Philanthropies in April 2016, having previously served as Executive Manager of Media & Communication at the Foundation.

In her role as Secretary General, Princess Lamia has been recognized internationally through several landmark awards, including receiving an honorary medal from the Vice President of Laos in recognition of her philanthropic efforts in the country; Achievement in Philanthropies Award at the Arab Women of the Year 2017; Change Maker Award at the Aid & Trade Conference; the National Council’s first-ever Philanthropic Leadership Award; the Woman Leader in Community Development Excellence Award by the Middle East Excellence Awards Institute; the Baden Powell Fellowship pin by the World Scout Foundation; and, the People First Leader Award at the GCC GOV HR Awards 2020.

HRH Princess Lamia also holds a number of roles and leading positions across global organizations, including UN-Habitat Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Arab States; member of the Generation Unlimited Champion Committee with UNICEF; Global Champion for gender equality with the UN Women; and Honorary Advisory Board Member at the 8th Annual GCC GOV HR Summit 2020. In addition to that, HRH Princess Lamia has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University for the Creative Arts. She was recognised for her exemplary work in championing women’s equality in the Middle East and abroad in recognition of her outstanding efforts and dedication to the promotion of arts and commitment to strengthening cultural solidarity.

Prior to joining Alwaleed Philanthropies, HRH Princess Lamia founded the publishing company Sada Al Arab, in Cairo, Beirut and Dubai and published four magazines. She is also an esteemed novelist, publishing ‘Children and Blood’ in 2010. The book tackles the complexities of honor killings and the harsh realities of women in the Middle East.

HRH also served as CEO of Rotana Media Group, where she led the digital transformation of the Arab world’s largest media conglomerate, modernizing operations and strengthening its competitive position.

Pascale Fung is a Senior Director of AI Research at Meta. She is a Chair Professor at the The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST), and a visiting professor at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. She is an elected Fellow of the AAAI, IEEE, ACL and ISCA. She was the founding Director of HKUST Centre for AI Research (CAiRE), and the founding chair of the Women Faculty Association (a first in Asia). She is an expert on the Global Future Council, a think tank for the World Economic Forum. She represents HKUST on Partnership on AI to Benefit People and Society. She is on the Board of Governors of the IEEE Signal Processing Society. She is a member of the IEEE Working Group to develop an IEEE standard – Recommended Practice for Organizational Policy of Artificial Intelligence. She is part of the expert network for the United Nations Advisory Board on AI. Her research team has won several best and outstanding paper awards at ACL, ACL and NeurIPS workshops. She is frequently invited globally as a keynote speaker on public and academic forums on both AI core technology and Policy. She lived in five countries and speaks seven European and Asian languages. 

Natasha Crampton leads Microsoft’s Office of Responsible AI, as the company’s first Chief Responsible AI Officer since 2019. The Office of Responsible AI puts Microsoft’s AI principles into practice by defining, enabling, and governing the company’s approach to responsible AI. The Office of Responsible AI also collaborates with stakeholders within and outside the company to shape new laws, norms, and standards to help ensure that the promise of AI technology is realized for the benefit of all.

Natasha is a member of the UN AI Advisory Body, bringing together stakeholders from government, industry, civil society, and academia for essential conversations around global AI governance, including how to advance AI responsibly and equitably, while mitigating potential risks. Natsha also served on the expert advisory group for the implementation of UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, an important initiative in engaging broadly around the world to implement AI governance practices with more specificity. In partnership with UNESCO, she sponsored Microsoft’s involvement further by supporting the founding of The Ibero-American Business Council for the Ethics of AI, a collaborative initiative between UNESCO and companies operating in Latin America that are involved in the development or use of artificial intelligence in various sectors and co-chaired by Telefonica.

Prior to this role, Natasha served as lead counsel to the Aether Committee, Microsoft’s advisory committee on responsible AI. Natasha also spent seven years in Microsoft’s Australian and New Zealand subsidiaries helping Microsoft’s highly regulated customers move to the cloud.

Prior to Microsoft, Natasha worked in law firms in Australia and New Zealand, specializing in copyright, privacy, and internet safety and security issues. Natasha graduated from the University of Auckland in New Zealand with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Information Systems.

Seizo Onoe took office as Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB) at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 1 January 2023.Before his election as TSB Director by ITU Member States, he completed an over 30-year career with Japanese mobile operator NTT DOCOMO. In 2021, he became Executive Vice President and Chief Standardization Strategy Officer for the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) Corporation and a Fellow of NTT DOCOMO, INC. From 2017, he served as NTT DOCOMO’s Chief Technology Architect and President of its subsidiary DOCOMO Technology.Between 2012 and 2017, he served as NTT DOCOMO’s Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President, a Member of the Board of Directors, and Managing Director of R&D Innovation Division. Earlier, he served as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of NTT DOCOMO’s R&D Strategy Department and Managing Director of the company’s Radio Network Development Department.As TSB Director, he heads the part of ITU responsible for the coordination of technical standards and collaborative standardization processes that enable the interconnection and interoperability of information and communication technologies (ICTs) worldwide.Mr Onoe is committed to facilitating open and inclusive standardization processes, along with promoting digital technologies to address global issues, building a new ecosystem that reflects evolving technologies, and strengthening cooperation and collaboration in ICT standardization worldwide.Known in the industry as “the father of LTE” (Long-Term Evolution), he helped upgrade the wireless broadband standard for mobile devices and networks. He now aims for global outreach to bridge standardization gaps, deliver the benefits of technology widely and speedily, and ensure meaningful and affordable broadband access for everyone.Mr Onoe holds a Master’s degree in electronics from the Kyoto University Graduate School of Engineering.

Amy Jean Doherty, Chief Information Officer and Vice President Information and Technology Solutions

Amy is leading the charge to leverage technology’s potential for the World Bank Group to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. An expert in technology, transformation, and information security, Amy seeks to deploy these levers as force multipliers for the World Bank Group mission. Throughout her career, she has been instrumental in tackling some of the most complex challenges facing business and has driven cultural, business, and technology transformation for multiple organizations. She connects deeply with her staff, energizing and empowering them to serve the mission. She has a passion for STEM and works to encourage women to join technology and advocates to better support women in tech.
Prior to this role, Amy served as Chief Operating Officer at First Command Financial Services, an international financial services company and was the Chief Information Officer at AARP, a social mission and membership organization. Amy holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees from Pennsylvania State University. She has been featured in CIO Magazine, Forbes, and Computerworld. In 2019, she was recognized as CIO of the Year in the nonprofit/public sector by the Capital CIO Leadership Association.

Dr. Ebtesam Almazrouei is a pioneering force in artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technology, with a wealth of experience spanning both government and the private sector. Her exceptional expertise in artificial intelligence, supercomputing, telecommunications, semiconductors, technology governance, advanced technology, and strategic innovation has positioned her at the forefront of AI leadership globally, earning recognition among H2o.ai’s world’s top 100 AI leaders. As a thought leader, entrepreneur, and patent inventor, Dr. Almazrouei has been instrumental in pioneering cutting-edge AI models and fostering global AI policy frameworks.Dr. Ebtesam Almazrouei plays a key role in shaping AI strategies and frameworks, and building international collaborations on a global scale. She serves as Chairperson of the United Nations AI for Good Impact Initiative and as a Senior AI Consultant for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), playing a critical role in shaping global AI policies, technology governance, and regulation frameworks.Dr. Almazrouei’s exceptional contributions have garnered her notable honors, including the Leading AI Women in the World list, the Global Leadership Women in Tech® MENA Award, and a spot among the Top 100 Global Tech Speakers. She also holds various advisory roles and board memberships across various international organizations.As the CEO and Founder of AIE3, Dr. Almazrouei continues to drive AI innovation, developing scalable AI solutions, building capacity, and leading industry-wide advancements. She previously held senior executive roles, including Executive Director, Acting Chief AI Researcher, and Founder of the AI Cross Center Unit (AICCU) at the Technology Innovation Institute (TII). She established and led the AI Cross Center, driving strategic planning and development. Dr. Ebtesam Almazrouei directed and spearheaded the development of the Falcon Large Language Models (LLMs)—Falcon 7B, 40B, and 180B. These AI models have made significant strides in AI research and development in the world, particularly in open-source generative AI models. Additionally, she developed NOOR, the first and the largest Arabic LLM in 2022.Dr Ebtesam Almazrouei is the first Emirati woman to hold a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence for Wireless Communication Engineering and Computer Science. Her vision is to leverage AI to address global challenges and drive meaningful societal impact.

Irakli Beridze, PhD, is the Head of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics at UNICRI, United Nations​. More than 25 years of experience in leading multilateral negotiations, developing stakeholder engagement programmes with governments, UN agencies, international organisations, private industry and corporations, think tanks, civil society, foundations, academia, and other partners on an international level. Mr Beridze is advising governments and international organizations on numerous issues related to international security, scientific and technological developments, emerging technologies, innovation and disruptive potential of new technologies, particularly on the issue on crime prevention, criminal justice and security. He is supporting governments worldwide on the strategies, action plans, roadmaps and policy papers on AI. Since 2014, Initiated and managed one of the first United Nations Programmes on AI. Finding synergies with traditional threats and risks as well as identifying solutions that AI can contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. He is a member of various international task forces, including the World Economic​ Forum’s Global Artificial Intelligence and Global Future Council, the United Nations AI Inter Agency Task Force, the High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence of the European Commission. He is frequently lecturing and speaking on the subjects related to technological development, exponential technologies, artificial intelligence and robotics and international security. He has numerous publications in international journals and magazines and frequently quoted in media on the issues related to AI. Irakli Beridze is an International Gender Champion supporting the IGC Panel Parity Pledge. He is recipient of recognition on the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the OPCW in 2013.

Serial entrepreneur, investor, and futurist, Stephen’s accomplishments and global leadership positions with more than 100 programs / organizations and 300+ recognitions are too numerous to list. His leadership roles working daily with more than 1 million CEOs, Investors, Scientists with the world’s leading CEO, scientific, technical and financial organizations allow him a unique vantage point to oversee where transformative innovation and investments are heading in the coming years. Stephen is the visionary behind REDDS whose tireless work has positioned REDDS to take advantage of the globally unique superior intelligence received by the group.  As a small sampling representing under 1% of Stephen’s current activities, he is the:

• Founder of UN ITU, AI FOR GOOD, adopted by governments, corporations, and academia, with 3+ billion reach, as the world’s largest AI innovation solutions program, startup Innovation Factory, and daily summit driving AI top innovative business solutions such as generative AI (BingAI, Microsoft Azure OpenAI, GPT4-5) across 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and empowering CEO-led impact programs for the benefit of humanity and Earth Ecosystems such as with KIN (Knowledge Impact Network) and Million PeaceMakers. Ongoing judge and Grand Finale judge from the founding of the #AIForGood Innovation Factory with the last Grande Finale winner announced at the July AIForGood 2023 in this news release.
• Founding member of WFP Innovation Accelerator advisory council in 2017 and with the November 2023 announcement of two portfolio startups winning the 1 million UK pounds prize each, top innovation Earthshot Prize. WFP is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, multiple awardee of Apple, Good, Fast Company awards for innovation.
• From 2009 serving in roles as: current ACM practitioner board (PB) and past chair / current ACM PB chair professional development committee (PDC) / current board PDC TechTalks committee / current board ByteCast committee / current board working group head on startups-entrepreneurship; ACM is the world’s largest computing organization. From 1989 serving in roles as: past CIPS President and Chair; CIPS founding fellow advising CEO; CIPS is Canada’s national ICT organization. From 2007, serving in roles as: founder and current vice-chair IFIP IP3, founder and current chair IFIP Industry Council; IFIP is the UNESCO-founded independent federation of national and international ICT organizations with CIPS, ACM, IEEE as some of the founders. From 2004 serving in roles as: NPA board member, NPA founding fellow; NPA is a global infrastructure ICT organization. From 2016 serving in roles as: IEEE CS board committee member; current IEEE TEMS board committee member and active keynote in IEEE TEMS conferences/summits; current IEEE RASSE conference organizer/designer and opening keynote for industry forum in 2021, 2022, 2023; advisor to IEEE Entrepreneurship; IEEE is the world’s largest technology organization.
• Founder of Fintech Ideas Festival, Technology Advisory Council, providing industry solutions ten years into the future for the top 100 CEOs representing nearly US $100 Trillion in managed assets where the CEOs invested in all the transformational tech solutions and startups identified from Stephen 2015 including blockchain, digital identities, mobile financial services, AI/ML, cybersecurity, biometrics, 5/6G, quantum computing, future of fintech, future of the workforce, privacy and data analytics, personalization and precision services, new user/consumer experience from the confluence of the digital / physical / biological. Stephen directed the CEOs into execution focused working groups, monthly innovation forums, private summits. The public facing parts of this private work is captured in an article Stephen wrote for IT World in January 2017, “Top CEOs and futurists on the future of financial services and technology”, a rare public video from January 2017 private CEO summit, where Stephen provides his foresight insights to questions. The President and chair of the CEOs technology group introduces Stephen, “Introduce Stephen Ibaraki. Stephen is the entrepreneur and chairman of the Fintech Ideas Festival, a tremendous help and a lot of the people are here today came through Steve’s connections and his work in the industry. Steve’s has a fantastic executive leadership career, distinguished advisor for startups and global fortune 500 companies and governments specifically on strategy, most recently organizing the current AI for Good Summit in Geneva in June 2017 with the United Nations ITU and XPRIZE.” There is a joint article written for the CEOs which also appeared with the United Nations in 2017, “Trending: AI in finance” by Stephen Ibaraki, founding chairman FSR technology advisory council and Hari Gopalkrishnan, managing director, platforms and technology Bank of America. Article from Forbes in 2019: https://www.forbes.com/sites/cognitiveworld/2019/04/17/is-financial-services-ready-for-broad-5th-machine-age-technology-adoption/?sh=46d1cec376cf Is Financial Services Ready For Broad 5th Machine Age Technology Adoption?
• Founding chair YPO Impact Advisory Board and YPO EU Impact Summit Advisory Board, creating workable business solutions for the world’s largest opportunities/challenges and focused on purposeful leadership / business / capital & investments / innovation. YPO: 35K CEOs, US $9 Trillion annual revenue (ranking 3^rd in GDP if considered a country) across 150+ countries, 500 chapters, employing 22 million. With work underway since May 2019, the first summit Oct 2020 and continuing as chair impact advisory board with first global impact summit (YPOGIS2023 in Feb 2023) and continuing in 2024 and beyond;
• Recipient of 21 Microsoft Global Awards (18 MVP Awards), 40+ overall recognitions, with six years MVP 2018-2023 in AI, with the world’s largest and top corporation in technology and advising Microsoft under NDA since the 1970s, recognizing decades of lifetime achievement, global–leadership, entrepreneurship, investments, disruptive innovation. As noted by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella in award citations, “We recognize and value your exceptional contributions and commitment to technical communities worldwide. By sharing your real-world expertise and technical skills, you demonstrate outstanding technical community leadership. Thank you.” Judging as MVP, the largest youth innovation Award program, the Imagine Cup which empowers 2+ million students over 20 years. From Microsoft news release in Microsoft Imagine Cup Junior 2023, “The Imagine Cup Junior is more than a competition. It is a learning journey that empowers students to develop their skills in AI and other technologies. These students have shown us how AI can be used for good, to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems and create a better future for everyone. I’m proud to be a part of this journey and congratulate all the competitors – and winners — for their remarkable achievements.” Stephen Ibaraki, Founder, UN AI for Good and Imagine Cup Junior 2023 judge. Spotlighted by the Microsoft’s MVP program in 2023 for Stephen’s mentorship global contributions in serving startups, innovation and entrepreneurship: “Stephen’s mentorship initiatives have been pivotal in propelling entrepreneurship and innovations that yield significant societal benefits. His dynamic involvement spans a wide spectrum of communities, including CEOs, UN agencies, scientific/engineering entities, investors, media outlets, social media platforms, and more. He says, “Mentorship, or ‘support’ for innovation, entrepreneurship, and startups occurs at many levels. Initially, building awareness, directing freely available resources and open startup platforms, helping grow the startups presence, providing advice, supporting investment, helping startups to scale”… article continues with examples from Imagine Cup, #AIforGood Innovation Factory, WFP Innovation Accelerator, CEO Leadership Alliance, non-profit organizations IEEE TEMS, ACM, CIPS. Invited advisor, mentor, investor for the Microsoft Startup Founders Hub, founded in 2023.
• Active investor, investment / innovation / foresight advisor, serving on investment committees. Examples: Global Chair and managing general partner REDDS Capital; Adastral Funds; Southern California Master Fund (SCMF-CEO led funds of Funds); DTGO/MQDC; T&B Media Global; Terasaki Institute Biomedical Innovation (TIBI); serving on the investment selection committee for the new Canadian government sovereign funding renewed venture capital catalyst initiative (VCCI) adding up to 1.4 billion in the VC ecosystem. Canada in ranked in the top 5 in VC in the 38 countries of the OECD. Government announcements on the renewed VCCI: VCCI , Funds of Funds selection committee , Minister announcement of Fund of Funds , Minister announcement on Inclusive Growth Stream Funding.  For VCCI, examples of current contributions: Member of the Canadian government’s renewed Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative (VCCI) selection committee for the fund of funds and inclusive growth streams. See a letter of thanks outlining his work here on the Inclusive Growth stream 1 and here on the Funds of Funds stream. From the Minister,” I would like to personally thank you for your participation on the renewed Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative (VCCI) selection committee for the inclusive growth stream. Your report to the Deputy Minister of Economic Development was provided to me for my consideration and review. I appreciated the recommendations the committee developed on the selection of funds for the VCCI program, which demonstrated thoughtful deliberation and consideration. I particularly welcomed the recognition of the significant role of enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in Canadian venture capital as part of a market-driven investment program. As a member of the selection committee, you took on an important role contributing your expertise, insights, and leadership. Your industry experience provided a valuable lens through which to assess the applications, supporting the Government of Canada in its efforts to enhance access to capital to support Canadian entrepreneurs. I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate my thanks and extend my personal appreciation for the time and effort you committed to support the renewed VCCI.”
• Examples of recent activities (at the time of profile creation: 23-11-13) for fall 2023: Host/moderator supporting organizer for O’Reilly Generative AI for Government superstream summit; opening keynote and conference organizer/designer IEEE RASSE 2023 Conference Industry Forum; MC for the private YPO UNGA summit; moderator/speaker for 6^th Annual CEO LOP Summit co-hosted by Salesforce; Mentor and AMA (Ask Me Anything) for CEO  Leadership Alliance OC AI region AI course; Plenary speaker at UNAOC’S 2nd Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence “Towards the World of #OneHumanity” on Human Centered AI
• Contributor to Forbes / Cognitive World and IT World Canada on leading new investments, innovation, entrepreneurship.
• Stephen conducts interviews with global experts since the 1970s appearing with news channels, Forbes, IT World Canada, ACM, IEEE/IEEE TEMS, IFIP, NPA, CIPS, KNVI, The Brand Called You (and their 20+ platforms) and more.

More here on lifetime achievement for innovation, investments, entrepreneurship as CIPS Founding Fellow and in LinkedIn.

Bruce Leak is a Founding Partner at Playground Global. From an early age, his intellectual curiosity led to a fascination with computers and emerging technology, and later informed his career path which took him from the frontier days of Apple and Microsoft, to entrepreneurship, to his time at Playground investing in complex ideas with the potential to change the world.

Cyril Ebersweiler is a General Partner at SOSV and the founder/MD of HAX. He is an experienced investor in deep tech (250+) and has invested globally. He is a board member/advisor to a few startups including Formlabs, AngelList, Adoreme (ACQ: VSCO), Collaborate (ACQ: CISCO), Hackster (ACQ: AVNET), Dispatch Robotics (ACQ: AMZN), Makeblock, Yeelight, Particle, Opentrons, Bartesian, Avidbots and Simbe Robotics. A popular speaker at international events (TC Disrupt, Collision, Pioneers, MIT Forum, etc…) and Universities (Stanford, UC Berkeley, etc…), he authored of dozens of articles on topics such as technology, robotics, health and crowdfunding and has been featured in The Economist, Popular Mechanics, The New York Times, Bloomberg, Huffington Post, Wired, BBC and more. 

Merav Weinryb is VP & Managing Director of Qualcomm Ventures in Israel and Europe. During her tenure, Merav invested or was part of the Board of Directors of SentinelOne (NYSE:S), CrazyLabs (Acquired by Embracer), Magisto (Vimeo), OpenSignal (Comlinkdata), Tapingo (Grubhub), Weka, Scylla, Simply, Tytocare, Shopic, Medisafe and more.   

Merav has more than 25 years of high-tech and venture capital experience. Prior to joining Qualcomm Ventures, she was at Intel Capital, and before that a at Pitango Venture Capital. Merav holds a B.Sc. in Information Systems Engineering (cum laude) from the Technion, and an MBA from INSEAD, France. 

Joyce Sidopoulos is the Co-Founder and Chief of Operations at MassRobotics, whose mission is to enable and grow the next generation of robotics, AI and connected device companies.  She works on initiatives to expand the breadth and depth of the robotics ecosystem and develops high impact programs, highlighting startups technology, matching startups with funders and customers, advocating for robotics adoption, connecting talent to employers, and working with academia to commercialize research. She is a mentor and judge at accelerator and university entrepreneurship programs.  Prior experience includes 14 years of civil service with the USN’s Naval Undersea Warfare Center as Chief Scientist for Acoustic Prediction Systems, Systems & Test Engineer, and Sonar Systems Analyst.  She held senior BizDev and Engineering & Technical Resource Manager roles at General Dynamics and defense contractors. She holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University. 

Magan Naidoo is the Chief Data Officer of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), where he is leading the organization’s data and AI transformation and shaping how data is used as a strategic asset to strengthen decision-making, accelerate emergency response, optimize resources, and build more resilient food systems worldwide. As WFP’s first Chief Data Officer, he has led the development and implementation of the organization’s inaugural global data and artificial intelligence strategies, positioning WFP at the forefront of responsible, scalable AI adoption in humanitarian operations.

He brings more than two decades of international leadership experience spanning global enterprise transformation, data strategy, governance, analytics, and emerging technologies across the humanitarian, technology, financial services, consulting, manufacturing, and telecommunications sectors. Prior to WFP, he served as Country Leader for Emerging Technologies and Intelligent Platforms at Amazon Web Services (AWS), and earlier held senior executive leadership roles at Old Mutual, where he advanced enterprise data governance, executive data ownership, and strategic data enablement to support digital transformation at scale.

Earlier in his career, Magan held global leadership and advisory roles across Dimension Data, EY, SABMiller, Standard Bank, and ExxonMobil, delivering large-scale business and technology transformation initiatives across Africa, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Australia, and the United States. His work has consistently focused on aligning technology and business strategy, embedding governance at senior leadership level, and translating complex data capabilities into measurable enterprise value.

Academically, he holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Physics, an Honours Bachelor of Science in Information Systems, and a Master of Business Leadership focused on the alignment of IT and business strategy. This combination of technical depth, business leadership, and global operating experience underpins his ability to advise senior leaders and institutions on how to operationalize data and AI for strategic, ethical, and mission-critical impact.

John Samuel Gibson is an American trial lawyer and litigator who has served as founding chair of the United Nations’ AI for Good law track and is lead counsel for some of the world’s top technology companies. He is a DLA Piper partner and co-chair of the firm’s U.S. Business and Commercial Litigation practice. John has deep experience analyzing and litigating issues involving new technology platforms and ecosystems as they seek to balance incentives for both development and adoption. He is committed to exploring the use of foundational legal tools to conquer fundamental challenges posed by AI’s emergence—and thus help make “AI ready for the world, and the world ready for AI.”

In 36 years of practice, John has won high-profile trials and save-the-company cases for industry leading companies, professional sports teams, celebrities, and pro bono clients seeking social justice. These range from winning what the media called the “Trial of the Decade” in Los Angeles and winning one of California’s top jury verdicts to winning the nation’s first mandatory federal court injunction requiring a school district to accommodate the service dog of a student with autism. John has also figured prominently in litigation involving emerging technology ecosystems. He defeated a threatened injunction against launch of a leading mobile-device maker’s 4G devices regarding the client’s role in technical standard-setting for 4G-LTE mobile technology. And he won summary judgment for a leading global technology company—defeating an unfair competition law claim in a precedent-setting litigation to determine fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) licensing terms for a worldwide portfolio of standard-essential mobile-telecommunications patents. He has also represented clients in non-litigation interactions with governments and competition law enforcement agencies around the world.

John has been named one of The Best Lawyers in America, as well as one of the Daily Journal’s Top Antitrust Lawyers of the Year and is rated AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5.0 by Martindale-Hubbell. He won the Burton Award for being one of the “finest law firm writers of 2019” in a ceremony presided over by the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

John has spoken internationally on issues at the intersection of law and technology. He was a speaker at the UN’s first-ever AI Policy Day in Geneva. He also spoke on the topic of “Developing Standards For 3D Printing” at The Legal, Regulatory and Business Conference on 3D Printing in Chicago and “SEPs and FRAND: The US Approach” at the EU Competition Law: Current Issues in a Global Context event in Brussels. And John authored the article “Antitrust Law in the AI Age; Navigating the New Frontier,” published in the Daily Journal.

He has served on numerous charitable boards and is a member, alongside former U.S presidents, Supreme Court justices, and Nobel Prize winners, of the Washington, D.C.-based Cosmos Club for “persons of scholarship, creative genius, or intellectual distinction.”

John earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard University, where he was a John Harvard Scholar (top 5% of undergraduate students) and his doctorate in jurisprudence from the University of Michigan Law School, where he was an editor of the Michigan Law Review.

His multifaceted legal experience at the intersection of law and technology, his success as a leader and trial lawyer, and his commitment to social justice make John an invaluable asset and distinguished authority sought after by the international community in the evolving landscape of AI and law.

As L’Oréal’s Global Tech Director for Sustainability and Trustworthy AI since 2021, Ariane leads the Group’s responsible technology strategy, focusing on achieving high performance while upholding social and environmental responsibility. She governs and directs L’Oréal Group responsible tech processes based on four strategic pillars: Sustainable Tech by Design, Tech for Sustainability, Inclusive Tech, and Trustworthy AI.

A biologist by training, Ariane spent 12 years in L’Oréal’s Luxury division, primarily addressing supply chain challenges. Then, drawn to complex projects, her two-decade journey in sustainability includes developing the Group’s responsible sourcing program (2005), establishing and directing the Global Environment department (2008), and leading Strategic Development Operations (2015-2021). Her broad expertise spans responsible technology, ethics, supply chain management, environmental and social issues, resource efficiency, and the circular economy.

Ariane’s influence extends beyond L’Oréal. She actively contributes to business associations (Medef, AFEP, France Industrie) and serves on the boards of Hub France Intelligence Artificielle, iMPACT AI, and Positive AI. Ariane embraces the L’Oréal Group’s motto, inspired by François Dalle: “Seize what’s beginning”.

Carlo Tortora Brayda is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cyber Eagle Project Inc., a sovereign-grade AI and cybersecurity platform dedicated to protecting critical infrastructure across NATO, Five Eyes, and allied nations. Cyber Eagle is structured as a large-scale public–private partnership addressing systemic cyber, AI, and resilience risks across energy, transport, healthcare, finance, and government systems.He is also the Founder and Executive Chairman of the Tortora Brayda Institute for AI & Cybersecurity, a global think tank focused on AI governance, national security, and alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Institute convenes policymakers, industry leaders, and technologists to advance responsible AI deployment, cyber resilience, and international cooperation.Mr. Tortora Brayda has been a long-standing contributor to the United Nations ecosystem. He has spoken at multiple UN summits and forums, including those convened by the International Telecommunication Union, and serves as a Judge for the UN AI for Good Innovation Factory, including its climate-focused programs featured at UNFCCC COP. His work consistently emphasizes the role of public–private collaboration in safeguarding trust, infrastructure, and societal stability in the digital age.He is a long-term Global Leader of the Forbes Technology Council Cybersecurity Group, where he contributes thought leadership on AI security, critical infrastructure protection, digital trust, and cyber resilience for senior business and policy audiences worldwide.Mr. Tortora Brayda has also been engaged with the World Economic Forum as a Special Constituent and subject matter expert on Global Risks, contributing to discussions supporting G20 and multilateral risk frameworks. His WEF work has focused on the intersection of emerging technology, systemic cyber risk, geopolitical stability, and governance.Earlier in his career, he worked directly with UN institutions in Geneva, including as a volunteer in the Office of the United Nations Special Committee Against Apartheid. These formative experiences, alongside early engagement with senior UN leadership, shaped his lifelong focus on multilateral cooperation, ethics, and development.Beyond cybersecurity, Mr. Tortora Brayda has advised governments and international organizations on entrepreneurship, private sector development, and digital transformation, particularly in Africa, where he led initiatives supporting large..

Ryan Wang is globally acknowledged as a visionary technology futurist and esteemed business executive, specializing in Artificial Intelligence, Spatial Computing, and Frontier Technology sectors. He holds a distinguished position as Co-founder and General Partner of Outpost Capital, a trailblazing cross-border early-stage venture fund established in 2015, with a primary focus on frontier technology investments across the United States and Asia. In 2020, Ryan co-founded Zebra Labs, a music entertainment company creating new IPs and content with cutting edge technology in metaverse and AI. The company is backed by top investors including Sumitomo and MIT Media Lab.

With over a decade of active engagement in the tech sphere, Ryan has forged significant collaborations with industry giants and fortune 500 companies such as Meta and Google, serving in capacities such as advisor, consultant, or partner. These alliances showcase his commitment to fostering innovation and advancing technological frontiers.

Possessing a multicultural background and an exemplary track record, Ryan oversees a diverse portfolio of companies across North America, Europe, and Asia. His profound insights and robust connections within these markets have facilitated numerous successful ventures and have led to him being frequently featured in prestigious international media outlets, including Forbes, The Economist, and The Wall Street Journal. Furthermore, Ryan is a sought-after speaker, delivering keynote addresses at myriad global conferences, where he shares his visionary ideas and insights on the evolving technological landscape.

Before venturing into the technological domain, Ryan amassed extensive experience and built a comprehensive and successful career in investment banking, working with Citigroup and Societe Generale in New York City. This foundation has been instrumental in shaping his astute business acumen and strategic approach to technology investments and collaborations.

Barbara Glover is a dedicated advocate for science, technology, and innovation in Africa. With a background in innovation and emerging technologies and extensive experience in research and policy, Dr. Glover currently serves on the secretariat of the African Union High-Level Panel on Emerging Technologies (APET) at the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD). In this role, she works towards harnessing scientific advancements for the sustainable development of the continent. Dr Glover’s passion lies in promoting collaborative efforts that leverage technology for positive impact across diverse sectors.

She also spearheads work on the AUDA-NEPAD Artificial Intelligence Continental White Paper and Roadmap and the development of innovative policy instruments around AI in sectors like health, education, climate change, and food security.

Her current work builds upon experiences working since 2016 at AUDA-NEPAD in aiding African countries in identifying, harnessing, and implementing emerging technologies for Africa’s socioeconomic development. In this role, Dr. Glover supports conducting research, analysing data, and strengthening capacity on frontier technologies for socio-economic development. Additionally, she engages in evidence-based analysis of science, technology, and innovation (STI) papers, drafts policy recommendations, develops guidelines for deploying emerging technologies, and contributes to the creation and implementation of capacity-building programs aimed at fostering a culture of innovation among the youth.

Ludovic brings 17 years of experience in venture capital, new business creation and strategic partnerships at Sony. Based in Silicon Valley as a core member of Sony Innovation Fund (SIF) since its inception, Ludovic leads startup scouting, due diligence, venture investment execution as well as portfolio management in many core SIF focus areas such as FinTech, InsurTech, web3, Mobility, Drones, FoodTech, AgTech and Environment. 

Ludovic was previously at Sony’s global headquarters in Tokyo, where he ran strategic assessments, mid & long-term technology perspectives and financial valuations to foster Sony’s Intellectual Property. Before that, he spent several years as Corporate Strategist in London, New York and Paris, spanning the entire spectrum of Sony’s Electronics, Gaming, Content, Financial Services, Telecommunications & B2B activities. 

A French native, Ludovic holds a MSc in Information & Communication Technology from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Sweden, and a MSc in Industrial Engineering & Management from the École Centrale in France. 

Richard V. Rothenberg is President of the Global Algorithmic Institute (UN MoU partner) a think tank whose AI-driven datasets measuring ESG risks and SDG progress have been incorporated into multiple United Nations publications.

Richard serves as Research Affiliate at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory—one of the world’s premier supercomputing facilities with 13 Nobel Prizes—and advisor to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on experimental AI technologies for national security applications.

He has served as UN Expert on the UNCTAD Task Force on Data for the SDGs and the UN Science, Technology and Innovation Expert Group, shaping international AI governance frameworks
As CEO and Co-Founder of Global AI Corporation, Richard deploys AI systems providing alternative ESG, SDG, and sustainable finance data for institutional clients, including governments, multinational corporations, and asset managers

Previously, Richard worked as a quantitative portfolio manager and researcher at multi-billion dollar hedge funds and global investment banks, including Deutsche Bank, and other leading institutions, pioneering AI/ML applications in financial markets.
Richard established the Quantitative Investing Group at the CFA NY Society – the leading forum for the investment community in NY with over 10k professional members – and also serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of AI, Robotics & Workplace Automation.

He has been a speaker and advisor at the MIT/Stanford AI Summit in Davos during the World Economic Forum, the UN Financing For Development Summit & SDG Fair, the Future Minerals Forum in Saudi Arabia, where he presented an AI-powered Critical Minerals Barometer under royal patronage, among other international events.
Richard holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Computational Finance from the Monterrey Institute of Technology, a Certificate of Quantitative Finance from the CQF Institute, and an MBA in Quantitative Finance from Columbia University in New York City.

Kirsty Tan has spent more than two decades helping the world’s leading organizations navigate complexity—as a management consultant, academic institution-builder, and trusted advisor to enterprises across three continents. At AI Aspire, she brings that experience to one of the most consequential challenges facing business leaders today: turning AI from a buzzword into a lasting organizational capability.

Her approach is built on a simple premise. AI transformation doesn’t happen in the boardroom or the IT department alone—it has to move through the entire organization, from the executive team to the front line. Working with clients from the C-suite down, Kirsty helps enterprises identify their most pressing challenges, build internal teams that can act on them, and develop the leadership habits that sustain progress long after the engagement ends.

That philosophy was forged over a decade leading executive MBA programs at some of the world’s most respected institutions—including École des Ponts ParisTech and Tsinghua University—where she designed curriculum for future technology and aerospace leaders across Beijing, Paris and Toulouse. She knows what it takes to build capability at scale, and she knows that real transformation requires more than a workshop. Kirsty also serves as General Partner of AI Fund’s Growth Fund, giving her a direct line to the most promising AI companies in the market and the ability to connect enterprise clients with solutions built for their specific needs.

She is fluent in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Bahasa, and holds a PhD in international business with high honors from the International School of Management in Paris, an MBA from Deakin University, a bachelor’s degree with a triple major in commercial law, information systems, and accounting, and is a Chartered Accountant.

General Partner at FoundersX Ventures, an AI-first venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley with offices in Boston and New York City, backing exceptional founders at the earliest stages. With over $500 million in assets under management, FoundersX is a backer of SpaceX and World Labs. Ms. Chen leads the firm’s research initiatives and investment strategies spanning the AI value chain, encompassing energy, semiconductors, and applications. Her investment portfolio includes FS2, which develops high-performance 3D chips using 2D semiconductors; Cognito Therapeutics, a company pioneering non-invasive neuromodulation treatments for Alzheimer’s disease; Solve Intelligence, an AI platform for patent law; and LunaJoy, a mental health platform focused on women and families. Prior to FoundersX, Ms. Chen directed projects at the MIT Media Lab that were featured in The New York Times, focusing on the convergence of health, music, and technology. She earned both her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees from Stanford University.

Trish Thomas is the Chief Executive Officer of Cascador and Executive Director of the Empowering Economic Growth Foundation (EEGF). As a leader of the Nigeria-based Cascador ScaleUp program since its inaugural cohort, she is committed to supporting African entrepreneurs in building sustainable, innovative, and impactful companies. Prior to her role at EEGF and Cascador, Trish was an entrepreneur and consultant. She holds an MBA in Management & Strategy and a BS in Computer Information Systems. Her career spans over 25 years, during which she founded, led, and advised companies across diverse industries, including tech, healthcare, and advertising. Trish is a speaker and thought leader on topics including leadership, international capital deployment, entrepreneurship, technology, workforce dynamics, strategy, and marketing. She has been featured in outlets including Forbes Africa, Arise TV, BusinessDay, This Day, TechPoint, and TechCabal.

Rakesh Rawal is founder and CEO of Codex. Founded in London in 2005, Codex events have captured the imagination of sophisticated audiences for over 20 years, hosting some of the biggest names in science, technology, business, media and academia. The “Codex” name embodies the Renaissance ideal. Each “Codex”, or notebook, forms a testament to the ingenuity of Leonardo da Vinci and his visionary ideas which were centuries ahead of their time.

Codex’s mission is to evoke a similar spirit of enlightenment by inspiring technology leaders and entrepreneurs to apply their collective imaginations to deliver technologies that will continue to transform our lives. Whilst the creativity of Leonardo da Vinci was captured in his notebooks, Codex shares the wisdom of today’s great innovators via Codex Talks and engaging events.

Rakesh holds a BSc in Economics from the University of London. His early career was in consulting at Accenture. Rakesh is an Advisory Board Member – Generation AI, Reuben College, University of Oxford. Generation AI is uniting researchers, innovators, technologists, policymakers, and founders to address questions about the impact of AI on young people across the globe.

Rakesh was born and raised in Manchester, England, and remains an optimistic Manchester United FC supporter. He spends his spare time with his 7-year old daughter, playing tennis, and trying to cook the ultimate lamb curry..!

As a thought leader in cutting-edge technologies such as AI, blockchain, authentication, quantum, and data security, I spearhead an innovative technology advisory firm that also offers asset management and IP valuation & financing services. Our independent IP valuation services empower forward-thinking companies to gain a competitive edge, attract attention from capital markets, bolster share prices, and secure funding opportunities. We achieve this by leveraging non-dilutive financing options that effectively communicate the marketability strength and value of their intellectual property assets. 

Additionally, I hold the position of senior managing partner at a pioneering technology incubation accelerator that focuses on growth opportunities in emerging deep technology markets. Our primary objective is to mitigate the risks of data privacy and data rights breaches. Over the years, I have authored pivotal patents in network security, identity verification, content security, and network tracking/use verification. 

Furthermore, I actively contribute to the United Nations (UN) AI for Good Innovation Factory project, where I serve as a judge, expert, and speaker. Through live pitch sessions, we support deep tech start-ups in accelerating the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Additionally, I am proud to be an official member of the Forbes Finance Council, an exclusive community for senior-level finance executives. 

Before delving into the world of deep technology and data security, I held key executive management positions at renowned Fortune 500 companies, including Kaiser Permanente, 3M, GSK, Allergan, and KPMG. With a track record of over 20 years in entrepreneurship, technology, global operations management, and business development, my expertise has been predominantly within the Healthcare and Life Sciences industry. 

Tomas is an entrepreneur, educator, keynote speaker, and branding expert. As the CEO and Co-Owner of the international branding studio GoBIGNAME, he works with startups, SMEs, and corporates to help their brands scale globally.

His work earned him a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. With his team they completed more then 400 expert branding projects including working with: Slido, a Saas startup with more than 45 million users acquired by Cisco, Exponea acquired by Bloomreach valued over $2.2 billion, Berlin Brands Group valued over $1,2 billion, Rezztek – technology startup brand which became officially licensed product by NHL and license provider for global sport brand HEAD.

Tomas has been sharing his knowledge through masterclasses and keynotes for organizations and companies all over Europe. He’s worked with the Swiss Government, The UN, and was part of the Google Certified Trainers program, showing his passion for helping others succeed in business and branding.

With over 20 years of experience in African telecommunications and a strong track record managing startup venture capital portfolio at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Henri operates at the intersection of cloud infrastructure, venture scale, and sustainable innovation. At Silicon Overdrive (an AWS Premier Partner), Henri empowers founders to build resilient, investor-ready tech ventures —while fostering relationships with AI innovators tackling global challenges. Why connect with Henri? Whether you’re a founder looking to reduce technical debt, optimize cloud costs, and build venture-proof foundations, an investor navigating the African tech ecosystem, or an AI platform driving impact toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Henri brings strategic guidance, deep cloud expertise, and an extensive network to help you scale.

Amelle Benabdellaziz is a Senior Program Officer with the IP for Business Division at WIPO. She contributes to the development of initiatives that support startups and SMEs in leveraging intellectual property as a strategic asset for growth, innovation and competitiveness.

Prior to joining WIPO in 2026, Amelle worked for more than 15 years as an Intellectual Property lawyer in both private practice and in-house. Most recently, she held intellectual property Manager positions in a multinational active in a highly regulated industry, where she was supporting the business with IP Management and strategy.

Her professional experience spans Intellectual Property strategy, brand management, commercialization, enforcement and the integration of intellectual property into broader business and innovation strategies.

Melissa Tickle is an Investment Manager at FINCA Ventures with 7 years of experience in Impact Investing, SME Finance, and ESG management. FINCA Ventures is an early stage impact investor that supports social enterprises across sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to FINCA, she managed the Impact and ESG program for TriLinc Global, a fund sponsor that lends to SMEs globally. Melissa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and International Relations.

Arpna Aggarwal, CISA, CFE, is a technology risk, cybersecurity, and AI governance leader working at the intersection of responsible AI, digital trust, healthcare, and inclusive innovation. She is a Senior IT Auditor at a global healthcare company and a member of the Forbes Technology Council, where she contributes perspectives on AI governance, digital health, cybersecurity, and emerging technology risk.

With a professional journey spanning Tanzania and the United States, Arpna brings a global perspective to ensuring that AI systems are not only innovative, but also accountable, explainable, secure, and inclusive. Her work explores how governance and assurance can be embedded into AI systems by design, particularly in healthcare and other high-impact environments where technology decisions can directly affect people and communities.

Arpna serves in a voluntary leadership and advisory capacity with the Tanzania Health Informatics Association (TAHIA), contributing to efforts that advance health informatics, responsible digital transformation, and stronger connections between technology, governance, and healthcare in Tanzania. She also serves as Vice President of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) Central Carolinas Chapter, supporting professional development, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing across the fraud prevention, investigation, audit, and risk community.

An international speaker and thought leader, Arpna has contributed to global conversations through platforms including ISACA, IEEE, WomenTech, Forbes Technology Council, and international audit and technology forums, addressing responsible AI, algorithmic accountability, cybersecurity resilience, and digital trust.

Her work is grounded in a commitment to Africa’s digital transformation and to increasing the participation and visibility of women and underrepresented voices in AI, cybersecurity, and technology governance.

Arpna’s mission is to help build an AI future in which innovation and trust advance together, ensuring that intelligent technologies are safe, inclusive, accountable, and designed to deliver meaningful societal impact.