Doreen Bogdan-Martin took office as Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 1 January 2023. Ms Bogdan-Martin was elected as ITU’s first-ever female Secretary-General by Member States at the Union’s Plenipotentiary Conference in Bucharest, Romania. Ms Bogdan-Martin was previously the Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau. She took office on 1 January 2019, becoming the first woman in ITU history to hold one of the organization’s top elected management positions. <div>Ms Bogdan-Martin is a strategic leader with more than 30 years’ high-level experience in international and inter-governmental relations and a long history of success advising governments around the world on policy and regulatory issues.</div> <div></div> <div>From 2008-2018, she led ITU’s Strategic Planning & Membership Department. She was instrumental in establishing the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, on which she has served as Executive Director for more than a decade, and was an architect of the annual Global Symposium for Regulators, the pre-eminent global event for digital policymakers, as well as director of ITU’s first global youth summit, #BYND. She pioneered and oversees ITU’s ongoing contribution to the EQUALS Global Partnership for Gender Equality in the Digital Age, and is leading ITU’s collaboration with UNICEF on the Giga project to connect all the world’s schools.</div> <div></div> <div>Ms Bogdan-Martin is a frequent speaker at top-level international policy events and has spearheaded ITU’s new Youth Strategy to more actively engage with the young people who are driving the next wave of digital transformation.</div> <div></div> <div>During her tenure as Director of BDT, she has led the implementation of a Results-Based Management system, improved internal accountability frameworks, and initiated a comprehensive review of reporting mechanisms across BDT’s global network of field and area offices, with a view to creating a more dynamic, responsive and fit-for-purpose organization.</div> <div></div> <div>Ms Bogdan-Martin holds a Master’s degree in International Communications Policy from American University in Washington, DC, post-graduate certification in Strategies for Leadership from the Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland, and is certified in Accountability and Ethics by the United Nations Leaders Programme.</div> <div></div> <div>She is an affiliate of the Harvard University Berkman-Klein Center for Internet and Society, a Generation Unlimited Champion, and a Champion of the EDISON Alliance led by the World Economic Forum. She serves on a number of advisory bodies, including the Geneva-Tsinghua Initiative, the SDG Lab Advisory Board, the UN Technology Innovation Labs, and the Alumni Expert Council of the Internet Governance Lab of American University in Washington D.C. She is also a qualified amateur radio operator.</div> <div></div> <div>Ms Bogdan-Martin is married with four children.</div>

Ms. Amina J. Mohammed is the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group. Prior to her appointment, Ms. Mohammed served as Minister of Environment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria where she steered the country’s efforts on climate action and efforts to protect the natural environment. Ms. Mohammed first joined the United Nations in 2012 as Special Adviser to former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with the responsibility for post-2015 development planning. She led the process that resulted in global agreement around the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the creation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Ms. Mohammed began her career working on the design of schools and hospitals in Nigeria. She served as an advocate focused on increasing access to education and other social services, before moving into the public sector, where she rose to the position of adviser to four successive Presidents on poverty, public sector reform, and sustainable development. Ms. Mohammed has been conferred several honorary doctorates and has served as an adjunct professor, lecturing on international development. The recipient of various global awards, Ms. Mohammed has served on numerous international advisory boards and panels. She is the mother of six children and has four grandchildren.

Geoffrey Hinton received his BA in Experimental Psychology from Cambridge in 1970 and his PhD in Artificial Intelligence from Edinburgh in 1978.  He did postdoctoral work at Sussex University and the University of California San Diego and spent five years as a faculty member in the Computer Science department at Carnegie-Mellon University. He then became a fellow of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research and moved to the <a href="http://www.cs.toronto.edu/">Department of Computer Science</a> at the University of Toronto. He spent three years from 1998 until 2001 setting up the <a href="http://www.gatsby.ucl.ac.uk/">Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit</a> at University College London and then returned to the University of Toronto where he is now an emeritus distinguished professor. From 2004 until 2013 he was the director of the program on "Neural Computation and Adaptive Perception" which is funded by the <a href="http://www.ciar.ca/">Canadian Institute for Advanced Research</a>. From 2013 to 2023 he worked half-time at Google where he became a Vice President and Engineering Fellow. Geoffrey Hinton is a fellow of <a href="http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/">the Royal Society</a>, <a href="http://www.rsc.ca/">the Royal Society of Canada</a>, <a href="hhttp://www.aaai.org/">the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence</a> and a former president of <a href="http://www.cognitivesciencesociety.org/">the Cognitive Science Society</a>. He is an honorary foreign member of <a href="http://www.amacad.org/">the American Academy of Arts and Sciences</a>, the US National Academy of Engineering and the US National Academy of Science. He has received honorary doctorates from the University of Edinburgh, the University of Sussex, the University of Sherbrooke and the University of Toronto. His awards include the <a href="http://www.cnbc.cmu.edu/derprize/announce2001.html">David E. Rumelhart prize</a>, the <a href="http://ijcai.org/awards/">IJCAI award for research excellence</a>, the <a href="http://www.canadacouncil.ca/prizes/killam/">Killam prize for Engineering </a>, The <a href="http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Prizes-Prix/Index_eng.asp">NSERC Herzberg Gold Medal</a>, the IEEE Frank Rosenblatt medal, the IEEE James Clerk Maxwell Gold medal, the NEC C&C award, the BBVA award, the Honda Prize, the Princess of Asturias Award and the ACM Turing Award. Geoffrey Hinton designs machine learning algorithms. His aim is to discover a learning procedure that is efficient at finding complex structure in large, high-dimensional datasets and to show that this is how the brain learns to see. He was one of the researchers who introduced the <a href="https://www.cs.toronto.edu/~hinton/backprop.html">back-propagation</a> algorithm and the first to use backpropagation for learning word embeddings. His other contributions to neural network research include <a href="https://www.cs.toronto.edu/~hinton/boltzmann.html">Boltzmann machines,</a> <a href="https://www.cs.toronto.edu/~hinton/distrep.html">distributed representations</a>, time-delay neural nets, <a href="https://www.cs.toronto.edu/~hinton/mixex.html">mixtures of experts</a>, <a href="https://www.cs.toronto.edu/~hinton/helmholtz.html">variational learning</a>, <a href="https://www.cs.toronto.edu/~hinton/poe.html">products of experts</a> and deep belief nets.    His research group in Toronto made major breakthroughs in deep learning that have revolutionized speech recognition and object classification.

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.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the first woman and first African to hold the position in the 80-year history of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and the WTO. Dr Okonjo-Iweala is an economist and international development expert with more than 40 years of experience. She was Chair of the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (2016–2020), the African Union's African Risk Capacity Group (2014–2020), and Co-Chair of the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate with Lord Nicholas Stern (2014-2020). She was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Rockefeller Foundation. She co-chaired the G20 High Level Independent Panel on Financing for Pandemic Preparedness and was one of the founders of the COVAX Facility, designed to get affordable vaccines to Low and Low Middle-Income Countries. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the World Economic Forum and is co-chair of the Global Commission on the Economics of Water. She is also a member of the G30 Group of top 30 people in International Finance and a council member of the Prince of Wales's Earthshot Prize. Dr Okonjo-Iweala holds the distinction of being the first woman to serve as Nigeria’s Finance Minister, a post she held for seven years in two terms. She also served briefly as the first female Foreign Affairs Minister. As Finance Minister, she implemented policy and institutional reforms to help fight corruption and she spearheaded the complete write off by the Paris Club of $30 billion of Nigeria’s debt. She spent a 25-year career at the World Bank, rising to the number two position of Managing Director, Operations. Previously Dr Okonjo-Iweala, among other duties, served as Senior Advisor at Lazard Ltd. and sat on the boards of Standard Chartered Bank PLC and Twitter Inc. She served in 2020 as African Union COVID-19 Special Envoy as well as World Health Organization COVID 19 Special Envoy. Dr Okonjo-Iweala is the recipient of numerous honors and accolades. In 2023, she was awarded the Lord Byron International Prize from the Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism and the Global Economy Prize from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. In 2022, she obtained the Global Leadership Award by the American Academy of Achievement.  In 2021, she received a Global Leadership Award from the United Nations Foundation as a “Champion for Global Change”. She was inducted as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2019 and featured in the Foreign Policy's Top 100 Global Thinkers in 2011 and 2012. She has also been listed among 73 “brilliant” business influencers in the world by Condé Nast International. Dr Okonjo-Iweala was named in 2014 and again in 2021, one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the world. She was also featured on the TIME magazine cover page in 2021. She has been named seven times by Forbes as one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in the World and in 2020, was named Forbes African of the Year. In 2021, she was named by Financial Times as one of the 25 Most Influential Women in the World and in 2015 she was ranked by Fortune as one of the 50 Greatest World Leaders. Dr Okonjo-Iweala is also the recipient of Nigeria's second highest National Honor Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON)-2022. She was awarded national honours by the governments of the Republic of Liberia and the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire in 2016. She also received the Grand Cross of the Order of Rio Branco from the Federative Republic of Brazil in 2023. In 2024, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala was honored with the Collar of the Order of Timor Leste, the country's second highest honor. Dr Okonjo-Iweala is the recipient of 21 honorary degrees from some of the world’s most prestigious institutions, including Yale University, the University of Pennsylvania, Brown University, Trinity College - Dublin, University of Amsterdam, Luiss University - Italy, American University - USA, Nyenrode Business University, Obafemi Awolowo University and Nile University of Nigeria. She is distinguished visiting fellow at Brookings and a Global Public Leader at Harvard Kennedy School. Dr Okonjo-Iweala is the author of several books, including Women and Leadership: Real Lives, Real Lessons co-authored with Julia Gillard (Penguin Random House, July 2020), Fighting Corruption is Dangerous: The Story Behind the Headlines (MIT Press, 2018), Reforming the UnReformable: Lessons from Nigeria, (MIT Press, 2012), and The Debt Trap in Nigeria: Towards a Sustainable Debt Strategy (Africa World Press, 2003). She also co-authored with Tijan Sallah the book Chinua Achebe: Teacher of Light (Africa World Press, 2003). She has also published numerous articles including, Why the World Still Needs Trade (Foreign Affairs, August 2023, Editors' Top Pick 2023), Finding A Vaccine is Only the First Step (Foreign Affairs, April 2020), Mobilizing Finance for Education in the Commonwealth (Commonwealth Education Report 2019), Shine a Light on the Gaps — an essay on financial inclusion for African Small Holder Farmers (Foreign Affairs, 2015), Funding the SDGs: Licit and Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries (Horizons Magazine, 2016). Dr Okonjo-Iweala holds a Bachelor’s in Economics (Magna Cum Laude) from Harvard University and a PhD in Regional Economics and Development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

<span data-teams="true">David A. Sinclair, A.O., Ph.D. is considered one of the world’s most influential scientists and a leading figure in the study of human longevity. He is a tenured Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School (Boston, MA, USA) and Co- Founder & Co-Chief Editor of the scientific journal Aging.</span> Professor Sinclair’s pioneering work in genetics and aging biology has fundamentally shaped the world’s understanding of mechanisms of aging and agerelated diseases. He is best known for his research on the molecular biology of aging, particularly the role of sirtuins, NAD+ metabolism, and epigenetic changes in regulating the aging process. In 2020, the Sinclair Lab reported successful use of cellular reprogramming to safely reverse aging in mammals, which they showed could cure blindness in animal models. Professor Sinclair served as Founding Director of the Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research at Harvard Medical School from 2004 – 2023 and has published over 400 articles that have been cited ~100,000 times. He is the inventor on more than 50 patents and has co-founded over a dozen successful companies including MetroBiotech, EdenRoc Sciences, Fully Aligned Company, and Life Biosciences. Professor Sinclair is the New York Times bestselling author of Lifespan: Why We Age-And Why We Don’t Have To and the host of the Lifespan with Dr. David Sinclair podcast, a #1 show on Apple that provides health and science education. Among over 35 career awards, Professor Sinclair has been recognized as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People In The World, one of TIME’s 50 Most Influential People In Health Care, received the Pioneer Award from the Director of the NIH, The Noble Genius Prize from The World Forum, and was appointed by Queen Elizabeth’s representative as Officer of the Order of Australia (A.O.) for his contributions to scientific research, science communication, and national security.

<section class="section foundation is-medium"> <div class="container"> <div class="columns biography-container last-bio"> <div class="column biography"> <p class="body1">Meredith Whittaker is Signal's President and a member of the Signal Foundation Board of Directors.</p> <p class="body1">She has over 17 years of experience in tech, spanning industry, academia, and government. Before joining Signal as President, she was the Minderoo Research Professor at NYU, and served as the Faculty Director of the AI Now Institute which she co-founded. Her research and scholarly work helped shape global AI policy and shift the public narrative on AI to better recognize the surveillance business practices and concentration of industrial resources that modern AI requires. Prior to NYU, she worked at Google for over a decade, where she led product and engineering teams, founded Google's Open Research Group, and co-founded M-Lab, a globally distributed network measurement platform that now provides the world's largest source of open data on internet performance. She also helped lead organizing at Google. She was one of the core organizers pushing back against the company's insufficient response to concerns about AI and its harms, and was a central organizer of the Google Walkout. She has advised the White House, the FCC, the City of New York, the European Parliament, and many other governments and civil society organizations on privacy, security, artificial intelligence, internet policy, and measurement. And she recently completed a term as Senior Advisor on AI to the Chair at the US Federal Trade Commission.</p> </div> </div> </div> </section><section class="section foundation is-medium"> <div class="container"></div> </section>

<div class="section background-transparent blue-bar-container image-container text-container separator-container" data-section-status="loaded"> <div class="d-grid cog-container col-two-5-7"> <div id="11b2880485" class="column-1"> <div class="text-wrapper wrapper-11b2880485"> <div class="text wrapper-container-a9e9d01016 parent-column-col-two-5-7 group-container-11b2880485-1 wrapper-col-1 block headerSpacing-fix pb-3" data-block-name="text" data-block-status="loaded"> <div> Ravi Kumar S was appointed CEO of Cognizant in January 2023. In his role as CEO, Ravi sets the strategic direction of the company, promotes Cognizant’s client-first culture, and focuses on ensuring sustainable growth and driving long-term shareholder value. He is a highly accomplished services industry executive with experience across digital transformation, traditional technology and engineering services, data and analytics, cloud and infrastructure, and consulting. Prior to Cognizant, Ravi served as President of Infosys from 2016 to 2022, where he led the global services organization across all industry segments and served as Chairman of the Board of Infosys BPM Ltd. Previously, he was the Group Head for the Insurance, Healthcare, and Cards and Payments unit, and led the Global Delivery organization where he built the Oracle and CRM practices. Before joining Infosys, Ravi served in positions of increasing responsibility at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Cambridge Technology Partners, Oracle and Sapient (now Publicis Sapient). The early part of his career was spent as a nuclear scientist at the Bhabha Atomic Research Center of India. Ravi is a member of the board of directors of TransUnion and served on the board of directors for Digimarc Corporation from 2021 to 2023. He is also on the board of governors of New York Academy of Sciences and the board of directors for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In 2024, Ravi joined the board of directors for the US‑India Strategic Partnership Forum. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Shivaji University and an MBA from Xavier Institute of Management, India. </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="fragment-container" data-section-status="loaded"> <div class="fragment-wrapper"></div> <div class="fragment-wrapper"></div> </div>

Yoshua <span class="marko6l4q15we" data-markjs="true" data-ogac="" data-ogab="" data-ogsc="" data-ogsb="">Bengio</span> is recognized as one of the world’s leading experts in artificial intelligence and a pioneer in deep learning. Since 1993, he has been a professor in the Department of Computer Science and Operational Research at the Université de Montréal. He is the founder and scientific director of Mila, the Quebec Institute of Artificial Intelligence, the world’s largest university-based research group in deep learning. He is a member of the NeurIPS board and co-founder and general chair for the ICLR conference, as well as program director of the CIFAR program on Learning in Machines and Brains and is Fellow of the same institution. In 2018, Yoshua <span class="marko6l4q15we" data-markjs="true" data-ogac="" data-ogab="" data-ogsc="" data-ogsb="">Bengio</span> ranked as the computer scientist with the most new citations, worldwide, thanks to his many publications. In 2019, he received the ACM A.M. Turing Award, “the Nobel Prize of Computing”, jointly with Geoffrey Hinton and Yann LeCun for conceptual and engineering breakthroughs that have made deep neural networks a critical component of computing. In 2020 he was nominated Fellow of the Royal Society of London.

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alexandra (Sasha) Luccioni is a Postdoctoral Researcher working on AI for Humanity initiatives at Mila - Quebec AI Institute, under the supervision of Yoshua Bengio. She obtained her PhD in Cognitive Computing from UQÀM in 2018 and spent two years working in applied ML, specifically in applying deep learning and NLP to different industrial applications. She is highly involved in community initiatives, serving on the Research and Policy Committee of Women in Machine Learning (WiML) and on the Advisory board of Kids Code Jeunesse.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->

Philip is chief executive of the Raspberry Pi Foundation, an educational charity with a global mission to enable young people to realise their full potential through the power of computing and digital technologies. Philip was previously a non-executive director of the Foundation's commercial business, Raspberry Pi Ltd and part of the team that led the successful IPO of the business on the London Stock Exchange in June 2024. Prior to joining Raspberry Pi, Philip was the Deputy Chief Executive of the UK's innovation foundation, Nesta, where he built programmes and ventures to address social problems through innovation. He was a non-executive director of the Behavioural Insights Team (the Nudge Unit) and a founding trustee of the Centre for London. He served as an adviser on social innovation to the UK government, and has advised municipal and national governments, charities, and social enterprises all over the world. Earlier in his career, Philip was a chief officer at the London Borough of Camden and a senior civil servant in the Home Office. Philip has a degree in law from the University of Liverpool and qualifications in management and finance. Outside of work he is a dad, craft cider maker, and a slow cyclist. He is an active member of the local community, having served as a scout volunteer, a school governor, and trustee of a local arts organisation.

<span lang="en-AE" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">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 that influence the strategic priorities and operations for Deloitte globally.</span> <span lang="en-AE">Anna is dedicated to driving responsible growth and positive societal impact through collaboration, effective governance and ethical leadership. She is passionate about the role of boards in building trust and resilience in a changing world - by providing constructive oversight and collaborating across their ecosystems to create long-term value for all.  She is a thought leader on topics including board performance, impact and organisational resilience.</span> <span lang="en-AE">Anna is also an active member of several advisory boards including the B20 International Advisory Caucus, the British American Business International Advisory Board and the World Economic Forum Community of Chairpersons. </span><span lang="en-GB">Anna is also a fellow and former board member of the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability in the UK. </span><span lang="en-AE">Prior to becoming the Deloitte Global Chair, Anna held leadership, board and executive roles for Deloitte North & South Europe (NSE) and Deloitte UK. She also has 20 years’ experience as a practicing audit partner.</span>

Rebeca Grynspan, economist and former Vice-President of Costa Rica, was named Secretary-General of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in September 2021. She is the first woman to hold this position in the institution’s 60-year history. Prior to her appointment, she was the Secretary-General of the Ibero-American Conference, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Associate Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, as well as Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. She was elected Vice-President of Costa Rica from 1994 to 1998 and held the positions of Minister of Housing, Minister Coordinator of Economic and Social Affairs and Deputy Finance Minister. A renowned advocate of human development, she has helped to focus the world’s attention on the reduction of inequality and poverty, gender equality and multilateralism. She currently coordinates the task team of the Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance created by the United Nations Secretary-General and on whose behalf she leads negotiations to reintegrate food and fertilizers from Ukraine and the Russian Federation to global markets.

Cameron F. Kerry is a global thought leader on privacy, artificial intelligence, and cross-border challenges in information technology. He joined Governance Studies and the Center for Technology Innovation at Brookings in December 2013 as the first Ann R. and Andrew H. Tisch Distinguished Visiting Fellow. He leads two projects: The Privacy Debate, which engages policymakers and stakeholders on the national legislative debate on privacy, and the Forum for Cooperation on AI, a series of roundtables bringing together officials and experts from several countries to identify avenues of cooperation on AI regulation, standards, and research and development. Previously, Kerry served as general counsel and acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, where he was a leader on a wide of range of issues including technology, trade, and economic growth and security. He continues to speak and write on these issues, focusing primarily on privacy, artificial intelligence, and international data flows, along with other digital economy issues. During his time as acting secretary, Kerry served as chief executive of this Cabinet agency and its 43,000 employees around the world as well as an adviser to then President Barack Obama. His tenure marked the first time in U.S. history two siblings have served in the president’s Cabinet at the same time. As general counsel, he was the principal legal adviser to the several Secretaries of Commerce and Commerce agency heads. Kerry spearheaded development of the White House blueprint on consumer privacy, “Consumer Data Privacy in a Networked World: A Framework for Protecting Privacy and Promoting Innovation in the Global Digital Economy”. He then led the administration’s implementation of the blueprint, drafting privacy legislation and engaging with international partners, including the European Union. He also was a leader in the Obama administration’s successful effort to pass the America Invents Act, the most significant overhaul of the patent system in more than 150 years. He helped establish and lead the Commerce Department’s Internet Policy Task Force, and was the department’s voice on cybersecurity issues and similar issues in the White House “Deputies Committee.” Kerry also played a significant role on intellectual property policy and litigation, cybersecurity, international bribery, trade relations and rule of law development in China, the Gulf Oil spill litigation, and other challenges facing a large, diverse federal agency. He traveled to the People’s Republic of China on numerous occasions to co-lead the Transparency Dialogue with China as well as the U.S.-China Legal Exchange and exchanges on anti-corruption. In addition to his Brookings affiliation, Kerry is a visiting scholar at the MIT Media Lab. He also served as senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP in Boston, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C., where his practice involved privacy, security, and international trade issues. Before Kerry’s appointment to the Obama administration in 2009, he practiced law at the Mintz Levin firm in Boston and Washington and taught telecommunications law as an adjunct professor at Suffolk University Law School. Kerry has also been actively engaged in politics and community service throughout his adult life. During the 2004 presidential campaign, he was a close adviser and national surrogate for Democratic nominee John Kerry, traveling to 29 States and even Israel. He has served on the boards of nonprofits, and is currently on the board of the National Archives Foundation.

Kate Kallot is a world-class technologist who has received sustained global acclaim in tech for social impact, most notably for her work advancing technology access across Africa. She has received multiple accolades for her work, including being named TIME 100 most influential people in AI 2023. Kate is the Founder & CEO of Amini, an impact-driven AI startup solving Africa’s environmental data scarcity to support regenerating natural capital at scale. With over a decade of experience in leading AI innovation at global tech companies such as NVIDIA, Intel, and Arm, she has a proven track record of delivering cutting-edge technology solutions that drive social impact and transform communities. Kate is a recognized expert and influencer in the AI field, advising international organizations and governments on the potential and challenges of AI for good. <h3></h3>

<div class="_8xs9"> <div class="_8_vg"> <p class="_8w6f _8w61 _8w6h _9sdh">Yann is Chief AI Scientist for Facebook AI Research (FAIR), joining Facebook in December 2013. He is also a Silver Professor at New York University on a part time basis, mainly affiliated with the NYU Center for Data Science, and the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences.</p> <p class="_8w6f _8w61 _8w6h _9sdh">He received the EE Diploma from Ecole Supérieure d’Ingénieurs en Electrotechnique et Electronique (ESIEE Paris), and a PhD in CS from Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris) in 1987. After a postdoc at the University of Toronto, he joined AT&T Bell Laboratories in Holmdel, NJ in 1988. He became head of the Image Processing Research Department at AT&T Labs-Research in 1996, and joined NYU as a professor in 2003, after a brief period as a Fellow of the NEC Research Institute in Princeton. From 2012 to 2014 he was the founding director of the NYU Center for Data Science. Yann is the co-director of the CIFAR program on Neural Computation and Adaptive Perception Program with Yoshua Bengio.</p> <p class="_8w6f _8w61 _8w6h _9sdh">He is a member of the US National Academy of Engineering, a Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, a fellow of AAAI, the recipient of the 2014 IEEE Neural Network Pioneer Award, the 2015 IEEE Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence Distinguished Researcher Award, the 2016 Lovie Award for Lifetime Achievement, the University of Pennsylvania Pender Award, and received honorary doctorates from IPN, Mexico and EPFL.</p> <p class="_8w6f _8w61 _8w6h _9sdh">He is the recipient of the 2018 ACM Turing Award (with Geoffrey Hinton and Yoshua Bengio) for "conceptual and engineering breakthroughs that have made deep neural networks a critical component of computing."</p> <p class="_8w6f _8w61 _8w6h _9sdh">His research interests include machine learning and artificial intelligence, with applications to computer vision, natural language understanding, robotics, and computational neuroscience. He is best known for his work in deep learning and the invention of the convolutional network method which is widely used for image, video and speech recognition.</p> </div> </div>

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.

<span lang="EN-US">Pascale Fung is a Senior Director of AI Research at Meta. She is a Chair Professor at the </span><a title="Original URL: http://www.ust.hk/. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ust.hk%2F&data=05%7C02%7Canjali.roy%40itu.int%7C03a2bb7b002842615e0208dc8eab514b%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638542113647215414%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=bv6oPt%2BYCWwZEeUi0h5GSUGdSzYeXlDkvhu%2FiSeVQpc%3D&reserved=0" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span lang="EN-US">The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology</span></a><u><span lang="EN-US"> (HKUST)</span></u><span lang="EN-US">, and a visiting professor at the </span><a title="Original URL: http://www.cafa.edu.cn/en/. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cafa.edu.cn%2Fen%2F&data=05%7C02%7Canjali.roy%40itu.int%7C03a2bb7b002842615e0208dc8eab514b%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638542113647227818%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Xjz7zWBhewMjJmzWeEFSxr7AjTJSOW85qKsTWxc9Syg%3D&reserved=0" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span lang="EN-US">Central Academy of Fine Arts</span></a><span lang="EN-US"> in Beijing. She is an elected Fellow of the AAAI, IEEE, ACL and ISCA. She was the founding Director of HKUST </span><a title="Original URL: http://caire.ust.hk/. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaire.ust.hk%2F&data=05%7C02%7Canjali.roy%40itu.int%7C03a2bb7b002842615e0208dc8eab514b%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638542113647237609%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=01AbXGJu3q0OHtfNebtDcUUtouuW6i5GalpAnKMrZVo%3D&reserved=0" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span lang="EN-US">Centre for AI Research</span></a><span lang="EN-US"> (CAiRE), and the founding chair of the </span><a title="Original URL: http://wfa.ust.hk/. 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Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.partnershiponai.org%2F&data=05%7C02%7Canjali.roy%40itu.int%7C03a2bb7b002842615e0208dc8eab514b%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638542113647259503%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=gfG%2FeuXsCdlzSPegwPw3DAO9iHc%2FUDSkZWQ4f%2FzGwtQ%3D&reserved=0" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span lang="EN-US">Partnership on AI to Benefit People and Society</span></a><span lang="EN-US">. She is on the </span><a title="Original URL: https://signalprocessingsociety.org/our-story/board-governors. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsignalprocessingsociety.org%2Four-story%2Fboard-governors&data=05%7C02%7Canjali.roy%40itu.int%7C03a2bb7b002842615e0208dc8eab514b%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638542113647265943%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=5xSFLcFU%2BtlMdf4dELD1UsueBzcFwpbLnFCcS5%2FWjZA%3D&reserved=0" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span lang="EN-US">Board of Governors</span></a><span lang="EN-US"> of the IEEE Signal Processing Society. She is a member of the IEEE Working Group to develop an </span><a title="Original URL: https://standards.ieee.org/project/2863.html. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstandards.ieee.org%2Fproject%2F2863.html&data=05%7C02%7Canjali.roy%40itu.int%7C03a2bb7b002842615e0208dc8eab514b%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638542113647272169%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=26zhgGiiBFK%2FnAk%2F7PYgO9mSbFNtjjloTFloDREmqgQ%3D&reserved=0" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span lang="EN-US">IEEE standar</span></a><span lang="EN-US">d - Recommended Practice for Organizational Governance of Artificial Intelligence. She is part of the expert network for the United Nations Advisory Board on AI. Her research team has won </span><a title="Original URL: http://pascale.home.ece.ust.hk/. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fpascale.home.ece.ust.hk%2F&data=05%7C02%7Canjali.roy%40itu.int%7C03a2bb7b002842615e0208dc8eab514b%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638542113647278279%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Qa0f%2B5zUKVKmAsOTwCRUHbvsgq3mLUXQNLX570SbEus%3D&reserved=0" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span lang="EN-US">several best and outstanding paper awards</span></a><span lang="EN-US"> 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 governance. She lived in five countries and speaks seven European and Asian languages. </span>

On 16 December 2024, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced the appointment of Michelle Gyles-McDonnough of Jamaica as the new Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). With more than 30 years’ experience in sustainable development, policy advocacy, international trade and international relations, and change management in complex bureaucracies, Ms. Gyles-McDonnough has held multiple leadership roles within the UN system and in the field. She brings a wealth of experience in managing diverse portfolios in the economic, social, and environmental fields that impact the Sustainable Development Goals. She has led work in transforming international organizations and cross-cultural teams, resulting in new and agile ways of working, strengthened capacities, and innovative development solutions for governments and key partners. Before assuming the post as UNITAR Executive Director, Ms. Gyles-McDonnough was the Director, Sustainable Development Unit, in the Executive Office of the United Nations Secretary-General in New York. In this role, she served as lead Sustainable Development Adviser to the Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General, responsible for the shaping of policy priorities and the design and delivery of the work programme to implement the Secretary-General’s sustainable development vision and reforms for a fit for purpose U.N. development system. Throughout her career with the United Nations since 1999, Ms. Gyles-McDonnough has served in leadership and senior advisory roles as Chief of the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) sub-regional policy advisory facility for the Caribbean (1999-2004); Coordinator of the Grenada Recovery Programme following hurricane destruction of 212 percent of GDP (2004-2005); Caribbean Regional Adviser, UNDP (2005); Programme Adviser, UNDP Executive Office/Operations Support Group (2006-2008); UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative for Barbados and the OECS (2008-2013); and UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam (2013-2016). Prior to joining the United Nations, Ms. Gyles-McDonnough practiced privately as an international trade lawyer; served as Legal Advisor to the Embassy of Jamaica in Washington DC; Advisor to the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States on international trade; and teaching assistant at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. She holds a law degree from Columbia University School of Law, with honours in international and foreign law; a Masters in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University; and a Diploma in Executive Education from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She received her undergraduate degree at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, USA in Economics, with a minor in French.

Bernhard Schölkopf's scientific interests are in machine learning and causal inference. He has applied his methods to a number of different fields, ranging from biomedical problems to computational photography and astronomy. Bernhard studied physics and mathematics and earned his Ph.D. in computer science in 1997, becoming a Max Planck director in 2001. He has (co-)received the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy Prize, the Royal Society Milner Award, the Leibniz Award, the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award, and the ACM AAAI Allen Newell Award. He is Fellow of the CIFAR Program "Learning in Machines and Brains", and a Professor at ETH Zurich. He helped start the MLSS series of Machine Learning Summer Schools. In 2023, he founded the ELLIS Institute Tuebingen, and acts as its scientific director.

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 <strong>H2o.ai's world's top 100 AI leaders</strong>. 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 <strong>Chairperson</strong> of the <strong>United Nations AI for Good Impact Initiative</strong> and as a <strong>Senior AI Consultant</strong> for the <strong>International Telecommunication Union (ITU)</strong>, playing a critical role in <strong>shaping global AI policies, technology governance, and regulation frameworks</strong>. Dr. Almazrouei's exceptional contributions have garnered her notable honors, including the <strong>Leading AI Women in the World list</strong>, the <strong>Global Leadership Women in Tech® MENA Award</strong>, and a spot among the <strong>Top 100 Global Tech Speakers</strong>. She also holds various advisory roles and board memberships across various international organizations. As the <strong>CEO and Founder of AIE3</strong>, 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 <strong>Executive Director, Acting Chief AI Researcher,</strong> and <strong>Founder of the AI Cross Center Unit (AICCU)</strong> 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 <strong>Falcon Large Language Models (LLMs)</strong>—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.

<p class="p1">Mustafa Y. SHEIK is the Director General of the National Communications Authority of Somalia (NCA) since 19th November 2022. Prior to this nomination, he worked as the Deputy Director General of the National Communications Authority of Somalia (NCA) and a Member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Mustafa served as the Executive Director of the Somalia Network Information Centre (SONIC) - the Somalia DotSO (.so) ccTLD registry operator - between 2018 – 2021. Mustafa also worked as a senior policy advisor at the Ministry of Communications and Technology between 2017 and 2018. With over 15 years of experience in both private and public service management and leadership, Mustafa specialized in Internet governance, regulatory and policy analysis, Public-Private Partnership, and competition economics. During his years of work, he participated in several specialized workshops, meetings, forums, and associations worldwide.</p>

Dawn Song is a Professor in Computer Science at UC Berkeley and Co-Director of Berkeley Center on Responsible Decentralized Intelligence. Her research interest lies in AI, AI Safety, deep learning, security and privacy. She is the recipient of various awards including the MacArthur Fellowship, the Guggenheim Fellowship, the NSF CAREER Award, the Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, the MIT Technology Review TR-35 Award, ACM SIGSAC Outstanding Innovation Award, and more than 10 Test-of-Time Awards and Best Paper Awards from top conferences in Computer Security and Deep Learning. She has been recognized as Most Influential Scholar (AMiner Award), for being the most cited scholar in computer security. She is an ACM Fellow and an IEEE Fellow. She obtained her Ph.D. degree from UC Berkeley. She is also a serial entrepreneur and has been named on the Female Founder 100 List by Inc. and Wired25 List of Innovators.

Michael Nash has worked at the forefront of entertainment media’s technological transformation for over 30 years. Labeled a “visionary” by The Atlantic, he’s led various digital enterprises and is widely recognized for his prominent role in revolutionizing the music business. Music Ally called him, "one of the most influential people in the global music industry." Nash currently serves as Universal Music Group’s EVP, Chief Digital Officer. He joined UMG in 2015 and oversees the industry leader's global digital strategy, partnerships and business development. In his Corporate Management capacity, he works closely with operating units to align strategic direction and tactical execution. For “leading the industry’s response to AI” Fast Company designated UMG one of the world’s “50 Most Innovative Companies” of 2024. Nash has been named to every Billboard Power 100 List during his tenure. Prior to joining UMG, Nash was a strategic advisor to digital media startups and served in senior management at Warner Music Group from 2000 to 2011, rising to EVP, Digital Strategy and Business Development, responsible for WMG's global digital business. Nash’s music industry career highlights include major deals—often first-of-their-kind partnerships—with companies such as Amazon, Apple, AT&T, Meta, Spotify, Tencent, Verizon, YouTube and many others. Earlier in his career, Nash helmed the Madison Project, the music industry's first digital distribution trial (1999). He founded Inscape, a digital media/games publisher backed by Time Warner that produced award-winning titles with artists such as William S. Burroughs, DEVO and The Residents (1994-1997). And he oversaw the Criterion Collection, working with luminaries such as Robert Altman, David Bowie, Terry Gilliam and Louis Malle, producing definitive editions of masterpieces like "Citizen Kane," "Dr. Strangelove," "The 400 Blows" and "Ugetsu" (1991-1994). Nash's quoted commentary on technology and culture has been featured in numerous periodicals including The Economist, the Financial Times, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Nash has art-world roots, with a wide range of publications and exhibitions to his credit, including presentations for the American Film Institute, Lincoln Center, The Museum of Contemporary Art and the Sundance Film Festival. Summarizing his career arc, the editors of "Give Them the Picture" wrote, “Nash used the interest he developed in emerging forms of digital culture while working as an art curator and critic, and became a pioneer of digital innovations in the business world.”

<div class="bg-alternate un-section container-fluid"> <div class="container"> <div class="row with-cols"> <div class="col-md-6"> <div class="field_un_column_one--wrapper"> <div class="field_un_column_one"> <div class="un-rich-text"> <div class="text-long"> Tatiana Valovaya is the 13th Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UN Geneva) and the first woman to occupy the position. Ms. Valovaya has more than 35 years of experience in public service, diplomacy, and journalism. She began her career in 1983 in the editorial office of the Economic Gazette in Moscow, first as a correspondent and later as deputy editor for the Department of World Economy. In 1989, Ms. Valovaya joined the Permanent Mission of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to the European Union (EU) where she served as Third Secretary. She then became Second Secretary of the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the EU, a position she held until 1994. During her diplomatic career, she oversaw issues relating to financial and economic cooperation. From 1995 to 1997, Ms. Valovaya worked at the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation, where she was responsible for relations with the statutory bodies of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). She later served as Head of the Monetary and Financial Policy Directorate at the Ministry for the CIS. </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-6"> <div class="field_un_column_two--wrapper"> <div class="field_un_column_two"> <div class="un-rich-text"> <div class="text-long"> From 1999 to 2012, Ms. Valovaya worked in the Government administration of the Russian Federation as Deputy Director and then Director of the Department of International Cooperation. Ms. Valovaya joined the Eurasian Economic Commission in 2012 as a Member of the Board (Minister) responsible for integration and macro-economic issues. In this capacity, she led on the implementation of integration policies within the Eurasian Economic Commission. She also coordinated the formation processes of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, oversaw the negotiation of free trade agreements between the Eurasian Economic Community and third countries, and managed relations with international organizations. In 1980, Ms. Valovaya graduated from the Faculty of International Economic Relations of the Moscow Finance Institute. She holds the scientific degree of Candidate of Economic Sciences (1st doctoral level scientific degree and the degree of Doctor of Economic Sciences from the Financial Academy under the Government of the Russian Federation). Ms. Valovaya has written more than 170 scientific and journalistic publications on issues of international monetary and credit relations, European and Eurasian economic integration, and multilateral cooperation in the CIS. In addition to her mother tongue, Russian, she speaks English and French. </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="from-library"> <div class="paragraphs"> <div class="bg-default un-section container-fluid"> <div class="container"></div> </div> </div> </div>

GARY MARCUS is a leading voice in artificial intelligence. He is a scientist, best-selling author, and serial entrepreneur (Founder of Robust.AI and Geometric.AI, acquired by Uber). He is well-known for his challenges to contemporary AI, anticipating many of the current limitations decades in advance, and for his research in human language development and cognitive neuroscience. An Emeritus Professor of Psychology and Neural Science at NYU, he is the author of five books, including, <em>The Algebraic Mind</em>, <em>Kluge</em>, <em>The Birth of the Mind</em>, and the New York Times Bestseller <em>Guitar Zero</em>. He has often contributed to <em>The New Yorker</em>, <em>Wired</em>, and <em>The New York Times. </em>His most recent book, <em>Rebooting AI</em>, with Ernest Davis, is one of Forbes’s 7 Must Read Books in AI. You can follow him at <a href="https://garymarcus.substack.com/">garymarcus.substack.com</a> and on Twitter, <a href="https://twitter.com/GaryMarcus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@garymarcus</a>. And … coming Spring 2023, his new podcast… <em><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/humans-vs-machines-from-the-world-as-youll-know-it/id1532110146">Humans versus Machines</a></em><em>.</em>

<p>Nina Schick is a globally recognized expert on AI, geopolitics, and power. She has been at the forefront of how AI is reshaping global dominance— not just in business, but in military strategy, economic infrastructure, and state power.</p> <p>She was among the first to predict the societal impact of AI-generated content (Deepfakes, 2020) and now leads the conversation on Industrial Intelligence—the idea that AI is not just a software revolution, but a physical, geopolitical, and industrial transformation.</p> <p>She has advised and worked with global leaders including NATO Secretary General Anders-Fogh Rasmussen and President Joe Biden. Nina helped shaped EU policy for nearly a decade. Now she’s a trusted advisor to frontier AI firms and tech firms, including Synthesia, Qlik and Truepic.</p> <p>Nina is a sought-after speaker at Davos, CES, WebSummit, CogX, TEDx, and regularly appears in MIT Tech Review, WIRED, TIME, and Bloomberg.</p> <p>Half-Nepalese, half-German, she speaks seven languages and has worked across Europe, Asia, and North America.</p> <p>Now based in the U.S., Nina is focused on how AI will reshape global power in the 21st century.</p> <p>Nina’s work focuses on three critical points:</p> <ul> <li><strong>AI AS HARD POWER:<br></strong>How AI is the next arms race, reshaping national security and military strategy.</li> <li><strong>THE AI ENERGY & COMPUTE WAR:<br></strong>How AI’s physical infrastructure (chips, data centers, energy) is creating new geopolitical tensions.</li> <li><strong>THE INDUSTRIALIZATION OF INTELLIGENCE:<br></strong>Why AI is the next industrial revolution and how governments, businesses, and economies will need to adapt.</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p>

Manuela Veloso is Head of AI Research at JPMorganChase and Herbert A. Simon University Professor Emerita in Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University. Veloso pursues research interests in core AI as AI robot and digital agents with perception, cognition, and action. She further aims at a seamless human-AI symbiotic interaction. Veloso is a member of the National Academy of Engineering for “her contributions to artificial intelligence and its applications to robotics and to the financial domain.” She is a past president of AAAI, and a co-founder of RoboCup. Veloso is a fellow of AAAI, IEEE, ACM, and AAAS. She has a BSc. and MSc. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from IST, an MA in Computer Science from BU, and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from CMU. Veloso has doctorate honorary degrees from the Catholic University of Portugal, University of Bordeaux, ISCTE, and University of Orebro. See www.cs.cmu.edu/~mmv for detailed information.

Sung Hwan Cho has been elected ISO President since 1 January 2024. Dr. Cho brings 30 years of experience from the automotive industry as top executive and research engineer. As the Advisor of Hyundai Mobis, he previously held the position of President and CEO for the company, which is the 6th largest auto parts supplier of the world. Prior to taking up his role as President and CEO of Hyundai Mobis, he served as Deputy R&D head, Executive Vice President of R&D Planning and Coordination and President of Hyundai America Technical Center with Hyundai Motor Company. He also was the CEO of Hyundai Autron, an automotive semiconductor and software affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group. Dr. Cho has accumulated extensive expertise in technology and related standards through his previous roles as engineering manager. He also serves as Chairman of the Korea Automated Vehicle Standardization Forum and is a Council Board member in the Korean Standards Committee. He is also an elected member of the prestigious National Academy of Engineering of Korea, and holds the position of Endowed-Chair Professor at Sogang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Dr. Cho holds a Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University, CA, USA and has a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

<span lang="en-US" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Josh Parker joined NVIDIA in 2023 to lead the company’s corporate sustainability program. Josh studied electrical engineering and spent several years practicing IP law at a large law firm and later for the computer storage company Western Digital. While at Western Digital, he was asked to lead the company’s ethics and compliance program in Asia and later to build a new corporate sustainability program for the company. At NVIDIA, Josh is pursuing a data-driven approach to sustainability, believing that accurate and credible data is a prerequisite for effectively managing impacts. Josh is also deeply persuaded that technology—especially AI—can play a critical and dramatic role in solving world-scale sustainability challenges.</span>

Dr Abeba Birhane founded and leads the TCD <a style="text-decoration:underline;" title="Original URL: https://aial.ie/. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://aial.ie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">AI Accountability Lab (AIAL)</a>. She received her PhD from UCD in 2022 and is currently a Research Fellow at the School of Computer Science and Statistics in Trinity College Dublin. Her research focuses on AI accountability, with a particular focus on audits of AI models and training datasets – work for which she was featured in<a style="text-decoration:underline;" title="Original URL: https://www.wired.com/story/abeba-birhane-ai-datasets/. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://www.wired.com/story/abeba-birhane-ai-datasets/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1"> Wired UK</a> and TIME on the<a style="text-decoration:underline;" title="Original URL: https://time.com/6311323/how-we-chose-time100-ai/. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://time.com/6311323/how-we-chose-time100-ai/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2"> TIME100 Most Influential People in AI</a> list in 2023. Dr. Birhane also served on the United Nations Secretary-General’s <a style="text-decoration:underline;" title="Original URL: https://www.un.org/techenvoy/ai-advisory-body. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://www.un.org/digital-emerging-technologies/ai-advisory-body" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3">AI Advisory Body</a><b> </b>and currently serves at the AI Advisory Council in Ireland.

Dr. Rong Yu currently serves as the Head of the Language & Science Laboratory at Alibaba DAMO Academy and holds the position of Senior Technical Expert. With over 11 years of experience in the field of artificial intelligence, his research focuses on graph deep learning, geometric deep learning, AI-driven drug discovery, and foundational models for science. He has been recognized among the top 2% of scientists worldwide by Stanford University and was ranked second in AMiner’s Rising Star list for machine learning in mainland China over the period from 2020 to 2023.

Dr. Ali Taha Koç was born in Ankara in 1980. After finishing his undergraduate degree in 2001 at Bilkent University, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, he completed his master's and doctorate studies in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Texas at Dallas, all with full scholarships. Koç joined Intel USA in 2006 as a research and development (R&D) engineer. During his tenure at Intel, he developed 61 patents, published 23 scientific articles, and developed and managed several international projects. In 2013, Intel awarded Koç as one of the top 10 most patent inventors. After returning to Türkiye in 2014, he started to work as the Chief Counsellor of the Prime Ministry and in the same year he was appointed as the Head of Information Technologies of the Presidency. He also managed the formation of the State Information Coordination Center (SICC) in the Presidency Security Policies Department, and started the information flow from all ministries and security units to the Presidency. By discretion of H.E. President Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN, Koç was appointed as the Head of Digital Transformation Office on 12 September 2018. Koç continued in this position until October 2023. In addition to his duties at the Presidency, he was also a board member of TURKSAT Satellite Communications Cable TV and Business Inc. Koç teaches graduate and doctorate courses at the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Bilkent University. Koç was appointed as the CEO of Turkcell on October 13, 2023. He still continues this position. He is also a licensed pilot, fluent in English and married with one child.

A research and scientific leader in Artificial Intelligence, Alessandra is the Sr. Director of AI and Data Science at Shutterstock. Alessandra has over 18 years' experience in research and innovation gained whilst working in academic and commercial environments. Alessandra is passionate in advanced analytics, machine learning, and computational models with the focus of transferring innovation from research to products. As Co-chair of the UNESCO Women for Ethical AI Platform and Global President of Women in AI (a non-profit do-tank working towards gender-inclusive AI that benefits global society) Alessandra is working with a strong community of women to foster diversity , inclusion and equality for women and minorities while encouraging a global ethical approach in AI. In an advisory capacity, Alessandra also serves as the Governance Committee Chair at the Science Foundation Ireland Center for Research Training in Machine Learning. Among several awards, Alessandra won the 2024 Grace Hopper and the 2021 XV International Prize "Le Tecno-visionarie" in the AI ​​- Industrial Research category. In her previous role Alessandra was Head of Analytics Research at Nokia Bell Labs where she was leading research teams in several locations while driving changes across different activities like her contributions to the Nokia AI Ethics Advisory Board.

Ariel Bardin serves as President of Technology for Warner Music Group where he oversees the company’s technology and data teams as well as the development of systems, processes, and products to support the next phase of WMG’s global growth. Ariel previously spent 16 years at Google and YouTube, where he built, launched, and led some of the company’s most successful initiatives, including Google AdWords and Google Payments. At YouTube, he worked closely with top creators to ensure the platform helped them build their businesses, and he headed the teams developing creator products and Content ID. Prior to joining WMG, he was Chief Product Officer at Celonis, which has created a new category of software to help many of the world’s largest companies use ‘process mining’ to enhance their operations and performance. Ariel has an MS degree in Management Science & Engineering from Stanford University and a BS in Computer Science & Engineering from the University of Southern California. <div class="wp-block-image is-style-slash-overlay"></div> <div class="wp-block-button"></div>

<span class="TextRun SCXW57709789 BCX0" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW57709789 BCX0">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 </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW57709789 BCX0">RoboCup</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW57709789 BCX0"> 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-).</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW57709789 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":160,"335559740":257}"> </span>

Dr. Najwa Aaraj is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the applied research pillar of the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), the overarching advanced technology body in Abu Dhabi responsible for driving research and development for transformative technology outcomes. Previously to her role as CEO, Dr. Aaraj was the Chief Researcher at the Cryptography Research Center (CRC) and the Autonomous Robotics Research Center (ARRC) TII. Dr. Aaraj earned a PhD with Highest Distinction in Applied Cryptography and Embedded Systems Security from Princeton University (USA). She has extensive expertise in applied cryptography, trusted platforms, security architecture for embedded systems, software exploit detection and prevention systems, and biometrics. She also specializes in shaping the robotics and self-organized autonomous vehicles ecosystem in the UAE and beyond - exploring their application across air, land, on-sea and underwater. She has over 18 years of experience with global firms, working in multiple geographies from Australia to the United States. Before joining TII, Dr. Aaraj was Senior Vice President of Products & Cryptography Development at DarkMatter, a cyber-security leader based in the UAE. She was formerly at Booz & Company, where she led consulting engagements in the communication and technology industry for clients globally. She also held a Research Fellow position with the Embedded Systems Security Group at IBM T.J. Watson Security Research in New York State, and with the Intel Security Research Group in Portland, Oregon, where she worked on Trusted Platform Modules and contributed to an early prototype of a TPM 2.0 based firmware. She also was a Research Staff Member at NEC Laboratories in Princeton, New Jersey. Dr. Aaraj has written multiple conference papers, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) journal papers and book chapters, and received patents on applied cryptography, embedded system security, and machine learning-based protection of Internet of Things (IoT) systems. Dr. Aaraj is on the advisory board of New York-based Neutigers, a leading-edge startup revolutionising the next generation of energy/latency-efficient artificial intelligence (AI). She is also Adviser within the Strategic Advisory Group at Paladin Capital Group (Cyber Venture Capital) and Adjunct Professor at the Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (Machine Learning Research Group). In addition, she is an Adviser to multiple security and Machine Learning startups including Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University. She is also a board member of Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB). She received a Special Recognition award at the Arab Woman Awards 2021, held in partnership with the United Nations to recognise the notable achievements of the region’s women. Additionally, Dr. Aaraj received the Wu Prize of Research Excellence from Princeton University.

Dr. Lan Xue is a Distinguished Professor and Dean at Schwarzman College Tsinghua University. His teaching and research interests include global governance, crisis management, and science, technology and innovation policy. From 2000 to 2018, he served as Associate Dean, Executive Associate Dean and Dean of the School of Public Policy and Management at Tsinghua University.  He also holds adjunct positions at Carnegie Mellon University and the Brookings Institution. Dr. Xue advises the State Council, chairs China's National Expert Committee on Next Generation AI governance, and is a member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese Association of Science and Technology. Internationally, he serves on the UN Sustainable Development Solution Network board, UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration, and UN Internet Governance Forum Leadership Panel. Dr. Xue is a recipient of Distinguished Young Scholar Award from National Natural Science Foundation of China, Cheung Kong Chair Distinguished Professor of the Ministry of Education, the Fudan Distinguished Contribution Award for Management Science, the Distinguished Contribution Award from Chinese Association for Science of Science and S&T Policy, and the Second National Award for Excellence in Innovation in China. He holds a PhD in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University.

<span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Pierre Sermanet is a Research Scientist at Google DeepMind. His research has spanned multiple areas of machine learning including robotics, computer vision, language and AI safety. He holds a doctorate from New York University under the supervision of Yann LeCun. He is the winner of multiple computer vision challenges including ImageNet challenges and the </span><a title="Original URL: http://www.kaggle.com/c/dogs-vs-cats/leaderboard. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kaggle.com%2Fc%2Fdogs-vs-cats%2Fleaderboard&data=05%7C02%7Cmeghana.kondamudi%40itu.int%7Cf27e857bd6ac456b4a5e08dd41d46208%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638739102612170342%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=CCQwJUU7jYVrPNTeUqZoVkOBDezEhA0nr6%2BaZzYHg3Q%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="Verified" data-linkindex="3">Dogs vs Cats</a> Kaggle competition.

Mr. Kamel SAADAOUI is the President of the Telecom Regulator of Tunisia (INTT) since January 2025. He had several leading positions such as the Chief of Cabinet of the ICT Minister, Director General of the National Center of Informatics and CEO of the Tunisian Internet Agency. Mr. Saadaoui holds a Master’s degree in computer science from Michigan State University, 1990.

Former child genocide survivor Taban Shoresh OBE is Founder & CEO of the Lotus Flower, a charity supporting women and girl conflict survivors in Kurdistan, northern Iraq and the UK. Since March 2016, the charity has supported more than 92,000 vulnerable community members at its centres, through livelihoods and skills training, educational classes, mental health therapy and awareness around women's rights and gender-based violence. With a political activist father during Saddam Hussein’s regime in 1980s Iraq, Taban was imprisoned aged just four, and she and her family escaped being buried alive before Amnesty International flew them to safety in the UK as refugees. In 2014, Taban was horrified to see the ISIS attacks in her homeland, and gave up her successful career to return as an aid worker before establishing the Lotus Flower. Taban is heavily involved in refugee-led initiatives on the international stage through the Global Refugee Forum, and is a member of Girls Not Brides, the Action Network for Forced Displacement and ICVA MENA Women Leadership Network. She is also an Ambassador for One Young World. Taban has featured extensively in TV, radio, digital and print media – including the Guardian, Telegraph, Independent, Daily Mail, Grazia, HuffPost, Elle, Sky News, BBC News, LBC, Al Jazeera and CNN. In January 2024, Taban was awarded an OBE for “outstanding” services to refugees and displaced people in Iraq, and she was also named a GQ magazine Hero 2024. She recently recorded her first TEDx talks in Paris and Kurdistan.

Rory A. Cooper, Ph.D. is a U.S. National Medal Laureate having been awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President of the United States Joseph Biden in 2023. Cooper earned B.S. and M.Eng degrees in electrical engineering from California Polytechnic State University in 1985 and 1986, respectively. He earned a Ph.D. degree in electrical & computer engineering from University of California at Santa Barbara in 1989. Cooper is Founding Director and VA Senior Research Career Scientist of the Human Engineering Research Laboratories a VA Rehabilitation R&D Center and a VA Technology Transfer Assistance Program lead site. He is FISA Foundation & Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Distinguished Professor at the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt). Cooper is an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University, and of the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, and he was awarded Honorary Doctorate by Xi’an Jiatong University. Cooper has authored or co-authored >400 peer-reviewed journal publications. He has >30 patents awarded/pending. Cooper is author of two books: "Rehabilitation Engineering Applied to Mobility and Manipulation” and “Wheelchair Selection and Configuration”, and co-editor of “An Introduction to Rehabilitation Engineering”, “Warrior Transition Leader: Medical Rehabilitation Handbook”, “Promoting Successful Integration”, and the award-winning book “Care of the Combat Amputee”. Cooper is a Fellow of National Academy of Inventors, as well as AAAS, RESNA, IEEE, AIMBE, RSM, and BMES. In 1988, he was a bronze medalist in the Paralympic Games. In 2013, Cooper was awarded the International Paralympic Scientific Achievement Award. Cooper is a U.S. Army veteran and a Director of the Paralyzed Veterans of America Research Foundation, and a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army. He serves on National Board of Directors of Easter Seals, Board of the World Institute on Disability, and Board Member of the US Intellectual Property Association. In 2024, Cooper was elected to the United States Olympians & Paralympians Association (USOPA) Executive Committee. Dr. Cooper's highest awards include the Samuel E. Heyman Service to America Medal, IEEE Biomedical Engineering Medal, Sigma Xi McGovern Medal, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Olin E. Teague Award, Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, Distinguished Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America, National Guard Bureau “Minute Man Award”; U.S. Army Distinguished Civilian Service Medal, AAAS Mentor Award, Joseph F. Engelberger Award, AIMBE Advocacy Award, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Diversity & Inclusion Excellence Award, Order of Military Medical Merit, Chapel of Four Chaplains Legion of Honor, and Distinguished Eagle Scout. Dr. Cooper is a member of the class of 2023 of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, a member of the Pennsylvania Military & Veteran Hall of Fame, was in the inaugural class of the Spinal Cord Injury Hall of Fame. He was recognized in the Congressional Record of the United States Congress on Monday, July 27, 2009. In 2009, Cooper was featured on a Cheerios cereal box, and in August 2010, he with one of his robots was the centerfold in Popular Science. In 2015, TIME magazine produced a video on Cooper’s work for their on-line magazine (http://time.com/3975280/robotics-disabled/). In 2014, PN Magazine included Cooper as one of the people who have transformed the lives of people with SCI; while USO On Point featured Cooper as one of the veterans who have most influenced the lives of veterans through technology. In 2019, Cooper was revealed as the 28th inventor in the US Patent and Trademark Office “Inventor Collectible Card” Series. Cooper shared his story and insights to best-selling author, Mary Ann McFadden, during the writing of her novel “The Book Lover”. On November 10, 2023, Dr. Cooper was featured on the NBC Today Show. Further, Dr. Cooper’s students have been the recipients of over 75 national and international awards.

Nicholas Thompson is the CEO of The Atlantic, a position he has held since 2021. During that time, the publication has won three National Magazine Awards for General Excellence, three Pulitzer Prizes, and been named Digiday's Publisher of the Year. It has grown revenue by 84%, while reaching the highest level of subscribers in its 166-year history. Thompson is also the former editor-in-chief of WIRED, where he built successful subscription and aRiliate revenue businesses. While at WIRED he also wrote and edited multiple stories that were cited in front of Congress and one that was turned into an Academy Award winning film. Another of his stories was recently turned into the second highest grossing documentary of all time on HBO Max. Thompson is a former contributor for CBS News and a cofounder of The Atavist, a multimedia CMS that was sold to WordPress, and Speakeasy.ai, which was sold to Amplica Labs. He previously served as editor of NewYorker.com. He is a life member at the Council on Foreign Relations, a board member at The National Committee on American Foreign Policy, the author of "The Hawk and the Dove: Paul Nitze, George Kennan, and the History of the Cold War," and a former contributor to CNN and CBS News. He films a daily video on tech policy for Linkedin and has roughly two million followers across social media platforms. Thompson has long been a competitive runner; in 2021, he set the American record for men 45+ in the 50K race. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Stanford where he earned degrees in Earth Systems, Political Science, and Economics.

In 2020, after attending an event that lacked the diversity needed to ensure access and opportunity in the artificial intelligence sector, Angle took action. She founded Black Women In Artificial Intelligence, an organization with a mission to Educate, Engage, Embrace, and Empower Black women in the Artificial Intelligence industry. Over the past four years, Black Women In Artificial Intelligence has grown into a global entity with members across five continents: North America, South America, Europe, Australia, and Africa. At the heart of the organization's initiatives are robust programs designed to provide guided career development, technical training, A.I. workforce Development solutions, and peer support. Black Women In Artificial Intelligence has developed partnerships with leading companies, including Amazon, Capital One, Microsoft, and NVIDIA; ensuring its members have unparalleled access to cutting-edge resources, job opportunities, and collaborative projects. Through its various programs, BWIAI aspires to drive innovation and shape a more inclusive AI landscape for the future. Beyond her work with Black Women In Artificial Intelligence, Angle is a sought-after speaker and thought leader on diversity and inclusion within the tech industry. She has shared her insights on global stages, advocating for a future where Black women are fully represented and valued in the field of technology. Angle holds a Master’s degree in Administration and a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Development with a concentration in Public Administration from Central Michigan University. She also studied History at Harvard University. Currently, she serves as a Visiting Fellow at the University of Miami and is a member of the Central Michigan University College of Science and Engineering Advisory Board. <strong>Notable Highlights:</strong> Angle has been featured in distinguished platforms and events such as the New York Stock Exchange Closing Bell, NPR, Bloomberg, M.Live, Inc. Magazine, PBS-North Carolina, Forbes, World Summit A.I. and the National Urban League Conference. <strong>Black Women In Artificial Intelligence</strong> Black Women in Artificial Intelligence (BWIAI) is a premier global professional membership association dedicated to the empowerment, advancement, and advocacy of Black women in the rapidly expanding field of Artificial Intelligence. With a strong presence spanning five continents, BWIAI is committed to fostering a community of supportive, inspiring, and ambitious women with a mission to Educate, Engage, Embrace, and Empower. At the heart of the organization's initiatives are robust programs designed to provide guided career development, technical training, A.I. workforce Development solutions, and peer support. BWIAI also has significant partnerships with major corporations and industry leaders including Amazon, Capital One, Microsoft and NVIDIA; ensuring that its members have unparalleled access to cutting-edge resources, job opportunities, and collaborative projects. Through its various programs and activities, BWIAI aspires to drive innovation and shape a more inclusive AI landscape for the future

Don Edward Fagenson, known professionally as Don Was, is an American <a title="Musician" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musician">musician</a>, <a title="Record producer" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Record_producer">record producer</a>, <a title="Music director" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_director">music director</a>, film composer, documentary filmmaker and radio host. Since 2011, he has also served as president of the American jazz label <a title="Blue Note Records" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Note_Records">Blue Note Records</a>.

<p class="x_MsoNormal" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Dr Graham Alabaster is a public health engineer by profession and is UN-Habitat’s Director of the Geneva office, where he represents the Executive Director of UN-Habitat. He is responsible for liaison with Geneva-based member states missions and international organisations. He holds a BSc (Hons.) in Chemical Engineering and a PhD in Civil Engineering. After an early career in academic research in the UK and Africa, and a period in industry, he joined UN-Habitat in 1992. Since then, he has looked after many different portfolios including: Slum upgrading, environmental infrastructure; health and environment; Water, Sanitation and waste management. In addition, he has been responsible for developing relationships with the regional development banks and the private sector.</p>

As Head of Global Public Policy Partnerships, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahasteinberg/">Sarah Steinberg</a> builds partnerships with governments and organizations around the world to harness LinkedIn’s vast data insights to understand the trends that are shaping labor markets and advance inclusive economic growth and competitiveness. Prior to joining LinkedIn, Sarah led a signature $75 million global education initiative at JPMorgan Chase, a philanthropic leader dedicated to driving inclusive economic growth in communities worldwide. Through this work, she supported extraordinary local leaders in 10 communities around the world to leverage innovative new practices and policy solutions to expand access to real-world work experience, higher education, and good careers for underserved young people. Before that, Sarah led workforce research and policy development at the Center for American Progress, including championing a groundbreaking approach to connect more young people to good jobs by dramatically expanding apprenticeships in the United States. Her work has been cited by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post, among others. She has a bachelor’s degree in government and sociology from Dartmouth College. Sarah also serves as a board member of the National Skills Coalition, the leading organization championing the development and implementation of policies supporting skills training across the United States.

<div class="team-item"> <div id="w-node-_19145a0b-eae1-5cd9-c67c-dc64f5389341-a34228a8" class="team-item-content"> <div> Alexis is the CEO of Deezer. He joined the company after 14 successful years in the e-commerce industry building digital consumer platforms around the world. Most recently, he co-founded and developed Branded, a leading digital first consumer goods company. Prior to this, Alexis was EVP of Walmart Canada ecommerce, where he led the build up of a multi billion dollar online grocery business. From 2014 to 2019, he held positions of increasing responsibility at Lazada, leader of ecommerce in Southeast Asia. As CEO of Lazada Singapore, Alexis drove the company to prominent market leadership by successfully steering his team through a 360 strategy including the Redmart acquisition and the launch of loyalty subscription LiveUp including content partnerships with Netflix and Uber. Alexis began his career as a Project Leader at Boston Consulting Group in France and the US, specializing in large scale transformation initiatives, and later in several category management roles at Amazon in Media and Apparel. He is a graduate from École Polytechnique (X2002) and HEC (2006). </div> </div> </div>

Professional with more than 16 years of experience in both the private and public sectors, with great capacity for teamwork, critical thinking, analysis and problem solving, and respect for professional hierarchy; prepared to face new challenges and willing to learn new disciplines.

<p class="" data-start="51" data-end="149">Victoria Oakley is IFPI’s Chief Executive Officer, leading the organisation’s global operations.</p> <p class="" data-start="151" data-end="783">Prior to joining IFPI in 2024, Oakley was CEO of global strategic communications and advocacy consultancy, Portland. Oakley also spent nearly two decades in the British Diplomatic Service, with roles in London, Paris, Brussels, Washington D.C. and the Eastern Caribbean, where she was High Commissioner until 2016. She then spent three years at Portland before joining Google as the Global Public Policy Director. Oakley returned to Portland in 2022 to take up the CEO role, leading a 300-strong team of strategic communications and public affairs professionals across London, Doha, Singapore, Nairobi, Paris, Berlin and Brussels.</p>

Dr. Andrew Jackson is the CEO of Inception, a G42 company and comes with over 20 years of experience in artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics. He is a vocal advocate for ethical AI practices and also serves as G42’s Group Responsible AI Officer. He has represented G42 at prestigious global forums including the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Prior to joining G42, Dr. Jackson played a key role in expanding Palantir’s presence across the MENA region. He also led the establishment of a data and analytics function at Etihad Airways, contributing to one of the world’s largest digital transformation programs. Earlier in his career, he developed high-frequency, low-latency electronic trading strategies at Susquehanna International Group (SIG). He commercialized research for the European Union, working with 13 EU universities and collaborating with global technology leaders such as IBM and Siemens. Dr. Jackson holds a PhD in Machine Learning from Trinity College Dublin and has completed advanced studies at UC Berkeley, Oxford, and MIT. His academic background spans ubiquitous computing, software engineering, and machine learning.

<span data-contrast="none"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Touradj Ebrahimi is professor of image processing at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and active in teaching and research in multimedia signal processing. </span></span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span> <span data-contrast="none"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">He is the Director of Multimedia Signal Processing Group at EPFL. Since 2014, he has been the Convenor (Chairman) of the JPEG standardization Committee which has produced a family of standards that have revolutionized the imaging world. </span></span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span> <span data-contrast="none"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">He represents Switzerland as the head of its delegation to JTC1 (in charge of standardizing information technology in ISO and IEC) and SC29 (the body overseeing JPEG and MPEG standardization) and is a member of ITU as the main representative of EPFL. </span></span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span> <span data-contrast="none"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Prof. Ebrahimi is also involved in Ecma International as a member of its ExeCom. He serves as a consultant, evaluator, and expert for the European Commission and other governmental funding agencies in Europe and advises several Venture Capital companies in Switzerland in their scientific and technical audits. He has founded a number of startup and spinoff companies in the past two decades, including the most recent, RayShaper SA, a research startup company based in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, involved in AI-powered multimedia. </span></span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span> <span data-contrast="none"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">His areas of interest include image and video compression, media security, quality of experience in multimedia and AI based image and video processing and analysis. Prof. Ebrahimi is a Fellow of the IEEE, SPIE, EURASIP and AAIA and has been the recipient of several awards and distinctions, including an IEEE Star Innovator Award in Multimedia, an Emmy Award on behalf of JPEG and the SMPTE Progress medal.</span></span></span>

Alex Zhavoronkov, PhD, is the founder and CEO of Insilico Medicine, a leading clinical-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation generative artificial intelligence and robotics platforms for drug discovery. Since 2014, he has invented critical technologies in the field of generative artificial intelligence and reinforcement learning (RL) for the generation of novel molecular structures with the desired properties and the generation of synthetic biological and patient data. Under his leadership, Insilico raised over $400 million in multiple rounds from expert biotechnology, healthcare, and financial investors, opened R&D centers in 6 countries and regions, and partnered with multiple pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and academic institutions. Since 2021, the company nominated 21 preclinical candidates, started 6 human clinical trials, and entered Phase II with an AI-discovered novel target and AI-designed novel molecule. Since 2012, he has published over 200 peer-reviewed research papers and 3 books. He serves on the advisory or editorial boards of Trends in Molecular Medicine, Aging Research Reviews, Aging, and Frontiers in Genetics, and founded and co-chairs the Annual Aging Research and Drug Discovery (11th Annual in 2024). He is the adjunct professor of artificial intelligence at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging.  

Hon Dr Tatenda Annastacia Mavetera is Zimbabwe’s Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services. She is a youthful member of Parliament representing Chikomba West Constituency in Mashonaland East Province in Zimbabwe. Since her appointment, several projects have been designed to accelerate universal access to Broadband services have been initiated in Zimbabwe. Before being appointed Minister, Hon Dr Mavetera was a member of the Pan African Parliament, where she was the first Vice President of the Youth Caucus. At the beginning of the 9th Zimbabwean Parliament, she was appointed Assistant Speaker where she chaired Parliament and committees in the house. She is passionate when it comes to youth and women issues in Zimbabwe. She initiated the youth caucus in the 9th Parliament, in a bid to see youth issues being addressed, furthermore, she was a member of the Budget and Justice Committees. In 2021, she initiated a movement dubbed Young Women 4ED which is designed to ensure that young women are not ignored in all aspects of life. She holds an Honours Degree in Management and Marketing and a Masters in Strategic Marketing. She is a strategic marketer and information communication expert, who has been in the Information Communication and Transport industry for the past 11 years. Hon Dr.Tatenda Annastacia was awarded a Doctorate in Humane Letters from the International Women’s University for the contribution she has made to emancipate women, more importantly, young women in Zimbabwe. She is currently studying for another doctorate in Business Leadership at the Midlands State University.

Mr.Luvsan Ochir Altai is a highly regarded authority In Mongolia's telecommunications sector. distinguished for his expertise in regulatory affairs and astute leadership. With a robust academic background. Mr.LUVSAN-OCHIR Altai earned his Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunication Engineering followed by a Master of Arts in the same discipline from the esteemed Technical University of Mongolia. Recognizing the imperative intersection of legal comprehension and telecommunications. he pursued further studies in law at the National University of Mongolia. augmenting his comprehensive understanding of regulatory frameworks. Mr.LUVSAN-OCHIR Altai's professional journey is marked by significant tenure within the Communication Regulatory Commission (CRC) of Mongolia. where he has consistently exhibited versatility and unwavering commitment to industry advancement. Commencing his career as a Switching and Data Engineer at Mongolia Telecom Company. he transitioned to pivotal roles within CRC. including Director General positions overseeing diverse departments. In these capacities. Mr.LUVSAN-OCHIR Altai spearheaded regulatory initiatives, fostered innovation, and ensured the seamless operation of telecommunications services. Beyond his organizational roles. Mr.LUVSAN-OCHIR Altai has been instrumental in various projects and working groups aimed at enhancing Mongolia's communication infrastructure. Notably. he has led initiatives focused on digital broadcasting systems and mobile number portability. evidencing his dedication to advancing telecommunications standards and accessibility nationwide. Currently serving as Commissioner and Head of the Executive Office at CRC. Mr.LUVSAN-OCHIR Altai plays a pivotal role in steering the trajectory of Mongolia's telecommunications landscape. His strategic foresight coupled with his technical acumen and legal proficiency. positions him as a preeminent influencer in shaping policies that prioritize equitable access to communication services and cultivate a competitive industry environment. Mr.LUVSAN-OCHIR Altai's unwavering dedication to excellence and his multifaceted expertise underscore his reputation as a respected leader and catalyst for positive transformation within Mongolia's regulatory framework for telecommunications.  

<p data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Sam Gregory is a human rights advocate and technologist fighting on the front lines against deepfakes and deceptive AI, and in defense of truth and fact. He drives cutting-edge approaches to preserve trust, authenticity, and evidence in our increasingly complex digital landscape. A recognized authority on audiovisual communication and deception, and on the use of video and technology to advance human rights, he has testified before both the US House and Senate on AI and media transparency and is a TED speaker whose talk outlines the necessary steps to fight back against malicious and deceptive AI. As Executive Director of WITNESS, he spearheads their strategic plan to “Fortify the Truth,” championing a global team supporting millions to use video and technology for human rights. WITNESS received the inaugural Peabody Global Impact Award in 2024 for “media or organizations that have profoundly changed the world for the better” and for its work “tirelessly championing the power of emergent media technologies in defense of human rights around the world.” In 2018, he launched the “Prepare, Don’t Panic” initiative, a WITNESS-led global effort to tackle the challenges of deepfakes and generative AI. This pioneering work has directly influenced platform policies, legislation, and public debate on emerging technologies, and also include the only global Deepfakes Rapid Response Force, connecting journalists with media forensic experts to expose AI-powered deception. The Chronicle of Philanthropy has highlighted Sam as “a longtime human-rights advocate, he is a leading authority on deepfakes and other forms of A.I.-generated misinformation and disinformation. He focuses on preparing countries and communities for how doctored videos and manipulated media could be used to justify coups, jail innocents, and spark conflict.”</p> <p data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody"> Sam has served on the ICC Technology Advisory Board, co-chaired key initiatives and working groups for the Partnership on AI and the C2PA.</p>

Juliette Fropier leads the AI strategy of the French Ministry of Environment. She is responsible for the "AI & ecological transition" roadmap of the French government, in conjunction with all the ministries involved in the AI national strategy. This roadmap addresses how AI can help public and private reduce their consumption of resources and act in the interest of the protection of biodiversity, the reduction of pollution and the adaptation to global warming. It also addresses the issue of the environmental impact of the development of AI itself. Juliette is part of Ecolab, the innovation lab of the French Ministry of environment. Ecolab works for the valorization of public data and innovative answers to the double emergency of ecological transition and digital transformation.

<span lang="en-US" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Mike Mullane is the Deputy Director of Communications at the IEC and has extensive experience in public affairs and strategic communications. His role focuses on raising awareness about the benefits of international standards and the role they can play in addressing societal concerns about AI and other emerging technologies.</span> <span lang="en-US">Mike is currently a vice-chair of the Collaboration on Standards for Authenticity of AI and Multimedia. The Collaboration brings IEC, ISO and ITU together with a broad range of other organizations that share a common belief in the power of standards to restore trust in online photos and video.</span> <span lang="en-US">Mike originally trained as a broadcast journalist and spent most of his career working in and for public service media before joining the IEC</span><span lang="en-US">.</span> <span lang="en-US"> </span>

<div class="wp-block-techcrunch-author-archive-hero__content"> <div class="wp-block-techcrunch-author-archive-hero__bio"> <div data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Artemis is the VP of AI Safety at ElevenLabs, who leads the industry in AI audio and voice models and products. She leads the company's work on preventing and mitigating abuse of ElevenLabs' AI models and products. Previously, Artemis was at OpenAI, where she oversaw usage policies for ChatGPT and the API, and Meta, where she worked on countering online harassingment, espionage and other threats to its community of users. Before tech, Artemis worked in migration policy and refugee response. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science and a J.D. from Stanford University, an MPP from HKS, and a first class B.A. from Oxford.</div> <div class="x_elementToProof"></div> </div> </div>

Since January 2016, Peggy Hicks has served as director of the Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures and Right to Development Division of the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR). She provides strategic direction to the UN Human Rights Office's work on a broad range of pressing human rights issues, including human rights in the digital age. From 2005 to 2015, she was global advocacy director at Human Rights Watch, where she was responsible for managing Human Rights Watch's advocacy team and providing direction to its advocacy worldwide. Ms. Hicks previously served as the director of the Office of Returns and Communities in the UN mission in Kosovo and as Deputy High Representative for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She has also worked as the Director of Programs for the International Human Rights Law Group, and as clinical professor of human rights and refugee law at the University of Minnesota Law School. Ms. Hicks is a graduate of Columbia Law School and the University of Michigan.

Leonard Rosenthol is the Senior Principal Architect for PDF & the Document Cloud at Adobe, having been involved with PDF technology for more than 20 years. He represents Adobe on various international standards bodies including the ISO (where he is the Project Editor for PDF/A, PDF/X and PDF/E), W3C and ETSI/ESI (where he authored the PDF Electronic Signature standard, PAdES). Prior to re-joining Adobe in 2006, Leonard worked as the Director of Software Development for Appligent, and the Chief Innovation Officer for Apago, while also running the successful consulting business of PDF Sages. Before becoming involved in PDF, Leonard was the Director of Advanced Technology for Aladdin Systems and was responsible for the development of the StuffIt line of products.

Hubert Vargas is the Vice Minister of Telecommunications at Costa Rica’s Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology, and Telecommunications (MICITT). He has spearheaded key developments in the country’s digital landscape, including Costa Rica’s first public tender for radio and television frequencies and the national 5G spectrum auction—landmark initiatives that are expanding connectivity and accelerating digital transformation. With a background in Economics, Law, and International Business, Hubert brings a multidisciplinary and results-driven approach to public policy and ICT regulation. His previous experience includes serving as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Foreign Trade (COMEX) and leading global procurement initiatives in the private sector, particularly in data center infrastructure and advanced technology sourcing. He is committed to fostering innovation through smart regulation, pragmatic decision making, strategic partnerships, and sustainable development across the tech and telecom ecosystems.

<span lang="EN-US">Safiya is a global citizen with a diverse background in humanitarian work and research. With a childhood spent in post-conflict regions, she developed a deep passion for addressing large-scale livelihoods change through participatory solutions. Safiya has a bachelor’s in Anthropology from Sarah Lawrence College, where she continued her community involvement and interned with the UN. After graduation, she co-founded two companies in India before transitioning back to research and joining 3ie. Safiya furthered her research career with an MSc in Evaluation and Applied Research from Claremont Graduate University, during which she worked as an independent evaluation consultant for various international organizations. Later, she joined STiR Education where she led research and evaluation. Currently, Safiya is Co-Founder and Chief Impact Officer at Karya, where she leads their research and social mobility interventions. Safiya is passionate about using research to amplify community voices, and believes strongly in the transformative power of listening.</span>

Mr Metzger became IEC Secretary-General and CEO on 1 February 2020. Prior to joining IEC, he was Director-General of the Swiss Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM). Mr Metzger was also previously Deputy to the Director of the Development Bureau at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Director of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Trained as a lawyer, Mr Metzger has issued several publications on the World Trade Organization (WTO) and competition law. The Secretary-General is the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission and is responsible for its day-to-day operations.

Mr. Chauhan was appointed Director of the United Nations International Computing Centre on 1 December 2019 by the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. The Director is the Chief Executive and has the responsibility to lead all aspects of UNICC’s strategy and operations to facilitate the provision of services to more than 100 Clients and Partner Organizations, to establish the UNICC strategy, to develop a biennial business plan and budget, and to implement the approved plan. With the advice and backing of the MC, Mr. Chauhan has effectively led a strategic transformation of UNICC since he assumed his post. This has enabled UNICC to become the preferred strategic digital partner for the whole UN system and has empowered the organization to successfully build capabilities in areas such as cybersecurity, AI, data, quantum encryption and cloud computing, as well as in key business areas like treasury, finance, and HR.

<span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Yolanda Martínez is a digital transformation expert with over 20 years of experience leading digital transformation initiatives across the public and private sectors at the international, national, and local levels. She serves as Practice Manager for Digital Development in Latin America and the Caribbean at the World Bank, leading a multidisciplinary team that collaborates with governments to advance their digital transformation agendas. In the public sector, Yolanda led Mexico's National Digital Strategy, directed the Federal Digital Government Unit, and headed the Zapopan Digital City Program. In the private sector, she championed multiple digital transformation projects while at Deloitte Consulting. Internationally, Yolanda spearheaded the GovStack Initiative at ITU HQ in Switzerland and led the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) office in Chile. As a subject matter expert, Yolanda has partnered with various United Nations agencies and the OECD to peer review digital government strategies in over 50 countries. Recognized as a global authority in digital transformation, she was named a top 20 global digital government influencer by @political and was featured by WIRED as a "Pioneering LAC Woman in AI" in 2024. Yolanda holds a Ph.D. in Knowledge and Information Society from Universitat Oberta de Catalunya and a Master’s in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University as a Fulbright Scholar.</span>

Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, a senior Indian Administrative Service Officer of Tamil Nadu cadre, is a B. Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT, Kanpur, MBA from Cranfield University, UK and Ph.D from Ohio State University, USA in Management Information Systems. He started his career as an IAS Officer in 1992. He has held various administrative positions in the fields of land and revenue management, mines and minerals, IT/Communications, e-governance. During his stint in Central deputation, he worked in Department of Telecom, Ministry of Commerce & Industry and Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. While working as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, he was instrumental in rolling out the Cash Transfer program in LPG and ‘Give It Up’ campaign. He has also served as Senior Advisor to the Executive Director in World Bank in Washington DC. He held important positions of CEO of Tamil Nadu Industrial Guidance and Export Promotion Bureau, Additional Chief Secretary, Information Technology and Digital Service Department and MD & CEO, Tamil Nadu Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation. He has several publications to his credit.

<span data-contrast="auto">Born on December 11, 1982 in Moscow.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span> <span data-contrast="auto">In 2004 he graduated from the Faculty of Computational Mathematics and Cybernetics of Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov, majoring in “Applied Mathematics and Computer Science”.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span> <span data-contrast="auto">In 2007, he completed his postgraduate studies at the Department of Mathematical Physics, Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov, and in 2008 he was awarded the academic degree “Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences”.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span> <span data-contrast="auto">From 2008 to 2022, he held various positions in the international network of PricewaterhouseCoopers firms, progressing from an IT systems auditor to director of the artificial intelligence and data analytics practice.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span> <span data-contrast="auto">On October 31, 2022, by order of the Government of the Russian Federation appointed to the position of Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span> <span data-contrast="auto">Speaks English.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span>

<div> <div data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Naria currently serves as General Manager for Digital Inclusion and Community Engagement at Microsoft Philanthropies. As the digital inclusion lead at Microsoft Philanthropies, Naria oversees Microsoft’s global philanthropic strategy, grant investments and partnerships in digital skills, computer science education, and career pathways. With the goal of increasing digital, computing, and AI skills for traditionally underrepresented and under-resourced communities, Naria works in partnership with nonprofit organizations around the world to help millions of people thrive in the digital economy.</div> </div> <div> <div>Prior to joining Microsoft, Naria served as the Executive Director of the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship (WSOS), the Director of Legal Aid for Washington Fund, and the Executive Director of the James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy, a juvenile and education law and social work organization in Illinois.</div> </div> <div> <div>Naria is a graduate of the Law School and the College at the University of Chicago. She is currently the Chair of the World Bank's Solutions for Youth Employment and also serves on the Board of Directors of Columbia Legal Services.</div> </div>

Tomas Lamanauskas is Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, elected at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference of 2022, and taking up duties as of January 2023. His 25 years of experience spans across sectors of telecoms and digital policy, regulation and strategy, stemming from executive level positions in agencies, companies, and organizations across Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean and the Pacific region. As Deputy Secretary-General of ITU, Tomas focuses on the financial sustainability and operational excellence of the organization. He also works to raise the digital industry’s ambition in fighting the climate crisis through the Green Digital Action initiative and promotes investments into the digital infrastructure as well as digital resilience through the Digital Infrastructure Investment Initiative and other efforts. Additionally, Tomas contributes to the global efforts to harness the opportunities and mitigate challenges of new technologies, in particular Artificial Intelligence, including through his role as a co-chair of the United Nations Inter-Agency Working Group on AI. He is also playing a key role in ensuring ITU’s support to other UN-wide development and governance efforts, including through the World Summit of the Information Society process and membership at the Operational Steering Committee of the UN Joint SDG Fund. Tomas holds Master’s Degrees in Public Administration (Harvard), Leadership and Strategy (London Business School), Telecommunications Regulation and Policy (The University of the West Indies) and Law (Vilnius University).  

<span data-contrast="auto">Dr. Aminu Maida is the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). He was appointed into office on the 11th of October 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"335551550":6,"335551620":6}"> </span> <span data-ccp-props="{"335551550":6,"335551620":6}"> </span> <span data-contrast="auto">Dr. Maida is a highly accomplished technology executive with extensive experience spanning across the telecommunication and payments industries. Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Maida has consistently demonstrated his expertise in leading cutting-edge innovations, managing cross-functional teams, and driving growth for businesses in competitive markets. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"335551550":6,"335551620":6}"> </span> <span data-ccp-props="{"335551550":6,"335551620":6}"> </span> <span data-contrast="auto">With a solid academic background, Dr. Maida holds a Ph.D. in Electrical & Electronic Engineering from Bath University, UK, a Masters in Engineering in Information Systems Engineering from Imperial College London, as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship from Cambridge Judge Business School. His educational credentials have played an instrumental role in shaping his ability to tackle complex technical challenges and devise robust, future-proof strategies. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"335551550":6,"335551620":6}"> </span> <span data-ccp-props="{"335551550":6,"335551620":6}"> </span> <span data-contrast="auto">Throughout his career, Dr. Aminu Maida has successfully managed teams of engineers, developers, and researchers, fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment. His expertise in strategic planning, business development, technology transformation, and project management have contributed significantly to the growth and expansion of the companies he has worked with. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"335551550":6,"335551620":6}"> </span> <span data-ccp-props="{"335551550":6,"335551620":6}"> </span> <span data-contrast="auto">Prior to his appointment as the Executive Vice Chairman/ CEO of the NCC, Dr. Maida was the Executive Director, Technology and Operations at the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Systems PLC (NIBSS) where he oversaw the day-to-day activities of the entire operations and IT infrastructure of NIBSS. Prior to this role he was the Chief Technology Officer at ARCA Payments Network, a Nigerian based FinTech, and before then he worked with the British Telecoms as a Lead Consultant as well as with Cisco Systems UK. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"335551550":6,"335551620":6}"> </span> <span data-ccp-props="{"335551550":6,"335551620":6}"> </span> <span data-contrast="auto">Dr. Maida's technical prowess is further evidenced by the numerous patents he holds to his name in the areas of wireless communication and self-organizing networks. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"335551550":6,"335551620":6}"> </span> <span data-ccp-props="{"335551550":6,"335551620":6}"> </span> <span data-contrast="auto">He is an active participant in industry conferences and forums, where he shares his insights and experience with fellow professionals. He is committed to the ongoing advancement of technology in the telecommunication and payments sectors, mentoring young professionals, and contributing to research that shapes the future of these industries.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"335551550":6,"335551620":6}"> </span>

<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Leslie Saxon, MD, is a world renown interventional cardiologist and professor of medicine (clinical scholar) and executive director of the USC Center for Body Computing (CBC) at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.</span></p> <p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Leslie Saxon is a pioneer in the movement of wireless diagnostics through wearable and implantable computing devices. The internationally acclaimed CBC collaborates with USC schools, including medicine, engineering, business, and cinematic arts, to accelerate the future of fully integrated health and human performance. She has active research with programs involving connected sensors and software with elite human performers including military groups, professional and collegiate athletes, and patients. Her work provides users with continuous and protected information and actionable insights to improve and optimize their health and human performance status. Dr. Saxon's work is revolutionizing human performance and medical diagnostics and treatments and changing the mindset from "sickcare" to "healthcare" by providing proactive, preventable, and continuous care through technology. She has over 200 peer reviewed research publications and has been recognized with multiple prestigious awards, including the 2019 California Science Center Women of the Year award.  Dr. Saxon has spoken at various forums including CES, TEDMED, DEF CON- Black Hat, SXSW, and WIRED Health and is regularly quoted in popular press (WSJ, NYT, BBC and Fast Company).</span></p>

Dr Robert F Trager is Senior Research Fellow at the Blavatnik School of Government. He is Co-Director of the Oxford Martin AI Governance Initiative, and International Governance Lead at the Centre for the Governance of AI. He is a recognised expert in the international governance of emerging technologies, diplomatic practice, institutional design, and technology regulation. He regularly advises government and industry leaders on these topics. Dr Trager has written two books and numerous articles in leading social science journals, including the American Political Science Review, International Organization, International Security, Foreign Affairs and many others. His award-winning research has been covered in popular press outlets like the New York Times, Economist, Financial Times, Washington Post, NPR, Fortune, Foreign Policy, and Foreign Affairs. From 2017–2021, he was the Assistant Director for Research of the <a href="http://www.international.ucla.edu/burkle/">Burkle Center for International Relations</a>. He was Associate Editor of one of the international relations field’s leading journals, the International Studies Quarterly, and sat on the boards of the <a href="http://www-igcc.ucsd.edu/">Institute for Global Cooperation and Conflict</a>, the <a href="https://brsl.berkeley.edu/">Berkeley Risk and Security Lab</a>, and the Burkle Center. Before moving to the University of Oxford, Dr Trager was Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Los Angeles and held faculty positions at Yale University and an Olin Fellowship at Harvard University.

<span class="ui-provider ur b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z ab ac ae af ag ah ai aj ak" dir="ltr">Seizo Onoe took office as Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB) at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 1 January 2023.</span> 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.

Dr Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava took office as Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 1 January 2023. With more than 30 years in telecommunications, including over 20 years in ITU's Development Sector, Dr Zavazava has promoted and implemented impactful information and communication technology projects around the world. Prior to his election as BDT Director, he served as ITU's Chief of Partnerships for Digital Development, overseeing development-related projects, strategic partnerships, and resource mobilization between 2019 and 2022, while launching new initiatives that have boosted the engagement of industry, private-sector and academia members in ITU's work.

<div class="redesign_text_collapse_expand parbase section"> <div class="lp__body_content"> Sangbu Kim is the World Bank’s Vice President for Digital Transformation as of September 2024. In this role, he leads efforts to build the foundations for digital economies in developing countries to thrive, enhance digital and data infrastructure, ensure cybersecurity and data privacy for institutions, businesses, and citizens, and advance digital government services. With over 27 years of experience, Mr. Kim has held senior positions in the Office of the President of the Republic of Korea, where he developed national ICT plans, including e-government, broadband expansion, digital literacy, cybersecurity, and trade policy. He also served in the Korean Communications Commission and the Ministry of Information and Communication. More recently, he was Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Consumer Products in the Asia Pacific region at Google. Earlier, he served as Vice President for Corporate Strategy, Investment, and Partnerships at the Korean telecommunications operator LG Uplus. A South Korean national, Mr. Kim holds a Master of Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Seoul National University. </div> </div>

Eiman Kanjo is Professor in TinyML and Pervasive Computing and Head of the Smart Sensing Lab at Nottingham Trent University. She is Honorary Visiting Professor at the Department of Computing, Imperial College London, where she was previously the Provost’s Visiting Professor in Pervasive Sensing and TinyML. She is the Turing University Network Academic Lead at the Alan Turing Institute and received the Turing Network Development Award in 2022. She has published over 154 research papers and secured funding from EPSRC, DCMS, Innovate UK, the EU, DSTL, ERDF, MoD, and the Lottery Fund. She is the director of the recently funded EPSRC Green+ tech network. Her research supports practical applications through collaborations with charities, local authorities, and industry. She received the EdgeAI Foundation Outstanding Educator Award in 2025 and serves on the steering committees of the EdgeAI Foundation EMEA, the EdgeAI Foundation Summit, tinyML EMEA, and the Academic Group. She leads EdgeAI Foundation/TinyML UK and co-chairs the BluePrint Group. She is active in the TinyML Foundation and is an editor at <em>Data Centric Engineering</em>. She is Associate Director at Health Data Research UK, leading initiatives to improve health data quality and develop clinical technologies. She was named one of the Top 50 Women in Engineering by the Women in Engineering Society and serves on the Royal Society’s Newton International Fellowships Committee. She was previously a Research Associate at the University of Cambridge’s Computer Laboratory and a member of the Cambridge eScience Centre. Earlier, she conducted research at the Mixed Reality Lab, University of Nottingham, in pervasive computing, mobile sensing, and location-based applications.

<p>Brandon Andrews is co-founder of <a href="http://www.gauge.ai/">Gauge</a>; an AI-driven mobile market research platform connecting brands to consumers and influencers to identify opportunities and avoid mistakes. He has done casting for ABC’s <a href="https://brandonandrews.me/about-brandon/">Shark Tank</a> and other business shows on TV for a decade; meeting thousands of entrepreneurs each year. Named a Global Innovation Fellow by the U.S. Department of State, he has traveled the world <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoMw9Ooe1TA&list=PLSTqFAUnl1NdEw1A1YaZqjyJQHm1WmImQ">speaking</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=205&v=qbm-iCNiSOE&feature=youtu.be">hosting</a> events on entrepreneurship and innovation.</p> <p>He helped build and hosted the inaugural <a href="https://www.clintonfoundation.org/clinton-global-initiative-september-2022-annual-meeting#entrepreneurship-greenhouse-panel" data-et-has-event-already="true">CGI Entrepreneurship Greenhouse</a> at Clinton Global Initiative. He has also headlined entrepreneurship programming around the world including <a href="https://www.wjtv.com/entertainment-news/brandon-andrews-headlines-2022-go-viral-festival/">Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan;</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppXeFsdCrC0">Dushanbe, Tajikistan;</a> the <a href="https://www.everythinglubbock.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/605902604/brandon-andrews-hosts-unleash-plus-dragons-den-pitch-competition-funding-global-startups-in-india/">Unleash+ pitch competition</a> in Mysore, India; and four-part artificial intelligence event series in <a href="https://theblackwallsttimes.com/2023/12/15/brandon-andrews-hosts-ai-series-in-kampala-uganda/">Kampala, Uganda</a>.</p> <p>Working with <a href="../" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://aiforgood.itu.int/&source=gmail&ust=1745932924294000&usg=AOvVaw1XTWHmG1nNCaGrjciflv78">AI for Good</a> he hosts <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mrbrandonandrews_aiforgood-innovationfactory-aiexpoafrica-activity-7257866479415496704-lABN?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAMagbUBB880cbmf3R4UN8T04A5nkXLThY0" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mrbrandonandrews_aiforgood-innovationfactory-aiexpoafrica-activity-7257866479415496704-lABN?utm_source%3Dshare%26utm_medium%3Dmember_desktop%26rcm%3DACoAAAMagbUBB880cbmf3R4UN8T04A5nkXLThY0&source=gmail&ust=1745932924294000&usg=AOvVaw2pcEIj2IyDudtriK5ddsX1">Innovation Factory pitch competitions</a> around the world. He also created and hosts the <a href="http://www.impactwithai.media/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.impactwithai.media/&source=gmail&ust=1745932924294000&usg=AOvVaw0ruvZS4v0F8gWlbOg8X7NN">Impact with AI podcast</a> engaging entrepreneurs using AI to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. </p> <p>He managed the <a href="https://www.wabe.org/jay-zs-music-engineer-launches-techtowealth-tour-in-atlanta/">#TechtoWealth</a> Tour with DJ Young Guru. Designed to get 10K people of color coding, #TechtoWealth brought tech events to WeWork locations in the final six OTRII Tour cities + BET Hip Hop Awards with $1M in coding scholarships available from Opportunity Hub and Flatiron School.</p> <p>Previously, Brandon empowered public affairs, technology, and real estate clients at MWWPR. He spent 5 years in the United States Senate where he handled technology, small business, and defense policy.</p> <p>He is Chairman of the <a href="https://communityaffairs.dc.gov/servedc">DC Commission on National and Community Service</a>. A former fashion model, he serves on the <a href="https://cfae.dc.gov/">DC Commission on Fashion, Arts</a>, and Events and works with fashion/beauty entrepreneurs.</p> <p>He provides commentary on policy, politics, business and tech on TV, radio, and the web.</p> <p>A former Division-1 track athlete, Brandon is a graduate of Oral Roberts University.</p>

A distinguished engineer, leader, and diplomat; multilingual standardization expert and holder of 23 patents, Tunisian born Dr Bilel Jamoussi is the Deputy to the Director and Chief of Telecommunication Standardization Policy Department at the ITU Standardization Bureau (TSB) in Geneva, Switzerland. His primary mission is to establish international standards to promote universal, meaningful connectivity and champion sustainable digital transformation. He also aims to intensify industry engagement, ensure inclusivity in standards development and adoption, and bolster cooperation with other standardization bodies. Additionally, he is committed to leading in emerging tech discussions, building strategic partnerships, and pursuing organizational excellence. Previously, he was the Chief of the Study Groups Department of ITU Standardization Bureau (TSB) from 2010 and until 31 August 2023. He has led the coordination of the bureau’s standards moving activities into a new era characterized by digital transformation that needs an increased collaboration with vertical sectors such as healthcare, transportation, utility, and banking. His innovative approach has served as a catalyst to launch new standards initiatives related to emerging technologies such as IoT, Blockchain, AI and Quantum, attracting a new wave of memberships from non-traditional players. A standout accomplishment of Dr Jamoussi is his effort in bridging the telecommunications and financial sectors. Through this, he paved the way for the creation of digital payments guidelines and standards that aim to foster financial inclusion on a global scale. Key achievements under his tenure have been important new standards while effectively managing staff by recruiting new talent, improving gender balance, delivering new work methods, and staying within budget. Prior to 2010, he worked in the private sector for 15 years and held senior executive positions such as Director of Standards for Nortel. In this role he participated in over 90 standards making bodies worldwide. In the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), he authored a number of Internet standards. As an IEEE Senior Member, he was elected to the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) Board of Governors and the IEEE-SA Corporate Advisory Group. He holds a BSc, MSc and PhD degrees in Computer Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University, USA. In addition to his many accomplishments, Dr Bilel Jamoussi is a pivotal figure in the global ICT community. He is a sought-after speaker at tech events worldwide like the Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF), often taking the stage as a keynote speaker or panellist. His expertise and insights are in high demand by media outlets such as Financial Times, resulting in frequent interviews, podcast features, and media appearances. Bilel has lived in Tunisia, Canada, USA, and Switzerland, giving him a unique global viewpoint. He is fluent in Arabic, French, and English and speaks some Spanish and German.

<span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Karen Hao is an award-winning journalist covering the impacts of artificial intelligence on society. She writes for publications including The Atlantic and leads the Pulitzer Center's AI Spotlight Series, a program training thousands of journalists around the world on how to cover AI. She also sits on the AI advisory board of the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Hao was formerly a foreign correspondent covering China’s technology industry for the Wall Street Journal and a senior editor for AI at MIT Technology Review. Her work is regularly taught in universities and cited by governments. She has received numerous accolades for her coverage, including an American Humanist Media Award and the American National Magazine Award for Journalists Under 30. She received her Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from MIT.</span>

<p class="p1">Dr.Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck currently serves as the chairman of National Broadcasting & Telecommunications Commissioner of Thailand. He has a strong background as a cardiologist in Academic Medicine. His most recent post was the deputy dean at Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University. Sarana was born and raised in Bangkok. He went to Assumption College for secondary school. He got his medical degree from Chulalongkorn University. After medical school he enrolled in the Residency Training in Internal Medicine at LA county/USC medical center and Fellowship in Cardiology at Kaiser Parmanente Hospital, both of which were in Los Angles. He got additional years of training in interventional cardiology at the Hospital of the Good Samaritan Los Angeles. He returned to Thailand in 1993 and has established cardiac intervention services at Ramathibodi Hospital where he has worked until April 2022. He has a passion in teaching medicine and challenging young physicians, from students to fellows, is part of his art. He worked his way up in Academia and proudly received his Clinical Professorship in 2018. Apart from medicine and cardiology he was selected to enact new and revise old laws at the National legislative Assembly. Because of his experience in Science, Legislation and in consumer protection such as medical device suitability and his study work on hospital expenses he was picked by the selection committee to be NBTC commissioner and later received the royal endorsement to be NBTC Chairman.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>

<span lang="en-US">Pranav Vempati is a thought leader and global speaker known for his insightful contributions to the technology sector. As the Founder and CEO of Makers Hive, Pranav is dedicated to creating innovative technologies that are both advanced and accessible, with a strong commitment to driving positive social change.</span> <span lang="en-US">Pranav’s journey was significantly shaped by two esteemed mentors: the Father of the Green Revolution, Bharata Ratna Dr. M. S. Swaminathan, and Padma Bhushan Dr. T. Ramasami. Their guidance inspired Pranav to leverage technology to address pressing societal challenges. This mentorship led him to focus on developing solutions that empower underserved communities, ensuring that innovation benefits those who need it most.</span> <span lang="en-US">In 2018, Pranav founded Makers Hive with the mission to make cutting-edge technology accessible to everyone. The company’s first product, KalArm, is India’s first and the world’s most affordable bionic hand. This groundbreaking innovation has significantly improved the lives of many by providing a functional, cost-effective solution for individuals with limb loss.</span> <span lang="en-US">Pranav and Makers Hive have received several prestigious accolades, including Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia, Forbes Asia 100 to Watch, GQ India’s 7 Most Influential Young Indians , and he was shortlisted for One Young World Entrepreneur of the Year Award.</span> <span lang="en-US">As a global thought leader and speaker, Pranav continues to advocate for the transformative power of technology in driving social progress. Under his leadership, Makers Hive is committed to developing affordable, innovative solutions that address deep-rooted societal challenges, ensuring that no one is left behind in the pursuit of a better future. His work exemplifies how technology can uplift and empower, making a profound impact on both industry and society as a whole.</span>

Before joining WMO, Dr Kim developed her career at the Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea (2005-2019), having been the first hydrologist in the Ministry. She was a leader of the Forecasting and Disaster Risk Reduction team of the Han River Flood Control Office, mainly working in the areas of flood forecasting and integrated water resources management. She holds a master’s degree (M.Sc.) in Hydrology and a Doctorate degree (PhD) in Water Resources Engineering, Korea University. She has had a vast experience in the international arena, where she made significant contributions to multiple programmes as a member of the Advisory Working Group (AWG) of WMO Commission for Hydrology (2016-2019), as a Theme leader of WMO Regional Association II Working Group Hydrological Services (2012-2019), and as focal point of both the UNESCO International Hydrological Programme (2011-2014) and the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee (2010-2014).

Mr. Hassan Al-Sayed, the Minister’s advisor, has been the Assistant Undersecretary for the Information Technology Sector at the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT). He has managed the government ICT sector to implement the strategic plan of the e-government program (Digital Government Strategy 2020). With over than 30 years of experience in Information Technology, Supervision and Participation in Digital Transformation plans in government institutions, as well as his experience in developing and enhancing its efficiency and strategic plans. He has supervised the implementation of many large-scale national projects. Mr. Hassan Al-Sayed chairs the General Assembly of Qatar Post. He is member of the Board of Directors of Malomatia, he worked in Ooredoo as Technical Support Manger, IT Department before his joining to MCIT. Mr. Hassan has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Essex in UK and a Diploma in Computer Sciences from Qatar University. Mr. Hassan serves as an a chair of the AI Committee in the ministry of ICT, before that he was in charge of the implementation of the Digital Government Strategy and overseeing the implementation of many national ICT programs.Mr.Hassan carries a bachelor’s degree from the University of Essex in UK.

<p class="x_MsoNormal" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Based in Geneva, Switzerland, Frederic Werner is a recognized leader at the intersection of artificial intelligence, technology, and global development. As the Head of Strategic Engagement at ITU, the United Nations’ specialized agency for Digital Technologies, and Chief of Strategy and Operations for AI for Good, Frederic drives initiatives that shape the future of AI’s role in solving humanity’s greatest challenges.</p> <p class="x_MsoNormal">Frederic is a co-creator of the United Nations AI for Good Global Summit, a landmark platform connecting AI innovators with real-world problem owners to collectively advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Under his stewardship, AI for Good has become a global hub for innovation, collaboration, and actionable solutions, redefining how AI is used for social good.</p> <p class="x_MsoNormal">At ITU, Frederic leads transformative strategic initiatives, driving global collaboration in digital transformation and standards development to address critical challenges. His leadership ensures the organization remains a leader in setting international standards and leveraging AI to advance the SDGs.</p> <p class="x_MsoNormal">Before joining ITU, Frederic held pivotal roles that shaped global ICT collaboration. As Communications & Program Director of ETIS in Brussels, he established a pan-European network of CIOs and cybersecurity leaders. Earlier, as Head of Marketing and Communications at the European Organization for Conformity Assessment, he spearheaded capacity-building projects with the European Commission, strengthening ICT infrastructures in EU candidate countries.</p> <p class="x_MsoNormal">A recognized figure in the AI sphere, Frederic is a regular keynote speaker and panellist at global tech and AI events, such as Davos, Vivatech, SXSW, World AI Festival Cannes, AI Africa Expo, World AI Summit Amsterdam, AWS Reinvent and GITEX to name a few. His insights on AI capacity building, governance and standards have led to numerous interviews and features across international media, books, and podcasts.</p> <p class="x_MsoNormal">Academically, Frederic holds a B.A. in Business & Human Resources Management with a Communications Minor from Vrije Universiteit Brussel, an MBA in International Business from United Business Institutes, a Technical MBA in Telecoms Technology from Informa Telecoms, and a certificate from the MIT Sloan School of Management on AI’s Business Strategy Implications.</p> <p class="x_MsoNormal">Having lived in diverse countries such as Belgium, Senegal, the United Kingdom, the Philippines, Austria, Turkey, Hungary, and Switzerland, Frederic brings a unique and global perspective to his partnerships and collaborations.</p>

<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Lucy Lyons is Co-founder and CEO of Kestrix, the ‘Google Maps of heat loss’ using thermal drones and AI to map heat loss in buildings and generate energy efficiency retrofit plans, addressing the 10% of CO2 emissions coming from heating and cooling buildings. Since founding Kestrix in 2022 with Google-alum-CTO Matt Goodridge, she has led Kestrix to raise c. $2M in funding, map 1,700+ homes for heat loss on behalf of major UK social housing providers like Clarion, Peabody, and Places for People, and grow the team to 13. Lucy is a Sigma Squared fellow, a listee in Forbes 30 under 30’s technology category, and was named GP Bullhound’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2024. She holds an M.Sc from the University of Oxford in Sustainability, Enterprise, and the Environment and a B.A. from New York University’s school of Global Liberal Studies.</span></p>

<span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Werzowa, a renowned composer, music producer, and entrepreneur, has been pivotal in this endeavor. Known globally for composing the iconic Intel jingle and scoring major Hollywood films, Werzowa has recently utilized AI to complete Beethoven’s Tenth Symphony and orchestrate Robbie Williams’ latest best-selling album. He is collaborating with Pharrell Williams, bringing MusicMedicine to a global audience. This fusion of AI with traditional composition opens new realms of artistic possibility, redefining the boundaries of musical creativity.</span>

<span lang="EN-US">Ria Rustagi is a visionary entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Neuphony, a pioneering neurotech company. Her journey into the world of brain health and neurofeedback technology is deeply personal and driven by a family health crisis. Ria's sister was diagnosed with a brain infection, an experience that fueled her passion for creating accessible brain health solutions. </span> <span lang="EN-US">Ria co-founded Neuphony with her husband, Bhavya Madan, who serves as the CTO. Together, they have leveraged their expertise and dedication to revolutionize the field of brain health. Neuphony, often dubbed as the "smartwatch for your brain," offers cutting-edge EEG devices and personalized brain training regimens, promoting mental health awareness and reducing stigma around mental health issues. </span> <span lang="EN-US">Ria Rustagi has an impressive educational background that has laid the foundation for her entrepreneurial journey in the neurotech industry. She holds a Master of Science (MSc) degree from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore and another MSc degree from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Germany. These prestigious institutions provided Ria with a strong academic foundation in technology and innovation, equipping her with the knowledge and skills essential for her role as the co-founder and CEO of Neuphony. Her education has been instrumental in driving the development and success of Neuphony's advanced neurofeedback and brain health solutions. </span> <span lang="EN-US">Ria lived in Germany for seven years, where she gained valuable industry experience working at Infineon Technologies as a Physical Design Engineer for the automotive industry. Her role at Infineon involved working on cutting-edge automotive technologies, further honing her technical expertise and problem-solving skills. </span>

<div data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Professor James Marshall is Director of the Centre for Machine Intelligence at the University of Sheffield, and Founder Science Officer at Opteran Technologies Ltd. With an interdisciplinary background spanning computer science and biology, James has spent over a decade seeking to understand the behaviour and brains of insects, and use this to design very efficient, robust, and understandable controllers for robotics. This approach, which has been dubbed Natural Intelligence, differs from the data-driven approach of current AI technologies, by directly reverse-engineering the algorithms that brains implement.</div>

Kamal Yakub is an entrepreneur passionate about leveraging technology to address agricultural challenges in Africa. He is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of TROTRO Tractor Ltd. TROTRO Tractor Limited (TTL) is an agriculture technology company founded in Ghana in 2016 to modernize farming and promote sustainable agriculture techniques. Our services improve the lives of smallholder farmers (SHFs) by providing digital platforms for accessible and affordable mechanization services followed by farmer-centered crop care protocols. With an initial stock of 600 tractors in Ghana, TTL has now expanded its services to Benin, Nigeria, Togo, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In addition to its West Africa tractor rental expansion, TTL provides its farmer clients with a full line of services, starting with high level sustainable methods of ploughing, harrowing, land preparation and management, as well as providing crop care: drone activated pest control, planting, harvesting and crop storage. TTL is a Farmer’s Friend.

Meutya Viada Hafid, a graduate of the University of New South Wales (2001) with a Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering and the University of Indonesia (2018) with a Master's degree in Political Science. She has served as Chair of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives since 2019. During her tenure as Chair of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives in 2019-2024, she has produced 13 laws. Since 2010, she has served as a Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the Golkar Party with the electoral district of North Sumatra. Previously, she worked as a journalist at Metro TV and was a host on several television shows. She was held hostage for seven days in 2005 by a group of armed men while on duty in Iraq. On September 28, 2007, Meutya launched a book she wrote herself, namely 168 Hours in Hostage: Memoirs of a Journalist Held Hostage in Iraq. On October 11, 2007, Meutya Hafid was selected as the winner of the Elizabeth O'Neill Journalism Award, from Australia. Once named one of the five Inspirational Press Figures of Indonesia by Mizan and the youngest woman to receive the award. Born on May 3, 1978, this daughter of Soppeng, South Sulawesi has been active in the Golkar Party since 2016 and the MKGR mass organization since 2020.

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dr. Reinhard Scholl is former Deputy to the Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB) since September 2002. Previously he has been with Siemens in Munich, Germany and with ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute). He has also served on the ICANN Board. He received a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Illinois, USA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->

Dr. Amy Diaz is an equity-minded leader who has advocated for student access and success in higher education over the past 30 years. She is passionate about the community college's mission – changing lives through education – and the diverse student body it serves. Highlights of her leadership include serving as dean and vice president in both Student Affairs and Academic Affairs prior to serving as the 9th president of GateWay Community College (Arizona). Dr. Diaz has focused much of her recent professional career on futures thinking and reimagining learning and working. Dr. Diaz has taught at the community college level in career exploration, first-year experience and mathematics, and in teacher education and educational psychology at the graduate level. She has served on multiple advisory boards including NACCE and serves as a peer reviewer with the Higher Learning Commission. Dr. Diaz holds a doctorate in educational psychology, a master’s degree in counseling for higher education from Northern Illinois University, and a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Math Education from the University of Iowa.

Big Ocean (빅오션) (formerly S-boyz and Big O!cean) is the first ever South Korean hard of hearing boy group under PARASTAR Entertainment. They want to create their own genre called S-Pop (sign language pop), where they ‘sing’ in Korean Sign Language (KSL), American Sign Language (ASL) and International Sign (IS). All members are hard of hearing, and use medical devices like cochlear implants and hearing aids. They debuted on April 20, 2024 with a remake of ‘Hope’ by H.O.T.

Dr. Merritt Moore graduated with an undergraduate degree in physics from Harvard and with a PhD in Atomic and Laser Physics from the University of Oxford. She is Adjunct Professor at NYU Abu Dhabi teaching “Creative Robotics & Tech, ” a course that fuses innovation, entrepreneurship, science and technology. She was a professional ballet dancer with the English National Ballet, Norwegian National Ballet, Zurich Ballet, and continues to perform with Boston Ballet. During the pandemic, Moore brought her passions together to dance with robots she programmed. She has now been invited to perform with robots at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Forbes Women's Summit in Abu Dhabi, WORLD.MINDS in Belgrade, Switzerland, Germany, Mexico, France, Romania, USA and more. This led to collaborations with Louis Vuitton and features in <a title="Original URL: https://partners.time.com/partners/kia-motors-europe/how-one-doctor-challenged-stereotypes-by-combining-her-love-of-ballet-and/?prx_ro=s&prx_t=KKcGAAAAAAlP8PA&utm_campaign=164203. 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Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcontent%2Fd45e7fc5-9974-4be2-84ba-70b7554e05a9&data=05%7C02%7Cmeghana.kondamudi%40itu.int%7Cc3fdac69649e4343d4b908dd1949baae%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638694526693866107%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=z%2FVIzhtOyivSSGQNEZgiyDg9oX6Z0kkranliZGPGg8A%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="Verified" data-linkindex="1">Financial Times (FT)</a>, <a title="Original URL: https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/merritt-moore-ballet-interview. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vogue.co.uk%2Farts-and-lifestyle%2Farticle%2Fmerritt-moore-ballet-interview&data=05%7C02%7Cmeghana.kondamudi%40itu.int%7Cc3fdac69649e4343d4b908dd1949baae%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638694526693877388%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=TLZoUlqVDO4zVyD8bzAAUaVqdRuYS5EaDoq8SBTzA3w%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="Verified" data-linkindex="2">Vogue</a>, <a title="Original URL: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000q0d4/click-women-in-tech. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fiplayer%2Fepisode%2Fm000q0d4%2Fclick-women-in-tech&data=05%7C02%7Cmeghana.kondamudi%40itu.int%7Cc3fdac69649e4343d4b908dd1949baae%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638694526693886657%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=MYzBMKi1Xu%2FJn7ATgRQKI51gGdJ1cWoiOdmfekhgMmY%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="Verified" data-linkindex="3">BBC</a>. Her interdisciplinary work earned her a spot in <a title="Original URL: https://www.forbes.com/profile/merritt-moore/?sh=3cde958b48cc. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fprofile%2Fmerritt-moore%2F%3Fsh%3D3cde958b48cc&data=05%7C02%7Cmeghana.kondamudi%40itu.int%7Cc3fdac69649e4343d4b908dd1949baae%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638694526693895677%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Bd87RUK5pfageylHwO3Pf0oMNkdTL7l5176AeUcE6cM%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="Verified" data-linkindex="4">Forbes 30 under 30</a>. Merritt was one of the 12 candidates selected to undergo rigorous astronaut training on <a title="Original URL: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/ZX2Rv5pHBl7yl8lDDW5LFN/merritt-29. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fprogrammes%2Fprofiles%2FZX2Rv5pHBl7yl8lDDW5LFN%2Fmerritt-29&data=05%7C02%7Cmeghana.kondamudi%40itu.int%7Cc3fdac69649e4343d4b908dd1949baae%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638694526693904574%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=PjXokf4Q1quZ%2BN300NU7ffw2iWS8fxzl5f%2Fim5NZJMA%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="Verified" data-linkindex="5">BBC Two "Astronauts: Do you have what it takes?"</a>, and she was down to the final 16 artists selected for the DearMoon project, which aimed to travel around the moon on SpaceX’s Starship.

Dr. Ya-Qin Zhang is Chair Professor of AI Science at Tsinghua University, and Dean of Institute for AI Industry Research of Tsinghua University (AIR). He was the President of Baidu Inc. from 2014 to 2019. Prior to Baidu, Dr. Zhang was a Microsoft executive for 16 years with different key positions, including Managing Director of Microsoft Research Asia, Chairman of Microsoft China, and Corporate Vice President and Chairman of Microsoft Asia R&D. Dr. Zhang was elected to the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAA&S), the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE), the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), and the Euro-Asia Academy of Sciences. He is a Fellow of IEEE and CAAI. He is one of the top scientists and technologists in digital video and AI, with over 500 papers, 60 granted US patents, and 11 books. His original research has become the basis for start-up ventures, new products, and international standards in digital video, cloud computing, and autonomous driving. He serves on the Board of Directors of four public companies. He is on the industry board of United Nation Development Program (UNDP), and AI global council of the Davos World Economic Forum. He is the Chairman of world’s largest open autonomous driving platform “Apollo” alliance with over 200 global partners. He has been an active speaker in global forums including APEC, Davos, United Nations, and Bo’Ao Asia Forum.

<span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Dr Patrick Lucey is the Chief Scientist at sports data giant Stats Perform, where he leads the AI team in maximizing the value of the company’s extensive sports data repositories. With over 20 years of experience in the AI field, he has held research positions at Disney Research, the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, and IBM’s T.J. Watson Research Center during his Ph.D. studies.  Originally from Australia, Patrick earned a BEng in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern Queensland and a Ph.D. from Queensland University of Technology, where his research focused on multimodal speech modeling. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed papers and received numerous best paper awards at prestigious international conferences, including the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, WACV, and INTERSPEECH. His work has been featured by media outlets such as the BBC and Nature and highlighted in popular sports analytics books like Soccernomics. Dr Lucey was a member of the IOC's AI Working Group, contributing to the formation of the IOC AI Agenda. His research interests include artificial intelligence, interactive machine learning in sports, and AI education. Recently, he piloted a course on "AI in Sport," designed to help students from non-traditional backgrounds understand AI concepts through the interactive and visual nature of sports data. (website:<span class="x_apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a title="Original URL: http://www.patricklucey.com/. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.patricklucey.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cmeghana.kondamudi%40itu.int%7C062e0c6b51044995366608dd14b31f62%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638689481792591844%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=uxjbsKDndEsFwXFkrx2yNSfmH%2FCRfoj45mJsIsXIsBI%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="Verified" data-linkindex="0">www.patricklucey.com</a>).

Amanda is CEO of OpenUK and has built one of the most recognised and impactful organisations in open source. She is also the Executive Producer of State of Open Con 25 taking place 4 - 5 February 2025 in London having founded and produced the ‘23 and ‘24 events building to over 800 attendees, and over 200 speakers. A lawyer with 25 years’ experience, 5 as GC of Canonical, she’s been instrumental in shaping open source’s legal frameworks, as she was in shaping internet law during the early 2000’s. Regularly contributing to tech press, she edited “Open Source: Law, Policy and Practice”, (2022). Amanda is a sought-after and contagious international keynote speaker, speaking at tech events and international events like COP29 on topics from open source software to AI. A regular contributor to the tech press across a wider range of areas, Amanda is the editor of Open Source Law, Policy and Practice (2nd edition) published by Oxford University Press in October ‘22, with open access thanks to the Vietsch Foundation https://amandabrock.com/books Current Advisory: UK Cabinet Office Open Standards Board; UKRI Digital Research Infrastructure; UKRI Exascale; KDE; commercial boards – Mimoto, Scarf, FerretDB and Space Aye; and is Fellow Open Forum Academy; Distinguished Fellow Rust Foundation; European Representative, OIN. Past Advisory includes: Chair, UN Technology and Innovation Labs Open Source and IP Advisory Group’; OASIS Open Projects Initiative; British Computer Society Inaugural Influence Board; UK Government Energy Sector Digitalisation Task Force; elected Board Member Open Source Initiative; and Commercial Advisory Boards at Beamery and Everseen. Recognition: Computer Weekly’s 50 Most Influential Women in UK TechC(2023, 2024) listed as #20 in 2024; Computing IT Leaders 100 (2023, 2024); ‘ INvolve HERoes list “(2023, 2024); “Women Who Will”, Changemaker (2023); INvolve Heroes (2022, 2023); and Novi Awards Advocate for Change in Gender Equality Honouree (2024); Ambassador Open Charge Alliance. Amanda was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Women, Influence & Power in Law UK 2022. Judging: IDG Foundry CIO 100 2023, 2024); and Senior Judge, First Enable Role Model List by Dow (2024) having been a Judge in the We are Tech Women Rising Star Awards in (2021, 2022).

<p class="undefined ">On 27 March 2024, the United Nations Secretary-General<a href="https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/personnel-appointments/2024-03-27/mr-kamal-kishore-of-india-special-representative-for-disaster-risk-reduction" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/personnel-appointments/2024-03-27/mr-kamal-kishore-of-india-special-representative-for-disaster-risk-reduction"> announced the appointment of Kamal Kishore </a>as Assistant Secretary-General and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction.</p> <p class="undefined ">Kamal Kishore is the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for Disaster Risk Reduction, and Head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), based in Geneva, Switzerland.</p> <p class="undefined ">Mr. Kishore brings to this position nearly three decades of experience in disaster risk reduction, climate action and sustainable development at the global, regional, national and local levels, having worked in government, the United Nations and civil society organizations.</p> <p class="undefined ">Prior to joining UNDRR, Mr. Kishore was the Head of Department of the National Disaster Management Authority of India, where he led the G20 Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction and contributed to the development of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.</p> <p class="undefined ">Mr. Kishore spent nearly thirteen years with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in New York, Geneva, and New Delhi where he contributed to advancing policy and supported post-disaster recovery in Bangladesh, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka.</p> <p class="undefined ">Prior to UNDP, he served as Director of Information and Research, and Manager of Extreme Climate Events Programme at the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre in Bangkok (1996-2002), covering Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam and as an Architect at the Action Research Unit for Development (1992-1994) in New Delhi where he worked on post-earthquake reconstruction projects.</p>

Jenny Bates is Director General, Economics, Climate and Global Issues at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (<abbr title="Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office">FCDO</abbr>). In this role she is responsible for <abbr title="Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office">FCDO</abbr>’s work on climate change and energy, science, technology, trade, investment and economic security. Jenny is a member of the <abbr title="Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office">FCDO</abbr>’s Management Board, Executive Committee, Development Committee and Financial Transactions Steering Board. She is the Board Champion for both Respectful and Kind Behaviours and a Non-Executive Director on the Board of <abbr title="Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office">FCDO</abbr> Services. Jenny joined the then Foreign and Commonwealth Office (<abbr title="Foreign & Commonwealth Office">FCO</abbr>) in March 2020 as Director General, Europe, responsible for leading the <abbr title="Foreign & Commonwealth Office">FCO</abbr>’s work on EU negotiations and wider strategic relationships with Europe. From September 2020 to January 2024, as Director General for Indo-Pacific, Jenny was responsible for <abbr title="Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office">FCDO</abbr> strategy and engagement with the Indo-Pacific region and implementation of the UK’s Indo-Pacific strategic framework. Prior to that, Jenny was Director, EU Exit and Economic Partnerships and Chief Economist/Director of Analysis at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Jenny worked for 10 years in HM Treasury and led the Secretariat of the Smith Commission on the devolution of further powers to Scotland. Jenny has an MA in International Relations from the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University (Washington DC, USA) and a BA in Economics (first class) from Cambridge University (Clare College).

Abdulbaset Albaour is a senior digital transformation leader with over a decade of experience advancing digital governance in Libya. As Chairman of GATI and the National Committee for Digital Transformation, he has played a central role in shaping the country’s digital future by formulating national strategies, promoting inter-agency collaboration, and aligning local efforts with global digital governance standards. He holds a Master’s degree in Information Technology from Tun Abdul Razak University, Malaysia, and has led the design and implementation of foundational national policies and frameworks, including: <ul> <li>National Digital Transformation Strategy</li> <li>Government Data Governance Policy</li> <li>ICT Sector Strategy 2023–2027</li> <li>National Artificial Intelligence Policy</li> <li>Digital Accessibility Policy</li> <li>Internet of Things (IoT) Policy</li> <li>Digital Government Service Delivery Guide</li> </ul> In addition to his leadership in government, Mr. Albaour has served as a member of the General Assembly of the Libyan Holding Company for Telecommunications, Post, and Information Technology, and as an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Information Technology, Misrata University. His contributions have significantly strengthened Libya’s performance in international benchmarks such as the UN E-Government Development Index (EGDI) and the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI). He is also a committed member of the Libyan Cybersecurity Foundation and the Libyan Telemedicine Association. In recognition of his leadership and impact, Mr. Albaour was nominated for the 2025 UN–Portugal Digital Fellowship, a testament to his dedication to digital innovation, public sector modernization, and inclusive, citizen-centered e-governance in Libya.

Dr. Hui Zhang has a proven track record in the robotics and automation business, holding different leadership positions in product management and R&D at ABB over the past 20 years. During this time, he has spent several years in China, the United States and for the past three years in Switzerland as Chief Technology Officer.​​​​​​​ Dr. Hui Zhang joint the KUKA Group in October 2022 as KUKA Group CTO (Chief Technology Officer). Since May 2023 he also took the role as CTO of KUKAs Robotics Division. The 52-years-old holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Penn State University and did work in many different locations globally.

<span lang="EN-US" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Dr. Susan Graham is the CEO of Dendra Systems, a data analytics company that uses AI and drone technology to restore natural ecosystems. </span>A bioengineer, data scientist and preservationist working with AI and analytics to restore and protect global ecosystems, Dr. Graham’s innovative approach to land restoration has earned her numerous accolades including Forbes’ 30 Under 30, a finalist position for 2020 Pritzker Prize, winner of the Emerging leader Award in the recent Advance Awards 2020 and numerous speaking engagements at the United Nations, to name a few.

<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Roland Siegwart is professor for autonomous mobile robots at ETH Zurich, founding co-director of the technology transfer center Wyss Zurich and board member of multiple companies, including Komax and NZZ. He studied mechanical engineering at ETH Zurich, spent ten years as professor at EPFL Lausanne (1996 – 2006), held visiting positions at Stanford University and NASA Ames and was Vice President of ETH Zurich (2010 -2014). He is IEEE Fellow and recipient of the IEEE RAS Pioneer Award, IEEE RAS Inaba Technical Award and the Ernst-Blickle-Preis. He is among the most cited scientist in robots world-wide, co-founder of more than half a dozen spin-off companies and a strong promoter of innovation and entrepreneurship in Switzerland.</span></p> <p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">His interests are in the design, control and navigation of flying, wheeled and walking robots operating in complex and highly dynamical environments.</span></p>

<div> <span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Dr. Michelle J. Johnson is an Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She has secondary faculty appointments in the </span>Departments of Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at University of Pennsylvania. </div> Dr. Johnson holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University, with a specialization in design, robotics and rehabilitation. Her pioneering work focuses on developing robotic and sensor-based technologies to assist individuals recovering from neurological injuries, such as stroke and other non-traumatic brain injuries. As the Director of the Rehabilitation Robotics Lab (A GRASP Lab),  Dr. Johnson leads an interdisciplinary team that designs and evaluates assistive robots and therapeutic devices to improve motor control, physical function, cognitive function and quality of life in older adults and adult and children with disabilities. Her research integrates principles from robotics, neuroscience, and rehabilitation science to create innovative solutions for real-world clinical applications. Dr. Johnson has published extensively in leading scientific journals and has secured significant research funding from prestigious agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Her projects emphasize human-robot interaction, adaptive technology design, and equitable access to rehabilitation tools for local and global underserved communities. She is a Fulbright Scholar.

Ian is the co-founder of the BCI Pioneers Coalition. He was implanted with the microelectrode array Neuroport in 2014 following a traumatic spinal cord injury from a swimming accident in 2010. In the photo, you can see him connected to the implanted brain-computer interface (iBCI), which is being used to control the external functional electrical stimulator on his forearm to restore hand function to grasp the mug. The monitor in the background shows an expanded view of one channel of the Neuroport that can detect multiple discrete neuron firings.

Scott Imbrie was pronounced quadriplegic at the age of 22 after a car accident broke his neck. After years of physical therapy and healing allowed him to regain movement again, he underwent surgery in October 2020 at the University of Chicago to add four specialized electrodes into his brain. Now he spends 3 days a week at the University of Chicago participating in a study called (BCI)Brain Computer Interface. Scott controls a robotic arm and hand with sensory Feedback using only the thoughts in his brain. The study aims to both understand how the motor cortex sends and in turn receives sensory data. Beyond being able to trigger grasping or pinching movements in a robotic hand by concentrating on motor imagery — Scott has had the experience of feeling true-to-life sensations communicated back to him through the robotic hand. Scott will share his perception of sensations, motor functions and movement after his life-changing surgery and his thoughts and unique experiences as a participant of BCI Studies. As he assists in exploring the frontiers of neurological research, Scott encourages researchers to envision the potential of science to transform lives in ways we have to imagine, as well as highlight where traditional research has blind spots.

Antonio Franchi is a roboticist, specializing in mathematical methods for modeling and control, and on the conception, design, and physical realization of robots. His expertise lies in the development of multi-robot and aerial robot systems to assist humans in hazardous, challenging, and monotonous environments. A Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Franchi holds joint appointments as Full Professor in Aerial Robotics Control at the University of Twente (EEMCS Faculty, RAM department) and Full Professor at the Sapienza University of Rome (DIAG department). Previously, he held positions as a Permanent Researcher at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in France and a Senior Research Scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Germany. Franchi holds a master’s degree (summa cum laude) in Electronic Engineering and a Ph.D. degree in System Engineering from Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. As a Principal Investigator in numerous international research projects in inspection, maintenance, and construction of industrial and civil infrastructures, Franchi has contributed to the advancement of aerial robotics and multi-robot systems. His extensive research has resulted in over 170 peer-reviewed international publications.

<span lang="en-US" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Dr. Donatella Mattia is a Neurologist specialized primarily in epilepsy and related syndromes in adults. At the Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, she also leads the Neurophysiopathology Service with specific expertise in electroencephalography. She leads post-stroke rehabilitation activities using technology based on Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) in the TechnoRoom and coordinates the rehabilitation and training of adult patients in the use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) technologies within the SARA-t Service.</span> <span lang="en-US">Dr. Mattia's scientific research focuses on three main areas: Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) based on electroencephalographic (EEG) signals and their applications in clinical rehabilitation; high-resolution electroencephalography (EEG) and its applications in clinical rehabilitation; basic electrophysiology in neuronal cellular contexts for both experimental and human models of epilepsy. She is head of the <a title="Original URL: https://www.hsantalucia.it/en/laboratory-neuroelectric-imaging-brain-computer-interfaces. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hsantalucia.it%2Fen%2Flaboratory-neuroelectric-imaging-brain-computer-interfaces&data=05%7C02%7Cmeghana.kondamudi%40itu.int%7C3745332308034ac410c508dd3d47a3ee%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638734100143335623%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=K%2FDBFMKl669pvJmfQ4qgnlMm3231KIp4O4pkVuCwQnQ%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="Verified" data-linkindex="1">Neuroelectric Imaging and Brain-Computer Interface Laboratory</a>, coordinating translational research activities in BCI technologies both as augmentative communication tools and for environmental control in motor disabilities, as well as for functional recovery in individuals with cerebrovascular injuries. In the field of high-resolution electroencephalography and its clinical applications, Dr. Mattia’s research is dedicated to developing anatomofunctional modeling techniques for non-invasively recorded EEG signals (scalp) to identify cortical sources and subsequently model the flow of functional information between cortical brain areas (cerebral networks) recruited during the processing phenomena underlying motor and cognitive tasks.</span>

Vincent Vanhoucke is a Distinguished Engineer at Waymo. His research has spanned many areas of artificial intelligence and machine learning, from speech recognition to computer vision and robotics. His Udacity lecture series has introduced over 100,000 students to Deep Learning. He founded the Robotics research team, now part of Google DeepMind, and is President of the Robot Learning Foundation, which organizes the Conference on Robot Learning, now in its eighth year. He holds a doctorate from Stanford University and a diplôme d'ingénieur from the École Centrale Paris.

Heidi Johnstad Arnesen (b. 1990) is a classically trained violist with a Master’s degree in performance from the Barratt Due Institute of Music. She holds additional qualifications from the Norwegian Academy of Music, including a Postgraduate Certificate in Music Education (PPU). Heidi is an active freelance musician and performs regularly with Norway’s leading orchestras, including the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, the Norwegian Radio Orchestra (KORK), Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra, and the Arctic Philharmonic. Known for her musical versatility and professionalism, she is also a member of Ensemble Allegria and has contributed to a wide range of chamber music and orchestral projects across the country.

<span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Josh Bongard is the Veinott Professor of Computer Science at the University of Vermont, USA. His work on robotics and AI has been featured on CNN, the New York Times, and the BBC. He received an award for his work from Barack Obama at a White House Ceremony in 2010. He is one of the inventors of “xenobots”, the world’s first AI-designed organisms. He co-founded a spinoff company, Fauna Systems, dedicated to AI designing organisms for environmental remediation, human health, and planetary colonization.</span>

<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Cecilia Laschi is best-known for her research in soft robotics, an area that she pioneered internationally. She investigates how to build robots with soft materials, studying the octopus as a model for robotics. She explores marine applications of soft robots and their use in the biomedical field, with a focus on eldercare. She has worked in humanoid and neuro-robotics, applying brain models to humanoid robots.</span></p> <p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Cecilia Laschi is Provost’s Chair Professor at the National University of Singapore and the Director of the Advanced Robotics Centre. She is a Professor on leave from the BioRobotics Institute of Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy.</span></p> <p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-SG">She is IEEE Fellow and AAAS member. She is Editor-in-Chief of <i>Bioinspiration & Biomimetics</i> and Specialty Chief Editor of Soft Robotics in <i>Frontiers in Robotics & AI</i>. She is Editorial Board member of <i>Science Robotics</i>, <i>IEEE Robotics & Automation Letters</i>, <i>International Journal of Robotics Research</i>, and the Intelligent Robotics and Autonomous Agents (IRAA) Series of MIT Press.</span></p> <p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-SG">She founded the<i> IEEE-RAS International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft) </i>in 2018. </span><span lang="EN-GB">She co-founded the start-up </span><span lang="EN">company </span><span lang="EN-GB">RoboTech</span><span lang="EN">, in edutainment robotics.</span></p>

David Gracias is a Professor at the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) in Baltimore with a primary appointment in Engineering and secondary appointments in the Schools of Arts & Sciences, and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He received his Ph.D. from UC Berkeley and did post-doctoral research at Harvard University before starting his independent laboratory at JHU. Prof. Gracias has made pioneering contributions to micro/nanotechnology, self-folding materials, and physical intelligence described in over 200 technical publications, including 14 original research papers in leading academic journals such as <em>Science</em>, <em>PNAS</em>, <em>Nature-X</em> and <em>Science-X</em>. Prof. Gracias has been recognized by several prestigious awards including the NSF Career, NIH Director’s New Innovator, Beckman Young Investigator, Camille Dreyfus Teacher Scholar, and the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Award from the Humboldt Foundation. He is an elected Fellow of leading cross-disciplinary scientific and engineering societies, including the APS (physics), RSC (chemistry), AAAS (science), AIMBE (biomedical engineering), and IEEE (electrical engineering). David is also a prolific inventor for which he has been recognized by election as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), which is the highest professional distinction accorded solely to academic inventors.  

<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Carl Strathearn is a lecturer and researcher in AI and Robotics at Edinburgh Napier University, specialising in the development of novel life-like social robots with AI for education, healthcare and research. Recognised internationally, he consults for businesses and the UK Government on humanoid robots, and his research has featured in the Guardian, BBC and The World Economic Forum. </span></p>

<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" data-ogsc="black" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Tamar Makin is a Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit at Cambridge University and the leader of the Plasticity Lab<span class="x_apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span data-ogsc="black"><a title="Original URL: http://www.plasticity-lab.com/. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.plasticity-lab.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cmeghana.kondamudi%40itu.int%7C3d4a4a8466b749318ca108dd1f507cb0%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638701152718812304%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=vzh54dB%2BJw3Xd3CdlL0n7pRHjAsKug5nUhbPKQs5eCk%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="Verified" data-linkindex="0" data-ogsc=""><span lang="EN-US" data-ogsc="rgb(5, 99, 193)">www.plasticity-lab.com</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" data-ogsc="black">. Her main interest is in understanding how our body representation changes in the brain (brain plasticity). </span><span data-ogsc="black">Her primary model for this work is studying hand function and dysfunction, with a focus on how we could use motor augmentation technology to increase hand functionality in able and disabled individuals at all ages.</span><span data-ogsc="black"> </span></p> <p class="x_MsoNormal"><span data-ogsc="black"> </span></p>

<div class="bio-component"> <div class="clearfix"> Kathleen A. Kramer is a Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of San Diego in California, USA. She worked to develop new engineering programs as a founding member of the faculty and eventually became the chair of electrical engineering, then serving as Director of Engineering (2004–2013), providing academic leadership for all of the university’s engineering programs. Her teaching interests are in the areas of signal processing, mechatronics and robotics, and communication systems. She has also been a member of technical staff at several companies, including Viasat, Hewlett Packard, and Bell Communications Research. She is a Distinguished Lecturer for the IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society (AESS) and is a past vice president of the Society. She is a fellow of ABET and a leader in the development of criteria for cyber security, mechatronics and robotics, and graduate programs. Kathleen served on the IEEE Board of Directors as IEEE Secretary and chair of Governance and IEEE Region 6 (Western USA) Director. She was also chair of the 2023 IEEE Ad Hoc Committee on Innovating Funding Models. She received a B.S. degree in electrical engineering magna cum laude with a second major in physics from Loyola Marymount University, CA, USA, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the California Institute of Technology. </div> </div>

<span lang="EN-US" data-ogsc="black" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Dani Clode is a pioneer in the design of human augmentation technologies; she gained international recognition for her Third Thumb project, which sparked research across fields of neuroscience, robotics, art, and design. Her work is exhibited globally and features in five permanent museum collections, she is also an author of multiple scientific and engineering publications, advancing discussions on body augmentation and human-technology integration. Collaborating with Cambridge University neuroscientists, Dani’s Third Thumb explores neuroplasticity and the brain’s adaptation to augmentation.</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span>

Chenda Thong brings over two decades of public sector experience to his role as Chairman of the Telecommunications Regulator of Cambodia (TRC), a position he has held since November 2020. Before joining the TRC, he served in several high-profile roles, including Secretary of State for the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, Advisor to the Office of the Council of Ministers, Legal Advisor to the Chairman of the Third Committee of the National Assembly, and Vice President of the Royal Academy for Judicial Professions. At the latter, he contributed to establishing one of Cambodia’s first fair and transparent national judicial entrance examinations. A renowned leader, Chairman Thong fosters a workplace culture of solidarity and harmony, grounded in integrity. Drawing on his extensive background, he aims to elevate the TRC into a world-class regulator, tackling complex national challenges with practical solutions while ensuring good governance and transparency in management and operations. Chairman Thong holds a law degree from Norton University and a degree in English literature from the Institute of Foreign Languages in Cambodia.

As Vice President of Global Public Policy for Government Affairs, Nicole Isaac leads a team of experts that drive Cisco’s policy agenda to bolster ICT adoption around the world and to enable Cisco’s purpose to power an inclusive future for all. Prior to joining Cisco, Nicole spent more than 20 years in the government, corporate, legal, and nonprofit sectors. In addition to senior roles at Google, Meta, and LinkedIn, her background in government is wide- ranging. After beginning her career as counsel in the U.S. House of Representatives, she became a foreign law clerk at the Constitutional Court of South Africa before joining the office of U.S. Senate Assistant Majority Leader Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) as floor counsel. For five years of the Obama administration, Nicole was the deputy director for legislative affairs to then-Vice President Joe Biden and later served as a special assistant to President Barack Obama in the White House’s Office of Legislative Affairs. Passionate about empowering others, Nicole was the founder and CEO of Code the Streets, Inc.—a nonprofit organization designed to increase access to educational and mentoring resources for inner-city youth through technology. She has also been a trustee with World Learning Inc. and a board member of the Joseph R. Biden Foundation. She was recently appointed to serve as a commissioner to the United States Commission on the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad, which protects and preserves historic properties and monuments across Eastern and Central Europe. Nicole grew up in the Bronx, New York and received her Bachelor of Arts from Brown University, Master of Arts from Columbia University, Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and Master of Studies (LLM equivalent) from the University of Oxford.

<span lang="en-GB" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Robert Katzschmann is an Assistant Professor of Robotics at ETH Zurich, where he leads the Soft Robotics Lab, focusing on the design and fabrication of soft, musculoskeletal, and bio-hybrid robots that safely interact with humans and the environment. His work draws inspiration from biological systems, using soft, compliant materials to create lifelike, adaptive robots. Before joining ETH Zurich, Robert served as the Chief Technology Officer at Dexai Robotics, where he led robotic automation projects for commercial kitchens, and as a Senior Applied Scientist at Amazon Robotics. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT in 2018, where his research on soft robotics garnered media attention from outlets like The New York Times and BBC. He holds a Diplom-Ingenieur degree from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany. Robert’s contributions to the robotics community include serving as an editor for leading journals and conferences such as IJRR, ICRA, IROS, RoboSoft, and RSS. He is also a guest editor for Science Advances and Advanced Intelligent Systems. His lab is affiliated with the Center for Robotics (RobotX), the ETH AI Center, and the ETH Max Planck Institute Center for Learning Systems, promoting collaboration in advancing robotics technologies.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Laura Garcia-Caberol is a founding member and the COO of Touchlab. Touchlab is a deep-tech electronic skin (e-skin) and robotics company based in Edinburgh, Scotland</span>. Our ambition is to revolutionise robotics by giving machines a human sense of touch. Touchlab has a unique sensing technology – a thin, customisable layer with unparalleled dynamic range, durability, and definition. Our robotic fingertip enhances tactile sensing, offering precision, durability, and seamless integration with robotic hands.</p> <p dir="ltr">Touchlab e-skin has been integrated into telerobot systems enabling human presence anywhere, anytime, including dangerous environments such as medicine, nuclear, and space.</p> <p dir="ltr">The user and Avatar can feel objects and their surroundings, perform dexterous tasks, and detect slippage. The data is transferred to a human operator to offer an immersive and embodied VR experience.</p> <p dir="ltr">Laura focuses on the day to day operations and team management. She helped secure two rounds of investment for Touchlab including a $4.5 million Seed investment led by Octopus Ventures. She still manages the final product development stage and testing of prototypes as well as working closely with the sensor design, routing and integration.</p> <p dir="ltr">Laura has experience in technology start-ups as well as materials in construction. She has a background in art sculpture and design. She has developed a broad academic curriculum being part of many institutions around Europe such as University of Barcelona, Aalto University, Central Saint Martins and the University of Edinburgh where she obtained her Master’s degree.</p>

<span lang="en-US" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Dr. Cabrera is the Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Chair in Neuroethics. She is an Associate Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics, and Philosophy at Penn State University. She is Senior Research Associate at the Rock Ethics Institute, and affiliated with the Center for Neural Engineering. She is also Faculty Affiliate at Neuroethics Canada (University of British Columbia), as well as at NeuroTech Institute (The Ohio State University and Battelle Memorial Institute). Dr. Cabrera is an honorific member of the Mexican Neuroethics Society, chair of the IEEE Standard Development Group P7700 -Recommended Practice for the Responsible Design and Development of Neurotechnologies, past chair of the IEEE Brain Neuroethics Subcommittee, and member of the International Neuroethics Society (INS) Board of Directors. She is a Senior IEEE Member. Dr. Cabrera's interests focus on the ethical, societal and cultural implications of the design, development and use of neurotechnologies and other disruptive technologies.</span>

World-renowned musician and BBC TV broadcaster LJ Rich presents on the international technology show, BBC Click. In the last year she's delivered lines at 75mph from the UK's tallest thrill ride, performed to a drone in the sea off the Welsh Coast - and learned to rap on camera thanks to a mind-reading AI headset. LJ's many innovative projects coupled with a wide knowledge of tech trends bring a unique spark to her professional speaking engagements. A highly accomplished pianist, she uses music to connect the emotional and rational minds of audiences, unlocking creative thinking and solving real-world problems. She believes AI/Machine Learning can be a companion to creativity and regularly uses it to enhance her original works. LJ also loves eating and singing, trains and planes, and solving difficult puzzles.

Harry Yeff is a London-born Creative Director and founder of R100 Studios. Yeff has forged a partnership with ITU, seeking out artists who push the boundaries of human and machine collaboration. Specialising in a blend of grassroots emergent curation and strategic insight for global arts and cultural initiatives and institutional collaboration. His research delves into how art, fueled by emergent technologies, can prepare society for present and future opportunities in a new creative and work landscape.

Philip Marnick is the General Director of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). He was appointed early January 2022 by the Members of the Board, to assume the position, paving the way for a more effective regulatory framework by continuing the evolution of the telecom sector liberalization. Mr. Marnick leads the TRA, including the development of consumer protection initiatives and resolving disputes. The TRA develops regulatory rules that promote competition, innovation, and investment in broadband services and facilities, as well as developing a more comprehensive and competitive framework that aligns with international best practices. Ensuring that Bahrain remains a center of innovation and that its telecommunications sector serves everyone while supporting Bahrain’s strategic objectives. Before assuming his role at the TRA, Philip managed and directed at Ofcom in the UK, where he was the Group Director of Spectrum responsible for all aspects of UK national and international spectrum management – from strategy to delivery including awards, clearance and enforcement. Mr. Marnick has worked in the telecommunications sector for over 30 years. He has served as a senior executive in technology, operations, and strategy. Mr. Marnick has worked in both start-ups (from inception to sale) and major corporations, in firms such as UK Broadband, O2, Orange, BT, J-Phone in Japan (now Softbank Mobile), Extreme Mobile, and SpinVox (now Nuance). From analogue to 5G, he has engaged across every mobile generation. Throughout his carrier he has been at the forefront of industry developments – in both fixed and mobile. He has collaborated on the first deployments of mobile networks utilizing new technologies and standards, this has also included innovative products such as the first camera phone and photo messaging service, as well as mobile internet and hosted voice services.  

<span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Iolanda Leite is an Associate Professor at the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at KTH Royal Institute of Technology. Her research goal is to develop robots that can perceive, learn from, and respond appropriately to people in real-world situations, allowing for truly efficient and engaging interactions. She holds a PhD in Information Systems and Computer Engineering from IST, University of Lisbon. Before joining KTH, she had postdoctoral appointments at Yale University and Disney Research. She has been awarded a Future Research Leaders Grant of the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, a Jacobs Foundation Research Fellowship, and received funding from sources including the Swedish Research Council and the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. Her work has been recognized with best paper awards at the International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction and the International Conference on Multimodal Interaction, and best paper nominations at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation. She was recently appointed co-editor-in-chief of the ACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction (THRI) journal.</span>

Dr. Jose ‘Pepe’ L Contreras-Vidal is Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Professor, director of the U.S. National Science Foundation Industry-University Cooperative Research Center for Building Reliable Advances and Innovations in Neurotechnology (IUCRC BRAIN) at the University of Houston, and an elected Fellow of the IEEE and AIMBE for his pioneering contributions to development of brain-machine interfaces for controlling wearable exoskeletons for rehabilitation, and for mapping art-evoked brain activity. He led the first comprehensive knowledge integration assessment of the global state of clinical trials of implantable brain-computer interfaces (iBCI) published in Nature Reviews Bioengineering. His work at the nexus of art and science is opening new windows to study the neural basis of human creativity while advancing the understanding of the arts as an active neuromodulator of brain function with applications to the development of personalized arts prescriptions. His art-science team received the Chamber Music America’s 2025 Interdisciplinary Collaboration of the Year for “Meeting of Minds”, which was performed at the United Nations’ 2024 AI for Good” Summit in Geneva, Switzerland. Dr. Contreras-Vidal is a member of the National Advisory Board for Medical Rehabilitation Research at the U.S. National Institute of Health. His career development in biomedical engineering was highlighted by the journal Science.

<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Pascale Davies is a technology reporter, who has a particular focus on European tech and artificial intelligence. She has been working as a journalist for over ten years, and has worked as a journalist for Reuters, Forbes and is currently with Euronews. She is also an official moderator for the United Nations’ AI for Good Summit.</span></p> <p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">She is interested in how technology impacts society, its possibilities, and how it intertwines with geopolitics. She also has a keen interest in the start-up ecosystem, particularly in France.</span></p>

<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Akane Kikuchi is the Founder and Creative Director of KiQ Inc. and Director of Shosa Lab, a Tokyo-Los Angeles-based innovation studio specializing in nonverbal UX, embodied design, and cultural AI. Her work explores how emotional nuance, movement, and spatial experience can inform more human-centered technology. She led the movement design for for <i>EXPO 2025’s Future of Life Pavilion</i>, and her projects have been featured by ARS Electronica, TEDx, and major global brands. Through Empathy Design, Akane brings together design, robotics, and cultural aesthetics to shape the future of Human-AI Interaction.</span></p>

<span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Dr. David Moses received his B.S. in Bioengineering from Rice University and his Ph.D. from the joint program in Bioengineering at UC Berkeley and UCSF. During his Ph.D. in Dr. Edward Chang’s lab, he studied mechanisms for how the brain represents perceived and spoken speech, leading to the development of the world’s first system capable of decoding brain activity into full words and sentences in real time. In his postdoctoral research, he led a clinical-trial project to create another world-first: a speech neuroprosthesis capable of restoring words to a person who is unable to speak by interpreting their brain activity as they tried to talk. He is now an adjunct professor and remains on the forefront of neurotechnology and artificial intelligence geared towards restoring autonomy and expressive communication to persons who are unable to speak, with a focus on translating the technology from the laboratory to a clinical solution for patients. His work has ranked in the top three brain-computer interface projects worldwide in the International BCI Award competition for three years in a row, and he presented his work at the White House Demo Day in 2023, which was attended by the President of the United States.</span>

<div class="w4BZ9"> <div role="document"> <div class="T31hC GNqVo allowTextSelection OuGoX" tabindex="0" aria-label="Message body"> <div> <div> <div dir="ltr"> <div lang="en-US"> <div> <p data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Sasha Rubel is Head of Public Policy for Generative AI at Amazon Web Services (AWS) for Europe, Middle East, and Africa. She previously led UNESCO’s work on AI and digital innovation for over 12 years, including as representative to the European Commission, G7, OECD, African Union, Economic Commission for Africa, and Sahel on these matters. Sasha is involved in international AI governance initiatives as a founding member of the Global Partnership on AI, member of the OECD AI Network of Experts, and member of Ireland’s AI Advisory Council. Franco-American with a large part of her life spent in Africa, she brings people together across countries, disciplines, and sectors to use technology to change their lives and the world for the better. She advises governments, companies, non-profits, and change-makers on how to unlock the potential of AI and data for the good of people and the planet through policies, partnerships, and capacity building. A former student of the Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris, Sasha received the Public Diplomacy Innovation Prize from the White House under President Obama, and undertook a PHD on responsible AI and the social impact of new technologies.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="g4Y3U"></div> </div> <div class="DVtfe"></div> </div> <div class="w4BZ9"> <div role="document"> <div class="T31hC GNqVo allowTextSelection OuGoX" tabindex="0" aria-label="Message body"> <div> <div> <div dir="ltr"> <div lang="en-US"> <div> <div> <div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

<div id="content" class="site-content"><main id="main_content"> <div class="bbg-row"> <div class="bbg-row--content bbg-speaker-profile fadeIn"> <div class="bbg-speaker-bio bbg-column--offset-1 bbg-column bbg-column--width-7"> <div class="bbg-column bbg-column--width-7"> José Merino is head of the Telecommunications and Digital Transformation Agency of Mexico. From December 2023 to May 2024, he was technical coordinator of the Transformation Dialogues, which gathered public input for developing government plans for then-presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum. Previously, Merino led Mexico City’s Digital Agency for Public Innovation under then-mayor Sheinbaum. In this role, he converted 80% of Mexico City’s procedures into digital formats, established the first public software factory and expanded free wi-fi across the city. Merino is founder of Data4, a data analytics company, and Data Cívica, an NGO that leverages data to address human rights issues. He has taught political science at the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico and data journalism at the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics’ graduate journalism program. </div> </div> </div> </div> </main></div>

Ms. Fadwa Saad AlBawardi, is a Saudi Arabian Entrepreneur who have established her own Consultancy office to provide consulting services in Digital Transformation, data, AI & its strategies. Ms. AlBawardi is a Certified Strategy and Business Planning Professional, as well as an IT/Performance Management Senior Consultant, with more than 21+ years of working experience. Moreover, Ms. AlBawardi is a public speaker in several national and international conferences, including United Nations IGF2023 in Japan.   In addition, she is an Author who have participated in writing several technical international publications. She is a USA Today Bestselling Author and also a weekly Columnist, with 150+ articles, in KSA digital journals.    Ms. AlBawardi has earned a Master’s degree in Computer Science from Boston University, USA, in 2003, as well as 2 certifications in Strategic Planning.   She is a certified trainer as well as an Elsevier reviewer for international technical research papers and articles

Tristan Post is the CEO and Founder of the AI Strategy Institute, Lecturer for the Management of AI at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Faculty Member for AI/GenAI at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Before that he built up one of the largest startup incubators for AI in Europe, worked as AI Strategist and AI Product Manager.<span class="x_apple-converted-space"> </span>

Dr Margaret Chan, from the People’s Republic of China, obtained her medical degree from the University of Western Ontario in Canada. She joined the Hong Kong Department of Health in 1978, where her career in public health began. In 1994, Dr Chan was appointed Director of Health of Hong Kong，the first woman to hold that position. In her nine-year tenure as director, she launched new services to prevent the spread of disease and promote better health. She also introduced new initiatives to improve communicable disease surveillance and response, enhance training for public health professionals, and establish better local and international collaboration. She effectively managed outbreaks of avian influenza and of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). In 2003, Dr Chan joined WHO as Director of the Department for Protection of the Human Environment. In June 2005, she was appointed Director, Communicable Diseases Surveillance and Response as well as Representative of the Director-General for Pandemic Influenza. In September 2005, she was named Assistant Director-General for Communicable Diseases. Dr Chan was elected to the post of Director-General on 9 November 2006. The Assembly appointed Dr Chan for a second five-year term at its sixty-fifth session in May 2012. Dr Chan’s last term began on 1 July 2012 and ended on 30 June 2017. On 2 April 2020, Dr Chan was appointed as inaugural Dean of Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, China.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Tomas is an entrepreneur, educator, keynote speaker, and brand expert who helps founders fix their brands and scale internationally. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif">As the CEO and Co-Owner of the international branding studio GoBigname, he works with startups, small businesses, and corporates to help their brands grow globally. His work earned him a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span lang="en-US">GoBigname is Naming, Branding and Web Design Studio helping Founders and Marketers of startups, SMEs on their journey to become global players: </span></span><span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span lang="en-US">Slido, a Saas startup with more than 45 million users acquired by Cisco, Exponea acquired by Bloomreach now valued over $2.2 billion, Berlin Brands Group valued over $1,2 billion, Rezztek – technology startup brand which became officialy licensed product by NHL in 2023 and license provider for global sport brand HEAD.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span lang="en-US">Over the past 12 years, the GoBigname team has created more than 300 brand names, brand strategies, consistent & distinctive brand identities and websites.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span lang="en-US">Tomas has been sharing his knowledge through masterclasses and keynotes for organizations and companies all over Europe. He’s worked with the Swiss Government and was part of the Google Certified Trainers program, showing his passion for helping others succeed in business and branding.</span></span></p> <p> </p>

<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Managing Partner of STORM Partners, leading professional services firm dedicated to the blockchain industry, and Founder of recently launched innovation centre, Decentral House, in Geneva, Switzerland - Sheraz Ahmed is on a mission to provide the emerging technology industry with the necessary tools to succeed in this fast-growing digital age.</span></p> The under-30 entrepreneur is a Global Shaper of the World Economic Forum, supporting dialogue, action and collaborative change. Sheraz also drives cooperation and integrity across the Web3 space as Ecosystem Director of the Crypto Valley Association.

<p>Faduma Aden is a Senior Equity, Inclusion & Innovation Strategist with expertise in integrating these principles into business development, product innovation, and design. She has worked with leading companies, including Spotify, where she was part of the team setting the global Equity & Impact strategies and led DEIB strategies for the company’s largest business unit, Product & Tech, which includes R&D.</p> <p>During her time at Spotify, she led numerous initiatives, including developing a campaign to promote diversity in inventorship, launching the Tech Fellowship in Europe, developing partnerships with organizations focused on underrepresented communities, and leading the Nine Muses Collective for women, which featured an AI-focused event to democratize knowledge and increase diversity in the field.</p> <p>Passionate about equitable AI, she is eager to contribute to AI development that centers equity, inclusion, and addresses challenges faced by underserved communities.</p> <p>She has served on the advisory boards of think tanks, educational institutions, and cultural organizations, focusing on promoting equity and driving social impact. She is also a founding team member of the Global Shaper Hub in Stockholm, a World Economic Forum initiative. Recognized with multiple awards, she has been honored for her contributions to innovation, DEI leadership, and social entrepreneurship. She holds an MSc in Computer and System Science from Stockholm University.</p>

Passionate about technology, both as an investor and as a connector and coach, Gerassimos has been helping young technology entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into world-changing companies. Gerassimos is the Founder and CEO of Spheric Capital, an independent purpose-driven multi-family office boutique with an extensive network and access to global resources and investment opportunities. With over 25 years in the financial industry, prior to Spheric Capital, Gerassimos held the posts of Global Head for Southern Europe, Africa, Israel, Monaco, and Turkey for the wealth management divisions of Citigroup and Bank Julius Baer. Previous to finance, Gerassimos has worked in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Greece and Romania as a brand manager and management consultant for United Distillers, Gallaher and Roche Pharmaceuticals. In the past two decades he has consulted and founded startups focusing in artificial intelligence and the digital health space with a focus in advanced digital security, food and nutrition, and personalized health AI applications. As Chairman of MIT StartSmart for South Europe and leveraging the strong partnership with MIT Open Learning and the MIT JWEL network Gerassimos has been leading startup accelerator programs, hosting impactful events and delivering technology and innovation workshops to facilitate investment opportunities, offering cutting-edge content and forging new collaborations. Gerassimos is an alumnus of Harvard Business School (YPO President Program) and has attended Executive Education courses at IMD Lausanne, INSEAD, Singularity University in LA, London Business School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT. He holds a BSc in Business Administration from the American College of Greece and an MBA from Manchester Business School in the UK. He currently serves as Chairman of the Swiss Alpine Gold Chapter of YPO and before as a Member of the Executive Board of YPO Europe and London Mayfair YPO Chapter in London, UK. When not doing business, you will find him riding a motorcycle or taking pictures in beautiful remote places around the world to support his charity initiative that helps children in need.  

Anne is an IBM Z Technical Executive and Distinguished Engineer with over 30 years of experience in cryptographic technology development and deployment strategies. She has a proven track record in firmware development, cryptographic architecture, and emerging technology integration. She is at the forefront of leading system-wide post-quantum cryptography (PQC) migration projects across diverse technology layers, including hardware, firmware, middleware, operating systems, and applications both within and outside of IBM. An expert in quantum safe cryptography migration strategy, she spends time driving emerging technology adoption, as well as fostering strong collaboration among cross-functional teams, vendors, and partners as they navigate internal and external dependencies. This is evidenced by her leadership /contributions to the first system in industry that leverages the quantum-safe algorithms selected for standardization by NIST which is engineered to protect the platform layer firmware, the IBM Z16. Anne is also a trusted advisor to government and industry security leaders. She was recently appointed member of the prestigious Information Security and Privacy Advisory Board (ISPAB) for the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). She was a guest panelist at the 2023 RSA Conference Cryptographer’s Panel moderated by Dr. Whitfield Diffie and the 2022 International Crypto Module Conference Migration to Post Quantum Cryptography panel moderated by Dr. Michelle Mosca. She has also been a panelist or guest speaker at the IBM Worldwide Security Conference, the Vanguard Security Conference, IBM WIT, Women Who Code and the National Cryptologic Foundation’s Convening to Act. Anne is a member of IEEE, the INCITS/Inclusive Terminology TC, NIST National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) Migration to PQC Working Group and serves on the advisory board of HOPE Worldwide Charlotte. She received her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Johnson C. Smith University and a master’s degree in computer science from UNC Charlotte.

<span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Braden has 11 years of experience in medical device development. Earlier in his career, he created devices for minimally invasive cardiovascular surgeries. He holds 6 international patents for medical devices, and has contributed to the development of 7 medical devices. He is the co-founder and CEO of AI Diagnostics and holds a Masters in Mechanical engineering and B-Eng in Mechatronics.</span>

<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" data-ogsc="rgb(33, 33, 33)" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Dr. Julien Weissenberg is founder of Deep Tech Experts and AI Expert, an Expert for the World Economic Forum Strategic Intelligence and for Innosuisse, the Swiss Innovation Agency.</span></p> <p class="x_MsoNormal"><span data-ogsc="rgb(33, 33, 33)">Deep Tech Experts is a boutique advisory which gathers world-class experts in AI, Encryption, Quantum Computing and Aerospace. </span></p> <p class="x_MsoNormal"><span data-ogsc="rgb(33, 33, 33)">With over 15 years of expertise in Computer Vision and Machine Learning, Julien has been building AIs and working with investment funds, strategic investors, startup accelerators and competitions to evaluate and support AI startups in a wide array of industries, ranging from agriculture to insurance.</span></p> <p class="x_MsoNormal"><span data-ogsc="rgb(33, 33, 33)">He completed his PhD and Postdoc at the ETH Zurich and holds an MSc in Advanced Computing from Imperial College London.</span></p>

<div data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Monika is a diabetes and diabetes tech expert who brings 25 years of first-hand diabetes experience and 5 years of startup marketing knowledge to her role as CEO of a pioneering healthtech company. Channeling her own journey into innovation, she’s redefining glucose monitoring with a breakthrough, user-focused approach.</div>

Christian Howell is a recognized healthcare leader possessing over 20 years of experience across startup and corporate landscapes, managing P&L from early stage to mature markets. Currently, Christian serves as the Chief Executive Officer at Cognito Therapeutics, a medical device startup pioneering the use of non-invasive neuromodulation to treat neurodegenerative diseases and improve cognitive performance. Early in his career as an officer in the U.S. Navy, Christian developed a philosophy that would guide his future endeavors: his work had to make a positive social impact. This led him, over 20-years ago, to medical devices, where he has since navigated responsibilities in business development, commercial leadership, product management, market development, and strategy. At Cognito, Christian leads all aspects of the organization, including P&L management, strategic partnerships, and revenue generation. His leadership fosters a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement across Cognito and helps cultivate partnerships with key stakeholders and industry leaders. Christian is continually looking around the corner and pushing the envelope with innovative, double bottom lined approaches to enhance commercial performance while delivering the greatest impact to patients. A serial intrapreneur, Christian introduced forward thinking commercial strategies to Medtronic’s care delivery, including a multi-sided platform approach to value-based healthcare and owned P&L responsibility for their Integrated Health Solutions program. Prior to joining Cognito, Christian led Emerging Channels at Aetion, successfully navigating entry into Medical Device, Diagnostics, Government, and Value Based verticals; including the establishment of a 5-year strategic partnership with NESTcc, and was a key contributor to a successful Series C fundraise. Christian’s acumen in developing impactful relationships with providers, regulators, payers, and industry leaders has been instrumental in the success of the initiatives he leads, making him a sought-after speaker at top industry events and conferences including occasions at Harvard, MIT, Stanford, the G20, and more.

<p><span lang="en-US" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Serial Entrepreneur, Investor, Experienced Board Member, Shareholder, and Speaker with a passion for innovation in AI and healthcare. </span></p>

<span lang="en-CA" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">For Amos Miller, Founder and CEO of Glidance, this isn’t just another product—it’s the realization of a lifelong vision to push the boundaries of assistive technology. Since losing his sight in his 20s due to a genetic eye condition, Amos has firsthand experience with the challenges of mobility and has committed his career to breaking down barriers for the blind community.</span> <span lang="en-CA">As Chairman of the Board at Guide Dogs for the Blind (UK) and a former product executive at Microsoft Research, he has been a driving force in inclusive innovation. At Microsoft, he founded Soundscape, an audio AR navigation app that has transformed how blind individuals experience the world.</span> <span lang="en-CA">Amos sees Glide as just the beginning. His passion for AI and robotics extends far beyond a single device—it’s about empowering millions with confidence and independence. Glide is the first of many innovations to come, redefining what’s possible in mobility and accessibility.</span>    

<span lang="en-US" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Jan is a quantum physicist and co-founding co-CEO of IQM, building next-generation quantum computers. IQM has assembled an exceptional team of international professionals to build quantum computers for high-performance centers, academia, and industry. IQM has raised €128 million in Series A2 funding (in 2022), largest ever funding round raised by a European quantum computing company. Jan did his doctorate on superconducting quantum circuits at TU Munich and worked as a Marie-Curie Fellow in Helsinki at Aalto University, where he holds the title of docent. In 2023, he was selected as Founder of the Year by Handelsblatt. In 2020, Capital magazine selected him as one of 40 under 40 in Germany and he received an entrepreneurship award from the KAUTE Foundation. Jan was in the Board of the European Innovation Council EIC and holds a Board seat in the European Quantum Industry Consortium QuIC. He is also and member of the German Federal Economic Senate, an EIC Scaling Club Council member, member of the Hall of Future, as well as a Digital Leader and Global Innovator at the WEF.</span>

<span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Sarah Nassar is an Associate Program Officer at the IP for Business Division, IP and Innovation Ecosystem Sector, of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Since joining in 2019, she has focused on capacity building activities and promoting the use of IP as a key business enabler in various regions, including through the implementation of IP and business management training programs for SMEs and Startups. She also supports the integration of IP for business services within business support institutions. She holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Law from the University of Geneva, Switzerland.</span>

<span data-contrast="auto">Carlo Tortora Brayda di Belvedere, born in Rome, Italy, in 1969, is the founder and Executive Chairman of the Tortora Brayda Institute for Artificial Intelligence & Cybersecurity, a global Think Tank to promote effective partnerships. Mr. Tortora Brayda is the former CEO of Gorilla Corporation, the global leader in Technology Partnerships through Channels and Alliances. An organization that supported industry giants like IBM, AWS, and Microsoft as well as innumerable startups. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span> <span data-contrast="auto">His earliest work with the United Nations was as a Volunteer in the Office of the United Nations Special Committee Against Apartheid in Geneva, Switzerland. Shortly after that, he met with former United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros Ghali and Kofi Annan several times. These were profoundly formative meetings focusing on the role of public-private partnerships, entrepreneurship, and their role in international development. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span> <span data-contrast="auto">In 2003, he created Alchemy World Projects, an Ethiopian-based NGO aimed at poverty alleviation through entrepreneurship and coordination with the government on private sector development. The program was successful and lifted thousands of people out of poverty into employability and small-medium enterprise development. During this time, he was appointed Advisor on Trade and Industry to Federal President Girma Wolde-Ghiorgis. He also fulfilled an advisory role in Entrepreneurship development and Foreign Direct Investment to several Regional Presidents, particularly the President of Amhara State, the historical heartland of Ethiopia, covering more than 25 million inhabitants. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span> <span data-contrast="auto">In the ongoing spirit of Partnerships, Mr. Tortora Brayda signed Gorilla Corporation as a Sector D Member of the United Nations International Telecommunications Union to the forefront of internet policy making and standardization. In 2006, Mr. Tortora Brayda was invited by the World Economic Forum to be a Special Constituent Member and, subsequently, an expert contributor in assessing global risks for the  G20. Since then, his only focus has been supporting Partnership Excellence in all its forms within all technology growth areas, including the Think Tank’s core tracks: Cybersecurity, Cloud/Data Center, Artificial Intelligence, and Robotics. Mr. Tortora Brayda, a United States National Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity ISAO co-founder, has also been invited by NATO CyCon and Strategic Communication CoE to participate in its proceedings. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span> <span data-contrast="auto">He has been a Judge on the United Nations ITU AI for Good Innovation Factory since 2020. As of 2023, he acted as Judge for the ad hoc AI for Good Contest for Climate Change in partnership with ITU, UNESCO, FAO, IAEA, and World Bank culminating in COP 28. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span> <span data-contrast="auto">Mr. Tortora Brayda, an information systems engineer with a focus on Artificial Intelligence, and with his subsequent companies, has won numerous business awards, including the Forbes Technology Council Award for Best Group (Cybersecurity),  Shell Livewire Young Entrepreneur of the Year, South East of England, Shell Livewire Greatest Employment Potential, Oxfordshire Business of the Year Award presented by Boris Johnson, Guildford Mayor’s Cup, and was honored to join Queen Elizabeth II Golden Coronation private event at St James’ Palace in London. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span> <span data-contrast="auto">Mr. Tortora Brayda serves as Global Lead on Cybersecurity for the Forbes Technology Council, is a Fellow of the British Computer Society, and a Freeman of the City of London. In 2022, he joined CyberStratos M&A Advisory, as an GTM Advisor and Equity Partner.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span>

Dr. Rebecca Corbin is president & CEO of the Entrepreneurship (NACCE), a leading non-profit membership organization dedicated to increasing entrepreneurship offerings and thinking at over 300 community colleges across the country. She has forged several new partnerships with national Foundations to advance STEM education, ecosystem mapping, and intellectual property curriculum knowledge in community colleges across the United States. Prior to NACCE, Rebecca served as Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the BCC Foundation at Burlington County College (BCC). With her leadership, a new workforce development initiative at BCC was successfully launched. Rebecca also oversaw institutional advancement for the Foundation for New Jersey Public Broadcasting.

Jūratė Šovienė is the Chair of the Council of the Communications Regulatory Authority of Lithuania. She has 20-year experience in competition policy, regulation and strategy including leading positions at the Lithuanian Competition Council. She also served as Chief Legal Adviser to the President of Lithuania holding position of the Head of Legal Affairs Group at the Office of the President of the Republic of Lithuania. Ms J. Šovienė has more than 10-year experience as the Senior Expert/Project Manager in a number of EU projects in the field of competition law. Ms. J. Šovienė has experience in Academia too as the former Member of Economics Study Program Committee at Kaunas University of Technology, research fellow and the lecturer of administrative law. In 2016, Ms J. Šovienė was awarded a prize by Lithuanian Academy of Sciences for a co-authored monography “The Impact of Cartels on National Economy and Competitiveness”. She was also recognized as one of the 40 Notable Women Competition Professionals in Enforcement in Europe, the Americas, Africa (by W@Competition, 2019) and was awarded the State Award the Medal of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas for the significant contribution to the protection of fair competition by the President of Lithuania (2018). After taking position of the Chair of the Council of Lithuanian regulator, Ms. J. Šovienė participated as the speaker at many national and international conferences, joined the BEREC Board of Regulators. Ms. J. Šovienė has Master’s degrees in Business Management and Law.

A lawyer, medical doctor, and successful software founder, Danny is the <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/89690990-75f9-4172-97cb-b324407f639f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2023 Financial Times Innovative Lawyer of the Year</a> and led Business Insider’s 2022 list of top lawyers helping companies adopt artificial intelligence (AI).  Danny leads DLA’s team helping Fortune 10, 50, 500 and global brands cross-industry adopt new and disruptive technologies like AI, including in risk mitigation, governance, and litigation.  Danny also represents leading life sciences and healthcare companies in matters involving FDA, CMS, HHS, commercial parties, and claimants.  The U.S. Library of Congress gave Danny a Burton Award recognizing "the best of the best writers in the legal profession" among the nation's top 1,000 largest firms. A graduate of Harvard College, Yale Law School, and UT Southwestern Medical School, Danny has handled successfully some of his clients' most challenging and important matters. He played a key legal role in the Covid vaccine effort, helped obtain one of the largest Daubert wins in a pharmaceutical mass action, designed the winning scientific case in the first Hatch-Waxman suit in the Eastern District of Texas, and obtained a unanimous reversal in federal appellate court in a much-cited R&D tax case of first impression. He has successfully handled as lead counsel litigations arising from biotech M&A transactions and has resolved board and shareholder disputes for life-science companies. Danny has represented healthcare clients in matters ranging from internal investigations to business litigation. Danny is a world-recognized leader in the law and regulation of AI. He sits on the World Economic Forum’s AI Governance Alliance and the Executive Committee of the United Nation’s AI for Good law track. Danny is a founding member of the Health AI Partnership with the Mayo Clinic, Duke, Berkeley, and others, and sat on Pfizer's Digital Health Scientific Advisory Board.  He moderated the closed-door Ministerial Roundtable in Morocco on Improving Health Outcomes in Africa through Innovative Solutions and has hosted the Principal Deputy Commissioner of FDA, U.S. Senators, and others for fireside chats on key issues of public concern.  Danny is a frequent invited speaker on AI governance and law, including for the Attorney General Alliance, National Retail Foundation, National Association of Corporate Directors, the Business Council, Stanford Rock Center for Corporate Governance, Stanford Law School, Harvard Business School’s OPM Annual Conference, the Swiss Embassy, the Korean Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Association for the Advancement of AI, and many others. Danny represents numerous companies on AI governance and adoption, as well as the leading foundation model and other innovators.  His clients also include breakout startups like IDx, the first FDA-approved fully autonomous AI diagnostic, with whom he authored the peer-reviewed<em> Lessons Learned About Autonomous AI: Finding a Safe, Efficacious, and Ethical Path Through the Development Process</em>. Danny's writing on legal issues in medicine and biotechnology appears in National Law Journal, American Health Law Association Connections, Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, Yale Journal of Law & Technology, the American Journal of Ophthalmology, and Health Law Litigation. Danny led a successful software company from inception to acquisition. His original medical research appears in Pediatric Blood & Cancer and the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. Beyond healthcare, Danny has represented private equity, finance and other clients in some of their most pressing cases in state and federal court. He has argued successfully before the <em>en banc</em> Delaware Supreme Court and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals among others. Danny is Chair of the Board of Directors of the non-profit AT&T Performing Arts Center, the largest performing arts district in the United States. He chaired the Legal Advisory Counsel of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science and has served on the boards of the Parkland Foundation, SPCA of Texas, Texas Israel Alliance, and the regional Anti-Defamation League. He has co-chaired the Judiciary Committee and the Membership & Admissions Committee of the Dallas Bar Association and served on the Governing Council of its Business Litigation Section. Danny previously served on the Executive Committee of the Yale Law School Association.

Vijay Karia is the Co-founder & CEO of OptiCloud, an AI-driven cloud optimization platform that reduces digital waste, lowers energy consumption, and advances global sustainability efforts. With a mission to cut cloud related carbon emissions by over 1% worldwide, OptiCloud empowers organizations to better manage cloud infrastructure while achieving up to 60% cost savings. Born to a father who was a refugee from Uganda and a mother from Ecuador, Karia’s global perspective has shaped his approach to technology for good. He is a passionate advocate for protecting indigenous communities and preserving critical ecosystems like the Amazon rainforest, ensuring that sustainability efforts also promote equity and cultural heritage. His work has been recognized with the COP29 AI for Climate Action Award, and he is a frequent speaker on AI sustainability, cloud efficiency, and digital recycling. In addition to his leadership at OptiCloud, he serves on the board of the Metropolitan Opera in New York, reflecting his passion for the intersection of technology, sustainability, and the arts.

Mojdeh's passion is to connect ideas and resources in order to help organizations transition towards growth and impact. She has served as an advisor and board member for various companies and non-profits, and is an experienced executive with a demonstrated history of profit generation and top-line growth, as well as strong returns in the venture capital and private equity industry. She is skilled in strategic partnerships, entrepreneurial ecosystem design and management, and growth oriented mergers & acquisitions.

Kitrhona Cerri is Executive Director leading the development of the TASC Platform. She has invested more than 15 years at the intersection of business and social impact building collaborations to scale action around knotty issues from human rights to the future of work. Kitrhona was previously the Director of Social Impact at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), a CEO-led organization of over 200 international companies. She started her career at Accenture, serving clients across their public services, financial services, and international development practices.

Josep Aliagas is the CEO of Dis Capital, specializing in strategic advisory and investment for startups and tech companies. With experience as a founder and angel investor, he has a deep understanding of the entrepreneurial journey and the challenges of building and scaling businesses. Aliagas mentors tech entrepreneurs, offering guidance on growth, fundraising, and operations. His expertise spans technology, AI, and fintech, where he identifies investment opportunities, drives strategic partnerships, and helps companies succeed in competitive markets. Through Dis Capital, he is dedicated to supporting the next wave of innovation and growth.

Christian Mio Loclair is a German artist who works at the interface of artistic and scientific research. Using custom algorithms, data and digital devices, Loclair creates sculptures, video works and installations to continuously portray the aesthetics and frictions of both human and digital identity. In his work, Loclair explores the contrast between natural phenomenons and data-driven algorithms. On the one hand, his works examine the creative and societal potential of artificial intelligence, while, on the other hand, they reflect on the only supposedly opposing myth of man and machine. Loclair focusses on novel aesthetic identities that derive from the interplay of mathematical and poetic research. This is not only reflected in his work, but also in his interdisciplinary development: in his practice, he combines and reflects his expertise and experience as a computer scientist, visual artist, choreographer and dancer. Loclair studied computer science at the University of Potsdam and at the Hasso Plattner Institute, specialized in media technology and completed his studies in human-computer interaction. Loclair’s approach is always a mediating one, which matches his public lectures, including contributions to Palazzo delle Esposizioni (2021), EPFL Pavilion (2021), Le Pavillon Namur (2021), Goldsmith University (2020), Center Pompidou (2018/2020), Republica (2019), United Nations (2019) and Hong Kong Performing Arts Festival (2019). His works have been presented at the Today Art Museum (2019), ars electronica (2019), MCAM (2019), Center Pompidou (2018) and Design Museum London (2017). Christian Mio Loclair lives and works in Berlin.

Ms. Romita Ghosh, an esteemed Founder-CEO at the forefront of the MedTech industry, spearheads innovative and impactful ventures that transform healthcare in India. With an unwavering commitment to revolutionize the industry, she has founded highly successful MedTech companies. Transitioning from research at the Tata Cancer Center, Romita's passion for tangible change led her to become an exemplary entrepreneur. Through visionary leadership, her ventures have positively impacted more than 200,000 lives. Recognized with the Women Transforming India Award 2021 by Niti Aayog, Romita's contributions are highly regarded. Romita holds double majors in Biotechnology and Biochemistry, alongside an MBA. She is an alumnus of IIM Udaipur and served as an ICMR research fellow at IIT Hyderabad. Her achievements include being named one of the Top 50 Women in Innovation by CII PwC. Additionally, her groundbreaking solution, Maap AI, revolutionizing child nutrition, earned her a place in the prestigious Top 10 of the Bayer Women Empowerment Award. Receiving numerous accolades such as the Most Inspiring Woman Entrepreneur Award and the Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Romita's journey is recognized for its impact. Felicitated by Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, she is a sought-after speaker and advocate. In line with her ethos, Romita Ghosh received specialized training at the German Institute of Sustainability and Development, further strengthening her commitment to sustainable practices in the field of healthcare. Contributing to the startup ecosystem, Romita mentors aspiring founders and leads the India-Germany Bilateral Business Council, championing women in science. Her media presence includes appearances on TV programs and features by renowned outlets, further solidifying her influence. Romita Ghosh's exceptional journey, pioneering spirit, and unwavering dedication to transforming healthcare establish her as an influential figure, inspiring countless individuals and shaping the future of the industry.

<p>Veronica J. Santos is a Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Affiliate Faculty of Bioengineering at the University of California, Los Angeles. She directs the UCLA Biomechatronics Lab (<a href="http://biomechatronics.ucla.edu">http://biomechatronics.ucla.edu</a>), which specializes in artificial tactile sensing and perception and is dedicated to improving quality of life by enhancing the functionality of artificial hands and their control in human-machine systems. Her research interests include hand biomechanics, human-machine systems, tactile sensing and perception, and prosthetics / robotics for grasp and manipulation. She also serves as the Associate Dean of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and Faculty Affairs for the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering.</p> <p>Dr. Santos earned her B.S. in mechanical engineering (music minor) from the University of California, Berkeley, was a Quality and R&D Engineer at Guidant Corporation, and earned her M.S. and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering (biometry minor) from Cornell University. As a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Southern California, she contributed to a bio-inspired tactile sensor for prosthetic hands before moving to Arizona State University as an Assistant Professor.</p> <p>Dr. Santos was selected for an NSF CAREER Award, a U.S. National Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering Education Symposium, and numerous teaching awards. Her work has appeared in numerous television shows, and print / online media, including National Geographic, TechCrunch, and Forbes. She has served as an IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) Editor, an IEEE Haptics Symposium Editor-in-Chief, and General Co-Chair for the 2022 and 2024 IEEE Haptics Symposia.</p>

Moriba Jah is an astrodynamicist and space environmentalist laying the foundation for a safe, prosperous, and sustainable near-Earth space environment. Jah draws on his expertise in astrodynamics and statistical orbit determination to create transparent and collaborative solutions for improving oversight of Earth’s orbital spheres. Jah and co-authors have proposed novel statistical strategies for determining more precise admissible regions (the possible orbits an object can take). He and colleagues have also developed a system for aggregating various independent data sources into a complete catalog of space objects. ASTRIAGraph and Wayfinder (http://www.privateer.com), a new version designed for use by the public, are online visualization tools, freely available to all, that integrate information from governments, industry, and other researchers. The site reveals the frequent inconsistencies across different sources of data providing space objects' identity, location, and size. Machine learning techniques are used to determine when data from multiple sources refer to the same object. Combining these data sets allows for a more comprehensive assessment of the objects in Earth’s orbit and who is liable for them. Researchers and policymakers can assess and verify that all parties involved abide by space-related policy, such as the United Nations Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space. In addition, the combined observational measurements improve estimates of orbital paths. Jah’s work also extends to policy guidance and public education about how to improve collaboration across space-faring nations and entities. In op-eds, podcasts, and government testimonies, he is a persuasive advocate for “space environmentalism,” a framework for treating Earth’s orbit as a finite natural resource. Like other natural resources, it should be governed by norms of behavior, transparent information sharing, and broad regulations in the service of sustainability and equitable international access. Jah proposes enacting policies to create a circular space economy; such regulations could prevent pollution in the form of single-use satellites and incentivize companies to reuse satellites rather than abandon them. Through his transdisciplinary approach and vision of space as an invaluable global resource, Jah facilitates greater understanding of the environmental challenges arising from human use of Earth’s orbital spheres. Jah is a MacArthur Fellow, TED Fellow, and National Geographic Explorer, amongst many other things...

Juan M, Lavista Ferres is currently the Chief Scientist and Lab Director of the Microsoft AI For Good Research Lab, where he works with a team of data scientists and researchers in AI, Machine Learning and statistical modeling, working across Microsoft AI For Good efforts. These efforts includes projects in AI For Earth, AI for Humanitarian Action, AI For Accessibility and AI For Health. Juan joined Microsoft in 2009 to work for the Microsoft Experimentation Platform (EXP) where he designed and ran randomized control experiments across different Microsoft groups. Juan also worked as part of the Bing Data Mining team, where he led a group applying data mining, machine learning, statistical modeling and online experimentation at a large scale as well as providing data services for Bing. Juan started the Microsoft efforts related to SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), and his work has been published in top academic Journals including Pediatrics. His work has been covered in New York Times, CNN, Chicago Tribune, USNews, USAToday , and over 100 news outlets around the world. Juan is involved in working to define the data science discipline within Microsoft, and is currently the editor of the Microsoft Journal of Applied Research (MSJAR). Before joining Microsoft, Juan was the CTO and co-founder of alerts.com. Previously, he spent 6 years in Washington working at the InterAmerican Development Bank applying data science to understand the impact of programs for reducing poverty and inequality in Latin-America and the Caribbean. Juan has two computer science degrees from the Catholic University in Uruguay, and a graduate degree in Data Mining and Machine Learning from Johns Hopkins University. He lives in Kirkland, WA, with his wife and three children. He has been a speaker in the US at Strata, IEEE, Berkeley, Cornell, and in many countries including Canada, Switzerland, Argentina, Colombia , Costa Rica, and Uruguay, and he also was a TedX Speaker.

<span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Ma Kun, a co-founder of SenseTime Group Limited and SenseRobot Co., Ltd., is responsible for the R&D of AI intelligent hardware. From 2014 to 2021, he developed and commercialized 200,000 face recognition devices. Since 2022, he has focused on home robots and developed the world's first chess-playing robots for Chinese chess, Go, and chess, which have ranked first in the market. Before joining SenseTime, he had 14 years of experience in AI entrepreneurship. The mobile AI app "Wochacha" has accumulated 180 million downloads. He serves as an adjunct professor at the School of Artificial Intelligence of Xidian University and a director of the 9th Council of the Chinese Association for Artificial Intelligence. He studied at Xidian University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.</span>

<span class="TextRun SCXW65451051 BCX0" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW65451051 BCX0">Micaelah is the Vice President of Business Development at </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW65451051 BCX0">MassRobotics</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW65451051 BCX0"> where she helps </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW65451051 BCX0">identify</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW65451051 BCX0"> and create new opportunities for </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW65451051 BCX0">Massrobotics</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW65451051 BCX0"> and its member companies. Prior to joining </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW65451051 BCX0">Massrobotics</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW65451051 BCX0">, Micaelah served as the Director of External Affairs for Boston University’s </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW65451051 BCX0">Innovate@BU</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW65451051 BCX0"> where she helped students innovate and problem solve in their careers and their communities. Micaelah was also the co-founder of the nationally recognized Greentown Manufacturing Initiative – which connected startups and manufacturers to promote local commercialization and economic development; and Executive Director of Greentown Learn (now FORGE), the sister organization of Greentown Labs, the largest cleantech hardware incubator in the United States. In these roles, Micaelah served as an advisor to programs developed within the US Department of Energy, US Department of Commerce, NYSERDA and others. Micaelah also worked in the MA State Senate from 2006-2012. She has a BA in political science from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and a </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW65451051 BCX0">Master’s in Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW65451051 BCX0"> from Tufts University.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW65451051 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":160,"335559740":257}"> </span>

<div id="content" class="site-content"> <div class="ast-container"> <div class="elementor elementor-352" data-elementor-type="wp-page" data-elementor-id="352" data-elementor-post-type="page"> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-bdfc7ee e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent e-lazyloaded" data-id="bdfc7ee" data-element_type="container" data-settings="{"background_background":"classic"}"> <div class="e-con-inner"> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-8ffccee e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child" data-id="8ffccee" data-element_type="container"> <div class="e-con-inner"> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-51017b7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="51017b7" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> She was appointed on 16 July 2023 and took the oath of office from the President of Sierra Leone, Retired Brigadier Dr. Julius Maada Bio on 31 July 2023 as the first person to head the newly-created ministry and also the youngest Cabinet Minister. Madam Haja Salima Monorma Bah gained her LLB law degree from the University of Wales, United Kingdom, from 2011 to 2013 and later went through the Law in Sierra Leone where she obtained her licence to practise. Prior to her appointment as the Minister of Communication Technology and Innovation by Retired Brigadier Dr. Julius Maada Bio, she served as a State Counsel at the Law Officers Department from where she was seconded to the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) as the Policy Lead and head of projects, Leading all UNICEF project portfolios. Her passion for technology and Innovation grew while in DSTI as a lawyer that sits and worked with software Engineers, Data Scientists  and product managers, she went to pursue advanced studies by earning a Masters degree (Hons) in Intellectual Property and Tech Law from Columbia Law School, New York in 2023. Her accomplishments provide her with the knowledge, transferable skills, and expertise needed to create a significant influence on Sierra Leone’s tech sector, ensuring that government services are accessible and user-friendly for all. </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-9ca3b3b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent e-lazyloaded" data-id="9ca3b3b" data-element_type="container" data-settings="{"background_background":"classic"}"> <div class="e-con-inner"> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-546c967 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="546c967" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> Madam Haja Salima Monorma Bah’s contributions have garnered global recognition. She was invited to Co-present with the co-founder of Giga to explore cutting edge SDG digital solutions, served as a panellist on an high level roundtable session on the USA Africa Business Week, Invited to the SDG Digital Event, Meta INC Conversation, Microsoft and American Tower Corporation Event, Nigeria Government Industry Trade and Investment and the Digital Economy Ministers Event, Collaborated with the Digital department of the African Development Bank Group, Digital Capacity Building Cooperation program in China, Joined other leaders in the Technology sector to discuss digital tools that can modernise public services at the 2024 digital Almaty in Kazakhstan, led a delegation to Nigeria for Technology Collaboration and was interviewed by Arise News Television and channels Television in Nigeria. Madam Salima Bah brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in Innovation, Technology and leadership to her role. Her mandate for the ministry is to lead the President’s vision to use digital tools to empower Sierra Leone, propelling the nation to middle-income status by 2023. This will be achieved by engaging and developing national bills, policies, and strategies to promote communication, technology, and innovation. With a dedication to Monitor and evaluate these instruments and programs to ensure their effectiveness. </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor elementor-32 elementor-location-footer" data-elementor-type="footer" data-elementor-id="32" data-elementor-post-type="elementor_library"></div>

<span data-contrast="none">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.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span>   <span data-contrast="none">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.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span>   <span data-contrast="none">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.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span>

<span class="NormalTextRun SCXW32349288 BCX0">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 </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW32349288 BCX0">from the frontier days of Apple and Microsoft,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW32349288 BCX0"> to entrepreneurship, to his time at Playground investing in complex ideas with the potential to change the world.</span>

<span data-contrast="auto">Dr. Ulrike Tagscherer is the Chief Innovation Officer at KUKA since May 2019 after joining KUKA in 2017. From 2015 until 2017 she was Deputy Department Head for Business Model Innovation at Fraunhofer Headquarters in Munich, Germany. There she was responsible for an internal accelerator for Fraunhofer researchers to create their own startup. Prior to this she spent 7 years as an innovation systems researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research in Karlsruhe, Germany. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span> <span data-contrast="auto">From 2000 to 2008 Dr. Ulrike Tagscherer worked in the Department for International Business Development at Fraunhofer Headquarters and was heading several offices in different Asian countries.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span>

I have been working in the logistics sector for 20 years now, mainly in intralogistics. And a lot has happened since I started, and of course I have also developed. In the beginning, I focused (almost) exclusively on the digitalization and automation of logistics processes. And I did that in many roles: From consulting and system design to project management, product management and human resources management. I have now been with Swisslog since 01.09.2019 and have been Head of Innovation Management since the beginning of 2021. As part of my current portfolio of tasks, in addition to innovation management, I have been dedicated for some time to, among other things, the question of what the food supply chain of tomorrow may look like, so that the tasks for innovation within Swisslog arise from this. In addition, I have built up increasing expertise in the area of sustainability and the resulting issues for logistics in recent years.

<span class="TextRun SCXW102675941 BCX0" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW102675941 BCX0">Will Foss is a Venture Investor, Advisor, and Operator in AI, Robotics, DeepTech, Mobility, and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW102675941 BCX0">CleanTech</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW102675941 BCX0"> companies. Currently, Will is an Advisor to the Boston Dynamics AI Institute Leadership team, where he advises some of the world’s leading AI researchers and roboticists. He is also a Venture Partner with Chakra Growth Fund I and an Advisor to autonomous vehicle operator, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW102675941 BCX0">Goggo</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW102675941 BCX0"> Network. Will previously worked as an Investor and Operating Partner at SoftBank Group, where he invested in and served as a Board Director or Observer to Boston Dynamics, Fetch Robotics, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW102675941 BCX0">Goggo</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW102675941 BCX0"> Network, 1nce, and more. Before moving to Venture Capital, Will led Business Development and Commercialization for </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW102675941 BCX0">Derq</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW102675941 BCX0">, an AI software company born out of MIT, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW102675941 BCX0">establishing</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW102675941 BCX0"> relationships with companies like Denso, Qualcomm, and more. Prior to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW102675941 BCX0">Derq</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW102675941 BCX0">, Will was an Innovation and Strategy Consultant at Monitor Deloitte, focused on the Future of Mobility and Go-to-Market Strategy for Tech companies. Will holds an MBA and BA from the University of Michigan. Outside of work, Will spends most of his time chasing 2 children under the age of 3!</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW102675941 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span>

<span data-contrast="auto">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.  </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span> <span data-contrast="auto">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.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span>

<span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">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.</span> 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.

<span data-contrast="none">John is the Founder and CEO of Red Summit, a board services and advisory firm to over 100 start-ups around the world, helping companies summit their most difficult challenges like strategy, new market entry, growth acceleration, strategic partners, M&A, and capital financing.  He is also an executive in a Veritas Capital owned company Peraton helping them expand into the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  He is on the boards of the American Red Cross National Capital Region, the American Association of People with Disabilities, and a few technology start-ups.  He is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors, the Private Directors Association, and contributing author at the Forbes Technology Council.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":160,"335559740":257}"> </span> <span data-contrast="none">John combines his passion for helping people live better lives and technology working as a board member at non-profits and also as board member or advisor for next generation artificial intelligence and machine learning enabled SaaS platforms focused on healthcare, aging, disability, safety, independent living, and security.  The platforms he works with today have improved and saved countless lives, educated over 5 million people on working effectively with people with disabilities, found over 20 human trafficking victims, and reduced medical costs for patients by over $200M.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":160,"335559740":257}"> </span> <span data-contrast="none">John holds an MBA from Pepperdine University, a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from San Diego State University, a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from UCLA, and completed additional post-graduate work at the Executive Leadership program at Cornell University and the Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy program at MIT Sloan School of Management & MIT Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":160,"335559740":257}"> </span>

<span class="TextRun SCXW177441576 BCX0" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW177441576 BCX0">Sandra Skaff is senior alliances and ecosystem manager at NVIDIA where she leads robotics ecosystem development and works with cross-functional teams to support partners and customers in developing their products using NVIDIA’s Isaac platform. Prior to this role she was global lead of academic research engagements including the NVAIL program, whereby she was responsible for setting the strategy and managing a portfolio of engagements with top research labs in the areas of AI, Robotics, and Data Science. She has 10 years of experience in computer vision and machine learning R&D at both large corporations and startups. Sandra received the PhD and MEng. degrees in Computer Vision from McGill University, Montreal, Canada. She has authored and co-authored 20 peer-reviewed </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW177441576 BCX0">conference</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW177441576 BCX0"> and journal publications and has been granted 13 patents.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW177441576 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":160,"335559740":257}"> </span>

Sarah Storelli serves as the Senior Executive Communications and Customer Programs Marketing Leader of Amazon Web Services (AWS) Worldwide Public Sector (WWPS) to drive strategic impact with AWS’ C-suite and VP-level customers and Partners around the world. She also oversees evangelism for AWS (WWPS), and is the creator, producer, & promoter of her new vodcast, AWS Behind the Cloud (60MM+ views), which showcases the personal stories of the global changemakers and pioneers who are making our world a better place. Prior, Sarah oversaw global marketing for AWS Public Sector Startups, AWS Partner Capacity and Capability, strategic executive engagements, and cloud innovation and acceleration programs. Prior to AWS, Sarah oversaw global marketing, strategic partnerships, ecosystem marketing, and external communications as IBM Program Director and Chief Marketing Officer of Call for Code—the world’s largest tech for good initiative of its kind inspiring the worldwide developer community and problem solvers from 179 nations to use IBM tools and technologies to solve pressing societal and humanitarian issues. With a degree in English and Minor in Law and Society from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Sarah has more than a decade of experience in developing higher education programs and initiatives for all students and alumni. She serves as a Member of the Cal Poly President’s Council of Advisors and Chair of the English Department Advisory Board. Sarah’s passion and knack for solving problems and making a positive difference has led to a life of service in roles as a Trustee of the Consumer Technology Association Foundation, a Board of Director for the World Institute on Disability and Center Point, Inc., and a trusted advisor to multiple start-ups. Sarah enjoys any opportunity to spend time with loved ones; focus on advocacy efforts for mental health as well as underrepresented populations and the Arts in STEAM; travel the globe; move the market; and help tilt the world in a more equitable direction.

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.

<p><span data-contrast="auto">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.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">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.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">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.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">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.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p>

Dr. Guido Gómez Mazara is a lawyer, politician, and university professor with a solid academic background and extensive professional experience. He holds a PhD in Law from the Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE), a Master's degree in Political Science and Public Administration from the New School for Social Research in New York, and courses in public policy from the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain. While studying in New York City, Góméz Mazara was director of the newspaper Listín USA and worked for the television network Telemundo. Upon his return to the Dominican Republic in 1994, he became active in politics, serving in various roles within the organization, including Legal Advisor to the Executive Branch during the 2000-2004 administration. Throughout his professional and political career, Gómez Mazara has demonstrated a firm commitment to state modernization, institutional advancement, the fight against corruption, and promoting democratic values ​​in the country. In addition to his political career, Guido is a renowned producer and host of television and radio programs. He has been a law professor, published several books on politics, and is a columnist for the newspaper "Hoy." In his role as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (INDOTEL), he leads important reforms in this sector, with an emphasis on promoting the National Broadband Plan and implementing the 5G network in the Dominican Republic. Under his leadership, INDOTEL works tirelessly to bridge the digital divide and facilitate access to technology, promoting collective progress and equity throughout the country.

Jeremias' research focuses on technology, innovation policy, and the future of work in the European Union and beyond. He is a Fellow of <a href="http://www.magd.ox.ac.uk/member-of-staff/jeremias-prassl/">Magdalen College</a>. Jeremias read law at Oxford, Paris, and Harvard Law School, and has held visiting teaching and/or research positions at institutions including Hong Kong University, the Max Planck Institute Hamburg, Renmin Law School Beijing, University College London, the University of Vienna, and Yale Law School. His book <a href="https://global.oup.com/academic/product/humans-as-a-service-9780198797029?lang=en&cc=gb"><em>Humans as a Service </em>(OUP 2018, Paperback 2019)</a> explores the promise and perils of work in the gig economy across the world. It was awarded the <a href="https://spblegalforum.com/award#laureate">2019 St Petersburg Private Law Prize</a>, and has been translated into multiple languages. Jeremias’ research on innovation policy and labour market regulation is frequently drawn on by governments and international organisations, including the European Commission, the International Labour Organisation, and the OECD, and has been cited by courts, policy documents, and news organisations in multiple jurisdictions. He has served on the <a href="https://www.weforum.org/communities/global-future-councils">World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council</a> on the New Agenda for Work, Wages, and Job Creation. Jeremias is the author of <a href="https://www.macmillanihe.com/page/detail/Great-Debates-in-EU-Law/?K=9781352012095"><em>Great Debates in EU Law</em></a> (with <a href="https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/people/sanja-bogojevic">Prof Sanja Bogojević</a>, 2021), and the founding editor of the <a href="https://www.bloomsburyprofessional.com/uk/series/eu-law-in-the-member-states/">EU Law in the Member States Series</a> (Hart), exploring the impact of Union law across the Member States. His contributions to that series include <em><a href="https://www.bloomsburyprofessional.com/uk/the-eu-charter-of-fundamental-rights-in-the-member-states-9781509940936/">The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in the Member States</a> </em>(2020, with M Bobek), <a href="https://www.bloomsburyprofessional.com/uk/air-passenger-rights-9781849468244/"><em>Air Passenger Rights, Ten Years On</em></a> (2016, with M Bobek), and <a href="https://www.bloomsburyprofessional.com/uk/viking-laval-and-beyond-9781849466240/"><em>Viking, Laval and Beyond</em></a> (2015, with M Freedland). He is currently writing an introduction to EU Labour and Internal Market Law for OUP's <a href="https://global.oup.com/academic/content/series/c/clarendon-law-series-cls/?cc=gb&lang=en&prevNumResPerPage=20&prevSortField=1&sortField=8&resultsPerPage=20&start=0">Clarendon Law Series</a>. Together with <a href="http://abiadams.com/">Professor Abi Adams-Prassl</a> of the Oxford Department of Economics, Jeremias also writes on the law and economics of fragmenting labour markets and access to justice. His work has been recognised by a number of prizes for teaching, research, and public impact, including the <a href="http://www.modernlawreview.co.uk/about-wedderburn-prize/">Wedderburn Prize</a> and the Apgar Prize, an Oxford University Teaching Award, a <a href="https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/blog/european-employment-law-crossroads/">British Academy Rising Star Engagement Award</a> (for work on EU labour law), an O2RB Excellence in Impact Award, and an <a href="https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/news/2018-07-23-jeremias-prassl-and-abi-adams-win-esrc-outstanding-impact-public-policy-prize">ESRC Outstanding Impact in Public Policy Prize</a>.

Professor Sarah Hammer is Executive Director at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, leading financial technology initiatives as well as Wharton Cypher Accelerator, which supports leading global businesses that are leveraging financial technology. Hammer is also Adjunct Professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Hammer is also Affiliated Scholar at the Penn Program on Regulation.   Previously, Hammer was Managing Director of the Center for Innovation in Finance and Senior Director of the Alternative Investments Program at Wharton. Hammer also led the launch of the University of Pennsylvania’s first digital asset, unique 3D intellectual property that memorializes the invention of the mRNA technology which enabled the COVID-19 vaccines.   Hammer is also a board member of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) at the United Nations. The ITU is the UN specialized agency responsible for information and communication technology. She is also an advisor at the World Economic Forum, the Dubai International Finance Centre, and the Digital Dollar Project for Central Bank Digital Currency.   Previously, Hammer was Acting Secretary of the Department of Banking and Securities for Pennsylvania, having led the Department through the banking crisis of March 2023. The Department regulates and supervises ~290,000 bank and non-bank financial entities, totaling $3.5 trillion in AUM.   Hammer was also previously Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions and Director of the Office of Financial Institutions Policy at the US Department of the Treasury. In this role, she led the Department’s policy responsibilities involving financial institutions, as well as oversaw the Federal Insurance Office and the Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Compliance Policy (cybersecurity).   While at U.S. Treasury, Hammer also led the cross-functional team conducting a full review and report on the financial regulatory framework. Hammer also served on the board of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) and assisted the U.S. Treasury Secretary in fulfilling responsibilities on the board of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC).   Hammer has held various leadership positions throughout financial services in general management, portfolio management, trading, marketing, research, and analytics at the Vanguard Group, PIMCO, JP Morgan Chase, BlackRock, and Tudor Investments.   Hammer earned a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, an M.B.A. from the Wharton School, and a Master of Studies from Oxford University.

<span class="TextRun SCXW164152367 BCX0" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW164152367 BCX0">Prof. Dr. Philipp Hacker, LL.M. (Yale), holds the Chair for Law and Ethics of the Digital Society at the European New School of Digital Studies (</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW164152367 BCX0">ENS</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW164152367 BCX0">) at European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder). Prior to joining </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW164152367 BCX0">ENS</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW164152367 BCX0">, he served as an AXA Postdoctoral Fellow at the Faculty of Law of Humboldt University of Berlin; a Max Weber Fellow at the European University Institute, and an A.SK Fellow at </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW164152367 BCX0">WZB</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW164152367 BCX0"> Berlin Social Science Center. His research focuses on the intersection of law and technology. In particular, he analyzes the impact of tracking technologies, AI, and the IoT on consumer, privacy, and anti-discrimination law. He often cooperates with computer scientists and mathematicians, especially on questions of explainable AI and algorithmic fairness.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW164152367 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559738":120,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}"> </span>

<div> <p data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Sinead Bovell is a futurist  and the founder of WAYE (<a title="Original URL: https://www.wayetalks.com/. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wayetalks.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cmeghana.kondamudi%40itu.int%7C8fca2cb896524d5ffd2008dd6c45e27d%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638785769598885329%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=KiE6HvduQywYVbJ%2FC1T3BY1K1N2tPAKvfJhSPiH%2FIOY%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">https://www.wayetalks.com/</a>), an organization that prepares businesses and the next generation of leaders for a future with advanced technologies, with a focus on non-traditional and minority markets. Sinead advises c-suite executives and senior leadership across governments, global business giants and startups alike. She is an 11x United Nations  (<a title="Original URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCK6DEg-G4E)speaker. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DzCK6DEg-G4E)speaker&data=05%7C02%7Cmeghana.kondamudi%40itu.int%7C8fca2cb896524d5ffd2008dd6c45e27d%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638785769598921482%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=nk2r0n9NwbqEC7P45YjTPQ%2F0r1BpxBVNo1AHxxGmtf0%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCK6DEg-G4E)speaker</a>; she has given formal addresses to presidents, royalty and Fortune 500 leaders on topics ranging from cybersecurity to artificial intelligence, and currently serves as a strategic advisor to the United Nations International Telecommunication Union on digital inclusion. A regular tech commentator for CNN, talk shows, and morning shows, Sinead has been dubbed the "A.I. educator for the non-nerds" by Vogue Magazine and named one AfroTech’s Top 50 Voices shaping the future. To date, she has educated over 300,000 young entrepreneurs on the future of technology.</p> </div> <div></div>

<div> <span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Youchul Kim is Head of Strategy at LG AI Research, where he leads the institute’s global initiatives on responsible AI, policy engagement, and ecosystem development. His work focuses on aligning advanced AI innovation with strategic priorities that foster trust, safety, and long-term sustainability.</span> </div> <div> In his role, Youchul has guided LG’s contributions to global AI governance, including the development of the LG AI Ethics Principles and the AI Ethical Impact Assessment, both of which have been recognized as industry-leading frameworks for responsible AI implementation. For his contributions to AI ethics and trustworthiness, he was awarded the Presidential Citation Ribbon by the Republic of Korea in May 2024. </div> <div> Youchul is a key expert contributor to the OECD’s Data Free Flow with Trust initiative, shaping international approaches to data governance and trustworthy AI. Domestically, he serves on several national-level policy bodies, including the AI Ethics Policy Forum (Ministry of Science and ICT), the AI and Privacy Policy Council (Personal Information Protection Commission), and the AI Service User Protection Council (Korea Communications Commission), where he provides strategic insight on regulatory innovation and user protection. </div> <div> He also played an instrumental role in advancing AI safety in Korea as an advisor to the Korea AI Safety Institute, helping to develop national safety frameworks in line with global standards. His international engagement includes speaking roles at the UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of AI (Slovenia, 2024), the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit (New York, 2024), and the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights (Geneva, 2024), where he advocates for responsible AI that serves both societal and business needs. </div> <div> Youchul Kim’s work represents a strong belief in AI for good—ensuring that technological advancement is grounded in ethical values, collaborative governance, and public trust. </div>

<p>Greg Williams is the Editor-in-Chief of WIRED UK and Deputy Global Editorial Director of WIRED. A content creator, speaker and strategic forecaster who has held senior leadership roles in London and New York, Greg is interested in what's coming next and understanding the ideas, organizations, trends and technologies that will shape the future. He has interviewed many senior leaders in business, technology and policy, including Bill Gates, Satya Nadella, Demis Hassabis and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. Greg has written for numerous titles, including The Guardian, Newsweek and The Observer and was awarded British Society of Magazine Editors 'Editor of the Year, Science & Technology' in 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2024. His longform story on the UK's biggest ever cocaine heist was highly commended by the British Society of Magazine Editors. Greg was a judge of the Royal Society Science Book of the Year award 2018 and is the author of six novels.<strong id="docs-internal-guid-f65fe62c-7fff-aafe-54de-fe0259be5bca"><br></strong></p>

Amber Duettmann serves as the Scientific Partnerships & Growth Partner at Foresight Institute, supporting key partnerships and growth initiatives since 2024. She previously worked  as the Director of Strategy at the FinTech-AI start-up Mondu.ai and in strategy consulting at Bain & Company. She is pursuing a Ph.D. at the Affective Brain Lab at UCL and the Max Planck Centre for Computational Psychiatry,  exploring how Human-AI interactions shape cognition and well-being. With her experience in industry and academia, holding an MSc in Cognitive Sciences (Dean’s List) and a BSc in Economics & Philosophy, Amber brings an interdisciplinary lens to shaping the future at the intersection of technology and humanity.

<span lang="en-GB" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Hatice Gunes is a Full Professor of Affective Intelligence and Robotics and Director of the AFAR Lab at the University of Cambridge, conducting groundbreaking research in multimodal, social, and affective intelligence for AI systems and robots, with a strong focus on wellbeing, ethics, fairness and explainability.</span> <span lang="en-GB">Recognized among Stanford University’s “World's Top 2% Scientists” since 2020, she has earned numerous accolades, including, Honouree for  Sony Women in Technology Award with Nature 2025, Best Student Paper Award Finalist @ IEEE FG’24, Best Paper Award in Responsible Affective Computing @ ACII’23, RSJ/KROS Distinguished Interdisciplinary Research Award Finalist @ IEEE RO-MAN’21, Best Paper Award Finalist @ IEEE RO-MAN’20, Outstanding Paper Award @ IEEE FG’11, and Best Demo Award @ IEEE ACII’09.</span> <span lang="en-GB">She has also been awarded a prestigious EPSRC Fellowship to explore adaptive robotic EQ for wellbeing and named a Faculty Fellow of the Alan Turing Institute. Her work on robotic coaches for mental wellbeing attracted global media attention, with over 1,700 reports in outlets like <i>The Guardian, BBC News, Medical News Today, ScienceDaily, Sky News, and Bloomberg</i> and received the Better Future Award at Cambridge Univ. CST Department's Hall of Fame Awards (2023) and was Runner-up for the Collaboration Award at the Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Research Impact & Engagement (2023).</span><span lang="en-GB"> </span> <span lang="en-GB">Prof. Gunes has held prominent roles, including President of the Association for the Advancement of Affective Computing, General Chair of IEEE ACII’19, and Program Chair of ACM/IEEE HRI’20 and IEEE FG’17. She also chaired the Steering Board of IEEE Transactions on Affective Computing and served on the HRI Steering Committee .</span> <span lang="en-GB">Her research has been supported by major grants from EPSRC, Innovate UK, Alan Turing Institute, EU Horizon 2020, Google, and CHANSE. She is a sought-after speaker, delivering talks at top-tier venues, including a Royal Institution lecture on creating technology with EQ, which has garnered ~33K views on YouTube.</span>

<div> <div class="fui-FluentProvider fui-FluentProviderr1g ___5n94it0 f19n0e5 f3rmtva fgusgyc fk6fouc fkhj508 figsok6 fytdu2e" dir="ltr"> <div class="wide-content-host"> <div id="focused" class="SlLx9 WWy1F byzS1 WWy1F" aria-label="Email message"> <div role="document"> <div id="UniqueMessageBody_6" class="XbIp4 jmmB7 GNqVo allowTextSelection OuGoX" aria-label="Message body"> <div> <div> <div lang="es"> <div> <div id="x_mail-editor-reference-message-container"> <div> <div> <p><span lang="en-AU" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Matthew Meszaros is the Founder and CEO of Project Ohm, a groundbreaking initiative focused on sustainable high-performance computing through decentralised, energy-aware infrastructure. By harnessing stranded renewable energy, Project Ohm is reshaping how AI workloads are powered—cost-effectively and sustainably.</span></p> <p><span lang="en-AU">With over two decades of experience in digital transformation, telecommunications, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise software, Matthew has led greenfield growth initiatives and complex technology projects across the Asia-Pacific region. He has previously held senior leadership roles at Macquarie Technology Group and NTT Communications and is the founder of 2it Consulting. His career includes notable achievements in ICT procurement, agile team building, and driving multi-million dollar bids and partnerships across government and enterprise sectors.</span></p> <p><span lang="en-AU">Matthew’s entrepreneurial journey has been recognised in SmartCompany, Fast 100 and Fast Starters awards recognition. He continues to advocate for the intersection of climate resilience and digital innovation in global technology ecosystems.</span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

<p><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family: Calibri;color: black">Robbert Baruch, (Amsterdam, October 12, 1967) – Senior Vice President Public Affair<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family: Calibri;color: black">s,</span></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family: Calibri;color: black"> Europe<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family: Calibri;color: black"> and Multilateral Relations – </span>joined UMG in 2021. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family: Calibri;color: black">My role involves shaping public policy and government relations across Europe and <span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family: Calibri;color: black">with multilateral organisations,</span> economic forums and think tanks.</span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family: Calibri;color: black"> </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family: Calibri;color: black">I previously </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family: Calibri;color: black">worked </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family: Calibri;color: black">at Buma/Stemra </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family: Calibri;color: black">and the National Association of Insurers</span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family: Calibri;color: black">. Before that </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family: Calibri;color: black">I </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family: Calibri;color: black">served as Deputy Mayor of the Rotterdam Borough of Feijenoord and Member of the Regional Assembly of the Province of South Holland. </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family: Calibri;color: black">I studied Political Science (</span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family: Calibri;color: black">graduating in </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family: Calibri;color: black">Political Philosophy) and Public Administration at Leiden University and </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family: Calibri;color: black">Religious S</span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family: Calibri;color: black">tudie</span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family: Calibri;color: black">s</span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family: Calibri;color: black"> </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family: Calibri;color: black">in Jerusalem and Amsterdam. </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family: Calibri;color: black">I am a resident of The Hague, am married and had three children. Whenever I can, I hit the road on my BMW R 1200 RSA LQ.</span></p>

<p class="x_MsoNormal" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Dr. Elif Kiesow is the executive director of Ethicqual, a think & do tank working with governments and the industry on responsible development and deployment of emerging technologies. Elif specializes in advising on transatlantic and global governance strategies and policies for dual-use risk. She is also an affiliated researcher for the Stanford AI Index and at the NSF Engineering Research Center for Quantum Networks. Elif has formerly worked in policy advisory, project management, and academic roles on tech governance. Previously, she was a fellow at Harvard Business School and she completed her doctoral research on law and economics at the University of Hamburg, Germany.</p>

Alexandra counts with 15 years of professional experience including in the public sector, private sector and academia. She is currently working at Pasqal - the global quantum computing leader based on neutral atoms technology - as the Global Public Policy Lead. In her role, she takes responsibility over Pasqal’s Public Affairs, Standardization and Sustainability activities. Alexandra previously worked as Chief Economist in the Cloud & Software Unit at the European Commission’s Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT). In that role, she took responsibility over the economic, competition, statistical, industrial and public investment aspects of cloud computing and software. She notably acted as the Commission’s trusted advisor to guide both 12 Member States and hundreds of companies from the data, cloud and software ecosystems to design and set-up an Industrial Cloud for Europe: the <em>Important Project of Common European Interest on Next Generation Cloud Infrastructure and Services</em><em>. </em> Prior to it, she worked at Accenture as Manager where she pursued strategic consultancy missions for more than 50 public administrations and local governments across Europe in which she specialized in the digital transformation of public services and cities, the definition of government relation strategies and go to market business strategy developments. Alexandra started her career as academic and teaching fellow at the College of Europe, where her research focused on the role of European Funding to shape public policies in Spain, Italy and Portugal. She graduated in Economics and Sociology, in European Affairs and Public Policy, from the London School of Economics, the College of Europe and Sciences Po. Paris.

Qiang Zhang, professor at the University of Science and Technology of China, executive director of the Jinan Institute of Quantum Technology, fellow of the Optical Society of America(OSA), supported by The National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholar. He also served as the chair of ITU Focus Group on Quantum Information Technology for Network, head of the Chinese Delegation attending to IEC/ISO JTC 3, the general secretary of National Technical Committee 578 on Quantum Computing and Metrology of Standardization Administration of China. He has been engaged in experimental research on quantum communication and quantum precision measurement for decades. He achieved measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution, setting and continuously breaking world records for quantum key distribution transmission distance (achieved 1002 km in 2023), addressing real-world security and long-distance transmission challenges in quantum communication, laying the technical foundation for quantum key distribution networks; realized hundred-kilometer free-space time-frequency dissemination with a stability of E-19 at ten thousand seconds, validating the feasibility of high-precision optical frequency comparison between space and ground; achieved loophole-free Bell inequality tests, becoming the first in the world to realize device-independent quantum random number generation and device-independent quantum key distribution, referenced by the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics scientific background document.

<b>Gadi Sassoon is a classically trained composer and transmedia electronic artist</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">from Milan</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">whose work spans traditional music releases and live installations.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Exploring the boundaries of contemporary music, Sassoon is pushing the sonic and technological frontiers of electronic music and relationships between recorded music, installations, and music creation. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Using sophisticated DIY and experimental systems to create deep listening experiences rich in texture and emotion, Sassoon’s work can be found capturing the hearts of fans at electronic festivals, research institutions, and art galleries worldwide (ie. Sonar Festival Barcelona, EMPAC, United Nations, TEDx). </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">2025 will see the release of Sassoon’s third album </span><b><i>Modes of Vibration</i></b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">which exists across three formats</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">:</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> a traditional album, a groundbreaking live performance and art installation, and a unique piece of software developed especially for the record, created with support from NEMUS (Numerical Restoration of Historical Musical Instruments) and audio plugin maker Physical Audio for the live recording of the album and software development. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Modes of Vibration is a continuation of Sasson’s exploration of the intersection of music and technology, following on from his previous albums </span><b><i>Chaos & Order</i></b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (ASIP 2022) and </span><b><i>Multiverse </i></b><span style="font-weight: 400;">(ASIP, 2020) which were the result of research with physicists and mathematicians, exploring the interplay between sound synthesis, live orchestras, and algorithmically modelled ‘impossible instruments’.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Sassoon also recently collaborated with British Artist Reeps One on </span><b><i>Fusion</i></b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a musical piece created for the Leipzig International Ballet and the Leipzig Opera, receiving international acclaim. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Outside of performing, Sassoon also composes soundtracks for film companies, collaborates on works with artists at major and independent labels (ASIP, Island, Warner, Universal, Ninja Tune), and is published by Just Isn’t Music, Ninja Tune’s publishing arm.</span>

<span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Eva Gubern, the Chief Commercial Officer at Predictheon, states, 'There has never been a more exciting time to find innovative solutions to healthcare with the advancement of AI.' With extensive leadership experience in the life sciences sector, Eva drives innovation and market expansion. Having led major global pharmaceutical companies, she understands how startups can develop breakthrough solutions for acquisition. Her expertise in pricing, market access, and AI-driven healthcare models positions Predictheon for growth. Eva's background in securing funding, public-private partnerships, and leading M&A and organizational transformations equips her to guide Predictheon to commercial success.</span>

<div class="user-profile__container"> <div id="user-profile__social"> <div class="user-profile__about"> <div class="user-profile__about-content"> Chris Horton, SVP Strategic Technology, leads Universal Music Group’s Office of Strategic Technology, which is responsible for the technology aspects of digital partner deals and for long-term strategic technology projects and policy. Chris has worked on UMG’s digital distribution deals for more than 20 years, including on the first successful download and subscription services. Chris and his team collaborate with technology companies on the development of new music-related products and services, including high-resolution audio, stem-based formats, music-related AI, NFTs & web3, AR/VR projects, anti-piracy and more. He has developed and co-founded various music industry standards and standards bodies, including DDEX. He currently coordinates UMG's AI Task Force and UMG's AI Review Team. Chris received his undergraduate and M.Eng. degrees in computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he focused on AI. </div> </div> <div></div> </div> </div>

<span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Dr. Mira L. Wolf-Bauwens leads the development of new science diplomacy initiatives at GESDA (Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator). Previously, she led Responsible Quantum Computing research IBM Research and served as IBM Quantum Technical Ambassador. Her work focuses on the socio-ethical and geopolitical questions that arise with the development of useful Quantum Computing and Quantum-safe technologies. Mira holds a PhD in Political Philosophy on institutional recognition and normative evaluation of emerging technologies from University of Zurich with Visiting Research Fellowships at Columbia University and University of Oxford. She is an Associate Member of the University of Oxford's Computer Science Department, sits on the Advisory Board of the UK's Responsible Quantum Industry Forum and is a member of the Advisory Committee of the Open Quantum Institute. Among others, Mira has co-authored the first Quantum Computing Governance Principles, published by the WEF in 2022, has addressed UNESCO's comest on questions of the ethical implications of quantum computing and was a speaker at the opening ceremony of the UNESCO International Year of Quantum.</span>​

<div> <span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Stephen is a veterinary doctor, a molecular virologist and a social entrepreneur with over 10 years experience in livestock sector in Nigeria. His passion lies in developing innovative solutions in tackling infectious diseases in animals and boosting food security. Stephen has won awards like, Orange corners incubation, Heifer International Ayute challenge, GIZ investments, TEF fellow, JCI CYEA award, YALI RLC Alumni etc. Stephen is presently leading a team of innovators at Evet Inc, an agritech start-up powering the future of Animal health care in Africa. Through his work at Evet, he has been able to develop an AI powered platform that makes it ten time faster for livestock farmers and veterinarians to access animal healthcare to keep their farm animals healthy, boost their farm productivity and improve their livelihoods. his work has imparted over 50,000 livestock farmers in Nigeria.</span> </div> <div></div>

Clare Shelley-Egan is an Associate Professor in Ethics of Quantum Technologies at the Department of Values, Technology, and Innovation at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands. Her position is funded by the Centre for Quantum and Society within the Dutch quantum ecosystem, Quantum Delta NL. Her main research interest is in the responsible societal embedding of quantum technologies and on advancing interdisciplinary collaborations between natural scientists, engineers and social scientists. She has previously worked in responsible innovation research groups, primarily in Norway (Oslo Metropolitan University) and also in Denmark (Technical University of Denmark).

<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Diederick Croese is director of<span class="x_apple-converted-space"> </span><a title="Original URL: https://quantumdelta.nl/centre-for-quantum-and-society. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fquantumdelta.nl%2Fcentre-for-quantum-and-society&data=05%7C02%7Cmeghana.kondamudi%40itu.int%7C9ec0f6682fa640b3385e08dd67ac24b2%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638780711253531916%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Yp66nrZ9PXDCKmwU8O6Aoj11yONJweB6s22OpqnSGq8%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Quantum Delta’s Centre for Quantum & Society</a>, lead Action Line 4 and member of the <a title="Original URL: https://open-quantum-institute.cern/. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fopen-quantum-institute.cern%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cmeghana.kondamudi%40itu.int%7C9ec0f6682fa640b3385e08dd67ac24b2%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638780711253555052%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=OfRBgTcqX0Ylc88PiFEbcabFlUsX3Wi9bDyzWzwyTBI%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">OQI Advisory Committee</a>. He co-founded ventures like<span class="x_apple-converted-space"> </span><a title="Original URL: https://www.su.org/. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.su.org%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cmeghana.kondamudi%40itu.int%7C9ec0f6682fa640b3385e08dd67ac24b2%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638780711253577402%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=MhP5HZEFkdvzmzl23cGiZzSGHWULsAkCANNeiKK%2BkSg%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">SingularityU</a><span class="x_apple-converted-space"> </span>Benelux,<span class="x_apple-converted-space"> </span><a title="Original URL: https://minkowski.org/. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fminkowski.org%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cmeghana.kondamudi%40itu.int%7C9ec0f6682fa640b3385e08dd67ac24b2%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638780711253595428%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=w2eZWMJYsn%2B99uZuySwJXijEwEIEp9%2Fevyi6qMeoK6E%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3">Minkowski</a><span class="x_apple-converted-space"> </span>and more recently,<span class="x_apple-converted-space"> </span><a title="Original URL: https://www.appliedcomplexity.eu/. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.appliedcomplexity.eu%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cmeghana.kondamudi%40itu.int%7C9ec0f6682fa640b3385e08dd67ac24b2%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638780711253613167%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=jYI%2F6YGdOaXt6yAFGAL3Zykteklm0AdzBhjKB8jYHes%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="4">Applied Complexity</a><span class="x_apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="x_apple-converted-space"> </span><a title="Original URL: https://www.simurgh-academy.com/. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.simurgh-academy.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cmeghana.kondamudi%40itu.int%7C9ec0f6682fa640b3385e08dd67ac24b2%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638780711253631333%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=VDy9JBxjKMaTVY1vxRdHU5pjjMFyLKcVwtaSqVzarPI%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="5">Simurgh Academy</a>. He was part of the<span class="x_apple-converted-space"> </span><a title="Original URL: https://www.esa.int/. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.esa.int%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cmeghana.kondamudi%40itu.int%7C9ec0f6682fa640b3385e08dd67ac24b2%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638780711253649227%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=b%2FEfrk1%2FXFpOL63BRXj5TTy7Ab4fILvXnDiCSw8uRx4%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="6">European Space Agency</a>’s HRE Innovation Board and served as a moderator of programs focused on innovation and complexity for<span class="x_apple-converted-space"> </span><a title="Original URL: https://comeniusleadership.nl/. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcomeniusleadership.nl%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cmeghana.kondamudi%40itu.int%7C9ec0f6682fa640b3385e08dd67ac24b2%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638780711253666052%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kcz3YwLbeQ7%2FPNXYXoGhg8L59JZkkfNreWleJIXcohE%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="7">Comenius</a>.<span class="x_apple-converted-space"> </span>At<span class="x_apple-converted-space"> </span><a title="Original URL: https://www.deloitte.com/nl/en.html. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.deloitte.com%2Fnl%2Fen.html&data=05%7C02%7Cmeghana.kondamudi%40itu.int%7C9ec0f6682fa640b3385e08dd67ac24b2%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638780711253682631%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Tc84rKDWVHvKz%2FXiLb6JhCxQWdW4CKGR%2BO%2BgUikDSwE%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="8">Deloitte</a><span class="x_apple-converted-space"> </span>he co-founded Fast Ventures. Concurrently, he contributed to<span class="x_apple-converted-space"> </span><a title="Original URL: https://www.hollandfestival.nl/nl/hf-young. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hollandfestival.nl%2Fnl%2Fhf-young&data=05%7C02%7Cmeghana.kondamudi%40itu.int%7C9ec0f6682fa640b3385e08dd67ac24b2%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638780711253697977%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=apO2h579ZATUE01aCSmT2GZ%2BFaFkkLWZdxNGZEOfRBI%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="9">HF Young</a>,<span class="x_apple-converted-space"> </span><a title="Original URL: https://fi.co/. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffi.co%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cmeghana.kondamudi%40itu.int%7C9ec0f6682fa640b3385e08dd67ac24b2%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638780711253714212%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=5cabHiJmmYv1FbyvNG7Lh1586TzSIp9H7VpT2aZMP6A%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="10">Founder Institute</a><span class="x_apple-converted-space"> </span>Amsterdam, and<span class="x_apple-converted-space"> </span><a title="Original URL: https://tedx.amsterdam/. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftedx.amsterdam%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cmeghana.kondamudi%40itu.int%7C9ec0f6682fa640b3385e08dd67ac24b2%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638780711253736367%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=0XOvYtBsciscKfQ%2FTJBhMnaZW%2FjDYt2bYY%2FAznaUPiY%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="11">TEDxAmsterdam</a>. Diederick started as a lawyer at<span class="x_apple-converted-space"> </span><a title="Original URL: https://www.cliffordchance.com/home.html. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cliffordchance.com%2Fhome.html&data=05%7C02%7Cmeghana.kondamudi%40itu.int%7C9ec0f6682fa640b3385e08dd67ac24b2%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638780711253752782%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ue%2BbR5Lh5zXJE9pmOcOa4ri7usVd1SDJLf2Kksq6SLM%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="12">Clifford Chance</a>.<span class="x_apple-converted-space"> </span>He has a background in law (University of Amsterdam & Fordham University New York), governance (Erasmus ESAA) and philosophy (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam).</span></p>

<p class="" data-start="55" data-end="818">Reporting to the COO of Sony Music Entertainment (SME), Geoff Taylor is responsible for directing and executing Sony Music’s global strategy on AI. In this role, Geoff oversees the development and implementation of SME’s global AI strategy and policies, manages commercial negotiations with AI developers in collaboration with the Global Digital Business team, and contributes to worldwide lobbying, government affairs, litigation, and content protection efforts related to AI. Additionally, he plays a key role in educating senior leadership on AI advancements and their business implications, fostering the ethical adoption of AI across the company, and serving as the AI Governance Officer for SME worldwide, reporting to Sony Group Corporation in Japan.</p> <p class="" data-start="820" data-end="1290">With a strong background in leadership, strategic planning, and AI governance, Geoff possesses deep expertise in navigating the intersection of technology, intellectual property, and the creative industries. A seasoned negotiator, he has extensive experience in international commercial partnerships, lobbying, and dispute resolution. Known for strong communication skills, Geoff is highly articulate and adept at breaking down complex issues for diverse stakeholders.</p> <p class="" data-start="1292" data-end="1924">A dynamic senior executive with a proven track record of success in the creative industries, Geoff is well-connected with leaders across the music and creative sectors and is highly respected by policymakers. Having guided the UK recording industry through multiple technological transformations—from the CD era to downloads, P2P, on-demand streaming, and now artificial intelligence and the metaverse—he brings a wealth of experience in leading creative businesses through disruption and opportunity. With a pragmatic and results-driven management approach, Geoff excels in fostering collaboration and driving impactful outcomes.</p>

<p>Lisa Lambert is the inaugural CEO of Quantum Industry Canada (QIC), the national consortium that unites quantum technology companies and allied organizations. Under her leadership, QIC is dedicated to unlocking the full potential of Canada’s quantum sector, aiming to advance the country’s position as a global leader in quantum innovation and commercialization while enhancing national prosperity.</p> <p>Throughout her career, Lisa has been a pioneer of collaborative innovation at the intersection of science, technology, and society. She has spearheaded trailblazing projects worldwide, working with leading minds and organizations. Her notable roles at TRIUMF and the Perimeter Institute have been instrumental in fostering partnerships that propel scientific discovery, practical applications, and public engagement.</p> <p>Lisa is driven by the belief that we’ve all got a part to play in shaping a bright future, with innovation as our pathway to progress. At QIC, she’s putting this belief into action, guiding the consortium to open up new possibilities and ensure that Canada’s quantum industry plays a pivotal role in the country’s prosperity and contributes significantly to the global landscape.</p>

Mio Murao received her B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Ochanomizu University in Tokyo, Japan in 1991, 1993 and 1996, respectively. She worked as a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University, Imperial College London and RIKEN (Japan). She became an associate professor in 2001 and a professor in 2015 in the Department of Physics, the School of Science, the University of Tokyo. She has been working in the field of theoretical quantum information science since 1997 and is currently focusing on quantum programming, quantum algorithms, quantum learning and distributed quantum computation.

<span class="TextRun SCXW91643330 BCX8" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW91643330 BCX8">Dr. Li Wenyu, Professor level Senior Engineer, Director of the Intellectual Property and Innovation Development </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW91643330 BCX8">Center,  Judicial</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW91643330 BCX8"> Appraisal Institute, and Science and Technology Ethics Research Center of the China Academy of Information and Communications </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW91643330 BCX8">Technology(</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW91643330 BCX8">CAICT). His main research areas include future industrial policies and laws, innovation and intellectual property, corporate compliance governance, and court science. Hosted and completed more than 20 national and provincial-level scientific research </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW91643330 BCX8">projects, and</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW91643330 BCX8"> applied for 18 invention patents; Hosted or responsible for completing more than 30 technical standards in the communication industry; Published 2 academic monographs and over 40 academic papers.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW91643330 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":278}"> </span>

<span lang="EN-GB">Before Dr Reimann joined the Technology Innovation Institute in 2020 he worked for 5 years, first as Postdoc, then as Senior Scientific Assistant in the group of Lukas Novotny at the Photonics Laboratory at ETH Zurich in Switzerland. His love for quantum optics and levitated particles is the common theme of his scientific work.</span> <span lang="EN-GB">He received his PhD in Physics in 2014 from the University of Bonn in Germany, where Dr Reimann worked in the quantum technologies group of Dieter Meschede, on “</span><a href="http://quantum-technologies.iap.uni-bonn.de/en/component/publications/?task=download&file=274&token=d44c5aa84fa9be962d037e106b56ed8b" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer"><span lang="EN-GB">Cooling and Cooperative Coupling of Single Atoms in an Optical Cavity</span></a><span lang="EN-GB">”. In 2009 Dr Reimann completed his Master in Physics at Stony Brook University in the United States, in the laboratory of Dominik Schneble, working on “</span><a href="http://ultracold.physics.sunysb.edu/subpages/pubfiles/Reimann_MA2009.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer"><span lang="EN-GB">Quantum Gases in State-Dependent Optical Potentials</span></a><span lang="EN-GB">”.</span>

Dr. Ulrich Mans is responsible for Quantum Delta NL’s International Strategy and is strategic partnerships lead. In this role, he oversees the international collaboration programmes with priority countries and the organization’s approach towards economic security topics such as supply chains, knowledge security and export control. He has a background in international relations and high tech innovation. In the past he worked in various roles, including as Innovation Attache in Washington, the EU’s External Action Service, at Leiden University’s Centre for Innovation and for the Clingendael Institute. He holds a PhD in economic geography from the UvA and an MA from Radboud University Nijmegen.

Dr. William Zeng is a partner at <a title="Original URL: https://www.quantonation.com/. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.quantonation.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cmeghana.kondamudi%40itu.int%7C5a8d4ca43471440ff6e908dd6aacbfd3%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638784012363915216%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=LrJL2Hfhe9dZQrq6kUyDe8em3ug1m3Qf9KQo2MJ4Jr8%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Quantonation</a>, an early stage venture fund with $200M+ AUM investing in quantum and deep physics technology companies. He is also founder and President of the <a title="Original URL: https://unitary.fund/. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Funitary.fund%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cmeghana.kondamudi%40itu.int%7C5a8d4ca43471440ff6e908dd6aacbfd3%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C638784012363959606%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=wcyX67BFlJ%2FlyNYNzs1nT3Rp4Q01g2Q0VizJl3gm4yU%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">Unitary Fund</a>, an independent, non-profit research institute developing open quantum technology. His research focuses on quantum computer architecture, algorithms and software. He previously led an advanced computing research group at Goldman Sachs and the launch of the first quantum computers while on the initial team at Rigetti Computing (IPO at $1Bn+). He received his PhD in quantum

<p class="x_p1"><span lang="EN-US" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Dr. Catherine Lefebvre is Senior Advisor at GESDA for the Open Quantum Institute (OQI) – an initiative born at GESDA and hosted by CERN with the mission to promote global and inclusive access to quantum computing. At OQI, Catherine leads the development of applications for the benefit of humanity. Catherine has years of experience in building strategic relationships as well as research & innovation partnerships in global quantum and artificial intelligence ecosystems. She is board member of Distriq, the Quantum Innovation Hub in Quebec, Canada. Until recently, Catherine was Vice President Global Policy and Partnerships at PASQAL, where she led the international research collaborations and was convenor of the European Committee for Standardization Working Group on Quantum Computing (CEN/CLC JTC 22 WG3), as well as co-chair of the IEEE Working Group on Quantum Computing Architecture (P3120). </span></p> <p class="x_p1"><span lang="EN-US">She previously worked as Innovation Ambassador US & Canada at M Squared Lasers, Scientific Advisor in quantum technology for the Quebec Government (MEIE), Scientific Liaison Officer in artificial intelligence for the National Bank of Canada and for the startup ElementAI (acquired by ServiceNow). Catherine has a background in research and holds a PhD in molecular physics and theoretical quantum chemistry from Université Paris-Sud and Université Laval. She then pursued research as postdoctoral fellow and research associate for almost a decade, at the Université de Sherbrooke, the Canadian Space Agency and the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique.</span></p>

Dr. Wei Qi is the CEO of CAS Quantum Network Co., Ltd, the Chairman of China Communications Standards Association (CCSA) Special Task Force (ST7) on Quantum Communication and Information Technology, also the Vice Chairman of Quantum Information Network Industry Alliance in China. At the same time, he is currently the chief engineer in charge of the national wide-area quantum secure communication backbone network, dedicated to promoting the industrial development of quantum communication technology.

Joanna Doummar is an associate ​professor of Groundwater Hydrology at the department of Geology at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon. She holds a PhD degree in Hydrogeology from Georg- August University Goettingen in Germany, a MSc. in Geology from the American University of Beirut (AUB), and a MSc. in Hydrogeology from the University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland). Her research focuses on the development of methods for the assessment of quantitative vulnerability of karst aquifers including the numerical simulation of integrated karst systems, the characterization of karst aquifers using different methods and the assessment of transport behavior using specific contamination indicators. She is the principal investigator of various local and international research grants at the Department of Geology of the American University of Beirut (Lebanon) since 2013. Through these scientific and developmental projects related to karst and other groundwater applications (e.g., Managed Aquifer Recharge), she aims at promoting hydrogeology nationally and internationally. Her research includes also the gradual construction of a high-resolution monitoring network of water resources and climatic parameters in poorly investigated and monitored sites in Lebanon. Beside various collaborations with European, American, and regional scientists, she has supervised many undergraduate and graduate students on various research topics in hydrogeology that culminated in various publications. In addition to the dissemination of the research to the scientific community, she also aims at applying the research outcome at a local scale to overcome national water quality and quantity problems, to make science accessible to non-technical people, and to help in the implementation of tailored policies based on sound scientific research outcomes. ​​She is the Vice President of IAH (International association of Hydrogeologists) for the MENA region, a member of the IAH Karst Commission. She has been accepted into to the World Economic Forum Young Scientists Community- Class of 2020. She is also the co-founder of LAUS (Local Association for Underground Studies) aiming at encouraging science and service work in hydrogeology at a local scale.

Dr Yaseera Ismail is currently a Senior lecturer within the Department of Physics at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. She graduated in 2011 with her Masters of Science degree, Cum Laude, based at the CSIR-National Laser Centre, and obtained her PhD in 2015 in Physics in the field of quantum communication from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. In 2017, she was appointed Lecturer of Physics within the School of Chemistry and Physics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and since then, she has achieved great success in her career. Dr Ismail specialises in the development of quantum technologies, particularly in the field of quantum information science. She is an experimentalist developing quantum optical tools for the advancement of free-space, long-range secure quantum communication and leads the QuPhoton Lab at Stellenbosch University. Dr Ismail holds a Y1 NRF rating. She is a recipient of three Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) Seed Fund Grants and held an NRF Thuthuka Grant (2019-2021). Dr Ismail initiated collaborations with research groups in China, Russia, and India, which led to a successful Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) Joint Multilateral Science and Technology Research Grant. Through the BRICS Collaboration, her research focus is on developing a Quantum Satellite and fibre communication (QuSAF) network in South Africa. The QuSaF project aims to establish a quantum network with a joint intercontinental satellite-based quantum key distribution link utilising the Micius satellite that the Chinese collaborators have already developed and launched into the lower earth orbital. The long-term vision for developing satellite quantum key distribution is the realisation of a quantum internet. Dr Ismail received the 2016 TechWomen Emerging Leader Award and is a 2018 Optica (formerly Optical Society of America (OSA)) Ambassador. She serves on the editorial board of the Scientific Reports Journal and is Optica’s Vice President on the International Commission for Optics, which was established in 1947. She was the 2023 committee Chair of the Theodor W. Hänsch Prize in Quantum Optics and is the Chair of the International Commission for Optics Education Committee for Strategic linkages on the African Continent. She also serves on the selection committee for the Optica Amplifying Scholarship.

<p><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Dr. Thierry Botter is a successful industry executive, and an expert in the area of quantum technologies. He is the Executive Director of the European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC), a pan-European industry association with 200 members and affiliates dedicated to supporting and strengthening quantum companies on the global stage. He is also a long-standing contributor on quantum technologies at the World Economic Forum and serves as an advisor on various councils. Dr. Botter previously held several leadership positions at Airbus. He also served as a member of the first strategic advisory board for the European Commission’s Quantum Flagship. Dr. Botter holds a PhD in physics from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.</span></p>

<p class="x_MsoNormal" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Richard is an experimental high energy physicist with a multidisciplinary scientific profile. He leads next-generation technological projects including funding, planning, strategic direction and execution, technology development from conceptualisation through development, construction, commissioning, and operation and group formation and management, including training and mentorship of students and experts. He also has experience of building a green field facility.</p>

<p class="x_MsoNormal">Shohini Ghose is a Professor of Physics & NSERC Chair for Women in Science and Engineering at Wilfrid Laurier University, and the Chief Technology Officer of the Quantum Algorithms Institute. She is an internationally recognized theoretical physicist working on foundational questions in quantum information science as well as developing real-world application of quantum technologies with industry partners. She is a member of Canada’s Quantum Advisory Council for the National Quantum Strategy, and she has served on the Advisory Board of the UNESCO International Basic Sciences Program. Dr. Ghose is the founding Director of the nationally recognized Laurier Centre for Women in Science and was President (2019-20) of the Canadian Association of Physicists. Her awards include a TED Senior Fellowship and selection to the College of the Royal Society of Canada, and her online talks and videos have received over 8 million views. Her recent book <i>Her Space, Her Time </i>won the 2023 Science Writers and Communicators of Canada book award. Dr. Ghose recently founded the Centre for Responsible Quantum Innovation and Technologies (CRQIT) with partners from academia and industry across Canada.</p>

<p class="x_MsoNormal" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Mathias Soeken works at the Azure Quantum team at Microsoft. From 2015 to 2020, he has been with École Polytechnique Fédérale Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland as postdoctoral scientist. From 2009 to 2015 he worked at the University of Bremen, Germany and has been a regularly visiting post doc at UC Berkeley, CA, USA in the group of Robert K. Brayton. He holds a Ph.D. degree (Dr.-Ing.) in Computer Science from University of Bremen, Germany (2013). His research interests are logic synthesis, quantum computing, reversible logic, and formal verification. Mathias Soeken is member of the IEEE and of the ACM.</p>

Bolor-Erdene Battsengel is a young dynamic leader with over a decade of experience in leading successful large-scale digital transformation initiatives, harnessing AI and technological advancement for public policy and global-scale project. Having worked in international organizations, including the World Bank and UN, governments and academia, she now helps international tech companies with strategic engagement, government relations and AI policies. As the former founding Vice Minister of Digital Development of Mongolia, she led the country's digital transformation, crafting a comprehensive 5-year plan "Digital Nation" policy. She is globally recognised by successfully leading E-Mongolia project which digitalized over 1,500 government services, help reducing red-tape bureaucracy and corruption. Coming from countryside of Mongolia, she founded Girls Code NGO to empower young women and girls from disadvantaged communities to learn STEM education and coding skills.

<span class="TextRun SCXW94520068 BCX4" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW94520068 BCX4">Andrea is a Senior System Analyst in the ITU Radiocommunication Sector. His current duties encompass software and radio communication engineering activities finalized to the design and implementation of software solutions and systems focused on the application of the provisions of the ITU Radio Regulations and Regional Agreements. He is also the ITU Focal Point for Geospatial Information Management and a Member of the Steering Committee of the UN Geospatial Network. He holds a Ph.D. in Physics (Indiana University, 2000) and an Executive MBA (Geneva University, 2011) with a specialization in International Organizations.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW94520068 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span>

Degree with honours in Physics, PhD in Geodesy and Cartography. She is Professor of “GIS” and “The Copernicus Green Revolution for sustainable development” at Politecnico di Milano (PoliMI) and a member of the School of Doctoral Studies in Data Science at “Roma La Sapienza” University. From 2006 to 2011 she lectured GIS at the ETH of Zurich and from 1997 to 2011 she was the Head of the Geomatics Laboratory of PoliMI (Campus Como). From 2011 to 2016 she was the Vice-Rector of PoliMI for the Como Campus. Currently, she is the coordinator of the Copernicus Academy Network for the PoliMI and the Head of the GEOLab, the Interdepartmental Lab to which 7 Departments of POLIMI are contributing.   She is Vice President of the  ISPRS Technical Commission on Spatial Information Science, a former member of ESA ACEO (Advisory Committee of Earth Observation); co-chair of the United Nations Open GIS Initiative, chair of the UN-GGIM (Global Geospatial Information Management) Academic Network, mentor of the PoliMI Chapter of YouthMappers (PoliMappers), one of the three curators of the geospatial series of the AI for Good, organized by ITU in partnership with 40 UN Sister Agencies.   Her research activity is in the field of geomatics. Her interests have been various, starting from geodesy, radar-altimetry and moving later to GIS, webGIS, geospatial web platform, VGI, Citizen Science, Big Geo Data, geoAI. She is participating and leading research on these topics within the frameworks of both national and international projects and scientific networks. One of her main interests is in Open-Source GIS, where she plays a leading worldwide role.

Yi Zeng is a Professor from Chinese Academy of Sciences, serving as the Director at the International Research Center for AI Ethics and Governance and the Brain-inspired Cognitive AI Lab. He is the founding director of Beijing Institute of AI Safety and Governance (Beijing-AISI). He is a member of the UN High-Level Advisory Body on AI. He is also an expert in the UNESCO Ad Hoc Expert Group on AI Ethics, an expert in the WHO Expert Group on the Ethics/Governance of Artificial Intelligence for Health, and a board member of the National Governance Committee of Next Generation Artificial Intelligence in China. He has been listed as one of the TIME100 Most Influential People in Artificial Intelligence (TIME100/AI). His major research interests focus on Brain-inspired Artificial Intelligence, AI Ethics, Safety and Governance,  and AI for Sustainable Development. He is the founding director of AI for SDGs Cooperation Network.

Dr. Leandro Aolita is the Acting Chief Researcher of the Quantum Research Center (QRC) at the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), a leading global scientific research center and the applied research pillar of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC). In this role, Dr. Aolita is focused on advancing quantum computing hardware, software, and algorithms, quantum communications and sensing technologies, as well as quantum information processing in general, driving forward TII’s mission to develop cutting-edge quantum technologies. Previously, Dr. Aolita served as the Executive Director of the Quantum Algorithms division at TII. His research experience spans multiple prestigious institutions. Prior to joining TII, he was an Associate Professor of Physics at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, where he was grantee of several institutions, including the Serrapilheira Institute. Previously, he has been a Marie Curie Fellow at the Free University of Berlin and a Juan de la Cierva Fellow at the Institute of Photonic Sciences in Barcelona. Dr. Aolita obtained his PhD in Physics in 2008, and his thesis was recognized with the "Prize to the Best Brazilian PhD Thesis in Physics of the Year" by the Brazilian Physics Society in 2009.

Beena is the author of “Trustworthy AI” and “Zero Latency Leadership” books. She currently leads the Global Deloitte AI Institute. Beena is also the Founder of non-profit, Humans For AI, an organization dedicated to increasing diversity in AI. An award-winning senior executive with extensive global experience in AI and digital transformation, spanning across e-commerce, finance, marketing, telecom, retail, software products, services and industrial domains with companies such as GE, HPE, Thomson Reuters, British Telecom, Bank of America, E*Trade and a number of startups. Beena serves on the Nomination Evaluation Committee for NMTI at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. She also serves on the Boards of AnitaB.org, WEF Centre for Trustworthy Technology, AACSB and the Advisory Board at Cal Poly College of Engineering. She has been a Board Member and Advisor to several technology startups. Beena thrives on envisioning and architecting how data, artificial intelligence, and technology in general, can make our world a better, easier place to live for all humans. Beena has been honored numerous times for her contribution to tech and her philanthropic efforts. Learn more about Beena at <a style="text-decoration:underline;" href="http://beenammanath.com">beenammanath.com</a> or <a style="text-decoration:underline;" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/bammanath">www.linkedin.com/in/bammanath</a>.

Riccardo Trivisonno (Senior Member, IEEE) received M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in telecommunications engineering from the University of Bologna in 2000 and 2005, respectively. He joined Huawei Technologies in 2011 and he is currently serving as Head of Network Architecture — Research and Standardization — for the Advanced Wireless Technologies Laboratory, Munich Research Center. Over the past ten years, he has been a leading contributor to the definition and the standardization of 5G network architecture and technologies, delivering to 3GPP Releases 15 - 18 — in the areas of architecture modularization, network slicing, network analytics, and QoS—filing ~100 Standard Essential Patent applications. His research focus shifted to 6G enabling technologies since 2020. He has been the Chairman of 6G-IA Pre-standardization WG since 2020, a Board Member of one6G Association since its foundation, in 2021, and was elected one6G Board Vice-Chair in 2023.    

Leon Wong is a senior researcher at Rakuten Mobile and Rakuten Institute of Technology. He holds the role of industry research collaboration lead for the Research & Innovation Lab, dedicated to the research and realization of autonomous networking. He has over 15 years of experience in IT & telecommunication industry working in various roles such as Engineering Lead, Solution Architect, and Subject Matter Expert in Operation Support System. Prior to taking the role in Rakuten Mobile, he built the High-Performance Computing GPU cluster for Rakuten Group and engaged in research development activities with Rakuten Institute of Technology. He served as chairman of ITU-T Focus Group of Autonomous Networks (FG-AN), co-chair of TTC Autonomous Network Ad Hoc Group (AN-AH), and Co-convener of ITU Correspondence Group AI for 6G/AI Native for Telecommunication Networks. He is one of the main editors for Autonomous Networks related Recommendations, notably ITU-T Y.3061 – Autonomous Networks – Architecture Framework.

Buse Bilgin is an accomplished Next Generation R&D Engineer based in Istanbul, Turkiye, specializing in Electrical & Electronics Engineering with a focus on 5G and 6G technologies. With a Master's degree from Koç University and a Bachelor's degree from Istanbul Bilgi University, Buse has excelled academically and professionally. At Turkcell Technology, she plays a pivotal role in managing EU projects related to next-generation wireless technologies. As a co-founder and ML-Engineer at Vrables Lab, she contributed to the development of advanced photonic-based diagnostic platforms and received a prestigious TUBITAK BiGG grant. Recognized for her work with awards like the KUImpact Patent Competition 2022, Buse is also a passionate advocate for engineering excellence and innovation. She is one of the main researchers focusing on the development of network’s digital twin in Turkcell.

Dr Rachel Adams is the Principal Researcher at Research ICT Africa, where she Directs the AI4D Africa Just AI Centre, is the Director of the <a href="https://www.africanobservatory.ai/resources">African Observatory on Responsible AI</a> and is the Principal Investigator of the <a href="https://www.d4d.net/activities/responsible-ai-index">Global Index on Responsible AI</a>. Rachel is a member of the UNESCO Expert Committee for the implementation of the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, an Associate Fellow at the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence at the University of Cambridge, a Research Associate with the Information Law and Policy Centre at the University of London, and a Research Associate of the Tayarisha: African Centre of Excellence on Digital Governance at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Rachel was previously a Chief Research Specialist at the Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa. Rachel has published widely in areas such as AI and society, gender and AI, transparency, open data, and data protection.

<span class="NormalTextRun BCX4 SCXW148906483">Wei Meng </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2 BCX4 GrammarErrorHighlight SCXW148906483">is</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX4 SCXW148906483"> the director of standard and </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2 BCX4 SCXW148906483">open-source</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX4 SCXW148906483"> planning at ZTE Corporation for more than 10 years. Wei is an active Project Team Lead (PTL) of OF-CONFIG in </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2 BCX4 SCXW148906483">Opendaylight</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX4 SCXW148906483">. He is mainly engaged in pre-research and development on Networking and AI. He also has </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2 BCX4 SCXW148906483">a rich</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX4 SCXW148906483"> experience </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2 BCX4 SCXW148906483">in</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX4 SCXW148906483"> SDN, NFV, IPv6, SFC.</span>

Gyu Myoung LEE is with the Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), UK, as a Professor from 2014 and with KAIST Institute for IT convergence, Korea, as an Adjunct Professor from 2012. Prior to joining the LJMU, he has worked with the Institut Mines-Telecom, Telecom SudParis, France, from 2008. Until 2012, he had been invited to work with the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), Korea. He also worked as a research professor in KAIST, Korea and as a guest researcher in National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), USA, in 2007. His research interests include Internet of things, digital twin, computational trust, knowledge centric networking and services, multimedia services, and energy saving technologies. He has been actively working for standardization in ITU-T, IETF and oneM2M, etc. He was the chair of ITU-T Focus Group on data processing and management (FG-DPM) to support IoT and smart cities & communities and currently serves as a WP chair in SG13, a Rapporteur of Q16/13 and Q4/20. He is a Senior Member of IEEE. ​He received his BS degree from Hong Ik University, Seoul, Korea, in 1999 and his MS and PhD degrees from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea, in 2000 and 2007.

<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Dr. Katharina Weitz is a Project Manager in the Applied Machine Learning Group at Fraunhofer HHI. She brings a multidisciplinary background in education, psychology, and computer science to her role. Before joining Fraunhofer HHI, Dr. Weitz was a research associate at the University of Augsburg. Her research focused on applying explainable human-centered AI in medical, educational, and industrial contexts, emphasizing end-user perspectives. At Fraunhofer, Dr. Weitz continues to advance the field of Explainable and Human-Centered AI, particularly in natural disaster management and early warning systems. In addition to her research, she has been a board member of the German Computer Science Society since 2022.</span></span>

Vishnu has hands-on experience in the field of Telecom industry for more than 25 years, developing and implementing standards, and holds many international granted patents. Vishnu currently works as an independent consultant, is a Vice Chair of ITU Focus Group on Autonomous Networks and the co-convener of ITU Correspondence Group on datasets. Previously, he was a co-editor of ITU-T Focus Group specifications on Machine learning in 5G. His current passion includes coordinating standards initiatives, industry bodies, open source and academia, mentoring student projects and coordinating the ITU “AI/ML in 5G“ Challenge across the globe. He also curates and moderates webinars under the ITU Machine learning 5G webinar series and AI for Good. Vishnu was nominated as Scientific Advisory Board Associate (SABA) member of Motorola Networks and is a senior member of IEEE. He holds a Masters degree in Computer Science and Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.

Sister Raffaella Petrini, a member of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist religious congregation, was appointed as Secretary-General of the Governorate of Vatican City State by Pope Francis in November 2021. A native of Rome, Italy, Sr. Petrini holds a degree in political science from the “Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli (LUISS)”, a Master of Organizational Behavior degree from the University of Hartford, and a doctorate from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (the Angelicum), where she taught Welfare Economics and Sociology of Economic Processes at the Faculty of Social Sciences. She has served as an official at the Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples since 2005. Since 2022 she is also a member of the Dicastery for Bishops and the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA)

Prof. Dr. Björn Ommer is a full professor at LMU where he heads the Computer Vision & Learning Group (previously Computer Vision Group Heidelberg). Before he was a full professor at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science of Heidelberg University and also served as a one of the directors of the Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (IWR) and of the Heidelberg Collaboratory for Image Processing (HCI). He has studied computer science together with physics as a minor subject at the University of Bonn, Germany. After that he pursued his doctoral studies in computer science at ETH Zurich. He received his Ph.D. degree from ETH Zurich for his dissertation “Learning the Compositional Nature of Objects for Visual Recognition” which was awarded the ETH Medal. Thereafter, Björn held a post-doc position in the Computer Vision Group of Jitendra Malik at UC Berkeley. He serves in the Bavarian AI Council, as an associate editor for the journal IEEE T-PAMI, and previously for Pattern Recognition Letters. Björn is an ELLIS Fellow, an ELLIS unit faculty of the ELLIS unit Munich, affiliated with the Helmholtz foundation, and a PI of the Munich Center for Machine Learning (MCML). He has served as program chair for GCPR, as Senior Area Chair and Area Chair for multiple CVPR, ICCV, ECCV, and NeurIPS conferences, and as workshop and tutorial organizer at these venues. Björn delivered the opening keynote at NeurIPS’23, was awarded the German AI-Prize 2024, the Technology-Prize of Eduard-Rhein-Foundation 2024, and the work leading to Stable Diffusion has been nominated for the German Future Prize of the President of Germany (“Deutscher Zukunftspreis des Bundespräsidenten für Technik und Innovation”).

Paul Harvey is a lecturer in Autonomous Systems at the <a href="https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/engineering/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">James Watt School of Engineering</a>, University of Glasgow. Here, he is exploring the cross-section of technologies and skills required for safe and meaningful fully-autonomous behaviour of both design and operation. Additionally, he is a working group co-chair in the UN’s ITU-T <a href="https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/focusgroups/an/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Focus Group on Autonomous Networks</a> and a visiting researcher at the <a href="https://www.strath.ac.uk/science/computerinformationsciences/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of Strathclyde</a>. Paul also possess extensive experience in industrial research, where he was co-founder and research lead of the <a href="https://netlab.mobile.rakuten.co.jp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rakuten Mobile Innovation Studio</a>, and is a strong believer in open and collaborative research.

Lilian Edwards is a leading academic in the field of Internet law. She has taught information technology law, e-commerce law, privacy law and Internet law at undergraduate and postgraduate level since 1996 and been involved with law and artificial intelligence (AI) since 1985. She worked at the University of Strathclyde from 1986–1988 and the University of Edinburgh from 1989 to 2006. She became Chair of Internet Law at the University of Southampton from 2006–2008, and then Professor of Internet Law at the University of Sheffield until late 2010, when she returned to Scotland to become Professor of E-Governance at the University of Strathclyde, while retaining close links with the renamed SCRIPT (AHRC Centre) at the University of Edinburgh. She resigned from that role in 2018 to take up a new Chair in Law, Innovation and Society at Newcastle University. She also has close links with the Oxford Internet Institute. She is the editor and major author of <em>Law, Policy and the Internet</em>, one of the leading textbooks in the field of Internet law (Hart, 2018). She won the Future of Privacy Forum award in 2019 for best paper ("Slave to the Algorithm" with Michael Veale) and the award for best non-technical paper at FAccT* in 2020, on automated hiring. In 2004 she won the Barbara Wellberry Memorial Prize in 2004 for work on online privacy  where she invented the notion of data trusts, a concept which ten years later has been proposed in EU legislation. She is a partner in the Horizon Digital Economy Hub at Nottingham, the lead for the Alan Turing Institute on Law and AI,  and a fellow of the Institute for the Future of Work.  At Newcastle, she is the theme lead in the data NUCore for the Regulation of Data. She currently holds grants from the AHRC and the Leverhulme Trust. Edwards has consulted for inter alia  the EU Commission, the OECD, and WIPO. Edwards co-chairs GikII, an annual series of international workshops on the intersections between law, technology and popular culture.

<p class="font_8"><span class="color_15">Digital enthusiast focusing on Artificial Intelligence, data and the EU's digital transition. Soft spot for interinstitutional reforms and the better regulation agenda. Cooperative and pragmatic approach, always trying to strike a balance. Annoyed by stagnation, ideological mindsets and political power plays in the EU institutions and elsewhere. The good policy-maker is inclusive, willing to compromise and strives for constant renewal.</span></p> <p class="font_8"><span class="color_15">Graduated in politics and law, after specializing in Security Studies and Foreign Policy Analysis as well as in Constitutional and European Law. Studied Political Science (B.A.) at University of Bremen, Law (First German state examination / Dipl.-Jur.) at University of Freiburg / York / Münster, and International Relations (M.Sc.) at University of Edinburgh.</span></p> <p class="font_8"><span class="color_15">Started his professional life as Research Associate at the European Office of the Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation in Brussels, before moving to the European Parliament as Head of Office and Digital Policy Adviser for MEP Axel Voss (EPP Group) in mid-2017.</span></p>

<span lang="EN-US" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Lisa Russell is an Emmy-winning filmmaker, AI storyteller, and global arts advocate with over 20 years of experience that lies at the intersection of arts, social justice and sustainable development. As a pioneering creative advocate for the intersection of artificial intelligence, filmmaking and advocacy for climate and sustainability solutions, she explores how AI can empower artists, reshape storytelling, and create new revenue opportunities in the global creative economy.</span> <span lang="EN-US">Her AI-driven creative projects have been featured at COP29/UN News, the UN Summit of the Future, unDAVOS, Entertainment Week Lagos, Project Odyssey 2, Atlanta AI Film Festival, Seattle AI Film Festival and more, demonstrating how AI can be a force for ethical storytelling and artistic innovation. As a speaker, Lisa is a 3x TEDx speaker, featured speaker for the World Conference on Creative Economy gatherings and has presented at high-level global events, including the ITU/UNDP SDG Digital Summit, advocating for artist-led AI solutions in digital transformation.</span> <span lang="EN-US">Lisa is also the founder of</span><span class="x_apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US">ArtsEnvoy.ai, a platform designed to help artists and creatives harness AI to create, monetize, and scale their storytelling careers. </span><span class="x_apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US">ArtsEnvoy.ai</span><span class="x_apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US">was ranked the #2 AI company in Kenya by</span><span class="x_apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US">F6S.com</span><span class="x_apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US">in February 2025.</span> <span lang="EN-US">Lisa is the Global Co-Chair of the UN Civil Society (UNCSC) Arts and Culture imPACT Coalition, where she leads efforts to amplify the role of artists in global policy and sustainable development. She has collaborated extensively with the United Nations, NGOs, and international organizations, producing award-winning films and creative initiatives that highlight pressing social issues.</span> <span lang="EN-US"> As a judge for the AI for Good Film Festival, Lisa brings a unique perspective at the intersection of AI, creativity, and social impact, championing innovative approaches that ensure artists and creatives remain at the forefront of technological change.</span>

<div> <span data-ogsc="black" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Reza Sixo Safai is an award-winning filmmaker, actor, and writer whose bold, boundary-pushing work has been celebrated at Sundance, Cannes, and beyond. Renowned for his innovative approach to storytelling, he crafts films that challenge perception, blend genres, and defy expectations. He produced and co-starred in "A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night", the acclaimed Iranian vampire western praised by Time magazine as one of the best vampire films of all time. In addition, he has pioneered the use of AI in filmmaking, with his work featured at Tribeca, where he showcased a groundbreaking film using OpenAI’s Sora. Recently he co-founded Massive Studios which Forbes described as “a creative shop with deep expertise in generative AI.” Safai’s projects are a reflection of his hybrid identity and the world we live in today—where cultures, histories, and aesthetics collide to create something entirely new. </span> </div> <div></div>

<div> <p class="x_MsoNormal">Michaela A. Ternasky-Holland is a Peabody-nominated and Emmy award-winning director who specializes in creating impactful stories using immersive and interactive technology. She is one of the first directors to create and premiere a short film utilizing Open AI’s SORA platform, which screened at Tribeca Festival. As a nominee for the Producers Guild of America’s Innovation Award, she is also a consultant, speaker, and thought leader, who has been recognized as one of the 100 Original Voices of XR and listed as one of Blooloop’s 50 Immersive Influencers.</p> </div> <div></div>

<span class="TextRun SCXW60714865 BCX8" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW60714865 BCX8">Michael Gould is global education manager at Esri, Inc. where he works on a wide range of capacity development projects around the world in collaboration with Esri's 80-plus offices. He received the PhD in GIS/Geography from University at Buffalo and since 1998 (now part-time) has been instructor/professor of information systems at the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW60714865 BCX8">Universitat</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW60714865 BCX8"> Jaume I (UJI), in </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW60714865 BCX8">Castellón</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW60714865 BCX8">, Spain. At UJI he co-founded the Master of Science degree in Geospatial Technologies, funded by the European Union Erasmus+ program; </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW60714865 BCX8">also</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW60714865 BCX8"> two doctoral programs funded by the EU Marie Curie program. Michael spent a sabbatical year at Open Geospatial Consortium and represented Spain on the INSPIRE (EU spatial data infrastructure) drafting team, contributed to Spain's national SDI, and was council member and chair of the Association of Geographic Information Laboratories in Europe (AGILE). His research agenda has </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW60714865 BCX8">included spatial cognition and wayfinding, SDI (now geospatial data ecosystem), and smart cities.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW60714865 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span>

<p>Dr. Monique Kuglitsch is the Innovation Manager at Fraunhofer HHI and Chair of the newly established ITU/WMO/UNEPO/UNFCCC/UPU Global Initiative on Resilience to Natural Hazards through AI Solutions (the successor to the ITU/WMO/UNEP Focus Group on AI for Natural Disaster Management). In her past role at the American Meteorological Society, M. Kuglitsch was the Lead Technical Editor for several journals (including the Journal of Hydrometeorology and Journal of Physical Oceanography) and the Senior International Outreach/Communications Specialist. As a researcher, M. Kuglitsch has investigated past climate change, extreme weather events, and regional climate model projections. M. Kuglitsch has experience in fluvial and limnological field work, geochemical laboratory methods, applied mathematics and statistics, and climate change.</p>

Ali Mansourian is a Professor of Geomatics at the Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, Sweden. He is Director of Lund University GIS Centre, coordinator of the “GIS & RS Master Programme”, and former council member of European AGILE (Association of Geographic Information Laboratories in Europe). Mansourian has established research directions in Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI, which is the intersection of GISceince and Artificial Intelligence), Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI), and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) using multi-objective optimization techniques. He has also a long-standing research line in applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in epidemiology and heath, disaster risk management, land-use planning, and environmental management. In his records, he has also coordination of several large international and national research and capacity building projects, evaluation of major EU/EC research grants, scientific program committee chair and/or organiser of several international conferences and workshops, supervision of PhD students and postdoc researches, invited evaluation committee of PhD theses, and publication of 150+ scientific journal/conference papers, books/book chapters, and technical reports. For more information, please visit his <a class="fui-Link ___1rxvrpe f2hkw1w f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1hu3pq6 f11qmguv f19f4twv f1tyq0we f1g0x7ka fhxju0i f1qch9an f1cnd47f fqv5qza f1vmzxwi f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1nev41a f1h8hb77 f1lqvz6u f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" title="http://web.nateko.lu.se/personal/ali.mansouriana/" href="http://web.nateko.lu.se/Personal/Ali.Mansouriana/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Link extended CV">extended CV</a>.

Dr. Yifang Ban is the Professor and Director of the Division of Geoinformatics at the Department of Urban Planning and Environment at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and an Associate Director - Dissemination and Impact at Digital Futures in Stockholm, Sweden. Before joining KTH as a full professor in 2004, Dr. Ban was a tenured Associate Professor at York University in Toronto, Canada. She received her PhD in 1996 from the University of Waterloo in Canada.  In 2023, she earned a certificate in Leading Sustainability: High Impact Leadership from the University of Cambridge. Professor Yifang Ban's research has been focused on Earth observation big data analytics, machine learning/deep learning, and their applications in environmental change monitoring (e.g. urbanization, wildfires, flooding) to support sustainable and resilient development.  She has published extensively on these topics and has been ranked by Stanford/Elsevier among the World's top 2% of scientists in Geological and Geomatics Engineering in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.  Professor Ban is the PI/Co-PI for a number of impactful projects, including EO-AI4GlobalChange (funded by Digital Futures), HARMONIA (funded by EU H2020), SAR4Wildfire (funded by FORMAS & ESA), and Climate Change Induced Disaster Management in Africa (funded by EU Erasmus+). Since 2016, Professor Ban has been an invited expert of the UN Habitat’s Technical Committee on Human Settlements Indicators for the SDGs.  She was also an expert in evaluations of EU and national grant proposals.  She is a co-chair of the ICA Commission on Sensor-Driven Mapping,  a co-lead of the GEO initiative ‘Global Urban Observation and Information’ (2012-2022), an associate editor for IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, and guest editor for several major remote sensing journals, and a scientific committee member of major international remote sensing conferences.

Céline Rozenblat is professor of Urban Geography at the University of Lausanne, vice-president of International Geographical Union (IGU) and chair of the groups of the Geospatial societies of the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM). She was member of the International Science Council (ISC) commission on Urban Health and Well Being: A system approach for 6 years and Director of the institute of geography and sustainability of the University of Lausanne for 5 years. She is member of the Society of Complex Systems, and of the UNESCO UniTwin Digital Campus of complex Systems. She studies the evolution of power distributions inside and between cities that reshapes the world organization of central/peripheral cities and the complexity of the global urban systems. Actors as multinational firms, or high-level innovation centers, participate actively in these reconfigurations that concentrate wealth, control, innovation, and attractiveness in a few cities introducing increasing inequalities inside and between cities. In the complexity of this multi-level system, how is regionalization of the world reshaping in a multipolar urban world? How does the multi-level perspective highlight some resilience properties and the well-being inequalities in cities? The methodologies derived from complex systems sciences bring new forms of intelligibility to worldwide urban dynamics. Using evolutionary economic geography and urban system science, she underlines large sets of city properties and their evolution in a multi-dimensional and long temporal approach. Diachronic and dynamic models and visualizations aim to offer different perspectives for cities’ policies. These competencies are put to work with the UN-GGIM institutional frameworks to strengthen the collaboration around Geospatial and statistical Information management and AI. Besides, following her involvement in ISC urban health commission and in the International Society of Urban Health, she developed different research programs with the World Health Organization (WHO) and built a MOOC on the systemic approach on urban health (HUS: Healthy urban Systems) with 30 international recognized scientists.

Claudio Rossi (M) graduated cum laude in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Politecnico di Torino (POLITO), obtained a Master's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago (USA), and earned a PhD from POLITO in Electronics and Communication. He gained industrial experience working for three years at Fiat Group Automobiles in the International Manufacturing Engineering and World Class Manufacturing departments. With over ten years of extensive project management experience across industry, academia, and research sectors, Claudio has managed initiatives in diverse domains, including manufacturing, telecommunications, computer science, remote sensing, emergency management, and smart agriculture. Currently, Claudio is a Senior Researcher and Program Manager at LINKS Foundation, a private ICT-focused research centre in Turin, Italy, where he leads two research programs, "AI4GEO" and "AI4Security," within the AI, Data, and Space department. His research interests centre on artificial intelligence applications for safety, security, environmental monitoring, and smart agriculture, emphasising innovative approaches such as crowdsourcing, social media analysis, satellite-based mapping. Claudio has authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications and contributed to significant international reports, including the UNDRR Global Assessment Report 2019 and the Disaster Risk Management Knowledge Centre's (DRMKC) "Science for Disaster Risk Management" flagship series. He has coordinated several EU-funded projects focused on enhancing disaster resilience, notably I-REACT and SAFERS, and is dedicated to developing AI-driven solutions for managing climate-induced emergencies like fires, floods, and extreme weather events.

Taeyoon is a Programme Officer at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat. He leads the work on the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism Initiative on Artificial Intelligence for Climate Action, an initiative established in 2023 to explore the role of artificial intelligence as a powerful technological tool for advancing and scaling up transformative climate solutions for mitigation and adaptation action in developing countries, with a focus on least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS). Before joining the secretariat, Taeyoon worked at the National Institute of Green Technology as a researcher, conducting research on climate technology policies and identifying ways to effectively provide technology transfer to developing countries by examining local policies and governance structures. He was also part of the drafting team for the National Framework Plan for Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth and served as a member of the national delegation for UNFCCC climate change negotiations. Taeyoon holds a PhD in Energy and Environmental Policy, an MSc in Public Management, an MA in International Studies, and a dual-BA in International Studies and Climate Change Studies.

With close to 20 years of experience in environmental and EO consulting, Dr. Alen Berta has been involved in more than a hundred commercial and research projects involving various themes related to remote sensing, forestry, agriculture, biomass, ecology, urban ecology, sustainable development, civil security, carbon sequestration, land use/land cover and habitat mapping/monitoring. All of these projects were accomplished with extensive use of GIS, EO and Remote Sensing sensors on the one side and variety of methods ranging from statistical modelling, regression analysis to Machine Learning and AI on the other. Within his previous workplace (Oikon, Institute for Applied Ecology, Zagreb, Croatia), he was Head of Natural Resources Department and Head of RS and GIS laboratory. For the last 5 years, working for CGI as EO solution architect and business developer, he leads the development of requirement-specific solutions and applications for diverse industries with the use of AI, geographic information systems (GIS) and earth observation data.

Fumiko Nohara is the Senior Expert for Emergencies and Postal Resilience at the Universal Postal Union (UPU), a specialized agency of the United Nations. She brings a wealth of experience from various sectors, particularly from her extensive experience at the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC). During her time at MIC, she was deeply involved in trade negotiations and project management, including several initiatives improving the IT and communication status in Japan. Ms. Nohara possesses extensive knowledge of the IT sector, including artificial intelligence (AI). In addition to her technical expertise, Ms. Nohara has significant diplomatic experience, having held positions in Jordan and Switzerland. In her current role at the UPU, she is actively engaged in disaster risk management for the postal sector. Since 2025, she has also served as the Japan Fund Manager, focusing on preparedness and post-disaster assistance, a growing area of importance within the UPU. Looking ahead, Ms. Nohara aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of disaster management activities in the postal sector, a field that is both labor-intensive and transport-intensive, by leveraging new technologies such as AI.

Giriraj Amarnath is a Principal Researcher in Disaster Risk Management and Climate Resilience and the Interim Deputy Director of the CGIAR Climate Action Science Program at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in Colombo, Sri Lanka. With over 24 years of experience, he has led climate resilience and adaptation initiatives across 25+ countries, working with governments, NGOs, communities, and the private sector. Currently, he spearheads an innovative climate resilience program focused on anticipatory action to mitigate climate shocks. His work integrates climate risk insurance, satellite-based monitoring and early warning systems, emergency response, digital innovation, disaster risk reduction, and climate-smart food and water security solutions. He is also co-developing an AI-enabled chatbot for flood and drought mitigation, leveraging near real-time Earth observation data and human-centered agricultural contingency planning. Giriraj holds a Ph.D. in Applied Remote Sensing and Natural Resources Management and serves as a Visiting Professor at the Symbiosis Institute of Geoinformatics in Pune, India. He has authored over 120 research publications spanning climate services, agriculture, disaster risk management, and natural resources management.

Dr. Songnian Li has been a faculty member in the Department of Civil Engineering at Toronto Metropolitan University since 2001 and is now a professor of Geomatics Engineering.  He holds a B. Eng. degree in Surveying Engineering from the Wuhan Technical University of Surveying and Mapping (now Wuhan University), and a Ph.D. degree from the Department of Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering, external link, opens in new window of the University of New Brunswick in New Brunswick, Canada.  Prior to joining Toronto Metropolitan University, Dr. Li taught in Wuhan Technical University of Surveying and Mapping and Ningxia Institute of Technology (now Ningxia University) in China for 14 years and spent one year at Lakehead University as a visiting scholar. He has served as an Adjunct Professor or adjucnt member of graduate programs of a number of universities in Canada, China and Japan.

Cierra Choucair is a journalist and quantum analyst at The Quantum Insider, where she provides coverage of emerging trends in quantum computing and supports strategic communications and related projects across the quantum ecosystem. In addition to editorial and research work, she contributes to newsletter development, client storytelling, and related efforts for leading quantum technology companies. She is the founder of Universum Labs, an early-stage quantum and AI initiative focused on exploring new ways to uncover patterns in scientific knowledge. The platform is currently in the research and design phase, investigating both quantum-native and classical machine learning methods to support scientific literature discovery, knowledge mapping, and long-term goals in automated science. Universum Labs is an active member of the QED-C and contributes to the Use Case Technical Advisory Committee, working alongside others in the quantum ecosystem to advance the field. Cierra is the creator of The Daily Qubit, a widely read research digest that translates key quantum papers for practitioners, researchers, and policy leaders. She serves as an advisor to Girls in Quantum and was named a finalist for the Quantum Innovation Summit Femtum Leap Quantum Rising Star award. Her work sits at the intersection of science and storytelling, with a focus on making the pursuit of discovery more open, equitable, and intelligent.

<p class="x_MsoNormal" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Ms. Muñoz is the Director of External Affairs at GESDA (Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator Foundation), a Swiss public-private foundation that anticipates future scientific and technological developments, using science as a powerful enabler of action to maximize benefits for society.</p> <p class="x_MsoNormal">In her previous capacity, she served as Minister Counsellor and Chargé d’Affaires a.i. at the Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland; where she contributed to advance key initiatives at the intersection of human rights, sustainable development, and international security. Prior to that, she held senior executive positions at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Department of State (DoS), Singkee Consulting and AVINA Stiftung. Throughout her career, she has remained deeply passionate about creating pathways for transformative and inclusive impact.</p> <p class="x_MsoNormal">With over 25 years of distinguished experience in the multilateral and international arena, Ms. Muñoz is firmly committed to fostering dialogue and building bridges across diverse sectors and mindsets. She believes in the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and anticipatory governance of emerging technologies to address the world’s most pressing challenges.</p>

Dr. Francesca Dominici is the Clarence James Gamble Professor of Biostatistics, Population and Data Science at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Director of the Harvard Data Science Initiative at Harvard University.  She is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and of the International Society of Mathematical Statistics. In 2024, she was named by TIME100 Health as one of the most influential scientists in global health in the world. Before being appointed founding Director of the Harvard Data Science Initiative, she was Senior Associate Dean for Research at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Dominici is also the founder and lead Principal Investigator (PI) for the National Studies on Air Pollution and Health Group (NSAPH), as well as a co-founding PI and leader for the BUSPH-HSPH Climate Change and Health Research Coordinating Center, CAFÉ. Dr. Dominici’s research has focused on machine learning, Artificial Intelligence, causal inference, and data science to impact climate and environmental policy.   Her air pollution studies have directly and routinely impacted air quality policy, leading to more stringent ambient air quality standards in the U.S. Her work has been covered by the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the BBC, the Guardian, CNN, and NPR. Among her most recent awards, she was recognized as the Mosteller Statistician of the Year by the Boston Chapter of the American Statistical Association in 2022. The award is given to a distinguished statistician who has made exceptional contributions to the field of statistics and outstanding service to the statistical community.

<div>Philippe TUZZOLINO is the Vice President Environment of the Orange Group, he oversees the Environment and the organization of Climate Change: Net Zero carbon objectives, impact on biodiversity and carbon sequestration policy. He defines policies and monitors energy consumption and the Group's overall footprint (Orange is present in 164 countries for business). As responsible for the Carbon Footprint, he participated in the development of methodologies for the ICT sector so that the sector complies with the IPCC recommendations as a member of the ITU-T Study Group "Climate Change" and also participates at the COP. He is a member of the Strategic Materials Committee of BERCY. Before joining the Orange Group, Mr. TUZZOLINO held several positions on Strategic innovation projects at the Headquarter of La Poste and at the French Ministry of Defense</div>

<span data-contrast="auto">Gitta Kutyniok (</span><a href="https://www.ai.math.lmu.de/kutyniok"><span data-contrast="none">https://www.ai.math.lmu.de/kutyniok</span></a><span data-contrast="auto">) currently has a Bavarian AI Chair for Mathematical Foundations of Artificial Intelligence at the Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München. She received her Diploma in Mathematics and Computer Science as well as her Ph.D. degree from the Universität Paderborn in Germany, and her Habilitation in Mathematics in 2006 at the Justus-Liebig Universität Gießen. From 2001 to 2008 she held visiting positions at several US institutions, including Princeton University, Stanford University, Yale University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Washington University in St. Louis, and was a Nachdiplomslecturer at ETH Zurich in 2014. In 2008, she became a full professor of mathematics at the Universität Osnabrück, and moved to Berlin three years later, where she held an Einstein Chair in the Institute of Mathematics at the Technische Universität Berlin and a courtesy appointment in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering until 2020. In addition, Gitta Kutyniok holds an Adjunct Professorship in Machine Learning at the University of Tromso since 2019.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559738":120,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span> <span data-contrast="auto">Gitta Kutyniok has received various awards for her research such as an award from the Universität Paderborn in 2003, the Research Prize of the Justus-Liebig Universität Gießen and a Heisenberg-Fellowship in 2006, and the von Kaven Prize by the DFG in 2007. She was invited as the Noether Lecturer at the </span><span data-contrast="auto">ÖMG</span><span data-contrast="auto">-DMV Congress in 2013, the Hans Schneider ILAS Lecturer at IWOTA in 2016, a plenary lecturer at the 8th European Congress of Mathematics (8ECM) in 2021, and the lecturer of the London Mathematical Society (LMS) Invited Lecture Series in 2022. She was also honored by invited lectures at both the International Congress of Mathematicians 2022 (ICM 2022) and the International Congress on Industrial and Applied Mathematics (ICIAM 2023). Moreover, she became a member of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities in 2017, a SIAM Fellow in 2019, and a Simons Fellow at the Isaac Newton Institute in 2021; she received an Einstein Chair at TU Berlin in 2008, a Francqui Chair of the Belgian Francqui Foundation in 2020, and holds the first Bavarian AI Chair at LMU from 2020 on. She was Chair of the SIAM Activity Group on Imaging Sciences from 2018-2019 and Vice Chair of the new SIAM Activity Group on Data Science in</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559738":120,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span> <span data-contrast="auto">2021, and currently serves as Vice President-at-Large of SIAM. She is also the main coordinator of the Research Focus "Next Generation AI" at the Center for Advanced Studies at LMU from 2021 to 2023, serves as LMU-Director of the ONE MUNICH Strategy Forum Project on "Next generation Human-Centered Robotics: Human embodiment and system agency in trustworthy AI for the Future of Health", and acts as current Co-Director of the Konrad Zuse School of Excellence in Reliable AI (relAI) in Munich.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559738":120,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span> <span data-contrast="auto">Gitta Kutyniok's research work covers, in particular, the areas of applied and computational harmonic analysis, artificial intelligence, compressed sensing, deep learning, imaging sciences, inverse problems, and applications to life sciences, robotics, and telecommunication.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559738":120,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span>

<span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Ken Goldberg (IEEE Fellow, 2005) is President of the Robot Learning </span>Foundation, William S. Floyd Distinguished Chair of Engineering at UC Berkeley, and Co-Founder and Chief Scientist of Ambi Robotics.  Ken leads research in robotics and automation: grasping, manipulation, and learning for applications in warehouses, industry, homes, agriculture, and robot-assisted surgery.  He is Professor of IEOR with appointments in EECS and Art Practice.  Ken is Chair of the Berkeley AI Research (BAIR) Steering Committee (60 faculty) and is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief emeritus of the IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering (T-ASE).  He has published ten US patents and over 400 refereed papers.  He has presented over 600 invited lectures to academic and corporate audiences.

<span data-contrast="none">Dr. Zlatko K. Minev is a scientist and technical leader in quantum computing, an Associate Fellow of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), and a member of the Google Quantum AI team. Previously, at IBM Quantum, Dr. Minev built and led the Qiskit Leap research and Qiskit Metal teams, advancing quantum processor design and large-scale experiments with quantum error mitigation. A Yale Ph.D. graduate with distinction, Minev’s groundbreaking dissertation on catching and reversing quantum jumps mid-flight was recognized as Discover Magazine’s top Math/Physical Sciences discovery of the year.  </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":278}"> </span> <span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":278}"> </span> <span data-contrast="none">Dr. Minev developed IBM’s Qiskit Metal, the first full-stack quantum hardware design platform. He pioneered practical error mitigation methods, which became a backbone of quantum cloud experiments and are now widely adopted as a gold standard. Recently, he led his team in demonstrating the first use of AI for quantum mitigation beyond the 100-qubit scale. Recognized globally, he was named one of MIT Technology Review’s 35 Global Innovators, awarded the Presidential John Atanasoff Award. Outside the lab, Minev volunteers on the Board of Governors of the Yale Alumni Association and champions science education and outreach, earning Yale’s highest public service honor, the Yale-Jefferson Award.</span>

Lorenzo is a Research Associate in Multihazard Remote Sensing at the University of Cambridge, with a joint appointment in the Departments of Earth Sciences and Geography. He develops Earth observation and AI solutions for geohazard monitoring, forecasting, and response. He also serves as Chair of the Working Group for Educational Materials under the Global Initiative on Resilience to Natural Hazards through AI Solutions. Lorenzo holds a Ph.D. in Geosciences from the University of Padova and an MSc in Geotechnologies for Environmental Applications from the University of Florence.

<div> <div> <p data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Aishwarya Jadhav is a Machine Learning Engineer specializing in Perception at Waymo, where she leads research on Vulnerable Road User (VRU) semantic understanding to enable safer autonomous robo-taxis. Previously, she was part of Tesla's Autopilot team, where she contributed to foundational AI models powering Full Self-Driving and the Optimus robot. Aishwarya holds a Master’s degree in Computer and Data Science from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), with research centered on multimodal deep learning and vision-based navigation. Her areas of expertise include Computer Vision, Human-Compatible Robotics, and Multimodal and Autonomous AI Systems.</p> Beyond industry, Aishwarya leads the AI Guide Dog initiative at CMU, developing AI-powered navigation assistance for the visually impaired. She is actively involved in AI for social good, having previously contributed to machine learning research for malaria elimination in Africa in collaboration with Omdena and Zzapp Malaria. Her past roles also include positions as a Machine Learning Engineer at Google Ads and Technical Lead at Morgan Stanley, where she built large-scale financial recommendation systems. </div> </div> <div></div>

<span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Dr Justine Lacey is Director of Responsible Innovation at the Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia’s national science agency. This research program delves into the critical intersection of science, technology, and the complex ethical, social, and legal challenges posed by emerging and disruptive innovations through an applied scientific lens. It spans a wide array of fields, from digital and genetic advancements to the large-scale environmental technologies that are reshaping our world. Before stepping into this leadership role, Justine led a team of social and economic scientists developing adaptive solutions for Australian communities and industries. With a background in philosophy, her own research has explored the foundations of the minerals industry's social license to operate, extending this concept to other resource management areas like forestry and agriculture. Justine’s unique blend of philosophical inquiry and applied science drives her commitment to ensuring that innovation not only progresses but does so responsibly and ethically.</span>

<p>Galim Turumtaev is a Machine Learning Engineer focused on building inclusive language technologies. He plays a key role in the development of Homai, a smart speaker designed to support minority languages through natural voice interaction. By integrating speech recognition, text-to-speech, and large language models, Homai empowers users with tools for daily communication, education, and cultural preservation—entirely in their native tongues.</p> <p>With a background in deep learning, speech synthesis, and low-resource language modeling, Galim brings years of hands-on experience developing scalable AI systems. His work bridges cutting-edge research and practical deployment, with a mission to make advanced technology accessible to underserved linguistic communities.</p> <p>He is driven by the belief that AI should serve cultural diversity—not erase it.</p>

Appointed by the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance on 11 January 2024, Dr Sania Nishtar is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Dr Nishtar, most recently a Senator in her home country of Pakistan, joined Gavi as its CEO on 18 March 2024. A trained medical doctor, Dr Nishtar has built an outstanding career over 30 years as a national and global leader. In Pakistan’s national government, she served between 2018 and 2022 as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation, a role with the status of a Federal Minister. During this time, she founded a social protection programme and chaired the Council on Poverty Alleviation and the Benazir Income Support Program. In 2013, during Pakistan’s Caretaker Government, she served as a Federal Minister with responsibility for re-establishing the country’s Ministry of Health among other roles, winning acclaim for transparency and accountability during her time in office. During her career, Dr Nishtar has fulfilled several leadership positions in civil society and international organisations. She founded the non-profit NGO think tank Heartfile, which campaigns for health reform in Pakistan. She was the inaugural Chair of the UN Secretary-General’s Independent Accountability Panel (IAP) for women’s and children’s health; and, among other roles, served as Co-Chair of the WHO Independent High-level Commission on Noncommunicable Diseases, WHO Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity, World Economic Forum Global Future Council on Health and Healthcare and US National Academy of Sciences’ global study on health care quality in low- and middle-income countries. Dr Nishtar served as Chair of Gavi’s Evaluation Advisory Committee from 2011 to 2014, and in 2016 served as an independent member of Gavi’s Board. A prolific thought leader, she has co-authored dozens of academic papers and books, including Pakistan’s first compendium of health statistics; and she has been published in many leading national and international newspapers. Dr Nishtar graduated from Khyber Medical College as the best graduate in 1986 and joined the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences as a cardiologist in 1994. She worked at Guy’s Hospital and studied Medicine, graduating in 1996 from King’s College London – which awarded her a PhD in 2002 and an honorary Doctorate in Science, Honoris Causa, in 2019. She is listed among the notable alumni of King’s College and in 2020 was among the BBC’s 100 Women, a list of inspiring and influential women from around the world. Dr Nishtar has received many international awards for her work, including the European Association for Population Studies Award, Pakistan’s prestigious Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) and The Rockefeller Foundation’s Global Innovation Award.

Stefano is a Counsellor at the International Telecommunication Union and responsible for the technical secretariat of ITU-T Study Group 21 “Technologies for multimedia, content delivery and cable television”. He is also responsible for the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) activities, including the Symposium on the Future Networked Car. Stefano is the ITU representative to the European Multi Stakeholder Platform on ICT Standardization at the European Commission. After few years in the private sector, joined the ITU in 2004 covering various positions including Coordinator for ITU Kaleidoscope academic conference and Counsellor for Study Group 9 “broadband cable and TV” and Study Group 11 “Signalling, protocols and test specifications”. Stefano holds a Master in Electronic Engineering from the University of Rome, Italy and a Master of Science in mobile communication from Aalborg University, Denmark.

<div class="col-md-8 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 gt-site-left gt-fixed-sidebar"> <div class="gt-page-content speaker"> <div class="gt-content "> Russ Shields is former CEO of Navigation Technologies (later NAVTEQ, now HERE), and former leader of other automotive and communications enterprises. Mr. Shields has been involved in communications standards bodies for more than 40 years. He is Chair of the Collaboration on ITS Communication Standards of the ITU. He is a member of the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Advisory Board; an SAE Fellow; and a recipient of the SAE Delco Electronics ITS Award. Mr. Shields was inducted into the inaugural class of ITS America’s ITS Hall of Fame in 2008 and was named the inaugural U.S. member of the ITS World Congress Hall of Fame in 2010. In 2019, he was named an inaugural member of the FISITA Academy of Technical Leadership. Mr. Shields has received the University of Chicago Booth School of Business Distinguished Alumni Award in Entrepreneurship. </div> </div> </div>

<div class="col-md-8 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 gt-site-left gt-fixed-sidebar"> <div class="gt-page-content speaker"> <div class="gt-content "> Roger is President of the Mobile Satellite Users Association and CEO and Founder of StrategiaNow Consulting. Roger draws on 30+ years’ experience in the technology industry as an analyst, journalist and consultant. Roger is a graduate of Dartmouth College. </div> </div> </div>

Lina Bariah (Senior Member, IEEE) received the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in communications engineering from Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE, in 2015 and 2018, respectively. She is currently a Lead AI Scientist at Open Innovation AI, an Adjunct Professor at Khalifa University, and an Adjunct Research Professor, Western University, Canada. She was a Visiting Researcher with the Department of Systems and Computer Engineering, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada, in 2019, and an affiliate research fellow, James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, UK. She was a Senior Researcher at the technology Innovation institute. Dr. Bariah is a senior member of the IEEE, IEEE Communications Society, IEEE Vehicular Technology Society, and IEEE Women in Engineering. She is the founder and lead of Women in Machine Learning and Data Science (WiMLDS)-Abu Dhabi Chapter. She was recently listed among the100 Brilliant and Inspiring Women in 6G", by Women in 6G organization. She was an Associate Editor for the IEEE Communication Letters, an Associate Editor for the IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society, and an Area Editor for Physical Communication (Elsevier). She is a Guest Editor in IEEE Communication Magazine, IEEE Network Magazine, and IEEE Open Journal of Vehicular Technology.

<div class="col-md-8 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 gt-site-left gt-fixed-sidebar"> <div class="gt-page-content speaker"> <div class="gt-content "> Bill’s experience is in the combination of passenger and freight surface transportation planning, energy, environmental, and safety research, product and process development, and legislative and regulatory policy for Federal, state, local and international entities. He has published articles and made presentations on the subjects of emerging and developing technologies, operations, regulations, and enforcement for vehicles and impacts to the environment, energy efficiency and safety enhancements. He has several patents for both products and processes (one project displayed in the Smithsonian Institution). He studied mechanical engineering at Georgia Tech and has taken the executive master’s program in transport emissions at the University of Leeds (UK). He is the Co-Secretary of the United Nations ECE Working Group for Validation Methods of Automated Driving. Or, he started playing with cars and trucks when he was about a year old and has never stopped. Bill has been working on intelligent vehicles, drive assistance and automated driving systems for passenger cars and commercial vehicles for over twenty years. While he was at Freightliner (the largest truck manufacturer in North America), he was the project manager for the world’s first roll stability control system – the precursor to electronic stability control which is present on virtually every late model vehicle in the USA. He has several patents for both products and processes (one project displayed in the Smithsonian Institution). He studied mechanical engineering at Georgia Tech and has taken the executive master’s program in transport emissions at the University of Leeds (UK). He is the Co-Secretary of the United Nations ECE Working Group for Validation Methods of Automated Driving. </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-4 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 gt-site-right gt-fixed-sidebar"> <div class="theiaStickySidebar"> <div class="gt-widget gt-detail-widget"> <div class="gt-widget-title"></div> </div> </div> </div>

<span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Atoosa is a philosopher and AI researcher with a track record of publications on societal impacts of AI and computing. She is a tenure track Assistant Professor at  Carnegie Mellon University with joint affiliations in the </span>Philosophy and Software & Societal Systems departments. She is a 2024 Schmidt Sciences AI2050 Early Career Fellow and a Steering Committee Member for the ACM FAccT conference. During 2025-2027, Atoosa is the council member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Artificial General Intelligence.

<div> <span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Jivtesh Singh is a Tech for Social Impact AI Global Black Belt (GBB) at Microsoft, based in Geneva. He partners with UN organizations to harness the power of AI, helping amplify their missions and social impact globally. With over two decades in technology, Jivtesh translates complex AI concepts into real-world, impactful solutions.</span> </div> <div> Outside of work, Jivtesh loves exploring creative and meaningful uses of AI—and he's always up for an engaging conversation about technology for good. </div> <div></div>

<span data-contrast="none">Ahmed Riad, a seasoned professional in the ICT sector, possesses over 15 years of diverse international experience that spans digital transformation, innovation, and industry development. With a profound understanding of digital technologies, infrastructure, entrepreneurial ecosystems, and digital business growth, Ahmed's expertise extends across multiple regions and hierarchies.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span><span data-contrast="none"> </span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span> <span data-contrast="none">Throughout his illustrious career, Ahmed has worked with multinational corporations and organizations such as Ericsson, Nokia Siemens Networks, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), and presently, Huawei Technologies. In his incumbent role at Huawei, Ahmed orchestrates strategic alliances and molds partnership avenues for Huawei's standardization teams. He also engages robustly with global institutions in the realm of ICT standardization and strategic industry advancement, while simultaneously identifying and interpreting pivotal ICT industry shifts, fostering innovation within Huawei.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span> <span data-contrast="none">Prior to his role at Huawei, Ahmed worked at the ITU headquarters in Geneva. Notably, he played a pivotal role in planning and development of the Good Global Summit and leading the AI for Good Innovation Factory. Which is an AI for Good initiative that identified and amplified AI-driven solutions and innovations aligned with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Additionally, at ITU Telecom, Ahmed adeptly handled Small and Medium Enterprises innovation initiatives and cultivated partnerships with multiple entities spanning the Middle East and North America.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span> <span data-contrast="none">Before his work at ITU, Ahmed exhibited his technical expertise while delivering numerous projects across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia for giants like Nokia Networks and Ericsson. Serving in capacities such as Senior Solution Architect and Senior Technical Project Manager, in the Mobile Broadband sector. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span> <span data-contrast="none">Academically, Ahmed holds a Master of Science degree in Telecommunications with Business from the esteemed University College London, UK. A dual Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Communications and Electronics Systems Engineering from University of Greenwich, UK, and Egypt. And currently doing his Executive MBA at IMD Business School.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span>

Danna Ingleton is a seasoned human rights advocate, leader and legal expert with a  career in advancing civil society protections and digital rights. Currently serving as the Executive Director of HURIDOCS, she leads initiatives that empower human rights defenders and organizations through innovative information management and documentation tools, methodologies and more. Prior to her role at HURIDOCS, Danna held significant positions at Amnesty International, including Deputy Director of Amnesty Tech, where she spearheaded groundbreaking investigations into surveillance technologies. Her leadership was instrumental in the Pegasus Project, a collaborative effort that exposed the misuse of spyware against activists and journalists worldwide. Danna's expertise extends to addressing the human rights implications of emerging technologies. She has actively participated in global forums, such as the Human Rights Council side-event on 'Digital, Media, and Information Literacy,' where she emphasized the importance of equipping civil society to navigate the challenges posed by artificial intelligence. Her career is marked by a dedication to protecting human rights in the digital age, supporting marginalized communities, and promoting transparency and accountability through strategic leadership and collaboration.

<span data-contrast="auto">Mr. Evan Xiao is Vice President of Huawei Technologies. He previously was the Vice President of Strategy and Business Development. He brings more than twenty years of experience in the ICT industry to this role.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559685":90,"335559740":360,"469777462":[3848],"469777927":[0],"469777928":[1]}"> </span> <span data-contrast="auto">Since joining Huawei in 1998, Mr. Xiao has held a number of management positions across various R&D, Marketing, Strategy and Business Development. He has been appointed as Director of OSS & EMS of Fixed Network Product Line, Director of OSS & Service Marketing, President of Strategy and Business Development of Fixed Network Product Line, President of Strategy and Business Development of CNBG, President of the Strategy and Business Development Department of Products and Solutions.</span><span data-contrast="auto"> </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559685":90,"335559740":360,"469777462":[3848],"469777927":[0],"469777928":[1]}"> </span> <span data-contrast="none">Mr. Xiao holds a Master of Computing science and technology degree from Nanjing University, and he also holds a MBA degree from Hong Kong Polytech University.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559685":90,"335559740":360}"> </span>

Sabrina Ricci is an experienced professional in the space sector with an academic background in Political Science and nearly 30 years of expertise in the field. She spent over two decades at the Italian Space Agency (ASI), where she held key roles across various domains, including Earth Observation, Education, Human Resources, and Outreach. She currently serves as <strong>AI Ecosystem Coordinator</strong> at the <strong>ESA Φ-lab</strong>, part of the <strong>Climate Action, Sustainability, and Science Department (EOP-S)</strong> within the <strong>Earth Observation Directorate</strong> of the European Space Agency, based in Frascati, Italy. In this role, Sabrina leads the development and coordination of the AI ecosystem, focusing on the integration of cutting-edge digital technologies to enhance the impact of Earth observation. Throughout her career, Sabrina has built a strong track record in fostering strategic partnerships, cultivating innovation-driven networks, and supporting Φ-lab’s mission to become a hub for disruptive and transformative innovation in Earth observation. Her expertise lies in bridging technological innovation with space-based solutions, and in enabling dynamic ecosystems that support the advancement of the space sector.

Jose M. Alcaraz Calero is a Full Professor in Cognitive Networks and Services at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), UK. He is the Principal Investigator for several EU beyond 5G and 6G projects totalling more than 80m EUR. He has published over 250 papers on Next-Generation Networks, Artificial Intelligence, and related areas. He has been Editor for 17 international journals, including the well-known IEEE Communication Magazine and Chair for more than 30 international and reputed conferences. He has served as a Board Member of the EU 5G-PPP Technology Board and Member of several 5G-PPP and 6G-IA Working Groups. He was the Winner of several R&D awards such as UK Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2020 -Knowledge Exchange/Transfer Initiative of the Year, the 2018 Scottish Knowledge Exchange Award, and the Winner of Scotland Centre for Engineering Education & Development (CeeD) Industries Awards - Innovation Award 2020.

Qi Wang is a Full Professor in Next-Generation Smart Networks and Services at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), UK. He has served as a Board Member of the EU 5G-PPP Technology Board, Member of several 5G-PPP and 6G-IA Working Groups, and Member of Scotland’s Developing AI and AI Enabled Products and Services Working Group. He is the Principal Investigator for several EU beyond 5G and 6G projects. He has published over 200 papers on 5G, 6G, AI and related areas. He was a Best Paper Award Winner of IEEE ICCE 2012, ICCE 2014, SIGMAP 2014, SOFTNETWORKING 2017 and PETRA 2023. He was a Winner of UK Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2020 -Knowledge Exchange/Transfer Initiative of the Year Award. He is the Lead Editor of ITU-T Recommendations (international standards) ITU-T Y.3182 and ITU-T Y.3183 on AI for 5G/6G network control, management, and orchestration.

NADA GOLMIE (a Fellow of IEEE) received her Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Maryland at College Park in 2002. Since 1993, she has been a research engineer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). From 2014 until 2022, she served as the chief of the Wireless Networks Division at NIST. She is currently a NIST Fellow in the Communications Technology Laboratory. Her research in wireless communications systems and protocols, propagation measurement and modeling, next generation wireless, and millimeter-wave communication systems led to over 200 technical papers presented at professional conferences and journals and contributed to international standard organizations and industry-led consortia. She is the author of “Coexistence in Wireless Networks: Challenges and System-level Solutions in the Unlicensed Bands," published by Cambridge University Press (2006). She leads several projects related to modeling and evaluating future generation wireless systems and protocols, and serves as the chair of the NextG Channel Model Alliance.

<p data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Rosendo is a co-founder of Resilio, a spin-off from EPFL dedicated to developing tools that help assess and reduce the environmental impact of digital technologies. Resilio is building the largest environmental database for the ICT sector—db.resilio.tech—and creating a suite of Life Cycle Assessment software solutions. Since January 2025, the company has also been developing tools and datasets to assess the environmental emissions of large language models (LLMs) and other AI systems, aiming to provide transparent insights into the environmental footprint of artificial intelligence.</p>

<span data-contrast="auto">Dr. Nicola Piovesan is a Senior Researcher at Huawei Technologies in Paris, France.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559685":720,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span>   <span data-contrast="auto">He received the BSc in Information Engineering and the MSc in Telecommunication Engineering from the University of Padova, Italy, in 2013 and 2016, respectively, and the PhD in Network Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain, in 2020.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559685":720,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span>   <span data-contrast="auto">From 2016 to 2019, he was an Assistant Researcher at the Catalan Telecommunications Technology Centre (CTTC) in Barcelona, Spain. In 2016, he has been awarded with a European Commission’s Marie Sklodowska-Curie fellowship to work in the EU H2020 MSCA Sustainable Cellular Networks Harvesting Ambient Energy (SCAVENGE) project, where he investigated new architectures and algorithms to support the integration of renewable energy sources in sustainable mobile networks.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559685":720,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span>   <span data-contrast="auto">Currently, his research is focused on large-scale network modelling and optimization, green communications, and machine learning applied to wireless communication systems.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559685":720,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span>

<span class="TextRun SCXW225817423 BCX0" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW225817423 BCX0">Antonio De Domenico</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW225817423 BCX0" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW225817423 BCX0"> received his M.Sc. degree in Telecommunication Engineering from the University of Rome La Sapienza in 2008 and his Ph.D. degree in Telecommunication Engineering from the University of Grenoble in 2012. From 2012 to 2019, he was a Research Engineer with CEA LETI MINATEC in Grenoble, France. In 2018, he was a Visiting Researcher with the University of Toronto in Canada. Since 2020, he has been a Senior Researcher with Huawei Technologies in Paris, France. He is the co-inventor of more than 25 patents and has authored over 80 research articles. He is currently an Editor of Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing and co-leads the Energy Efficiency WG of the NGMN Alliance Green Future Networks. His research interests include heterogeneous wireless networks, machine learning for network modelling and optimization, and green communications.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW225817423 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span>

Portrait XO (she/they) is an independent researcher and multimodal artist. Recipient of jazzki award by ELBJAZZ (June 2023), the first German human-AI jazz prize, she’s been recognized over the years for her work in sonic innovation with AI audio pioneers Dadabots. They won ‘Best Experiment’ award at VUT Indie Awards 2021, and Eurovision AI Song Contest Jury Vote for ‘most creative use of AI’ in 2020.  Her development into AI audiovisual art evolved through several artist residencies from NEW NOW FESTIVAL and BBA Gallery in 2022, and Factory Berlin x Sonar+D in 2020. She researches computational creativity, human-machine collaboration, and explores new formats & applications for forward-thinking art `and sound. To expand the community of sound artists and creative technologists, she founded SOUND OBSESSED - sonic innovation archive, celebrating the journey and milestones of new innovation in sound. Her debut research-based AI audiovisual album 'WIRE' and latest work with data sonification highlights the boundaries of what’s possible with small vs big data. The core of her works address bias in society, translate speculative opinions about AI, and critique the impact of AI on creativity, identity, ecology, and underrepresented cultures and society.  Her latest project premiered at MUTEK Montreal and Gray Area Festival, ‘The Cost of Connection’ – an audiovisual performance with sonified data from The UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. She has performed, presented, and exhibited at The UN AI for Good Summit, MUTEK, SXSW, Ars Electronica, MONOM, Reeperbahn Festival, International Music Summit, Amsterdam Dance Event, BBA Gallery, RE:PUBLICA, Sonar+D, Factory Berlin, Tech Open Air, Redbull Music, Future Forum by BMW Welt, KIKK Festival, Github, and more.

<span lang="aa">Tony Q.S. Quek received the B.E. and M.E. degrees in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Tokyo Institute of Technology, respectively. At MIT, he earned the Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Currently, he is the </span><span lang="en-SG">Cheng Tsang Man Chair </span><span lang="en-GB">Professor </span><span lang="aa">and Full Professor with Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). He also serves as the Head of ISTD Pillar, Sector Lead for SUTD AI Program, </span><span lang="en-SG">Director of Future Communications R&D Programme</span><span lang="aa">, and the Deputy Director of SUTD-ZJU IDEA. His current research topics include wireless communications and networking, big data processing, network intelligence, URLLC, and IoT.</span> <span lang="aa">Dr. Quek has been actively involved in organizing and chairing sessions and has served as a TPC member in numerous international conferences. He is currently serving as an Editor for the IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications </span><span lang="en-SG">as well as </span><span lang="aa">an elected member of the IEEE Signal Processing Society SPCOM Technical Committee. He was an Executive Editorial Committee Member of the IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, an Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Communications, and an Editor of the IEEE Wireless Communications Letters. He is a co-author of a few books published by Cambridge University Press. </span> <span lang="aa">Dr. Quek received the 2008 Philip Yeo Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Research, the 2012 IEEE William R. Bennett Prize, the 2016 IEEE Signal Processing Society Young Author Best Paper Award, the </span><span lang="en-SG">2017 CTTC Early Achievement Award</span><span lang="aa">, the </span><span lang="en-SG">2017 IEEE ComSoc AP Outstanding Paper Award</span><span lang="aa">,</span><span lang="en-SG">the 2020 IEEE Communications Society Young Author Best Paper Award, the 2020 IEEE Stephen O. Rice Prize, the 2020 Nokia Visiting Professor, and the 2016-2020 Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researcher. </span><span lang="en-GB">He is a Fellow of IEEE.</span>

<span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Nia Jetter is a seasoned expert in intelligent optimization, artificial intelligence, and control systems, with over two decades of experience advancing critical technologies in the aerospace and robotics industries. She is passionate about using innovation and strategic technology planning to solve complex problems in autonomy and AI across diverse applications. As both an engineer and advocate for equitable access to technology, Nia is committed to creating solutions that are impactful and inclusive.</span> She spent 20 years as an Aerospace Engineer, making significant contributions to major initiatives—including algorithm development and mission-critical work on the ~$1B GPS IIF satellite program. In January 2021, she transitioned from her role as a Technical Fellow to join Amazon as a Senior Principal Technologist in Robotics AI. This executive-level role represents a top-tier individual contributor track, reserved for highly accomplished practicing engineers who provide technical leadership, shape innovation strategies, and deliver impactful engineering solutions at scale. Nia leads the development of safety-critical autonomous systems with a continued focus on hands-on impact and engineering excellence. A champion for accessible STEM education, Nia is the founder of the <i>Distinguished Minds Institute</i>, operating as thinqueBytes®, a nonprofit focused on demystifying complex technologies through creative, inclusive learning—such as her <i>Rockets and Robotics</i> program.  In 2023, she spent a few weeks in Ghana teaching her <i>Rockets and Robotics</i> curriculum—an experience that reaffirmed her commitment to expanding access to STEM globally. Nia holds a B.S. in Mathematics with Computer Science from MIT (with a minor in Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences) and an M.S. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Stanford. Nia enjoys science fiction, astronomy, dancing, baking, traveling, and designing engaging learning experiences that make advanced topics approachable and inspiring.

<span lang="en-US">Francesc is a Tenure Track Professor at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF). Previously, he was with Nokia Bell Labs and Centre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC). His main research interests are in Wi-Fi technologies and their evolution, network simulators and network digital twinning, machine learning, decentralized learning, and distributed ledger technologies.</span>

Wojciech Samek is a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the Technical University of Berlin and is jointly heading the Department of Artificial Intelligence at Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI), Berlin, Germany. He studied computer science at Humboldt University of Berlin, Heriot-Watt University and University of Edinburgh and received the Dr. rer. nat. degree with distinction (summa cum laude) from the Technical University of Berlin in 2014. During his studies he was awarded scholarships from the <a href="https://www.studienstiftung.de/en/">German Academic Scholarship Foundation</a> and the DFG Research Training Group GRK 1589/1, and was a visiting researcher at <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/ames">NASA Ames Research Center</a>, Mountain View, USA. Dr. Samek is associated faculty at the <a href="https://bifold.berlin/">BIFOLD - Berlin Institute for the Foundation of Learning and Data</a>, the <a href="https://ellis.eu/units/berlin">ELLIS Unit Berlin</a> and the <a href="https://bioqic.de/">DFG Graduate School BIOQIC</a>, and member of the scientific advisory board of <a href="https://ideas-ncbr.pl/">IDEAS NCBR</a>. Furthermore, he is a senior editor of <a href="https://cis.ieee.org/publications/t-neural-networks-and-learning-systems">IEEE TNNLS</a>, an editorial board member of <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLoS ONE</a> and <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/pattern-recognition">Pattern Recognition</a>, and an elected member of the <a href="https://signalprocessingsociety.org/community-involvement/machine-learning-signal-processing/mlsp-tc-home">IEEE MLSP Technical Committee</a>. He is recipient of multiple best paper awards, including the 2020 Pattern Recognition Best Paper Award, and part of the expert group developing the <a href="https://www.mpegstandards.org/standards/MPEG-7/17/">ISO/IEC MPEG-17 NNR standard</a>. He is the leading editor of the Springer book <a href="https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030289539">"Explainable AI: Interpreting, Explaining and Visualizing Deep Learning"</a> (2019), co-editor of the open access Springer book “xxAI – Beyond explainable AI” (2022), and organizer of various special sessions, workshops and tutorials on topics such as explainable AI, neural network compression, and federated learning. Dr. Samek has co-authored more than 150 peer-reviewed journal and conference papers; some of them listed by Thomson Reuters as "Highly Cited Papers" (i.e., top 1%) in the field of Engineering.

<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Ambassador Omar Zniber has been the Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva since April 2018. On 10 January 2024, Mr. Zniber was elected President of the Human Rights Council for 2024.</span></p> <p class="x_MsoNormal">Mr. Zniber has held several positions at the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Living Abroad, serving as Director of the United Nations and International Organizations Directorate (1999-2003), Head of the United Nations Division (1996-1999) and Chef de Cabinet of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1986-1989).</p> <p class="x_MsoNormal">From 2011 to 2018, Mr. Zniber was Ambassador of Morocco to Germany. He previously served as Ambassador of Morocco to Austria, with concurrent accreditation to Slovakia and Slovenia, and as Permanent Representative to the international organizations in Vienna.</p> <p class="x_MsoNormal">Mr. Zniber has chaired several intergovernmental conferences in Geneva and Vienna, including the International Labour Conference, the General Assemblies of the World Intellectual Property Organization, the Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, the General Conference of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation, the Executive Council for Industrial Development and the Organization for Security and Co-operation Mediterranean Conference in Europe in Rabat.</p> <p class="x_MsoNormal">From 1989 to 1996, Mr. Zniber served as a Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Morocco in Geneva where he oversaw disarmament affairs, the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Health Organization.</p> <p class="x_MsoNormal">Mr Zniber holds a master’s degree in public law from Mohamed V University in Rabat as well as a diploma of advanced studies and a doctorate in public international law from Paris II Panthéon Assas University. He speaks Arabic, English and French.</p>

<span lang="it" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Chenxi Qiu is the deputy director of Center for Global Digital Governance, China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT). Her research interests focuses on global digital governance and international organization, and she is the main author of “Global Digital Governance Whitepaper (Annual Series, 2020-2024)”, “Platform Economy and Competition Policy Observation Report”. She has been actively involved in high-level discussion on ICT policy, participating in ITU Council and working groups, G20 Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG), BRICS Working Group on ICT Cooperation & Digital BRICS Task Force (DBTF), and China-EU ICT Dialogue. She earned a PhD in comparative politics from Peking University School of International Studies.</span>

<span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Francesco Flammini is a Professor of Trustworthy Autonomous Systems at SUPSI (Switzerland) and at the University of Florence (Italy). He leads the TAS research group at IDSIA and holds a PhD in Computer Engineering. With 15+ years of industry experience, he has managed EU-funded projects on AI, cybersecurity, and smart mobility. A Senior Member of IEEE and Distinguished Lecturer for ACM, he serves on the IEEE SMC Board of Governors. He has authored 200+ publications and received awards including the Dalle Molle Award, TRA Senior Researcher Prize, and recognition among the world’s top 2% scientists by Stanford University.</span>

<span lang="en-GB">Francois E. Guichard is the Intelligent Transport Systems and Automated Driving focal point of the United Nations (UNECE). He is supervising the activities on technical regulations related to vehicle automation and vehicle connectivity and on legal aspects related to Automated Vehicles in traffic. Previously, he worked as line manager at Daimler AG, he advocated for the introduction of Advance Emergency Braking Systems (AEBS) in the legislation (a relevant contribution for increasing road safety).</span><span lang="en-GB"> Before that, he advised a number of Countries on their strategies to tackle environmental issues after having gained experience as a noise / GHG / pollutants emission testing engineer. He started his career as International Management Associate at Mercedes-Benz, gaining experience in Germany, South Africa and in the United States of America.</span>

<span class="TextRun SCXW60830777 BCX0" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW60830777 BCX0">Carlee Joe-Wong is the Robert E. Doherty Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. She received her A.B. degree (magna cum laude) in Mathematics, and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Applied and Computational Mathematics, from Princeton University in 2011, 2013, and 2016, respectively. Her research interests lie in optimizing </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW60830777 BCX0">various types</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW60830777 BCX0"> of networked systems, including applications of machine learning and pricing to cloud computing, mobile/wireless networks, and transportation networks. From 2013 to 2014, she was the Director of Advanced Research at </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW60830777 BCX0">DataMi</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW60830777 BCX0">, a startup she co-founded from her research on mobile data pricing. She received the NSF CAREER award in 2018 and the ARO Young Investigator award in 2019.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW60830777 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":279}"> </span>

<p><span class="TextRun SCXW95309685 BCX8" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95309685 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text">Zhiyuan Jiang received his B.E., Ph.D. degrees from the electronic engineering department of Tsinghua University in 2010</span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW95309685 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text">, 2015</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95309685 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text">, respectively. He is currently a Professor with the School of Communication and Information Engineering, Shanghai University, and the founder of Deep Transcend Ltd. He visited University of Southern California during 2013-2014 and 2017-2018. He worked as an experienced researcher and a wireless signal processing scientist for Ericsson and Intel Labs in 2015-2016 and 2018, respectively. He was selected into the high-level talents overseas program of Shanghai and the program for professor of special appointment of Shanghai in 2019. He received the best paper award of IEEE ICC 2020, best paper award of China Communications in 2020, best paper award of China Communications in 2023, Rising Scholar award of ITC 2020, best in-session presentation award of IEEE INFOCOM 2019, and exemplary reviewer award of IEEE Wireless Communications Letters 2019. He has been selected into the world’s top 2% scientists by Stanford University since 2023. He served as an associate editor of IEEE/KICS Journal of Communications and Networks. His main research interests include wireless systems and domain-specific architecture.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW95309685 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"> </span></p>

Pengyu Hao received the Ph.D. degree in GIS and remote sensing in 2017 from the Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China. He is currently a Consultant in the FAO, UN. His researches focus on agricultural remote sensing applications, including agricultural land cover mapping and crop growth monitoring. In addition, he is responsible for managing the remote sensing tab on Hand-in-hand geospatial platform (HiH GP).

Sanya Chawla<span class="x_apple-converted-space"> </span>is the Director of Health Systems Innovation at<span class="x_apple-converted-space"> </span>Qure.ai, a startup delivering cutting-edge AI solutions aimed at making healthcare more accessible and equitable. Focused on scaling AI-driven health solutions in under-resourced settings, Sanya has led transformative initiatives, including one of the first AI-powered integrated Lung Health screening programs in public health, which has screened over 250,000 individuals for TB and lung cancer across Asia and Africa. A Young India Fellow, Sanya has extensive experience in building multi-stakeholder partnerships with governments, NGOs, and private organizations to co-create and scale sustainable tech-driven solutions across sectors. She also serves on the board of the World Health Innovation Forum Society, where she advocates for responsible technology to address health inequities.

Sebastian Bosse is head of the Interactive & Cognitive Systems group at Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI), Berlin, Germany. He studied electrical engineering and information technology at RWTH Aachen University, Germany, and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain. Sebastian received the Dr.-Ing. degree in computer science (with highest distinction) from the Technical University Berlin in 2018. During his studies, he was a visiting researcher at Siemens Corporate Research, Princeton, USA. In 2014, Sebastian was a guest scientist in the Stanford Vision and Neuro-Development Lab (SVNDL) at Stanford University, USA. After 10 years as a research engineer working in the Image & Video Compression group and later in the Machine Learning group, he founded the research group on <a href="https://www.hhi.fraunhofer.de/en/departments/vit/research-groups/interactive-cognitive-systems.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Interactive & Cognitive Systems</a> at Fraunhofer HHI in 2020 that he has headed since. Sebastian is a lecturer at the German University in Cairo. He is on the board of the Video Quality Expert Group (VQEG) and on the advisory board of the Interational AIQT Foundation. Sebastian is an affiliate member of <a href="https://vista.info.yorku.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">VISTA</a>, York University, Toronto, and serves as an associate editor for the IEEE Transactions on Image Processing. Since 2021 he has been appointed a chair for the <a href="https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/focusgroups/ai4a/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ITU focus group on Artificial Intelligence for Agriculture</a>. His current research interests include the modelling of perception and cognition, machine learning, computer vision, and human-machine interaction over a wide field of applications ranging from multimedia and augmented reality, through medicine to agriculture and industrial production.

I am an Associate Professor of Informatics and Cognitive Science at Indiana University, Bloomington. I founded and direct the R-House Laboratory for Human-Robot Interaction research at IUB. My work combines the social studies of computing, focusing particularly on the design, use, and consequences of socially interactive and assistive robots in different social and cultural contexts, with research on human-robot interaction (HRI) and social robot design. My main research goals are threefold: (1) developing a critical understanding of the development and use of socially interactive robots in society; (2) studying how social and cultural factors influence robotics science and technology development; and (3) using critical perspectives and insights from the social study of interactive robotic technologies to design, implement, and evaluate socially and culturally situated robots. My research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the Institute of Electric al and Electronics Engineers, and Indiana University. I received my PhD in Science and Technology Studies from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2007. I was a visiting guest professor at Bielefeld University's Cognitive Interaction Technology -- Center of Excellence in Summer 2014. In 2008/2009, I was a lecturer in Stanford University's Program in Science, Technology and Society. I was also a visiting scholar at the Intelligent Systems Institute in AIST, Tsukuba, Japan and the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University in 2005.

<p class="x_MsoNormal" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Mr. Hanai joined Toshiba Corporation in 1987. He started his career as software designer of telecommunication systems in Toshiba’s Information and Communication Systems Laboratory. Then he joined undersea optical cable systems project with AT&T, British Telecom and France Telecom. In Toshiba, he has been engaged in system design, IT consulting, business development, technical marketing in emerging technology - including Deep Learning and Quantum Technology. Currently he leads Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) business unit in Toshiba. From 2021, he also worked as a chair of Quantum Cryptography and Quantum Communication subcommittee in Quantum Strategic industry Alliance for Revolution (Q-STAR), a Japanese quantum industry consortium. He holds BA in Electric Engineering from Aoyamagakuin University and MS in Computer Science from George Washington University.</p>

<span lang="EN-US">Friederike Eyssel</span><span lang="EN-US"> is Professor of Psychology and head of the research group “Applied Social Psychology and Gender Research” at the Center for Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC), Bielefeld University, Germany. Dr. Eyssel is passionate about basic and applied social psychological research and she is interested in various research topics ranging from social robotics, trust, and acceptance of novel techlologies to attitudes and attitude change.  These topics have been covered in various third-party funded projects, including EU projects CODEFROR and PERSEO, or projects VIVA, poliTe, and NEO-Milk. Friederike is co-author of various textbooks on social robots, among them “HRI: An introduction (2020, 2024 Cambridge University Press), “Robots in Education” (2021, Routledge), and “Theory and practice of sociosensitive and socioactive systems” (2022, Springer). Friederike Eyssel is Associate Editor of ACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction, Section Editor of Robotics. For her activities in research and teaching, Friederike has received Bielefeld University's Grotemeyer Award and Bielefeld University's Award for Sustainable Engagement for Gender Equality in 2021, and the</span><span lang="EN-US"> IEEE-RAS Distinguished Lecturer Award in 2022.</span><span lang="ES"> </span>

<p class="x_MsoNormal" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Sabrina Maniscalco is CEO and co-founder of Algorithmiq Ltd, a startup focusing on quantum algorithms and software, a Professor of Quantum Information and Logic at the University of Helsinki, and an Adjunct Professor at Aalto University, Finland.  She is the Vice Director of the Finnish Centre of Excellence for Quantum Technologies and serves in the scientific advisory board of several international institutions, such as the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (Austria) and the Quantum Technology initiative at CERN.</p> <p class="x_MsoNormal">Sabrina Maniscalco has been working for over twenty years on quantum science and technology, her specific field of expertise being the effects of noise and errors on quantum devices. She obtained her PhD in Theoretical Physics at the University of Palermo (Italy) in 2004. She has held academic research positions around the world, in Sofia (Bulgaria), Durban (South Africa), Turku (Finland) and Edinburgh (UK). She returned to Finland in 2014 to lead the Theoretical Physics Laboratory in Turku. She then moved to the University of Helsinki in November 2020, at the same time co-founding Algorithmiq.</p> <p class="x_MsoNormal">She has published over 250 scientific publications on quantum science and technologies in international refereed journals, receiving over 10 000 citations. She has coordinated several international and interdisciplinary projects and is recognised as one of the leading experts in Quantum Technologies.</p> <p class="x_MsoNormal">She presently works primarily at Algorithmiq, leading her team in the ambitious mission of redefining healthcare and life sciences by combining quantum computing, complex network approaches, and AI.</p>

Henning Sanneck is a research manager wireless technology at Apple. After he received his Dr.-Ing. (PhD) degree in Electrical Engineering from the Technical University of Berlin in 2000, Henning joined Siemens - Mobile Networks, becoming an Innovation Project Manager in 2003. In 2007, at the formation of Nokia Siemens Networks, he started to lead a line team creating Self Organizing Networks (SON) concepts and demos. Since 2009 Henning and his team worked to apply Analytics and Machine Learning technologies to Radio Network Management using network data- and simulation-based approaches. In 2014/15, as Head of Cognitive Network Management, he also was the coordinator of the research & standardization work, including strategy development and technology transfer. From 2016 to 2022 Henning acted as Research Department Head for 5G/6G Network Automation, providing vision, strategy, concepts and IPR to support Nokia's 3GPP and ETSI standardization efforts (with his department continuously involved in nationally (BMBF) and internationally (EU) funded research projects). Henning published 80+ papers and has 35 patents granted or published. He was co-editor of the book "LTE Self-Organizing Networks" (2011) and co-author of the book "Towards Cognitive Autonomous Networks" (2020).

<p class="x_MsoNormal">Dr. Ribordy is a pioneer in the field of quantum technologies. After obtaining his PhD in physics from the University of Geneva in the late 1990’s for his research on quantum communications, Dr. Ribordy co-founded ID Quantique (IDQ) and has been its CEO since then. IDQ was the first company to exploit quantum physics to enhance data security, with several world premieres. He was a member of the High-Level Group on Quantum Technologies, in charge of advising the European Commission on technology and innovation aspects related to this field in 2016 to 2017.</p> <p class="x_MsoNormal">Dr. Ribordy is the author of more than 30 scientific papers in the field of quantum technologies and cited as an inventor on more than 20 patents. He is the recipient of several innovation awards, such as the University of Geneva Innovation Medal (2017) or the Digital Shaper Switzerland Award (2018).</p> <p class="x_MsoNormal">Dr. Ribordy lives in Geneva, Switzerland, and has worked and studied in the US, Japan and China.</p>

Dr. Roman V. Yampolskiy is a tenured faculty member in the department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Louisville. He is the founding and current director of the Cyber Security Lab and an author of many books including “AI: Unexplainable, Unpredictable, Uncontrollable”. Dr. Yampolskiy’s main area of interest is Artificial Intelligence Safety and Security.

<span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Abhishek Dandekar is a researcher at TU Berlin and Fraunhofer HHI. He earned his Masters degree in ICT innovation from KTH Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm and TU Berlin. He previously worked at IIT Bombay on developing SDN based solutions for Multi-RAT networks. He has contributed to ITU standardization activities on AI/ML orchestration and autonomous networks. His research focus includes AI native 6G and energy efficient networks.</span>

<div class="bg-white py-4 px-8 lg:px-16 border-t border-light-gray"> <div class="py-4 grid grid-cols-1 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-4"> <div class="col-span-1 lg:col-span-2"> Priya's research interests lie in <strong>Neuromorphic Computing</strong>: spanning energy-efficient design methodologies for <em>deep learning networks</em>, novel supervised/unsupervised learning algorithms for <em>spiking neural networks</em> and developing neural architectures for new computing scenarios (such as <em>lifelong learning, generative models, stochastic networks, adversarial attacks</em> etc.). ​​​Her goal is to empower energy-aware and energy-efficient machine intelligence through <strong>algorithm-hardware co-design</strong> while being secure to adversarial scenarios and catering to the resource constraints of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. </div> </div> </div> <div class="bg-white py-4 px-8 lg:px-16 border-t border-light-gray"> <div class="py-4 grid grid-cols-1 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-4"> <div class="col-span-1 mb-2 lg:mb-0"></div> </div> </div>

<span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Mr. Kai WEI, Director of Artificial Intelligence Institute of China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT). He is serving as the leader of the domestic corresponding group for ITU-T Study Group 21, the secretary of the Standardization Technical Committee for Artificial Intelligence of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the leader of the Overall Group of the Artificial Intelligence Industry Alliance(AIIA). His research focuses on artificial intelligence technology, with more than 20 papers published, leading the completion of over 40 domestic and international standards.</span>

Martin Brynskov, PhD, is the Founding Board Director and Standardisation Lead of the global Open & Agile Smart Cities network (OASC), which encompasses more than 150 cities from 30 countries. OASC is a non-profit association based in Brussels, Belgium, Europe, and it aims to develop so-called Minimal Interoperability Mechanisms (MIMs) for public and private sector use, based on the needs of cities and communities. Dr Brynskov is Associate Professor in Interaction Technologies at Aarhus University in Denmark where he leads the Centre for Digital Transformation in Cities and Communities (AU DITCOM) and is a fellow at the Center for Advanced Visualization and Interaction (CAVI). Related to the development of technical standards, Dr Brynskov is a contributor to ITU-T SG20 and related Focus Groups, co-leads the United Nations “United for Smart and Sustainable Cities and Communities” (U4SSC) new architecture for digital, sustainable development, leads the Living-in.EU Technical Subgroup overseeing the MIMs Plus specifications for Europe, and he chairs the Danish Standards Committee for smart and sustainable cities and communities. He was the coordinator and lead of the large-scale pilots OrganiCity and SynchroniCity and is also leading the Next Generation Internet of Things (NGIoT) European roadmap for IoT research, innovation and deployment. He is a global expert, speaker and advisor on digital transformation with a human-centric focus.​​

Dr. Martin Wählisch is the inaugural Associate Professor of Transformative Technologies, Innovation, and Global Affairs at the University of Birmingham, where he holds dual appointments in the School of Government and the School of Computer Science. Focusing on bridging technology and global affairs, he now spearheads initiatives focused on interdisciplinary collaboration, innovative governance, and impactful technological solutions to global public challenges. Before joining the University of Birmingham, Dr. Wählisch served the United Nations for over a decade, contributing to peace processes in regions including Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen. Among other assignments, he led the Innovation Cell at the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (UN DPPA) in New York City. Earlier in his career, he held positions with the Berghof Foundation, the German Federal Foreign Office, and the Center for Peace Mediation. His academic engagements include visiting fellowships at distinguished institutions such as Columbia University, Rhode Island School of Design, New York Law School, the University of Cambridge, Durham University, the American University of Beirut, Université La Sagesse, and the Al Jazeera Media Institute, among others. Currently, Dr. Wählisch is a member of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Government (CAIG) at the University of Birmingham and an affiliate of the Birmingham Institute for Sustainability and Climate Action (BISCA), the university's primary hub for addressing global sustainability challenges.

Dr. Okan Geray has more than 20 years of experience in management consulting in various industries. He has consulted for a number of organizations in Netherlands, France, Italy, South Africa, Turkey and Dubai. He has worked in A.T. Kearney global management consulting firm for 6 years and was a member of global Telecommunications and E-business core team before he joined Dubai Government in 2002. He has worked in Dubai eGovernment, Dubai Smart Government, and more recently in Smart Dubai Office after its establishment. His responsibilities include Strategic Planning, Strategic Performance and Impact Management, and Policy Making. He has Co-Chaired Enhancing Innovation and Participation Working Group in United for Smart Sustainable Cities (U4SSC) joint global initiative by ITU and UNECE by addressing Smart Governance, Smart Economy and Smart People aspects in smart cities. He has been designated as the Leader for “Guidelines on strategies for circular cities” and also “City Science Application Framework” deliverables during the upcoming second phase of U4SSC initiative. He is also a Co-Rapporteur for ITU Study Group 20 Question 7 regarding “Evaluation and Assessment of Smart Sustainable Cities and Communities”. He holds double major B. S. degrees in Industrial and Computer Engineering, an M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering and a Ph. D. degree in Systems and Control Engineering from University of Massachusetts in USA. ​

Cristina Bueti is the ITU Focal Point on Environment and Smart Sustainable Cities. She is also the Counsellor of ITU-T Study Group 20 “Internet of things (IoT) and smart cities and communities (SC&C)” at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). She also serves as TSB/ITU focal point for Latin America. Cristina Bueti graduated from the Faculty of Political Science, Law and International Cooperation and Development of the University of Florence, where she completed postgraduate studies in International Cooperation and Telecommunications Law in Europe. She also holds a specialization in Environmental Law with a special focus on Telecommunications. In 2003, Ms. Bueti built on her academic credentials by completing a specialized course in peace keeping and international cooperation with special focus on telecommunications at the Faculty of Laws, University of Malta, before joining the International Telecommunication Union in Geneva in January 2004. As part of the International Women's Day 2016, she was named as one of the twenty Geneva-based inspirational women working to protect the environment. She has authored over 40 reports on telecommunication issues. A native Italian speaker, Cristina is also fluent in English, French and Spanish.

Dr. Hyoung Jun Kim joined ETRI (Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute) in 1988, and he is currently in charge of the Intelligent Convergence Research Lab in ETRI as Senior Vice-President. He has had about 33 years research experiences in various divisions of ETRI including Info-Communications Technology Division, IT Strategy Research Division, Information & Telecommunications Technology Division, and Protocol Engineering Centre. He has been currently serving as Vice-chair of ITU-T SG20 and its co-Chair of WP1/20 and the co-Convenor of JCA-IoT/SC&C under SG20. Also he served as Vice-chair of SG13 and its Chair of WP3/13. In addition, he also had been served as Rapporteur of Q25/16 since 2004 as well as served as Vice-Chairman of FG on M2M Service Layers and Chairman of WP2 of the FG in ITU-T SG11 and Vice-Chairman of FG on Future Networks in ITU-T SG13. In addition to this, he is also now serving as Chair of ASTAP(Apt STAndardization Program) in APT. Regarding his research and academic achievements, he has contributed more than 450 proposals for standards and published more than 150 papers in academic journals and conference as well as more than 100 patents and 20 official technologies transfers to the domestic companies. He was awarded the National President’s citation in 2003 and 2009 respectively as well as many Certificates of Appreciation from int’l standard-related organizations including ITU-T. In particular, he got his second National President’s Award at the “World Standards Day 2009 in Korea” for honouring his efforts on international standardization.

David leads the Open Source AI for Digital Public Services project under the ITU Digital Services Division. Previously, David worked with Google Cloud in Indonesia as Head of Customer Engineering. In this role, David worked with customers, leading strategic discussions, assisting them in transitioning to cloud and AI solutions whilst engaging in digital transformation initiatives. Transitions such as this involve everything from containers and cloud applications modernization to data, analytics, AI and ML to security and cloud infrastructure solutions. David has over 35 years experience in the technology industry with a significant proportion of his career spent in customer engineering roles with large multinational software companies such as Oracle, SAP and Red Hat, consulting to major customers across key industries globally.

<span data-contrast="none">Dr David MANSET is Senior Project Coordinator of the EC-funded OSEE project (Open Source Ecosystem Enablement for Public Services Innovation) at United Nations ITU.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":259}"> </span><span data-contrast="none"> </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":259}"> </span> <span data-contrast="none">Formerly researcher-entrepreneur, Dr David MANSET created 4 IT companies at the international level specialized in deeptech (artificial intelligence, blockchain and big data) and sensitive data processing. Over the last decade, he architected large-scale international big data and blockchain platforms for various market sectors, including e.g., www.MyHealthMyDaya.eu. He received 15 awards, amongst which the gold medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, in 2007; the Best Exhibit 1st Prize at European Commission’s largest conference on Information and Communication Technologies in 2008 and in 2013; and in 2016 ranked 2nd Best at the Global SME Award competition of the United Nations ITU Telecom World conference, in Bangkok.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":259}"> </span> <span data-contrast="none">Dr David MANSET holds a Habilitation thesis to conduct research (HDR) from Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne and a DPhil in Model Driven Engineering of Distributed Computing Systems, from the University of the West of England in Bristol, as well as an Executive Master of Business Administration from the Geneva School of Economics and Management, specialized in digital transformation, crypto-currencies, digital trust, big data and data privacy.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":259}"> </span> <span data-contrast="none">As of 1st January 2019, Dr. David MANSET has been nominated as a Knight of the French Order of Academic Palms by the Minister of Education in France.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":259}"> </span>

Didem Un Ates is a renowned AI and Responsible AI executive with over 25 years of experience in management consulting (Capgemini, EY, Accenture) and industry roles (Motorola, Microsoft, Schneider Electric). As the founder of LotusAI Ltd, she advises Private Equity firms, Hedge Funds, and Financial Institutions, including Goldman Sachs Asset Management and its 300 portfolio companies, on AI/GenAI strategies, responsible AI implementation, and talent transformation. Didem serves as Advisor and member of the AI/Generative AI Council for Goldman Sachs Value Accelerator, sits on the Boards of the Edge AI Foundation and Wharton AI Studio, and is a certified AI Algorhytm Auditor and Executive Coach. Her industry contributions have earned her recognition such as the Tech Women 100 Champion and Trailblazer 50 awards. In her tenure as Vice President of AI Strategy & Innovation at Schneider Electric, she led the development of the company’s AI/GenAI strategy and forged strategic partnerships with startups, VCs/PEs, and academia. At Microsoft, she was pivotal in launching Business AI Solutions at Microsoft Research and spearheaded diversity-focused programs, including ‘Alice Envisions the Future’ and ‘Girls in AI Hackathons.’ In her role as head of Applied Strategy, Data & AI in Microsoft’s Chief Data Office, she managed Microsoft’s largest AI engagements, contributing to the OpenAI partnership. Didem has led the operationalization of Responsible AI at Microsoft, Accenture, and Schneider Electric, advising C-suite leaders on talent strategy adaptations and promoting responsible AI practices.

Mr. Raúl Hernández is a computer engineer with a Master's degree in Space Studies. He has participated in strategic space projects for the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, like the Telecommunications Satellite VENESAT-1 and the Remote Sensing Satellites VRSS-1 and VRSS-2. He worked in the Bolivarian Agency for Space Activities (ABAE) in different responsibility roles, including Director of Space Applications. During his professional career he has behaved as a specialist in the National Center of Information Technologies, as an advisor for the Ministry of Popular Power for Science and Technology in the Information and Communication Technologies area, as well as in space issues, leading the Digital Transformation Policy and Development Plan. Currently Mr. Raúl Hernandez is the Vice Minister for the Development of Information and Communication Technologies of the Ministry of Popular Power for Science and Technology, since April 2024.

Patricia Cooper is a leading policy and regulatory expert for space and satellite communications and the founder of the consultancy Constellation Advisory, LIC, where she advises smart space and satellite ventures and international projects. For six years, Cooper led Government Affairs for the Starlink satellite broadband constellation project at Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), where she secured Federal Communications Commission authorization for a record 12,000 satellites, and market access in more than 30 countries. She advocated for updates to spectrum, telecom competition and space safety regulations in the US and around the globe to support the coming generation of satellite networks. Today, Starlink serves over 2 million users worldwide with a constellation of over 6,000 satellites in over 70 countries. Prior to SpaceX, Patricia was an executive at geostationary satellite fleet operator Intelsat and for nearly 7 years, President of the Satellite Industry Association (SIA), the leading trade organization representing U.S. satellite operators, manufacturers and service providers. At SIA, Patricia advocated in regulatory and national security arenas for fair trade and streamlined licensing, and spearheaded a successful bipartisan, bi-cameral legislative initiative to reform satellite export control legislation. Previously, Patricia had served in both the U.S. Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Commerce, and led international outreach at two start-ups, CoreExpress, an Internet fiber infrastructure play and PanAmSat Corporation, a disruptor in the early satellite services market. Patricia holds a Master's Degree with Distinction in International Economics from the John Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and a Bachelor's Degrees in Political Science and German from Kansas State University (summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa).

Dr Ken Carswell has a background in clinical psychology and is a Technical Officer with the WHO Department of Mental Health and Substance Use in Geneva. He is the departmental focal point for innovation and digital mental health, and scalable psychological interventions. He has been centrally involved in the development of a number of WHO psychological interventions, including self-help interventions that use technology such as Self-Help Plus (SH+), Step-by-Step and STARS. Increasingly he is involved in supporting the implementation of these packages. He also works on the development of other digital tools such as a smartphone app version of WHOs mhGAP Intervention Guide 2.0, which supports non-specialist providers to manage priority mental health conditions.

Kaifu Zhang is a seasoned professional in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), e-commerce, and data science, boasting extensive experience in leadership roles across different sectors. Currently, he serves as the Head of AI Initiative at Alibaba International Digital Commerce, one of the world's leading e-commerce platforms. His pivotal role involves shaping the strategic direction of AI applications within Alibaba to enhance user experience and drive innovation in online trading. An academic at heart, Kaifu has also made substantial contributions to higher education. He served as an Assistant Professor and Xerox Junior Chair at Carnegie Mellon University, where he specialized in Management and Technology. His academic insights have also informed his role at CKGSB: Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business as an Assistant Professor, where he influenced the next generation of business leaders.

As one of the “One Hundred Outstanding County CPC General-Secretary” awarded by President XI Jinping, Mr. CHEN Xingjia resigned from political career at the end of his term of service, despite of his promotion, and dedicated himself to China’s philanthropic sector at the end of 2016. In 2017, he founded the Shenzhen Ever Care Charity Foundation and dedicated himself to addressing four social issues: charity innovation, relief to children with serious illness, child mental health, and the education gap in less developed areas. Partnering with other charitable and academic organizations, Mr. CHEN initiated the Comprehensive Childhood Cancer Control Program and dedicated himself to find a solution to eliminate all poverties caused by illness in China. From January 23 2020, he has been leading the Ever Care Charity Foundation and the Shenzhen Foundation Center to support the frontline hospitals, health workers and volunteers responding to COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. Both organizations have been playing substantial role in emergency relief, social support to vulnerable groups, community rehabilitation and future epidemic preventions. He also initiated the “Hero’s Legacy Program” that aims to provide long-term care for children of fallen frontline workers. In 2021, he launched Robin Project to care for the mental health of children and adolescents. In September 2023 and September 2024, Chen Xingjia attended the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva twice as a representative of Chinese civil society organizations and spoke on behalf of Chinese people in the general debate.

<span data-teams="true">Karina is the Chief Creative & Technology Officer at Girl Effect, where she blends creativity, tech, and purpose to build digital experiences and tell stories that unlock the power of adolescent girls across Africa and South Asia. With 15+ years of experience in human centered design, innovation, and product development, Karina leads a dynamic, cross-continental team behind some of Girl Effect’s most loved products—from YouTube talk shows and IVR games to radio dramas and AI-powered chatbots. She’s the creative force behind Big Sis, Girl Effect’s award-winning AI chatbot that dishes out honest, non-judgmental advice on sexual, reproductive, and mental health. With over 1.6 million users and counting, and 1 in 4 users connecting to health services, Big Sis is making a serious impact—earning recognition from Fast Company World Changing Idea Award, GLOMO Award, and the Stanford Center for Digital Health. </span>

Yang Lan is a household name in China, as a leading broadcast journalist and media entrepreneur. She is the co-founder and chairperson of Sun Media Group, Sun Culture Foundation. Her signature program Yang Lan One on One has interviewed up to 1000 movers and shapers around the world. She founded Her Village Media and Education Group, a platform reaching tens of millions for women’s empowerment and gender equality. She is the only person to have represented Beijing twice for its successful Olympic biddings. She was named as Goodwill Ambassador for 2010 Shanghai Expo. She is a Global Ambassador and International Board Member for the Special Olympics Movement and the vice-chairman of China Charity Alliance. Ms. Yang was honored with many awards, including Columbia University SIPA’s “Global Leadership Award”, the “National Philanthropy Award”, “Women’s Achievement Award” by All-China Women's Federation, “40 Returned Scholars in 40 Years of China’s Reform and Opening-up”, “70 Returned Scholars in 70 Years”, the Paley Center for Media and AOL’s “Makers” award. She is one of The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women by Forbes.

The founder of New Oriental, the current chairman and CEO of New Oriental Education Technology Group, the founding partner of Hongtai Fund, and the chairman of Gengdan Institute. Born in 1962, Jiangyin, Jiangsu, graduated from the Department of Western Languages of Peking University, and taught in the Department of Foreign Languages of Peking University after graduation. Founded Beijing New Oriental School in 1993 and Beijing New Oriental Education Technology (Group) Co., Ltd. in 2001. On September 7, 2006, New Oriental was successfully listed on the New York Stock Exchange, becoming the first education and training institution in China to be listed in the United States. Yu Minhong and the New Oriental founded by him have been committed to the education and growth of Chinese youth for more than 20 years. Starting from a dilapidated temporary building in Zhongguancun No. 2 Primary School, New Oriental has developed into China’s largest and most influential private education brand and industry leader.

Mr. Célestin KADJIDJA is a computer engineer, with 30 years of experience in the field of networks and information systems management, in the banking, air transport and social security sectors. Initially, he was trained at the Konstanz School of Engineering in Germany after his secondary studies at the Lycée National Léon MBA in Libreville, Gabon. He began his professional career in the early 1990s in the banking sector. He subsequently moved into the air transport sector, then the healthcare sector, managing IT and telecom projects in the social security sector. During his career, he held various positions, namely: <ul> <li>Project Manager at the IT Department of BICIG Bank, BNP-Paribas Group;</li> <li>Deputy Director of Electronic Money at BICIG, BNP-Paribas Group;</li> <li>IT and Telecommunications Director at the national airline, Air-Gabon;</li> <li>Director of Information Systems of the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) of Gabon;</li> <li>Technical Advisor in Information Systems to the Director General of the CNSS;</li> <li>Technical Advisor in Information Systems Security to the Director General of the CNSS.</li> </ul> In August 2023, he was appointed President of the Regulatory Council of ARCEP Gabon by Brigadier General Brice Clotaire OLIGUI NGUEMA, President of the Transition, Head of State, President of the Gabonese Republic. For this position, he has been given a roadmap with the following areas of work: <ul> <li>Improving ARCEP Governance;</li> <li>Acceleration of the development of universal service;</li> <li>Optimization of Frequency Resource Management;</li> <li>Clean-up of the Institution's finances.</li> </ul> These directives constitute the guidelines for Mr. Célestin KADJIDJA's managerial action since he took office on October 5, 2023.

<div id="curriculum939780" class="curriculum-module"> <div class="icrc-container"> <div class="content"> <div class="frame"> <div class="text"> <div class="ck-text"> Gilles Carbonnier was elected to the ICRC Assembly in 2017 and has been vice-president of the ICRC since April 2018. Born in 1965, he holds a doctorate in economics from the University of Neuchâtel and has worked in three main fields over the past 30 years: development economics, humanitarian action and international trade. <div class="other-topic main" data-once="icrc-gtm"> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div id="curriculum939785" class="curriculum-module"> <div class="icrc-container"> <div class="content"> <div class="frame"> <div class="text"> <div class="ck-text"> Since 2007, Mr Carbonnier has been a professor of development economics at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, where he also served as director of studies and president of the Centre for Education and Research in Humanitarian Action. His expertise is in international cooperation, the economic dynamics of armed conflict, and the nexus between natural resources and development. His most recent book, published by Hurst and Oxford University Press in 2016, is <em>Humanitarian Economics: War, Disaster and the Global Aid Market</em>. Prior to joining the Graduate Institute, Mr Carbonnier spent several years with the ICRC: he worked in the field from 1989 to 1991 as head of subdelegation in Ethiopia and Iraq and as a delegate in Sri Lanka and El Salvador, then at headquarters from 1999 to 2006 as an economic adviser. He was on the board of directors for Médecins Sans Frontières Switzerland from 2007 to 2012. Between 1992 and 1996, he was in charge of international trade negotiations (related to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and the World Trade Organization) and development cooperation programmes for the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs. </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>   </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Leonardo Milano is a data science expert specializing in predictive analytics and risk modeling for humanitarian action. He leads the Data Science Team at UN OCHA’s Centre for Humanitarian Data, where he develops models to anticipate crises and support decision-making in emergency response. His work focuses on turning data into actionable insights, enabling humanitarian organizations to intervene proactively. Before joining UN OCHA, Leonardo worked as a Senior Data Scientist at the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), where he developed disaster risk models to assess displacement patterns. His expertise spans data analysis, machine learning, statistical modeling, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). He also has extensive experience in research coordination, having led scientific projects at institutions like CERN and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Leonardo is committed to responsible analytics, ensuring transparency and accountability in predictive modeling. He actively contributes to ethical discussions around AI in humanitarian contexts and promotes best practices for peer review and model validation. Additionally, he supports capacity building by sharing knowledge, tools, and guidance to help organizations integrate data-driven approaches into their work.

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My general focus is on identifying and developing emerging and transformative technologies that can impact society in significant and exponential ways. I do this by helping create interdisciplinary frameworks for understanding and planning new developments and the funding required to bring new innovations to market.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I help start, grow, and run innovative ventures, and focus on working with startups and growth-oriented companies on products and initiatives that could trigger significant breakthrough with substantial economic and societal impact. Particular emphasis on machine learning and predictive systems, IoT, knowledge sharing and crowdsourcing, Education, and digital health. I usually help teams on initial market opportunity validation, product roadmap strategy, pricing and business model, go-to-market operations, fundraising and mentorship, Mergers and high-growth partnerships.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I also have managed a few private and public technology investment and venture capital funds and know how to establish fund operations and their overall strategies and requirements.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I enjoy teaching and have been a guest lecturer and adjunct professor at UC Berkeley, HEC Paris, Chapman University, Claremont McKenna College, and UC Irvine.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Sophia holds a Master's degree in adult education, a Bachelor's degree in learning sciences, and a CAS in communication from the University of Geneva. In her most recent position as a project manager at the EPFL’s LEARN Center, she coordinated educational initiatives in the field of robotics learning (ROTECO), led interactive workshops, and developed educational resources for diverse audiences.</span></p> <p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Previously, she worked as a substitute teacher in primary and special education at the Department of Public Instruction (DIP) and the Medico-Pedagogical Office (OMP) in Geneva.</span></p> <p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Since September 2024, Sophia has joined the Swiss EdTech Collider, where she collaborates closely with public schools, both in-person and virtually, mainly in French-speaking Switzerland. When she is not out in the field, you can find her at EPFL, at the LEARN Center, or at the Swiss EdTech Collider’s premises in Bern (BeLearn).</span></p>

Hai Doan is a multidisciplinary artist and film director, as well as the founder of Fustic.Studio Company and co-founder of Re.imagine. His work focuses on storytelling that celebrates diversity and inclusivity, aiming to create narratives that connect with a broad audience. By using a variety of visual techniques, innovative technologies, and unique perspectives, Hai skillfully crafts immersive experiences that invite viewers to engage with and appreciate the richness of diverse human stories.

In my current role, I lead on Microsoft's engagement with the United Nations and International Organisations. Previously, I led work to establish a Data Science strategy at HM Treasury in the UK, was the UK’s Permanent Representative to the OECD in Paris; Deputy Director of Debt and Reserves Management at HM Treasury, where I oversaw the UK's first Sukuk and Renminbi bond issuances; and Chief Economist at DCMS. I have worked across domestic, financial, EU and International policy, including in the Private Office of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Before joining the UK Civil Service, I taught English literature in schools in the UK.

Roy Schwartz is an associate professor at <a href="http://www.cs.huji.ac.il/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the School of Computer Science and Engineering</a> at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Prior to that Roy was a postdoc (2016-2019) and then a research scientist (2019-2020) at the <a href="http://allennlp.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AllenNLP team</a> at the Allen institute for AI and at <a href="http://www.cs.washington.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the School of Computer Science and Engineering</a> at The University of Washington, where he was working with <a href="https://homes.cs.washington.edu/~nasmith/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Noah A. Smith</a>. Roy completed his Ph.D. in 2016 at the School of Computer Science and Engineering at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he worked with <a href="http://www.cs.huji.ac.il/~arir" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ari Rappoport</a>. In 2011, he graduated his masters degree (<b>magna cum laude</b>) in computer science, under the supervision of Prof. Ari Rappoport. Prior to that, he studied computer science and cognitive sciences at the Hebrew University, and completed his B.Sc. (<b>magna cum laude</b>) in 2008. He was a member of the Amirim program for outstanding undergraduate students. In 2004-2005, he was a software engineer at <a href="http://www.checkpoint.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Check Point Ltd.</a>

Ms. Cui Li joined ZTE in 1999. She currently serves as Chief Development Officer and Chief of Staff, focusing on strategic business expansion, and the exploration and development of industry insights. Ms. Cui has extensive experience in ICT technology and business. She has been working as Vice President of ZTE Corporation since 2005, successively in charge of the global strategic planning and marketing of CDMA products and wireless networks, integrated commercial and technical solutions, and corporate branding. Ms. Cui has a wealth of technical expertise and managerial experience in the global telecom industry. She was listed in Forbes China's "Women in Tech 2021", and named to Fortune China's Most Powerful Women in Business - Future List in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Ms. Cui Li holds a master's degree in engineering from Southeast University and an EMBA degree from Tsinghua University.

Fahad Mohamed Al Blooshi is the Director of Nuclear Security Department (NSC) and serves as FANR Chief Innovation Officer (CIO). Fahad joined Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) in 2011 at Nuclear Security Department. Before being named NSC Director, Fahad was the Manager of Emergency Preparedness and Response. Prior to joining FANR, Fahad has worked at UAE Air Force and Air Defense for the Operation Center. Fahed has 30 years’ experience gained from three reputable organizations in UAE. He has extensive experience and successful records of accomplishments in Nuclear Security, cyber security specialized in OT, Nuclear Emergency & Innovation domain. Currently pursuing a PhD in Management at the University of Dubai. Fahad earned a Master of Strategic and Security Studies from National Defense College, Ministry of Defense and Second Master of Science in Business Analytics (Big Data Management and Artificial Intelligence Management) and a Bachelor of Industrial Management from Emirates Technology College, . Fahad graduated from Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute (GNEII) at Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research in cooperation with Texas A&M University. Fahed was seconded in 2014 at US-NRC in the Nuclear Security and Incident Response Division (INSIR), His experience at US-NRC enriched his skills and performance as regulator.

Nguyễn Thiện Minh began studying the violin at the age of seven at the Vietnam National Academy of Music under the guidance of Dr. Nguyễn Trọng Bình. After three years, he continued his training with People’s Artist Nguyễn Châu Sơn for over a decade. Upon graduating from the Academy, Minh pursued his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the Barratt Due Institute of Music in Oslo, Norway, supported by the Transposition Project. He completed both degrees with distinction under the mentorship of Professor Stephan Barratt-Due. In 2007, Minh won First Prize at Vietnam’s Autumn Concour, followed by First Prize at the International Concerto Competition in Indonesia in 2009. Since then, he has performed as a soloist with major orchestras including the Hanoi Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra, and the Ho Chi Minh City Ballet and Symphony Orchestra. In 2017, Minh returned to Vietnam and currently teaches at the Vietnam National Academy of Music. In 2024, he founded and became the Music Director of Re.imagine Concert Series—Vietnam’s first cross-disciplinary initiative that reimagines classical music in contemporary, immersive settings. Minh remains active in organising and performing a wide range of artistic projects nationwide, driven by his passion to pass on his knowledge to younger generations while continuing to explore new musical horizons.

Qian LIANG is an Associate Professor at Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences. She is also Tech lead of AI for Cultures at Long-term AI. Her research interests include but not limited to AI for Arts, and AI for Cultures. Her representative research projects are Brain-inspired Music learning and Generation, and Culturalink (AI-empowered Culture Linking and Interactions engine).

Patrick McSharry is a Research Professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Research Fellow at the Kigali Collaborative Research Centre (KCRC) and Strategic Advisor to the World Bank funded African Centre of Excellence in Data Science (ACE-DS).  Prof McSharry is a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society, Senior Member of the IEEE and advises organizations in the public and private sectors such as the World Bank, OECD's Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), Mastercard Foundation, Google Foundation, the GSMA Foundation's Inclusive Tech Lab and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) “AI for Good” initiative.  He was a Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow at Oxford University and held two Marie Curie Fellowships (Oxford University, UK and Spain).  He takes a multidisciplinary approach to developing quantitative techniques for automating decision-making and improving risk management. His research focuses on artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, big data, forecasting, predictive analytics, and the analysis of human behaviour. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers and three books including the "Big Data Revolution" (2015). He is currently building multidisciplinary partnerships to create data-driven and sustainable solutions to global challenges.

<span data-teams="true">Wendell Wallach has an international reputation as an expert on the ethics and governance of emerging technologies, particularly AI. While semi-retired he continues to lecture and consult. From 2020-2024, he was Carnegie/Uehiro Senior Fellow at the<strong> Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs (CCEIA) </strong>where he founded and co-directed (with Anja Kaspersen) the AI and Equality Initiative<strong>. </strong>He is also an advisor to <strong>T</strong><strong>he Hastings Center </strong>and a scholar at the <strong>Yale University Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics</strong> where he chaired Technology and Ethics studies for eleven years. Wallach’s latest book, a primer on emerging technologies, is entitled, <i>A Dangerous Master: How to keep technology from slipping beyond our control.  </i>He co-authored<i> </i>(with Colin Allen)<i> Moral Machines: Teaching Robots Right From Wrong. </i> The <strong>World Technology Award</strong> for Ethics was awarded to Wendell in 2014 and for Journalism and Media in 2015. More recently, Wallach has been referred to as<i>, “a Godfather of AI Ethics.”  </i></span>

Birgitta Elisa Oftestad, born in Oslo in 2002, is a rising Norwegian cellist celebrated for her expressive sound and compelling stage presence. A winner of 18 national and international first prizes, she was a finalist in Eurovision Young Musicians 2018 and won NRK’s Virtuos, the Norwegian Soloist Prize, and Frans Helmerson’s Award from the prestigious Kronberg Academy. She has performed as a soloist with major orchestras including the Oslo Philharmonic, BBC Scottish Symphony, and Norwegian Radio Orchestra, and has appeared at renowned festivals such as Verbier, Bergen International, and Kaunas. Birgitta studies with Prof. Thorleif Thedéen at the Norwegian Academy of Music and plays a 1698 Ruggieri cello on loan from Anders Sveaas’ Charitable Foundation.

Norwegian violinist Christopher Tun Andersen has performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician across Europe, Russia, and the U.S., appearing with orchestras such as the Bergen Philharmonic, Berlin Symphony, and St. Petersburg State Symphony. A laureate of several international competitions - including the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow and 1st prizes at Jugend Musiziert and Serguei Azizian Violin Competitions - he studied with Isaac Schuldman, Pinchas Zukerman, and Ivan Ženatý at institutions including the Manhattan School of Music and the Royal Danish Academy of Music. Festival appearances include Verbier, Kronberg, and the Oslo Chamber Music Festival, and his critically acclaimed recordings feature works by Hjellemo, Brahms, and Sinding. He performs on a 1753 G.B. Guadagnini violin, generously provided by the Anders Sveaas Charitable Foundation.

Emil Huckle-Kleve, originally from the UK, has built a vibrant and multifaceted career in music, seamlessly blending his talents as a violinist and composer. His musical journey began at a young age under the guidance of his father, Roger Huckle, the founder and director of The Bristol Ensemble. This early mentorship set the stage for Emil's impressive trajectory in the world of music. Emil first gained significant recognition as a young musician, with a standout performance in the prestigious BBC Young Musician of the Year competition. This early success propelled him to further his studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he graduated with top honors, earning a Bachelor's degree in Music. His formal education continued with a Master's degree from the Barratt Due Institute of Music in Oslo, where he honed his skills and expanded his musical horizons. Throughout his career, Emil has captivated audiences at major international festivals, including the Malta International Music Festival and the Oslo Chamber Music Festival. His performances are known for their emotional depth and technical prowess, making him a sought-after soloist and chamber musician. Emil's collaborations with chamber music groups such as Oslo 3, Duo Emil, and Duo Mira have further showcased his versatility and commitment to musical excellence. In addition to his performance career, Emil has made significant strides as a composer. His compositions have been performed by prominent orchestras, including the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, and the Spanish Radio Orchestra. Emil's works are celebrated for their innovative blend of traditional and contemporary elements, reflecting his deep understanding of the classical music tradition and his ability to push its boundaries. Emil's broad experience in both performing and composing equips him with a unique perspective on the musical landscape. His insights and expertise make him invaluable as Re-imagine’s music advisor, capable of shaping and guiding musical projects with a comprehensive understanding of the art form.

Mohamed Al Harbi leads the Intelligent Operational Nuclear Safety IONS Project at FANR, his responsibilities as an operating programs manager is to oversight activities for the UAE Nuclear Power Plant in UAE, to ensure the safe and secure use of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities. Mohamed started his carrier at FANR in 2012, where he served at the early stages of the start-up of the UAE nuclear project since the site selection of the first nuclear power plant in UAE and continuing through the operations of Barakah NPP units. Previous to his current post, Mohamed served the Inspection Section as Specialist Resident Inspector at Barakah Nuclear Power Plant. Mohamed holds a master’s degree in Science in Nuclear Engineering from Khalifa University. He serves the UAE and FANR as an expert to several committees and expert groups such as being delegated Board member in the Halden (HTO). Moreover, Mohamed is member of the External Events Notification System Steering in the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA. In 2019 Mohamed won the prime minster medal of excellence as best technical field employee in the UAE Government.

Nam Le is a Vietnamese multidisciplinary artist whose work explores the intersection of art and technology. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in the United States, he returned to Vietnam and co-founded Fustic. Studio, a creative studio specializing in new media art, immersive experiences, and interactive media. He is also a co-founder of Re.imagine. Nam’s practice spans across mediums, bridging the digital and physical worlds through generative design and artificial intelligence. His creative journey is rooted in crafting evocative visual narratives — from conceptual artworks to large-scale installations.

<span lang="en-US" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Leigh Levinson is a PhD Candidate at Indiana University Bloomington in the United States. She is passionate about empowering children’s voices in conversations surrounding their privacy with AI agents and social robots. Her work sits at the intersection of technological design and policies in place to keep emergent technology safe for children.  </span>

Trung Bảo Nguyễn is a multidisciplinary Vietnamese artist and leading vocal experimentalist. He is also the founder of Fustic.Studio, an acclaimed Hanoi-based New Media Art studio, and the co-creator of the innovative Voice Gems project – a bespoke generative system that transforms the unique qualities of the human voice into digital gemstones and physical sculptures of unparalleled uniqueness. Together with Fustic.Studio and artist Thien Minh, he co-founded Re.imagine Concert—an experimental platform redefining classical music experiences through multidisciplinary performance and immersive storytelling. His artistic endeavors reside at the dynamic crossroads of technology, art, and local culture, where sound intertwines with imagery and tradition.

<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Naying Hu, Senior Business Executive of Artificial Intelligence Institute of China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, Head of Governance Group at Security, Safety and Governance Committee, Artificial Intelligence Industry Alliance (AIIA). Her current research focuses on AI security, safety and governance, risk management, and personal information protection, with extensive experience in international cooperation on AI governance.</span></p> <p class="x_MsoNormal">She has organized the launch of the AI Safety Commitment, initiated by AIIA. She has contributed to the compilation of various CAICT reports, including Artificial Intelligence Risk Governance Report (2024), White Paper on Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence White Paper (2022), Blue Paper on Artificial Intelligence Governance (2024), and Artificial Intelligence Development Report (2024), etc.</p>

<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Greg Lynn is co-founder and CEO of Piaggio Fast Forward, a role he assumed in 2018. As Chief Design Officer, Greg leveraged his experience at the intersection of technology and the physical built environment to establish PFF’s core value of innovation that begins with a vision for a better future. He also serves as both President and Secretary of the Board of Directors for Piaggio Fast Forward.</span></p> <p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Greg has designed award winning buildings as well as industrial objects in production with companies like Swarovski, Alessi, Nike, and Vitra. He is on the Board of Trustees of the Canadian Center for Architecture and has served on numerous advisory boards. Time Magazine recognized him as one of the 100 most innovative people in the world for the 21st century while Forbes Magazine named him one of the world’s ten most influential architects. </span></p>

Dr Nora Ni Loideain is Director of the Information Law & Policy Centre, and Senior Lecturer in Law, at the University of London’s Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. Her research focuses on EU law, European human rights law, and technology regulation, particularly within the contexts of privacy and data protection. She has published on topics including AI, police use of facial recognition, health data and research in the Global South, the gendering of AI Digital Assistants, and cross border data transfers. Nora holds BA, LLB, and LLM (Public Law) degrees from the National University of Ireland, Galway, and was awarded a PhD in law from the University of Cambridge. Previously, Nora held the posts of Visiting Lecturer in Law at King’s College London and Research Fellow and Affiliated Lecturer in Law at the University of Cambridge. In 2024, she will be a Visiting Research Fellow at the Australian National University undertaking work on the regulation of health data and AI digital assistants. In 2019, Nora was appointed to the UK Home Office Biometrics and Forensics Ethics Group (BFEG) which provides independent expert advice ensuring the robustness of evidence underpinning biometrics and forensics policy development for public security within the Home Office. She is a member of the Board of Trustees for the British and Irish Legal Information Institute (BAILII) and an editor of leading law journal International Data Privacy Law (Oxford University Press). She is a Senior Fellow at the University of Johannesburg and an Associate Fellow at the University of Cambridge Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence (LCFI). Prior to her academic career, Nora was a Legal and Policy Officer for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions of Ireland and clerked for the Irish Supreme Court. Her work on AI, human rights law, and data protection law, has been published by various leading institutions, including the BBC, The Guardian, Science, the House of Lords, and the United Nations. She has also been an expert advisor on legal matters, including AI and biometric systems, Brexit, surveillance, and cross-border data sharing, to the Alan Turing Institute, the House of Lords, Chatham House, and the European Union.

<div> <span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Mr. Hongki CHA is the youngest Special Fellow at ETRI, specializing in international standardization for automated driving systems. He develops standards and formulates strategies and policies, currently serving as the Sponsor for SAE J3016, Associate Rapporteur for ITU-T Q10/21, and Chair of ASTAP EG P&R.</span> </div> <div> He has published several international standards and represented South Korea at various ITU Plenipotentiary Conferences and World Telecommunication Standardization Assemblies, earning three Ministerial Awards for Excellence. </div> <div> Fluent in Korean, English, French, and Chinese, he is a proud husband and father of twin boys. </div> <div></div>

<strong>Year and Place of Birth:</strong> 1969 in Split <strong>Family:</strong> married, three children <ul> <li>He finished primary and secondary technical school in Split</li> <li>In 1994 he graduated in electrical engineering at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture in Split</li> <li> In 1997 he received his master's degree in particle physics from the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science in Zagreb</li> <li>In 2000 he received a PhD at the Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris, PhD was made at the Ecole polytechnique and CERN</li> <li>Co-author of more than 1000 scientific papers, and more than 600 activities for the promotion and popularization of science</li> <li>Languages: English and French.</li> </ul> <strong>Career:</strong> <ul> <li>Since 1994 he has been working at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture in Split. Prior to taking office as mayor, he was a full professor</li> <li>Visiting scientist at CERN in Geneva and visiting professor at the Ecole polytechnique, Palaiseau, France</li> <li>He was one of several thousand scientists involved in the multi-year discovery of the Higgs boson at the European Council for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland</li> <li>He was the secretary and member of the presidency of the Pametno party and the political secretary of the Centar party, which was formed by uniting the Pametno party and the Party with Name and Surname</li> </ul>   <strong>Recognitions and awards:</strong> <ul> <li>For his scientific work and achievements, he was awarded the Order of the Croatian Danica star with the figure of Ruđer Bošković</li> <li>He is the winner of two awards for science at the University of Split</li> <li>He is the winner of the state award for science and the state award for popularization of science</li> <li>He is the winner of many other awards for science and popularization of science</li> </ul>

Jonkvrouw Ingrid Vanden Berghe is General administrator at the Belgian national mapping agency, National Geographic Institute. A well-respected leader within the international geospatial community, she represents Belgium on the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management and is currently its co-chair. Between 2012 and 2018, she was President of EuroGeographics and she continues to play a key role in promoting the value of the data and expertise provided by its members, the European National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities. Ingrid has a master’s degree in bio-engineering (soil sciences) and started her professional career as a scientist at the Leuven University in 1985, studying the modeling of soil erosion and sedimentation, before joining the public service. She was advisor to the minister of Environment and of Public works and land management, and head of the CEPESS study Centre before being appointed in her current position in 2002. Ingrid is a non-executive board member in several research institutes and chairs the board of the Flemish research institute VITO. <span data-teams="true"> </span>

<span data-teams="true">Valerio Marsocci is an Internal Research Fellow at the ESA Φ-lab, working on geospatial foundation models with a focus on benchmarking them for real-world applications. He received a Ph.D. in Data Science (2019–2023) from Sapienza University of Rome. During his Ph.D., he visited the University of Crete (Greece) and Institut Géographique National (France). He held postdoctoral positions at CNAM (France) and KU Leuven (Belgium).</span>

Leslie Helpert is a voice-engineering innovator with over 25 years in applied therapeutic and performative voice research, advancing the study of nonlinguistic voice signals and their systemic biological implications for bioinspired computational design. She has worked directly with thousands of voices—including those of high-security prisoners, global executives, leading performers, and individuals facing chronic or terminal conditions. She is passionate about leading multidisciplinary research to harness the untapped intelligence of the voice as a biological system—one capable of informing breakthroughs in life sciences and safe, efficient AI development. A seasoned composer and performer, she has written over 1,000 songs and appeared on 5+ records, performing in more than 300 venues worldwide.

<div>Pierre-Philippe Mathieu is the ESA implementation manager of the Civil Security from Space (CSS) programme at the European Space Agency (ESA), aiming to bring together space technologies (e.g. Earth Observation, secure connectivity and navigation), with digital technology (e.g. AI) to enable rapid and resilient response to crisis and develop new space-based market opportunities. He spent 20+ years working in the field of environmental and ocean modelling, weather risk management and remote sensing. He has a degree in mechanical engineering and M.Sc from University of Liege (Belgium), a Ph.D. in oceanography from the University of Louvain (Belgium), and a Management degree from the University of Reading Business School (Uk).</div> <div></div>

Professor Pilar Orero PhD (UMIST, UK) works at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Spain) in the TransMedia Catalonia Lab. She has written and edited many books, near 100 academic papers and almost the same number of book chapters --all on Media Accessibility. Leader and participant of numerous EU funded research projects focusing on media accessibility. She works in standardisation and participates in the UN ITU IRG-AVA - Intersector Rapporteur Group Audiovisual Media Accessibility. She has been working on Immersive Accessibility for the past 6 years first in a project called <a href="https://www.imacproject.eu/">ImAc</a>, which results are now further developed in <a href="https://www.traction-project.eu/">TRACTION</a>, MEDIAVERSE, <a href="https://projectmile.eu/">MILE</a>, and <a href="https://www.green-scent.eu/">GREENSCENT</a>. She led until December 2022 the EU network <a href="https://lead-me-cost.eu/">LEADME</a> on Media Accessibility. She was the Co-Chair of Study Group on Accessibility and Inclusion in the <a href="https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/focusgroups/mv/Pages/default.aspx">ITU Metaverse Focus Group</a>, and she is leading the Digital Inclusion and Accessibility track of the <a href="https://www.itu.int/metaverse/virtual-worlds/digital-inclusion-and-accessibility/">ITU Virtual Worlds</a>. She is now working on AI and accessibility in the three funded projects <a href="https://mosaic-media.eu/">MOSAIC</a>, <a href="https://alfie-project.eu/">ALFIE</a>, and SPICE.

Markus Reichstein is Director at the Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry, and Professor for Global Ecology at the University of Jena. He is founding co-director of the ELLIS (<a href="http://www.ellis.eu" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">www.ellis.eu</a>) program “Machine Learning for Earth and Climate Science” and the recently established ELLIS Unit Jena (<a href="http://www.ellis-jena.ai" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">www.ellis-jena.ai</a>) within the Michael-Stifel-Center Jena for Data-driven and Simulation Science Jena. and member of the German National Committee Future Earth for Sustainability research. He has been serving as lead author for the IPCC, as member of the German Committee Future Earth on Sustainability Research, and the Thuringian Panel on Climate for advising the state on climate protection and adaptation. Markus’s main research interests revolve around the response and feedback of ecosystems (vegetation and soils) to climatic variability with an Earth system perspective. Of specific interest is the interplay of climate extremes with ecosystem and societal resilience. He is addressing these topics with a combination of artificial intelligence and classical modelling approaches to exploit the wealth of experimental, ground- and satellite-based Earth observations together with theoretical knowledge. Recent awards for his research include the Piers J. Sellers Mid-Career Award by the American Geophysical Union (2018), and the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Preis by the German Science Foundation (2020). He is also Principal Investigator in the European Research Council Synergy Grant USMILE dedicated to the development and application of machine learning for a better Earth system understanding and modelling. Furthermore, Markus is chairing the Global Research Program and Knowledge-Action Network “Emergent Risks and Extreme Events – Reducing Disaster Risks under Environmental Change” (<a href="http://www.risk-kan.org" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">www.risk-kan.org</a>). Markus is excited about linking system thinking with data-driven science and artificial intelligence for understanding complex systems, such as the climate-environmental-societal system and believes that such approaches can help societies become more resilient and sustainable. <div> <span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">A recent Perspective highlights how artificial intelligence can support climate science by enhancing process understanding and improving predictions across scales (Reichstein et al., 2025: <a class="ms-outlook-linkify" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-57640-w" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-linkindex="1">https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-57640-w</a> ).</span> </div>

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <div class="cell cell--ninth"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodepeoplebody"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"> <p>Dr. Thummarukudy brings to this position over three decades of progressive senior management experience and technical expertise in land restoration issues. He has most recently served as the acting Head of the Disasters and Conflicts Programme at the United Nations Environment Programme, where he implemented a portfolio of over 100 million USD, focusing on ecosystem-based disaster reduction and partnership development.</p> <p>An internationally renowned expert in disaster response, he played a key role in addressing the environmental aftermath of many major conflicts and disasters, implementing projects in over 35 countries. Prior to joining the United Nations, Dr. Thummarukudy served as Environmental Advisor to Shell Group in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. He has a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. He was also a Beahr’s fellow at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Thummarukudy is also a well-known author in his native Malayalam language.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="cell cell--fourth"> <div class="block block-ctools block-entity-viewnode"> <article class="node node--type-people node--view-mode-teaser round-teaser" data-history-node-id="23549"> <div class="image"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"><picture><source srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/components_400x400_webp/public/2023-02/Muralee-Thummarukudy.jpg.webp?itok=DY2QyEfg 400w" type="image/webp" media="all and (min-width: 320px)" sizes="100vw" /><source srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/components_400x400_webp/public/2023-02/Muralee-Thummarukudy.jpg.webp?itok=DY2QyEfg 400w" media="all and (min-width: 320px)" sizes="100vw" /></picture></div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->

H.E. Mohamed Adam Moalim Ali is a distinguished statesman whose extensive career in public service has shaped Somalia’s governance and policy landscape. Appointed as Minister of Communications and Technology on April 7, 2024, he also serves as a Member of the House of the People in the Federal Parliament of Somalia, where he plays a key role in national legislation and development. He has held several high-profile ministerial positions, including Minister of Livestock, Forestry & Range and Minister of Public Works, Reconstruction & Housing, leading sectoral reforms, infrastructure projects, and sustainable resource management. His leadership in these roles has driven economic growth and resilience in key industries. Beyond public service, H.E. Mohamed Adam Moalim Ali has a strong background in the private sector, bringing valuable insights that enhance his governance approach. He is also a dedicated humanitarian, supporting social welfare initiatives through organizations like the Welfare Projects Society and various NGOs, advocating for the well-being of vulnerable communities. Academically, he holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from MAHSA University in Malaysia, alongside specialized diplomas from ALISON in Ireland. This solid educational foundation equips him with strategic foresight and analytical skills, enabling him to engage effectively on national and international platforms. Since his appointment, H.E. Mohamed Adam Moalim Ali has focused on advancing Somalia’s digital transformation, strengthening digital infrastructure, and positioning Somalia in the global digital economy. One of his key achievements has been the re-establishment of the Postal Department and revival of postal services, a significant step in modernizing the country’s communication sector. Through his strategic leadership, policy expertise, and commitment to national development, he continues to drive transformative change, fostering innovation and progress for the Somali people.

<strong>Claudia Ximena Bustamante </strong>has a distinguished career in public policy with significant experience in the telecommunications and technology sectors, spanning over two decades. She currently serves as the Executive Director of CRC and Communications Commissioner for the period 2024-2028. In these roles, she devises and executes strategies to foster ICT competition dynamics in the country, protect users' rights, promote regulatory innovation tools, and manage stakeholder relationships. She has also held various leadership positions within CRC, including Head of Innovation and Prospective, Head of Government Affairs, and Head of Research and Development. In these roles, she led strategic regulatory initiatives such as regulatory sandbox, crowdsourcing, QoS, net neutrality, code of practice for infrastructure deployment, interconnection, and studies related to OTT platforms, digital economy, and emergent technologies. She established alliances with academic institutions to improve regulation awareness and develop research in technical and regulatory topics. Claudia has represented CRC in high-level meetings of organizations such as ITU, ICANN-GAC, GSMA and IGF. She has served as President of REGULATEL (Iberoamerican Forum of Regulators) and Vice President of Policy and Regulation for OAS CITEL-PCCI. Additionally, she has been a negotiator in international trade agreements in collaboration with Colombia's Trade and Industry Ministry for Japan and the Pacific Alliance. She is also a lecturer at Universidad Externado de Colombia in master's level programs, covering subjects such as public policy, ICT regulation, digital economy, and innovation. Passionate about the roles of girls and women in the ICT sector, she is a Girls in STEM advocate form Technovation and a member of the Women in Tech, Colombia chapter. She holds an Executive MBA from IE Business School (Spain), a B.Sc. in Electronics Engineering from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, and has completed studies in Commercial Management at Universidad de la Sabana, Colombia.

Hon. George William Nyombi Thembo is the Executive Director of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), bringing over 30 years of experience in public administration, ICT policy, and infrastructure development. His leadership focuses on advancing inclusive digital transformation and building robust regulatory frameworks to support innovation and access. A former State Minister for ICT and Member of Parliament, Hon. Nyombi has played a central role in Uganda’s digital development agenda. Before leading UCC, he spearheaded the Uganda Communications Universal Service and Access Fund (UCUSAF), working to extend digital access to marginalized and underserved communities. He also served as Acting Director for Industry Affairs and Content Development at UCC, overseeing critical stakeholder engagement and sector development. Internationally, he is recognized as the Chair of the ITU Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) for 2024–2025, reflecting his commitment to global best practices in communications regulation and policy innovation. Hon. Nyombi holds a Master’s degree in Development Economics and professional certifications in telecommunications regulation, ICT policy, and public-private partnerships. In addition to his regulatory work, he is a cultural leader and artist, playwright and founding member of Ndere Troupe, promoting African arts and cultural expression

Dr. Angela Long is a recognized speaker, researcher, and author dedicated to advancing the future of work and learning. She currently serves as Chief Engagement Officer at Tallahassee State College in the United States, leading the College’s strategic plan and President’s Leadership Institute. Previously, she served as Director of Learning, Innovation, and Success for the Florida Department of Education. She is the former co-editor of the national book series Innovative Ideas for Community Colleges and is the author of the Six Factors theory for supporting nontraditional student success. Dr. Long is currently working on a forthcoming publication focused on how artificial intelligence is transforming education and workforce development. Dr. Long co-leads the Future Ready Tallahassee initiative in partnership with the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, helping develop a regional roadmap with leaders in education, technology, industry, and business to prepare communities for the future of work. Dr. Long holds certifications in “Designing the Future of Work” (UNSW Sydney, Australia) and AI Leadership for Community College Professionals (University of Florida). She has participated in three White House summits and serves on the AACC Commission on Research and the advisory board for the Myers-Briggs Company.

Sebastian Cammerer is a Senior Research Scientist at NVIDIA, working at the intersection of wireless communications and machine learning. He is one of the core developers and maintainers of the Sionna open-source link-level simulator. Before joining NVIDIA, he received his PhD in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology from the University of Stuttgart, Germany. His main research interests are machine learning for wireless communications and channel coding. His work has been recognized with several awards, including the VDE ITG Dissertationspreis 2022, the IEEE SPS Young Author Best Paper Award 2019, and third prize in the Nokia Bell Labs Prize 2019.

<span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Nabiha Saklayen is CEO and co-founder of Cellino, where her team is spearheading the biomanufacturing of regenerative medicines to make “Your Cells, Your Cure” a reality for patients in an aging and increasingly diverse world. As a purpose-driven physicist, she focused her Ph.D. research on inventing bio/nanophotonicstechnologies to unlock precision cellular engineering for human health applications. Nabiha’s expertise and passion for patient impact inspired Cellino’s proprietary approach: an autonomous, optical bioprocess that unlocks the ultra-scalable manufacturing of regenerative medicines. Nabiha is a TED speaker and the inaugural Tory Burch Foundation Fellow in Genomics at the Innovative Genomics Institute, led by Nobel Laureate Dr. Jennifer Doudna. She received her Ph.D. in Physics from Harvard University as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute International Fellow. Nabiha also co-created I Am A Scientist, an educational program in 50 states that inspires children to explore science. She is a global citizen who grew up in Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Germany, and Sri Lanka.</span>

Dr Gift Kallisto Machengete is the Director General of the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ),having been appointed to the position in December 2016. He is a member of the ITU Digital Innovation Board, and currently serves on the Boards of several institutions in Zimbabwe. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics from the University of Zimbabwe, a Master of Business Administration Degree (MBA) from Southern Cross University, Australia, and a Doctorate in Business Administration also from Southern Cross University, for which he graduated with a distinction, and was awarded the University Plaque for outstanding achievement. He has over forty-four (44) years of working experience, having worked as an Economic Counsellor at the Zimbabwe Embassy in China, Zimbabwe’s Deputy Ambassador to Malaysia and Director of Administration in the Office of the President and Cabinet, before joining the POTRAZ in 2016. He is a former part-time lecturer for the Master of Business Leadership and Master of Security and Intelligence Degree programmes at Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE). This included working as a Research thesis Moderator. He currently serves on the Boards of several institutions in Zimbabwe.

Dr. Caron Sada serves as psychology faculty, Division Chair, and Faculty Co-Director of the Center for Teaching & Learning and Employee Engagement at Paradise Valley Community College in Phoenix, Arizona (USA). She blends evidence-based pedagogy with engaging, arts/making-infused learning experiences aimed at student, employee and community flourishing.

H.E. Dr. Chea Vandeth has served as the Minister of Post and Telecommunications since April 2020 and has overseen certain key laws, regulations, and policies, including the Digital Government Policy, draft Laws on Cybersecurity, Personal Data Protection, Postal Services, and Digital Startup Sub-Decree. In addition, Minister Vandeth has successfully implemented a number of strategic reforms of the functions and operations of the ministry, including introduction of digital skill training program for officials and the digitalization of key administrative procedures. Recognizing the growing importance of digital technology, Minister Vandeth has engaged with tech associations and startup communities to discuss challenges and opportunities, and finally identify elements that can accelerate the tech sector development. More recently, Minister Vandeth has placed high emphasis on improving the quality of telecoms services and working closely with telecoms operators in expanding cell and network coverage across the country. With over 20 years of public service, Minister Vandeth has held various positions in the government. After completing his Ph.D. degree in Russia in 1997, Minister Vandeth served as assistant to H.E.Sok An, the co-minister in charge of the Office of the Council of the Ministers (OCM) until 2004. At the same time, Minister Vandeth was also tasked with the positions as the office chief of the Economy Office and later asthe Deputy Director ofthe Department of International Relations. In 2004, Minister Vandeth was appointed the Director of the Cabinet of the Minister in charge of the OCM. He then went on to become the Advisor to the Minister-in-charge of the OCM in 2008 and was concurrently appointed the member of the Board of Directors of Telecom Cambodia. Following the 2013 general election, Minister Vandeth was appointed as advisor to the government. With strong passion in life-long education, he has pursued another Master’s Degree and obtained an Executive Master of Business Administration from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Huy Nguyen is a forward-thinking entrepreneur and education innovator bridging the worlds of technology, business, and learning. With extensive executive experience spanning startups to Fortune 100 companies, Huy brings a unique perspective on how AI is reshaping the future of work. As Co-Founder of Solve Community Challenges (SolveCC), Huy is redefining higher education through real-world experiential learning. His nonprofit empowers students to collaborate with local businesses and institutions to tackle pressing community issues, developing future-ready skills along the way. He also serves as Chief Education and Career Development Advisor for Intelligent.com, where he helps students and educators navigate the rapidly evolving world of work shaped by AI, automation, and shifting career paradigms. As a frequent media commentator and thought leader on workforce trends, Huy’s insights have been featured in Forbes, NPR, Business Insider, Fortune, Fast Company, Inside Higher Ed, and many others. His work sits at the cutting edge of AI’s role in transforming how we learn and earn in the future, building bridges between innovation and impact, and equipping the next generation to thrive in futures not yet imagined.

Dr. Jim Murdaugh has served as the sixth president of Tallahassee State College since October 2010, earning national and international recognition for his visionary leadership. He holds degrees in criminology and public administration from Florida State University and completed executive training at Harvard University’s Kennedy School. A respected leader in education and civic engagement, Dr. Murdaugh serves on the boards of the Florida Chamber Foundation, the Florida Technology Council, and the Economic Club of Florida. He chaired the Florida College System Council of Presidents in 2019–20, advocating for the role of colleges in driving Florida’s economic and social progress. His distinguished leadership has earned numerous accolades, including International President of the Year (2017) from the Association of College Unions International and Entrepreneurial President of the Year (2022) from NACCE. He has been recognized in the Florida 500 as one of Florida’s most influential business leaders (2023, 2024) and received multiple lifetime achievement awards, including from the Association of Florida Colleges (2023) and Heroes in Public Safety (2020). His impact reflects a deep commitment to innovation, service, and community empowerment.

Bertrand Levy is a Digital Pioneer Who has been working in the Music Industry for over 15 years (Over 10 years @ Universal Music Group – Ended Global Vice President @ UMGB ) Since 2020 VICE PRESIDENT @ THE SANDBOX, One of the leading Metaverse In The World.

Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio, Ph.D., J.D.,LL.M., M.Sc., is a globally recognized expert in AI, Big Data, behavioral science, and talent analytics. She advises senior executives at Fortune 500 companies, global law firms, and public institutions on using advanced analytics and behavioral insights to optimize decision-making, develop high-performing talent, and shape future-ready workforce strategies. At Harvard University, she holds dual appointments at the Law School and the Kennedy School of Government and serves as Faculty Chair of the Executive Leadership Research Initiative for Women and Minority Attorneys (ELRIWMA), where since 2011 she has led pioneering research—using AI and Big Data—at the intersection of leadership, organizational behavior, decision science, and talent strategy. She is the author of Diversity Dividend (MIT Press, 2023) and the forthcoming Building a Thriving Future: Metaverse and Multiverse (MIT Press, 2025)—a strategy-driven guide to the AI-powered Metaverse, offering business and government leaders practical frameworks to lead digital transformation and build adaptive, human-centric digital ecosystems that support talent growth and innovation. As CEO of People Culture Drive Consulting Group, she leads a global behavioral science and AI firm that developed I.D.E.A., a patented platform that enhances talent analytics by ensuring consistency, fairness, and transparency in performance evaluations and succession planning—transforming how organizations identify, retain, and advance top talent. She advises international institutions including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the World Bank, the United Nations ITU), and the European Commission. Her research and publications have received multiple honors, including awards from federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services for her behavioral and data visualization tools, and a 2017 Azbee Award of Excellence from the American Society of Business Publication Editors. Dr. Cecchi-Dimeglio has authored over 70 peer-reviewed journal articles and regularly contributes to leading business and legal publications including Harvard Business Review, MIT Sloan Management Review, Business Insider, Bloomberg Law, Reuters Legal, and Forbes, where she is a senior contributor on leadership, strategy, and AI. Her insights and tools are used by organizations worldwide to transform how they hire, evaluate, and promote talent. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post, and she is widely recognized for her thought leadership on AI-powered talent development, workforce transformation, and data-driven decision-making.

In 2023, Dmitry Ontoev was appointed Advisor to the Head of the Moscow Department of Information Technologies (DIT), who also serves as a Minister of the Moscow Government. In this role, Mr. Ontoev oversees the Department’s work on federal and international digital policy, as well as its collaboration with Russian regions and leading ICT companies. Mr. Ontoev plays a key role in advancing the implementation of major Presidential Decrees of the Russian Federation related to digital transformation. His responsibilities include supporting Moscow’s achievement of critical performance indicators for regional executive leadership, guiding the rollout of the city’s regional initiatives under the national project «Data Economics and Digital Transformation of the State», and coordinating Moscow’s participation in national smart city and digital economy rankings and award programs. Mr. Ontoev leads efforts to enhance Moscow’s participation in global rankings and awards, strengthen partnerships with countries around the world on smart city topics, and promote the city’s role in the development of digital technologies. Mr. Ontoev is a frequent speaker at major Russian and international conferences on digitalization and smart cities, including the «Digitalization of Industrial Russia» conference (Nizhny Novgorod, Russia), «Kazan Digital Week» (Kazan, Russia), the BRICS international forum «Cloud Cities» (Moscow), and the global tech exhibitions Smart Cities India Expo (New Delhi, India), «GITEX Asia» (Singapore) «GITEX Global» (Dubai, UAE), among others. He represents the Moscow DIT at intergovernmental commissions, as well as expert forums organized by the United Nations, including UN-Habitat and the International Telecommunication Union. He also serves as Russia’s expert in the UN-Habitat Working Group for the development of «International Guidelines on People-Centered Smart Cities». Mr. Ontoev has been officially commended by the President of the Russian Federation, the Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, and the Mayor of Moscow. He has also received honorary diplomas from both the Government of Moscow and the Department of Information Technology.

On 18 September 2020, appointed by the Sejm of the Republic of Poland as President of the Office of Electronic Communications. For many years, he combined didactic work with managerial positions at the IT Department of the Wrocław University of Science and Technology and the Wrocław Centre for Networking and Supercomputing. His professional interests focus on technical, business and legal aspects of telecommunications services and ICT networks, Internet development, convergence of telecommunications, IT and media, as well as on information society problems. In 1998-2002 he worked at Telefonia Lokalna S.A. in Wrocław, e.g. as Director of the Data Transmission Network Department. In 2004-2005, he was a member of the management board of TK 3 sp. z o. o., in 2005-2008 a member of the management board and Director of the Technology Department at Tele Video Media sp. z o. o. (later transformed into Avista Media sp. z o. o.), in 2008 -2009 Director of the Department of Technology at Telefonia DIALOG SA. Associate professor at the Wrocław University of Science and Technology. From 2009 Director of the IT Department of the University, from 2010 Director of the Wrocław Center for Networking and Supercomputing, from 2018 Director of the IT Department, Deputy Chancellor for IT of the Wrocław University of Science and Technology. In his career, he led, among others, the projects on "Cybersecurity for the economy of the future", "Specialized Polish Scientific Infrastructure for Research Laboratories (SPIN-LAB)" and "Cloud Computing - new technologies in the didactic offer of the Wrocław University of Science and Technology". He has a doctor’s degree in electronic engineering with specialty in telecommunications. He completed a project management course at The George Washington University School of Business and Public Management.

<div class="page translated-page js-translation-page" data-translation-page-number="1"> <div class="translated-text"> Born in Fria, in the Republic of Guinea, to an engineer father and a midwife mother, Madame Rose Pola PRICEMOU completed her primary education and part of her secondary studies in her hometown. She subsequently obtained a scientific baccalaureate, mathematics option, at Sainte Marie High School in Conakry. A laureate of Guinean-Tunisian cooperation, she continued her higher education at the University of November 7 in Carthage (Tunisia), where she obtained a master's degree in applied computer science in management. Determined to expand her skills, she later joined the University of Montreal (Canada) where she obtained a master's degree in computer research in 2008, and then Laval University (Quebec) where she earned, in 2010, an MBA specialized in information technology management. <strong>Professional Career</strong> With more than twenty-three years of professional experience in the information technology sector, Madame PRICEMOU has worked for more than a decade within private and governmental structures in North America. She has notably worked for the Industrial group. </div> </div> <div class="page translated-page js-translation-page" data-translation-page-number="2"> <div class="translated-text"> <strong> Alliance in Canada, government agencies in the United States, as well as within several Quebec ministries (Health, Revenue Quebec, Justice, Transport, Culture, Communications, and Women's Condition).</strong> <strong>Return to Guinea</strong> Upon her return to Guinea, Mrs. P RICEMOU puts her skills to the service of the private sector as head of the development of IT solutions, before joining the public administration as Director of the Strategy and Development Office of the Ministry in charge of Investments and Public-Private Partnerships. <strong>Ministerial Functions</strong> Her expertise and commitment have led her to hold several high ministerial positions: <ul> <li>October 26, 2021 – August 20, 2022: Minister of Information and Communication</li> <li>August 20, 2022 – November 18, 2022: Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Small and Medium Enterprises</li> <li>November 18, 2022 – February 19, 2024: Minister of Planning and International Cooperation</li> <li>Since March 13, 2024: Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy</li> </ul> <strong>Vision and Commitment</strong> A fervent advocate for digital inclusion, Ms. P RICEMOU actively works towards the digital transformation of Guinea, positioning her actions within a regional and continental dynamic. She carries an ambitious vision, aligned with the will of the Head of State, General Mamadi D OUMBOUYA, aiming to make digital technology a major lever for economic integration, infrastructure development, and reduction of the digital divide, particularly for women, youth, and populations living in isolated areas. Under her leadership, Guinea has initiated significant institutional, infrastructural, and regulatory reforms to accelerate access to digital services and strengthen the country's digital sovereignty. </div> </div>

Shri Anil Kumar Lahoti, Chairman, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is an officer of the Indian Railway Service of Engineers from the 1984 batch. He had superannuated as Chairman & CEO, Railway Board on 31st August 2023 after a career spanning about 37 years Indian Railway. He is a graduate in Civil Engineering from Madhav Institute of Technology and Science, Gwalior, with gold medal and has master’s degree in engineering (Structures) from IIT Roorkee. He has worked in various positions in the Central, Northern, North Central, Western, and West Central Railway, as well as in the Railway Board. Besides Chairman & CEO, Railway Board, some of the important positions held by Shri Anil Kumar Lahoti include Member Infrastructure, Railway Board, General Manager of Central Railway and Western Railway, Divisional Railway Manager, Lucknow, Northern Railway, Chief Administrative Officer (Construction), Northern Railway and Executive Director, Railway Board. Post his retirement, Ministry of Railway had appointed him to a One-Man Expert Committee for improvement in inspection and maintenance of track. In December 2023, Gati Shakti Vishvavidyalaya, Vadodara, a Central University appointed him as a Distinguished Visiting Professor. His expertise includes railway operations, track maintenance, project execution and station redevelopment. During his illustrious career, Shri Lahoti initiated several reforms in execution of infrastructure projects and took several initiatives to modernize and mechanize track maintenance on Indian Railways. During his stints as CRB & CEO, GM and DRM, he brought about significant improvement in freight transport performance and took several customer friendly initiatives to improve the quality of service and ease the customer interface. He has also extensively contributed to planning and structuring of station redevelopment projects in various positions served by him. Shri Lahoti has travelled to various countries in Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia in connection with official assignments. He has undertaken executive training programmes at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, USA, SDA Bocconi Business School, Milan, Italy and Indian School of Business, Hyderabad. He was born to Freedom Fighter Late Shri Ratan Lal Lahoti and Late Smt. Kanchan Devi Lahoti at Guna, M.P. and is the younger brother of former Chief Justice of India Late Justice R.C. Lahoti. His wife is a homemaker and his son is a working professional in Bangaluru.

<div> <span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Jhuliana Mercado Ontiveros is a biomedical engineer and the founder of Wiver, a startup dedicated to democratizing healthcare through innovative and accessible medical imaging solutions. She believes that when medicine is empowered by the right technology, it has the potential to transform lives. With a strong focus on social impact, Jhuliana is committed to developing affordable innovations that reshape how healthcare is delivered, ensuring that advanced medical tools reach those who need them most.</span> </div> <div></div>

Alexandre Freire is <span class="ui-provider ec bgp aup bui buj buk bul bum bun buo bup buq bur bus but buu buv buw bux buy buz bva bvb bvc bvd bve bvf bvg bvh bvi bvj bvk bvl bvm bvn" dir="ltr"><em>a Visiting Scholar at the Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main's Faculty of Law</em>, </span>PhD in Law from the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-SP), master's degree in Law from the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) and a degree in Law from the Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA). President of the Superior Council of the Center for Advanced Studies in Digital Communication and Technological Innovation - CEADI/ANATEL, President of the ANATEL Telecommunications Infrastructure Committee (C-INT). Appointed by the Presidency of the Republic as a member of the National Commission for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN 2030 Agenda. He was legal advisor to the minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), special advisor to the presidency of the STF, Secretary of Higher Studies, Research and Information Management of the STF, parliamentary advisor to the presidency of the Mixed Committee on Plans, Public Budgets and Inspection of the National Congress , coordinator of Social Policies of the sub-chief for legal affairs of the Civil House of the Presidency of the Republic, assistant deputy head of the sub-chief for legal affairs of the Civil House of the Presidency of the Republic (in replacement) and advisor to the sub-chief for legal matters of the Civil House of the Presidency of the Republic . At the National Council of Justice ( CNJ) he is a member of the Executive Committee of the Conciliation Commission and the National Judicial Cooperation Network. He is a professor at IDP (Brasília). He has been a lecturer at the universities of Rome “La Sapienza” and Rome “Tor Vergata” (Italy), Lisbon (Portugal), Münster and Frankfurt (Germany). He has been invited to participate as an expert in committees and public hearings in the Federal Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.

I have over 20 years of management experience, including 12+ years in policy implementation, regulatory efforts, strategy development, and risk management for both the public and private sectors, spanning business divisions throughout Eastern Europe and Central Asia. As a digital transformation and change management lead, I has a solid track record of successfully completing projects in the ICT, FMCG, and sustainable industries. Conceptualized regulatory and compliance policy formulation and led project implementation with a special emphasis on the convergence of EU policies and EU competition law enforcement; Led the implementation of business strategies for telecommunications services and technology operations. Successful and enthusiastic company executive with expertise in business analysis, process management, change management, and implementation management. Compassionate and empathetic leader with outstanding communication, analytical, and time management abilities, as well as the ability to lead and motivate teams to achieve goals. I hold an MBA from the University of Bradford School of Management and is currently pursuing an LL.M. in Competition Law and Economics at the Brussels School of Competition. Previously, she earned a master's degree in physics as well as a postgraduate diploma in artificial intelligence and fuzzy logic.

Michele Melchiorri is co-chair of the Group on Earth Observation Human Planet, an impactful GEO work programme activity that leverages EO and geospatial data to understand human presence on Planet Earth. He is Project Officer at the European Commission Joint Research Centre where he is responsible for the Exposure Mapping Component in the Copernicus Emergency Management Service. He is author of flagship institutional reports on cities and humans settlements, like two editions of UN-Habitat World Cities Report, and the SDG 11 Synthesis report, as well as several peer-reviewed articles in big data, remote sensing and geography prime outlets. His academic background is in urban planning and international relations.

Ravi Shankar leads the WHO GIS Centre for Health at WHO Headquarters, where he drives the strategic application of geospatial intelligence to advance global health outcomes. With over two decades of experience, he has played a pivotal role in integrating GIS and spatial data systems into public health decision-making, particularly in complex emergency and outbreak settings. As the former GIS Technical Officer for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), Ravi was instrumental in modernising geospatial tools to support surveillance and microplanning. During the West Africa Ebola outbreak, he led the development of WHO’s global mapping platform to deliver real-time situational awareness for coordinated response. Earlier in his career at UNOSAT, Ravi supported emergency mapping efforts for the Haiti earthquake, Thailand floods, the Syrian conflict, and the Libyan war. A strong proponent of capacity building, he designed and taught a Master’s-level GIS course for disaster management at the University of Copenhagen. Originally trained as an architect and urban planner, he contributed to national master plans in Libya and the Andaman Islands. Today, Ravi continues to champion innovation in geospatial data use, supporting digital transformation across health systems and contributing to global efforts to enhance the quality, availability, and interoperability of critical data for sustainable development.

Kit Kitamura is the Principal Expert at Japan AI Safety Institute (J-AISI) | Digital Engineering Department, Digital Infrastructure Center, Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan (IPA) and visiting researcher at the Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo and at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). ‐Official Delegate from Japan on Track3 (Risk Assessment of Advanced AI Systems), International Network of AI Safety Institutes ‐Visiting Researcher, Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo ‐Visiting Researcher, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology(AIST) ‐Member, AI Auditing Research Project, Faculty of Informatics Sciences＆Arts, Toyo University|Member, AI Auditing Research Group, Toyo University ‐Member, Detailed Study Task Force, AIST Machine Learning Quality Management Guideline ‐Head of AI Legal, CDLE (Community of Deep Learning Evangelists) ‐METI Co-Secretariat | MIC Observer, the Japan AI Guidelines for Business (AI GfB) ‐Former expert, ISO/IEC JTC1/SC42 (Artificial Intelligence) Mirror Committee in Japan <Main Co-authored works, Contributions, etc.> [Quality World magazine -Keeping it real How standards in artificial intelligence can prepare quality professionals for the future-] (Chartered Quality Institute September 2022), [The Complete Guide to AI Business] (PRESIDENT Inc. December 2022), [Advancing AI Audits for Enhanced AI Governance] (arXiv November 2023), [Digital Ethics] (DIAMOND, Inc. February 2024), [Panel Discussion on AI Guidelines for Business] (SHOJIHOMU Co.,Ltd. NBL1270 15 July 2024), [Empirical Approaches of Software Quality Assurance] (Ohmsha, Ltd. September 2024), [AI Risk Assessment Guidebook] The Japanese Society for Quality Control, AI Quality Agile Governance Research Group (JUSE Press. Ltd. September 2024) <Award> Communications and Information network Association of Japan (CIAJ) Distinguished Service Award (December 2017)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thomas Wiegand is professor at the Technical University of Berlin and executive director of the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute, Berlin, Germany. He heads research teams working on: video coding, machine learning, computer vision, and mobile communications.</p> <p>Wiegand substantially contributed to the creation of the H.264/AVC, H.265/HEVC, and H.266/VVC standards. For H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, Wiegand was one of the chairmen of the Joint Video Team (JVT) standardization committee that created the standard and was the chief editor of the standard itself. He was also an active technical contributor to all these standards. Wiegand also holds a chairmanship position in the ITU-T VCEG and previously in ISO/IEC MPEG standardization organizations. From 2018-2023, he was the chair of the ITU/WHO Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health. Since 2014, Thomson Reuters named him in their list of “The World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds” as one of the most cited researchers in his field. He is a recipient of the ITU150 Award. He has been elected to the German National Academy of Engineering (Acatech) and the National Academy of Science (Leopoldina).</p> <p><span data-teams="true"> </span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<p class="x_MsoNormal" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Debora Comparin is Standardization Expert at Thales Digital Identity & Security, founder and chair of the OSIA Initiative, co-founder of SIDI Hub and Advisory Board member of the Linux Foundation Europe and the Open Identity Exchange (OIX). Within ITU-T Study Group 17, Debora serves as the chair of Working Party 1 “Digital identity, Quantum based security, PKI and Fundamental security technologies”.</p> <p class="x_MsoNormal">She is a strong advocate for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.9 ‘Identity for all by 2030’ and in 2019 founded the OSIA initiative, a public-private sector partnership to build interoperability for national identity infrastructures. OSIA is recognized as an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) standard by its 193 governments. Today, Debora oversees the initiative, guiding its open-source reference implementation developed in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In 2023 Debora co-founded SIDI Hub, a platform for standard organizations, governments and non-profits to define a solution for cross-border digital Identity interoperability.</p> <p class="x_MsoNormal">Debora started her career as graduate engineer at SAFRAN where she acted as the seconded representative at the Aerospace Growth Partnership (AGP), a public-private sector partnership between the UK government and the industry established to secure the future of the UK aerospace sector. She frequently speaks on the interplay of standardization with open source software in the context of digital government infrastructures, open standards for digital identity, and interoperability.</p> <p class="x_MsoNormal">Debora holds an MSc in Mechanical Engineering from University of Padova and a Business Strategy & Consulting qualification from Imperial College.</p>

<div> <div id="x_gmail-h.537b91c0e0fb5eaa_47"> <div> <span style="font-size: 16px;" data-ogsc="rgb(34, 34, 34)">Melanie</span><span style="font-size: 16px;" data-ogsc="rgb(34, 34, 34)"> Jetter is an environmental health scientist with a strong interdisciplinary background in environmental science and public health. She is committed to leveraging data-driven methodologies to develop and implement strategies that promote environmental justice, climate resilience, and health equity—especially within communities most vulnerable to environmental hazards and the impacts of climate change.</span> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div id="x_gmail-h.537b91c0e0fb5eaa_49"> <div> <span data-ogsc="rgb(34, 34, 34)">Melanie</span><span data-ogsc="rgb(34, 34, 34)"> has a strong foundation in data analytics and statistical analysis, informed by her experience as a survey statistician at the U.S. Census Bureau, where she collected and analyzed complex survey data to inform national policy and research.</span> </div> <div> <span data-ogsc="rgb(34, 34, 34)">In addition to her scientific work, Melanie is deeply dedicated to fostering interest and engagement in STEM, particularly among underrepresented groups. She actively supports initiatives that empower the next generation of scientists and advocates through mentorship, outreach, and education.</span> </div> <div> <span data-ogsc="rgb(34, 34, 34)">She holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental, Earth, and Ocean Sciences and a Master of Science in Environmental Science, both from the University of Massachusetts.</span> </div> </div> </div>

Hatem Dowidar is the Group CEO of e&, leading its transformation from a telco into a global technology group and its expansion across 38 markets. Under his leadership, e& evolved into a global technology group in February 2022, becoming, in 2024, the Fastest Growing Technology Brand and the Most Valuable Brand Portfolio in the Middle East and Africa. Recognised as the top-ranked telecom leader globally on the Brand Guardianship Index 2024, he holds roles as a Non-Executive Director of Vodafone Group and board memberships at Etihad Etisalat Company (Mobily), Maroc Telecom & Etisalat Egypt. Before e&, Hatem worked for Vodafone, Procter and Gamble as well as Daimler Benz Group in various roles. Hatem is as well a member of international forums such as the board of the GSMA and the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) leadership panel. His academic background includes a Bachelor's in Communications and Electronics Engineering and an MBA.

Vijay Mauree works at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), since 2010 and has over 30 years of experience in project management and cybersecurity. He is the focal point for Digital Finance, digital public infrastructure and AI security at the Standardization Bureau in ITU. He leads the Digital Financial Services Security Lab which conducts security audits on mobile payment applications used in emerging economies and collaborates with DFS regulators and providers to enhance security of digital finance and adoption of international standards and best practices for security of digital financial inclusion and fintech. He manages the collaboration with OpenWallet Foundation for the OpenWallet Forum project which aims at global interoperability for digital wallets and credentials. He assists the OpenWallet Forum Government Consultative Committee in its work on government policies for digital wallets. He assists the United for Smart Sustainable Cities (U4SSC) Thematic Group on digital public infrastructure for cities. In addition, Vijay coordinates the secretariat for the ITU-T Focus Group on Costing models for affordable data services and the AI and Multimedia Authenticity Standards Collaboration under the World Standards Cooperation. He coordinated the work of the ITU-T Focus Group Digital Financial Services and ITU-T Focus Group Digital Currency including Digital Fiat Currency and the Financial Inclusion Global Initiative (FIGI) from 2017 to 2021. FIGI was a joint programme of the ITU, World Bank, Bank for International Settlements and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He led the FIGI Security, Infrastructure and Trust Working Group which investigated the security threats to the DFS Ecosystem and developing technical reports and guidelines to enhance trust in DFS.

<p class="x_MsoNormal">Fredrik Gran is a Swedish composer, researcher, and pioneer in robotic musical performance. His work explores the intersection of musical craftsmanship, embodied technology, and machine expression. Through custom-built systems, most notably The Robot Cellist, featuring industrial robotic arms performing on a cello, he investigates new forms of agency, presence, and sonic materiality. The robot cellist has appeared in contexts ranging from contemporary art installations to orchestral and electronic music stages, including performances with the Malmö Symphony Orchestra and in a large-scale audiovisual production at Sphere in Las Vegas with Anyma. Gran’s broader compositional work has been presented at international festivals such as Warsaw Autumn, ISCM World New Music Days, and Nordic Music Days, and performed by ensembles including the Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra, London City Philharmonic, and the International Contemporary Ensemble. He is affiliated with the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology (CIRMMT) in Montreal and is a co-founder of the artistic research initiative FINIS MUSICAE.</p>

Stefan Andonovski is a doctoral candidate at the Justinian I Faculty of Law in Skopje and a master's degree in international relations at Johns Hopkins University in the USA. Before entering politics, he worked in the business sector in Macedonia for five years and was a consultant on international donor projects in the field of digital marketing, communications and media. In the 2021 local elections, he was elected as a member of the Skopje City Council. From January to June 2024, he will serve as Additional Deputy Minister of Information Society and Administration in the Government for the Organization of the 2024 Parliamentary Elections. On June 23, 2024, he was elected Minister in the Ministry of Digital Transformation. He has written papers and columns in domestic and international journals, focusing on international mediation and negotiations, as well as constitutional reforms in post-conflict systems. He speaks Macedonian, English and Italian, and is also fluent in Greek and German.

<div> <div id="x_gmail-h.537b91c0e0fb5eaa_97"> <div></div> </div> </div> <div> <div id="x_gmail-h.537b91c0e0fb5eaa_99"> <div> <div> <span data-ogsc="rgb(34, 34, 34)">Michelle Warren is a mid-level Electrical Engineer and Software Engineer with a strong passion for perception systems, bulk electronic systems (namely transmission), and STEM-powered community outreach. Michelle has 8+ years of multifaceted experience including pivotal roles at Georgia Power, specializing in Protection & Controls Field Services, at the United States Patent Office as a patent examiner, examining patents in the Guidance & Navigation Controls field, and at the Boeing Company, specializing in RADAR integration and autonomy systems. Her expertise in machine learning, sensor fusion, perception systems, and materials science is demonstrated through impactful internships and graduate research. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering from Howard University and a Master's Degree from Georgia Tech.</span> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Felix Kirchmeier is the founding Executive Director of the Geneva Human Rights Platform, a project of the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. In this role he leads the development of this platform anchored in international Geneva. This includes liaising with diplomatic missions, United Nations human rights experts, civil society actors and academia, identifying institutional issues needing coordination and a multi-stakeholder approach, hosting expert meetings and public conferences, including the flagship annual conference of the GHRP. Before joining the Geneva Academy, he worked at Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung where he served as Senior Programme Officer for Human Rights and Development and Focal Point for international human rights projects. There he organized conferences on the development of human rights law and coordinated training on international human rights mechanisms in Geneva and in the field. Felix holds a master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Freiburg, Germany. <span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop BCX8 SCXW243176682"> </span>

Robert Opp is the Chief Digital Officer of the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations' global sustainable development organization working across 170 countries globally. UNDP adopted its second Digital Strategy in 2022, which sets out a vision to create a world in which digital is an empowering force for people and planet. Rob leads the agency’s digital transformation, an organization-wide effort, to accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and ensure no one is left behind. Under his leadership, UNDP’s Chief Digital Office supports more than 120 countries in building open, inclusive and rights-based digital transformations. It also brings expertise, insights and lessons from the country-level to inform global digital policy, to ensure that technologies, including digital public infrastructure and artificial intelligence accelerate sustainable development. Robert also leads UNDP’s own internal digital transformation effort. Prior to this role, Robert served as Director of the Innovation and Change Management Division within the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) where he established an in-house ‘Zero Hunger’ innovation accelerator and created an award-winning crowdfunding smartphone app, ShareTheMeal.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, following the recommendation of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board, has appointed Rosemarie McClean of Canada as Pension Benefits Administrator of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF). Ms. McClean brings to the position over 32 years of progressively responsible experience in pension administration and management.  Currently Chief Operating Officer of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan in Toronto, she manages a sizeable budget and is responsible for operational activities including financial operations for pension administration and investments, information technology, project management and process improvement. Before this position, Ms. McClean served as Senior Vice-President of Member Services in the Pension Plan and was accountable for all aspects of service delivery to retired and working teachers in Ontario. Named as one of the Most Powerful Women in Canada by the Women’s Executive Network in 2008, she has mentored young leaders both within and outside her organization. Ms. McClean holds a Master of Business Administration from the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Management from the University of Waterloo. She holds a Certified Public Accountant designation.

Expert in AI & Emerging Technologies Governance <strong>General</strong> <ul> <li>Chair of the Russian National AI Ethics Commission</li> <li>Head of the AI Governance group of the Russian AI Alliance association</li> <li>Head of the Working Group on AI of the BRICS Business Council</li> <li>Managing director of Sber.AI (acting as Russian National Center of excellence for artificial intelligence) for the regulation of AI technologies</li> <li>Secretary General of the AI Alliance Network</li> <li>Former Chair of Consultation and Outreach Group of the Ad hoc Committee on Artificial Intelligence of the Council of Europe</li> <li>Founder and head of the public project "Robolaw"</li> <li>Winner of the contest "Leaders of Russia: Science" 2020</li> </ul> <strong>Education and work experience</strong> <ul> <li>PhD in Law (2010)</li> <li>Basic education: Ural State Law Academy (2007), <em>summa cum laude</em></li> <li>Additional education: Professional English translation for legal expert communities (2006)</li> <li>Over 20 years of legal practice</li> </ul>   <strong>Completed legal projects on AI Governance</strong> <ul> <li>Russian National AI Strategy (2019), co-author</li> <li>The Governmental Concept of AI and RT Regulation (2020), co-author and head of the working group</li> <li>Russian National AI Ethics Code (2021), co-author and head of the working group</li> <li>Model Convention on Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (2017), co-author</li> <li>Research on approaches to the regulation of cyber-physical systems and AI technologies within the framework of the National Program "Digital Economy of the Russian Federation" (2018), head of the working group and co-author</li> <li>Draft law "On the trial operation of innovative vehicles" (2019), head of the author's group</li> <li>Roadmap for the development of end-to-end technology "Artificial Intelligence"; roadmap for the development of end-to-end technology "Components of Robotics and Sensors" (2019), co-author</li> <li>Set of federal laws on the experimental test zones and various industrial legislation (2019-2023), contributor</li> <li>Global Atlas of AI regulation (2022, 2023, 2024), editor-in-chief</li> <li>The White Paper of ethics in AI (2024), editor-in-chief</li> </ul>   <strong>Scientific activities</strong> <ul> <li>Author of over 70 publications on the regulation of artificial intelligence in Russia and abroad</li> <li>Author and editor of a number of monographs, including:</li> <li>"World Experience in Regulating Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Technologies", 2018</li> <li>"Legal Aspects of the Development of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Technologies", 2018</li> <li>"State Policy Framework in the Field of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Technologies", 2019</li> <li>Extensive experience in teaching (associate professor of the Ural State Law Academy until 2013, Kutafin Moscow State Law University, Higher School of Economics, the AI Research Institute and general presentations at forums and conferences (over a hundred) as an invited lecturer</li> </ul>   <strong>Confirmation of qualification</strong> <ul> <li>Head of the Expert Council on AI of the Federation Council of the Parliament of the Russian Federation</li> <li>Member of the Working Group on AI of the Expert Council for Innovative Development of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation</li> <li>Head of the "Regulatory Environment" direction of the expert group developing the federal project "Artificial Intelligence"</li> <li>Member of the Russian Association for Artificial Intelligence</li> <li>Member of official delegations and / or invited expert of the UN Inland Transport Committee</li> </ul>   <strong>(WP.1), UNESCO, OSCE, Council of Europe, B20, SCO, BRICS</strong> <ul> <li>Member of the Council on AI of the National Commission for UNESCO</li> <li>Representative of the Russian Federation with the right to vote in the Committee for Artificial Intelligence Standardization of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)</li> <li>Head of the working group on the AI governance of the Russian AI Alliance (Sberbank, Yandex, Gazpromneft, VK, etc.)</li> <li>Secretary General of the AI Alliance Network. The Alliance brought together 17 industry associations from 14 countries (Azerbaijan, Belarus, Brazil, China, Cuba, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Russia, Serbia, Chile, Ethiopia, South Africa)</li> </ul>

<strong>Sanjay Puri</strong>, founder of Knowledge Networks is a dynamic business leader, and a recognized authority in the fields of generative AI and U.S.-India relations. As host of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/%40The_Regulating_AI_Podcast">RegulatingAI</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/%40caioconnectpodcast">Chief AI Officer (CAIO) Connect</a> podcasts, Mr. Puri has established himself as a thought leader in the AI space. Through his podcasts, he fosters meaningful conversations that challenge misconceptions, promote innovative thinking, and explore AI’s profound societal impacts. Mr. Puri serves as a trusted advisor to several organizations, helping them leverage AI technologies to drive innovation, sustainability, and growth. A strong advocate for the creation of the CAIO role within the C-Suite, Mr. Puri emphasizes the need for dedicated leadership to oversee the ethical implementation of AI. He believes that the CAIO is crucial for aligning AI strategies with organizational goals, ensuring innovation, while maintaining high ethical standards across industries. Mr. Puri’s forward-thinking leadership also extends to promoting the democratization of AI talent, advocating for a broader reach that goes beyond traditional tech industries, and creating an inclusive ecosystem to unlock AI’s potential for economic growth globally. When it comes to AI policy and governance, Mr. Puri has been a frequent public speaker featured in major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Times, Cable News Network (CNN), National Public Radio (NPR), and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). His public appearances include engagements at prestigious institutions and events, such as the Heritage Foundation, the National War College, the Wharton India Economic Forum, and the Harvard Business School. Beyond his work in AI, Mr. Puri is the Chairman of the U.S.-India Political Action Committee (USINPAC), an influential political action committee representing over five million Indian Americans. Under his guidance, USINPAC has become a prominent voice in advocating for political engagement within the Indian American community. Mr. Puri is a frequent public speaker and expert witness on U.S.-India relations and the political impact of the Indian American community. He played an instrumental role in the passage of the U.S.-India Nuclear Agreement. Mr. Puri has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Times, CNN, NPR, PBS, and Nightline. With his impassioned leadership in both AI and advocacy, Sanjay Puri is a key figure driving change and innovation, striving to make a meaningful impact in both the technology and political spheres.  

<p class="x_MsoNormal">Jade Nester is Director, Data Public Policy, Europe at TikTok. She leads a team of European public policy subject matter experts. She has nearly 20 years of experience working on Internet public policy. Before joining TikTok, Jade worked as Director, Consumer Policy, at the GSMA, a trade association representing mobile network operators worldwide. Before GSMA, she advised clients on compliance with privacy and data protection laws and regulations at Promontory Financial Group, an IBM company.</p> <p class="x_MsoNormal">Between 2006 and 2014, Jade held a number of roles within the U.S. government, including Senior Advisor for Internet Policy at the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), and Director, Internet Public Policy at the State Department. She worked on international Internet public policy issues, including privacy and cross-border data flows.</p>

<p class="x_MsoNormal">Andrew currently leads the Azure Media Security team, which is responsible for protecting both clear and encrypted content for thousands of applications across billions of devices. He also leads Microsoft's media provenance investments across the company. In that role, he serves as the Chair for the Coalition for Content Authenticity and Provenance (C2PA) and oversees a cross-company team of experts in developing the next evolution of authentic media.</p> <p class="x_MsoNormal">Andrew has spent more than 25 years in the industry creating, incubating, and releasing new technological solutions to complex problems. He has led a variety of projects spanning areas from OS components, to hardware devices, to international standards. Building strong technical teams capable of executing on a vision is my passion.</p>

Maite is a Senior Principal Analyst covering the automotive industry’s transition to software-defined vehicles (SDV). She follows the evolution toward new electric/electronic vehicle architectures, software development frameworks, revenue streams, and how the automotive supply chain ecosystem is changing. Her latest projects aim to define the different stages of SDV adoption and track automakers’ efforts and strategies to update their vehicle fleets.

Jaime Fernández Fisac is an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Princeton University, where he directs the <a class="link-purpose link-purpose-external link-purpose-hide-on-image" href="http://saferobotics.princeton.edu/">Safe Robotics <span class="link-purpose-nobreak">Laboratory<span class="link-purpose-text">(Link is external)</span></span></a> and co-directs <a class="link-purpose link-purpose-external link-purpose-hide-on-image" href="http://ai4all.princeton.edu/">Princeton <span class="link-purpose-nobreak">AI4ALL<span class="link-purpose-text">(Link is external)</span></span></a>. His research integrates control systems, game theory, and artificial intelligence to equip robots with transparent safety assurances that users and the public can trust. Before joining Princeton, he was a Research Scientist at <a class="link-purpose link-purpose-external link-purpose-hide-on-image" href="https://waymo.com/"><span class="link-purpose-nobreak">Waymo<span class="link-purpose-text">(Link is external)</span></span></a>, where he pioneered new approaches to interaction planning that continue to shape how autonomous vehicles share the road today. He is also the co-founder of <a class="link-purpose link-purpose-external link-purpose-hide-on-image" href="https://www.vaultrobotics.ai/">Vault <span class="link-purpose-nobreak">Robotics<span class="link-purpose-text">(Link is external)</span></span></a>, a startup developing agile delivery robots that work alongside human drivers. Prof. Fisac holds an Engineering Degree from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, a Master’s in Aeronautics from Cranfield University, and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences from the University of California, Berkeley. His work has been featured in <em>The Wall Street Journal</em> and <em>WIRED</em>, and recognized with the Google and Sony faculty research awards and the NSF CAREER Award.

<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Guillem is the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics Programme Officer at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations specialized agency for digital technologies. He drives initiatives that shape the future role of AI and robotics in solving global challenges.</span></p> <p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">With over a decade of experience in robotics, Guillem's journey began with his participation in international robotics tournaments across Asia, Europe, and North America. At the age of 15, he co-founded ROBOCAT, an educational robotics competition that promoted learning in robotics and coding among youth from diverse backgrounds, regardless of socio-economic status or academic ability. For more than eight years, he led this initiative, transforming it from a grassroots project into a leading open-source robotics championship that engaged thousands of young students annually.</span></p> <p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Before joining ITU at the age of 23, he served as the EU Policy Assistant at the Delegation of the Government of Catalonia to the European Union and as the International Relations Assistant at the Delegation of the Government of Catalonia to Switzerland. He also worked as a legal trainee at Montesinos Abogados.</span></p> <p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Guillem is a Global Shaper, a Sigma Squared Society Fellow, and a Nova member. He has been an European Commission Expert Evaluator and Reviewer, a Diplocat Scholar, an EU Careers Student Ambassador, a EUTOPIA Student Career Ambassador, POLITICO's EU Studies and Career Fair Ambassador, a UNICAT Ambassador, and a member of the 1st EUSALP Youth Council.</span></p> <p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">On the academic front, Guillem holds a double bachelor's degree in Law and Business Management and Administration from Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona. He also participated in the one-year Swiss-European Mobility Program in Law at the University of Geneva, earning a Certificate in Transnational Law. He completed a master’s degree in International Law at the Graduate Institute for International and Development Studies (IHEID), Geneva, and participated in the 59th Graduate Study Program at the United Nations Office in Geneva.</span></p> <p class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">He has been a speaker at leading global tech, AI, and robotics events, including the AI and Big Data Congress Barcelona, AI Expo Africa, AI Policy Summit, AI House Davos, Davos Innovation Week, European Robotics Forum, EmpoderaLIVE, GAIN Summit, Geneva IP and Digital Law Career Forum, Mobile World Congress, Smart City Expo World Congress, WSIS, Swiss Robotics Day, iREX, and Youth Mobile Festival.</span></p>

<span lang="EN-US" data-ogsc="black">Sophia brings 15 years of tech experience across companies like Airbnb, Databricks, and now ElevenLabs, the global leader of AI audio. Based in New York City, she leads the ElevenLabs Impact Program, dedicated to empowering one million voices worldwide through accessible AI-generated speech.</span>

<span lang="EN-US"><a title="Original URL: https://drsaurabhshaw.com/. Click or tap if you trust this link." href="https://drsaurabhshaw.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="Verified" data-linkindex="1">Saurabh Bhaskar Shaw</a> is a translational neuroscientist focused on using machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to better understand the brain, and to develop cheap and accessible neurotechnologies to improve diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders, such as PTSD and ADHD. He has a PhD in Neuroscience, a Master’s degree and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Biomedical Engineering from McMaster University. He has also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Psychiatry at Western University and recently was a Senior Data Scientist with the neurotech company Cognixion Inc. He has founded PropelFocus with the intention of using AI to improve the everyday lives of those living with ADHD. His passion for the advancement of the neurotechnology community and more widespread neuroscience education has led him to found the Hamilton chapter of NeuroTechX, with the objective of unifying interdisciplinary researchers, industry partners and clinicians with a common interest in applying neurotechnologies to improve health outcomes. He is currently an Adjunct Research Professor at Western University and leads industry relations at NeuroTechX for the NeuroTech Micro-credential Program partnership with Queen’s University.</span>

Yvonne is a Tanzanian-born innovation leader with over 16 years of experience advancing inclusive development across Africa. She is the Co-founder and CEO of <em>Ele-vate AI Africa</em>, a Pan-African innovation hub focused on empowering youth and women to design and deploy Artificial Intelligence and robotics solutions that address public sector and development challenges. Through strategic partnerships with regional development bodies such as the African Union Development Agency AUDA-NEPAD, the Southern African Development Community SADC and the African Union’s High-Level Panel on Emerging Technologies (APET), Yvonne champions scalable, contextually relevant innovations built with African data and talent. Her work sits at the intersection of economic transformation, digital inclusion, and rights-based technology ecosystems. Yvonne is a passionate advocate for ensuring emerging technologies serve the public good, strengthen local capacity, and unlock sustainable growth across the Africa.

With over two decades of transformative leadership, Mr. Al Jaren is a seasoned technology professional with an extensive background in spearheading digital transformation and shaping comprehensive IT strategies. His academic foundation includes a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and a diploma in Artificial Intelligence from the esteemed Mohammed bin Zayed University for Artificial Intelligence. Throughout his career, he has held executive roles within renowned government institutions, encompassing the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dubai Protocol Department, smart learning, HADAYA, the Ministry of Economy, and he is one of the founders of the Emirates Drug Establishment. His expertise spans strategic technology management, government initiatives, and driving the digital transformation agenda for the United Arab Emirates. His contributions extend beyond the public sector, with successful leadership roles in the telecommunications and banking sectors, marked by the successful launch of critical technologies. He played a pivotal role in the establishment and administration of the <strong>Federal Network initiative, Marsad</strong>, working in UAE, Non-Profit Organization Platform and Register, National Social Welfare Register Platform, and National Economic Register System as well as the formulation of the information security policy for the federal government. Mr. Al Jaren also represents the UAE in the Arab League's <strong>Committee for Standardization of Armament and Software</strong> and serves as a distinguished member of the Economic Legislation Committee. Furthermore, his engagement includes a role on the <strong>Federal Joint Services Committees</strong>, overseeing critical initiatives such as the <strong>National Economic Register</strong>, <strong>Unified Anti-Money Laundering System</strong>, and <strong>BASHR</strong>. His dedication for the convergence of technology and strategic leadership drives him to contribute to the team spearheading the digital transformation system for the Ministry of Community Empowerment. <span data-teams="true"> </span>

<span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Serkan Sokmen is Co-Founder and CEO of Viseur AI, an expert in AI-assisted medical imaging and a PhD student in Bioengineering at Hacettepe University.</span> Viseur AI supports the AI transformation in the healthcare sector by providing an all-in-one / no-code artificial intelligence development ecosystem (SaaS) in the field of medical imaging. It offers services that enable healthcare professionals to develop their own AI products for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in radiology and pathology, and to utilize these products in their own work environments. With a background in medical and bioengineering, Serkan has worked as a software developer and team lead in healthcare companies and international AI startups, focusing on medical imaging technologies. He has contributed to the field through academic publications and conference talks, and continues to support innovation in healthtech by mentoring startups and leading interdisciplinary R&D projects.

Dmitry Mariyasin was appointed Deputy Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe on 1 March 2021. Prior to joining UNECE, Mr. Mariyasin was the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Armenia (since December 2018, after being Deputy Resident Representative in 2017-2018) leading a team of 120 people. From 2011 till 2016 he was the Regional Partnership Advisor and Team Leader in the UNDP’s Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy covering the Europe and the CIS region, based in Istanbul. In this function, he led a team of 20 that supported UNDP’s partnerships with new development donors and partners in the region, including strategic partnerships with Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Romania, Russia and Slovak Republic. Earlier, Mr. Mariyasin had worked in the UNDP Regional Support Center in Bratislava, Slovakia (2011-2014), the Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS at UNDP headquarters in New York (2008-2011); and in the UNDP Country Office in Moscow, Russia (2002-2008). Mr. Mariyasin holds a PHD in Economics from the Moscow State University, a Masters in Public Administration degree from New York University (Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service), as well as a degree in public administration from the Moscow State University and in international economics from the Russian Foreign Trade Academy. Mr. Mariyasin is a national of Russian Federation, is married and has two sons and one daughter.

Mothibi Ramusi is the Chairperson of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa. A qualified electronic systems engineer, and an information technology certified professional. Mothibi has over three decades of working experience in the ICT sector, ranging from telecommunications, satellite, lotteries and broadcasting. Mothibi has an extensive leadership portfolio, which extends to Executive positions in both public and private sectors. He has played a critical role in spearheading the role of ICT and satellite in community upliftment and development, especially in underserved and rural areas. Mothibi was part of the group of experts that developed the Telecommunications, broadcasting and satellite policy and regulatory framework in South Africa post 1994. Mothibi holds a Bachelor’s Degree (BEng) in Electronic Systems Engineering from the University of Essex, B-Tech Higher National Diploma in Electronic Systems Engineering from Anglia Higher Education Institute, now Ruskin University, Transnet Executive Development Programme from GIBS and International Executive Development Programme from Witwatersrand University

Avijit Sinha is the Senior Vice President, Strategy and Global Business Development at Wind River, responsible for shaping the company’s strategic direction and long-term vision. Previously, he served as President of Wind River, overseeing the company’s global business. Before that, he was the Chief Product Officer, where he led product strategy, product management, commercial partnerships, and industry solutions. He joined Wind River from Microsoft where he most recently served as General Manager for Azure Mobility enabling the digital transformation of automotive OEMs towards building connected and autonomous driving vehicles. Prior to that he was Senior Director of Corporate Business Development for IoT and Intelligent Edge. His team was responsible for strategy, partnerships, investments and acquisitions in Intelligent Edge, IoT, automotive, manufacturing, energy, smart buildings & cities, and autonomous systems (vehicles, robotics and drones). Over his 20+ year Microsoft career, he served in a range of leadership roles responsible for product development in Azure, Office, Windows, and Microsoft Research across personal, mobile and cloud computing. He holds several patents for productivity and platform software. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Products That Count and Edge AI Foundation. He has a Bachelor's degree from Indian Institute of Technology - Madras, Master's in Mechanical Engineering from Clemson University and an MBA from Seattle University.  

My name is Yvonne, I am a wife and a mother of three. I was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in May 2021. Initially the news was devastating and to be honest it still is. My coping mechanism is to communicate with others about this dreaded disease and to raise awareness. Raising awareness is very important to me, especially in my community with people of colour. Culturally I am challenged because in my culture talking about your medical issues is not the done thing. Despite everything, my outlook is positive, I try not to dwell on my situation instead, I build memories, and I am passionate about raising awareness. I am also intrigued to know more about tools that can help people like me communicate more efficiently. Communication is important to me, because my speech is affected by this disease. Speech was a huge part of my personality, my career and my job when I was employed. I sometimes feel a bit isolated because of my nonstandard speech. So therefore, I want to gain as much knowledge as possible before I leave this planet. Feeling purposeful is my goal by extending my knowledge to help others know and understand what it is like for people with Motor Neurone Disease.  

Championed global standards development for IoT, digital twins, and smart sustainable cities to accelerate digital transformation across urban and rural areas. Strengthened Saudi Arabia’s regulatory ecosystem by aligning national policies with international best practices from ITU, World Bank, WTO, and OECD to achieve regulatory excellence. Promoted global alignment on ICT issues, enabling shared policymaker visions and knowledge exchange on emerging technologies. Contributed to digital economy strategies that support the UN Sustainable Development Goals and foster long-term, multi-stakeholder partnerships.