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AI for Good Global Summit 2025 Speakers

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Doreen Bogdan-Martin

Secretary-General

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ms Bogdan-Martin is married with four children.

H.E. Mr. Alar Karis

President

Republic of Estonia

President Alar Karis was born on 26 March 1958 in Tartu.

President Karis graduated from the Estonian Agricultural Academy (now the Estonian University of Life Sciences) in 1981. He earned a Master of Science degree in parasitology in 1987, with his later research focussing on molecular genetics and developmental biology.

President Karis worked at the Estonian Research Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science and later at the Estonian Biocentre of the Academy of Sciences. He has also worked at universities in Germany, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, and joined the University of Tartu as a professor in 1999. His research has been among the most widely cited internationally of any Estonian scientist of his generation.

In 1999 President Karis founded the University of Tartu-spawned Visgenyx with Professor Eero Vasar, serving as a member of the management board until 2005. The company was involved in the development of transgene organisms for European biotech companies and universities.

President Karis has served as the rector of both the Estonian University of Life Sciences and the University of Tartu. He has led the work of Universities Estonia (the national council of university rectors) a number of times.

President Karis has served as the Auditor-General of the Republic of Estonia and as the head of the EUROSAI Working Group on Environmental Auditing (EUROSAI WGEA).

President Karis was also the director of the Estonian National Museum.

President Karis has previously been a member of the Academic Council and Academic Advisory Board of the President of the Republic and of the Research and Development Council; a member of the supervisory boards of the Estonian Fund for Nature, the European University Association, the Entrepreneurship & Living Environment Development Division of Enterprise Estonia, the International Council of Archives, the International Council of Museums and the museums of the University of Tartu and the Estonian Literary Museum; and the chairman of the supervisory boards of the Estonian Development Fund and the Estonian University of Life Sciences. He has also been a member of the World Cultural Council since 2011.

Prior to becoming the head of state, President Karis served as the honorary consul to the Republic of Chile in Estonia for 10 years. He is a member of the Estonian Students Society and the Tartu Rotary Club.

President Karis is married to Sirje Karis. They have three children.

A Message on behalf of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV

will.i.am

Musician, tech founder and philanthropist, Goodwill Ambassador, AI Skills Coalition

* virtual

As a creative artist, tech entrepreneur, the Founder & CEO of FYI, and a Goodwill Ambassador, AI Skills Coalition for the United Nations International Telecommunications Union, will.i.am has been recognized by a CLIO Award, an Emmy Award, nine Grammy Awards, the James C. Morgan Global Humanitarian Award, a TIME 100 Impact Award, the World Economic Forum’s Crystal Award, and an Honorary Fellowship by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET – UK).

He is simultaneously a creative innovation advisor, futurist, multi-platinum Grammy-winning music artist, producer, entertainer and a tech entrepreneur as part of his cross-disciplinary career. He invests in and develops businesses in a range of sectors including the FYI Web 3.0 creativity & productivity tool, automotive, consumer-tech, fashion, food & beverage, software (AI, Natural Language Understanding, Voice Computing) and telecom.

His early work as Futurist and market opportunity spotter was with Beats Electronics. As a founding equity stakeholder in the company, will.i.am was instrumental in helping to transform Beats By Dre™ into a global consumer electronics brand. Beats Electronics was purchased by Apple in 2014 for US$3 billion.

will.i.am teams with the world’s leading companies helping them to embrace future technologies, what’s next in cultural trends and develop new business initiatives. Organizations he has collaborated with include Apple, Arizona State University, Coca-Cola, Deutsche Telekom, Formula 1, Honeywell, Intel, LG, Marvel Comics, Mercedes-AMG, Microsoft, Pepsi, Salesforce, SiriusXM and UPROXX Studios.

In philanthropy will.i.am established his i.am Angel Foundation in 2009 to transform lives through education, inspiration and opportunity incorporating STEAM (science, tech, engineering, arts and mathematics) education resources and robotics clubs in schools. i.am Angel Foundation programs also include after-school tutoring and scholarship aid for university-bound students in underserved areas. With a 99% graduation rate, participating students are often the first in their families to attend a four-year college or university.

Through a private-public partnership with Los Angeles Unified schools, the foundation has helped establish hundreds of after-school robotics clubs in high schools across the city. In collaboration with Arizona State University, his FYI.AI platform is being adapted to offer university-level courses, tutoring tools and student life resources.

As an education advocate, will.i.am serves on the boards of advisors and directors of College Track, FIRST Global (student robotics), Smithsonian Science Education Center Advisory Committee, and the Iovine-Young Academy at University of Southern California. In recognition of his work in Artificial Intelligence and education, will.i.am was appointed Goodwill Ambassador, AI Skills Coalition, United Nations International Telecommunications Union in 2025.

Marc Benioff

Chair and CEO

Salesforce

Guy Parmelin

Federal Councillor, Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER)

Switzerland

Werner Vogels

Chief Technology Officer and Vice President

Amazon

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.

Kate Kallot

Founder & CEO

Amini

Time 100 AI

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.

Geoffrey Hinton

Turing Award & Nobel Laureate | AI Pioneer & Deep Learning Visionary

*Joining remotely

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 Department of Computer Science at the University of Toronto. He spent three years from 1998 until 2001 setting up the Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit 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 Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. 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 the Royal Society, the Royal Society of Canada, the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence and a former president of the Cognitive Science Society. He is an honorary foreign member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 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 David E. Rumelhart prize, the IJCAI award for research excellence, the Killam prize for Engineering , The NSERC Herzberg Gold Medal, 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 back-propagation algorithm and the first to use backpropagation for learning word embeddings. His other contributions to neural network research include Boltzmann machines, distributed representations, time-delay neural nets, mixtures of experts, variational learning, products of experts and deep belief nets. His research group in Toronto made major breakthroughs in deep learning that have revolutionized speech recognition and object classification.

Meredith Whittaker

President

Signal

Meredith Whittaker is Signal’s President and a member of the Signal Foundation Board of Directors.

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.

Lan Xue

Director of Institute for AI International Governance, Director of China Institute for Science and Technology Policy, and Co-Director of Global Institute for SDGs

Tsinghua 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.

Sasha Luccioni

AI & Climate Lead

Hugging Face

TIME100 AI

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.

Anne Bouverot

Special Envoy of France for AI

Yoshua Bengio

Full Professor at Université de Montréal, Co-President and Scientific Director of LawZero and Founder and Scientific Advisor

Mila

*Joining remotely

Yoshua Bengio 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 Bengio 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.

Anna Marks

Chair, Global Board of Directors

Deloitte

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.

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.

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. Anna is also a fellow and former board member of the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability in the UK. 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.

Dawn Song

Professor, Computer Science @ UC Berkeley and Director

Berkeley RDI (Berkeley center for responsible decentralized intelligence)

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.

Rebeca Grynspan

Secretary-General

UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

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.

Yann LeCun

Chief AI Scientist

Meta

*Joining remotely

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

H.E. Ms. Margaret Beryl Jones

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Future Digital Economy and Online Safety

United Kingdom

Cherie Blair CBE KC

Founder

Cherie Blair Foundation for Women

Former UK First Lady

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.

Bernhard Schölkopf

Director

Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems

Scientific Director, ELLIS Institute Tübingen

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.

Philip Colligan

Chief Executive Officer

Raspberry Pi Foundation

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. He was awarded a CBE for services to Engineering and Technology for Societal Impact in the King’s Birthday Honours in 2025.

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.

Juan Lavista Ferres

Corporate Vice President & Chief Data Scientist, AI for Good Lab

Microsoft

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.

Michelle Gyles-McDonnough

Executive Director

United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)

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.

David Sinclair

Professor of Genetics, Harvard Medical School

Harvard University

Aging & Longevity Expert | Bestselling Author of "Lifespan"

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.

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.

Carole-Anne Kast

State Councillor, Department of Institutions and Digital Affairs (DIN)

Government of the Canton of Geneva

Born in Geneva in 1974, Ms. Carole-Anne Kast has held the position of State Councillor in charge of the Department of Institutions and Digital Affairs (DIN) since April 2023. As such, she is a member of the government of the canton of Geneva and is responsible for the digital policy of the State and chairs the government delegation pertaining to the digital transition. She is also in charge of security and population matters. A member of the Socialist Party, which she chaired from 2014 to 2018, Ms. Kast began her political career in Onex, where she was a member of the city council from 1999 to 2005, before being elected to the Grand Council (cantonal parliament).

In addition to her political work, Ms. Kast has practiced as a lawyer at the ASLOCA Geneva legal secretariat (Tenants’ Association) and then as secretary general of the Rally for Social Housing Policy (RPSL). She also served as an associate judge at the Police Court. During her term on the Administrative Council of the City of Onex, Ms Kast chaired various foundations, including the Onex City Real Estate Foundation (FIVO). She was also a member of the Administrative Commission of Real Estate Foundations of Public Law (CAFI).

With a Master degree in Law from the University of Geneva, Ms. Kast has chosen an academic path that allows her to defend human rights. The protection of animals and the defence of local products are also issues dear to her heart and she actively supports associations such as SOS Chats or Trial International, when she is not tending to the family vineyard in Loëx.

Ebtesam Almazrouei

Executive Director of the Office of AI and Advanced Technology at the Department of Finance, CEO and Founder of AIE3

Chairperson of UN AI for Good Impact Initiative

Chair of the AI for Good Impact Initiative

Dr. Ebtesam Almazrouei is a pioneering force in artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technology, with a wealth of experience spanning both government and the private sector. Her exceptional expertise in artificial intelligence, supercomputing, telecommunications, semiconductors, technology governance, advanced technology, and strategic innovation has positioned her at the forefront of AI leadership globally, earning recognition among H2o.ai’s world’s top 100 AI leaders. As a thought leader, entrepreneur, and patent inventor, Dr. Almazrouei has been instrumental in pioneering cutting-edge AI models and fostering global AI policy frameworks.

Dr. Ebtesam Almazrouei plays a key role in shaping AI strategies and frameworks, and building international collaborations on a global scale. She serves as Chairperson of the United Nations AI for Good Impact Initiative and as a Senior AI Consultant for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), playing a critical role in shaping global AI policies, technology governance, and regulation frameworks.

Dr. Almazrouei’s exceptional contributions have garnered her notable honors, including the Leading AI Women in the World list, the Global Leadership Women in Tech® MENA Award, and a spot among the Top 100 Global Tech Speakers. She also holds various advisory roles and board memberships across various international organizations.

As the CEO and Founder of AIE3, Dr. Almazrouei continues to drive AI innovation, developing scalable AI solutions, building capacity, and leading industry-wide advancements. She previously held senior executive roles, including Executive Director, Acting Chief AI Researcher, and Founder of the AI Cross Center Unit (AICCU) at the Technology Innovation Institute (TII). She established and led the AI Cross Center, driving strategic planning and development. Dr. Ebtesam Almazrouei directed and spearheaded the development of the Falcon Large Language Models (LLMs)—Falcon 7B, 40B, and 180B. These AI models have made significant strides in AI research and development in the world, particularly in open-source generative AI models. Additionally, she developed NOOR, the first and the largest Arabic LLM in 2022.

Dr Ebtesam Almazrouei is the first Emirati woman to hold a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence for Wireless Communication Engineering and Computer Science. Her vision is to leverage AI to address global challenges and drive meaningful societal impact.

Mustafa Yasin Sheikh

Director General

National Communications Authority (NCA), Somalia

Mustafa Yasin Sheikh 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.

Don Was

American musician, record producer (Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan) and President

Blue Note Records

Music has always loomed large in the life of Don Was. Born in Detroit in 1952, he has enjoyed a multi-faceted career as a musician, record producer, music director, film composer, documentary filmmaker and radio host. Since 2011, he has also served as President of America’s venerated jazz label, Blue Note Records.

For his work as a record producer, he has won six Grammy Awards – including Album of the Year in 1989 for Bonnie Raitt’s Nick of Time and Producer of the Year in 1994. Records that Don has produced have sold close to 100 million albums for a wide array of artists like The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, John Mayer, Ringo Starr, Wayne Shorter, The B52s and Charles Lloyd. In 1995 he produced and directed a documentary about the life of Brian Wilson, I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times, that won the San Francisco Film Festival’s Golden Gate Award. As a film composer, he won the 1994 British Academy Award (BAFTA) for Best Original Score in recognition of his work on the film Backbeat. He won the 2014 Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction for his work on the CBS TV special The Beatles: The Night That Changed America. In 2018 Don was invited to join Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir to form the Wolf Brothers. They continue to consistently tour the US.

In 2011 Was became President of the iconic jazz label Blue Note Records. He fiercely protects the company’s eighty-five-year-old legacy, meticulously caretaking the revered catalog of Black American Music. This includes maintaining the availability and quality of vinyl reissues in the Tone Poet and Classic Jazz audiophile release series. He also signs and produces many of the label’s recent roster of artists including, Robert Glasper, Charles Lloyd, Wayne Shorter, Dr Lonnie Smith, Gregory Porter and Jason Moran.

Don’s deep Detroit roots keep him anchored to the city where, where for the last 15 years he has music directed and played bass in the Don Was Detroit All Star Revue concerts which are part of Detroit’s annual diversity festival, The Concert of Colors. From 2009-2012 Don hosted a weekly Sirius XM radio show on the Outlaw Country channel called The Motor City Hayride. Since 2021, he co-hosts a weekly, live radio show on Detroit’s NPR station, WDET-FM called The Don Was Motor City Playlist. Don is also the voice of Neville the Dog in the hit Amazon Prime Video children’s show, Pete the Cat.

THE PAN-DETROIT ENSEMBLE

Don Was’ latest group, The Pan-Detroit Ensemble, is a band made up of stellar jazz musicians from his hometown. “There’s a unique sound and feel to Detroit that permeates the music in a way that resonates all over the globe’, says Was. “There is a rawness, a lack of pretension and an unmistakable, underlying groove that reflects the people and culture of the entire city”

The band includes long time collaborators like Blue Note Records artist Dave McMurray on sax and Eminem’s Oscar-winning collaborator, keyboardist Luis Resto. Additional musicians include trombonist Vincent Chandler, trumpeter John Douglas, drummer Jeff Canaday, percussionist Mahindi Masai, guitarist Wayne Gerard and vocalist Steffanie Christi’ann.

“When the opportunity came to put together a new band, the message was clear to me: go back to Detroit where I came from, be who I am, play like who I am and team up with some like-minded individuals”, says Was.

H.E. Mr. Solly Malatsi

Minister

Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), South Africa

Michael Nash

Chief Digital Officer

Universal Music Group

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.”

Tatiana Valovaya

Director-General

United Nations Office at Geneva (UN Geneva)

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.

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.

Hatem Dowidar

Group CEO

Hatem Dowidar is the Group CEO of e&. He joined e& in September 2015, initially serving as Group Chief Operating Officer. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer, International in March 2016, and in May 2020, he became the Group’s Chief Executive Officer.

Ever since he took the company’s helm, Dowidar was the architect for the group’s transformation from a traditional telco to a technology group. He has spearheaded several ground-breaking strategic programmes that propelled the company’s business growth to new heights across the 38 markets where it now operates. As the company transformed into a global technology group in February 2022, and despite the ever-changing business landscape, his astute brand stewardship has been the foundation for enhancing e&’s brand equity, enhancing employee experience, and adding value to stakeholders.

Today, e& is the Fastest Growing Technology Brand and the most valuable brand portfolio in the Middle East and Africa , standing tall in global rankings. Dowidar also has been recognised by Brand Finance as the number one ranked telecom leader globally on the Brand Guardianship Index 2024. e& also attained the highest position in Brand Finance’s inaugural Employer Brand Report 2024, with its UAE entity ranking as the Top Global Telecoms Employer.

A highly skilled strategist and visionary, Dowidar has been instrumental in ushering in a new phase of strategic partnerships and key collaborations with global industry leaders that will digitally empower societies.

Prior to joining the group, Dowidar was the Group Chief of Staff for Vodafone Group based in London. He brings more than 30 years of experience in multinational companies and more than 25 years of these within the telecommunications industry across various leadership positions.

He initially joined Vodafone Egypt in 1999, served as Marketing Director (CMO), and later became the CEO of Vodafone Egypt from 2009 – 2014, where he steered the business growth with benchmark profitability in challenging and competitive environments. Dowidar has a long track record of achievements in the various leadership positions he held at Vodafone Group and its subsidiaries, including Group Core Services Director, Chairman and CEO of Vodafone Malta, CEO of Partner Markets with partnerships covering over 45 markets, and Regional Director Emerging Markets. He also has extensive Corporate Governance experience through his representation as Chairman and Board Member on several Corporate Boards within and outside the telecommunications industry.

Dowidar began his career in AEG/Deutsche Aerospace (Daimler Benz Group) in Egypt before moving into marketing at Procter & Gamble, where he held several managerial roles.

He is currently a board member of Vodafone Group, Etihad Etisalat Company (Mobily), Maroc Telecom, and Etisalat Misr (Etisalat Egypt).

On a global industry level, Dowidar is a member of the GSMA and the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) leadership panel. GSMA is an industry organisation representing the interests of global mobile operators and the broader mobile ecosystem. IGF leadership panel is a multi-stakeholder group for policies and practices relating to the Internet and technologies. Convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the IGF facilitates knowledge exchange on how to maximise Internet opportunities and address risks and challenges.

Previously, Dowidar served as a board member for Hutch Lanka, Etisalat Nigeria, Attijariwafa Bank Egypt, Barclays Bank Egypt and Vodacom Africa, Vodafone Egypt and Malta, and ElSweedy Electrometers.

Manuela Veloso

Head, AI Research

JPMorgan Chase

Herbert A. Simon University Professor Emerita, Carnegie Mellon University

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.

Alexis Lanternier

CEO

Deezer

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).

Sung Hwan Cho

President

International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

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.

Josh Parker

Senior Director, Corporate sustainability

NVIDIA

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.

Abeba Birhane

Founder and PI, Time 100 AI

AI Accountability Lab (AIAL)

Dr Abeba Birhane founded and leads the TCD AI Accountability Lab (AIAL). 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 Wired UK and TIME on the TIME100 Most Influential People in AI list in 2023. Dr. Birhane also served on the United Nations Secretary-General’s AI Advisory Body and currently serves at the AI Advisory Council in Ireland.

Rong Yu

Head, Senior Technical Expert

Language & Science Laboratory at Alibaba DAMO Academy

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.

Alessandra Sala

Global President of Women in AI; Chair of AI and Multimedia Standards Collaboration, Sr. Director of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science

Shutterstock

President, Women in AI

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

President of Technology

Warner Music Group

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.

George Papandreou

former Prime Minister of Greece, General Rapporteur for Democracy, PACE, Council of Europe

Greece

George Papandreou is former Prime Minister of Greece (2009-2011) and currently Member of Parliament with the Panhellenic Socialist Movement/Movement of Change. As an MP, he represents Hellenic Parliament in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and has chaired over the years several Committees in producing recommendations for deepening democracy, human rights and the rule of law across its 47 member-states. He also currently serves as the General Rapporteur for Democracy of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

First elected as MP in 1981, he served in many governmental posts. As Minister of Education (1994-1996), he founded the Greek Open University and promoted multicultural programs. As Minister of Foreign Affairs (1999-2004), he promoted peace building and European integration in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans and managed a breakthrough in Greek-Turkish relations. In 2004, Papandreou was elected leader of PASOK in the party and country’s first open primary – symbolizing his commitment to participatory governance. Throughout his political career, he has actively sought to maximize citizen participation in governance through information technologies.

From 2006 to 2022, he was President of Socialist International, the largest global political family. Around the world, Papandreou has deployed ‘Green Diplomacy,’ calling for the protection of the environment by placing sustainable development at the epicenter of policy-making and multilateral cooperation.

During his premiership, he applied a series of structural reforms in his attempt to modernize his country whilst avoiding bankruptcy during Greece’s 2010 debt crisis. For his achievements related to government Transparency, he received the Quadriga Award in the category “Power of Veracity”. In 2010, he was named one of the Foreign Policy magazine’s TOP 100 Global Thinkers. In 2017, he was honored with the International Leadership Association (ILA) Distinguished Leadership Award.

Hiroaki Kitano

CEO

Sony AI

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

Najwa Aaraj

CEO

Technology Innovation Institute (TII)

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.

Darren Entwistle

President and CEO

TELUS

Darren Entwistle joined TELUS in 2000 as President and CEO, and is the longest-serving CEO in the global telecommunications industry. Under Darren’s leadership, TELUS has evolved from a regional telephone company serving Western Canada into a global communications and information technology leader. Over the past 25 years, TELUS has generated a total shareholder return of 625 per cent. This result is 133 percentage points higher than the TSX’s return of 492 per cent and 584 percentage points higher than the return from the MSCI World Telecom Services Index of 41 per cent. In addition, throughout the past 25 years, TELUS’ enterprise value has more than quintupled to $65.3 billion and EBITDA has more than doubled to $7.3 billion. During this same timeframe, the TELUS brand has increased in value from a few hundred million dollars to $12.1 billion today, ranked as the most valuable telco brand in Canada and the 15th most valuable telco brand, globally, by Brand Finance; the most reputable telco brand in 2025 by Leger; the most trusted telco brand and one of Canada’s Most Authentic Brands by the Gustavson School of Business in 2023; and as the 2021 Brand of the Year by Strategy Magazine.

Darren believes passionately that TELUS’ greatest asset is the more than 130,000 team members and retirees around the globe who comprise the TELUS family. In this regard, TELUS is consistently recognized for its global leadership in respect of team engagement and has been ranked number one in the world for a company of its size and composition according to third-party surveyor Kincentric. This incredible level of engagement led to TELUS being the first organization ever to be inducted into the Best of the BEST Hall of Fame by the Association for Talent Development in acknowledgement of its global excellence in learning and development. Moreover, TELUS was named one of Canada’s Top 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures by Waterstone Human Capital for three consecutive three-year award timeframes, and earned the distinction of being the sixth company ever inducted into Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures Hall of Fame. In addition, TELUS has been recognized by Forbes as one of the World’s Best Employers four times, and, notably, was the only Canadian/U.S. telecommunications company on the list in 2024.

The world-leading culture within TELUS empowers team members to deliver on the top corporate priority of providing the best client experience in the industry as measured by customers’ likelihood to recommend TELUS products and services. The team’s efforts have been lauded by consumers who ranked Koodo the highest of all Canadian wireless carriers for three years in the J.D. Power Wireless Customer Care Satisfaction survey and also gave TELUS top marks in the Canadian Wireless Network Quality Study. This commitment to putting customers first underscores the TELUS team’s long-standing dedication to providing Canadians with the network speed, reliability and coverage to help them live better lives and remain connected to what matters most. As a result, TELUS is consistently recognized for global leadership in broadband network excellence from independent, third-party organizations, including UK-based Opensignal as well as U.S.-based Ookla, J.D. Power and PCMag.

At the heart of TELUS’ culture is a deeply rooted belief in the symbiotic relationship between business success and the welfare of our communities. Since 2000, TELUS and its team members have generously devoted $1.8 billion in value, including 2.4 million days of volunteerism in local communities, helping millions of citizens in need. This heartfelt commitment was recognized in 2010 when TELUS became the first Canadian company to be named the Most Outstanding Philanthropic Corporation globally by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. In 2012, the team’s passion for giving back was honoured once again with an inaugural Prime Minister’s Volunteer Award; in 2018, TELUS earned the Business as a Force for Good Award in the category of Corporate Social Responsibility from the INSEAD National Alumni Association of Canada; and in 2020, the Wall Street Journal ranked TELUS 29th in their 100 Most Sustainably Managed Companies in the World report, and 15th, globally, in the subcategory of social capitalism – TELUS was the only telecommunications company and one of only three Canadian companies named to the list. Moreover, reflecting TELUS’ leadership in responsible corporate citizenship, the company’s sustainability practices continue to earn consistent global recognition. Notably, TELUS has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index for 24 consecutive years – a feat unequalled by any of its North American peers – and has also been named to the World Index 14 times. In addition, TELUS earned the inaugural Terra Carta Seal, presented by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to global corporations that are demonstrating their commitment to the creation of genuinely sustainable markets, and was recognized in TIME Magazine’s inaugural World’s Most Sustainable Companies 2024, ranking #21 of 500 companies globally, #2 Canadian company and #1 Canadian telecommunications company.

In recognition of Darren’s exemplary contributions to the community and to Canada as a whole, in 2018, he was appointed to the Order of Canada. Similarly, in 2003 he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal and in 2012 he received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. In 2022, Darren was inducted into the Business Laureates of British Columbia Hall of Fame; was named Canadian Business Leader of the Year by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce; and was awarded the International Horatio Alger Award by the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, an honour bestowed upon North America’s most respected leaders in appreciation of their hard work and, perseverance and ability to overcome obstacles. Additionally, Darren earned recognition as CEO Achiever, Champion of the Year by CEO World Awards, was named the Most Admired CEO by Waterstone Human Capital in 2017, received the President’s Award from the Institute for Performance and Development in 2015, and was presented with the inaugural Innovator of the Year award from the Ontario Science Centre in 2012 in honour of his contributions to innovation in science. Darren is also the recipient of the 2011 Canadian Business Leader of the Year Award from the University of Alberta; the 2011 Champion of Public Education Award from The Learning Partnership; and the 2011 T. Patrick Boyle Founders Award by the Fraser Institute for outstanding leadership in business and philanthropy. On a worldwide basis, Darren was recognized with the CEO Leadership in Action Award from Diversity Journal in 2011 and the National Philanthropy Business Leader of the Year Award in 2010 from the David Foster Foundation.

Darren has a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) degree from Concordia University, an MBA in Finance from McGill University and a diploma in Network Engineering from the University of Toronto. He has received honorary Doctorates of Law from McGill University, Concordia University, the University of Alberta and the University of Victoria. Darren also holds an honorary Bachelor in Business Administration from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and is an Honorary Fellow of The Royal Conservatory in Toronto.

Reflecting Darren’s belief that diversity creates a whole that is far greater than the sum of its parts, TELUS is a signatory of the Catalyst Accord mandating an increase in the overall proportion of Canadian Financial Post 500 board seats held by women. In 2020, TELUS also signed the Pledge, created through the BlackNorth Initiative, committing to help end anti-Black systemic racism. Darren is a founding member of The 30% Club in Canada, a founding member of the Canadian Board Diversity Council and a vocal proponent of their Diversity 50 initiative, as well as a signatory of both the Ontario Securities Commission’s Staff Consultation Paper regarding Women on Boards, and the B.C. Minerva Pledge. Darren’s past directorships include: George Weston Ltd., the Business Council of Canada, TD Bank Financial Group, McGill University Board of Governors and Bell Cablemedia Plc in the United Kingdom.

Cameron F. Kerry

Ann R. and Andrew H. Tisch Distinguished Visiting Fellow

The Brookings Institution

Visiting Scholar, MIT Media Lab

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.

Lydia Logan

Vice President for Global Education and Workforce Development, CSR

IBM

Lydia Logan is Vice President for Global Education and Workforce Development, CSR at IBM. She leads the strategy and execution of IBM’s global education and workforce development initiatives, including IBM SkillsBuild. Her work focuses on creating innovative education initiatives and building strategic partnerships with clients, non-profits, governments, and curriculum developers. With over 25 years of experience, Lydia is an expert in education, non-profit management, policy, and philanthropy.

Pierre Sermanet

Research Scientist

Google DeepMind

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 Dogs vs Cats Kaggle competition.

Haley Cha

CEO

Parastar Entertainment

Kamel Saadaoui

President

Instance Nationale des Télécommunications (INTT)

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.

Taban Shoresh OBE

Founder & CEO

the Lotus Flower

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

Director, Human Engineering Research Laboratories and Associate Vice Chancellor for Research

University of Pittsburgh

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

CEO

The Atlantic

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.

Angle Bush

Founder

Black Women In Artificial Intelligence

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.

Notable Highlights: 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.

Black Women In Artificial Intelligence

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

Graham Alabaster

Director Geneva Office

UN-Habitat

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.

Sarah Steinberg

Head of Global Public Policy Partnerships

As Head of Global Public Policy Partnerships, Sarah Steinberg 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.

Vicente Nze Elomba

Director General

Órgano Regulador de las Telecomunicaciones (ORTEL), Equatorial Guinea

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.

Victoria Oakley

CEO

International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI)

Victoria Oakley is IFPI’s Chief Executive Officer, leading the organisation’s global operations.

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.

Touradj Ebrahimi

Professor, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Convenor of JPEG Group, and Vice Chair

AI and Multimedia Authenticity Standards Collaboration

Convenor of JPEG Group

Touradj Ebrahimi is professor of image processing at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and active in teaching and research in multimedia signal processing. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

Alex Zhavoronkov

Founder & CEO

Insilico Medicine

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.

H.E. Dr. Tatenda Annastacia Mavetera

Minister

Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Zimbabwe

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.

Luvsan-Ochir Altai

Commissioner and Head of Executive Office

Communications Regulatory Commission (CRC), Mongolia

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.

Anne Marie Engtoft Meldgaard

Tech Ambassador

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Denmark

Anne Marie Engtoft Larsen is Denmark’s Tech Ambassador with responsibility for representing the Danish Government to the global tech industry and leading Danish efforts in global technology gov-ernance. TechPlomacy is a pioneering initiative elevating technology and digitalization to a crosscut-ting foreign and security policy priority of the Danish government. Anne Marie and her team have a global mandate and a physical presence in Silicon Valley, Copenhagen and Beijing, transcending bor-ders and regions in rethinking the traditional understanding of a diplomatic representation.

Prior to her appointment, Anne Marie worked at World Economic Forum in Geneva (2017-2020) where she led the World Economic Forum’s work on the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Global Public Goods. Her focus was on mobilizing technology companies, governments and civil society to collaboratively tackle the barriers that prevent emerging technology from scaling responsibly to help solve society’s biggest challenges. Before joining the World Economic Forum, Anne Marie co-founded an innovation house for student entrepreneurship; co-founded Democratic Capital; worked as political advisor in the Danish Parliament; and served on the Board of Directors of Copenhagen Business School and The Danish Consumer Council.

Anne Marie Engtoft Larsen holds a M.Sc. in International Development from The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in International Business & Politics from Copenhagen Business School and is a 2017 Global Leadership Fellow with the World Economic Forum.

Sam Gregory

Human rights technologist, TED AI and deepfakes speaker, Executive Director

WITNESS

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.”

Sam has served on the ICC Technology Advisory Board, co-chaired key initiatives and working groups for the Partnership on AI and the C2PA.

Juliette Fropier

Project Manager, AI & Ecological Transition

Ministries of Ecology, Energy, and Territories, France

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.

Mike Mullane

Deputy Director of Communications

International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)

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.

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.

Mike originally trained as a broadcast journalist and spent most of his career working in and for public service media before joining the IEC.

Artemis Seaford

Head of AI Safety

ElevenLabs

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.

H.E. Mr. Mark-Alexandre Doumba

Ministre de l'Économie Numérique, de la Digitalisation et de l'Innovation

Ministère de l'Économie Numérique, de la Digitalisation et de l'Innovation, Gabon

Jennifer Bachus

Acting Head of Bureau

Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, USA

Jennifer Bachus is the Acting Head of Bureau for the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy. Previously she served as Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. and Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Prague, Czech Republic. Prior to that, she served as Office Director for Central Europe at the U.S. Department of State; Special Assistant in the Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment; Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Pristina, Kosovo; Political-Economic Counselor in Astana, Kazakhstan; and head of the American Presence Post in Toulouse, France. She also served in Vietnam and Jamaica, as well as on a fellowship at Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

She has an M.A. from the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, and a B.A. from Brown University. She speaks Czech, French, and Russian, and might still manage to mangle a few words of Vietnamese.

Wang Jian

Director, Founder of Alibaba Cloud

Zhejiang Lab

Dr. Jian Wang is an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Director of Zhejiang Lab, and Founder of Alibaba Cloud. The Cloud ranks third as a public cloud provider globally and first in Asia. He was also the chief architect of Apsara, its computing foundation, and took the lead in proposing the industrial model of using computing as a public service. In 2016, Dr. Wang pioneered and led the nonprofit City Brain initiative to develop a new digital infrastructure for sustainable “smart” cities as his personal effort and was the architect of Hangzhou City Brain. He founded the Yunqi Academy of Engineering, a private nonprofit research institute with a focus on scientific research for City Brain, and the Yunqi Science and Technology Innovation Foundation, a philanthropic private foundation that operates the free 2050 museum, which envisions the future through technology innovation and organizes the 2050 event every year in April, promoting the vision of science and technology bringing people together.

Peggy Hicks

Director of the Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures and Right to Development Division

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

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.

H.E. Mr Jerry William Silaa

Minister

Ministry of Information, Communication and Information Technology, Tanzania (United Republic of)

Currently, Hon. Jerry William Silaa serves as the Minister for Information, Communication and Information Technology for the United Republic of Tanzania and is the elected Member of Parliament representing the contry’s most populated Ukonga Constituency in the Dar es Salaam Region since 2020. At 42 years old, he has established himself as one of Tanzania’s most accomplished young politicians.

Mr. Silaa holds dual Bachelor’s degrees: A Bachelor of Science in Electronics Science and Communication from the University of Dar es Salaam, and a Bachelor of Laws from the Open University of Tanzania. He furthered his education with an MBA from the Esami- Maastricht School of Management (MSM) in the Netherlands, as well as an Accountant Technician Certificate from the National Board of Accountants and Auditors in Tanzania. Additionally, he possesses a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from Law School of Tanzania and is an Advocate of the High Court of Tanzania.

Mr. Silaa’s political career began at the grassroots level within the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party, where he has climbed the ranks over 26 years to serve on the National Executive and the 34-member Central Committee for 13 yrs. He has had the honor of working under the party Chairmanship of both Presidents H.E. John Pombe Magufuli and

H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete. Many of his peers from the party amd its youth league have advanced to significant roles in government, including ministers, deputy ministers, and regional and district commissioners.

Beginning his government political journey as a ward councilor in 2005 at the age of 23, Mr. Silaa progressed to Deputy Mayor at 27 and in 2010 was elected as the Mayor of Ilala Municipality in Dar es Salaam City at 28, where he achieved numerous accomplishments during his tenure.

He served as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Public Investment in 2022, before his appointment as Minister for Lands, Housing, and Human Settlement Development on August 30, 2023, and subsequently as Minister for Information, Communication, and Information Technology on July 22, 2024.

Hon. Jerry William Silaa is happily married to Mariam, and they are proud parents of a 9 yrs old son, called Simba.

H.E. Ms. Neema Lugangira

Women Political Leaders’ Secretary General | Member of Parliament

Tanzania (United Republic of)

Hon. Neema Lugangira (MP) is a Member of Parliament in Tanzania who brings extensive experience and a successful track record in championing policy advocacy and legislative reforms across different sectors. As a Parliamentarian, her personal prioritised agendas include food systems, nutrition and climate action, digital inclusion and development, global and community health, gender equality in politics and digital democracy (incl. election observation) in Tanzania and across Africa.

She also serves as the Chair of the African Parliamentary Network on Internet Governance (APNIG) and the Chair of the Tanzania Chapter of the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. At national level, Hon. Lugangira is the Founder of two NGOs; Agri Thamani, which is committed to ending malnutrition through nutrition advocacy, improve community nutrition in schools, elderly & hospitals; strengthen food systems and climate action; and Omuka Hub, which is focused on accelerating digital Tanzania through digital inclusion & development, digital rights & democracy; and digital advocacy with special focus on peripherals.

Whilst internationally, Hon. Lugangira is a Member of the Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Group of the United National Internet Governance Forum; the International Parliamentary Network on Education (IPNEd) Regional Representative for Africa; the UNITE – Global Parliamentarians Network for Global Health; Global Co-Chair of the Global Parliamentary Group to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vital Voices Fellow; WSIS Gender Trendsetter for Advancing Digital Gender Inclusion; and Host to the soon-to-be launched Neema Lugangira Podcast discussing all things development related to her above mentioned personal priority agendas.

Anja Kaspersen

Director for Global Markets Development, Frontier Issues and Critical Technologies

IEEE

Anja Kaspersen, serving as the Director for Global Markets Development at the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), plays a significant role in the realm of technology and AI systems governance. Her work at IEEE is centered around Frontier Issues and Emerging Spaces, where she focuses on the thoughtful advancement of technology.

As a Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, Kaspersen co-leads the AI and Equality Initiative. This role is dedicated to fostering a nuanced approach to ethics in technology and AI governance and international affairs, emphasizing the promotion of informed public civic ethics and engaging in meaningful discourse.

Previously, Kaspersen held the position of Director at the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs in Geneva and served as the Deputy Secretary-General of the Conference on Disarmament. In these roles, she was pivotal in highlighting the effects of emerging technologies on international security, especially in arms control and non-proliferation dialogues.

Her extensive background includes positions with the United Nations, the European Union, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the World Economic Forum, and a diplomatic career with the Norwegian Government. Her experience in the private sector and academic roles has provided her with deep and varied insights. These experiences have equipped her with a unique blend of diplomatic expertise and proven leadership in complex processes, combining technical knowledge, anthropological curiosity, and political savvy.

Kaspersen also serves on the Standing Committee on Ethical Matters of INTERPOL,is involved with the International Military Council on Climate and Security and is an alumna International Gender Champion.

Leonard Rosenthol

Senior Principal Architect

Adobe

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.

H.E. Mr. Hubert Vargas Picado

Vice Minister

Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación, Tecnología y Telecomunicaciones, Costa Rica

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.

Philippe Metzger

Secretary-General & CEO

International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)

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.

Tammy Masterson

Head of Best Practices

UK AI Safety Institute

Sameer Chauhan

Director

United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC)

The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Mr. Sameer Chauhan as the Director of the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC) on 1 December 2019.

As the head of the organization, he 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. He is accountable to the UNICC Management Committee (MC) that governs the organization and represents the entire United Nations system.

Mr. Chauhan effectively led a strategic transformation of UNICC with the advice and backing of his board. This has allowed UNICC to become the preferred strategic digital partner for the whole UN system. The organization has successfully built capabilities in areas such as cybersecurity, data, AI, crypto and automation, as well as in key business areas like treasury, finance and HR. He started his career at UNICC in August 2015 in New York as Chief of Clients and Projects.

Previous Experience

Mr. Chauhan has over twenty years of prior experience in the public and private sectors and an educational background in Computer Engineering and Computer Science. Before UNICC, Mr. Chauhan was the Head of Knowledge Management and Digital Marketing IT for Deutsche Bank (DB) Asset and Wealth Management. He played several roles at DB over eight years, including as the COO for an IT division of approximately 800 staff and as the product manager responsible for a multi-billion-dollar trading platform. He also spent several years as a consultant for Deloitte, working across various industries including financial services, public sector, telecom, manufacturing and software.

Tilly Lockey

User

Open Bionics

My name’s Tilly and I’m a 15-year-old bionic girl!

I was diagnosed with Meningococcal Septicaemia Strain B when I was only 15 months old. I was rushed to the hospital and there were loads of doctors around me. They gave my mam absolutely no chance of survival, but obviously I’m here today so I proved them wrong! When I was in hospital my mam promised me that one day I would have hands again, so ever since we’ve been working with different people and companies in the hope to make life easier for other child amputees like me.

Before the Hero Arm, I used to wear some very basic myoelectric hands. What I mean by “very basic” is that they only opened (not very far) and closed. There were no other grips you could do or anything like that, just literally open and close. These hands also looked very different. They were made out of silicon, based off my older sister’s hands. This made me feel more like everyone else. I blended in. But that’s just not what I wanted to be like. I wanted to stand out from the crowd. I didn’t want to hide the fact that I had no hands and I just wanted to be me!

I love the Hero Arm! It’s so much fun to use and I’m finding out new things I can do with it everyday. I’m a very independent person! I don’t like relying on other people, which is probably why I’ve adapted so well. I can do pretty much everything people with hands can do. I love the fact that I can pose and do other things that I could do before but just a little easier. The Hero Arm covers are easily changeable, you can just take them off and change it up whenever you please. I love being able to match my outfit with my hand!

I’m finding out new things I can do with my Hero Arms everyday. There’s this thing on the Wii called Just Dance where you have to hold the Wii remote and dance with it in your hand. Which is obviously proven to be a challenge for me! What I used to do is tape the Wii remote to my arm, which would really hurt when taking it off, but at least it worked! However now I can just stick my hands on, pick the Wii remote up and start dancing! I can also do a thumbs up or an “ok” sign and lots more! I love being able to do this, because when I’m taking pictures with my friends I naturally do a peace sign without my bionic arms on, because I still feel all my fingers although they’re not there, but being able to see them actually there? I never ever thought I’d see that!

At the end of January 2019, I was surprised with really cool Alita: Battle Angel bionic Hero Arms and went on the blue carpet at the world premiere of the movie with Rosa Salazar and director James Cameron. In May 2018 my mam and I appeared on This Time Next Year with Davina McCall, which was watched by millions of people. In the future, the aim for these hands is that I really want to make them fashionable and I want to be in the top fashion shows. You can follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram too.

H.E. Mr. Grigoriy Borisenko

Deputy Minister

Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation

Born on December 11, 1982 in Moscow.

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”.

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”.

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.

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.

Speaks English.

Naria Santa Lucia

General Manager, Digital Inclusion and Community Engagement, Microsoft Philanthropies

Microsoft

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.

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.

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.

Tomas Lamanauskas

Deputy Secretary-General

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

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).

Aminu Maida

Executive Vice Chairman

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Leslie Saxon

Interventional cardiologist, Professor of medicine (clinical scholar), Executive director, USC Center for Body Computing (CBC)

Keck School of Medicine of USC

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.

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).

Beth McGrath

Global Leader for Government and Public Services

Deloitte

The Honorable Beth McGrath is Deloitte’s Global Leader for Government and Public Services. In her role she is committed to strengthening synergies across global Industries and Government and Public Services with a focus on client mission needs and solutions. Ms. McGrath advises government clients on a broad range of issues reflecting the breadth of government services including global trends impacting mission priorities and business imperatives; strategies that help drive transformation and improve operations; leadership; IT portfolio management; and workplace, workforce, and digital transformation. Beth also leads Deloitte’s Defense, Security & Justice practice globally, advising clients on issues related to global defense and security, crisis response, supply chain resilience, justice reform, cyber, and illicit finance to improve mission outcomes and create a safer, more secure and just world. Beth is a frequent speaker and collaborator with organizations including the Halifax International Security Forum, the Peace With Women Fellowship, the Munich Security Conference and the Defense and Security Equipment International (DSEI). She is also a strong advocate for women in leadership and military families, dedicating time formally and informally to mentor women and military spouses. Beth has broad, multi-disciplined, strategic and operational management experience acquired from 25+ years successful performance in the US Government. Prior to joining Deloitte, Beth was confirmed by the US Senate as the Deputy Chief Management Officer for the Department of Defense (DoD), where she brought a dedicated focus to improving business operations, oversaw a $7 billion information technology portfolio, and authored the DoD’s Strategic Management Plan. She has also served as Vice Chair of the US Federal Suitability and Security Clearance Performance Accountability Council; the Deputy Director for Systems Integration, US Defense Finance and Accounting Service; and held numerous business/acquisition roles within the US Department of the Navy. She has also twice received the US DoD Medal for Distinguished Public Service and the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Medal.

H.E. Mr. Younis Haji Al Khoori

Undersecretary

Ministry of Finance, United Arab Emirates

Robert Trager

Co-Director, Oxford Martin AI Governance Initiative

University of Oxford

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 Burkle Center for International Relations. 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 Institute for Global Cooperation and Conflict, the Berkeley Risk and Security Lab, 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.

Seizo Onoe

Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB)

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Seizo Onoe took office as Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB) at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 1 January 2023.

Before his election as TSB Director by ITU Member States, he completed an over 30-year career with Japanese mobile operator NTT DOCOMO. In 2021, he became Executive Vice President and Chief Standardization Strategy Officer for the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) Corporation and a Fellow of NTT DOCOMO, INC. From 2017, he served as NTT DOCOMO’s Chief Technology Architect and President of its subsidiary DOCOMO Technology.

Between 2012 and 2017, he served as NTT DOCOMO’s Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President, a Member of the Board of Directors, and Managing Director of R&D Innovation Division. Earlier, he served as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of NTT DOCOMO’s R&D Strategy Department and Managing Director of the company’s Radio Network Development Department.

As TSB Director, he heads the part of ITU responsible for the coordination of technical standards and collaborative standardization processes that enable the interconnection and interoperability of information and communication technologies (ICTs) worldwide.

Mr Onoe is committed to facilitating open and inclusive standardization processes, along with promoting digital technologies to address global issues, building a new ecosystem that reflects evolving technologies, and strengthening cooperation and collaboration in ICT standardization worldwide.

Known in the industry as “the father of LTE” (Long-Term Evolution), he helped upgrade the wireless broadband standard for mobile devices and networks. He now aims for global outreach to bridge standardization gaps, deliver the benefits of technology widely and speedily, and ensure meaningful and affordable broadband access for everyone.

Mr Onoe holds a Master’s degree in electronics from the Kyoto University Graduate School of Engineering.

Raquel Brizída Castro

Vice-Chairwoman

Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações (ANACOM), Portugal

Raquel Brízida Castro is the Vice-Chairwoman of ANACOM, the National Communications Authority of Portugal.

She holds a PhD in Law and is a Constitutionalist and Professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon, where she conducts scientific research on Constitutional and Technological Law.

In recent years, she has published extensively on the constitutional impacts of the EU’s new Technological and Digital Regulation, particularly the AI Act, Digital Services Act, GDPR, and Media Freedom Act. Her scholarly work on these topics is both extensive and influential, and she is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences and seminars.

She is an Effective Integrated Researcher at the Lisbon Public Law Centre, University of Lisbon, and an Associate Researcher at ICPOL, the Research Centre of the Higher Institute of Police Sciences and Internal Security. She leads national and international scientific research projects.

She is also a Visiting Assistant Professor at Técnico Lisboa and at the Higher Institute of Police Sciences and Internal Security. Prior to her appointment in February, she practiced law, focusing on Public Law, Technological Law, Constitutional Law, Administrative and Public Procurement Law,
and Data Protection.

In the past five years, she was recognized by her peers as one of the top Portuguese lawyers in Telecommunications Law, Public Law, Information Technology Law, and Privacy and Data Security Law.

She has also served as a member of the regulatory board of the Portuguese Media Regulatory Authority and worked as a journalist for over 20 years

Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava

Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT)

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

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.

Sangbu Kim

Vice President for Digital Transformation

The World Bank

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.

Eiman Kanjo

Professor, TinyML and Pervasive Computing and Head of the Smart Sensing Lab

Nottingham Trent University

Honorary Visiting Professor, Imperial College London

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 Data Centric Engineering. 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.

Bernard Maissen

State Secretary | Director

Federal Office of Communications OFCOM

Bernard Maissen has been Director of the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) since July 1, 2020. Before that, he headed the media department at OFCOM for a good two years as Vice Director.

The Rhaeto-Romanic Bernard Maissen studied German, history and journalism at the University of Freiburg and then worked in various functions as a journalist and editor-in-chief. Before moving to OFCOM, he was editor-in-chief and member of the management of the Swiss dispatch agency (sda) for 12 years.

He worked for several years on the board of the international agency network MINDS International, was a member of the program commission of the Swiss School of Journalism (MAZ) in Lucerne and was a member of the Swiss Federal Media Commission (EMEK) from 2013 until he joined OFCOM.

Kevin Frey

CEO

Generation Unlimited

Kevin leads Generation Unlimited at UNICEF in the United Nations as CEO, spearheading global initiatives to deliver skilling, employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for young people around the world. As a CEO, entrepreneur, and innovator, Kevin has built and led organizations that bridge the gaps between technology, education, employment and international development in over 90 countries.

Prior to his current role, Kevin served as CEO of Right To Play, an international development organization that protects, educates, and empowers children across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. His leadership experience also includes serving as Managing Director of Canada’s top-ranked MBA program at the University of Toronto, where he helped to shape the next generation of Canada’s business leaders.

Kevin’s entrepreneurial journey began at age 27 when he founded TeachAway, driven by the conviction that every child and young person deserves to benefit from the power of a great teacher. TeachAway grew to become the world’s leading international teacher recruitment platform and evolved into the Kesson Group, which continued to innovate creating Skooli, an online tutoring platform, and Klassroom, an online US-accredited K-12 teacher licensure program. The company’s global growth and innovative ed-tech and job-tech solutions attracted the attention of Pluribus Technologies, which acquired the Kesson Group.

Kevin holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from IE Business School at IE University, where his research focused on entrepreneurship, an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and an Honors Bachelor of Arts with High Distinction from the University of Toronto in Philosophy and History.

H.E. Ms. Mayra Arevich Marín

Minister

Ministry of Communications, Cuba

Brandon Andrews

Co-Founder

Gauge

Brandon Andrews is co-founder of Gauge; 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 Shark Tank 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 speaking and hosting events on entrepreneurship and innovation.

He helped build and hosted the inaugural CGI Entrepreneurship Greenhouse at Clinton Global Initiative. He has also headlined entrepreneurship programming around the world including Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan; Dushanbe, Tajikistan; the Unleash+ pitch competition in Mysore, India; and four-part artificial intelligence event series in Kampala, Uganda.

Working with AI for Good he hosts Innovation Factory pitch competitions around the world. He also created and hosts the Impact with AI podcast engaging entrepreneurs using AI to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

He managed the #TechtoWealth 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.

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.

He is Chairman of the DC Commission on National and Community Service. A former fashion model, he serves on the DC Commission on Fashion, Arts, and Events and works with fashion/beauty entrepreneurs.

He provides commentary on policy, politics, business and tech on TV, radio, and the web.

A former Division-1 track athlete, Brandon is a graduate of Oral Roberts University.

Bilel Jamoussi

Deputy Director of TSB | Chief, Study Groups & Policy Department (SPD)

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Dr Bilel Jamoussi, a distinguished engineer and diplomat, is the Deputy Director of ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau and Chief, Study Groups & Policy Department (SPD) in Geneva, Switzerland.

His primary mission is to establish the international standards essential for ensuring global telecommunications and ICT interoperability, promote universal, meaningful connectivity and champion sustainable digital transformation.

Key achievements under his tenure have been important new standards, ensuring increased industry engagement, bolstering cooperation with other standardization bodies, as well as leading in emerging tech discussions and building strategic partnerships.

Before 2010, he held executive roles, including Director of Standards for Nortel, and contributed to over 90 international standards bodies. With a PhD in Computer Engineering from Pennsylvania State University, he is an IEEE Senior Member and has served on the IEEESA Board of Governors. A key voice in the global ICT arena, he is a regular keynote speaker at events like the Global Cybersecurity Forum and is frequently interviewed by top media outlets.

Fluent in Arabic, French, and English, with knowledge in Spanish and German, Bilel’s global perspective has been shaped by living and working in Tunisia, Canada, the USA, and Switzerland.

Karen Hao

NYT bestselling author of EMPIRE OF AI

Karen Hao is a bestselling author and award-winning reporter covering the impacts of artificial intelligence on society. She was the first journalist to profile OpenAI and wrote a book, EMPIRE OF AI, about the company and its global implications, which became an instant New York Times bestseller. She writes for publications including The Atlantic and leads the Pulitzer Center’s AI Spotlight Series, a program training 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. She was formerly a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, covering American and Chinese tech companies, 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 American National Magazine Award for Journalists Under 30. She received her Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from MIT.

Photographer credits: Shoko Takayasu

Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck

Chairman

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission of Thailand (NBTC)

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.

Ranvir Sachdeva

Technologist (AI), Global Author, TEDx speaker, ITU 160 Ambassador, Technology Ambassador

International Telecommunication Union, ECB Sustainable Youth, City One Initiative and Chakra Dialogues Foundation

Ranvir Sachdeva, born in 2017, is a child prodigy who is a technologist (AI), a global author, and a TEDx speaker. He is the ITU160 Ambassador for International Telecommunication Union and also serves as a Technology Ambassador for ECB Sustainable Youth, City One Initiative, and Chakra Dialogues Foundation.

In July 2025, Ranvir aged 7, was invited by the Ministry of Education – Government of India, to share his perspective on innovation in the era of AI and digital technologies inspiring Indian youth and delegates, as a part of the national level celebrations of 5 successful years of the National Education Policy (NEP 2020). Earlier in the same month, he also delivered an impactful keynote on “Agents of Change: A 7-year old’s lens on Generation AI for good” after being invited as the youngest speaker at AI for Good Global Summit 2025, led by International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in Geneva, Switzerland and later, was appointed as the ITU160 Ambassador.

In September 2024, Ranvir, aged 6, became the world’s youngest participant to have ever been invited by the United Nations to attend the 79th General Assembly session – Summit of The Future at UN Headquarters in New York. He was personally congratulated by His Excellency, Secretary General, Antonio Guterres for his book, ‘Are You Born With AI?’ which talks about Responsible AI and the youth being the change makers. Antonio wrote in his words for Ranvir, “We count on you for a better world with AI!”. United Nations has done an exclusive story on Ranvir’s commitment to AI driving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals which is published on their official website. He was also acknowledged by the UN Youth Affairs for his contributions around SDGs after his meeting with the United Nations Assistant-Secretary General, Felipe Paullier.

Earlier, at age 6, Ranvir became the world’s youngest TEDx speaker on technology and innovation (Artificial Intelligence). He also holds the record for being the Youngest TEDx speaker in Asia and has his name registered in the Asia Book of Records.

With a Google certification on Responsible AI, Ranvir has built his own AI powered chatbot integrating with apps using APIs. Ranvir is also a global author after he penned down his first book – ‘Are You Born With AI?’. The book is available globally on Amazon and delivers a
strong message of Responsible AI with youth as the change makers. At age 6, his Cambridge Assessments (CEM) reported his subject knowledge equivalent to that of a 14-year-old globally. Ranvir is currently pursuing a course on Machine Learning from Harvard University.

At age 5, Ranvir became the world’s youngest Apple Swift programmer to meet and to be invited by Apple CEO Tim Cook for the Worldwide Developers Conference at Apple Headquarters in California in 2023.

Also, Ranvir was declared the youngest Green Yodha by Schneider Electric CMO, Chris Leong, after he shared his knowledge around sustainability and Net Zero at a global exposition, at age 5. At age 4, his summer project on Mars Mission was showcased on NASA’s
Jet Propulsion Laboratory website.

With his interest in mathematics, digital technologies, sustainability, and space, Ranvir has also been recognised by WWF, IIT (IHFC) Delhi, Ministry of Education, Science Oxford, and Reading Agency UK. He pursues Cricket and plays for his school’s under-10 team and also
involves himself in Chess and Scrabble during his leisure.

Supporting Links:

1. AI for Good Global Summit Keynote: Agents of change: A 7-year old’s lens on Generation AI for good – Video Link

2. United Nations Official Story: Six-year-old technologist and AI author Ranvir Sachdeva at the United Nations – Video Link

3. DD News Exclusive Interview: India’s 6-year-old Ranvir Singh Sachdeva to participate in UNGA Summit of Future – Video Link (India’s National News Channel for the Prime Minister’s visit to United Nations – Summit of the Future)

4. Apple – ANI News (South East Asia Largest Media News Agency): Youth will shape tomorrow’s tech: Tim Cook impressed by Indian Coding Prodigy – Link

5. TEDx Talk: Ranvir’s first TEDx Talk – Are You Born with AI? – Video Link

6. TEDx Talk: Ranvir’s second TEDx Talk – Finding Your Voice – Video Link

7. Asia Book of Records: Youngest to deliver a speech at TEDx Talk – Link

8. Are You Born With AI? Book: Amazon Global – Link

Hwirin Kim

Chief of Hydrological and Water Resources Services Section

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Dr Hwirin Kim has been serving as the Chief of the Hydrological and Water Resources Services Section (HWR) since 2019. The HWR section supports the enhancement of Members’ hydrological and water resources services by coordinating diverse projects and programmes such as the Associated Programme on Flood Management (APFM, WMO/GWP), the Flash Flood Guidance System With Global Coverage (FFGS/WGC), the WMO Community of Practice on Flood Forecasting and Early Warning Systems (CoP -FF-EWS), and other activities related to hydrologic forecasting and water resources assessment and management.

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).

Hassan Jasim Al-Sayed

Minister’s Advisor

Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), Qatar

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.

Frederic Werner

Chief, Strategy and Operations, AI for Good, TSB

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Based in Geneva, Switzerland, Frederic Werner is a recognized leader at the intersection of artificial intelligence, technology, and global development. As the Chief 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Lucy Lyons

CEO and Co-founder

Kestrix

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.

Walter Werzowa

Founder and President

HealthTunes

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.

Ariane Thomas

Global Tech Director for Sustainability and Trustworthy AI

L'Oréal

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

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

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

Rena Maycock

Founder

Chirp child-protection software

H.E. Mr. Burak Akçapar

Ambassador, Permanent Representative

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Türkiye to the UN

Ambassador Burak Akçapar is Türkiye’s Permanent Representative to the UN Office at Geneva, Conference on Disarmament and other international organizations. He previously served as the Deputy Foreign Minister of Türkiye, Ambassador to Spain, Permanent Representative to the UN World Tourism Organization, Ambassador to India, Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington DC and Doha, member of NATO International Staff and Vice Consul in Hamburg. While Ambassador to India, he was concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Nepal. At his 37th year at Foreign Ministry he still considers policy planning to be his passion after three tours on the file including as Director General for Policy Planning.

Dr. Akçapar studied political science at Boğaziçi University and international law at Universitaet Hamburg. Since 2011 he holds the rank of Associate Professor in Turkish Academia. As professor he taught Political Risk Analysis and International Security at ETU and METU in Ankara.
He is the author of several books and manuscripts, including People’s Mission to the Ottoman Empire (Oxford University Press) and Turkey’s New European Era (Rowman & Littlefield).

Ambassador Akçapar was awarded the NATO Secretary General’s Award for Excellence and the Royal Order of Spain (Encomienda de Numero).
In addition to his day job and academic interests, Dr. Akçapar currently studies the potential of AI, quantum social science and big data on strategic foresight and anticipatory governance.

H.E. Dr Amr Talaat

Minister

Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Egypt

Ria Rustagi

Co-Founder and CEO

Neuphony

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.

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.

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.

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.

James A. R. Marshall

Director, Centre for Machine Intelligence

Opteran

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.

H.E. Ms. Meutya Viada Hafid

Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs

Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs, Indonesia

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.

Reinhard Scholl

Programme Chair, AI for Good, Former Deputy Director, TSB

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

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.

H.E. Mr. Samuel Nartey George

Minister

Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Ghana

Amy Diaz

President

GateWay Community College

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.

H.E. Mr. Alioune Sall

Ministre

Ministère de la communication des télécommunication et de l’économie numérique, Senegal

Michele Woods

Director, Copyright Law Division

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

Michele is the Director of the Copyright Law Division at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). She has over 30 years of experience in copyright law, and joined WIPO in 2012. She leads the Division’s assistance to Member States with updating national copyright and related rights laws, as well as joining and implementing WIPO copyright and related rights treaties. She also serves as Secretary to the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR), overseeing the work of the Secretariat for the Committee.

Before joining WIPO, Michele was the Associate Register for Policy and International Affairs in the United States Copyright Office. Prior to joining the United States Copyright Office, Michele practiced intellectual property law with a focus on copyright as Counsel in the Intellectual Property and Technology Group at the law firm Arnold & Porter LLP, in Washington, D.C.

Big Ocean

K-POP band

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.

Niraj Verma

Administrator (Digital Bharat Nidhi), Department of Telecommunications

Ministry of Communications, Government of India

Academic Profile

● Graduation (B.Tech) from IIT Kanpur (1990).

● Post Graduate from IIM Ahmedabad (2008).

Past Work Experience

● Worked briefly at Bokaro Steel Plant, SAIL (1990-91) as Management Trainee.

● Worked in Dept. Of Telecommunication (DOT) (1993-94) as Asstt. Divisional Engineering (Technical) after qualifying in Indian Engineering Services (IES) through UPSC – 1992.

Work Experience in IAS

Joined the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) in 1994 in the Assam-Meghalaya cadre. Worked in the districts of NC Hills, Nagaon, Goalpara, Sibsagar and as the District Magistrate in Dibrugarh. Was posted as MD, Assam Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) and as Commissioner & Secretary/ Secretary in Industries, Information Technology, Agriculture, Science & Technology and Chief Minister’s office till 2011.

Came to New Delhi on central deputation (Government of India) in August 2011. Joined Ministry of Road Transport & Highways as Joint Secretary. Was posted as Member (PPP), National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) from March 2016 to August 2018. Also held additional charge as Member (Finance) till December 2016.

After November, 2018, was posted as Principal Secretary (Power), Government of Assam. Was also holding charge as Chairman of three power utilities for generation, transmission and distribution i.e. APGCL, AEGCL and APDCL. Held additional charge of Principal Secretary, Home & Personnel till November, 2023.

Joined Center again on 22.11.2023. Presently working as Administrator, Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), Department of Telecommunications.

Merritt Moore

Adjunct Professor

New York University Abu Dhabi

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 TIME, Financial Times (FT), Vogue, BBC. Her interdisciplinary work earned her a spot in Forbes 30 under 30. Merritt was one of the 12 candidates selected to undergo rigorous astronaut training on BBC Two “Astronauts: Do you have what it takes?”, 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.

Ya-Qin Zhang

Chair Professor

Tsinghua University

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.

Patrick Lucey

Chief Scientist

Stats Perform

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: www.patricklucey.com).

Amanda Brock

CEO

OpenUK

OpenUK CEO, Amanda Brock has built one of open source’s most recognised and impactful organisations. Executive Producer of State of Open Con (2023- 2025), Amanda’s a globally sought-after keynote speaker. 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 internet law during the early 2000’s.

Regularly contributing to tech press, she edited “Open Source: Law, Policy and Practice”, 2nd edition (2022).

Recognition: Computer Weekly 50 Most Influential Women in UK Tech (2023, 2024) listed as #20 in 2024; Computing IT Leaders 100 (2023,2024,2025); Lifetime Achievement Award WIPL (2022); Women Who Will Changemaker (2023); INvolve Heroes (2022, 2023); Novi Awards (2024); and Ambassador, Open Charge Alliance.

Advisory Board Appointments: UK Cabinet Office Open Standards Board; UKRI Digital Research Infrastructure; UKRI Exascale; KDE; commercial boards – Mimoto, Scarf, FerretDB and Space Aye; and Fellow, Open Forum Academy; Distinguished Fellow, Rust Foundation; and European Representative, OIN and Board Member Mojaloop Foundation.

Kamal Kishore

Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, and Head

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)

On 27 March 2024, the United Nations Secretary-General announced the appointment of Kamal Kishore as Assistant Secretary-General and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Jenny Bates

Director General, Economics, Climate and Global Issues

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)

Jenny Bates is Director General, Economics, Climate and Global Issues at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). In this role she is responsible for FCDO’s work on climate change and energy, science, technology, trade, investment and economic security.

Jenny is a member of the FCDO’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 FCDO Services.

Jenny joined the then Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in March 2020 as Director General, Europe, responsible for leading the FCO’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 FCDO 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).

H.E. Eng. Abdulbaset Albaour

Minister

Ministry of Telecommunications and Chairman of the General Authority of Communication and Informatics, Libya

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:

National Digital Transformation Strategy
Government Data Governance Policy
ICT Sector Strategy 2023–2027
National Artificial Intelligence Policy
Digital Accessibility Policy
Internet of Things (IoT) Policy
Digital Government Service Delivery Guide

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.

Hui Zhang

CTO

KUKA

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.

Susan Graham

CEO

Dendra Systems

Dr. Susan Graham is the CEO of Dendra Systems, a data analytics company that uses AI and drone technology to restore natural ecosystems. 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.

DADABOTS

A band, a hackathon team, and an ephemeral research lab

DADABOTS

CJ and Zack are the music hacker duo DADABOTS. They met at Berklee College of Music & formed DADABOTS at Music Hack Day MIT in 2012. From playing in metal, punk, and noise bands, to studying composition & programming, they realized machine learning was an even more extreme way to make sound & dove completely into eliminating themselves from music. In 2017 they published a paper at NeurIPS “Generating Black Metal and Math Rock” about SampleRNN (now considered vintage AI). Advancing from songs to endless streams, they run possibly the longest continuous 24/7 YouTube livestream, Relentless Doppelganger, generating techdeath for 5+ years. They co-founded Harmonai, the music research team within StabilityAI, and created Stable Audio, which was on TIME’s best inventions of 2023. Recently they published a documentary PROMPT JOCKEYS about live DJing music that doesn’t exist yet.

Mutale Nkonde

CEO

AI for the People

Mutale Nkonde (she/her/hers) is a researcher and policy advisor advocating for policies and practices that reduce the expression of algorithmic bias in the design, deployment and governance in AI systems used in public life.

She is currently pursuing a PhD in Digital Humanities at the University of Cambridge, where her research focuses on far right narratives that migrate from white to Black communities across the globe. Which is inspired by her work over the last five years with the US Tik Tok Content Advisory Council, where she works alongside six other national experts on how online discourse impacts offline behavior.

Her work began when she became the lead advocate for the Algorithmic Accountability Act, which was first introduced to the US House of Representative in 2019, while she was a fellow at Data and Society. It’s major call is the inclusion of impact assessments in engineering workflows, so regulators can gain insight on the impact AI systems have on the American populace before market release. This act has been reintroduced in 2022 and 2023 and we hope will be reintroduced during the second Trump Term.

She consolidated this work after founding AI for the People, a global non profit that provides advisory services to major decision makers interested in responsible approaches to AI development. AI for the People has provided consultation services to the Biden Harris White House, the UN Business and Technology Project. And will be joining colleagues at UNESCO in Paris to discuss how the use of AI driven social media algorithms impact Black people’s access to democracy across the globe at their headquarters in Paris this June.

In 2025 AI for the People became shareholder activists, using their proxy votes to encourage the world’s largest AI developers to adopt responsible approaches to AI. Two of our earliest victories were voting for Microsoft to conduct environmental impact assessment on data centers And Apple voting to protect DEI initiatives.

Nkonde has a BSc. (Hons) in Sociology from Leeds Metropolitan University, a Masters Degree in American Studies from Columbia University. As well as formally holding fellowships at Harvard, Stanford and is currently a visiting policy fellow at the Oxford Internet Institute.

H.E. Mr. Omar Saud AlOmar

Chairperson of the DCO Council and Minister of State for Communication Affairs

Kuwait

HE Omar Saud Alomar is the Minister of State for Communication Affairs, overseeing the efforts of Kuwait’s Central Agency for Information Technology (CAIT), Ministry of Communications (MOC), and the Communication and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA). His distinguished career spans Information Technology, Internal Audit, and commercial operations, with extensive experience in mobile telecommunications. He has led internal audit functions across 20 operators in Africa and the Middle East, served on various boards, and held CEO positions. Notably, as Head of Commercial for Zain Kuwait, he led market-defining initiatives during a period of significant change, including the rollout of LTE technology, customer care enhancements, and cost optimization efforts. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from California State University-Sacramento.

Gisa Fuatai Purcell

CEO

Office of the Regulator Government of Samoa

Dan Neely

CEO and Co-Founder

Vermillio

Michelle J. Johnson

Associate Professor

University of Pennsylvania

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 Departments of Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at University of Pennsylvania.

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 Burkhart

Co-founder

BCI Pioneers Coalition

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

Brain Computer Interface (BCI) participant

University of Chicago

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.

Faduma Aden

Senior Equity, Inclusion & Innovation Strategist

Advisor at International WoMenX in Business for Ethical AI (IWIB4AI)

Faduma Aden is a Senior Equity, Inclusion and Innovation Strategist with expertise in embedding these principles into business development, product innovation and emerging technologies. At Spotify, she led DEI and social impact strategy for its largest business unit, headed Nordic initiatives and helped shape the global Equity & Impact strategy. She has advised think tanks, universities and cultural institutions, and serves on the Advisory Board of International WoMenX in Business for Ethical AI (IWIB4AI).

Faduma has represented Sweden in high-level international forums, including as a delegate to the 2021 UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) and as an international expert in the Swedish Institute’s Urban Challenges programme (2019–2022), co-developing safer and more inclusive cities across Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Sweden. She is also a founding member of the Global Shaper Hub in Stockholm, a World Economic Forum initiative.

Her current work focuses on advancing equitable, inclusive AI to address systemic inequalities and drive innovation that creates meaningful impact, especially for underserved communities. Her contributions have been recognized with multiple awards and distinctions for innovation, inclusive leadership and social impact. She holds an MSc in Computer and Systems Sciences from Stockholm University.

Antonio Franchi

Full Professor in Aerial Robotics Control

University of Twente

Full Professor, Sapienza University of Rome

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.

H.E. Mr. Sid Ali Zerrouki

Minister

Ministry of Post and Communications, Algeria

Donatella Mattia

Neurologist

IRCCS: Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare

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.

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 Neuroelectric Imaging and Brain-Computer Interface Laboratory, 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.

Vincent Vanhoucke

Distinguished Engineer

Waymo

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.

H.E Eng. Ahmad Abdulla Al-Muslemani

President

Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA), Qatar

Heidi Johnstad Arnesen

Musician

Fustic.Studio

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.

Joshua Bongard

Professor of Computer Science

University of Vermont

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.

Cecilia Laschi

Chair Professor

National University of Singapore

Director, Advanced Robotics Centre

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.

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.

She is IEEE Fellow and AAAS member. She is Editor-in-Chief of Bioinspiration & Biomimetics and Specialty Chief Editor of Soft Robotics in Frontiers in Robotics & AI. She is Editorial Board member of Science Robotics, IEEE Robotics & Automation Letters, International Journal of Robotics Research, and the Intelligent Robotics and Autonomous Agents (IRAA) Series of MIT Press.

She founded the IEEE-RAS International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft) in 2018. She co-founded the start-up company RoboTech, in edutainment robotics.

David Gracias

Professor

Johns Hopkins University (JHU)

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 Science, PNAS, Nature-X and Science-X.

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.

Carl Strathearn

Lecturer and Researcher in AI and Robotics

Edinburgh Napier University

Carl Strathearn is a lecturer and researcher in AI and Robotics at Edinburgh Napier University, specialising in the development of novel humanoid robots with AI for education and healthcare 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.

Tamar Makin

Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience

University of Cambridge

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 www.plasticity-lab.com. Her main interest is in understanding how our body representation changes in the brain (brain plasticity). 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.

Kathleen A. Kramer

President & CEO

IEEE

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.

H.E. Mr. Baatarkhuu Tsend

Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Communications

Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Communications, Mongolia

Dani Clode

Head Designer & Senior Technical Specialist, MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit

University of Cambridge

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.

Chenda Thong

Chairperson

Telecommunications Regulator of Cambodia, Cambodia

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.

Nicole Isaac

Vice President, Global Public Policy, Government Affairs

CISCO

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.

H.E. Mr. Nik Gjeloshaj

Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy and Minister of Economic Development

Ministry of Economic Development, Montenegro

Lisa Bechtold

Head of AI Governance

Zurich Insurance Group

Lisa Bechtold is a global fexecutive in Data & AI at the intersection of business strategy, risk management and law. As Head of AI Governance at Zurich Insurance Group, she drives enterprise-wide digital transformation and innovation in a safe and dynamic way. Lisa holds a Ph.D. degree in international law (Cologne), a master’s degree in U.S. business law (Berkeley) and completed executive education programs at MIT (CSAIL) and Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Robert Katzschmann

Assistant Professor of Robotics

ETH Zurich

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.

Laure de la Raudière

President

Autorité de Régulation des Communications électroniques et des Postes (ARCEP), France

Kakhi Bekauri

Chairman

Georgian National Communications Commission (ComCom), Georgia

Laura Garcia-Caberol

Founding Member & COO

Touchlab

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. 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.

Touchlab e-skin has been integrated into telerobot systems enabling human presence anywhere, anytime, including dangerous environments such as medicine, nuclear, and space.

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.

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.

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.

H.E. Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa

Minister

Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications, Bahrain

Laura Y. Cabrera

Associate Professor of Neuroethics

Penn State University (Center for Neural Engineering, Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics)

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.

LJ Rich

Inventor/Musician and International Broadcaster

Perfect Pitch Productions

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 (REEPS100)

Chief Curator of Artistic Intelligence Visionary Initiative

R100 Studios

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

General Director

Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), Bahrain

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.

Iolanda Leite

Associate Professor, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

KTH Royal Institute of Technology

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.

Jose “Pepe” L Contreras-Vidal

Professor and Center Director

NSF IUCRC BRAIN

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.

Pascale Davies

Tech Reporter

Euronews

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.

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.

H.E. Dr. Takuo Imagawa

Vice Minister, International Affairs

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan

Cindy Parokkil

AI Policy Lead & Programme Manager

ISO Central Secretariat

Cindy Parokkil leads ISO’s Standards and Public Policy Programme and serves as ISO’s AI Policy Lead. She is also Vice-Chair of the AI Multimedia Authenticity Standards (AMAS) working group and Programme Lead for the 2025 International AI Standards Summit.

In her current role, she leads ISO’s strategic engagement with the international AI governance ecosystem, collaborating with key global organizations and policy forums to ensure coherence between international standards and emerging AI policy frameworks. She also leads capacity building initiatives for governments and standards bodies on this topic.

An economist by training, she has over a decade of experience at the intersection of standards, trade, and public policy. Her experience spans thought leadership, policy influence and capacity building. Prior to joining ISO, she was Government Engagement and International Policy Manager at BSI, where she led initiatives to integrate international standards into national and global digital policy efforts, including in the UK and Kenya. In her career at UNIDO, she designed and implemented trade and quality infrastructure system programmes in Africa funded by the governments of Switzerland, Finland and Germany.

Cindy holds an MSc in Economics for Development from the University of Oxford.

Samuel Muhizi

Directeur Général

Agence de Régulation et de Contrôle des Télécommunications (ARCT), Burundi

Akane Kikuchi

Founder and Creative Director

KiQ Inc.

Director, Shosa Lab

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 EXPO 2025’s Future of Life Pavilion, 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.

David Moses

Adjunct Professor

University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

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.

H.E. Mr. Matías González

Secretary General

Telecommunications, Digital Infrastructures, and Digital Security of Spain

H.E. Dr Franklin García Fermín

Minister

Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of the Dominican Republic

Sasha Rubel

Head of Public Policy for Generative AI

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

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.

José Antonio Peña Merino

Head

The Digital Transformation and Telecommunications Agency, Mexico

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.

Fadwa Saad AlBawardi

Founder & CEO

Fadwa AlBawardi Consulting Office

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

CEO and Founder

AI Strategy Institute

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.

Margaret Chan

Emeritus Director General

World Health Organization (WHO)

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.

Tomas Petrek

CEO & Co-owner, Forbes 30u30

GoBigname

Tomas is an entrepreneur, educator, keynote speaker, and brand expert who helps founders fix their brands and scale internationally.

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.

GoBigname is Naming, Branding and Web Design Studio helping Founders and Marketers of startups, SMEs on their journey to become global players: 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.

Over the past 12 years, the GoBigname team has created more than 300 brand names, brand strategies, consistent & distinctive brand identities and websites.

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.

Sheraz Ahmed

Managing Partner

STORM Partners

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.

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.

Gerassimos Spyridakis

Founder & CEO

Spheric Capital 

Gerassimos Spyridakis is the Founder and CEO of Spheric Capital, a Multi Family Office boutique based out of Geneva Switzerland that offers holistic wealth management solutions alongside direct access to best-in-class Investment Managers and Private Market deal opportunities.

Prior to launching Spheric Capital, Gerassimos served as the Global Market Head of Southern Europe, Israel, Monaco, Africa and Turkey for the Citi Private Bank and Bank Julius Baer.

Prior to banking Gerassimos worked as a brand manager and management consultant for United Distillers, Gallaher Ltd and Roche Pharmaceuticals.

He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School, holds an MBA from Manchester Business School and has attended Executive Education courses at IMD, MIT, Insead, London Business School and Singularity University in CA.

Gerassimos currently serves as the Chairman of South Eastern Europe for MIT University’s StartSmart organization (Startup Accelerator).

He is part of the Chief Executive Organization (www.ceo.org) and has held senior leadership positions at YPO (Young President Organization) where he is an active member since 2013.

In the past two decades Gerassimos has been a founder, a board member or has served as senior advisor at startups focusing in artificial intelligence and the digital health space.

Anne Dames

Distinguished Engineer, IBM Infrastructure & IBM Z Cryptographic Technology Development

IBM

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.

Braden van Breda

CEO and co-founder

AI Diagnostics

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.

Julien Weissenberg

Founder and AI Expert

Deep Tech Experts

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.

Deep Tech Experts is a boutique advisory which gathers world-class experts in AI, Encryption, Quantum Computing and Aerospace.

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.

He completed his PhD and Postdoc at the ETH Zurich and holds an MSc in Advanced Computing from Imperial College London.

Monika Fetingyte

CEO

Diawiser

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.

Christian F. Howell

CEO

Cognito Therapeutics

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.

Alexandra Hirzel

CEO, Serial Entrepreneur, Advisor

The Scale Foundry

Serial Entrepreneur, Investor, Experienced Board Member, Shareholder, and Speaker with a passion for innovation in AI and healthcare.

Amos Miller

Founder and CEO

Glidance

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.

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.

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.

Jan Goetz

Quantum Physicist, and Co-founding Co-CEO

IQM

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.

Sarah Nassar

Associate Program Officer

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

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.

Carlo Tortora Brayda di Belvedere

Executive Chairman

National AI and Cyber Security ISAO

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Rebecca Corbin

President & CEO

NACCE

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

Chair of the Council

The Communications Regulatory Authority of the Republic of Lithuania (RRT)

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.

Danny Tobey

Partner

DLA Piper

Chair, AI and Data Analytics

A lawyer, medical doctor, and successful software founder, Danny is the 2023 Financial Times Innovative Lawyer of the Year 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 Lessons Learned About Autonomous AI: Finding a Safe, Efficacious, and Ethical Path Through the Development Process. 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 en banc 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

CEO

OptiCloud

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 Eskandari

Founder and CEO

Solve Community Challenges (SolveCC)

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

Executive Director

TASC Platform

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

CEO

Dis Capital

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

Creative & Technologist & Founder

Journee

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.

Romita Ghosh

Founder and CEO

RevolutionAIze

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.

Veronica J. Santos

Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

University of California, Los Angeles

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 (http://biomechatronics.ucla.edu), 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.

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.

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.

Moriba Jah

Co-founder

GaiaVerse

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…

H.E. Mr. Ahmad Fahmi Mohamed Fadzil

Minister of Communications

Ministry of Communications, Malaysia

Mark Ma

Co-founder

SenseTime Group Limited and SenseRobot Co., Ltd.

Mark Ma is the President of SenseRobot, a pioneering AI hardware company dedicated to building intelligent, human-centered robots that support learning, emotional connection, and inclusive care in everyday life.

Mark began his academic journey in electronic engineering at Xidian University, where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He later conducted doctoral research in computer vision and facial recognition at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, laying a strong foundation for his lifelong dedication to applied artificial intelligence.

Over the past two decades, Mark has led the development and deployment of more than 200,000 AI-powered smart terminals, including offline facial recognition systems, access control devices, and non-contact health monitoring solutions. These technologies have been widely adopted across telecommunications, public safety, and healthcare, and played a critical role in large-scale infrastructure and emergency response.

Mark took the helm of SenseRobot as President, overseeing the launch of the world’s first home-use humanoid chess-playing robot. These robots go beyond entertainment — they are designed to provide emotional companionship for the elderly, cognitive development for children, and inclusive engagement for individuals with disabilities. SenseRobot has since become one of China’s top-ranking consumer robotics brands and a widely recognized case of “AI for Good.”

Mark holds dozens of AI-related patents and has received multiple national innovation awards, including grants from China’s Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Shenzhen Science and Innovation Commission. In 2018, he was appointed Visiting Professor at the School of Artificial Intelligence, Xidian University, and in 2010, was selected for the prestigious “Hundred Talents Program” of Shaanxi Province, receiving the title of Distinguished Expert for his contributions to innovation and entrepreneurship.

His vision is to make advanced technology more accessible, ethical, and human-centered — ensuring that AI not only becomes smarter, but also serves humanity.

Micaelah Morrill

Vice President of Business Development

MassRobotics

Micaelah is the Vice President of Business Development at MassRobotics where she helps identify and create new opportunities for Massrobotics and its member companies. Prior to joining Massrobotics, Micaelah served as the Director of External Affairs for Boston University’s Innovate@BU 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 Master’s in Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning from Tufts University.

H.E. Mr. Marc Rossell

Secretary

Digital Transformation and Telecommunications, Andorra

Ludovic Copéré

Senior Investment Director

Sony Ventures

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

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

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

Bruce Leak

Founding Partner

Playground Global

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

Ulrike Tagscherer

Chief Innovation Officer

KUKA

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.

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.

Timo Landener

Head of Innovation & Portfolio Management

Swisslog

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.

Will Foss

Venture Investor

Harbor Light Advisors

Will Foss is a Venture Investor, Advisor, and Operator in AI, Robotics, DeepTech, Mobility, and CleanTech 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, Goggo 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, Goggo Network, 1nce, and more. Before moving to Venture Capital, Will led Business Development and Commercialization for Derq, an AI software company born out of MIT, establishing relationships with companies like Denso, Qualcomm, and more. Prior to Derq, 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!

Merav Weinryb

VP and Managing Director

Qualcomm Ventures

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

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

Ryan Wang

Co-Founder and General Partner

Outpost Capital

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

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

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

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

John Walsh

Founder and CEO

Red Summit

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.

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.

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.

Sandra Skaff

Senior Alliances and Ecosystem Manager

NVIDIA

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 conference and journal publications and has been granted 13 patents.

Alexandre Cabaret

Vice President, Partnerships

Devex

Alex is VP of partnerships at Devex, the world’s leading independent news organization covering global development, serving more than 1 million professionals, everywhere in the world. We give international organizations, members of Parliament, Congress, development agencies, philanthropists, researchers, multilateral banks, and NGOs the news they need to do their job. Alex and his team produce content series and events advancing global conversations with top influencers and innovators in the SDG space. At Devex since 2011, he has successfully designed and led strategic partnerships that contributed to position key issues on the global development agenda, on topics such as gender-inclusive digital futures, the promise of digital health, universal health coverage, funding gaps for maternal health, disability inclusion, the future of food systems, financial inclusion and financing for development, among other issues.

Sarah Storelli

Worldwide Public Sector Marketing Leader

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

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

Investment Manager

FINCA Ventures

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.

Joseph K. Hopkins

Senior Managing Partner at The IPRESTIGE Emerge Fund LLC and CEO, Fallingst Technologies LLC

IPRESTIGE Emerge Fund LLC

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

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

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

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

Melissa Sassi

Global Head of IBM Hyper Protect Accelerator

IBM

Guido Gómez Mazara

President

Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones (INDOTEL)

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 Adams-Prassl

Professor of Law

University of Oxford

Jeremias’ research focuses on technology, innovation policy, and the future of work in the European Union and beyond. He is a Fellow of Magdalen College. 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 Humans as a Service (OUP 2018, Paperback 2019) explores the promise and perils of work in the gig economy across the world. It was awarded the 2019 St Petersburg Private Law Prize, 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 World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on the New Agenda for Work, Wages, and Job Creation.

Jeremias is the author of Great Debates in EU Law (with Prof Sanja Bogojević, 2021), and the founding editor of the EU Law in the Member States Series (Hart), exploring the impact of Union law across the Member States. His contributions to that series include The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in the Member States (2020, with M Bobek), Air Passenger Rights, Ten Years On (2016, with M Bobek), and Viking, Laval and Beyond (2015, with M Freedland). He is currently writing an introduction to EU Labour and Internal Market Law for OUP’s Clarendon Law Series.

Together with Professor Abi Adams-Prassl 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 Wedderburn Prize and the Apgar Prize, an Oxford University Teaching Award, a British Academy Rising Star Engagement Award (for work on EU labour law), an O2RB Excellence in Impact Award, and an ESRC Outstanding Impact in Public Policy Prize.

Sarah Hammer

Executive Director, The Wharton School

The University of Pennsylvania Law School

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.

Philipp Hacker

Chair for Law and Ethics of the Digital Society, European New School of Digital Studies

European University Viadrina

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 (ENS) at European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder). Prior to joining ENS, 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 WZB 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.

Sinead Bovell

Futurist & CEO

WAYE

Sinead Bovell is a futurist and the founder of WAYE (https://www.wayetalks.com/), 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 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCK6DEg-G4E)speaker; 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.

Youchul Kim

Head of Strategy

LG AI Research

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Greg Williams

Deputy Global Editorial Director

WIRED

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.

Hatice Gunes

Full Professor of Affective Intelligence and Robotics and Director, AFAR Lab

University of Cambridge

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.

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.

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 The Guardian, BBC News, Medical News Today, ScienceDaily, Sky News, and Bloomberg 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).

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 .

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.

Matthew Meszaros

Founder and CEO

Project Ohm

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.

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.

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.

Robbert Baruch

SVP Public Affairs

Universal Music Group

Robbert Baruch, (Amsterdam, October 12, 1967) – Senior Vice President Public Affairs, Europe and Multilateral Relations – joined UMG in 2021.

My role involves shaping public policy and government relations across Europe and with multilateral organisations, economic forums and think tanks. I previously worked at Buma/Stemra and the National Association of Insurers. Before that I served as Deputy Mayor of the Rotterdam Borough of Feijenoord and Member of the Regional Assembly of the Province of South Holland. I studied Political Science (graduating in Political Philosophy) and Public Administration at Leiden University and Religious Studies in Jerusalem and Amsterdam. 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.

Elif Kiesow

Executive Director, Ethicqual and Ethics Subcommittee Lead

Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C)

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.

Alexandra Paul

Global Public Policy Lead

Pasqal

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 Important Project of Common European Interest on Next Generation Cloud Infrastructure and Services.

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

Executive director, Jinan Institute of Quantum Technology, Professor

University of Science and Technology of China

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.

Gadi Sassoon

Composer and transmedia artist

Gadi Sassoon is a classically trained composer and transmedia electronic artist from Milan whose work spans traditional music releases and live installations.

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.

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).

2025 will see the release of Sassoon’s third album Modes of Vibration which exists across three formats: 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.

Modes of Vibration is a continuation of Sasson’s exploration of the intersection of music and technology, following on from his previous albums Chaos & Order (ASIP 2022) and Multiverse (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’.

Sassoon also recently collaborated with British Artist Reeps One on Fusion, a musical piece created for the Leipzig International Ballet and the Leipzig Opera, receiving international acclaim.

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.

Eva Gubern

Chief Commercial Officer

Predictheon

Eva is an engineer by training with over 20 years of experience leading healthcare teams across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. She has built and scaled organizations in both emerging and developed markets, consistently operating at the intersection of innovation and impact. Her career began in global health, where she partnered with the private sector, NGOs, and multilateral institutions to raise over $10 million and launch sub-Saharan Africa’s first cancer care center, a feat that reflects her ability to focus resources and raise commitment to equitable innovation.

At a biotech startup, she led market transformations across Asia, pioneering the use of machine learning to accelerate access to lifesaving therapies, and played a pivotal role in the company’s evolution into an enterprise leader, culminating in the largest M&A deal in pharmaceutical history. At Johnson & Johnson Mexico, she oversaw a $250M operation, navigating complex regulatory and procurement landscapes to expand access to breakthrough treatments for vulnerable populations.

Now as CEO of Predictheon, Eva is harnessing AI to advance the next frontier of global health equity. The company’s real-time analytics platform helps surgical teams reduce complications, optimize resources, and improve patient outcomes. But Predictheon’s vision goes further: to enable hospitals and governments to make data-informed decisions about when, where, and how care is delivered. By embedding predictive intelligence into clinical systems, Predictheon is building the foundation for more resilient, efficient, and inclusive healthcare, showing how human centered AI can drive measurable progress for the global public good.

Chris Horton

SVP - Strategic Technology

Universal Music Group

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.

Mira Wolf-Bauwens

Head of Initiatives Development, Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA)

Open Quantum Institute (OQI)

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.

Stephen Obe

Veterinary doctor, Molecular virologist, Social entrepreneur

Evet

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.

Clare Shelley-Egan

Associate Professor, Ethics of Quantum Technologies

TU Delft

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).

Diederick Croese

Director

Centre for Quantum & Society, Quantum Delta, Netherlands

Diederick Croese is director of Quantum Delta’s Centre for Quantum & Society, lead Action Line 4 and member of the OQI Advisory Committee. He co-founded ventures like SingularityU Benelux, Minkowski and more recently, Applied Complexity and Simurgh Academy. He was part of the European Space Agency’s HRE Innovation Board and served as a moderator of programs focused on innovation and complexity for Comenius. At Deloitte he co-founded Fast Ventures. Concurrently, he contributed to HF Young, Founder Institute Amsterdam, and TEDxAmsterdam. Diederick started as a lawyer at Clifford Chance. He has a background in law (University of Amsterdam & Fordham University New York), governance (Erasmus ESAA) and philosophy (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam).

Geoff Taylor

Executive Vice-President for Artificial Intelligence

Sony Music Entertainment

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.

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.

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.

Lisa Lambert

Chief Executive Officer

Quantum Industry Canada (QIC)

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.

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.

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.

Mio Murao

Professor, Department of Physics

University of Tokyo

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.

Li Wenyu

Director Intellectual Property and Innovation Development Center

China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT)

Dr. Li Wenyu, Professor level Senior Engineer, Director of the Intellectual Property and Innovation Development Center,  Judicial Appraisal Institute, and Science and Technology Ethics Research Center of the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology(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 projects, and 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.

René Reimann

Senior Director, Quantum Sensing

Technology Innovation Institute (TII)

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.

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 “Cooling and Cooperative Coupling of Single Atoms in an Optical Cavity”. 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 “Quantum Gases in State-Dependent Optical Potentials”.

Ulrich Mans

Strategic Partnerships Lead

Quantum Delta, Netherlands

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.

Will Zeng

Partner, Quantonation and President

Unitary Foundation

Dr. William Zeng is a partner at Quantonation, an early stage venture fund with $200M+ AUM investing in quantum and deep physics technology companies. He is also founder and President of the Unitary Fund, 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

Catherine Lefebvre

Senior Advisor at Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA)

Open Quantum Institute (OQI)

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).

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.

Wei Qi

CEO

CAS Quantum Network Co.

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

Associate Professor of Groundwater Hydrology

American University of Beirut in Lebanon

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.

Yaseera Ismail

Senior Lecturer, Department of Physics

Stellenbosch University, South Africa

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.

Thierry Botter

Executive Director

European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC)

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.

Richard Hall-Wilton

Director at Center for Sensors & Devices

Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK), Italy

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.

Shohini Ghose

Professor, Wilfrid Laurier University and CTO

Quantum Algorithms Institute

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 Her Space, Her Time 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.

Mathias Soeken

Principal Quantum Software Architect

Microsoft

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.

Bolor-Erdene Battsengel

CEO

AI Academy Asia

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.

Andrea Manara

System Analyst/Geospatial Focal Point

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

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.

Maria Antonia Brovelli

Professor

Politecnico di Milano

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

Co-chair of SC on AI, Co-lead of the AI Safety and Governance Program; Professor

Chinese Academy of Sciences

TIME 100/AI

Yi Zeng is the founding dean of Beijing Institute of AI Safety and Governance (Beijing-AISI). He is a Professor of AI at Institute of Automation, 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 a member of the United Nations 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 is a Co-Chair of the AI Committee of the World Internet Conference. 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, AI for Global Sustainable Development.

Leandro Aolita

Acting Chief Researcher, Quantum Research Center

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 Ammanath

Author “Trustworthy AI” & “Zero Latency Leadership” | Global Deloitte AI Institute leader

Deloitte

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 beenammanath.com or www.linkedin.com/in/bammanath.

Hui Chen

President of China Branch

BRICS Institute of Future Networks

Riccardo Trivisonno

Head of Network Architecture

Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

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

Senior Researcher

Rakuten Mobile, Inc.

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

Next Generation R&D Engineer

Turkcell

Buse Bilgin is a leading R&D engineer and international telecom standardization leader based in Istanbul, Türkiye. She currently serves as the Chair of the ITU-T Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence Native for Telecommunication Networks (FG-AINN), where she guides global efforts to define AI-native network architectures for future communication systems.

At Turkcell, Buse leads strategic R&D initiatives in 5G and 6G.

She holds a Master’s degree from Koç University and a Bachelor’s degree from Istanbul Bilgi University, and has been recognized for her innovation with awards such as the KUImpact Patent Competition 2022.

Buse is also a co-founder and former ML Engineer at Vrables Lab, where she contributed to photonic-based diagnostic platforms supported by a TUBITAK BiGG grant. She is passionate about shaping the future of intelligent networks.

Rachel Adams

Director

African Observatory on Responsible AI

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 African Observatory on Responsible AI and is the Principal Investigator of the Global Index on Responsible AI.

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.

Wei Meng

Director of standard and open source planning

ZTE Corporation

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

Gyu Myoung Lee

Professor

Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU)

Gyu Myoung LEE is with the Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), UK, as a Professor from 2014. He was with KAIST Institute for IT convergence, Korea, as an Adjunct Professor from 2012 to 2024. 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, smart 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 Rapporteur of Q16/13 and Q4/20 as well as a vice-chair of FG-AINN in ITU-T. 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.

Katharina Weitz

Project Manager

Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI)

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.

Vishnu Ram OV

Independent Research Consultant

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

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.

Xueli Zhang

Deputy Secretary General

World Internet Conference (WIC）

H.E. Sister Raffaella Petrini

President

Governorate of Vatican City State

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)

Björn Ommer

Head of Computer Vision & Learning Group

Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München

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

Lecturer

University of Glasgow

Paul Harvey is a lecturer in Autonomous Systems at the James Watt School of Engineering, 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 Focus Group on Autonomous Networks and a visiting researcher at the University of Strathclyde. Paul also possess extensive experience in industrial research, where he was co-founder and research lead of the Rakuten Mobile Innovation Studio, and is a strong believer in open and collaborative research.

Lilian Edwards

Professor of Law

Newcastle University

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 Law, Policy and the Internet, 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.

Kai Zenner

Head of Office and Digital Policy Adviser

European Parliament

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.

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.

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.

Lisa Russell

Emmy-winning filmmaker, AI artist and Founder

ArtsEnvoy.ai

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.

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.

Lisa is also the founder of ArtsEnvoy.ai, a platform designed to help artists and creatives harness AI to create, monetize, and scale their storytelling careers. ArtsEnvoy.ai was ranked the #2 AI company in Kenya by F6S.com in February 2025.

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.

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.

Reza Sixo Safai

Award-winning filmmaker, actor, writer and co-Founder

MASSIVE STUDIOS

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.

Michaela A. Ternasky-Holland

Emmy Award-Winning and Peabody Nominated Director

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.

Michael Gould

Global Education Manager

Esri

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 Universitat Jaume I (UJI), in Castellón, Spain. At UJI he co-founded the Master of Science degree in Geospatial Technologies, funded by the European Union Erasmus+ program; also 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 included spatial cognition and wayfinding, SDI (now geospatial data ecosystem), and smart cities.

Monique Kuglitsch

Innovation Manager

Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI)

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.

Ali Mansourian

Professor

Lund University

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 extended CV.

Yifang Ban

Professor and Director of the Division of Geoinformatics

KTH Royal Institute of Technology

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

Professor of Urban Geography

University of Lausanne

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

Program manager & Senior researcher

LINKS Foundation

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 Kim

Programme Officer

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat

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.

Alen Berta

PMP, Executive Space Consultant and the Head of CGI AI and Advance Analytics Competence Area within CGI Germany operations

CGI Deutschland B.V. & Co. KG

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

Senior Expert for Emergencies and Postal Resilience, Development Cooperation Directorate (DCDEV)

The Universal Postal Union (UPU)

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

Principal Researcher – Disaster Risk Management and Climate Resilience & CGIAR Interim Deputy Director for Climate Action

International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Sri Lanka

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.

Songnian Li

Professor

Toronto Metropolitan University

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

CEO, Universum Labs, Strategic Content Director

The Quantum Insider

Cierra Choucair is the strategic content director 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.

Maricela Muñoz

Director of External Affairs

Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA)

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.

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.

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.

Francesca Dominici

Clarence James Gamble Professor of Biostatistics, Population, and Data Science, Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Harvard University

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.

Amine Saboni

MLOps Engineer

Pruna AI

MLOps Engineer working at pruna by day, Code Carbon contributor by night, I am interested in efficient, reliable & robustly beneficial AI. My work is centered around building ML development platforms, and providing relevant tooling to build & deploy robust ML models in applications.

Philippe Tuzzolino

SG5 expert and Vice President Environment

Orange

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

Gitta Kutyniok

Bavarian AI Chair for Mathematical Foundations of Artificial Intelligence

Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München

Gitta Kutyniok (https://www.ai.math.lmu.de/kutyniok) 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.

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 ÖMG-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

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.

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.

Ken Goldberg

President, Robot Learning Foundation, Professor, Industrial Engineering and Operations Research William S. Floyd Jr. Distinguished Chair in Engineering

University of California, Berkeley

Ken Goldberg (IEEE Fellow, 2005) is President of the Robot Learning 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.

Zlatko Minev

Associate fellow of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) program

Google Quantum AI

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.  

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.

Lorenzo Nava

Research Associate in Multihazard Remote Sensing

University of Cambridge

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.

Justine Lacey

Director, Responsible Innovation

Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia

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.

Galim Turumtaev

Machine Learning Engineer

Homai

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.

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.

He is driven by the belief that AI should serve cultural diversity—not erase it.

Stefano Polidori

Counsellor, ITU-T Study Group 21

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

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.

T. Russell Shields

Chair

CITS

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.

Roger C. Lanctot

President

Mobile Satellite Users Association

Lina Bariah

Senior Researcher

Khalifa University of Science and Technology

Adjunct Professor, Khalifa University

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.

William Gouse

Director, Federal Program Development

SAE International

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.

Atoosa Kasirzadeh

Assistant Professor

Carnegie Mellon University

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 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.

Jivtesh Singh

Architect - Tech for Social Impact

Microsoft

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.

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.

Ahmed Riad

Senior Director, Strategy and Industry Development

Huawei

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.  

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.

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.

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. 

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.

Danna Ingleton

Executive Director

HURIDOCS

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.

Xiao Ran

Vice President

Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

Mr. Xiao Ran 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.

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.

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.

Sabrina Ricci

AI Ecosystem Coordinator, Φ-lab

European Space Agency (ESA)

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 AI Ecosystem Coordinator at the ESA Φ-lab, part of the Climate Action, Sustainability, and Science Department (EOP-S) within the Earth Observation Directorate 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

Professor

Aston University, UK

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

Professor

University of Leicester

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

NIST Fellow

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

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.

Rosendo Manas

Co-founder

Resilio

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.

Nicola Piovesan

Senior Researcher

Huawei

Dr. Nicola Piovesan is a Senior Researcher at Huawei Technologies in Paris, France.

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.

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.

Currently, his research is focused on large-scale network modelling and optimization, green communications, and machine learning applied to wireless communication systems.

Yolanda Martinez

Practice Manager for Digital Development in Latin American and the Caribbean

The World Bank

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.

Antonio De Domenico

Principal Engineer

Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

Antonio De Domenico (Senior Member, IEEE) received the M.Sc. degree in telecommunication engineering from the University of Rome La Sapienza in 2008, and the 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, Grenoble, France. In 2018, he was a Visiting Researcher with the University of Toronto, Canada. Since 2020, he has been a Principal Engineer with Huawei Technologies France SASU, Paris, France. Dr. De Domenico has organized several workshops/special sessions in IEEE flagship conferences including IEEE Globecom and IEEE ICC, and he has been a member of the technical program committee of a number of IEEE conferences, and guest editor or IEEE journal special issues. Antonio is the main inventor or a co-inventor of more than 25 patents, and the co-author of more than 80 publications. Since 2023, he has been co-leading the network energy efficiency activities within the green future network project of the NGMN Alliance and actively participating to AI-native telecom network activities in ITU-T SG13. His research interests include heterogeneous wireless networks, machine learning, and green communications.

Tony Q.S. Quek

Cheng Tsang Man Chair Professor

Singapore University of Technology and Design

Tony Q.S. Quek received the B.E. and M.E. degrees in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Tokyo Institute of Technology, respectively. At Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he earned the Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Currently, he is the Associate Provost (AI & Digital Innovation) and Cheng Tsang Man Chair Professor with Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). He also serves as the Director of the Future Communications R&D Programme, and the ST Engineering Distinguished Professor. His current research topics include wireless communications and networking, AI-RAN, non-terrestrial networks, open radio access network, and 6G.

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 2017 CTTC Early Achievement Award, the 2017 IEEE ComSoc AP Outstanding Paper Award, the 2020 IEEE Communications Society Young Author Best Paper Award, the 2020 IEEE Stephen O. Rice Prize, the 2020 Nokia Visiting Professorship, the 2022 IEEE Signal Processing Society Best Paper Award, the 2024 IIT Bombay International Award For Excellence in Research in Engineering and Technology, and the IEEE Communications Society WTC Recognition Award 2024. He is an IEEE Fellow, a WWRF Fellow, and a Fellow of the Academy of Engineering Singapore.

Nia Jetter

Founder and CEO

thinqueBytes®

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.

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 Distinguished Minds Institute, operating as thinqueBytes®, a nonprofit focused on demystifying complex technologies through creative, inclusive learning—such as her Rockets and Robotics program. In 2023, she spent a few weeks in Ghana teaching her Rockets and Robotics 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.

Francesc Wilhelmi

Professor

Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)

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.

Wojciech Samek

Professor

Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI)

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 German Academic Scholarship Foundation and the DFG Research Training Group GRK 1589/1, and was a visiting researcher at NASA Ames Research Center, Mountain View, USA. Dr. Samek is associated faculty at the BIFOLD – Berlin Institute for the Foundation of Learning and Data, the ELLIS Unit Berlin and the DFG Graduate School BIOQIC, and member of the scientific advisory board of IDEAS NCBR. Furthermore, he is a senior editor of IEEE TNNLS, an editorial board member of PLoS ONE and Pattern Recognition, and an elected member of the IEEE MLSP Technical Committee. He is recipient of multiple best paper awards, including the 2020 Pattern Recognition Best Paper Award, and part of the expert group developing the ISO/IEC MPEG-17 NNR standard. He is the leading editor of the Springer book “Explainable AI: Interpreting, Explaining and Visualizing Deep Learning” (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.

H.E. Mr. Omar Zniber

Ambassador

Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

Chenxi Qiu

Deputy Director, Center for Global Digital Governance (CGDG)

China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT)

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.

Francesco Flammini

Professor of Trustworthy Autonomous Systems

The University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI)

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.

Francois E. Guichard

Focal Point, Intelligent Transport Systems and Automated Driving

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

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). 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.

Zhiyuan Jiang

Professor

Shanghai University

Zhiyuan Jiang received his B.E., Ph.D. degrees from the electronic engineering department of Tsinghua University in 2010, 2015, 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.

Pengyu Hao

IT Officer

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

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

Director of Health Systems Innovation

Qure.ai

Sanya Chawla is the Director of Health Systems Innovation at 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

Head of the Interactive & Cognitive Systems Group

Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI)

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 Interactive & Cognitive Systems 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 VISTA, 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 ITU focus group on Artificial Intelligence for Agriculture.

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.

Selma Šabanović

Full Professor of Informatics and Cognitive Science

Indiana University Bloomington

I am a Full 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.

Katsuyuki Hanai

Chair of Quantum Cryptography and Quantum Communication subcommittee, Quantum STrategic industry Alliance for Revolution (Q-STAR) | Business Unit Manager, ICT Solutions Division

Toshiba Digital Solutions Corp

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.

Friederike Eyssel

Professor of Psychology and Head of Lab at CITEC

Bielefeld University

Friederike Eyssel 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 IEEE-RAS Distinguished Lecturer Award for 2022-2024 and 2025-2027.

Eleni Diamanti

Research Director, Sorbonne Université and Co-founder

WelinQ

Eleni Diamanti is CNRS research director at the LIP6 laboratory of Sorbonne University in Paris. She received her PhD in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 2006 and performed her postdoc as a Marie Curie fellow at the Institute of Optics Graduate School in Palaiseau before joining the CNRS in 2009. Her research focuses on experimental quantum cryptography and communication, and on the development of photonic resources and applications for quantum networks. She is a recipient of a European Research Council Starting Grant, director of the Paris Centre for Quantum Technologies, and was awarded the CNRS Silver and Innovation Medals in 2024. She also serves as member of the European Quantum Technologies Flagship Strategic Advisory Board and is cofounder and scientific advisor of the start-up company Welinq that specializes in quantum interconnect technology.

Henning Sanneck

Research Manager

EU SNS-JU 6G-MIRAI-HARMONY project

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).

Gregoire Ribordy

CEO

ID Quantique (IDQ)

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.

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).

Dr. Ribordy lives in Geneva, Switzerland, and has worked and studied in the US, Japan and China.

Roman V. Yampolskiy

Faculty member, Department of Computer Science and Engineering

University of Louisville

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.

Abhishek Dandekar

Researcher

Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI)

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.

Priyadarshini Panda

Assistant Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering

Yale University

Priya’s research interests lie in Neuromorphic Computing: spanning energy-efficient design methodologies for deep learning networks, novel supervised/unsupervised learning algorithms for spiking neural networks and developing neural architectures for new computing scenarios (such as lifelong learning, generative models, stochastic networks, adversarial attacks etc.).

Her goal is to empower energy-aware and energy-efficient machine intelligence through algorithm-hardware co-design while being secure to adversarial scenarios and catering to the resource constraints of Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

Kai Wei

WP2/21 Vice-Chairman and Q12/21 Rapporteur of ITU I Secretary-General

MIIT

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.

Martin Brynskov

Founding Director & Standardisation Lead

Open & Agile Smart Cities (OASC)

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.

H.E. Mrs. Rina Yessenia Lozano Gallegos

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

Permanent Mission of the Republic of El Salvador to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva

Prior to her appointment to Geneva, Ambassador Lozano Gallegos served as Director-General for foreign policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador (2019-2023). She was Director of the Office of Analysis of International Migration of the Vice-Ministry for Salvadorans Abroad at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from February (2016-2019), and she was Advisor to the Vice-Ministry for Salvadorans Abroad (2015-2016).

Ambassador Lozano Gallegos also served as Director of North, South America and the Caribbean at the General Directorate of Foreign Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2012-2015). She was Executive Assistant at the Minister’s Office (2010-2012).

She also worked as Office Manager in the USAID Project “Customs and Business Climate that Promote Trade and Investment” executed by the International Consulting Company Booz Allen Hamilton- USAID (2008-2010) and as intern at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (2006). She also has experience teaching at University and has a number of research papers and publications.

Ambassador Lozano Gallegos is a career diplomat and has a master’s degree in diplomacy from the Diplomatic Institute “Doctor José Gustavo Guerrero” (El Salvador, 2018); a master’s degree in applied political science from the School of Politics and High Government “Goberna América Latina” and the Instituto Universitario de Investigación Ortega y Gasset (Spain, 2012); and a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Universidad de El Salvador in El Salvador (El Salvador, 2008).

Martin Wählisch

Associate Professor, Transformative Technologies, Innovation and Global Affairs

University of Birmingham, United Kingdom

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.

Okan Geray

Chair

Steering Committee of the Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds and AI

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

Counsellor

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Cristina Bueti is the ITU Focal Point on Smart Sustainable Cities and AI-powered Virtual Worlds. She is also the Counsellor of ITU-T Study Group 20 “Internet of Things, digital twins and smart sustainable cities and communities” and 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. 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 ten Geneva-based inspirational women working to protect the environment. She has authored over 40 reports on telecommunication and emerging technology issues. A native Italian speaker, Cristina is also fluent in English, French and Spanish.

Hyoung Jun Kim

Chair, ITU-T Study Group 20 – Internet of Things, digital twins and smart sustainable cities and communities

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Dr. Hyoung Jun Kim began his professional career in 1988 at the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), where he currently serves as a Research Fellow. He previously held the position of Senior Vice President, leading the Intelligent Convergence Research Laboratory at ETRI.Over the past 37 years, Dr. Kim has accumulated extensive experience across various divisions of ETRI, including the Info-Communications Technology Division, IT Strategy Research Division, Information & Telecommunications Technology Division, and the Protocol Engineering Centre.
In addition to his institutional role, Dr. Kim currently serves as the Chairman of ITU-T Study Group 20 and of the APT Standardization Program (ASTAP) under the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity. His prior leadership roles within the ITU include Vice-Chairmanships of both SG20 and SG13, Working Party Chair positions in both groups, and serving as the Rapporteur for Question 25/16 since 2004. He also contributed as Vice-Chair of the Focus Group on M2M Service Layers and as Chair of Working Party 2 within the same group under ITU-T SG11, among other key positions.Dr. Kim’s research and technical accomplishments are substantial. He has submitted over 450 standardization proposals, published more than 150 papers in academic journals and conferences, holds over 100 patents, and has successfully transferred 20 technologies to domestic industries.
His contributions to the field have been widely recognized. He is a three-time recipient of the Presidential Citation of the Republic of Korea, awarded in 2003, 2009, and 2023. He has also received multiple Certificates of Appreciation from international standards bodies, including the ITU-T. Notably, Dr. Kim received his second and third Presidential Citations at the World Standards Day events in Korea in 2009 and 2023, in recognition of his dedication to international standardization.

David Forden

Project Manager Open Source AI for Digital Public Services project

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

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.

David Manset

Senior Project Coordinator of the EC-funded OSEE project

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

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.

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.

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.

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.

H.E. Mr. Raúl Hernández

Vice Minister for the Development of Information and Communication Technologies

Ministry of Popular Power for Science and Technology, Venezuela

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

President & Founder

Constellation Advisory, LLC

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).

Ken Carswell

Technical Officer

World Health Organization (WHO)

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.

Chen Xingjia

Founder

Ever Care Charity Foundation and International Health Charity Association (IHCA)

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.

Karina Rios Michel

Chief Creative & Technology Officer

Girl Effect

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.

A first-generation Mexican American and Indigenous Pueblo American, Karina’s passion for equity is rooted in her family’s experience of migration and marginalisation. She’s driven to use tech and storytelling to create meaningful change for underserved communities coop

Yang Lan

Founder and Chairperson

Sun Media Group and Sun Future Art Education Foundation

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.

Yu Minhong

Founder and Chairman

New Oriental Education & Technology Group

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.

Célestin Kadjidja

President

Autorité de Régulation des Communications électroniques et des Postes (ARCEP), Gabon

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:

Project Manager at the IT Department of BICIG Bank, BNP-Paribas Group;
Deputy Director of Electronic Money at BICIG, BNP-Paribas Group;
IT and Telecommunications Director at the national airline, Air-Gabon;
Director of Information Systems of the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) of Gabon;
Technical Advisor in Information Systems to the Director General of the CNSS;
Technical Advisor in Information Systems Security to the Director General of the CNSS.

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:

Improving ARCEP Governance;
Acceleration of the development of universal service;
Optimization of Frequency Resource Management;
Clean-up of the Institution’s finances.

These directives constitute the guidelines for Mr. Célestin KADJIDJA’s managerial action since he took office on October 5, 2023.

Gilles Carbonnier

Vice-president

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

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.

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 Humanitarian Economics: War, Disaster and the Global Aid Market.

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.

Leonardo Milano

Data Science Team Lead

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA)

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.

Amir Banifatemi

Chief Responsible AI Officer

Cognizant

Amir Banifatemi is the Chief Responsible AI Officer at Cognizant, where he leads the company’s global efforts to embed safety, transparency, and accountability into AI systems and services. He oversees the design and implementation of Cognizant’s Responsible AI framework, ensuring alignment with international standards such as ISO/IEC 42001, NIST AI RMF, and other emerging governance models across sectors and jurisdictions.

A prominent voice in international AI policy and governance, Amir contributes to key initiatives at the OECD, GPAI, IEEE, and the ITU, where he focuses on operationalizing responsible AI and advancing cross-sector standards for AI safety and accountability. He co-leads working groups on AI Futures, AI-Enabled Investments, and Trustworthy AI Ecosystems.

Previously, Amir served as Chief Innovation and Growth Officer at XPRIZE, where he launched and directed global competitions addressing grand challenges in AI, climate, and health. He co-founded the AI for Good movement and helped establish the AI for Good Global Summit in partnership with the ITU, aligning AI innovation with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

With more than 25 years of experience at the intersection of innovation, deep technology, and investment, Amir has helped shape and scale breakthrough initiatives across sectors—from public institutions like the European Space Agency and European Commission to venture-backed technology startups. He brings a systems-level approach to advancing emerging technologies such as AI, quantum computing, and predictive systems, with a consistent focus on real-world impact, interdisciplinary collaboration, and sustainable value creation.

He holds degrees in Electrical Engineering, an MBA, and a Doctorate in System Design and Cognitive Sciences.

Ning Chen

Chairman and CEO

Intellifusion

Dr. Ning CHEN is the founder, Chairman, and CEO of Intellifusion, a leading AI company in China. Since founding the company in 2014, he has led the development of a world-class technology platform comKhabining proprietary AI algorithms and chips. Under his leadership, Intellifusion has undertaken six national-level AI research projects and proposed the concept of the “Self-Evolving Urban Intelligence,” shaping a distinctive path for AI development in China. In 2023, the company was successfully listed on the STAR Market.

Dr. Chen holds a Ph.D. from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is the recipient of the Guangdong May Fourth Youth Medal and the Chairman of the Shenzhen Association of Young Scientists. Earlier in his career, he served as a system architect at Freescale Semiconductor and was China’s chief delegate to the 4G-LTE international standard. He also led the design of China’s first commercial vector processor chip.

Sophia Reyes Mury

Program Manager

Swiss EdTech Collider

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.

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.

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).

Hải Doãn

Artist & Founder

Fustic.Studio

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.

Chris Sharrock

Vice President, UN Affairs and International Organisations

Microsoft

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

Associate professor

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Roy Schwartz is an associate professor at the School of Computer Science and Engineering at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Prior to that Roy was a postdoc (2016-2019) and then a research scientist (2019-2020) at the AllenNLP team at the Allen institute for AI and at the School of Computer Science and Engineering at The University of Washington, where he was working with Noah A. Smith. 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 Ari Rappoport. In 2011, he graduated his masters degree (magna cum laude) 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. (magna cum laude) in 2008. He was a member of the Amirim program for outstanding undergraduate students. In 2004-2005, he was a software engineer at Check Point Ltd.

Li Cui

Chief Development Officer and Chief of Staff to CEO

ZTE Corporation

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

Director of Nuclear Security Department & Chief Innovation Officer

Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR)

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.

Thiện Minh

Artist & Founder

Fustic.Studio

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

Associate Professor, Institute of Automation

Chinese Academy of Sciences

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

Research Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Carnegie Mellon University

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.

Birgitta Elisa Oftestad

Musician

Fustic.Studio

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.

Dechopol Kowintaweewat

Musician

Fustic.Studio

Dechopol Kowintaweewat’s performances have received consistent acclaim from the press. The Boston Musical Intelligencer called his playing “deeply lyrical,” and New York’s Oberon’s Grove wrote that his “singing, satiny tone constantly reached the heart. For such music, and such playing, unbounded gratitude.”

As a winner of the Young Concert Artists International Auditions as member of the Zorá String Quartet, he gave critically-acclaimed debut concerts in New York, Washington, DC and Boston. The Quartet also captured Grand Prizes at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, and Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition

Originally from Bangkok, Thailand, Dechopol has earned degrees from Oberlin Conservatory, Indiana University, the Curtis Institute of Music and the Norwegian Academy of Music and currently holds the position of Co-Principal Second Violin of the Norwegian Radio Orchestra.

Emil Kleve

Music Advisor/Musician

Fustic.Studio

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 Ali Al Harbi

Acting/ Safety Assessment-Operating Programs Manager & IONS Team Leader

Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR)

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 Lê

Artist & Founder

Fustic.Studio

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.

Leigh Levinson

PhD Candidate

Indiana University Bloomington

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.

Trung Bảo

Artist & Founder

Fustic.Studio

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.

Naying Hu

Senior Business Executive of AI Institute

China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT)

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.

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.

Greg Lynn

Co-founder and CEO

Piaggio Fast Forward

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.

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.

Zhang Min

European Regional Director

Unitree Robotics

Nora Ni Loideain

Director, Information Law & Policy Centre, Institute of Advanced Legal Studies

University of London

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.

H.E. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi

Minister of ICT and National Guidance

Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Uganda

Hongki Cha

Special Fellow

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI)

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.

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.

Fluent in Korean, English, French, and Chinese, he is a proud husband and father of twin boys.

Ivica Puljak

Mayor of Split

Croatia

Year and Place of Birth: 1969 in Split

Family: married, three children

He finished primary and secondary technical school in Split
In 1994 he graduated in electrical engineering at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture in Split
In 1997 he received his master’s degree in particle physics from the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science in Zagreb
In 2000 he received a PhD at the Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris, PhD was made at the Ecole polytechnique and CERN
Co-author of more than 1000 scientific papers, and more than 600 activities for the promotion and popularization of science
Languages: English and French.

Career:

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
Visiting scientist at CERN in Geneva and visiting professor at the Ecole polytechnique, Palaiseau, France
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
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

Recognitions and awards:

For his scientific work and achievements, he was awarded the Order of the Croatian Danica star with the figure of Ruđer Bošković
He is the winner of two awards for science at the University of Split
He is the winner of the state award for science and the state award for popularization of science
He is the winner of many other awards for science and popularization of science

Ingrid Vanden Berghe

General administrator

National Geographic Institute

*Joining remotely

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.

Valerio Marsocci

Internal Research Fellow, Φ-lab

European Space Agency (ESA)

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).

David Botha

Counsellor, Study Group 3 ITU-R

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Leslie Helpert

Voice-engineering innovator

Technevox

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.

Pierre-Philippe Mathieu

ESA Implementation Manager, Civil Security from Space (CSS)

European Space Agency (ESA)

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).

Pilar Orero

Professor

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain

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 ImAc, which results are now further developed in TRACTION, MEDIAVERSE, MILE, and GREENSCENT. She led until December 2022 the EU network LEADME on Media Accessibility. She was the Co-Chair of Study Group on Accessibility and Inclusion in the ITU Metaverse Focus Group, and she is leading the Digital Inclusion and Accessibility track of the ITU Virtual Worlds. She is now working on AI and accessibility in the three funded projects MOSAIC, ALFIE, and SPICE.

Markus Reichstein

Director & Professor

Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry

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 (www.ellis.eu) program “Machine Learning for Earth and Climate Science” and the recently established ELLIS Unit Jena (www.ellis-jena.ai) 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” (www.risk-kan.org).

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.

A recent Perspective highlights how artificial intelligence can support climate science by enhancing process understanding and improving predictions across scales (Reichstein et al., 2025: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-57640-w ).

Muralee Thummarukudy

Director of the Coordination Office of the G20 Initiative on Land

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

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.

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.

H.E. Mr. Mohamed Adan Moalim Ali

Minister of Communications and Technology

Ministry of Communications and Technology, Somalia

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.

Claudia Ximena Bustamante

Executive Director

Comisión de Regulación de Comunicaciones (CRC), Colombia

Claudia Ximena Bustamante 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.

George William Nyombi Thembo

Executive Director

Uganda Communications Commission (UCC)

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

Angela Long

Chief Engagement Officer

Tallahassee State College

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

Senior Research Scientist

NVIDIA

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.

Willie Reaves

Head of Public Engagement

Cellino

Gift Kallisto Machengete

Director General

Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ)

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.

Caron Sada

Faculty Co-Director, Center for Teaching & Learning and Employee Engagement

Paradise Valley Community College

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. Mr. Vandeth Chea

Minister

Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of Cambodia

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

Co-Founder

Solve Community Challenges (SolveCC)

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.

Jim Murdaugh

President

Tallahassee State College

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

Vice President Partnerships

The Sandbox

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

Chair, Executive Leadership Research Initiative for Women and Minority (ELRIWMA); Professor

Harvard University

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.

Dmitry Ontoev

Advisor to the Minister of the Government of Moscow and Head

Department of Information Technologies of Moscow (DIT)

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.

H.E. Mr. Ahmed Salem Bede

Ministre

Ministère de la Transformation Numérique, et de la Modernisation de l'Administration, Mauritania

H.E. Ms. Rose Pola Pricemou

Ministre

Ministère des Postes, des Télécommunications et de l’Economie Numérique, Guinea

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.

Professional Career

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.

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).

Return to Guinea

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.

Ministerial Functions

Her expertise and commitment have led her to hold several high ministerial positions:

October 26, 2021 – August 20, 2022: Minister of Information and Communication
August 20, 2022 – November 18, 2022: Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Small and Medium Enterprises
November 18, 2022 – February 19, 2024: Minister of Planning and International Cooperation
Since March 13, 2024: Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy

Vision and Commitment

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.

H.E. Prof. László Palkovics

Government Commissioner for Artificial Intelligence

Ministry of Energy, Hungary

Anil Kumar Lahoti

Chairman

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)

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.

Jhuliana Mercado Ontiveros

Founder

Wiver

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.

Alexandre Reis Siqueira Freire

Commissioner

Agência Nacional de Telecomunicações (ANATEL), Brazil

Alexandre Freire is a Visiting Scholar at the Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main’s Faculty of Law, 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.

Ekaterine Imedadze

Commissioner

National Communications Commission (ComCom), Georgia

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

Project Officer

European Commission Joint Research Centre

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 Santhana Gopala Krishnan

Head, WHO GIS Centre for Health, Department of Delivery for Impact

World Health Organization (WHO)

Vice Chair, UNGGIM United Nations Geospatial Network

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.

Hiromu Kitamura

Principal Expert for Technical Management

Japan AI Safety Institute

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)

Thomas Wiegand

Executive Director

Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI)

Chair of ITU/WHO Focus Group on AI for Health

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.

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 Acdemy of Engineering (Acatech) and the National Academy of Science (Leopoldina).

Debora Comparin

Standardization Expert

Thales Digital Identity & Security

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”.

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.

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.

Debora holds an MSc in Mechanical Engineering from University of Padova and a Business Strategy & Consulting qualification from Imperial College.

H.E. Eng. Bassam Al Sarhan

Chairman of the Board and CEO

Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC), Jordan

Hakim Hacid

Acting Chief Researcher

Technology Innovation Institute (TII)

Melanie Jetter

Environmental Health Scientist

Massachusetts United States

Volunteer Teaching Assistant, Data Analytics, thinqueBytes®

Melanie 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.

Melanie 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.

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.

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.

Vijay Mauree

Programme Coordinator, Strategic Engagement Dept, TSB

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

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.

Rim Belhassine-Cherif

Chair, Network of Women in ITU-T (NoW in ITU-T), Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer

Tunisie Télécom, Tunisia

Dr. Rim Belhassine Cherif is a general engineer. She is currently the Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer and responsible of the digital transformation department at the incumbent telecom operator in Tunisia “Tunisie Telecom”.

Dr. Belhassine Cherif has participated in several ITU conferences, seminars and workshops and she holds many positions at ITU-T such as the positions of chairperson of the Network of Women in ITU-T and chairperson of ITU-T Study Group 13 Regional Group for Africa. She is also Vocabulary Rapporteur for the ITU Standardization Committee for Vocabulary and co-convener of the ITU-T Correspondance Group on Study Group 13 future direction. She has been a vice-chairperson of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group and Co-Rapporteur on Standardization Strategy from 2017 to 2022. Moreover, she has been vice-chairperson of ITU-T Study Group 13 from 2013 to 2024, vice-chairperson of WP3/13 from 2018 to 2024 and also vice-chairperson of the ITU-T Focus Group on Bridging the Gap: from Innovation to Standards between 2013 and 2015.
Dr. Belhassine Cherif graduated from the Higher School of Posts and Telecommunications of Tunis. She obtained her Master degree then her Ph.D. degree from the National Engineering School of Tunis and obtained an Executive MBA from Paris-Dauphine University and Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University (promotion major).

In the academic field, she performed several research activities in the domain of telecommunications and electrical engineering, and she is the author of many papers published in international and national conferences and scientific journals
Photo Rim Belhassine Cherif.png

Fredrik Gran

Composer & Roboticist

Gran Rekursion AB

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.

H.E. Mr. Stefan Andonovski

Minister of Digital Transformation

Ministry of Digital Transformation, North Macedonia

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.

Michelle Warren

Engineer

Georgia Power

Volunteer Teaching Assistant, Content Curation and Creation, thinqueBytes®

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.

Felix Kirchmeier

Executive Director

Geneva Human Rights Platform

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. He currently serves on the ITU AI Skills Coalition Steering Committee.

Robert Opp

Chief Digital Officer

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

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.

Rosemarie McClean

Chief Executive of Pension Administration

United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF)

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.

Andrey V. Neznamov

Chair, Working group for Digital Economy and AI

BRICS Business Council

Expert in AI & Emerging Technologies Governance

General

Chair of the Russian National AI Ethics Commission
Head of the AI Governance group of the Russian AI Alliance association
Head of the Working Group on AI of the BRICS Business Council
Managing director of Sber.AI (acting as Russian National Center of excellence for artificial intelligence) for the regulation of AI technologies
Secretary General of the AI Alliance Network
Former Chair of Consultation and Outreach Group of the Ad hoc Committee on Artificial Intelligence of the Council of Europe
Founder and head of the public project “Robolaw”
Winner of the contest “Leaders of Russia: Science” 2020

Education and work experience

PhD in Law (2010)
Basic education: Ural State Law Academy (2007), summa cum laude
Additional education: Professional English translation for legal expert communities (2006)
Over 20 years of legal practice

Completed legal projects on AI Governance

Russian National AI Strategy (2019), co-author
The Governmental Concept of AI and RT Regulation (2020), co-author and head of the working group
Russian National AI Ethics Code (2021), co-author and head of the working group
Model Convention on Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (2017), co-author
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
Draft law “On the trial operation of innovative vehicles” (2019), head of the author’s group
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
Set of federal laws on the experimental test zones and various industrial legislation (2019-2023), contributor
Global Atlas of AI regulation (2022, 2023, 2024), editor-in-chief
The White Paper of ethics in AI (2024), editor-in-chief

Scientific activities

Author of over 70 publications on the regulation of artificial intelligence in Russia and abroad
Author and editor of a number of monographs, including:
“World Experience in Regulating Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Technologies”, 2018
“Legal Aspects of the Development of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Technologies”, 2018
“State Policy Framework in the Field of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Technologies”, 2019
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

Confirmation of qualification

Head of the Expert Council on AI of the Federation Council of the Parliament of the Russian Federation
Member of the Working Group on AI of the Expert Council for Innovative Development of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation
Head of the “Regulatory Environment” direction of the expert group developing the federal project “Artificial Intelligence”
Member of the Russian Association for Artificial Intelligence
Member of official delegations and / or invited expert of the UN Inland Transport Committee

(WP.1), UNESCO, OSCE, Council of Europe, B20, SCO, BRICS

Member of the Council on AI of the National Commission for UNESCO
Representative of the Russian Federation with the right to vote in the Committee for Artificial Intelligence Standardization of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
Head of the working group on the AI governance of the Russian AI Alliance (Sberbank, Yandex, Gazpromneft, VK, etc.)
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)

Sanjay Puri

Global Speaker, Host and Founder

Knowledge Networks

Sanjay Puri, 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 RegulatingAI and Chief AI Officer (CAIO) Connect 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.

Jade Nester

Director, Data Public Policy, Europe

TikTok

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.

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.

Andrew Jenks

Chairman, C2PA and Director of Media Provenance

Microsoft

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.

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.

Edward Wilford

Senior Research Director, Automotive

Omdia

Edward is the Senior Research Director, Automotive, at Omdia, having previously covered automotive AI and semiconductors as Senior Principal Analyst for IoT. He has written extensively on embedded applications processors and GPUs, edge AI, advanced connectivity, and novel semiconductor architectures such as RISC-V.

He started in the industry in 2016 when he joined Arm as a market intelligence analyst, leading market research and forecasting in the automotive and IoT division. He has also worked in financial services and media roles in London. He has a BA from Durham University and an MPhil in Linguistics from the University of Cambridge.

Jaime Fernández Fisac

Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Princeton University

Jaime Fernández Fisac is an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Princeton University, where he directs the Safe Robotics Laboratory(Link is external) and co-directs Princeton AI4ALL(Link is external). 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 Waymo(Link is external), 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 Vault Robotics(Link is external), 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 The Wall Street Journal and WIRED, and recognized with the Google and Sony faculty research awards and the NSF CAREER Award.

Guillem Martínez Roura

AI and Robotics Programme Officer

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sophia Noel

Lead, ElevenLabs Impact Program

ElevenLabs

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.

Saurabh Bhaskar Shaw

Adjunct Research Professor

Western University

Co-Founder at PropelFocus

Saurabh Bhaskar Shaw 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.

Yvonne Baldwin Mushi

Co-Founder & CEO

Ele-vate AI Africa

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 Ele-vate AI Africa, 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.

Bakhit Al Jaren

Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, Government of the United Arab Emirates, Director of the Digital Transformation Department

Ministry of Community Empowerment, United Arab Emirates

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 (HADAYA), Dubai Protocol Department, smart learning, 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 of the Federal Network initiative (FEDnet), Marsad, working in UAE, Non-Profit Organization Platform and Register, National Social Welfare Register Platform, and National Economic Register System as well as the establishment of the information security policy for the federal government in 2012.

Mr. Al Jaren also represented the UAE in the Arab League’s Committee for Standardization of Hardware and Software and served as a distinguished member of the Economic Legislation Committee. Furthermore, his engagement includes a role on the Federal Joint Services Committees, overseeing critical initiatives such as the National Economic Register, Unified Anti-Money Laundering System, and BASHIR.

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.

Serkan Sokmen

Co-Founder and CEO

Viseur AI

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.

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.

Monica Lopez

Co-Founder & CEO

Cognitive Insights for Artificial Intelligence

One of 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics 2023 and a recognized polymath by The Imagination Institute of the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Monica Lopez is the Co-Founder & CEO of Cognitive Insights for Artificial Intelligence. Dr. Lopez is a serial entrepreneur advising on the risk management and governance of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence from a human-centered perspective across multiple industries. She is also a Senior Executive Fellow of The Digital Economist, a Responsible AI Expert for the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, a Jury Member for the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, and a longtime Fellow of Salzburg Global. Prior, she was a photographer and writer, director and producer of theater and film, merging her artistic work with her research in the neuroscience of creativity through her company, La Petite Noiseuse Productions. Speaking engagements include the National Academy of Sciences, National Geographic, IS&T Electronic Imaging Symposium, IEEE Women in Engineering, AutoSens, BioTalk, Salzburg Global, Executive Women’s Forum, American Health Law Association, Bankers Association for Finance and Trade, Sundance Film Festival, The Atlantic, The Digital Economist, and Top Tier Impact at the World Economic Forum. Latest publications include peer-reviewed original research in the Journal of AI Law and Regulation, International Journal of Medical Informatics, Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, Journal of the Patent & Trademark Office Society, International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, and The Digital Economist. Dr. Lopez holds a PhD in Cognitive Science from the Johns Hopkins University where she is also a teaching professor in the Whiting School of Engineering.

Dmitry Mariyasin

Deputy Executive Secretary

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

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

Chairperson

Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA)

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

Yvonne Johnson

User

ElevenLabs

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.

Avijit Sinha

Senior Vice President, Strategy and Global Business Development

Wind River

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.

Muath AlRumayh

GM of International Affairs (CST) and Co-chair of the Joint Coordination Activity on Metaverse

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

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.

Marco Zennaro

Research Scientist

Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics

Marco Zennaro received the M.Sc. degree in electronic engineering from the University of Trieste, Italy, and the Ph.D. degree from the KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden. He is currently a Research Scientist with the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy, where he coordinates the Science, Technology and Innovation Unit. He is a Visiting Professor with KIC-Kobe Institute of Computing, Japan. His research interests include ICT4D, the use of ICT for development, and in particular he investigates the use of the TinyML in developing countries. He has given lectures on IoT, TinyML and wireless technologies in more than 30 countries.

Moon Choi

Head and Associate Professor, Graduate School of Science and Technology Policy

KAIST

Moon Choi is the Head and Associate Professor of the Graduate School of Science and Technology Policy at KAIST. She founded the Aging and Technology Policy Lab in 2014 (https://aging.kaist.ac.kr), leading research at the intersection of aging and emerging technologies. Her work focuses on developing AI- and gamification-based interventions to bridge the digital divide, creating sustainable mobility policies for super-aged societies, and designing AI agents and policies to empower older adults and individuals with disabilities. She has served as a consultant for the United Nations and is a member of several policy committees across Korean government ministries. Additionally, she chairs the OECD-Korea Digital Society Initiative Steering Group.

Prof. Choi’s interdisciplinary academic background includes a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Yonsei University, a master’s degree in Social Welfare from Seoul National University, and a Ph.D. in Social Welfare from Case Western Reserve University in the U.S. She was the Science Program Chair for the 2022 World Conference of Gerontechnology and currently serves on the steering committee of ACM Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency (FAccT).

H.E. Dr. Bosun Tijani

Honourable Minister

Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Nigeria

Gianfranco Basile

Master Thesis Student

IBM Research – Europe

Gianfranco, a student at ETH, is conducting his thesis internship at IBM Research Zurich, focusing on advancing multimodal foundation models like TerraMind by integrating meteorological data alongside satellite imagery.

Katherine Evans

Chief Representative of the IEEE to the UNECE

IEEE SA

Dr. Katie Evans is an assistant professor at Sorbonne Université in the ethics of artificial intelligence and cognitive science. She has a background in moral and political philosophy, and is a specialist in the ethics of Autonomous Vehicles. Katie is also the author of UNESCO’s graphic novel for AI literacy, and works as a consultant and expert for multiple institutions in the AI governance ecosystem. She is the chief representative of the IEEE to the UNECE, and serves as co-secretary for the Informal Working Group on AI under WP.29.

Arnaud Taddei

Global Security Strategist

Broadcom

Arnaud Taddei is a Global Security Strategist for the CISOs and executives of the top 50 customers and Catalysts of Symantec/Carbon Black by Broadcom. He too participates in International Standardization Defining Organizations and in particular, was diplomatically and historically elected ITU-T SG17 Chair for the UK. He contributes at the IETF. He started his career in 1993 at the CERN IT Division in Geneva which created the World Wide Web. In 2000, he joined Sun Microsystems where he became one of the 100 elected global Principle Engineers. In 2007 he joined Symantec from Chief Architect roles up to Director of Research as direct report to the CTO. He graduated in 1992 from ENSTb and INRIA, France, which led him to the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow in 1992.

Sounil Yu

Author and creator of the Cyber Defense Matrix and CTO

Knostic AI

Sounil Yu is the author and creator of the Cyber Defense Matrix and the DIE Triad, which are reshaping approaches to cybersecurity. He’s a Board Member of the FAIR Institute; fellow at GMU Scalia Law School’s National Security Institute; guest lecturer at Carnegie Mellon; and advisor to many startups. Sounil is the co-founder and Chief AI Safety Officer at Knostic and previously served as the CISO at JupiterOne, CISO-in-Residence at YL Ventures, and Chief Security Scientist at Bank of America. Before BofA, he helped improve information security at several Fortune 100 companies and Federal Government agencies. Sounil has over 20 granted patents and was recognized as one of the most influential people in security by Security Magazine, Influencer of the Year by SC Awards, and a Top 10 CISO by Black Unicorn Awards. He is a recipient of the SANS Lifetime Achievement Award and was inducted into the Cybersecurity Hall of Fame. He has an MS in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech and a BS in Electrical Engineering and a BA in Economics from Duke University.

Naranjargal Bold

Girls Code alumni | Software engineering student

Sungkyunkwan University

Naranjargal Bold is an aspiring software engineering student at Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea, originally from Khovd province in western Mongolia. She is a highly ambitious changemaker dedicated to making technology and AI more accessible, especially in rural areas. A graduate of the Girls Code 2024 program and a FLEX exchange alum, she has implemented small tech projects focused on education and empowerment. She aims to promote AI literacy and inclusive innovation, and is honored to represent the Girls Code alumni community at WSIS alongside the program’s founder.

Boulbaba Ben Amor

Director – AI for Good

Inception, a G42 company

Dr. Boulbaba Ben Amor is currently the Director of AI for Good at Inception, a G42 company based in Abu Dhabi, UAE. He is on sabbatical leave from his position as Full Professor at Institut Mines-Télécom (IMT) Nord Europe and the CRIStAL Research Center (UMR CNRS 9189) in France.

He was awarded the prestigious Fulbright Research Scholarship (2016–2017) to visit Florida State University (USA) and previously held a visiting researcher position with FSU’s SSAMG group (2013–2014). He is a Senior Member of IEEE and a member of IAPR. Prof. B. Ben Amor was the founding and former director of the Mastère Spécialisé® “Cybersecurity Engineering”, accredited by the Conference des Grandes Ecoles and labelled SecNumEdu by the ANSSI – the French Cybersecurity Agency – and ranked 1st in region Hauts-de-France for several years.

Dr. Ben Amor earned his Habilitation to Supervise Research (HDR) in Computer Science from the University of Lille (France) in 2014. Dr. Ben Amor received his Ph.D. (2006) and M.Sc. (2003) in Computer Science from École Centrale de Lyon and holds an Engineering degree (2002) from the National Engineering School of Sfax (ENIS), Tunisia.

Artem Sheikin

Senator

Federation Council of the Russian Federation

Artem Sheikin was born on March 25, 1980 in Belogorsk, Amur region. In 2001 he graduated from Blagoveshchensk State Pedagogical University with a degree in physical education and sports teacher. In 2004 he completed his studies at the North-Western Academy of Public
Service as an economist. In 2012 he received a diploma in management from the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. He returned to RANEPA later, completing bachelor’s degree in 2019 and master’s degree in 2021.He defended his PhD thesis for the degree of Candidate of Economic Sciences.

From 2001 to 2008 he worked in top management positions in various companies. From 2008 to 2010 he taught atSt. Petersburg Academy of Management and Economics, and from 2014 to 2015 he was associate professor of enterprise economics and production management department at St. Petersburg State University of Economics.

He began his career in public administration in 2010 when he took up the position of leading advisor to the group ensuring the activities of deputy head in the presidential affairs office in St. Petersburg, which he held for five years. From 2015 to 2017 he served as founder and chairman of the executive committee of the public movement “Development of Public Spaces” in St. Petersburg. Additionally, in 2015 he became founder of the Wrestling Federation of St. Petersburg and established the Fund for Support of Talented Youth “Future Leaders”. From 2017 to 2019 he occupied the post of adviser to the Governor of St. Petersburg.

In 2020- 2021 he returned to his native Amur region where he volunteered as adviser to the governor. In 2021 he was elected Deputy of the Legislative Assembly of Amur Region and then Senator of the Russian Federation representing the legislative body of state power of Amur Region.

Currently, he serves as First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building of the Federation Council, representative from the legislative body of state power of Amur Region, Deputy Chairman of the Digital Economy Development Council under the RF Federation Council, Head of sections “Ensuring Technological Sovereignty and Information Security of Russia”, “Digital Transformation of Transport” of the Digital Economy Development Council under the RF Federation Council, coordinates work of sections “Artificial Intelligence”, “Promotion of Russian Digital Products and Platforms”, “Industrial Digitization”, “Digital Transformation of Construction and Housing-Communal Services” of the Digital Economy Development Council under the RF Federation Council, member of several working groups and commissions under the Federation Council and State Duma.

Kishor Narang

Mentor, Principal Design Strategist & Architect

Narnix Technolabs Pvt. Ltd

Kishor is Technology Advisor, Mentor, Design Strategist & Architect in Electrical, Electronics & ICT with over 47 years of professional experience in education, research, design and advisory running an Independent Design House – NARNIX since 1981. Over 37 years of hardcore Research and Design Development Experience in Solutions, Systems, Products, Hardware, Software & Firmware (Embedded Software) across diverse technology & application domains, and over 10 years of Strategic Advisory Experience to different segments of business & industry. He has over 500 Research & Design Mentees in the Electronics, ICT & STI (Science Technology & Innovation) Ecosystems. He is Member, Academic Council, IIIT, Surat and D Y Patil International University, Pune; Research Advisor, Institute of Informatics and Communication, University of Delhi & Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women, Delhi; & Member, Academic Committee, Electronics & ICT Academy at National Institute of Technology, Patna. Leading multiple National & Global Standardization Initiatives & Projects at BIS, TSDSI, IEEE, IEC, ISO, ITU and IETF… Recently appointed as a Member IEEE SA Standards Board, beyond leadership positions in other global SDOs. Mentoring many Deep Tech & Disruptive Tech Startups in the domains of e-mobility, drones, robotics, automotive like Electric Vehicles, Autonomous Vehicles, Drones, Robotics & AI; Strategic Electronics like Defense, Aerospace, AR/VR/XR etc…For the last 15 years, been deeply involved in standardization in the electrical, electronics, communications, information technology, digital infrastructure and cyber security domains with a focus on identifying gaps in standards to bring harmonization through system standards and standardized interfaces to ensure end-to-end Interoperability. Recent work includes advocacy and standardization in cross cutting societal Ethical imperatives – Sustainability (focus on Decarbonization in every domain), Safety of the Mankind and the Environment.

Jabu Mtsweni

Chief Researcher and Centre Manager for the Information and Cybersecurity Research Centre

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) South Africa

Dr Jabu Mtsweni is the Head of Information and Cyber Security Centre and Chief Researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), NRF-Rated Researcher (C2), and a Certified Cybersecurity Manager, Research Fellow at the Stellenbosch University, and Technical Leader of the National Policy Data Observatory. Dr Jabu Mtsweni is an accomplished researcher and technology expert in the field of Computer Science, particularly in the areas of Cyber and Information Security. He holds a PhD degree in Computer Science from the University of South Africa. He has published over 90 peer-reviewed conference and journal articles over the years in different forums focusing on ICT4development, socially relevant computing, information and cybersecurity, and data science. He regularly speaks as an invited speaker at local and international cybersecurity conferences. He has worked with both the public and private sector in large and complex ICT projects.

Pamela Coke-Hamilton

Executive Director

International Trade Centre (ITC)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

H.E. Mr. Dimitar Nedyalkov

Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications

Ministry of Transport and Communications, Bulgaria

Dimitar Nedyalkov has over 15 years of experience in the management of private and state-owned companies in the field of transport and logistics.

He was member of the parliament in the 47th and 48th National Assembly. He was elected Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport and Communications. He was a member of the Committee on Economic Policy and Innovation; the Committee on labour, social and demographic policy, as well as the Committee on the direct participation of citizens and interaction with civil society.

As executive director of Free Zone – Ruse EAD, specialized in international transport and logistics, he was responsible for the interaction with international clients. He was Deputy Executive Director of “IRIS” AD with the portfolio of international investment management.

Dimitar Nedyalkov holds a master’s degrees in “International Transport and Logistics” and “Production Management” at the Vienna University of Economics, Austria.

He speaks English, German and Russian.

Dominique Würges

Chair, ITU-T Study Group 5 , International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Director of Institutional Relations for Standardisation

Orange

Dominique Würges is Chairman of ITU-T Study Group 5 (Environment, climate action, circular economy and electromagnetic fields) and Director of Institutional Relations for Standardisation within Orange. He has responsibility for relationships with international organizations involved in standardization activities. He is active in many issues addressed by SDOs and foras, such as ICTs and environment, relations between carriers, or evolution of the broadcasting standardisation and system. Within European Commission, he is Member of the European High-Level Forum for Standardisation (HLF), and the ICT Standardisation policy multi-stakeholder platform for ICTs standardization. He is also member of the Strategic Committee of the French National Standardisation Organisation (AFNOR CCPN). He has previously been responsible for France Telecom’s External Relations and multilateral affairs, in charge of international negotiations for telecommunications, spectrum /radiocommunications issues, and before was Head of the Data and Directories Department of France Telecom.

Education:

Diploma from the ENSPTT/ENA (Ecole Nationale Supérieure des PTT);

Master’s Degree in Telecommunications and Broadcasting Management (Paris Dauphine);

Diploma from Political Science Institute in Strasbourg.

Saira Osama

Founder and CEO

Cerebrocure Technologies Pvt Ltd

Dr. Saira Osama is the Founder and CEO of Cerebrocure Technologies Pvt Ltd on a mission to empower clinicians to achieve improved patient outcomes in stroke using AI Technology and democratized stroke care in under-resourced settings. For her work at Cerebrocure, she won the Most Impactful Initiative Award category for the prestigious Women in Tech® APAC Awards 2024, Malaysia, and was the finalist at the Women in Tech® Global Awards 2024, France. She holds a PhD in Computer Science, with research in medical imaging and Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly in stroke prognosis, and, was awarded a PhD Fellowship grant by the Foundation of Advancement of Science and Technology (FAST), Pakistan, for her PhD research.

She has more than 10 years of academic experience in Computer Science, complemented by hands-on expertise as a Machine Learning Consultant in the Software Industry. Her career includes significant roles such as Program Head for the MS in Data Science and Focal Person at the AI Department of the University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan.

Konstantinos Masselos

President

Hellenic Telecommunications & Post Commission (EETT), Greece

Professor Konstantinos Masselos has been appointed as the President of the Hellenic Telecommunications & Post Commission (EETT) in February 2018 and his mandate has been renewed in February 2022.

He is Outgoing Chair/Vice Chair of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) for 2024 and he was BEREC Chair for 2023 and Vice Chair for 2022 (Incoming Chair) and for 2019.

He is Professor in the Department of Informatics and Telecommunications of the University of Peloponnese and he served as Rector of the above University during the period 2012-2017.

From 2005 to 2008 he was a Lecturer in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Imperial College London. Also during the period 2010-2016 he was an Honorary Lecturer in the same Department.

From 2001-2004 he worked in the telecommunications industry.

Since 2005 he has been collaborating as an expert with various units of the European Commission. Also, he was member of the Scientific Committee of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) from 2015 to 2017.

H.E. Mr. Zhaslan Khasenovich Madiev

Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry

Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry, Kazakhstan

Guido de Croon

Full Professor at the Micro Air Vehicle lab (MAVLab)

TU Delft

Received his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) at Maastricht University, the Netherlands. Currently, he is Full Professor at the Micro Air Vehicle lab (MAVLab) of Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands. His research interest lies with computationally efficient, bio-inspired algorithms for autonomous, light-weight flying robots, with an emphasis on computer vision. His work has included fully autonomous flight of the 20-gram flapping wing drone “DelFly Explorer” and a swarm of tiny, 30-gram nano-copters able to explore unknown environments and localize gas leaks. Moreover, his group has made several advances in energy-efficient, low-latency neuromorphic sensing and processing for autonomous drones. Finally, his work has generated various new hypotheses on biological intelligence, including how honeybees actively evaluate distances with optical flow and how flying insects can estimate their flight attitude without using accelerometers.

Kenneth Cukier

Deputy executive editor

The Economist

Kenneth Cukier is the deputy executive editor at The Economist, following two decades as a foreign correspondent, technology writer and commentary editor.

He is the coauthor of the bestselling book “Big Data” with Viktor Mayer-Schönberger, which was translated into 20 languages and sold 2m copies. His latest book is “Framers” on AI and mental models, with Viktor and Francis de Véricourt.

Kenn was a research fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School and Oxford’s Saïd Business School. He previously served on the board of directors of International Bridges to Justice and Chatham House. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Halima Ismaeel

Senior Information Technology and Telecommunications Projects Specialist

Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, Kingdom of Bahrain

Eng. Halima Ismaeel is a Senior Information Technology and Telecommunications Projects Specialist at the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications in the Kingdom of Bahrain, where she leads the management of critical national ICT infrastructure projects in collaboration with key stakeholders. With a strong background in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and digital twins, Halima brings both technical expertise and strategic vision to her role. Her experience as a Senior AI Data Scientist and part-time lecturer in the Computer Engineering Department further underscores her deep knowledge and passion for innovation. Committed to youth empowerment and digital advancement, Halima actively engages in initiatives aligned with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)’s mission. In 2023, she served as Vice-Chair of the ITU Focus Group on AI and IoT for Digital Agriculture (FG-AI4A) and contributed to Bahrain’s rise in the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) rankings. In 2025, she appointed Vice-Chair of ITU-T Study Group 13 (SG13) on Future Networks and Emerging Technologies and became a member of the Technical Advisory Committee for ITU’s AI for Good “Innovate for Impact” 2025. Halima continues to drive progress in ICT governance, emerging technologies, and youth leadership, shaping the future of digital transformation in Bahrain and beyond.

H.E. Dr. Belete Getahun

Minister of Innovation and Technology

Ministry of Innovation and Technology, Ethiopia

Bo Andersson

Director for International Affairs

Swedish Post and Telecom Authority, Sweden

Tiziana Bonapace

Director ICT and Disaster Risk Reduction Division

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP)

Tiziana Bonapace is the Director of Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction Division at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP). With a career spanning over 30 years in the UN, she has held various roles, including Head of the Subregional Office for North and Central Asia. Bonapace, an international development economist, joined the UN in 1990 as a UNIDO associate expert before joining ESCAP’s trade and investment program in 1992. She specialized in WTO-related issues and coordinated the flagship Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific. Passionate about regional connectivity, she has worked extensively on infrastructure integration and market competitiveness since 2011. In 2016, she assumed leadership of ESCAP’s ICT and Disaster Risk Reduction program, organizing three Ministerial Conferences on the subjects. Bonapace’s diverse background includes living and working in Italy, Thailand, Kazakhstan, and South Africa, where she earned her master’s degree in economics and commerce and lectured at universities.

Hamid Mehmood

Head of the UN-SPIDER Beijing Office

United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)

Hamid Mehmood serves as the Head of the UN-SPIDER Beijing Office at the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). In this role, he spearheads global initiatives to leverage space-based technologies for disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, and sustainable development, focusing on translating cutting-edge research into practical solutions for stakeholders worldwide.

Prior to joining UNOOSA, Mehmood worked at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) as an Economic Affairs Officer for the Space Applications Section (2022–2025). During his tenure in Bangkok, he developed and implemented groundbreaking applications of space technology to support sustainable development across the Asia-Pacific region. His leadership in projects such as drought monitoring in Central Asia, crop monitoring in the Mekong region, and SDG tracking in Indonesia and Thailand earned multiple accolades, including the ESCAP Innovation Award, the Popular Science Best of What’s New Award, and a Top 20 Finalist position for the SDG Digital GameChangers Award. He also contributed to the Regional Space Applications Program and served as a Steering Committee Member of GEO Blue Planet.

Before joining the United Nations, Mehmood served as a Project Officer and Senior Researcher at the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health (UNU-INWEH) in Canada, where he developed strategic foresight tools and coordinated the Water Learning Center. He also served as an Adjunct Professor at McMaster University, teaching GIS, remote sensing, and environmental modeling. Earlier in his career, he was the Capacity Development Lead at SERVIR-Mekong—a USAID/NASA project—at the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, and later worked as the GIS Team Lead at Management Systems International in Pakistan.

Mehmood holds a Ph.D. and a Master’s degree in Remote Sensing and GIS from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Thailand. He is certified in ITIL v4 Foundation, PRINCE2 Foundation, and is a GISP Certified Professional. His current research interests include GeoAI, big Earth data, digital technologies, participatory modeling, data cubes, analysis-ready data, and the application of distributed ledger technologies for sustainable development.

Olivier Oullier

Co-Founder & CEO, Inclusive Brains; Visiting Professor, Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI); Chairman, AI Institute

Biotech Dental Group

Olivier Oullier, PhD, is the CEO and co-founder (with Paul Barbaste) of Inclusive Brains, a startup developing Multimodal Cognitive AI Agents™️ to power Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) that enable digital and physical environments to adapt in real time to how people feel and who they are, regardless of their physicality, abilities, or special needs.

In partnership with Allianz Trade, Inclusive Brains developed Prometheus BCI, a multimodal AI interface that enabled three non-invasive BCI world premieres in the past 12 months:

The first mind-controlled torch relay during the Paris 2024 Olympics;
The first tweet exchange (without any vocal command or physical interaction) with none other than President Macron, live from the stage of the 2024 AI for Good Summit;
The first-ever parliamentary amendment finalized and sent “hands off” during the AI Action Summit in Paris to the President of the Assemblée Nationatile.

Oullier is also the founder of the Assistive Tech & AI for Inclusion Impact Initiative (AT4i) with fellow Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum. Together, they support the funding and execution of impact projects that improve the lives of people with disabilities and special needs.

He serves as Chairman of Biotech Dental Group’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence and is a Visiting Professor of Human-Computer Interaction at the Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) and Professor of Behavioral & Brain Sciences at Aix-Marseille University.

Oullier’s previous roles include: President of EMOTIV, the global leader in portable brain-sensing solutions; Global Head of Strategy in Health and Healthcare and Executive Committee Member at the World Economic Forum (WEF); Scientific Adviser to the French Prime Minister in charge of the Neuroscience and Public Policy Program.

He has (co-)authored more than 250 scientific, medical, business, and opinion pieces in leading publications including Nature, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Fortune. He regularly contributes to The National (UAE) and Les Echos (France), and is also the host and producer of the podcast “The Centaurs.”

He Biao

CEO

China Mobile Communications Group Co Ltd

Mr. He Biao, aged 52, is the President of China Mobile Communications Group Co.,Ltd.., in charge of the operation of the Company. He is also the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of China Mobile Limited , and joined the Board of Directors in April 2024.

Mr. He had successively served as a deputy general manager and general manager of Guangdong Branch of China United Network Communications Corporation Limited, a vice general manager of China United Network Communications Group Company Limited, senior vice president of China United Network Communications Limited (listed in Shanghai), senior vice president of China Unicom (Hong Kong) Limited (listed in Hong Kong), a director and senior vice president of China United Network Communications Corporation Limited, and chairman of China Unicom Online Information Technology Company Limited.

Mr. He graduated from Xiangtan University in 1993 and received a doctorate degree in business administration from Grenoble Ecole de Management, France in 2016. He has many years’ experience and expertise in the information and communications technology industry.

Pieternel Boogaard

Managing Director, Office of Technical Delivery

United Nations-International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD)

Ms. Pieternel Boogaard has been appointed as Managing Director of the Office of Technical Delivery in IFAD as of 2 December 2024. She is a Dutch national joining from FMO, the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank, where she led the Agribusiness, Food and Water and the Private Equity Divisions. Prior to this, she had a successful international career in finance and management in the private sector with ING Bank and KBC Bank. Ms Boogaard Pieternel holds a degree in Law from the University of Leiden, has been a member of various (Non) Executive Boards including as Chair of the Dutch Fund for Climate and Development.

Babak Hodjat

Chief Technology Officer AI

Cognizant

Babak Hodjat is a British computer scientist, entrepreneur, and writer. He was the co-founder and CEO of Sentient Technologies and now holds the position of Chief Technology Officer AI at Cognizant. He is a specialist in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning. In 1998 Hodjat co-founded Dejima Inc and served as CEO and CTO, his patented work on artificial intelligence led to the technology used by Apple for their digital assistant Siri.

Jinchao Xu

Professor of Applied Mathematics and Computational Sciences

KAUST

Xu is Professor of Applied Mathematics and Computational Sciences at KAUST, and Director of the KAUST Lab for Scientific Computing and Machine Learning. His primary research interests include the design, analysis, and application of numerical methods for scientific computing—particularly finite element and multigrid methods—as well as machine learning, including deep neural networks and large language models.

His representative contributions include pioneering theory and algorithms in multigrid and domain decomposition methods; the development of the FASP software package; the formulation of the subspace correction framework; and foundational work on the mathematics of deep learning. He has also contributed to machine learning through MgNet, which bridges ideas from numerical analysis and convolutional neural networks, and AceGPT, an LLM developed specifically for Arabic. Several influential theories and algorithms are named after him (X), including the BPX preconditioner, HX preconditioner, XZ identity, and the MWX element.

He was an invited speaker at the International Congress on Industrial and Applied Mathematics (ICIAM) in 2007 and at the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) in 2010. He is a Fellow of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM), the American Mathematical Society (AMS), the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the European Academy of Sciences (EURASC), and Academia Europaea.

H.E. Mr. Sofiène Hemissi

Ministre

Ministère des Technologies de la Communication, Tunisia

Eneng Faridah

Chief Enforcement Officer

Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC)

H.E. Mr. George Komodromos

Acting Permanent Secretary of the Deputy Ministry

Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Cyprus

H.E. Mrs. Vanessa Matz

Minister

Ministry of Public Modernisation, Civil Service, Public Enterprises, Digitisation and Buildings Administration, Belgium

Shahnawaz Ahmed

Deep Learning Researcher

Embedl

PhD Shahnawaz Ahmed, Deep Learning Researcher. He received his PhD in Applied Quantum Physics from Chalmers University in 2023 at the Wallenberg Center for Quantum Technologies. His PhD focused on the intersection of quantum information, computing, and machine learning. He developed neural networks and manifold optimization techniques for learning in quantum systems and received a MITACS fellowship from Canada during his PhD. Shahnawaz contributes to open-source software, has mentored students, and has participated in Google Summer of Code projects in the past. His research works are published in journals such as Nature Communications, Physical Review Letters, Quantum, npj Quantum, and PRX Quantum, and he has been a reviewer for articles in many journals, including Nature Machine Intelligence. At Chalmers, he was a teaching assistant in several machine learning courses. At Embedl since 2023, Shahnawaz specializes in developing algorithms for optimization of deep learning models and inference on embedded hardware.

Frédérique Chessel-Lazzarotto

Project Coordinator, Center for Learning Sciences (LEARN)

EPFL

Frédérique Chessel-Lazzarotto is a Project Coordinator at the Center for Learning Sciences (LEARN) at EPFL in Lausanne. She leads initiatives at the intersection of artificial intelligence, digital literacy, and education. She has co-directed large-scale teacher training programs in the canton of Vaud, focusing on digital citizenship, computational thinking, and creative use of educational technologies like Thymio. Additionally, she has developed AI literacy workshops for seniors, helping them engage with AI tools. Her work bridges research and practice to promote inclusive, critical, and creative digital education across generations.

Harald Barth

Product Marketing Manager, Driving Assistance

Valeo Group

Harald Barth is Product Marketing Manager for Driving Assistance at Valeo, a leading supplier in the field of Safety and Automated Driving. He supports market intelligence, solution strategy and communication for Advanced Driving Assistance and Automated Driving systems worldwide. Prior to this, Harald Barth was Project Manager for Parking Assistance projects at Valeo. Harald holds a master degree (diploma) of Business and Engineering from the University of Applied Sciences in Karlsruhe.

Alexandre Corjon

Senior VP & Technical Fellow

Sonatus

Alexandre CORJON is Senior Vice President – Technical Fellow at Sonatus, a Silicon Valley based fast growing privately owned company focusing on Software for Software-Defined Vehicles. His mission is to shape Sonatus’ product and technology strategy, strengthening industry relationships worldwide, and advancing its leadership in vehicle software innovation.

After starting his career in Computational Fluid Dynamics research, he joined Airbus and spent 14 years in different roles encompassing product development, industrial digital transformation and configuration management.

Then, he started his career in Automotive, joining the Alliance Renault-Nissan to lead the Electrics/Electronics and Systems Division. During seven years he spent almost half of his time in Japan with his team working on the development of a common Electronics and Software platform across the Alliance.

After a year as Partner in Operations within Price Waterhouse Coopers, he joined OPmobility as Executive Vice President Innovation & Software, to contribute to the major transformation of the company by adding new domains and competencies.

Shani Gwin

Founder and CEO, pipikwan pêhtâkwan and wâsikan kisewâtisiwin | Indigenous Advisory Council

TELUS

Shani Gwin is the Founder and CEO of pipikwan pêhtâkwan and wâsikan kisewâtisiwin. Shani is a proud, sixth-generation Métis and a descendant of Michel First Nation. She has a passion for elevating Indigenous voices, truths and successes.

In her role, Shani has built one of Turtle Island’s (North America) leading Indigenous-owned, -led and majority-staffed communications and engagement agencies. She helps guide clients and organizations with strategic guidance on decolonization, reconciliation, trauma-informed communications, issues management and public relations.

She has over 15 years of professional communications experience in all sectors and is now developing a matriarchal and Indigenous-powered artificial intelligence tool. The tool provides protection for Indigenous People online and supports non-Indigenous people in limiting bias and harm in their writing about Indigenous Peoples.

In 2021, Shani was recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 and IABC Communicator of the Year in Edmonton, Canada. The Peak recognized Shani as an up-and-coming young leader shaping Canada’s economy, culture, and society in 2022. In 2023, she was also awarded Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for her and her team’s work on the Papal Visit to Treaty Six Territory (Alberta, Canada).

Shani is committed to uplifting underrepresented peoples, including Indigenous women, youth, and the 2SLGBTQ+ community, so that they hold equal spots in society.

Graham Brookie

Vice president for technology programs and strategy

Atlantic Council

Graham Brookie is the Atlantic Council’s vice president for technology programs and strategy, as well as the senior director of the Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab), based in Washington, DC.

In his role as vice president, Brookie oversees the Atlantic Council Technology Programs (ACtech)—including DFRLab, the GeoTech Center, the Cyber Statecraft Initiative, the Democracy + Tech Initiative, and a newly formed Capacity Building Initiative. These programs work together to shape an era of increasing geopolitical competition and rapid technological change. The core of ACtech’s approach is technical research that can inform policy and build communities of action. Brookie also oversees the coordination of the Council’s broader technology-related work, investment in expanding expertise, and collaboration across the Council’s sixteen programs and centers.

Brookie joined the Atlantic Council in 2017 and was named director of the DFRLab when it was launched as a center. The DFRLab has distinguished itself as a pioneer in open-source research, working at the intersection of governance, technology, security, and social media. Brookie grew the DFRLab from a start-up to a global leader with over three dozen staff across seventeen countries, a capacity-building practice that has connected and empowered over four thousand emerging experts in over 150 countries, and a policy practice named the Democracy + Tech Initiative, which has shaped how digital technologies are designed, funded, and governed launched in 2019.

Prior to joining the DFRLab, Brookie served in various positions at the White House and National Security Council. His longest role in government was as the adviser to the assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism (APHSCT), the US president’s top aide for cybersecurity, counterterrorism, intelligence, and homeland security issues. His most recent government role was as an adviser for strategic communications with a focus on digital strategy, audience engagement, and coordinating a cohesive record of former US President Barack Obama’s national security and foreign policy. He also worked in the East Asia, Middle East, and North Africa directorates at the National Security Council.

Brookie graduated cum laude with degrees from American University in Washington, DC. He also completed the London School of Economics’ general course. He is a native of Durango, Colorado.

Fabio Babiloni

Full professor of Physiology

University of Rome “Sapienza”

Fabio Babiloni is full professor of Physiology at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Rome “Sapienza”. He is also full professor of Biomedical Engineering at the same University. He has regular teaching courses in Neuroscience at the Medical School and Biomedical Signal Processing at the Engineering School of University of Sapienza, Rome.

Prof. Babiloni has leaded to now more than 25 international research and industrial projects, having financial support from European Union funds (through FP7 and HORIZON2020 and Europe programs) as well as from USA (through National Institute of Health and National Science Foundation), from Japan (through the RIKEN institution), or from China (by the MOST institution).

Since 2021 to now (2025) prof. Babiloni is in the list of the 2% most cited scientists in the world related to neuroscience and biomedical engineering, according to the PlosOne journal, Stanford university and Springer Verlag.

Prof. Fabio Babiloni has published more than 350 papers on peer- reviewed international scientific journals. His h-index (Google Scholar) is 91.

His interest are mainly in the field of Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI) and the estimation in real time of mental states of persons or teams during their working activities by using cerebral and heart signals, and in the area of estimating the impact of the company communication on consumers by using consumer neuroscience methodologies.

Dan Travers

Co-founder and director

Open Climate Fix

Dan Travers brings 20 years of experience in the electricity and technology industries. From his work in the electricity markets in Australia and the UK and financial markets in London, he has a deep understanding of the value of information to the electricity grid and how AI can benefit energy generators, grid operators and traders. Dan is co-founder and director of Open Climate Fix, a non-profit company providing cutting-edge AI solutions to the energy industry and is studying a PhD in solar energy forecasting.

Zhijin Qin

Associate Professor, Department of Electronic Engineering

Tsinghua University

Zhijin Qin is currently an Associate Professor with the Department of Electronic Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. Her research interests include semantic communications and holographic communications. She was a recipient of several awards, such as the 2017 IEEE GLOBECOM Best Paper Award, the 2018 IEEE Signal Processing Society (SPS) Young Author Best Paper Award, the 2021 IEEE Communications Society (ComSoc) Signal Processing for Communications Committee Early Achievement Award, the 2022 IEEE Communications Society Fred W. Ellersick Prize, the 2023 IEEE ICC Best Paper Award, the 2023 IEEE ComSoc Asia-Pacific Outstanding Young Researcher Award, the 2023 IEEE ComSoc SPCC Best Paper Award, and the 2023 IEEE SPS Best Paper Award. She served as a Guest Editor for IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications (JSAC) Special Issue on Semantic Communications and an Area Editor for IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications Series. She served as an Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Communications and IEEE Transactions on Cognitive Networking, and she is serving the Area Editor of IEEE Communications Letters.

Yihua Ning

Founder and CEO

SceneRay

Mr. Yihua Ning, founder and CEO of SceneRay. He graduated from Shanghai Medical College as Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering and Master of Medical Science in Biophysics. He also received Master of Management degree from Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business. Mr. Ning has more than 30 years of experience in medical device engineering, sales, marketing, operation and management. Mr. Ning has worked in multiple globally well-known enterprises including General Electric, Becton Dickinson, Medtronic, Siemens, Dentsply etc. He founded SceneRay Co., Ltd in 2011, a company that researches, innovates and manufactures high-end implanted Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) device with independent intellectual properties. The company developed DBS for Parkinson’s Disease and DBS for opioid addiction. These two products received national ‘Innovative Medical Device Special Approval’ in 2014 and 2017, respectively. DBS for opioid addiction received FDA Breakthrough Device designation in 2022.

Xie Songyun

Full Professor

Northwestern Polytechnical University

Director, Joint International Research Center on Integrated Technique of Brain - Computer for Unmanned System

Dr. Xie Songyun, Full Professor at Northwestern Polytechnical University, Director of the Joint International Research Center on Integrated Technique of Brain – Computer for Unmanned System. Her main research areas include Brain – Computer Interface, Brain Cognition, Signal Processing and Machine learning, She hosted and completed more than 30 national and provincial-level scientific research projects, obtain 30 invention patents, published over 100 academic papers and won the CIUR Innovation and Promotion Award.

Ricardo Ortega

Vice President for Europe and Latin America

EHang (NASDAQ: EH)

Ricardo Ortega is an Executive MBA graduate from IESE Business School and an Aerospace Engineer from the Technical University of Madrid (UPM), with over 20 years of leadership in the aerospace industry. His career spans strategic roles in airline maintenance, aeroengines manufacturing, and executive management, most notably at the forefront of aerial innovation with EHang.

As Vice President of EHang, Ricardo combines deep industry expertise with a forward-thinking vision to champion the future of sustainable aviation. He is driving the expansion and adoption of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) through EHang’s revolutionary unmanned eVTOL aircraft technology. Under his leadership, EHang is shaping the next generation of urban transportation—smart, sustainable, and intelligent.

Ryota Kanai

Founder

Araya, Inc.

After graduating from the Faculty of Science at Kyoto University in 2000, he received his PhD (Cum Laude) in 2005 from Utrecht University in the Netherlands, where he studied human visual information processing mechanisms. Following roles as a researcher at California Institute of Technology (USA) and University College London (UK), and serving as a JST PRESTO researcher and Associate Professor (Reader) of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Sussex (UK), he founded Araya, Inc. in 2015, where he works full-time. He is engaged in research on the principles of consciousness in the brain and machines through the fusion of neuroscience and AI technologies. He has been also working on the translation of AI and neuroscience into industrial applications as the primary business of Araya. He has received many awards, including the Young Scientist Award from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Since 2020, he has served as a Project Manager for the Moonshot Project under Japan’s Cabinet Office, dedicated to developing next-generation AI-assisted brain-machine interfaces (BMI). In 2024, he contributed internationally by serving as Vice Chair and Member of UNESCO’s Ad Hoc Expert Group responsible for drafting the Recommendation on the Ethics of Neurotechnology.

Jose Ignacio (Nacho) Rexach

Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) for Europe and Latin America

EHang (NASDAQ: EH)

Nacho Rexach is the Chief Commercial Officer for Europe and Latin America at EHang, the world’s leading developer of unmanned electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. In this role, he spearheads the development and deployment of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) solutions across key global markets, leveraging EHang’s advanced unmanned aerial systems to address critical transportation challenges.

An engineer with an Executive MBA, Nacho brings over 20 years of leadership experience in some of the most prominent global aerospace companies. His extensive background spans the entire aerospace value chain.

Having held senior management roles in international settings, Nacho has demonstrated a consistent ability to drive innovation, structure complex commercial agreements, and build long-term partnerships across borders and cultures. His expertise also includes effective engagement with governmental bodies, supranational institutions, and key industry stakeholders, contributing to the regulatory and strategic advancement of next-generation aviation.

Elizabeth Faber

Global Chief People & Purpose Officer

Deloitte

Elizabeth Faber is Deloitte’s Global Chief People & Purpose Officer. She is a member of the Deloitte Global Executive Committee and chairs the Global Talent Executive, Global Inclusion Executive, and Global Purpose Executive.

In her current role leading Global People & Purpose, she collaborates with member firm and global business leadership, and the Global Executive Committee to define the People & Purpose agenda globally in service to Deloitte’s partners and people. She leads the development and activation of strategies to deliver a distinctive and inclusive Deloitte talent experience around the globe and embed Deloitte’s Purpose to help drive significant positive environmental and social impact.

Elizabeth is the Executive responsible for the sustainability strategies and results for Deloitte and serves on the Executive Committee of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

Elizabeth has been with Deloitte over 30 years. She previously led People & Purpose for the Asia Pacific (AP) member firm, as a founding member of the first AP Executive Committee.

She has been recognized on multiple occasions internally and externally as a strong advocate for inclusion and for her
Human Resources leadership.

Elizabeth lived in Asia for 20 years with her husband of over 30 years, and their two daughters, who were both born in China. She has an MBA from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and a BS from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dana Hong

Film director, Award-winning Sr. Art director, Visual designer, Illustrator

Freelancer

Dana Hong is a multidisciplinary creator and technical director working across immersive theatre, real-time animation, and AI-driven storytelling. With a background in both creative direction and technical execution, she has led innovative projects that blur the boundaries between technology and art — from site-specific performances and metaverse musicals to AR-based location-based entertainment (LBE) experiences.

As a director and technical lead, Dana is passionate about crafting emotionally resonant narratives within cutting-edge mediums. Her work findwiiLii was recognized at international festivals including SXSW and the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN), showcasing her ability to merge emerging technology with compelling visual storytelling. She continues to explore the role of AI in shaping the future of immersive media.

Dejawa

Film director, CEO

Bamboo Studio

DEJAWA is a South Korean filmmaker educated at the Seoul Institute of the Arts. Their debut film untouchable touch(2016) was awarded at the Seoul International Experimental Film Festival, winning the Lab Program award. As the CEO of Bamboo Studio, Lee continues to create bold and boundary-pushing films that blend experimental aesthetics with narrative depth.

In addition to filmmaking, Lee has directed music videos such as KILL YOUR DARLINGS (2022) for Panda Gomm (feat. Jeebanoff, OBSN) and Cost (2021) for Panda Gomm (feat. Kid Milli). Their directing work spans a wide range of genres, including fashion films and branded content, such as a Bulgari jewelry film and the 20th anniversary film for Singlesmagazine, as well as content creation for YouTube and other digital platforms.

Irakli Beridze

Head of Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI)

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

Verena Puhm

Award-winning AI filmmaker

Verena Puhm is a Sundance-featured, award-winning AI filmmaker and creative technologist blending emotional storytelling with cutting-edge tools. With a background in producing series for CNN and BBC and writing for Leonine Studio’s Wiedemann & Berg TV as well as Red Bull Media’s Terra Mater Studios, she bridges traditional and AI-driven cinema. Her work has been honored by Forbes, The Hollywood Reporter, and top AI festivals. A keynote speaker and panelist at Cannes Film Festival 2025, Berlinale 2025, Austin AIFF, Stockholm AI Film Conference, AI Film & Ad Fest Dubai, and the Atlanta International AI Film Festival (AIAIFF), she is a frequent speaker and judge in the field. Verena is part of OpenAI’s Sora Creator Circle, Google veo 2 Beta, Adobe AI Community Leader Program, Luma, Kling, Hailou Minimax, LTX, Freepik, Pika and Showrunner AI’s Creator programs and collaborates globally across studios, pushing the future of storytelling forward. In addition to her solo creative work, Verena has developed several hybrid and fully AI-driven production pipelines, combining cutting-edge tools and processes for cost-efficient, high-quality content creation. She commands a distributed team of global specialists across production, AI and 3D animation, editing, VFX, sound, and compositing—allowing fast iteration, flexibility, and stylistic precision while keeping production lean and scalable. Verena’s workflow merges traditional filmmaking with generative AI capabilities, ensuring both narrative strength and technical innovation.

Chengyuan Zhao

Senior Product Manager

Ant Group

Chengyuan Zhao is a Senior Product Manager at Ant Group with a decade of experience in AI product development. From early innovations like knowledge graphs and NLP to today’s large language models, she has been deeply involved in both technical application and product design, witnessing the evolution of AI technology firsthand. With a particular interest in AI applications for healthcare, she has designed medical products tailored for doctors, pharmaceutical companies, and the general public. Currently, she is working on developing an AI health assistant application aimed at alleviating the uneven distribution of medical resources and improving healthcare efficiency.

Zhang Min

Vice dean and Vanke Chair Professor, Vanke School of Public Health

Tsinghua University

Alex Ng

President

Tencent Healthcare

Alex’s personal mission is to support the under-privileged, the under-served and make this world a more equitable place.

Alex is currently leading Tencent Healthcare to support healthcare industry’s digital innovation and transformation. Tencent Healthcare currently connects and smoothens the process of accessing online and offline healthcare services for individuals on Tencent Healthcare mini-program, and also provides AI and cloud solutions to health agencies, hospitals, medical institutions, and pharmaceutical companies.

Alex serves as an expert on the WHO Digital Health Technical Advisory Group and Honorary Professor at University of Hong Kong. Before joining Tencent, Alex was the deputy director for Health Innovation and Partnership at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company.

Alex is a trained physician from New Zealand where he served as the chief resident at Middlemore Hospital in Auckland. He received his medical qualifications from University of Auckland, a Master of Public Health from Harvard and Postgraduate Diploma in Health Informatics from University of Otago.

Dalila Hamou

Director, External Relations Division

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

Dalila Hamou serves as the Director of the External Relations Division at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), where she leads global engagement strategies and oversees partnerships with the UN system, intergovernmental bodies, NGOs, and industry stakeholders. As WIPO’s primary spokesperson for external relations, she has spearheaded initiatives such as the Pat-INFORMED database and strengthened trilateral cooperation among WIPO, WHO, and WTO. Her leadership has expanded capacity-building programs, particularly for women innovators, while advancing multilateral dialogue on intellectual property policy and institutional collaboration. Hamou plays a pivotal role in enhancing WIPO’s international outreach and fostering strategic alliances to promote inclusive innovation and knowledge-sharing worldwide

Daniel Rezende

R&D Program Manager

Lenovo

Daniel Rezende is a seasoned innovation leader with over two decades of global experience leading high-impact R&D programs across the technology landscape. His career spans leadership roles at Lenovo, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, and Embratel, where he has consistently translated emerging technologies into transformative products. Daniel has led breakthroughs in AI, cloud computing, telecommunications, embedded systems, and automotive tech. His strategic direction was pivotal in Lenovo’s AI-CID tool earning the 2025 BIG Innovation Award. He also spearheaded the development of an AI-driven sign language translator, underscoring his commitment to socially impactful innovation. Renowned for aligning visionary thinking with multidisciplinary execution, Daniel excels at scaling advanced research into global, real-world solutions.

Osmar Bambini

Climate innovation ecopreneur, Co-founder and CIO

umgrauemeio (1.5°C)

Osmar Bambini is a climate innovation ecopreneur recognized by the World Economic Forum as a Top Innovator and awarded EY Impact Entrepreneur of the Year. With a background in Communication and a specialization in Sustainable Development and Circular Economy, he leads initiatives that combine science, local communities, and technology to address climate change through scalable, high-impact solutions. His work is grounded in systems thinking, driving transformative approaches to environmental resilience and social equity.

Tsetsegbadam Purevsuren

Program manager

GirlsCode

Tsetsegbadam Purevsuren is a development practitioner specializing in climate finance, gender mainstreaming, and artificial intelligence. She brings over eight years of professional experience across government, think tanks, and consulting. She is an alumna of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA).

Since February, she has been serving as the program manager for the 2025 cohort of “GirlsCode,” an initiative that empowers girls aged 15–18 in Mongolia to learn coding and pursue careers in STEM fields

Maxwell Ababio

Head of Technology and Ethics

Data Protection Commission

Maxwell Ababio is the Head of Technology and Ethics at Data Protection Commission – Ghana. Maxwell Ababio is an accomplished leader in the intersection of technology, innovation, and AI & Data governance.

With over 12 years of experience in the tech industry in private/government, he built a reputation for driving responsible innovation while ensuring that emerging technologies align with both societal values and regulatory standards. He plays a crucial role in shaping the commission approach to developing and implementing data products to increase revenue and analysis.

In this capacity, Maxwell Ababio leads a cross-disciplinary team drafting the national ethical & AI strategy and Data governance. Maxwell Ababio works closely with the key sectoral leaders, legal team, product development, and external stakeholders to ensure that technological advancements do not come at the cost of ethical considerations, fairness, and transparency.

I represent Ghana in Africa Union Data Categorization, Sharing & Cross-Border Data Flow committee as 1^st vice chair. Lead the Digital Cooperation organization (DCO) AI Adoption Playbook to guide in their journey from AI readiness to accelerated AI adoption, which serve as a strategic companion for harnessing the transformative potential of AI technologies. Focal person leading UNESCO AI RAM assessment in Ghana. A member of Africa Asia AI Policymaker Network.

Lilibeth Acosta

Deputy Director, Climate Action and Inclusive Development Department

Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)

Dr. Lilibeth Acosta is a Principal Specialist in the Climate Action and Inclusive Development Division in the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and Deputy Director, Program Manager for GGGI’s Green Growth Performance Measurement (GGPM). The GGPM is responsible for developing the Green Growth Index and Simulation Tool, which GGGI applies to measure performance in achieving SDG targets and assess SDG co-benefits of climate actions in its Member Countries and Partners. Lilibeth has over 20 years of experience in indicator development, integrated assessment, and scenario modeling of climate change vulnerability and adaptation, as well as sustainable development in the fields of ecosystem and biodiversity, agriculture and land use, and renewable energy. Before joining GGGI, she worked as an international consultant in the ADB, UNCCD, and UNCTAD. She also worked as a development specialist at the National Economic Development Authority in the Philippines, a senior scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany, an adjunct professor at the University of the Philippines, and a researcher in the Environmental Science departments at universities in Japan, Belgium, and the UK. She holds a PhD in Agricultural Policy from the University of Bonn (Germany), an MPhil in Economics and Politics of Development from the University of Cambridge (England), and a BSc in Agricultural Economics from the University of the Philippines.

James Agajo

Professor

Federal University of Technology Minna Nigeria

Professor James Agajo is a renowned academic currently serving as a Professor and Director of Research and Development at the Bakarean Centre for Global Governance. He is a Fellow of both the Nigeria Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the Nigeria Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies. He also heads the Wireless Communication Network and Intelligent Systems Research Group at the School of Electrical Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria.

With a portfolio of over 150 published research papers, Professor Agajo has earned numerous awards and recognitions for his impactful work in artificial intelligence, telecommunications, and emerging technologies. Beyond academia, he has also contributed his expertise as an adviser and expert to the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries (UN-OHRLLS).

Ammar Muthanna

Associate Professor, Department of Telecommunication Networks

St. Petersburg State University of Telecommunications

Prof. Ammar Muthanna (Senior Member, IEEE) received the B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D., Dr.Sc. degrees from the Saint-Petersburg State University of Telecommunications, in 2009, 2011, 2016, and 2023 respectively. Dr. Ammar holds a Professor position at the Saint-Petersburg State University of Telecommunications. From 2017 to 2019, he was a Postdoctoral Researcher and from 2020 he is director of Scientific Center for Future Wireless Networks Modeling at RUDN University. He took part in the Erasmus Student Program at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, in 2012 and 2013, and was a Visitor Researcher at Tampere University, Finland, in 2014. He is an IEEE Senior Member and an ACM Professor Member. He has been an Active Member of the Technical Program Committee on many international conferences and journals, serving as Chair/Co-Chair of several Scopus conferences, he serves as an academic editor or associate editor for many indexed journals in the Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus. He is also an Editor of draft recommendations in ITU-T SG 11, SG 13, and SG 16. He is the Expert on the Judges Panel and the Challenge Management Board at AI-5G-Challenge, ITU, and Organizer of the Russian Host in 2020 and 2021 at Saint-Petersburg State University of Telecommunications. His research interests include wireless communications, 5G/6G cellular systems, artificial intelligence, High-density IoT, telepresence applications, edge/fog computing, and software-defined networking.

Marcelo Mendoza

Associate professor, Computer Science Department

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Marcelo Mendoza is an associate professor in the Computer Science Department at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. He received a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the Universidad de Chile. He did a postdoc in Yahoo Research. He is a founder and former President of the Chilean Association of Pattern Recognition. He is a principal researcher at the National Center of Artificial Intelligence (CENIA) and an associate researcher at the Millennium Institute for Foundational Research on Data (IMFD). His research is focused on developing AI methods to measure and predict events and processes involving humans. His work includes the study of information dissemination, the spatial distribution of humans within cities, community formation, and the analysis of constructive and destructive interactions among individuals. His contributions are significant in advancing the understanding of how AI can address complex societal challenges, particularly those related to the dynamics of human behavior. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers in conference proceedings and top-tier journals. In 2021, he received the Seoul Test of Time award for co-authoring the paper Information Credibility on Twitter, a pioneering study in applying AI to the analysis of misinformation.

Diogo Reis Santos

Staff Data Scientist

CERN

Diogo Reis Santos is a Staff Data Scientist at CERN with expertise in data science, machine learning, and computational biology. He is currently focused on developing and deploying federated learning infrastructure for maintaining complex systems, with healthcare applications through European projects. Diogo holds a Ph.D. in Computational Cardiology from UCL. Beyond his work, he has lectured on deep learning, served as a scientific advisor, and organized several public events.

Ayori Selassie

Founder

Life Model®

Ayori Selassie is an autodidact polymath in product development, marketing, investing, human potential, and the patented inventor of the Life Model® which helps individuals and organizations with tools to design better lives, futures, and cultures of longevity. With decades of experience in tech and leadership—including 18 years at Salesforce—Ayori bridges the worlds of human intuition, design thinking, and artificial intelligence. She founded several companies, most notably Selfpreneur.com, AiNewbies.com, and LifeModel.Ai. Through executive AI advisory services, thought leadership, and AI tools, Ayori empowers humans everywhere to reach their highest potential.

Fallon S. Wilson

Co-Founder and Lead Principal Investigator

#BlackTechFutures Research Institute

Dr. Fallon S. Wilson is a visionary Public Interest Technologist with over 15 years of experience leveraging technology for social equity, particularly within Black tech ecosystems and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). She is the Co-Founder and Lead Principal Investigator of the #BlackTechFutures Research Institute, where she has been pivotal in advancing Black tech ecosystems in southern U.S. cities like Houston, Nashville, Memphis, and Birmingham. Dr. Wilson’s work includes launching a Black Public Interest Technology (PIT) summer training program for 20% of HBCUs and creating Black Tech Policy Week, a national dialogue that attracts over 6,000 attendees. Her initiatives aim to promote tech equity, digital access, and workforce development for underrepresented communities, with a strong focus on building inclusive AI futures.

She holds a PhD in Social Service Administration and a Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of Chicago, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Spelman College. Dr. Wilson’s leadership extends to her role as Vice President of Policy at the Multicultural Media, Telecom, and Internet Council, where she has spearheaded national campaigns such as “Black Churches 4 Digital Equity” and advised on digital equity strategies with federal stakeholders, including President Biden. Recently, she launched the National Juneteenth Digital Equity Bible Study with 10,000 people tuning in online and in person to build a movement for digital equity.

A recipient of numerous accolades, including multiple Webby Awards, Dr. Wilson’s work has been recognized by institutions such as the World Economic Forum and the Kapor Center for Social Impact. She is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Edison Alliance, an Advisory Board Member for the Siegel Family Endowment Research Advisory Council, a member of the Digital Equity Research Center Advisory Board, and a Founder and Member of Sistas 4 Digital Equity. Her research and advocacy are not just about data and public policy; they also involve personal stories and experiences. They are about ensuring that Black communities thrive in the evolving tech landscape. Her work aims to build a more equitable future where historically disadvantaged populations lead in responsible computing and digital inclusion.

Recently, she was recommended for a $12 million grant from the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) under the Digital Equity Act.

Qizhen Weng

Director, AI Infrastructure Research Center

China Telecom (TeleAI)

Dr. Qizhen Weng is the Director of the AI Infrastructure Research Center at the Institute of Artificial Intelligence, China Telecom (TeleAI), where he leads efforts to enhance the efficiency of AI clusters and optimize systems for multimodal AI workloads. He earned his Ph.D. degree in Computer Science and Engineering from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) in 2023 and received a B.Eng. degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) in 2017.

Authoring publications in premier systems conferences such as NSDI, SC, and ATC, Dr. Weng has accumulated about a thousand citations on Google Scholar and holds an H-index of 11. He has been recognized with several honors, including the Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program from the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS), and the Shanghai Outstanding Graduates Award.

Muhammad Adamu

Research-Student, ommunication Engineering at the Wireless and Photonic Networks (WiPNET) Research Center of Excellence

Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)

Muhammad Adamu is a Research-Student in Communication Engineering at the Wireless and Photonic Networks (WiPNET) Research Center of Excellence in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) (2023-Present). Adamu is dedicated toward ML-based researches that are analysing the impact of climate change on communication networks and infrastructures aligning closely with SDGs particularly SDG 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, and 17. Adamu obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics & Communication Engineering from Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport (AASTMT), Alexandria-Egypt (2016), Post-Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) from University of Maiduguri (UniMaid), Maiduguri-Nigeria (2021), and Master’s degree in Telecommunications Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria-Nigeria (2023). Adamu teaches courses in Communication Engineering at Jigawa State Polytechnic, Dutse, Nigeria.

Abby Daniell

Director - Worldwide Public Sector

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

As the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Director for the International Organizations team, Abby Daniell is the executive responsible for the team that drives the digital transformation of organizations such as the United Nations, European Commission, and World Bank.

Prior to this role, Abby led the AWS Latin America, Canada and Caribbean public sector programs team responsible for implementing workforce development, diversity and inclusion, disaster preparedness, sustainability, cybersecurity, and other programs in the Latin America, Canada and Caribbean markets.

With more than 25 years of global private and public sector business experience, she manages AWS teams that enable public sector organizations to expand globally.

Abby is quoted in international press and speaks at public sector and industry events regarding cloud technologies and education, innovation, and workforce development.

She previously worked as the commercial director at the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica where she formed part of the management team and assisted U.S. companies doing business in Latin America. Before joining the U.S. Embassy, Abby was the associate publisher of The Tico Times, Central America’s leading English-language newspaper. She represented the newspaper at the Inter-American Press Association. She lived and worked in Costa Rica for two decades and is a fluent Spanish-speaking professional.

Abby moved to Costa Rica after working as a communications director on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. for a member of congress from Seattle, Washington.

She holds a Master of Business Administration from The George Washington University School of Business in Washington, D.C. and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Washington in Seattle.

Abby loves the outdoors and is an avid hiker, runner, and PADI certified Open Water Diver. She has served on several nonprofit boards of directors, including the Costa Rican North America Cultural Center.

Marie-Laure Salles

Director

Geneva Graduate Institute

Marie-Laure Salles became Director of the Geneva Graduate Institute in September 2020.
Before joining the Institute, she was Dean of the School of Management and Innovation at Sciences Po Paris, a school she launched in 2016. Before that, she was Professor at ESSEC Business School, where she was also, in turn, Dean of the Faculty and Associate Dean for the PhD Programme.

With a PhD in Sociology from Harvard University and a habilitation à diriger les recherches from Dauphine University in Paris, Marie-Laure Salles was, until her arrival in Geneva, Professor at the Centre de sociologie des organisations (CSO) at Sciences Po Paris. Her research interests range from the role of social networks in the transnational diffusion of rules, practices and ideas, to the historical transformation of capitalism and national institutions, with a particular interest for the evolving nature of the social responsibility of firms and for the changing conditions of transnational dynamics of economic governance in the context of globalisation. She has published broadly on those issues in top academic journals and books, and has received several awards, including the prestigious Max Weber Award for Distinguished Scholarship from the American Sociological Association in 2000.

Marie-Laure Salles has been a visiting professor in prestigious academic institutions in the United States and Europe. She holds a PhD honoris causa from Stockholm University and was made a Knight in the Legion of Honour by the French Government in 2017.

Puck de Haan

Cyber Security & AI Researcher

TNO

Puck de Haan is an experienced scientist at TNO’s Cyber Security Technologies department. She has a strong background in AI, machine learning, and anomaly detection. Her research focuses on AI applications in cyber security and securing AI systems themselves. She regularly works on AI security topics with Dutch government bodies and large Dutch organizations, such as leading financial institutions. Puck actively participates in NATO research on widespread AI Adoption and AI assurance, collaborating with international experts to advance AI security frameworks and enhance global cyber security standards.

Richard Kerkdijk

Senior Consultant Cyber Security Technologies

TNO

Richard Kerkdijk is a senior consultant in cyber security technologies at TNO. His role involves strategic security evaluations, security benchmarking and coordination of cyber security innovation projects. He has a.o. worked with telecommunications providers, financial institutions, the Dutch National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) and the Dutch Ministry of Defense and is also a core member of the European Telecommunications ISAC. Richard takes part in European research on AI driven cyber defense and also has an interest in practices and methodologies that reinforce cyber security of the AI technologies themselves.Senior Consultant Cyber Security Technologies

LaVonne Roberts

CEO

The Scott-Morgan Foundation USA

LaVonne Roberts leads The Scott-Morgan Foundation’s development of universal communication platforms that break barriers for 500+ million people worldwide. She pioneers multi-agentic AI systems integrating voice synthesis, avatar generation, and personalized response engines while prioritizing individual dignity and democratizing assistive technology access.

As a technology leader and researcher, Roberts has been instrumental in fostering collaborations between technology companies and healthcare organizations to advance ethical AI development. Her current research explores the intersection of machine learning and assistive technology, focusing on creating trustworthy and sustainable AI solutions that can be deployed globally while maintaining individual agency and privacy.

Under Roberts’ leadership, her team is developing open standards and plug-and-play solutions designed to transform the assistive technology industry from fragmented, isolated tools into integrated ecosystems that work seamlessly together, creating a foundation for global scalability and user empowerment.

Roberts brings unique insights from her experience as an early internet pioneer, having co-founded XOOM, one of the first internet unicorns to successfully transition from online community startup to public company. Her subsequent work in technology investment and journalism has informed her approach to ethical AI development and implementation. AI subject matter expert for major media outlets , Roberts provides expert commentary for major media outlets and contributes to Forbes Under 30, identifying breakthrough AI innovators.

Her latest book, “Applied VR in Healthcare,” explores the convergence of virtual reality and artificial intelligence in medical applications. Roberts holds an MFA from The New School and has been recognized with numerous fellowships, including the MIT Tech Review, Lindau Nobel Laureate and the Heidelberg Laureate Forum.

Zenon Lamprou

R&D AI Engineer

Catalink Limited

Dr. Zenon Lamprou is a researcher from Cyprus with a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence. His doctoral research focused on the development of brain-computer interface systems, enabling direct interaction between humans and machines through neural signals. He is currently working on the ALFIE project, where he is developing fair and ethically responsible models for detecting driver drowsiness in vehicles.

Yu Xiaohui

President

China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT)

Xiaohui, President of China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT). He also serves as Vice President and Secretary General of the Internet Society of China (ISC), Chairman of the Governing Council of the Alliance of Industrial Internet (AII), and Secretary General of the Artificial Intelligence Industry Alliance (AIIA).

Mr. YU has dedicated himself to advancing research in telecommunications, Internet, digital technologies, and their applications. He actively promotes policy studies, industry development, innovation in application, and the establishment of digital infrastructure. He has spearheaded numerous collaborative initiatives with think tanks and research institutions in different countries, fostering international cooperation and exchange in the digital sphere.

Shanshan Jiang

Film director

Shanshan Jiang is a London-based artist and an award-winning film director. Her diverse artistic practice spans film, photography, installation, and painting, with a focus on exploring themes of identity, memory, and the complexities of human experience.

Her films have been awarded in international festivals and screened world-wide. In 2025, Shanshan made a significant leap into the realm of AI-driven cinema with her groundbreaking short film, Clown. This short film, which blends live-action footage with AI-generated imagery, marked her first exposure to AIGC.

Shanshan Jiang continues to push boundaries with her distinctive voice in the AI art and film world, blending AI tools and digital worlds in unique and compelling ways.

Isabelita Virtual

Film director

“Technology should expand our way of looking at the world and ourselves” This is the approach that guides Isabelita Virtual’s work. Isabel is a Creative Director working at the intersection of art, technology, and communication. With a career spanning leading advertising agencies such as Wunderman, DDB, and Usted, as well as tech giants like Meta, she has collaborated with world-renowned brands and cultural organizations, including Hermès, Apple, Versace, and NASA. In 2018, she was recognized as a Webby Award Honoree for Best Content in Art and Culture, alongside the Metropolitan Museum and LACMA. She has been the only Spanish artist to project her work at Times Square Midnight Moment, joining the ranks of artists like Andy Warhol, Björk, and Sophie Calle. Her AI work has received recognition from the Miró Mallorca Foundation, OpenAI “Sora Selects”, Prompt Forum, and Berlin’s Net Galerie, among others.

Charlotte Henshaw MBE

Paracanoe Athlete

Great Britain

Charlotte Henshaw MBE is one of the world’s leading Paracanoe athletes and 5 x Paralympian across two different sports. She is a 10 x Paracanoe World Champion & won 3 golds at the Tokyo 2020 & Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Charlotte began her sporting journey as a Para swimmer – representing Great Britain for over a decade – during which time she competed at 3 Paralympic Games, winning silver at London 2012 and bronze at the Rio 2016 games respectively. Off the water, Charlotte is passionate about disability inclusion and empowerment and promoting the Paralympic movement and the huge impact it can have on society. After a 2020 diagnosis of endometriosis, she is also a keen advocate for women’s health issues, working with charities to ensure that the conversation around women’s health issues continues to be at the forefront of the sporting world and beyond. Charlotte was awarded an MBE in the 2021 New Years Honours list for Services to Canoeing.

Odair Faleco

Film director, Director of Experience Design

Mastercard

Odair Faleco is a Brazilian multidisciplinary artist working at the intersection of art, technology, and storytelling. With a experienced background in UX design, music, street photography, and creative direction, he brings a unique perspective shaped by twenty years of experience at leading innovation agencies such as R/GA and Accenture Song. Passionate about the future of creative workflows, he actively experiments with emerging AI tools in cinematic and artistic contexts. Odair is an official creative partner of many leading AI tools. Odair is also the mind behind zero1cine, the first curated AI movie database, and currently works as Director of Experience Design at Mastercard and AI educator at zero1educa.

Yinzi Jin

Deputy Director, School of Public Health

Peking University

Dr Yinzi Jin, Deputy Director, Researcher Professor, Doctoral supervisor of Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, Peking University. Dr. Jin has been engaged in the study of global health systems, global health governance and development cooperation for health. Dr Jin’s research focuses on the adoption and diffusion of innovations in health systems and developing innovative ways to implement and evaluate complex health system interventions that deliver integrated healthcare to low-income populations with most of interests in emergency medical services. Dr. Jin’s research projects have covered countries from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and some Africa countries that along Belt and Road, funded by China National Natural Science Foundation, China Medical Board, World Health Organization, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Beijing Natural Science Foundation, etc. Based on the studies, she has published more than 70 peer-reviewed papers as a corresponding or first author, and has been invited to present in several international academic conferences, including the Global Health Symposium on Health Systems Research, Prince Mahidol Award Conference, World Health Summit, etc. Dr. Jin has served as Secretary-General of China-ASEAN Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Public Health since 2023, Governance Board Member of Emerging Voices, Health Systems Global for the Western Pacific region during 2020 and 2022, China representative of Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) Global Health Education Committee since 2020. Dr. Jin is also serving as consultant of the Chinese delegation for the World Health Organization Executive Board, World Health Assembly, and G20 Joint Finance and Health Ministers’ Meeting.

Gopal Ramchurn

CEO

Reponsible AI UK

Professor of Artificial Intelligence, University of Southampton

Prof. Gopal Ramchurn is a Professor of Artificial Intelligence, Turing Fellow, and Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology. He is the CEO of Reponsible AI UK, Director of the UKRI Trustworthy Autonomous Systems hub. He is also a Co-CEO of Empati Ltd, an AI startup working on decentralised green hydrogen technologies. His research is about the design of Responsible Artificial Intelligence for socio-technical applications including energy systems and disaster management. His research involves applying techniques from Machine Learning, HCI, and Game Theory. He has won multiple best paper awards for his research and is a winner of the AXA Research Fund Award (2018) for his work on Responsible Artificial Intelligence.

Nina Linder

Co-Chair of Topic Group point-of-care diagnostics

University of Helsinki

Nina Linder is a physician by training and received her MD and PhD from the University of Helsinki, Finland. Dr. Linder initially focused on molecular medicine and cancer biomarker research. She previously held a position as Medical Advisor within the pharmaceutical industry with involvement in early phase clinical trials for novel targeted molecular cancer therapeutics.

Nina Linder’s current research involves the development of novel artificial intelligence-based solutions for cancer and infectious disease diagnostics. Linder is also co-heading several projects developing artificial intelligence-based tools for point-of-care diagnostics in a global setting. The overall goal of Linder’s research is to promote the implementation of innovative decision-support solutions for precision medicine to improve the translation from basic medical research to the doctor and patient at the clinic.

Brenda Mulele Gunde

Global Lead for ICT4D

United Nations-International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD)

Brenda Mulele Gunde is the Global Lead for ICT4D at United Nations-International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD). She is responsible for providing leadership and strategic, technical and policy advisory in adopting and integrating digital technologies to support smallholder farmers for the IFAD programme of work. Her career spans ICT leadership, business engagement and digital transformation to enable rural development. Before joining IFAD, she worked for UNICEF as Chief of ICT in Bangladesh and has an extensive background in the non-governmental sector, working as Director of ICT for SOS Children’s Villages East and Southern Africa and Regional Director of IT for World Vision Southern Africa Region, among other roles. She possesses a Master of Science in Sustainable Development from the University of London-SOAS and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in ICT Management from the University of Leicester.

Vincent Martin

Director, Office of Innovation (OIN)

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Dr. Vincent Martin is the Director of the FAO Office of Innovation (OIN), where he leads the Organization’s science and innovation agenda as part of the FAO Science and Innovation strategy. With 28 years of experience in science, research, and policy, Dr. Martin has dedicated his career to transforming agrifood systems and addressing global development challenges through science and innovation.

Before his current role, Dr. Martin served as UN Resident Coordinator in Guinea, overseeing 24 UN agencies and driving efforts toward the Sustainable Development Goals. He led humanitarian initiatives and tackled complex issues in development, peace, and security by integrating innovation into UN programs.

As FAO Representative to China and DPR Korea, Dr. Martin shaped strategies for food security, global health, and nutrition, fostering innovative agricultural policies and developing tools to address complex development challenges. Earlier in his career, as FAO Representative in Senegal and Head of the Regional Hub for humanitarian interventions in the Sahel, he was honored as a “Knight of the Order of the Lion” for his exceptional contributions.

Dr. Martin’s career began with CIRAD in Zimbabwe and the French Government before joining FAO in 1998. Since then, he has led development and emergency programs in epidemic prevention, control and global health policy across Africa, the Middle East, and East Asia.

His academic achievements include a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, a Diploma in Medical Epidemiology and Statistics, an MSc in Livestock Production, and a Ph.D. in Agronomic Sciences and Biological Engineering.

Karine Perset

Acting Head of the OECD Division on AI and Emerging Digital Technologies

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

As one of the two Deputy Directors of the Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), Audrey Plonk is responsible for the OECD’s portfolio of work on digital policy, which includes data governance and data flows, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, security and safety online, and connectivity and infrastructure. She plays a leading role in overseeing and advancing evidence-based policy analysis on the drivers, opportunities and challenges of digital transformation in collaboration with policy communities and stakeholders. She also supports and represents the OECD in related international initiatives.

From 2019 to 2023, Ms Plonk served as Head of STI’s Digital Economy Policy Division. She was responsible for leading two OECD committees and six working parties across digital and consumer policy. She has successfully expanded the OECD’s digital portfolio organising a key Ministerial meeting in 2022, launching the Global Forum on Technology and publishing the Declaration on Government Access to Personal Data Held by Private Sector Entities. Ms Plonk had previously worked on digital security issues in STI in 2007, including malicious software and the protection of critical information infrastructure.

Before returning to STI in 2019, Ms Plonk was Senior Director of Global Security Policy and Senior Director for Public Policy at Intel Corporation. During her more than ten years at Intel, she led a global team of policy experts focusing on areas such as connectivity, data, artificial intelligence and autonomous-driving policy issues. She also specialised in China cyber policy and advised Intel business and product teams on China strategy.

Ms Plonk, an American national, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University (Washington, DC, United States).

Marco Llinás

Director of the Production, Productivity and Management Division

UNCEPAL

Tonilyn Lim

Chief of Programmes

United Nations Global Compact (UNGC)

Tonilyn P. Lim assumed the role of Chief of Programmes at the UN Global Compact Office in New York in July 2023. She leads and directs the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes and policy development along the substantive areas of environmental, economic and social development.

Ms. Lim brings over 20 years of experience in project and programme management with relevance to business and sustainable development at both national and international levels.

Prior to joining the UN Global Compact, Ms. Lim held leadership positions at the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) as a Representative and Head of the Regional Office in China, and Country Representative in the Philippines, where she spearheaded the development and implementation of the UNIDO Country Programme for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development for respective countries of coverage. She also served as a project manager at the UNIDO Headquarters in Vienna, Austria, addressing energy, climate change and environmental management, and was instrumental in developing UNIDO’s initial technical cooperation strategy under the Sustainable Cities programme of the Global Environment Facility. To support the recovery of micro and small enterprises from the pandemic, Ms. Lim took on the role of Chief Technical Adviser at the International Labour Organization (ILO) Manila Office for a project promoting occupational safety and health and digital transformation. Before joining the UN, Ms. Lim was in government service, notably as Chief of the Environmental Safety Group of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, looking after the corporate sustainability of foreign direct investments, and as Crisis Management Officer of the Central Bank of the Philippines, facilitating business continuity and disaster preparedness.

Ms. Lim holds a Master’s in Environmental Management from the Ateneo De Manila University and the University of San Francisco and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of the Philippines. She also took up graduate studies on renewable energy from the Technical University of Vienna.

James Grabert

Director of the Mitigation Division

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

The Mitigation division supports Parties to facilitate, catalyze and cooperate in the implementation of ambitious climate action in line with global efforts to limit temperature increase to well below 2 °C and pursue efforts to limit this increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels. Parties are supported in developing, communicating and effectively implementing ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in a manner that facilitates clarity, transparency, understanding and accounting, including through the use of collaborative approaches, mechanisms, framework engagements and economic instruments that broaden mitigation action and drive sustainable development.

Shen Xiaomeng

Vice-Rector

Europe & Director of UNU-EHS

As of 1 August 2020, Prof. Shen Xiaomeng assumed the role of UNU Vice-Rector in Europe (UNU-VIE) and Director (D2) of the UNU Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS).

As the UNU Vice-Rector in Europe, Prof. Shen facilitates collaboration between UNU and stakeholders in and outside of the United Nations; contributes to high-level policy development with other United Nations entities and regional/national bodies; and guides UNU outreach efforts to Geneva-based UN entities, the European Commission, and European academic and research institutions.
As the Director of UNU-EHS, Prof. Shen is the chief academic and administrative officer of the Institute and oversees its direction, organization and programmes.

Prof. Shen worked with the then International Bureau of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung; BMBF) at the Project Management Agency of the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt-Projektträger; DLR-PT) from 2011 onwards. She joined DLR-PT as Senior Scientific Officer (2011‒2012), with a focus on multilateral science and technology development in Asia and Oceania. From 2013, she served as Deputy Head of the Department for Cooperation with Asia and Oceania; Head of the Cooperation with East Asia and Oceania Unit; and as Coordinator of the European Commission’s EURAXESS Worldwide initiative facilitating the mobility of scientists.

Before joining DLR-PT, Prof. Shen worked with UNU-EHS as a Resident Scholar and PhD Researcher (2004‒2008), and thereafter as an Associate Academic Officer (2008‒2010) with a focus on social vulnerability, environmentally induced migration issues and water-related disaster and risk research from cultural perspectives.

Prof. Shen holds a BA degree in English Literature from the Beijing Foreign Studies University, a MA degree from the University of Bonn in translation and economics and a PhD degree in Geography from the University of Bonn/UNU-EHS, with a focus on flood risk perception and communication in different cultural contexts.

She is an honorary professor for Culture of Sustainability at Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, and also serves on the management group of the World Adaptation Science Programme hosted by UNEP and as a member of UN Senior Leadership Group on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience (UN SLG). Her recent research focuses on a policy shift from GDP growth to a new paradigm of human flourishment.

She is a Chinese national and is fluent in English and German.

Mactar Seck

Chief Frontier and Emerging Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation Section

UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)

Helene Molinier

Advisor, Digital Gender Equality Cooperation and Thematic Lead for GE Technology and Innovation

UN Women

Ms. Hélène Molinier is the Senior Advisor on Digital Cooperation and the Thematic Lead for the GEF Action Coalition on Innovation and Technology at UN Women.

She was the Substantive Lead for the 67th session of Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67) is the author of the report of the UN Secretary General for CSW67 on “Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”. She is also the author of the UN Women position paper “Placing Gender Equality at the Heart of the Global Digital Compact” and the policy paper on “Leveraging Digital Finance for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment”.

Helene joined UN Women in 2018 and has over 20 years of experience with a number of organizations, including UNDP, WHO, UNICEF, The Global Fund, IDLO and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs where she successfully developed and implemented innovative programming initiatives, including digital tools for youth empowerment, innovative finance mechanisms for biodiversity conservation, innovative legal preparedness frameworks, interactive capacity building methodologies and innovative grant making for legal empowerment and access to justice for vulnerable women. Her experience includes providing support for policy and regulatory reforms; strategic programming support to country offices, leading the design and implementation of large multi-stakeholder partnerships, developing inclusive and gender-transformative digital tools, frontier technology and social innovation. She has lived and worked in Morocco, South Africa, Benin, Congo Republic, Switzerland, Sri Lanka and Netherlands.

A national of France, Hélène holds a master’s in International Law and a master’s in Diplomacy and International Relations from Paris XI University.

Xinyi Gu

Assistant Researcher

Beijing Institute of Technology

Professor Xinyi Gu, associate researcher and master’s supervisor at Beijing Institute of Technology. Her main research areas include brain-computer interface ethics and governance, AI ethics and governance. She is currently the vice chairman of the Ethics Working Group of the Brain-Computer Interface Industry Alliance and the deputy secretary-general of the Education Working Committee of the China Artificial Intelligence Association (CAAI). She has presided over 10 national and provincial projects, including the National Social Science Fund Project, and participated in many key R&D plans of the Ministry of Science and Technology and special research projects of the high-end think tank of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. The core author of China’s first “Ethical Principles and Governance Recommendations for Brain-Computer Interfaces”

Gerwin Schalk

Professor

Fudan University, Shanghai

Professor, University of Bath, UK

Dr. Schalk obtained his M.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Graz University of Technology in Austria, his M.S. in Information Technology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York/USA, and his Ph.D. in Computer and Systems Engineering from RPI.

He is interested in integrating scientific, engineering, and clinical concepts to advance our understanding of the brain and to use this new understanding to develop novel neurotechnologies. He has made contributions to basic understanding of human intracranial neurophysiology, translational brain-computer interface research, has led the development of the leading BCI software world-wide (BCI2000) for 20 years, and he produced a new brain mapping technique and a stroke rehabilitation technique that are now beginning to improve the lives of people world-wide.

He authored or co-authored >130 peer-reviewed publications, one book and 17 chapters, has 30000 total citations and an H factor of 69, has given more than 300 invited lectures world-wide, and is ranked #5 in BCI research world-wide and #23 in neuroscience in China. His work has been extensively showcased by the media including features on CNN, NBC, CBS, Science Channel, and articles in New York Times Magazine, Discover Magazine, Forbes, Technology Review, and Wired. He is also listed in Who’s Who in the World and Who’s Who in America, and received several awards for his work.

Sergiu Gaibu

Director

National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI), Moldova

Sabrina Hsueh

AI Enablement & External Innovation Lead

Pfizer

Dr. Sabrina Hsueh is a leading voice in industrial AI standards, advancing responsible AI practices and maximizing impact in healthcare and life sciences. As AI Enablement & External Innovation Lead at Pfizer, she also chairs the WIA Steering Committee and Consumer Health Informatics Workgroup at AMIA. With extensive experience in AI standards, governance, and value delivery, Dr. Hsueh has shaped governance frameworks that emphasize fairness, transparency, and accountability. Previously, she led innovations in patient-generated health data, behavioral analytics, and preventive decision support at IBM and AI startups backed by leading venture portfolios. An active community builder, she chaired IBM’s health informatics community across global labs, co-founded an international initiative with IMIA, and steered the AI Evaluation Showcase and the journal special issues in JAMIA Open, BMJ, Public Health. She also collaborated with the IEEE standards committee on AI nudging and DCI-networks at Harvard Medical School to foster cross-org conversations on emerging real-world data and AI model cards. Additionally, she served on the ACM Practitioners Board, promoting interdisciplinary AI initiatives and helping to shape best practices, influencing more than 100,000 professionals globally.

A prolific innovator, Dr. Hsueh holds 12 U.S. patents, has co-authored 80+ technical articles, and co-edited “Personal Health Informatics: Patient Participation in Precision Health” (Springer Nature). She advises public-private partnerships, guiding ethical AI strategies and ensuring responsible AI deployment, balancing innovation with risk management in the new era of digital workforce transformation.

Ye Jieping

IEEE Fellow, Vice President

Zhejiang Lab

Ye Jieping, Ph.D., IEEE Fellow. He is a Vice President of Zhejiang Lab. His research interests include data mining, machine learning, and artificial intelligence with applications in transportation, geoscience, and biomedicine. He is the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the CCF Science and Technology Award for Excellence in S&T Progress in 2017, and the Daniel H. Wagner Prize, one of the top awards in operation research practice, in 2019.

Artem Volkov

Ph.D., Associate Professor

St. Petersburg State University of Telecommunications

Goal-oriented ICT Researcher and Engineer with strong analytical thinking skills and a passion for technology, particularly Metaverse, AI and Fog computing as infrastructure for 5G/6G.

I am currently an Associate Professor at St. Petersburg State University of Telecommunications and Lead of experimentals in “MeganetLab 6G”. My PhD thesis, “Future Infrastructure & Services Based on AI,” was defended in 2021 at SPbSUT and focused on AI as a tool for telecommunications.

Over the past several years, I have gained multidisciplinary experience in various technological roles, including business analyst, system architect, and product manager. I have also actively participated in ITU standardization as a delegate and editor of new Drafts representing SPbSUT. Recently, I returned to R&D, focusing on the development of future technologies, leveraging my expertise in digital product development and international standardization.

I am the author of more than 60 scientific papers, the book “Software-defined Network” (Russian lang.), and the book “Enabling Metaverse and Telepresence Services in 6G Networks” (English lang., published by River Publishers). In 2024, our team “HolNetVerse” won 3rd place in the “United Nations Metaverse Think-a-Thon: Virtual Worlds Revolutionizing Smart Sustainable Cities and Communities” competition.

Stephanie Camarena

Founder

Source Transitions

Stephanie Camarena is the founder of Source Transitions where she helps businesses and organisations detect, shape, and deliver differentiated perspectives on sustainability. She partners with clients to design transformative solutions with artificial intelligence for sustainability impact, and ensure they are delivered in a fair and ethically responsible manner. Stephanie is also on the board of several startups where she helps guide product and service development towards sustainable transitions impact.

Stephanie’s doctoral research at RMIT in Melbourne Australia leverages artificial intelligence with a human-centered focus to transition food systems. Practical outcomes of her research influenced institutional food programmes, digital agriculture research, farmers’ markets, systems thinking, interaction design, and design innovation. Finally, Stephanie volunteers with the Banksia Foundation where she is a domain-expert judge for sustainability awards, co-chairs the committee on farmlands and grasslands in the IEEE Planet Positive 2030 design framework and is a Responsible AI practitioner within the Australian CSIRO AI ecosystem.

Shweta Khushu

Manager, AI Engineering

Vector Institute

Shweta Khushu is a Manager on the Al Engineering team at Vector Institute. In this role, she leads and manages the development of Vector’s innovative AI software, machine learning reference implementations, works with researchers to identify promising AI technologies, and helps build a diverse team of AI developers. In her previous role, Shweta held the position of Engineering Manager at SkySpecs Inc where her team focused on applying Computer Vision techniques to solve real-world problems challenging the wind energy space. Additionally, she is a board member of Women in Machine Learning (WiML), a volunteer-run organization dedicated to supporting women in the field of machine learning through various events and programs. She also serves on the Technical Advisory Committee for ITU’s AIforGood – Innovate for Impact initiative. Shweta holds a Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Michigan.

Valeriu Zgonea

President

National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM)

Valeriu Ștefan Zgonea has taken the position of President of ANCOM starting 11 May 2023 for a 6 year-term.

Mr Zgonea has activated within the National Institute for Research and Development in Informatics (ICI Bucharest) during 2018-2023 and has held four mandates of deputy in the Chamber of Deputies of the Romanian Parliament between 2000-2016. In the 2000-2004 parliamentary term, he was a member of the Committee for Information Technologies and Communications, while from 2006 to 2016 he held the posts of quaestor and secretary of the Chamber of Deputies. Furthermore, Mr Zgonea has been Vice-president of the Chamber of Deputies between 2010 and 2012, then President of the Chamber of Deputies in the 2012 – 2016 parliamentary term.

Valeriu Ștefan Zgonea graduated from the National Institute of Constructions and has various specializations in cyber diplomacy and infrastructures in the context of digitalization at education institutions such as European Security and Defence College, King’s College and George Marshall European Center for Security Studies and N.E.S.A.

Helen Pan

General Manager

Baidu Apollo

Helen K. Pan, General Manager of Apollo Autonomous Driving USA, joined Baidu’s Intelligent Driving Group in 2017. Her responsibilities include developing autonomous driving technology and US site driverless HW&SW suite development from concept, to implementation, to manufacturing, and to fleet operations. Prior to joining Baidu, she held various technical and leadership roles in the fields of autonomous driving systems, satellite/UAV communication, 3/4/5G, and RF instrument development at Waymo, Google-X, Intel, and Keysight (Former Agilent/HP). Her technology and products development interests include RF/microwave circuits and systems, wireless & mm-wave technology, and autonomous driving hardware and software system design, validation, and deployment.

Helen received her Master of Science degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering in 2001 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her graduate paper won the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society H. A. Wheeler Prize Paper Award. Helen holds 20 US/international patents, has 49 publications in various journals and international conferences, and has served as Technical Program Committee (TPC) member and section chairs for various IEEE conferences, and served on the board of directors of several companies.

Jean Todt

United Nations Special Envoy for Road Safety

United Nations

Mr. Jean Todt is the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety appointed by the then Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 29 April 2015, as the first ever Special Envoy for Road Safety. Mr. Todt was the previous President of the FIA (Fédération Internationale de L’Automobile) and is now an Honorary President of the FIA – the international motor sport governing body and federation of motoring organisations. On 6 February 2022, Mr. Todt was awarded as winner and inaugural recipient of the Autosport Gold Medal, in recognition of his lifetime of service to the sport and for leaving a lasting legacy for future generations.

He ran for FIA President in 2009, winning three successive four-year terms that concluded in December 2021. Some notable highlights from his presidency include the introduction of the electric racing Formula E series, the Women in Motorsport commission, the Halo head protection device, the F1 Budget cap, the Action for Road Safety campaign and the $20 Affordable Helmet for road use in developing countries. Mr. Todt made road safety a priority of the federation by launching the FIA Action for Road Safety campaign in 2011 in support of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety. The campaign is built around a global advocacy for road safety, supporting action on the ground by its 250 member clubs in nearly 150 countries, building institutional and commercial partnerships and mobilising the motor sport community to promote road safety.

Mr. Todt is also a member of the FIA Foundation for Automobile and Society Board of Trustees. He began his career as a world championship rally co-driver in 1966, before joining Peugeot in 1981 as Sporting Director. He joined Ferrari Racing in 1993, ultimately becoming responsible for all motor sport activities for the Ferrari-Maserati Group. In 2003, he was appointed General Manager of Ferrari and at the end of 2006, became Chief Executive Officer of the company until 2008.

In 2011, Mr. Todt was named Grand Croix de la Légion d’Honneur, the highest honour of the French Republic. He is Chairman of the Board of the Suu Foundation, a humanitarian organisation founded by Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, to advance the health and education of the people of Myanmar, and a member of the International Peace Institute (IPI) Board of Directors. He is also one of the Founders and the Vice-President of ICM, a medical research institute devoted to medical research for brain and spinal cord disorders. Mr. Jean Todt was born on 25 February 1946 at Pierrefort, Cantal (France). He has one son, Nicolas Todt, and shares his life with actress and film producer Michelle Yeoh, who is a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador and Global Road Safety Advocate.

Rehab Alarfaj

General Manager of Strategic Partnerships and Indices

Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA)

Rehab Alarfaj is General Manager of Strategic Partnerships and Indices at the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). She focuses on strengthening Saudi Arabia’s global engagement in AI through strategic collaborations, multilateral partnerships, and international representation. With prior experience in national digital transformation initiatives and consulting at Accenture, she brings a strong background in delivering impact across the government and technology sectors. Rehab is a graduate of the Misk 2030 Leaders Program. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in IT Data Management from King Saud University and an MBA from Colorado University.

Asrat Mulatu Beyene

Associate Professor

Addis Ababa Science and Technology University

Dr. Asrat Mulatu is an accomplished Associate Professor and technology consultant with a passion for teaching, mentoring, and pioneering research. With a strong academic foundation in Electrical Engineering and a specialization in Computer Engineering, he holds a terminal degree in Wireless Communication Systems.

He is a faculty member at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, where he teaches postgraduate candidates and spearheads impactful research and consultancy initiatives. Dr. Asrat has managed and contributed to numerous national and international projects across sectors, leveraging his expertise to provide innovative IT development solutions.

His research spans cutting-edge areas including Wireless Communication Systems, Distributed and Cloud Computing, Open-Source Technologies, and Artificial Intelligence. As a prolific scholar, he has authored over 35 peer-reviewed publications in leading international journals, conferences, and book chapters.

Since 2023, Dr. Asrat has served as President of the Internet Society Ethiopian Chapter, where he champions an open, secure, and inclusive Internet. His work brings together diverse stakeholders to advance digital equity and innovation in Ethiopia and beyond.

A strong advocate for the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the open Internet, and the ethical use of AI, Dr. Asrat is committed to harnessing technology for social good and sustainable development.

Salma Abbasi

Founder, Chairperson and CEO

eWorldwide Group

Professor Salma Abbasi is the Founder, Chairperson and CEO of the eWorldwide Group. An international social enterprise, actively engaged with governments, development agencies, private sector and academia driving meaningful, inclusive digital transformation leveraging innovative technologies and ethical Artificial Intelligence (AI) for sustainable future for humanity.

She is collaborating with global stakeholders to co-create ethical standards, regulations and guardrails for prevailing technologies, data privacy, trust, cybersecurity and resilience. She has published several papers highlighting the importance to understand the unknown risks and unethical challenges from Artificial Intelligence Systems (AIS) and is actively working with international think tanks to develop a series of global standards, regulations, ethical AI frameworks, and guidelines for governance, transparency, accountability, explainability, and algorithmic biased, and policy papers, particularly improving safeguarding practices for children.

Leveraging her global experience as the former Senior Vice President and Chief Quality Officer for Lucent Technologies, with over 40 years’ experience in the fields of technology, innovation, supply chain management and people-centric design, she is an advisory board member for several international organizations advocating for operational excellence, sustainability and technology for humanity.

Professor Abbasi was commissioned by UNECA in 2019 to develop the strategic roadmap and partnership framework to establish the 1st African AI Research Centre of Excellence. Subsequently developing a series of multi-level AI courses for stakeholders. In parallel, she is a visiting lecturer at 5 universities around the world and participates in high-level dialogues internationally to raise the importance for deeper and broader understanding of the evolving risks from AI, particularly the unknown consequences from rapid adoption without having the necessary policies, frameworks, safety guardrails and regulations, and skills in place. She advocates for greater international collaboration, cooperation, and partnerships with ‘equity and trust’.

Remo Lalli

HLCM Secretary and Chief, CEB Secretariat

UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB)

Remo Lalli is currently the Secretary of the High-level Committee on Management (HLCM) and Director of the the Geneva Office of the CEB Secretariat. He has over 25 years of experience in the UN system, and he is an expert in the field of management, both at the operational and at the policy level.

Throughout his career, Remo has had coordination and managerial responsibility over a large number of system-wide initiatives in the area of management across the UN system of Organizations, with the common goal of promoting management reforms that improve services, achieve productivity improvements, and increase efficiency and effectiveness. The High-level Committee on Management embodies precisely this mandate, and is a key player in re-designing management functions towards a UN system that is innovative, agile, inclusive, and results-oriented, building on the comparative advantages of its diversity and specialization to work collaboratively and deliver together.

In his previous positions, Remo was the Coordinator of the HLCM Finance and Budget Network. Before joining the CEB Secretariat, he worked in several operational functions in the United Nations Secretariat in New York and Geneva, and in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Remo is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a doctorate in Management from the University of Bologna as well as a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Luiss Guido Carli, Rome. He was also a Visiting Scholar in the Ph.D. Programme in Management at the Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.

Remo holds dual citizenship – Italian and Swiss. His mother tongue is Italian, and he is fluent in English and French.

Andrew Zolli

Author | Chief Impact Officer

Planet

As Chief Impact Officer, Andrew oversees the sustainable development, humanitarian, ethics and human rights portfolio at Planet, a breakthrough geospatial imaging organization that has deployed the largest constellation of Earth-observing satellites in history. Together, these satellites image the entire surface of the Earth, every day, in high resolution. When analyzed with advanced AI techniques, this imagery has transformational value for addressing a host of global challenges, including monitoring peace and conflict, improving agriculture, delivering sustainable development, ensuring human rights, predicting food insecurity, assessing climate change, delivering disaster response, and improving conservation, among many others. Andrew is also the author of Resilience: Why Things Bounce Back, which has been published in more than a dozen countries worldwide.

Marietta Senkatuka Muwanga

CIO - Director ICT

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Christopher J.L. Murray

Professor; IHME Director; Chair, Department of Health Metrics Sciences

Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME)

Christopher J.L. Murray, MD, DPhil, is Professor and Chair of Health Metrics Sciences at the University of Washington and Director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). His career has focused on improving population health worldwide through better evidence. A physician and health economist, his work has led to the development of a range of new methods and empirical studies to strengthen health measurement, analyze the performance of health care systems, understand the drivers of health, and produce forecasts of the future state of health. He has led critical analyses during the COVID-19 pandemic to understand its impact on health systems and the population as a whole, and the effectiveness of policy interventions to mitigate it.

Dr. Murray’s most recent work on COVID-19 demonstrates his and IHME’s ability to bridge the science-policy divide through consistent engagement with collaborators around the world. When the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, IHME rapidly pivoted to develop a bespoke data-driven modeling approach to COVID-19 for all affected countries, resulting in the world’s most comprehensive and accurate series of long-range forecasts and scenarios. The White House, European Commission, many governments in Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, and regional organizations such as WHO EURO, PAHO, and Africa CDC use IHME COVID-19 forecasts and policy scenarios as a reliable, trusted source of evidence.

Dr. Murray is the founding Director of IHME, an independent research institution at the University of Washington that provides rigorous and comparable measurement of the world’s most important health problems and evaluates the strategies used to address them through the application of innovative scientific methods. The resultant policy-relevant evidence base informs decision-makers from local to global levels about the current state and future direction of population health and the resources and successful policies needed to improve it.

Dr. Murray leads the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) enterprise, the single largest epidemiological enterprise of its kind in the world. He is an architect and co-author of the original GBD framework, a systematic effort to quantify the comparative magnitude of health loss due to diseases, injuries, and risk factors by age, sex, and geography over time. The GBD Collaboration is now a network of 7,700 scientists and decision-makers from 156 countries who together generate annually updated estimates. The GBD has standardized analytic methods to generate assessments for more than 350 diseases and injuries and 87 risk factors for over 200 countries and 800 states and provinces within them. The most recent of the updates, GBD 2019, presents estimates of all-cause mortality, deaths by cause, years of life lost, years lived with disability, and disability-adjusted life years by country, age, and sex from 1990 to 2019.

From 1998 to 2003, Dr. Murray worked at the World Health Organization (WHO), where he served as the Executive Director of the Evidence and Information for Policy Cluster. He later became Director of the Harvard Initiative for Global Health and the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, as well as the Richard Saltonstall Professor of Public Policy at the Harvard School of Public Health (2003–2007).

He has authored more than 500 journal articles and authored or edited 16 books. Dr. Murray holds Bachelor of Arts and Science degrees from Harvard University, a DPhil in International Health Economics from Oxford University, and a medical degree from Harvard Medical School. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) and the 2018 co-recipient of the John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award.

Alexandre Pinho

Global Lead for the United Nations and International Development Sector

Microsoft

Alexandre Pinho has been serving as the Global Lead for the United Nations and International Development Sector at Microsoft since November 2017. In his current capacity, he leads Microsoft’s Digital Transformation and Impact work within the International Development sector, with a specific emphasis on:

· Empowering UN Organizations through Digital Transformation, enabling them to streamline operations and enhance their global impact by harnessing digital capabilities and AI.

· Spearheading Strategic Philanthropic Partnerships to tackle societal challenges, leveraging the potential of technology and AI to address pressing societal issues in alignment with Microsoft’s corporate societal impact pillars.

· Facilitating AI Equity in Developing countries, by partnering with International Organizations and local governments to leverage the power of AI to create local socio-economic value.

Before taking on his current role, Alexandre had a distinguished career in management consulting, primarily in the fields of healthcare, human services, and international development. At KPMG, he served as the leader of the Management & Risk Consulting practice for Infrastructure, Government, and Healthcare, with a strong focus on public health and international development.

Prior to his time at KPMG, Alexandre enjoyed a successful career at Andersen Consulting and Accenture, culminating in his role as the Industry Lead for Human Services and Healthcare. During this period, he managed large teams and spearheaded transformative initiatives that contributed to business and operational excellence in the government and healthcare sectors. Notably, he was part of the team that established the Accenture Global Non-Profit Sector Practice from 2007 to 2008.

Alexandre’s professional journey commenced in 1995 as a systems engineer at TAP Air Portugal, providing him with a solid foundation in technology and leadership. His subsequent roles in the consulting and technology sectors underscore his unwavering commitment to innovation and creating a positive global impact.

Changhyun Byun

CEO

iSciLab, Inc.

Dr. Changhyun Byun is the CEO and principal technology strategist at iSciLab, Inc., a Seoul-based research and innovation company at the forefront of AI-driven animal biometrics, industrial artificial intelligence, and animal health platforms. He holds a Ph.D. in Information Technology, and combines technical expertise with strategic insight to advance responsible, life-centered applications of AI in the fields of animal welfare, veterinary diagnostics, and biometric identification. He is also actively involved in developing AI technologies for livestock farming, including systems for optimizing fattening and growth management, contributing to more efficient, sustainable, and welfare-oriented livestock production.

Dr. Byun is a leading expert in animal biometrics, working on non-invasive identification technologies for species including dogs, cattle, and horses. He has played a key role in shaping international standards through ITU-T, contributing to the development of biometric authentication protocols such as nose-print and facial recognition for animals. His work enables cost-effective, scalable, and ethical alternatives to invasive RFID systems—supporting rabies vaccination tracking, identity fraud prevention, and public health initiatives aligned with the WHO’s “Zero by 30” goal.

At AI for Good 2025, Dr. Byun presents how AI-powered animal identification systems not only improve animal welfare but also promote global health equity and responsible ownership. By enabling inclusive digital tools accessible even in low-resource settings, his work demonstrates how intelligent systems can advance both non-human and human well-being, forging a path toward a more compassionate and sustainable technological future.

Mohammed Alawad

General Manager of the General Administration of Studies

Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA)

Dr. Mohammed Alawad is General Manager of the General Administration of Studies at the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA), where he leads strategic think tank research to inform national policy and support senior decision-makers in the evolving fields of data and artificial intelligence. With a multidisciplinary background in computer engineering, bioinformatics, and a PhD in Computing and Information Science, Dr. Alawad has contributed significantly to the application of AI in healthcare. He is the co-founder of EYENAI, an AI-powered platform for diabetic retinopathy screening, and has led research collaborations with global institutions such as Stanford University. His work bridges policy, innovation, and science, with a focus on advancing responsible AI for public benefit.

Kay Firth-Butterfield

CEO

Good Tech Advisory

TIME 100 Impact Awardee

Kay Firth-Butterfield is the CEO of Good Tech Advisory. TIME 100 Impact Awardee and Whos Who Emerging Innovator, 2024. She is the former Head of Artificial Intelligence and member of the Executive Committee at the World Economic Forum and is one of the foremost experts in the world on the governance of AI. She is a Barrister, former Judge and Professor, technologist and entrepreneur who has an abiding interest in how humanity can equitably benefit from new technologies, especially AI. She was the world’s first Chief AI Ethics officer. Kay is author of books on Human Rights, AI and Modern Slavery and is a board member of many renowned organizations including the Polaris Council for the Government Accountability Office (USA), the Advisory Board for UNESCO International Research Centre on AI, the Advisory Board for international company ADI and EarthSpecies. She is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Texas and a Fellow at New America in their Future of Work and Innovation team. She has been consistently recognized as a leading woman in AI and Leadership.

Marissa Nobauer

Director of Reconciliation, Community Engagement and External Relations

TELUS

Marissa Nobauer is the Director of Reconciliation, Community Engagement and External Relations at TELUS, where she leads a team of passionate professionals responsible for building and maintaining strategic partnerships and relationships with Indigenous and municipal governments, government subsidy and utility partners.

Her team plays a vital role in partnering with, advocating for, and advancing access to broadband connectivity in Indigenous and rural communities through unique co-funding arrangements with government funding partners.

As the first technology company in Canada to implement a Reconciliation Action Plan, Marissa was instrumental in leading the establishment of TELUS’ Reconciliation commitments and supports the team and the business in integrating these commitments throughout TELUS.

Marissa holds an MSSc in International Development and Management from Lund University and a BA in Political Science from SFU. She is of settler heritage and passionate about the role non-Indigenous peoples must play in actively advancing reconciliation in partnership with Indigenous Peoples. When not working, Marissa enjoys exploring the world and her backyard with her husband and child.

Jesslyn Dymond

Director, AI Governance & Data Ethics

TELUS

Jesslyn Dymond, Director, AI Governance & Data Ethics, leads TELUS’ internationally-awarded approach to responsible, data-driven innovation. A leader in data enablement and advocate for creative solutions, her privacy and data governance expertise build customer trust with emerging technology, like AI. Jesslyn has a Master of Information from the University of Toronto’s iSchool, is a Certified Information Privacy Professional/Canada, and Data Ethics Professional from the Open Data Institute.

Sami Arpa

CEO and Co-founder

Largo.ai

Sami Arpa is the CEO and Co-founder of Largo.ai. He holds a PhD in Computational Aesthetics from EPFL, Switzerland, and has pursued a parallel path in the film industry as a director and producer. He founded Sofy.tv, which was acquired by Cosmoblue Media in 2023.

Lukas M. Ziegler

Chief Evangelist

Botnanza

Lukas is the founder of a leading media house dedicated to robotics companies, ranging from innovative startups to industry giants like ABB and NVIDIA. As an expert in the field, Lukas is also a lecturer at the Business School of Warsaw University of Technology, where he imparts his knowledge of Industry 4.0 to MBA students. Lukas works as a consultant helping companies and startups better understand the business aspects of the robotics market. He is also a keynote speaker at global technology events and trade shows, with a strong focus on acceleration of robotics adoption in different types of organisations.

With years of experience in the deep-tech startup ecosystem, Lukas serves as a Venture Partner at ffVC, where he plays an instrumental role in supporting emerging startups in the robotics market. His passion for advancing the robotics industry is further demonstrated through his creation of a vibrant community of over 300,000 enthusiasts, with a strong following in both Europe and the United States.

Lukas’s content reaches more than 100 million people annually, empowering and educating a global audience on the transformative potential of robotics and AI.

Anna Abramova

Director

MGIMO AI Centre

Anna Abramova has more than 15 years of experience in research and lecturing on AI, digital trade developments, as well as official development assistance in the ICT sector. Along with being a Director of the MGIMO AI Centre, she is also Head of the Department of Digital Economy and Artificial Intelligence at MGIMO-University, Academic Director for the Master’s Programme on Artificial Intelligence. Anna has worked as a consultant for UNCTAD and the World Bank, contributed to UNCTAD Information economy report (UNCTAD 2012), UNCTAD Digital economy report (UNCTAD 2019, UNCTAD 2021), published articles in peer-reviewed journals and conference books. For the past several years, Anna has also been a member of national delegations to UNESCO and the Council of Europe, OECD ONE AI expert group on AI classification, a member of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO, National Committee for AI. Currently, she is a member of the Commission for AI Ethics Code, where she leads the working group on developing and monitoring the methodology of risk assessment and humanitarian impact of AI systems. Since 2023, she has been a member of the UN High-Level Advisory Body on AI.

Isabella de Michelis di Slonghello

CEO and Founder

Ernieapp ltd

Isabella De Michelis di Slonghello is the CEO and founder of Ernieapp Ltd, a technology start-up, based in Dublin (Ireland) incorporated in January 2017. The company is focusing on taking to market a new consumer-oriented “privacy service” implementing some of the strictest requirement set by the GDPR. Isabella is also the MD and founder of High Pulse Gmbh (2014), a strategic advisory and consulting company, accounting businesses and governments among its clients. The company specializes in wireless, mobile, and broadband policy advisory, telecom regulatory strategies, digital transformation, investment strategies, venture financing, and policy communication. Isabella was the corporate sponsor and founder in 2011 of the Technology Innovation and Investment Council (TIIC, now renamed 4IP), an IPR advocacy-focused think-tank, grouping large and SME high-tech companies putting “innovation” at the heart of their vision for growth. She served as Board member and first Chairwoman until 2014.

Hong-Chuan Yang

Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

University of Victoria

Hong-Chuan Yang received his Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA, in 2003. Since then, Dr. Yang has been with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C., Canada, where he is now a professor. His current research focuses on the design and analysis of intelligent wireless transmission systems for the advanced Internet of Things. He is also interested in customizing advanced AI/ML models for trustworthy solutions to societal challenges. Dr. Yang has published over 270 referred journal and conference papers. He is the author of Introduction of Digital Wireless Communications by IET Press and the co-author of Advanced Wireless Transmission Technologies and Order Statistics in Wireless Communications by Cambridge University Press. He is a registered professional engineer (P. Eng.) in British Columbia, Canada.

Lindsey Moore

CEO and Founder

DevelopMetrics

Lindsey Moore is the CEO and Founder of DevelopMetrics, a pioneering AI social business that leverages Large Learning Models to tackle global challenges. Under her leadership, DevelopMetrics was recognized as the most promising female-owned tech startup by Tiger Global Ventures and the Global Entrepreneurship Network. Prior to launching DevelopMetrics, Moore spent 11 years as a Senior Foreign Service Economist at USAID, where she managed projects with budgets exceeding $300 million, directly improving livelihoods across sectors such as agriculture, health, and education in countries from Bangladesh to the Dominican Republic. She holds a BA from Trinity College, an MSc from the London School of Economics, and is currently pursuing a PhD at United Nations University in Maastricht, focusing on ethical AI and inclusive technology. Moore also serves as an advisor to several international development initiatives and has published on the intersection of AI and sustainable development.

Ahmed Biyabani

Associate teaching professor

Carnegie Mellon University

Dr. Ahmed Biyabani is an associate teaching professor at Carnegie Mellon University Africa where he teaches courses in AI and digital transformation. His current research interests include AI in healthcare, and telemedicine. He has previously worked with a startup that uses v2v communications for traffic safety and optimization and initiated the collaborative Smart Mobility Lab in Kigali. He has helped develop the IEEE 1923.1 standard for energy efficient 5G wireless transmission and 1924.1 for low power digital architectures and is presently working on energy efficient ML hardware. His career spans three decades across the semiconductor industry, teaching, project management and consulting. He holds a SB in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and MS and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.

Charles Ovink

Political Affairs Officer

United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA)

At the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) Charles Ovink specializes in responsible innovation, the impact of emerging technologies on disarmament and non-proliferation, misuse of civilian AI, military uses of AI, and relevant outreach with academia, civil society and industry. He has previously served as Associate Political Affairs Officer at the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD), Programme Manager for the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), and a consultant for the United Nations University and Creative Environmental Networks. He has led responsible innovation work with New York University, Umeå University, Sorbonne University Pierre and Marie Curie, the University of Tokyo, Nanyang Technological University, National University of Singapore, Singapore University of Technology and Design, and the ASEAN Foundation, among others. He has been a frequent speaker on Responsible AI in the military domain, including for the Stockholm Security Conference, the Nikkei AI Summit, and as an expert witness for the UK House of Lords. He has written on AI both in his UN capacity and for IEEE Spectrum, the Observer Research Foundation, and others. He is a member of a variety of UN and other working groups, including the IEEE-Standards Association Research Group on Issues of Autonomy and AI for Defense Systems. He can be reached at charles.ovink@un.org

Melike Yetken Krilla

Head of International Organizations

Google

Melike Yetken Krilla serves as the Head of International Organizations at Google, leading strategic tech policy initiatives and cultivating impactful partnerships with global bodies such as the United Nations, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the World Bank.

Her distinguished career spans 15 years in U.S. public service, including significant roles at the U.S. Department of State and the White House. As Senior Advisor for Corporate Responsibility and U.S. National Contact Point, she directed a team in guiding governments, NGOs, and businesses on responsible international operations. Prior to that, as Director for African Affairs on the National Security Council at The White House, Melike executed the landmark U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit. This unprecedented event brought together over 50 heads of state and leading CEOs to Washington, D.C., to foster increased trade and investment with the U.S. and across Africa. Earlier, she spearheaded the Business and Human Rights team and was a lead U.S. negotiator at both the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council.

Melike is an honors graduate of Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs, specializing in public policy. Her influence in global dialogues is further recognized by her designation as a “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum and her role as a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She has also contributed her expertise to advisory boards for the University of Oklahoma College of Law’s Center for International Business and Human Rights and the Global Reporting Initiative’s Government Advisory Board. Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors for the U.S. Council for International Business and the International Student House. Melike resides in McLean, VA, with her husband and four children.

Saharsh Singhania

AVP Product Marketing

Ambient Scientific

Moritz Joseph

Co-founder and CEO

RooflineAI GmbH

Dr. Joseph is the co-founder and CEO of RooflineAI GmbH. The VC-backed startup revolutionizes the development of edge-AI products. Their innovative AI compiler technology empowers developers to create their dream products. Prior to his current role, Dr. Joseph held leadership positions at RWTH Aachen University in Germany and the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. He is a member of the Young Academy of the NRW Arts and Sciences, one of the highest honors for researchers in Germany. Dr. Joseph’s contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the HiPEAC technology transfer award in 2024 and 2025.

Carissa Bryce Christensen

CEO

BryceTech

Carissa Bryce Christensen is the Chief Executive Officer and founder of BryceTech, LLC, based in Alexandria, VA. She previously co-founded defense contractor The Tauri Group, acquired by LMI in 2019, and quantum computing software firm QxBranch, acquired by Rigetti Computing in 2019. She is an active tech investor and has served on several early-stage boards.

Ms. Christensen is an internationally recognized expert on the satellite and space industry, known for rigorous analysis and innovative, data-driven strategy. She is a Senior Advisor to the annual US Space Force Schriever Wargame. She serves on the Senior Advisory Council of the Aerospace Corporation Center for Space Policy and Strategy, serves on the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on Space, chairs the US board of the UN-affiliated Space Generation Advisory Council, and was appointed as a member of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee. She is a founding member of the Future Space Leaders Foundation and chairs its Advisory Board. Ms. Christensen previously served on the National Research Council Space Technology Industry-Government-University Roundtable, which advises NASA, and served on the Space Committee of the Defense Innovation Board.

Ms. Christensen is a Harvard Business School Entrepreneur-in-Residence. She guest lectures at universities including Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy. She has testified before Congress and Parliament committees on the space industry. She publishes extensively, is often cited by major media outlets, and has appeared in commercial space documentaries by The Financial Times, Bloomberg and HBO.

Ms. Christensen is a graduate of Harvard University’s Kennedy School, where she specialized in science and technology policy. She attended the London School of Economics and was a Douglass Scholar at Rutgers University. She is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Ms. Christensen was named 2023 Executive of the Year (Up to $75M) at the Greater Washington GovCon Awards.

David Cox

VP for AI models

IBM Research

Dr. David Cox is the VP for AI models at IBM Research, responsible for the development and training of IBM’s large language models. He is also the IBM Director of the MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab, a first of its kind industry-academic collaboration between IBM and MIT, focused on fundamental research in artificial intelligence. The Lab was founded with a $240m, 10 year commitment from IBM and brings together researchers at IBM with faculty at MIT to tackle hard problems at the vanguard of AI.

Prior to joining IBM, Dr. Cox was the John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Natural Sciences and of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University, where he held appointments in Computer Science, the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and the Center for Brain Science. He has been a speaker and agenda contributor at the World Economic Forum, and he was a Faculty Associate at the Berkman-Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School. He has received a variety of honors, including the Richard and Susan Smith Foundation Award for Excellence in Biomedical Research, the Google Faculty Research Award in Computer Science, and the Roslyn Abramson Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed academic articles in the fields of neuroscience and AI. His lab at Harvard started several widely-used open source projects, including Hyperopt, one of the first frameworks for hyperparameter optimization of AI models, and Triton (now OpenAI Triton) a framework for accelerated compute on GPUs. While at Harvard, he also co-founded several AI startups, including DeepHealth (acquired by RadNet, Inc.) which developed multiple FDA-cleared AI-based medical imaging solutions which have been deployed at scale.

Dr. Cox earned an undergraduate degree at Harvard University and a Ph.D. at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Daniel Becking

Research associate and Ph.D. student

Fraunhofer HHI and TU Berlin

Daniel Becking is a research associate and Ph.D. student in the Efficient Deep Learning Group at Fraunhofer HHI and TU Berlin, supervised by Wojciech Samek. He received a B.Eng. in microsystems technology and an M.Sc. in biomedical engineering from HTW Berlin and TU Berlin in 2016 and 2020, respectively. His research focuses on neural network compression and the efficient transmission of incremental neural data in distributed learning, leveraging explainable AI techniques and concepts from information theory. Since 2020, he has actively contributed compression tools and high-level syntax to the ISO/IEC 15938-17 Neural Network Coding (NNC) standard. His current interests include neural codecs and language model-based general-purpose compressors.

Madeline Squire

Choreographer, First Artist

Scottish Ballet

Madeline Squire is a creative dance artist, choreographer, and movement director. She is a First Artist with Scottish Ballet. She works both with digital dance as well as on stage. She has created work for Scottish Ballet, Nowness, Nexus Studios, The University of Edinburgh, The Royal Opera House Draft Works and many more.
Her work is influenced by her own experience of neurological recovery and approach to disability. Celebrating and exploring the beauty in uniqueness, with a new perspective of working

Chih-Lin I

China Mobile Chief Scientist, Wireless Technologies

China Mobile Research Institute

Chih-Lin I is CMCC Chief Scientist of Wireless Technologies. She received Ph.D. EE from Stanford University. She has won 2005 IEEE ComSoc Stephen Rice Prize, 2018 Fred W. Ellersick Prize, and 2015 IEEE Industrial Innovation Award for Leadership and Innovation in Next-Generation Cellular Wireless Networks.

She is the Chair of O-RAN Technical Steering Committee and an O-RAN Executive Committee Member, the Chair of FuTURE 5G/6G SIG, the Chair of WAIA (Wireless AI Alliance) Executive Committee, an Executive Board Member of GreenTouch, a Network Operator Council Founding Member of ETSI NFV, a Steering Board Member and Vice Chair of WWRF, a Steering Committee member and the Publication Chair of IEEE 5G and Future Networks Initiatives, a member of IEEE ComSoc SDB, SPC, and CSCN-SC, and a Scientific Advisory Board Member of Singapore NRF.

She has 100+ patents, published 200+ Journal and conference papers, and 3 books. Her current research interests center around ICDT Deep Convergence: “From Green & Soft to Open & Smart”.

Anna Derkacheva

Associate Professor

HSE University

Anna Derkacheva is an Associate Professor and Research Fellow at the Faculty of Geography and Information Technology at HSE University in Moscow. Her background includes two Master Degrees in Geoinformatics and in Risk Mapping in Russia and France, and PhD in Remote Sensing defended in France.

Anna carries out the research on ML and big data applied to natural hazards. The main goal is to generate the geospatial data on hazard and risk for supporting the development of local adaptation policies. So, the focus is the democratized application of the existing technologies rather than invention of a new one.

Anna is the initiator and one of the main implementers of the idea with which her team becomes a competition winner: exploitation of the open, ready-to-use GPT models and worldwide open source geodata for massive collection and structuring of the disaster factual data.

Shota Ono

Research Associate

The University of Tokyo

Shota ONO received his B.E. degree in Electronic Information Systems from the Shibaura Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan, in 2019.

He then received his M.S. degree from the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, in 2021.

He received his Ph.D. degree from the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan, in March 2024.

Since April 2024, he has been working as a Research Associate at the Nakao Laboratory, Department of System Innovation, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo.

His research interests include local networks, federated learning, and AI-RAN.

Yue Qiu

Associate Professor and Senior Research fellow, Tsinghua Medicine

Tsinghua University

Yue Qiu is the Associate Professor and Senior Research fellow in Tsinghua Medicine, Tsinghua University. She acquired degrees in Statistics (B.S.), Economics (B.S.), and Demography (PhD) at Peking University. She previously served as the senior research fellow at the Development Research Centre of the State Council of China(DRC) and was a visiting scholar at the Harvard Kennedy School. Her research interests are healthcare system and policy, with particular attention to advance AI in healthcare.

Dr. Qiu’s studies influenced national policy making. For the past 10 years, she was PI for more than 20 projects. Her projects were funded by the Research Office of the State Council, National Health Commission, National Healthcare Security Administration, Chinese Academy of Engineering, National Key Research and Development Program, National Social Science Fund, Gates Foundation, and etc. She published more than 50 papers or chapters, of which got positive feedbacks 13 times by the Chinese Premier or Vice-Premiers. She also published papers in the top international journals such as The Lancet, its sub journal and NEJM sub journal.

Dr. Qiu was awarded as the “Outstanding fellow” by DRC and “Emerging Leaders in Health and Medicine” by National Academy of Medicine. She served as the expert for several ministries and was involved in several international dialogues with top universities.

Minji Cha

Co-founder and R&D Director

CherryPot

Minji Cha is the co-founder and R&D Director at CherryPot, where she leads the AI & Product team and drives global expansion. She holds dual degrees in Data Science and Computer Science and is a multi-award winner in autonomous driving and AI competitions, demonstrating her expertise in AI and real-world system deployment. She has led a variety of education technology projects, bridging the gap between research and classroom application.

At CherryPot, she applies this expertise to improve learning equity and efficiency in classrooms. CherryPot is an AI-powered math teaching assistant that provides process-level feedback to students and reduces teachers’ time spent on grading and lesson preparation, empowering both educators and learners. Guided by a mission to make high-quality education accessible to anyone, anywhere, CherryPot leverages AI to remove barriers of time and space.

Ameni Khachlouf

Head of the Research and Development Department

Tunisie Telecom

Ameni Khachlouf is a General Engineer in Telecommunications with over 15 years of experience in the sector. She holds a Master’s degree in Telecommunications and graduated from the Higher School of Communication of Tunis “Sup’Com”. Currently, Ms. Khachlouf serves as Head of the Research and Development Department at Tunisie Telecom, the incumbent telecom operator in Tunisia.

In her current role, Ms. Khachlouf is responsible for building strategic partnerships with universities, engineering schools, and startups to foster innovation and develop new services and applications. She participates in national programs aimed at strengthening collaboration between startups and industrial actors, and contributes to the evaluation committees for startup challenges and calls for applications. Ms. Khachlouf is also actively involved in the implementation of proof-of-concept (PoC) projects, leveraging emerging technologies such as AI, IoT, and Blockchain, with academic institutions and startups and she is responsible of the “idea box” campaigns within the company, aiming at promoting creativity and employee-driven innovation.

Actively engaged in ITU activities since 2014, Ms. Khachlouf has contributed as a co-editor to supplements focused on future networks and emerging technologies in developing countries. She also serves as the focal point for the ITU-T Study Group 13 Regional Group for Africa (SG13 RG-AFR) for the North and East Africa regions

Fan Fu

Large Model Algorithm Director

vivo AI Global Research Institute

Authoritative expert certified by the United Nations International Telecommunication Union(ITU)

Over 10 years experience in AI algorithms, Joined vivo in 2017 to build products with tens of millions of daily active users from 0 to 1. Currently leading the team in vivo to develop China’s first self-developed large model for mobile phones, the BlueLM, and the first billion-level large model product.

Aduwati Sali

Director

Institute for Mathematical Research and Intelligent Systems (INSPEM-SC)

Professor Ir. Dr. Aduwati Sali is currently Director, Institute for Mathematical Research and Intelligent Systems (INSPEM-SC) since 01 February 2024. She is also a Professor at Department of Computer and Communication Systems, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and previously Head of Wireless and Photonics Networks (WiPNET) Research Centre (2020 – 2024). She was a Deputy Director at UPM Research Management Centre (RMC) responsible for Research Planning and Knowledge Management from 2016 to 2019. She obtained her PhD in Mobile and Satellite Communications form University of Surrey, UK, in July 2009; MSc in Communications and Network Engineering from UPM, Malaysia, in April 2002 and BEng in Electrical Electronics Engineering (Communications) from University of Edinburgh, UK, in 1999. She is also a Chartered Engineer (C. Eng) registered under UK Engineering Council and a Professional Engineer (P. Eng.) under Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM). She worked as an Assistant Manager with Telekom Malaysia Bhd from 1999 until 2000.

Jaden Xie

Co-founder

PixVerse

Jaden co-founded AIsphere in early 2023, with the mission of building a world-leading video generation model and application. Its flagship platform, PixVerse, is currently the most widely used video generation platform globally, with over 15 million monthly active users, and has topped app store charts in countries including the United States, Germany, Brazil, and Spain.

Prior to founding PixVerse, Jaden was Executive Director at Lightsource Capital, where he focused on TMT and AI sectors. He supported over 30 startups in raising more than 10 billion RMB in total and invested in 15 of those companies.

Eric Kern

Chief Engineer, The Scott-Morgan Foundation, Former Executive Director, AI Center of Excellence, Distinguished Engineer

Lenovo

Eric Kern is a pioneering technologist and innovator with over three decades of experience in developing transformative technologies. As Chief Engineer at The Scott-Morgan Foundation, he leads the technical development of agentic AI solutions that restore agency and identity to individuals with severe disabilities. His expertise spans software development, agentic AI and cloud computing, with a particular focus on the ethical implementation of emerging technologies.

As a Distinguished Engineer, Kern translates strategic vision into technical reality, architecting the open standards and interoperable frameworks that enable fragmented assistive technologies to work as unified ecosystems for global scalability. Throughout his career, Kern has demonstrated exceptional innovation capabilities, having founded 13 successful technology startups and secured more than 125 patents across AI, cloud computing, and hardware architecture domains. His inventions have significantly influenced the evolution of enterprise computing and AI deployment strategies, particularly in areas of scalable infrastructure and human-centered design.

As a Distinguished Engineer, Kern has been instrumental in advancing the field of AI architecture, particularly in areas of AI and high-performance computing. His current work focuses on developing novel approaches to personalized AI systems, including advanced implementations of agentic AI technologies for assistive technology applications.

Kyeongmin Lee

Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer

Morphing I Co., Ltd.

Kyeongmin Lee is the Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Morphing I Co., Ltd., where she leads the company’s innovation in AI and education technology. She is also the Founder and CEO of BamiEdu Co., Ltd., a forward-thinking EdTech venture. With a strong foundation in both engineering and business, Kyeongmin is dedicated to creating scalable, socially impactful technologies that transform the way people learn and interact with information.

Kyeongmin plays a pivotal role in expanding Morphing I’s global presence, most recently leading the establishment of its U.S. subsidiary, Morphing U. Inc., in San Francisco in 2025. Her leadership reflects a commitment to deep tech entrepreneurship, international collaboration, and responsible innovation.

She is a recognized thought leader and innovator, having earned accolades such as 1st place in the AI Track at the IFA 2024 Startup Pitching Competition and the Grand Prize at the World Korean Business Convention. Kyeongmin is also a finalist of the EWC100 Global Finals and a portfolio company of KIC Silicon Valley, through which she completed an intensive 8-week global acceleration program.

In addition to her entrepreneurial pursuits, Kyeongmin has passed the first stage of the Korean Patent Attorney Examination, demonstrating his technical and legal acumen. She has also successfully led fundraising efforts, including securing a strategic investment from Qatar at a 50 billion KRW valuation.

Kyeongmin holds a B.S. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and an M.B.A. in Business Administration, both from Yonsei University.

Miguel Panadero

Acting Director

United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC)

Miguel Panadero is the Acting Director for the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC), and Deputy Director leading the organisation’s Integrated Business Centre. With over 25 years of xperience in leadership, management, and learning within the international public sector, including various assignments with the UN, the OSCE and the EU. Miguel has a proven track record in fostering knowledge networks and driving organizational change, innovation, and digital transformation. His work is dedicated to achieving agility, operational excellence, and sustainable results aligned with the core values of the United Nations.

A Spanish national, Miguel holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha and has pursued doctoral studies in Regional Analysis at the Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, the University of Plymouth, and the Université Catholique de Louvain. His extensive background includes roles in multilateral diplomacy, crisis management, policy development, human resources management, and digital transformation projects including deployment of customised ERP, CRM, CMS and LMS solutions.

Miguel’s commitment to professional development and knowledge management has significantly contributed to the UNSSC’s mission of providing world-class learning opportunities for UN staff. His leadership in the Knowledge Centre for Leadership and Management has been instrumental in enhancing the skills and capabilities of UN personnel globally.

James McAulay

Creator growth lead

ElevenLabs

James leads Creator growth at ElevenLabs, helping YouTubers, Content Creators, Podcasters, Authors and Artists harness the magic of AI audio in their creative work. Before joining ElevenLabs, James founded Encore, one of the world’s largest marketplaces for booking live musicians and DJs to perform at events. He spent 10 years as CEO, facilitated 50,000+ bookings, and led the company to an acquisition by Mixcloud. Outside of work, James keeps himself busy with long-distance endurance events and as a solo artist hosting meditative piano concerts around Europe.

Sasha Stiles

Artist & Poet

Sasha Stiles

Yusuf Tungekar

Head of Operations Business Systems

Dubai Airports

Yusuf Tungekar has over 25 years of experience in aviation IT, with a career dedicated to improving the way technology supports airport operations. As Head of Operations Business Systems at Dubai Airports, he is responsible for managing a broad portfolio of systems that enable the smooth and reliable functioning of one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs.

His work focuses on the design, development, and integration of operational technologies that support passenger processing, terminal management, airside coordination, and emergency response. Yusuf collaborates closely with operational teams, technology partners, and airport stakeholders to ensure these systems are aligned with Dubai Airports’ long-term strategy and can adapt to future requirements.

He has contributed to several major airport development programmes, including the commissioning of Terminal 3, Concourses A, B, C, and D, as well as early phases of Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC). Yusuf played an important role in ensuring that mission-critical systems were in place and fully operational to support the opening of these facilities.

By applying a practical and collaborative approach to systems integration, Yusuf continues to help shape the digital backbone of Dubai’s airports, enabling efficient operations and supporting the city’s position as a global aviation centre.

Sara El-Ateif

Assistant Professor

ENSIASD Taroudant

Sara El-Ateif is a Big Data and Artificial Intelligence Assistant Professor at ENSIASD Taroudant, Certified Business Coach, AI Startup Advisor, AI Google Developer Expert, and NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute instructor.

Khalid Ishaq

Head of AOCC Integration

Dubai Airports

Khalid Ishaq is a seasoned leader in the aviation industry, whose career spans nearly two decades of dedicated service at Dubai Airports. Beginning his journey in 2005 as a data entry specialist within airport operations, Khalid quickly distinguished himself through a combination of operational insight, analytical acumen, and a tireless work ethic. His trajectory through the organisation reflects not just personal ambition but a deep-rooted commitment to advancing airport operational excellence.

Today, Khalid serves as the Head of Airport Operations Control Centre (AOCC) Integration, a critical leadership role at one of the world’s busiest and most complex aviation hubs. In this capacity, he oversees the seamless integration of systems, stakeholders, and real-time data to optimise airside and terminal operations. His leadership ensures that thousands of daily flight movements and hundreds of thousands of passengers experience safe, efficient, and coordinated airport services.

Khalid’s academic background – which includes a bachelor’s degree in science with a specialisation in Information Technology and Enterprise Computing, has been instrumental in bridging the gap between IT systems and operational requirements. His unique blend of technical expertise and ground-level operational understanding allows him to lead transformative initiatives that enhance situational awareness, resource allocation, and airport-wide decision-making.

Jae Won Kim

CEO

Elice, Inc.

Jae Won Kim is the CEO of Elice, Inc., a leader in AI-driven educational solutions. He holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Waterloo and has held roles at AMD, Apple Canada, NVIDIA, and TELUS. Following his graduation, Jae Won Kim researched at the AI Lab at KAIST, where he developed a large-scale educational platform, later founding Elice in 2015.

Elice offers cutting-edge SaaS solutions, including ‘Elice LXP,’ a cloud-based platform providing personalized virtual practice spaces, and ‘Elice Cloud,’ an AI-driven service designed to support AI transformation for enterprises, schools, and governments.

Under his leadership, Elice developed ‘AI Helpy,’ an AI model tailored to understand Korean culture and language, enhancing educational platforms while reducing generative AI hallucinations. AI Helpy is now used in AI-powered digital textbooks in Korean schools, enabling dynamic student interactions and fostering active learning.

Jae Won Kim also led the development of ‘Elice Cloud,’ a high-performance AI infrastructure, ensuring secure, scalable data management. Elice AI solutions now serve over 7,000 institutions, expanding to Japan, Southeast Asia, the U.S., and beyond, making a significant global impact on education.

Paula Palade

AI Ethics Senior Technical Specialist

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR)

Dr Paula Palade is an internationally recognised expert in AI ethics, driving safety and ethical standards for connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) at Jaguar Land Rover, as well as at European and global levels. With over a decade of experience in automotive engineering, AI ethics, and standardisation, she has made substantial contributions to the International Standards Organisation (ISO) and the European Commission. Her mission is to ensure that AI is applied in a way that is ethical, sustainable, and beneficial to society.

As the AI Ethics Technical Specialist at Jaguar Land Rover, Dr Palade leads the development and implementation of ethical principles and best practices for CAVs. Her academic background in electrical engineering includes a PhD, multiple patents, and publications in leading journals. She is deeply committed to using AI responsibly to improve lives across the automotive sector.

Dr Palade’s work has earned her numerous accolades, including Automotive Rising Star of the Year 2024 (US Detroit AutoTech), Top 50 Women in Engineering UK 2024, and inclusion in the UK TechWomen100 and Autocar Top 100 Women in Automotive. She is

also a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in engineering, serving as a STEM Ambassador, Women in Engineering Mentor, and Chartered Engineer mentor for the IET.

She contributed to the European Commission’s report on the Ethics of CAVs, providing 20 key recommendations shaping policy and legislation. Beyond her technical roles, she regularly speaks at public events, runs webinars on CAV safety, and facilitates strategy for INCOSE and the IET.

Michael Mollel

Founder

Sartify

Michael Samwel Mollel is a Tanzanian AI scientist, wireless communications engineer, and tech entrepreneur whose pioneering work bridges advanced research and tangible impacts across Africa.

Michael holds a PhD in Information & Communication Science and Engineering, earned jointly from the University of Glasgow (UoG) and the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science & Technology (NM-AIST). Currently, he serves as a Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow, where his innovative research spans from machine-learning-driven 6G wireless technologies to Wi-Fi-based human-activity recognition systems.

As the founder of Sartify, an AI startup renowned for developing the first large language model specifically designed for Swahili and other East African languages, Michael has empowered over 200 million speakers with advanced conversational AI tools. Sartify’s technology is reshaping education, business communication, and public services throughout the region.

Beyond entrepreneurship, Michael contributes to global AI initiatives as a member of the Technical Advisory Committee for ITU’s “AI for Good – Innovate for Impact” program. In this role, he helps shape international standards for ethical AI use and develops impactful AI-driven solutions, such as transparent, corruption-free public procurement systems in Tanzania.

Michael is deeply committed to democratizing AI. He actively mentors emerging data scientists through regional boot camps and regularly shares insights through public lectures focused on responsible AI adoption.

Jingbo Huang

Director

United Nations University Institute in Macau (UNU Macau)

Dr. Jingbo Huang is the Director of the United Nations University Institute in Macau (UNU Macau). Under her leadership, UNU Macau has developed a strong portfolio in education, training and policy relevant research in digital technologies and SDGs, particularly in AI for SDGs since 2018. Recently she led the institute to successfully organize World Data Forum Satellite Event in 2023 and UNU Macau AI conference in 2024 with 500+ participants from 40+ countries, and established the UNU Global AI Network. She has been working in the UN system for 20+ years, holding various managerial positions in the UN Secretariat, UNDP, UNESCO, UNSSC and UNU. Jingbo received her Doctor of Education degree from Columbia University, and bachelors from Peking University.

James Boogere

CEO and Co-founder

Rein4ce Learning (U) Ltd

James Boogere is the CEO/Co-founder of Rein4ce Learning (U) Ltd (www.rein4ce.info) and Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science, Gulu University. His research interests are: educational technology, artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML), information systems, among others. James is specifically personate about designing, developing and studying commercial and/or academic games in both academic and non-academic environments. Thus, he aims at life-long learning skills acquisition and/or enhancement curtesy of game-like experiences such as immersive technologies (e.g. virtual reality and augmented reality). James also envisions implementation of education for sustainable development by aligning his work to measuring positive or negative impacts of technology on human relationships and well-being, and the creation of digital and non-digital games.

Evan Miyazono

CEO

Atlas Computing

Evan is CEO of Atlas Computing, a nonprofit mapping and prototyping ways to scale human review and provable safety of advanced AI. He is also a research fellow at Convergent Research, focused mitigating AI risk. Previously, he built and led a venture studio designing and deploying new coordination systems for humanity, as well as the building the research and metascience team at Protocol Labs. He completed a PhD in Applied Physics at Caltech, developing hardware for a secure quantum internet, and a BS in Materials Engineering from Stanford.

Vanessa Gray

Head, Climate and Emergency Telecommunications Division, Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT)

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Vanessa is responsible for developing and overseeing projects and technical assistance on disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. This includes the development of national emergency telecommunication plans (NETPs), the organization of regional and national workshops, and capacity building exercises for disaster management. In the area of disaster response, Vanessa oversees the work on the Disaster Connectivity Maps (DCM) and the deployment of emergency telecommunication equipment to countries hit by disasters. She is the ITU focal point for the UN’s Early Warning for All (EW4All) initiative and coordinates the initiative’s pillar on Warning Dissemination and Communication, to ensure that alerts reach people at risk. She is responsible for the organization of the Global Forum on Emergency Telecommunication (GET) and for specific ICT-for-disaster-management tools and publications, for example in the area of disruptive technologies, gender, and ICT simulation exercises.
Vanessa holds a master’s degree in political science and economics from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland.

Francis Gurry

Vice Chairman, WIC; Former Director General

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

Vice-Chair of the World Internet Conference

Francis Gurry is an eminent leader and seasoned expert in the field of international intellectual property. He joined the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 1985 and was elected as WIPO Director General in both 2008 and 2014. Currently serving as Vice Chairman of the World Internet Conference, he has been actively involved in the development and growth of the conference’s international organization, making significant contributions to its expansion and success.

Carlos Souza Jr.

Associate researcher

Amazon Institute of People and the Environment (Imazon)

Carlos Souza Jr. holds a bachelor’s degree in geology from Pará State Federal University, Brazil, an M.Sc. in soil science from Penn State University, US, and a Ph.D. in geography from the University of California Santa Barbara, US. He is currently an associate researcher at Imazon, focusing on remote sensing for mapping and monitoring forests, forest degradation, land use and land cover change, surface water monitoring, and spatial modeling. Dr. Souza Jr. has published 200 journal articles, conference papers, and book chapters. Dr. Souza Jr. has been honored with the Skoll Award and is a Mulago Foundation Fellow.

Dimiter Prodanov

Associate Professor

Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Dr. Dimiter Prodanov, MD, PhD, obtained an MD degree from the Medical University – Sofia in 1999 and a Ph.D. degree from the Twente University, Enschede, the Netherlands in 2006. He was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship from the International Brain Research Organization to continue his research in neuroprosthetics at the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium, in 2006 and later at the University of Liege, Belgium, where we he investigated the effects of vagus nerve stimulation. His technical interests include applications of computer algebra tools and numerical algorithms to modeling biophysical phenomena and image processing. In the period 2003 – 2016 he was an active contributor to the public-domain imaging program ImageJ. Since 2009 he has been actively engaged in the emerging discipline of Neuroinformatics. In 2008 Dimiter Prodanov joined IMEC, Belgium, a world-leading research center in the area of nanoelectronics and digital technologies, as a senior scientist in neurotechnology. From 2016 to 2018 Dr. Prodanov coordinated the H2020 project Na+noStreeM, investigating the safety of nanomaterials used in semiconductor manufacturing. In the period 2022 – 2025 Dimiter Prodanov was heading the Imec Biobank in his role as a regulatory expert.

In 2021, Dr. Prodanov was appointed Associate Professor at the Institute of Information and Communication Technologies (IICT) at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Since 2023, he has led the ERA Chair VIBraTE (https://vibrate-project.eu/), a Horizon Europe Widening project dedicated to exploring the interactions between implanted brain–computer interfaces and brain tissue. In 2024, he was appointed to the UNESCO ad hoc working group on the Ethics of Neurotechnology, contributing to global ethical guidelines for emerging neurotechnologies. Dr. Prodanov is the author of more than 60 peer-reviewed scientific publications in several disciplines.

Hoda Baraka

Advisor to Minister of ICT for Technology Talents Development, National AI Lead and Acting Director

Egyptian Center for Responsible AI

Professor of Computer Engineering, Cairo University

Dr. Hoda Baraka is the Advisor to The Egyptian Minister of ICT for Technology Talents Development; National AI Lead; and Acting Director of the Egyptian Center for responsible AI, in addition to her being Professor of Computer Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University.

She has a vast portfolio including initiating and managing a number of national skilling initiatives that lie under Digital Egypt Generations: The Digital Egypt Builders and Pioneers initiatives (DEBI, DEPI) targeting university undergraduates and graduates, and The Digital Egypt Cubs and Marvels Initiatives targeting students in schools from G4 to G11.

In addition, Dr. Baraka is leading the National Artificial Intelligence strategy at MCIT, contributing in the development and monitoring the implementation of the national AI strategy and the AI governance framework to ensure safe and ethical AI deployment. She is the founder of the Egyptian Center for Responsible AI and currently its Acting Director.

Former First Deputy Minister of ICT since 2006 till 2013. From 2002 till 2013, she was also the National Director of Egypt’s ICT Trust Fund, which is established to promote the use of ICT for Development.

Prof. Baraka has been awarded the UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa prize for the use of ICTs in Education, for her contribution in the development and enhancement of education in Egypt using ICT. She was one of WEF/UNESCO Partnership for Education Technical Advisory Group on Capacity development, and a former member of WEF Global Agenda Council for Technologies in Education.

Dr. Baraka has more than forty years of extensive experience as consultant in the field of digital transformation for public and private sectors.

Kamelia Kemileva

Co-Director, Programmes and Administration

Global Cities Hub

Kamelia Kemileva is the Co-Director of the Global Cities Hub where she leads and supervises areas of high importance for local and regional governments, such as digitalization and smart cities, environmental issues, and human rights.

She is a lawyer, specialized in Swiss law relevant to international organizations and international public law, including expertise on the United Nations. Kamelia also has a direct experience of intergovernmental multilateral negotiation and diplomacy.

She also worked as Special Assistant to the President of the UN Human Rights Council for three years. She was a Visiting Programme Director at Wilton Park. Previously to that, she worked at the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Jeong-Kee Kim

Secretary General

World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO)

Just before assuming the position of the Secretary General of WeGO, the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization, Mr. Jeong-kee Kim served as the Chief Executive Officer of CityNet, the Asia-Pacific Local Government Network for Economic and Social Development, and as a distinguished chair professor at the Business School of Dongguk University.

Throughout his career, Mr. Kim has been engaged in a variety of professional pursuits.

In 2000, he was elected as the first president of Korea Cyber University, later renamed Soongsil Cyber University, a pioneering Internet-based institution jointly founded by Yonsei University and The Chosun Ilbo. In 2007, he served as the International Committee Chairman for Presidential Candidate Myung-bak Lee. In 2008, he was appointed the 8th Consul General of Korea in Shanghai (with Ambassadorial Rank) and as the Commissioner General of the 2010 Shanghai Expo Korea Pavilion. In 2010, he was nominated as the Principal Vice Minister of the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 2012 to 2020, Mr. Kim worked as a senior attorney-at-law at DR-Aju LLC while simultaneously teaching as a distinguished professor. He taught courses on law, political science, international relations, history, sociology, economics, business administration, future studies, and negotiation at Korean universities (SNU, Yonsei, Korea, Kyunghee, Dongguk, Kookmin, Hannam, Seonggyul, Yongin) and Chinese universities (Peking, Nanjing). In 2021, he served as the Head of the Political Reform Group within the Political and Administrative Committee and as a Political Strategy Advisor for Presidential Candidate Seok-yeol Yoon.

Mr. Kim graduated summa cum laude with a BA in Political Science from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1990 and earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Marquette University Law School in 2000. He furthered his education by completing prestigious Senior Executive Programs at Harvard University and Seoul National University, and conducted research in North Korea as a scholar at Peking University in 2005.

As an accomplished author, Mr. Kim has written several best-selling books, including ‘Georo English Studies Series for College Students’ (1983-1995), ‘I Challenge the Possibility of One Percent’ (2002), ‘The Art of Negotiation’ (2004), and ‘Korea and the World’ (2023).

Fawaz Al-Matrouk

Filmmaker

Fawaz Al-Matrouk was born in Kuwait and grew up in Canada. His short films have played in festivals worldwide, including Cannes, Dubai, and Clermont-Ferrand, winning awards for writing, directing, and audience choice. His earliest memories are as a refugee of war, when his family escaped the armies of Saddam Hussein. Fawaz completed a BA in history at University of Toronto, where he studied Arab-Western relations, and an MFA in cinematic arts at University of Southern California, where his thesis film TO REST IN PEACE was mentored by Ridley Scott. Now he directs commercials, including Subaru spots for Japanese television, and writes science fiction prose, published in Nature and the classic Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. His feature in development has won the SFFILM Rainin Grant and took part in the Sundance Screenwriters Intensive. Fawaz draws on his personal experience to explore stories of our power to confront the unknown.

Xi Cao

Director of AI Standardization at the Artificial Intelligence Center

China Mobile Research Institute

Xi Cao currently serves as the Director of AI Standardization at the Artificial Intelligence Center, China Mobile Research Institute. He holds a Ph.D. in Information and Communication Engineering from Huazhong University of Science and Technology.

With 15 years of experience in standardization, his expertise spans multiple technical domains including wireless communications, autonomous networks, and artificial intelligence. He has been actively involved in various standards development organizations and industry groups, including ITU-T, ISO/IEC JTC1/SC42, IEEE SA/AISC, 3GPP, CCSA, SAC/TC28/SC42, and AIIA. He has led 16 standardization projects, submitted over 200 standard proposals, and filed 46 patents.

From 2021 to 2024, Xi Cao served as Vice Chair of the ITU-T FG-AN (Focus Group on Autonomous Networks). He acted as the first editor for ITU-T Recommendation Y.3173 and was one of the main editors for ITU-T Recommendation Y.3061.

From 2020 to 2024, he served as the lead rapporteur for four study items/work items at 3GPP TSG SA, leading the development of standards such as 3GPP TS 28.100 and TR 28.810.

Murat Unlusan

Associate Director, Access Network Architecture

Turkcell

Murat Unlusan is the Associate Director of Access Network Architecture at Turkcell, leading a team focused on network transformation and new technology introduction. Since joining Turkcell in 2015, he has held various technical roles within the Access Network domain. With 15 years of experience in mobile telecommunications, Murat previously spent eight years at Alcatel-Lucent. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Telecommunication Engineering and a Master’s degree in Engineering Management.

Xiao Rong

Vice President and General Manager, AI Technology Platform

Shenzhen Intellifusion Technologies Co., Ltd.

Dr. Xiao Rong is the Vice President and General Manager of the AI Technology Platform at Shenzhen Intellifusion Technologies Co., Ltd., . He is a recipient of China’s National Major Talent Program and a Class-A Talent under Shenzhen’s Peacock Plan. He holds the professional title of Professor-level Senior Engineer. Dr. Xiao received his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. degrees from Nanjing University, with a focus on Computer Vision and Machine Learning. He currently leads the research, development, and deployment of AI-related products at Intellifusion. His professional career began at Microsoft Research Asia in 2001, where he worked on statistical learning and computer vision. He later joined Microsoft Bing’s Multimedia Search Division in the U.S. in 2012 as a Senior Software Engineer, and in 2015, he moved to Microsoft Research Redmond as a Senior Researcher, contributing to Azure’s visual computing efforts. Upon returning to China in 2018, Dr. Xiao served as the Chief Scientist of AI at Ping An Property & Casualty Insurance, where he led the commercial deployment of AI in insurance applications. Under his leadership, the development of a high-performance OCR engine earned Ping An Group’s Major Innovation Award and several international accolades. In 2021, Dr. Xiao joined Intellifusion, where he has overseen the development of cutting-edge technologies including foundation models, face recognition, person re-identification, and video structuring, supporting the company’s chip, public security, and commercial product lines. He has led multiple core AI projects and critical technological initiatives, achieving significant breakthroughs in large language models, multimodal foundation models, large-scale face recognition, ReID, and human/vehicle attribute analysis. His contributions were recognized with the First Prize of the 11th Wu Wenjun AI Science and Technology Progress Award in 2021. Under his direction, Intellifusion’s large foundation model “Yuntian Tianshu” topped key benchmark rankings such as C-Eval, CMMLU, and MMBench, and successfully passed regulatory filing with China’s Cyberspace Administration in late 2023.

Ilario Corna

Chief Information Technology Officer

International Olympic Committee (IOC)

Ilario Corna, a Swiss-born leader in the information and technology sector, took up his role at the IOC in November 2020. Prior to joining the IOC, he held the position of Executive Vice-President for TV and Smart Products at Swisscom in Zurich. With over 15 years of international experience in information and technology services, broadcasting, digital media and e-commerce for prominent companies in the media and telecommunications sectors, Corna brought a wealth of expertise to his current role. He has successfully overseen IT infrastructure, spearheaded digital transformation initiatives, and championed process improvements to enhance efficiency. Throughout his career, he has consistently focused on delivering customercentric and technology-driven products and services. Corna first formally encountered the Olympic Movement in 2010, when he worked for the Canadian Olympic Broadcasting Consortium as part of Canada’s largest private broadcaster to deliver the 2010 Vancouver Games, a collaboration that continued with the London 2012 Games. He studied computer science and engineering in Switzerland and Canada, and speaks English, French, Italian (his first language) and German.

Claude Bruderlein

Founder and lead instructor

Frontline Associates Training Centre (FATC)

Senior Researcher, Harvard University

Mr. Bruderlein is a recognized expert in negotiation and the use of AI in high-stakes environments. He directs the AI Negotiation Challenge and has over two decades of experience advising international organizations on negotiation strategy in conflict and diplomacy.

Linbi Deng

Manager, International Cooperation Group

China Artificial Intelligence Industry Development Alliance (AIIA)

Linbi DENG works in the International Cooperation and Technical Services Department of AI Research Institute of China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT). She is the manager of International Cooperation Group of the China Artificial Intelligence Industry Development Alliance (AIIA), and had served as the deputy convener of the Development Steering Working Group of APEC Telecommunication Working Group. She has applied and been responsible for APEC project “Facilitate Innovative Development of ‘Internet + Service Industry'”. She was deeply involved in supporting G20, APEC, BRICS and other international organizations in the fields of artificial intelligence, smart cities, and digital economy. She is responsible for docking various multilateral and bilateral international resources, building an international cooperation ecosystem of artificial intelligence. She has considerable expertise in supporting high-level activities such as ITU’s AI for Good- innovate for impact forum in WAIC, and organizing the launching ceremony of the China-BRICS Artificial Intelligence Development and Cooperation Center, and China-ASEAN Smart City forum so on.

Zhen Dai

Principal Engineer and AI expert, Artificial Intelligence Research Centre

China Southern Power Grid

Dr. Zhen Dai is a Principal Engineer and AI expert at the Artificial Intelligence Research Centre, Digital Grid Group, China Southern Power Grid. She received her PhD from the University of Toronto in 2019 and specialises in artificial intelligence applications for power system operation and dispatch.

She directs the development of software solutions that incorporate graph computing, reinforcement learning, and large language models (LLMs) to advance power system monitoring, scheduling, and real-time dispatch. These technologies have been successfully implemented and validated within the China Southern Power Grid, earning multiple awards for innovation and impact.

David Agahchen

Co-Founder & CEO

Etcera

David Agahchen is Co-Founder & CEO of Etcera, a next-generation productivity platform developed at Akimilabs, the consulting and development business he co-founded to explore human-centered applications of AI. Etcera advances the concept of Attached Intelligence—AI that thinks with you, not for you—helping people reclaim clarity, agency, and alignment in a world of accelerating complexity.

With over two decades of experience in systems architecture, AI, and digital innovation, David served as a lead architect, technical lead, and senior engineer within IBM’s Global Business Services division. There, he led consulting projects for public sector agencies, financial institutions, and global enterprises, mentoring engineering teams and driving technical strategy for large-scale, mission-critical systems. He holds a Master’s in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Waterloo and previously co-founded Verably, a platform serving nonprofit organizations.

He leads the strategic vision and development of Etcera, ensuring that every layer of the system is human-centered, intentional, and adaptable, empowering people to move through life with focus and purpose.

Gabriel Fonlladosa

Program manager

data354

Gabriel Fonlladosa is a program manager at data354, a West African AI and data science company. He leads AI-driven initiatives focused on climate resilience, forest monitoring, and public health across West Africa. He is also co-author of a report on digital rights and freedoms in Francophone Africa. His work bridges remote sensing, machine learning, and open data to address critical environmental and social challenges in the region.

Grace Adamson

AI Senior Product Marketing Manager

Snowflake

AI-focused technical product marketing leader with a passion for translating complex capabilities into compelling customer value. At Snowflake, I drive go-to-market strategy for our AI portfolio, collaborating across engineering, sales, and marketing teams to position technical solutions that solve business challenges to everyone from C-suite executives to data analysts.

Previously I have spent over a decade as a product owner at SaaS start ups and scale ups in construction, healthcare and financial services and have an MBA from London Business School. My background spans the entire product lifecycle from high level strategic roadmaps to daily management of cross functional delivery squads.

I leverage my technical foundation in advanced analytics and AI to bridge the gap between a constantly evolving AI hype cycle and real world business problems through compelling storytelling, competitive positioning, and market analysis. I also support Snowflake’s Data for Good program and am passionate about using technology to solve the world’s challenges in climate, healthcare, and emerging markets.

Mike Johnson

Data for Good Technical Lead

Snowflake

Prior to joining the Data for Good team, Mike Johnson worked at Snowflake for 4 years as a Solutions Architect in the Professional Services division. He has experience working with public and private sector healthcare clients to manage cloud transformation projects such as migrations, data architecture enhancements, and application redesign. His previous experience includes leading integration for public sector state agency solutions (COVID contact tracing platforms), global healthcare delivery nonprofit agency work, and quality improvement work serving healthcare facilities in resource-limited settings.

Simão Campos

Counsellor, AI for Health standards

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Most of my career has been with ICT/Telecommunications standards development – in other words, helping people navigate the fine line of picking the best technology that yet is practical to be implemented.

I joined the secretariat of the ITU Standardization Sector in 2002, where I focus on the development of standards on AI for health and on operation excellency for the Sector. I was the Counsellor for ITU-T Study Group 16 (for standardization work on multimedia services, protocols, systems, terminals and media coding, including accessibility, digital health, IPTV and Digital Signage) till its closure in 2024, and the head of the Secretariat for the ITU/WHO Focus Group on AI for Health, 2018-2023. I organized several workshops (e.g. Multimedia in NGN, Telecoms for Disaster Relief, RFID, Standardization in E-health; SIIT2005) and was the editor of the first version of the ITU-T Security Manual. Additionally, I’ve led and contributed significantly to various initiatives within ITU-T for improving electronic working methods, publication and databases used for the standardization work in ITU. Some notable technical standards whose development I managed include Primetime Emmy recipients H.264 AVC, H.265 HEVC and JPEG; as well as ITU/WHO H.870-series Safe Listening standards and the H.810-series Continua Design Guidelines.

Prior to joining ITU in 2002, I worked for 8 years as a scientist in COMSAT Laboratories performing standards representation and quality assessment for digital voice coding systems, and before that I was a researcher at Telebras’s R&D Center (CPqD), in Campinas, Brazil.

I am a Senior Member of the IEEE, and have authored several academic papers and position papers, and served in the review committee of several IEEE-sponsored conferences. I believe academia can provide a distinctive contribution to standards, so I have been a long-time supporter of increased involvement of academia in the standardization work in ITU, and led the team that organized the first ITU Kaleidoscope Conference in 2008.

Specialties: standardization, telecommunications, multimedia, media compression, IPTV, videoconferencing, telepresence, signal processing, DLT, e-health, digital health, AI for health.

Mary-Anne (“Annie”) Hartley

Professor | Director

Laboratory for Intelligent Global Health & Humanitarian Response Technologies (LiGHT)

Prof Mary-Anne “Annie” Hartley, leads the Laboratory for intelligent Global Health and Humanitarian Response Technologies (LiGHT).

LiGHT is an international research group based jointly at EPFL (School of Computer Science) and Harvard (T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Ariadne Labs) with satellite presence at Ashoka University in India and the C4IR in Rwanda.

Her team works with NGOs and humanitarian response organizations like Doctors Without Borders and the International Committee of the Red Cross to develop implementable AI-powered technology that provably improves healthcare in resource-limited settings and under-represented populations.

In her free time, Annie is a passionate lover-of-street-dogs and medical doctor, and continues to work clinically in a volunteer capacity in her home country of South Africa.

Sameer Pujari

Lead AI for health

World Health Organization (WHO)

Sameer led the development and negotiations with 194 countries on the WHO Global Strategy on Digital health and is currently leading all initiatives on Ai for health at the Digital health and innovations department of WHO, he is also the Vice chair – WHO and ITU Focus group on AI4 Health

Sameer joined WHO headquarters in Geneva in Feb 2008. With WHO, he has worked extensively on Digital Health including mHealth, Big Data and AI and setup several digital global initiatives. He has provided in country support in over 75+ countries across all WHO regions of WHO & has provided oversight for work with several partners. Has contributed close to 100 publications, guidance and reports on digital health and Ai and is a core digital enthusiast and has been coveted with the WHO DGs reward for excellence in 2016 and the Greenpeace Innovations Award in 2018 for his work.

Samit D’Cunha

Legal Adviser

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

Samit D’Cunha is a Legal Adviser at the International Committee of the Red Cross’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, where he leads the legal and policy aspects of the Digital Emblem Project. has also worked as an Operational Legal Adviser covering Africa and, before that, the Americas, as well as a Protection Delegate in Colombia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Prior to joining the ICRC, Samit worked at the Canadian Red Cross as well as at the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining. He holds an LL.M. from the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights.

Mahsa Alimardani

Associate Director

WITNESS

Mahsa Alimardani is the Associate Director of the Technology, Threats, and Opportunities program at WITNESS. She has over a decade of experience working at the intersection of digital rights, freedom of expression, and emerging technologies, leading research and advocacy on digital repression and contributing to the design and development of technologies that serve the most vulnerable.

Before joining WITNESS, Mahsa led research and advocacy on internet censorship, surveillance, and digital repression at ARTICLE 19, focusing on the Middle East and North Africa. She serves in advisory roles as a Guardrails Advisor for De|Center, a Committee Member for SMEX’s Digital Rights Fund, and a member of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s Digital Democracy Network. She is also a Doctoral Candidate at the University of Oxford, where her research explores digital repression, and has served as a Senior Information Controls Fellow supported by the Open Technology Fund.

Zuzanna Wojciak

Program Consultant

WITNESS

Zuzanna Wojciak is a human rights researcher and advocate interested in the intersection of human rights and emerging technologies. As a Program Consultant at WITNESS, she supports the work around synthetic media detection and the operation of the Deepfakes Rapid Response Force. Prior to joining WITNESS, she worked on the AI and Human Rights project based at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) where she focused on the impact of emerging technologies on human rights and long-term societal dimension of AI harm.

Ryan Ofman

Head of AI R&D

Deep Media

Ryan is a distinguished ML/AI expert specializing in deepfake detection. He has actively participated in US-based workshops and has led numerous successful projects focused on advancing effective detection methods. With significant contributions as an advisor and a published writer on the subject, Ryan continues to drive progress in ensuring the integrity and reliability of digital media.

Syed Nazakat

Founder and CEO

DataLEADS

Syed Nazakat is a globally recognized leader in information integrity, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation. He is the Founder and CEO of DataLEADS, an Indian technology and media company committed to advancing open data and democratizing access to information at scale. Based in New Delhi, he leads the company’s strategic vision and international collaborations across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Under his leadership, DataLEADS has partnered with leading technology platforms, media and engineering colleges, governments, and civil society groups to design and deliver large-scale initiatives focused on AI literacy, infodemic response, data verification, and multilingual fact-checking. He has built one of the world’s most extensive networks for information and media literacy, reaching over 50 million people and empowering hundreds of organizations, across India and Asia.

He is the architect of ADiRA: AI for Digital Readiness and Advancement, a national AI capacity-building programme selected by AVPN, with support from Google.org and the Asian Development Bank, aimed at equipping Indian workers with future-ready AI skills. More recently, he also led the Shakti Project, a groundbreaking initiative that brought together over 600 journalists, fact-checkers, and technologists from more than 100 newsrooms to tackle misinformation, detect deepfakes, and amplify verified content in India’s diverse local languages. He was also a part of the consultation committee convened by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to help shape policy on AI-generated online content in the country.

Nazakat has also pioneered cross-sectoral collaboration through First Check, a unique platform that connects journalists, technologists, and health professionals to scale the delivery of science-backed health information across communities.

Nadja Blagojevic

Global Content Responsibility Marketing Lead

Google

Nadja Blagojevic is a Knowledge and Information Trust Manager at Google, with over 15 years of experience in the technology industry. An expert in online safety and digital literacy, she has held various leadership positions at Google, including leading work across Europe on Family Safety and Content Responsibility. Nadja has worked at companies at every stage, from early-stage startups to the Fortune 500. She is committed to using her skills and experience to make the internet a safer and more accessible place for everyone.

Kevin White

Senior Director, AI for Good Lab

Microsoft

Kevin White serves as a Senior Director of Data Science at Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab, developing innovative solutions for pressing societal challenges. In collaboration with global experts, Kevin focuses on information integrity, sustainability, and humanitarian disaster response and resilience initiatives.

Mauro Vignati

Advisor, Digital technologies of warfare

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

Mauro is advisor on digital technologies of warfare at the International Committee of the Red Cross ICRC, focusing on aspects such as the militarisation of digital space, the exploitation of the cognitive domain as a means of confrontation and the impact of digital technologies in armed conflicts on civilians, critical civilian infrastructure and society as a whole. Mauro gained 20 years of experience in various cybersecurity positions.

Zina Jarrahi Cinker

Director General at MATTER | Chief Creator

XPANSE

Dr. Zina Jarrahi Cinker is a globally renowned Exponential Technology strategist, condensed matter physicist, MATTERVerse thought leader & Deep Science advocate. She serves as the Director General of MATTER, an international think tank of 30 country chapters, Chief Creator of the leading international event for Frontier Tech for the future – PUZZLE X Barcelona, and Chief Creator of XPANSE – a new strategic initiative and global forum in partnership with the Sovereign Fund of Abu Dhabi, ADQ. XPANSE 2024 brought together 2,500 of the world’s brightest minds, technology trailblazers, Nobel Laureates, industry leaders, CEOs, ministers, and scientists to set the horizons of exponential technologies, such as quantum, neuromorphic computing, next-gen materials, AGI, genomics, space habitat, reality clones, Future G, fusion energy, brain-machine interfaces, and more.

Dr. Cinker received a Ph.D. in Condensed Matter Ultrafast Spectroscopy from Vanderbilt University and has spent the past decade helping the materialization of deep science into technologies with broader impact. She previously served as the Executive Director of the U.S. National Graphene Association, the main organization, and body in North America with over 5,000 international members and organizations.

Alan Chan

Research Fellow

Centre for the Governance of AI

Alan’s research focuses on governing AI agents. He is also interested in technical AI governance and societal resilience more broadly. He obtained his PhD from Mila (Quebec AI Institute).

Tobin South

AI Research Fellow at Stanford University | Head of AI Agents

WorkOS

Tobin leads AI Agents at WorkOS and is a research fellow at Stanford University, leading research into security and safety for agents. Tobin completed his PhD at MIT in 2025 on “Private, Verifiable, and Auditable AI Systems”, where he was a senior fellow with the E14 VC fund. Tobin was an Australian-American Fulbright Future Scholar for his time at MIT, a Pivotal Fellowship mentor, and an author of the 2025 International AI Safety Report.

Franziska Weindauer

CEO

TÜV AI.Lab

Franziska Weindauer is the CEO of TÜV AI.Lab, a joint venture founded by some of the largest and most important companies in the certification industry in Germany and beyond. The TÜV AI.Lab is paving the way for trustworthy AI by developing conformity criteria and test methods for AI systems. Previously, Franziska has been a senior advisor on digital policy in the German Federal Chancellery, head of policy at Bitkom, Europe’s largest digital industry association and an advisor to a key MEP in the European Parliament. She has a background in European Studies from Universities in the Netherlands, UK and Turkey.

Claudius Riek

Managing Director

Zurich Instruments Germany

Dr. Claudius Riek is the Managing Director of Zurich Instruments Germany and leads the EMEA region. He began his career as an Application Scientist with expertise in photonics, broadening his scope to deliver optimal measurement solutions from solid-state physics to quantum computing. Driven by a passion for building collaborations with users, assembled a strong team at Zurich Instruments Germany to support customers and develop application-specific software. Claudius holds a PhD in Time-Domain Quantum Electrodynamics and is fascinated by how fundamental science can shape future products.

Wiktor Mazin

Quantum fractal artist

Wiktor Mazin is a Quantum Fractal Artist and Qiskit Advocate with a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark. His fascination with fractals began over 30 years ago while studying chaos theory and Turing patterns. In recent years, he has turned his attention to quantum computing, earning a Qiskit Developer Certification and exploring how quantum gates and circuits can be used to manipulate quantum states. Wiktor’s innovative work bridges the worlds of quantum computing and fractal geometry, generating visually striking and conceptually rich patterns. He shares his insights and creations through blogs and his ongoing quantum art journey.

Follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiktormazin_quantum_art/

Mohamed Bin Daar

Senior System Analyst

DP World

Mohamed Bin Dar is a Senior System Analyst at DP World, where he supports innovation and the adoption of new technologies across the business. With a background in IT and systems analysis, he plays a key role in DP World’s Innovation Lab, contributing to projects involving AI, robotic process automation (RPA), and digital transformation.

His work includes enhancing operational efficiency and sustainability across port and logistics operations. Mohamed has been involved in various initiatives across regions, from improving terminal systems in Senegal to supporting technology partnerships in China and has presented at platforms such as GITEX.

He has led projects that have gained recognition for their positive social and environmental outcomes. Mohamed is passionate about using technology to support meaningful, collaborative progress.

Kiran Raj Pandey

Executive Director

Health AI for All Network

Kiran Raj Pandey is an internal medicine physician and a health services researcher. His clinical practice is in internal and preventive medicine. Dr Pandey’s research work focuses on health systems and services. He studies health services, their design and organization within the healthcare delivery system. He is a consulting physician at Medharma Clinics, Kathmandu, and a clinical research scientist at Nepal Applied Mathematics and Informatics Institute for Research. Kiran is one of the founding members of the Health AI for All Network (HAINet). He is also the founder and chief executive officer of Arete Healthsciences, a health services translational research company that designs and deploys clinical decision support systems. He sits on the board of a few other organizations that are working to advance healthcare in Nepal and elsewhere. Kiran is the author of the book Up Is the Curve–A genealogy of healthcare in the developing world. Kiran obtained his undergraduate medical degree from Kathmandu University in Nepal, followed by postgraduate residency training in Internal Medicine at the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in Chicago. He then trained at the University of Chicago in Advanced Training in Hospital Medicine and in Health Services Research. He also has a master’s degree in public health sciences from UChicago.

Mariam Ali Al Suwaidi

Chief Archaeologist

Antiquities Department, Dubai Culture & Arts Authority

Mariam Ali Al Suwaidi is the Chief Archaeologist at Dubai Culture & Arts Authority with expertise in excavation, artifact registration, and archaeological surveying. She has

worked on key archaeological sites such as Saruq Al-Hadid, Jumeirah, Al Sufouh, and Hatta. Mariam has collaborated with international archaeological missions from Spain, Germany, Poland, and Australia by supervising and contributing to their excavation projects. She has also participated in regional site visits and training programs in Oman, Jordan, Spain, and Poland.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in petroleum Geology and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Cultural Heritage and Archaeology at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi. She recently began her journey in academic writing and has contributed to recent archaeological conferences, including the 57th Seminar for Arabian Studies and the Archaeology Conference 2024. In addition to her fieldwork, Mariam actively supports the promotion of cultural heritage through public programs, educational workshops, museum collaborations, and awareness campaigns across Dubai.

Philippe Rixhon

Chair of the Management Board

Valunode OÜ, Tallinn, Estonia

Philippe works on digital rights with creative enterprises, service providers, trade and standardisation bodies, law firms and government agencies. As an innovation trailblazer, he assembles and leads prestigious multi-disciplinary teams to initiate, create and operate ground-breaking solutions.

He co-authored the Study on Copyright and New Technologies published by the European Commission in 2022 and is building a Copyright Data Exchange with the Valunode team. Philippe is an Advisor at the ISCC Foundation, and an expert at BSI and ISO working on the standardisation of media tokenisation.

Recently, he started to work on the AI and Copyright use case with the Copyright Infrastructure Task Force initiated by the Estonian and Finnish governments. His work on the expression of AI-related reservations has been presented at WIPO and the European Multi-Stakeholder Platform on ICT Standardisation.

Philippe hold degrees in engineering, management, theatre directing, and philosophy. He is an honorary Doctor of Arts in recognition of outstanding contributions to performing arts creation, production, and technology.

Anissa Agahchen

Co-Founder & COO

Etcera

Anissa Agahchen is Co-Founder & COO of Etcera, a next-generation productivity platform developed at Akimilabs, the consulting and development business she co-founded to explore human-centered applications of AI. Etcera advances the concept of Attached Intelligence—AI that thinks with you, not for you—helping individuals and teams navigate complexity with clarity, intention, and agency.

With nearly two decades of experience across software development, DevOps, and program management, Anissa has led initiatives in academic, government, and startup environments. She holds a Master’s in Computer Vision from the University of Victoria and previously co-founded Verably, a platform serving nonprofit organizations.

At Etcera, she leads systems strategy, operations, and user experience—translating complex needs into reliable, intuitive workflows and ensuring the platform is scalable, resilient, and deeply human-centered.

Asmaa EL Andaloussi

Lead Enterprise Strategist & Architect

Lenovo

Lead Enterprise Strategist & Architect at Lenovo with 10+ years of experience advising organizations on embedding trust, governance into their scaling roadmaps. Asmaa lead strategic consulting and technical Architecture for large-scale, global cloud & AI initiatives—bridging business goals with future-ready architecture. With a Master’s in Engineering Intelligent Systems and multiple patents in cloud and AI innovation, Asma brings a strong blend of technical depth and strategic vision. Passionate advocate for women in tech through JumpINTech ,WomenTechMakers and LIFT.

Simone Fabris

VP of Product & Delivery

Wayve

As VP of Product & Delivery at Wayve, Simone leads product development, ensuring compliance with automotive quality, safety, and security standards. With over 15 years in autonomous vehicle technology, he has a strong track record in scaling innovation, program management, and product leadership. Previously, he was VP of AV Platforms at Mobileye, where he led the industrialization of self-driving technologies. He also held leadership roles at ZF Group and contributed to key automotive safety standards. A recognized thought leader in automotive safety, Simone holds degrees in Business Administration and Mechatronics & Robotics Engineering.

Thomas Deneux

Founder

Learning Robots

Thomas Deneux, holder of a PhD in Artificial Intelligence from the Ecole Polytechnique, founded the Learning Robots company after 15 years of research in AI and Neuroscience. He invented the “AlphAI” software program to clearly explain how Artificial Intelligence works, through playful activities where you train your “learning robot” and see “how it works” on screen.

Gypsy de Jonge

Health sector leader

NT Health

Gypsy de Jonge is a health sector leader with 18 years of nursing experience managing high-performing teams and driving innovative, client-focused outcomes. Known for her strategic leadership, strong communication skills, and commitment to quality care, she excels in team development, service delivery, and operational efficiency within complex healthcare environments.

Shaoshuai Che

Chief Second-level Expert

China Telecom

Che Shaoshuai, the Chief Second-level Expert of China Telecom and the Head of the R&D Center of Hongxin Company, has been engaged in the research and development of industry AI platforms for 10 years, leading the team to create an AI Full-Process Low-Code Middle Platform Based on the ‘1+1+3+N’ Architecture.

Julius (J.N.) Hill 

Global Consulting Partner to the United Nations

Deloitte

Julius (J.N.) Hill is Deloitte’s Global Consulting Partner to the United Nations and the Managing Partner for the International Affairs and Development (IAD) sector in Europe, Middle East, and Africa. He leads a team specialising in operational efficiency, digital transformation and technology optimization. His team is leading flagship projects in the AI space with different UN agencies.

With 30 years at Deloitte, Julius has tackled complex challenges for both public and private sector clients. His deep understanding of the UN system and international organisations brings a unique perspective to addressing critical aspects of people, processes, and technology.

Deloitte continues to support ITU’s AI for Good initiative through the sponsorship of the Global Summit and their contribution to the annual AI for Good Impact Report.

You can connect with Julius on LinkedIn.

Kyeongnam Yeon

Director, Center for Digital Talent Development

Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science & Creativity

Kyeongnam Yeon serves as the Director General of the Digital Talent Development Division at the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity (KOSAC), a public agency under the Government of the Republic of Korea. She leads key national initiatives to cultivate future-ready digital competencies for K12, including the Digital Sprout Project, SW Companionship Project, Digital Tutor Training, and School Digital Transformation Consulting. By 2023, she had overseen the support of 1,291 AI-leading schools across the nation. Dr. Yeon is dedicated to closing the digital education gap by identifying and integrating exemplary AI education programs from industry, academia, and the public sector. Her work centers on expanding safe, equitable, and high-quality AI learning opportunities for young people—advancing inclusive digital empowerment at scale. She holds a Ph.D. in Technology Management from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), where her research focused on ICT strategy and innovation.

Mekena McGrew

Quantum musician

Mekena McGrew is a Lead Quantum Information Scientist with a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of California, Merced. Her journey began in the Arts and Design Academy at her California high school, where she first discovered physics through the lens of artistic creation. This early fusion of art and science sparked a lifelong fascination with the beauty of the physical world — a theme that continues to shape her work across quantum research and creative practice.

Between academic and industry roles, Mekena took a sabbatical to explore the expressive potential of quantum computing. During this time, she pioneered algorithmic music composition using quantum circuits, translating wavefunctions into sound to bridge abstract physics with human emotion. Her work lives at the frontier where technical innovation meets artistic insight.

At the core of her mission is a drive to develop quantum technologies that not only push scientific boundaries, but also contribute to societal progress and artistic expression.

Yi Chen

Global Partnership Lead, DAMO Academy

Alibaba Group

Yi (Elaine) Chen leads global public affairs and international partnerships at DAMO Academy, Alibaba Group’s research arm. Previously, she served as a member of multiple global initiatives such as the G20 Business Summit (B20) Task Force on Digital Transformation and the United Nations Secretary General’s Task Force on Digital Financing of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She was invited as a guest lecturer at Peking University and Tsinghua University in China.

Elaine Chen graduated from Columbia University with a master’s degree in international affairs, specializing in technology, media, and innovation.

Eisa Hassan Alhammadi

Head of the Applications and Digital Services Section

Ministry of Finance, UAE

Eisa Al Hammadi serves as the Head of the Applications and Digital Services Section at the Ministry of Finance, UAE, where he leads digital transformation efforts and the development of technical infrastructure to ensure efficiency and innovation in government operations.

Essa Al Hammadi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Engineering from the Emirates Aviation University, as well as an Advanced Diploma in Operations and Project Management from Westford University College – Tejara, accredited by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

He is consistently dedicated to building a flexible and effective technical environment that contributes to improving the quality of government services and achieving digital sustainability.

Wendy Hall

Regius Professor of Computer Science, Associate Vice President (International Engagement), Director of the Web Science Institute

University of Southampton

Dame Wendy Hall, DBE, FRS, FREng is Regius Professor of Computer Science, Associate Vice President (International Engagement) and is Director of the Web Science Institute at the University of Southampton. She became a Dame Commander of the British Empire in the 2009 UK New Year’s Honours list and is a Fellow of the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the ACM. Dame Wendy was co-Chair of the UK government’s AI Review, which was published in October 2017 and a member of the AI Council. She is currently the coChair of the ACM Publications Board and Editor-in-Chief of Royal Society Open Science. She is an advisor to the UK government and many other governments and companies around the world and in 2023 was appointed to the United Nations highlevel advisory body on artificial intelligence. Her latest book, Four Internets, cowritten with Kieron O’Hara, was published by OUP in 2021.

John Higgins

Co-lead of the Standards Promotion Program of SC on AI; Co-founder and Chair

International AI Governance Association

John Higgins is co-founder and chair of Global Digital Foundation and founder of its AI Assurance Club. The Club brings an engineering mindset to the challenges of AI governance with a particular focus on the AI value chain. It organises an annual International AI governance round table with unique multi-stakeholder participation.

John speaks at events and participates in fora concerned with effective and responsible use of AI.

He became the public face of the digital sector in Europe in November 2011 speaking regularly on platforms and at conferences throughout Europe and beyond as Director General of DIGITALEUROPE, the association for the digital technology industry in Europe. He led the association until April 2017, following nine years as head of its UK member, Intellect, now TechUK. He is a former President of the BCS, the UK’s Chartered Institute of IT.

In spring of 2017 he became a Senior Advisor to global communications company, Burson, Cohn & Wolfe for digital and AI. He is an advisor to the European Commission’s Intelligent Cities Challenge and chairs the Advisory Board of Eutopia, a consortium of ten European Universities. In 2021 he was appointed Chair of Sardina Systems – a global cloud software company.

The Queen appointed him a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 2005 for his services to the UK IT industry.

Saif Bin Ghelaita

Executive Director of Technology Development Affairs

Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Saif Bin Ghelaita holds the position of Executive Director of Technology Development Affairs at the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Specifically, he heads the technical department, which oversees various technical and policy development matters in relation to numbering resources and the UAE’s national numbering plan, the homologation regime, the national emergency plan for the telecommunications sector, the quality of service of fixed and wireless networks and future networks. including IoT issues.

With more than 25 years of experience in the telecommunications sector, Mr. Saif began his career in 1997 within the UAE’s long-standing telecommunications operator, Etisalat. Saif began his career as an engineer specializing in the planning and optimization of mobile services, responsible for the deployment and monitoring of the mobile network in Dubai. Subsequently, he assumed the management of various services and technologies based on mobile networks; In this context, he led a team of experts in the field of mobile value-added services.

Saif joined TDRA in 2006. He established the wireless networking and services function, which expanded to encompass the management of future networks and emergencies in telecommunications. In addition, he was involved in the development of multiple processes and procedures of the UAE regulatory framework. He has also held the position of Head of Innovation at TDRA, responsible for the development of innovation in the organisation and its services. Since joining TDRA, Saif has participated in ITU events and meetings representing the UAE. In addition, he has held various elective positions in regional commissions and working groups. He is a highly competent executive who has progressed in technological roles, has extensive knowledge of the telecommunications sector and has accumulated extensive experience, especially in the area of telecommunications policy and regulation.

Mr. Saif graduated from Khalifa University of Science and Research (UAE). He is also a graduate of the Government Leaders Program managed by the Cabinet of the Prime Minister of the UAE Government. In addition, he has a Diploma in Innovation in the Public Sector from the University of Cambridge (United Kingdom).

Christina Chase

Co-founder and Managing Director, MIT Sports Lab

MIT

Christina is a recognized leader in sports technology and innovation, serving as a Lecturer in MIT’s School of Engineering in the Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science departments, and as the co-founder and Managing Director of the MIT Sports Lab. She drives collaborations with elite sports teams, leagues, and global brands to solve complex challenges at the intersection of data, engineering, and innovation, including contributions to the 2002 Men’s and 2003 Women’s FIFA World Cups.

Christina’s work as a teacher, researcher, and practitioner focuses on the intersection of sports, data, engineering, and innovation. She started MIT’s first sports technology and innovation class and is a contributing author to 21st Century Sports: How Technologies Will Change Sports in the Digital Age (Springer 2021). Christina serves as an advisor to multiple sports technology start-ups having started her first company at 18 and was the first Entrepreneur-in-Residence at MIT’s Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship where she helped hundreds of teams go from concept to company.

Christina is a former Member of the External Evaluation Board for EIT Health, the European Union’s Institute of Innovation and Technology, and has served a Co-Chair of the IEEE International Conference on Wearable and Implantable Body Sensor Networks (BSN). Christina is a Techstars mentor and has judged for the SXSW Accelerator Competition where she was a member of the Advisory Board. Christina is a former competitive cyclist where she was one of 12 selected by the US Cycling Federation to train at the US Olympic Training Center. She has taught downhill skiing in Colorado, summited six of Colorado’s 14-ers across seasons, and her latest sport is kiteboarding.

H.E. Ms. Léocadie Ndacayisaba

Minister

Ministère de la Communication, des Technologies de l'Information et des Médias Burundi

Her Excellency Madame Léocadie Ndacyisaba was appointed Minister by Decree No. 100/26/of November 18, 2021, and she is responsible for leading the Government of Burundi’s policies in the fields of Telecoms/ICT, Communication, Media, and Posts. Since assuming office, H.E. Madame Léocadie Ndacyisaba has advocated for and successfully concluded with the Government and both chambers of the national Parliament the “Support Project for the Foundations of the Digital Economy in Burundi – PAFEN-” with technical and financial support from the World Bank: a flagship project that will lay the sustainable foundations for a Burundian society based on knowledge, an information society, and a competitive digital economy supported by universal and inclusive access to broadband infrastructure. Excellence Madame Léocadie Ndacyisaba fluently speaks Kirundi, French, understands and speaks English and Swahili.

Mohamed El Hadi Hannachi

President

Regulatory Authority Council, Autorité de Régulation de la Poste et des Communications Electroniques (ARPCE), Algeria

Mohamed El Hadi Hannachi: A Leader in Algeria’s Telecommunications Sector

Mohamed El Hadi Hannachi assumed the role of President of the Regulatory Authority of Post and Electronic Communications (ARPCE) of Algeria in February 2023. With a wealth of experience in the telecommunications industry, he has held various key positions within both fixed and mobile operators, showcasing his expertise in financial management, auditing, and administration.

Prior to his appointment at the Regulatory Authority, Mr. Hannachi served as the Chairman of the Amicable Settlement of Disputes Committee at Algérie Télécom starting in 2020. He also contributed as a Member of the Board of Directors and the Accounts Audit Committee at ATM/MOBILIS until February 2015, and as an advisor to the CEO of Algérie Télécom in 2017.

In September 2021, Mr. Hannachi was appointed as a Member of the National Economic, Social, and Environmental Council (CNESE) and the Skills, Human Capital, and Digital Transformation Commission (CCHTN), further solidifying his commitment to shaping the future of Algeria’s telecommunications landscape.

Mohamed El Hadi Hannachi’s impressive career trajectory and dedication to the industry make him a prominent figure in the telecommunications sector of Algeria, driving innovation and progress in the digital realm.

H.E. Eng. Abdullah Amer Alswaha

Minister

Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, Saudi Arabia

His Excellency Engineer Abdullah Alswaha has over two decades of experience in leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship. Throughout his multi-decade career, he has built multi-billion riyal, high-performing organizations in both the private and public sector.

His Excellency was appointed as Minister of Communications and Information Technology in April 2017. Prior to this, he was the Chief Digital Officer of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in charge of leading key digitization efforts across the public sector, including the creation of a national digital identity scheme, promoting open data and the enablement of digital entrepreneurship.

Before His Excellency joined the Vision 2030 team, he served in the private sector as the CEO of Cisco Saudi Arabia.

Under his leadership, the company remained the leading digitization partner in Saudi Arabia and the surrounding region. He also founded Ubieva, a social entrepreneurship incubator that went on to launch the first mobile health app in the Middle East.

In addition to his role as the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, he also chairs the board of the Saudi Space Commission, Research, Development and Innovation Authority, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and the, Communications and Information Technology Commission, and the National Digitization Committee.

His Excellency is a member of several ministerial level social and economic committees, and sits on the boards of the MISK Foundation and NEOM.

His Excellency holds bachelors degrees in electrical engineering from the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) and computer science from the University of Washington, and has attended the Executive Education Program at Harvard Business School.

H.E. Dr. Aminata ZERBO/SABANE

Ministre

Ministre de la Transition Digitale, des Postes et des Communications Electroniques, Burkina Faso

After obtaining her Baccalaureate in Scientific Series (Bac E) in 2000 at the Lycée Technique d’Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), Mrs. Aminata ZERBO/SABANE continued her studies at the Ecole Supérieure d’Informatique (Burkina Faso) where she obtained her Diploma in Computer Engineering / Programmer Analyst Option in 2003, then the Diploma in Computer Design Engineering in 2006. After a brief professional stopover, Mrs. ZERBO/SABANE returned to training after obtaining an enrollment at the École Polytechnique de Montréal in Canada from where she obtained a PhD in Computer Engineering in 2015.

Having become a Doctor of Engineering in Computer Science, Ms. Aminata ZERBO/SABANE is back in Faso where she joined Joseph Ki-ZERBO University in 2017 as a Lecturer-Researcher in Computer Science. Since then, Doctor ZERBO/SABANE has been strongly committed to the training and supervision of students. She is co-initiator and deputy coordinator of the university digital incubator Incub@UO which supports the maturation of students’ startup projects.

Dr. ZERBO/SABANE has a rich professional career, having held various positions of responsibility in both public and private administration.

Indeed, she was Security Manager at ZAIN (now Orange Burkina), responsible for the design, implementation and monitoring of IT security policies and procedures, raising employee awareness of IT security from June 2008 to July 2009, then Programmer Analyst at SONABEL from January to April 2008, and IT manager at the Diplomatic and International Relations Institute (IDRI) from 2006 to 2007. Doctor ZERBO/SABANE was from January 2016 to October 2017, Head of Training and Projects at the AvePLUS Training and Incubation Center.

Within the public administration, from 2018 to 2021, she was Technical Secretary, responsible for coordinating the work of experts in charge of strategic analyses and studies on digital technology at the Ministry in charge of Digital Transition. Since 2020, she has been Head of the “Ecosystem and Digital Transformation” budget program, responsible for monitoring and coordinating national-scale projects on the digital transition, and since April 2021, Director General of the National Agency for the Promotion of Information and Communication Technologies (ANPTIC). In this capacity, Ms. ZERBO/SABANE played a central role in the coordination of major structuring projects in the sector, including the e-Burkina project, the ICT Development Support Project (PADTIC) and the single identification project for regional integration and inclusion in West Africa (WURI).

Ms. Aminata ZERBO/SABANE is also involved in professional and scientific associations. She is a member of IEEE Burkina (International Learned Society for Research in Electronic and Computer Systems) and RECIF (Network of Computer Science Teachers and Researchers of Burkina Faso).

An expert in the maturation of digital innovation projects and digital transformation (strategic analyses and studies), Ms. Aminata ZERBO/SABANE, who has just been appointed Minister of Digital Transition, Posts and Electronic Communications, is no stranger to the digital ecosystem of Burkina Faso.

Tobias Schonwetter

Associate Professor, Department of Commercial Law

University of Cape Town

Dr Tobias Schonwetter is an Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town where he directs the IP Unit and the iNtaka Centre for Law & Technology. He specialises in and teaches intellectual property and cyberlaw, particularly the relationship between intellectual property, innovation, and development. Tobias is an Associate Member of the Centre of Law, Technology and Society at the University of Ottawa. He regularly advises government entities in South Africa and is part of ASSAf’s POPIA compliance framework committee as well as NACI’s AI Strategy team (Trust and Regulation). Tobias has co-led numerous research projects in the area of IP and IT law, including the Open AIR project. He was a Senior Manager at PwC, a Global Law Professor at KU Leuven and a Regional Coordinator for Creative Commons. Until 2024, Tobias served on the board of UCT Press. Tobias has written numerous articles on intellectual property law and has spoken at various national and international conferences.

Sneha Jain

IP litigator

Saikrishna and Associates, India

Sneha is an IP litigator specializing in cross-border intellectual property disputes, multi-jurisdictional arbitrations, and a broad spectrum of technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) matters. Her expertise spans content regulation, free speech, privacy and data protection, sports broadcasting, new media, and patent litigation—particularly in pharmaceutical and standard-essential patent (SEP) cases.

With extensive experience in dispute resolution, she regularly leads or supports cases before all levels of Indian courts, including the High Court (HC) and Supreme Court (SC), as well as tribunals such as TDSAT, IPAB, and FCAT. She also handles ad-hoc and institutional arbitrations under SIAC and DIAC frameworks. Her practice further covers antitrust issues, intermediary liability, online piracy, and defamation, making her a versatile advocate in complex IP and commercial disputes.

Committed to addressing emerging challenges in digital and media law, Sneha combines strategic litigation skills with deep domain knowledge to navigate the intersection of innovation, regulation, and intellectual property rights.

Thierry Cordier Lassalle

Health Operations and Logistics Capacity Development, Health Emergency Programme

World Health Organization (WHO)

Thierry Cordier Lassalle is a seasoned WHO health expert and Senior Health Operations Coordinator with extensive experience leading health programmes and teams across global, regional, and national levels—often in complex and emergency settings. With over 15 years in the private sector prior to joining WHO in 2008, he brings a unique blend of management and public health expertise to his work.
His role focuses on coordinating health security and humanitarian emergencies, with a strong emphasis on community empowerment as a driver of equitable health governance and universal health coverage. Thierry works to prevent and respond to crises by strengthening local actors’ capacities through localization principles, fostering collaboration among multi-sectoral health and development partners.
His expertise spans designing innovative health operations tools, establishing quality-driven pooled procurement systems to accelerate access to medical supplies, and shaping health policies and best practices with Member States. Committed to sustainable impact, Thierry has dedicated efforts to building health workforce capacity through learning initiatives and scaling up emergency preparedness by promoting knowledge-sharing and system-wide best practices.

Alain Labrique

Director for the Department of Digital Health and Innovation

World Health Organization (WHO)

Dr Alain Labrique is the Director for the Department of Digital Health and Innovation at the World Health Organization. He is the founding director of the Johns Hopkins University Global mHealth Initiative and founding Editor-in-Chief for the Oxford Open Digital Health journal.
An infectious disease and population epidemiologist, he served until September of 2022 as Professor and the inaugural Associate Chair for Research in Department of International Health at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr Labrique has led
research in over 30 countries and was recognized as one of the Top 11 mHealth Innovators in 2011. With over 250 publications in high-impact journals on Digital Health and Emerging Infectious Diseases, his frameworks for Digital Health remain among the most cited. Dr Labrique has served as a Technical Advisor to several global health agencies and Ministries of Health and chaired the WHO Digital Health Guidelines Development Group.

Cathy Zhou

Standards Expert

Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

Cathy ZHOU has more than 18 years of experience in the standardization and intelligence fields of the ICT industry. She has led the construction of many intelligent standard systems of industries such as government, energy, finance, transportation, and manufacturing. Leading cross-disciplinary teams, she has taken the lead in formulating over 100 industry standards and has edited and published the book “Industry Intelligence Architecture and Practice,” achieving deep linkage between standards and industry practices, and promoting the digital and intelligent transformation process across multiple industries. Over the years, she has been deeply involved in overseas standard organizations such as IETF, IEEE, and ITU-T, and has served as the chair of the ONVIF Use Case Working Group, a member of the ONVIF Communication Committee, and a Rapporteur of ITU-T Study Group 11.

Stephen Smith

Founder and CEO

Kitman Labs

Stephen Smith is the Founder and CEO of the world’s leading performance intelligence company, Kitman Labs. Kitman Labs was created in 2012 to help professional and elite sports teams leverage data and analytics to unlock human performance. Kitman Labs is now working with over 2,000 teams, leagues and regulatory bodies across a diverse range of sports, in over 28 countries around the world. Current clients include the National Football League (NFL), Premier League, Major League Soccer, Rugby Football Union (RFU) and many more. The company represents the industry’s largest dataset of talent, performance, and medical data for all stages of the athlete lifecycle.

Steven Vosloo

Digital Foresight and Policy Specialist

UNICEF, Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight

Steven Vosloo is a technology, policy and innovation specialist at UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight. He works at the intersection of children, emerging tech, foresight and policy, covering issues such as children and AI, digital disinformation, the metaverse, neurotechnology and digital equality. With over 20 years’ experience in innovating digital technologies for social good, he has been head of mobile in the Innovation Lab, Pearson South Africa, led the mobile learning programme at UNESCO, held the prestigious fellowship for 21st Century Learning at the Shuttleworth Foundation, and is a research fellow alum at Stanford University.

Baroness Joanna Shields

Founder & CEO

Precognition

Former UK Minister for Internet Safety and Security

Baroness Joanna Shields OBE is a tech industry veteran, parliamentarian, and passionate advocate for responsible technology that benefits humanity. With over three decades of experience, she has built companies, products, and platforms that have transformed markets and reshaped industries. She has held executive roles at tech giants Facebook, Google, Aol and RealNetworks, where she scaled operations globally and delivered exponential growth in revenue and users. As a startup CEO, Joanna led Bebo and Veon to successful acquisitions and transformed BenevolentAI into a leader in AI drug discovery. Currently, as the founder of Precognition, she advises government and business leaders on AI solutions for a better future.

Joanna has served in government as the UK Minister for Internet Safety & Security, Digital Economy Adviser to the Prime Minister, UK Ambassador for Digital Industries, and Chair/CEO of TechCityUK. She is a life peer in the House of Lords and a leading global advocate for the protection of children online. She founded the WeProtect Global Alliance in 2014, which today has over 100 member countries working to combat online sexual abuse and child exploitation.
Baroness Shields has also served on various private, public, and charitable sector boards, including as Chair of the TechCity Investment Corporation and non-executive board member of the London Stock Exchange Group and Save the Children UK.

An influential voice on responsible AI, Joanna serves on the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on AI and the Transatlantic Commission on Election Integrity and was twice elected Co-Chair of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI). The uniting theme of her work today is advancing safe and responsible AI development for the benefit of all in society.

Yalda Aoukar

Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Bracket Foundation

Yalda Aoukar is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Bracket Capital, a leading private markets investor based in Los Angeles. Yalda is also the President of Bracket Foundation, the philanthropic venture arm of Bracket Capital. She is a fierce advocate of technology for social good especially as it relates to solving the world’s most pressing global challenges. In 2019, Bracket Foundation issued a leading publication on how Artificial Intelligence can combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse. The publication was presented on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly that same year and resulted in a multi-year partnership with UNICRI (the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute). In 2022, Bracket Foundation published the sequel to its initial whitepaper which explores the dangers and vulnerabilities on children of the Metaverse and Online Social Gaming Platforms. The paper prompted Big Tech companies to review their user experience practices to make sure their products were safer by design for children and teens. Yalda is a champion for women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship in Venture Capital and other financial sectors, where women are traditionally underrepresented. In addition to investing in leading technology companies, she serves as an adviser to governments and policy makers on digital development in diverse fields such as Biotech, Food Security, Artificial Intelligence Integration and Education Technology. She sits on the board of the United Nation’s AI for Safer Children Initiative, as well as the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) Accelerator. Yalda holds a Master in Public Policy (MPP) from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Yalda spends her time between London, Los Angeles and the Middle East with her husband and three children.

Abhishek Gupta

[Remote] Founder and CEO

Open Droids Robotics

Abhishek Gupta is a dynamic leader in robotics, AI, IoT, and sensor technology, with over 18 years of experience across Canada, the USA, and India. Currently serving as the CEO of Open Droids Robotics, Abhishek has been instrumental in the development of innovative robotics solutions, including mobile manipulators and healthcare robots. Under his leadership, Open Droids is designing advanced single and dual robots such as the R1D3 and R2D3, capable of autonomous tasks and tele-operation via virtual reality systems. His team is also developing the Droid 1, a healthcare robot aimed at revolutionizing healthcare facilities across the U.S.

Previously, Abhishek led business transformation and innovation projects at various leading organizations. He was instrumental in heading IoT and sensor technology initiatives at HSB Canada/Munich Re where he was responsible for commercializing the sensor technology and leveraging IoT to prevent losses and insurance claims. He has also played a pivotal role in commercializing sensor technology at Clarity IoT Services & Technology and Smart City projects at Citelum India.

Abhishek also has a diverse background spanning telecommunications product management and hardware design. As a Product Manager at Reliance Jio Infocomm, he led the successful rollout of the JioFi Smart City 4G LTE personal WiFi hotspot. He also directed the migration from 3G to 4G LTE services in collaboration with government and IT stakeholders. Prior to this, as a Hardware Design Engineer at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator in Virginia and Brookhaven National Accelerator in New York, he contributed to key projects for the US Department of Energy, including the design of critical systems for nuclear and biomedical research.

With a strong background in electronics hardware design and business strategy, Abhishek has led teams and initiatives that have resulted in over $50M in revenues. He is passionate about driving technological innovation and has been a key player in the commercialization of IoT platforms and robotic technologies.

Abhishek holds an MBA in Finance and Entrepreneurship from HEC Montreal and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Stony Brook University. His expertise spans across business development, strategic partnerships, and cutting-edge product commercialization, making him a distinguished speaker in the fields of robotics and IoT technology.

Amy McEntee

Dancer

Amy McEntee is a freelance dance artist from Glasgow, Scotland. Formerly a First Artist with Scottish Ballet, she has worked with choreographers including David Dawson, Helen Pickett and Christopher Bruce, and has performed works by choreographers such as Kenneth MacMillan, Cayetano Soto, Crystal Pite and Matthew Bourne. She has a particular interest in narrative work and exploring the use of classical ballet technique and its vocabulary in dance theatre.

Owen Zhang

Head of Marketing, Technology Platform Group

Baidu

Owen Zhang, Head of Marketing, Technology Platform Group at Baidu, leads the overall marketing strategy for Baidu AI, including key business lines such as PaddlePaddle, ERNIE Foundation Model, ERNIE Bot, Baidu Comate, and Baidu Security. With nearly 20 years of experience in cloud computing and AI, Owen has held various roles in software engineering, project management, product management, and marketing management at multiple Fortune 500 companies, building a proven track record in the ICT industry.

John Ludden

Co-chair

GeoGPT Governance Committee

former President of IUGS, former Director of British Geologic Survey

John Ludden CBE FRSE is a renowned geoscientist with extensive governance and leadership experience. He served as President of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and was Executive Director of the British Geological Survey (2006–2019), where he led major international collaborations and strategic reforms. He also held senior roles at CNRS in France and currently chairs the Krafla Magma Testbed Board. Recognized for integrating science with policy and innovation, Ludden has shaped global geoscience agendas and promoted ethical, interdisciplinary approaches. He was appointed CBE in 2016 and elected FRSE in 2021.

Richard Chuchla

Co-chair

GeoGPT Governance Committee

former VP of ExxonMobil, former Director of Energy Graduate Program, University of Texas

Richard Chuchla is a veteran geoscientist and former ExxonMobil executive with over 35 years of global leadership experience in energy exploration and strategy. He served as Senior Corporate Strategic Advisor and led deepwater and unconventional resource programs. Following his industry career, he directed the Energy and Earth Resources graduate program at the University of Texas at Austin, fostering interdisciplinary energy education. Currently, he co-chairs the GeoGPT Governance Committee, promoting ethical AI and scientific transparency. Chuchla is widely recognized for bridging science, policy, and innovation in resource development and for his commitment to responsible, forward-looking leadership in geoscience.

Jo Levy

Chair, Partner

Alliance for Responsible Data Collection, The Norton Law Firm

Jo Levy is Chair of the Alliance for Responsible Data Collection (ARDC), a cross-industry organization dedicated to preserving access to public internet data by providing a trusted framework based on voluntary standards and guidelines for data scraping and crawling. She is a skilled technology lawyer with over 20 years in executive leadership roles at Intel Corporation, including Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel, Asia Pacific & Japan. Jo is a partner at The Norton Law Firm, a Northern California boutique where she specializes in technology and international dispute resolution, litigation, and business and compliance consulting. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Brandeis University.

Jonathan Russo

Program Manager

femtoAI

Jon works at the intersection of Business, Software, and Hardware, leading engineering and business teams to create AI-forward features that add real value to the lives of everyday people. He has helped define, design and launch multiple audio products built upon Femtosense’s AI processors and algorithms, from hearing aids and hearing protection headsets that treat and prevent hearing loss, to voice interfaces that increase accesibility and perform with less bias. He has a passion for creating useful AI applications that deliver meaningful value to the world, as opposed to building widgets that don’t deliver much impact. In his off time, he enjoys reading, working with his local Rotary club, and playing pickleball.

Thomas Verrill

Quantum Coalition

Princeton University

Thomas Verrill is the Undergraduate President of Princeton Students in Quantum and a Senior in Electrical and Computer Engineering concentrating on Quantum Information and Applied Physics. He conducts undergraduate research in superconducting qubit coherence research at the Houck Lab, and will be continuing in the lab as an M.Eng. graduate student. In his free time, he plays jazz trombone and is a radio DJ for WPRB Princeton.

Dmitrii Khitrin

Quantum Coalition

Duke University

Dmitrii is a senior studying Physics at Duke University where he serves as an officer of the Duke Undergraduate Quantum Information Society (DuQIS). He also serves as the President of the Quantum Coalition, a global student-led initiative advancing quantum education and collaboration.

For the past three years, Dmitrii has conducted research in the Brown Lab at Duke focusing on sympathetic cooling of trapped ions and theoretical quantum control. Passionate about both science and exploration, he is also an avid globetrotter – having recently visited Iceland, the Czech Republic, Georgia, and Azerbaijan within two weeks.

Alexey Rybakov

VP, Automotive Products

Netradyne

Alexey Rybakov leads Automotive Products at Netradyne, which are closely aligned with the Vision Zero strategy to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for all.

He specializes in computer vision, machine learning, and automotive systems, driving the integration of AI-based fleet safety technologies into commercial vehicles. His work supports large-scale partnerships with fleets and OEMs across North America and Europe to improve driver safety and operational efficiency.

Prior to Netradyne, Alexey led technology innovation programs focused on real-world performance, regulatory readiness, and scalable deployment of AI-based and embedded systems, including automated driving technologies. He holds a master’s degree in applied mathematics and engineering.

Xiaofang Yang

LLM Security Director

Ant Group

Xiaofang Yang is a leading expert in AI and LLM application security, currently heading the LLM Application Security Department at Ant Group. Since 2019, she has played pivotal roles in safeguarding AI-driven innovations and fin-tech products, most recently developing robust defenses against emerging threats such as prompt injection, data leakage, and AI agent vulnerabilities. Her work ensures secure deployment of LLM applications while aligning with global security and compliance standards. Previously, she led Ant Group’s Data Security Business Management team, delivering large-scale solutions including cross-border data governance, LLM data security, and data desensitization strategies. With over a decade of cross-industry expertise spanning IT risk management at Anheuser-Busch InBev and cyber security operations at Walmart China, Xiaofang combines technical depth with strategic vision. She actively shares insights on AI security risks and mitigation practices with Chinese industry media, advocating for responsible AI development.

Wang Kai

Vice Manager

China Unicom Data Intelligence Co., Ltd

Dr.Wang is currently a leading talent and AI Scientist at China Unicom, serving as Vice Manager of the Foundation Model R&D Department at China Unicom Data Intelligence Co., Ltd.

Dr.Wang earned his Ph.D. from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore in 2013. He led the R&D of Unicom Yuanjing LLM, achieving top-three rankings in multiple authoritative AI benchmarks and competitions internationally. He has published over 30 papers in international conferences/journals and holds over 50 patents in the fields of AI.China Unicom Data Intelligence Co., Ltd

Ling Zhang

Senior Technical Expert and Lead of Multi-Cancer Screening Technology

Alibaba DAMO Academy Medical AI Lab

Dr. Ling Zhang is a Senior Technical Expert and Lead of Multi-Cancer Screening Technology at Alibaba DAMO Academy Medical AI Lab. He pioneered the globally original “non-contrast CT + AI” approach for multi-cancer screening, enabling the identification of multiple major cancers through a single non-contrast CT scan. Ling Zhang and his team leveraged this technology to first overcome the early screening challenge for pancreatic cancer, the deadliest cancer. Their research was published in the top-tier medical journal Nature Medicine, which described the work as “AI and imaging-based cancer screening: getting ready for prime time.” The work was also recognized as one of the five major highlights in the fields of science and medicine in Stanford University’s “2024 AI Index Report.”

This technology has been clinically piloted in several hospitals in Zhejiang and Shanghai, screening over 100,000 individuals and discovering more than 20 clinically missed pancreatic cancer patients. Building on their success with pancreatic cancer, Ling Zhang and his team are advancing towards gastric, esophageal, and colorectal cancers, making significant progress toward the goal of multi-cancer screening.

Dr. Ling Zhang graduated from Zhejiang University and has previously worked at the University of Iowa, the National Institutes of Health, NVIDIA, and PAII Inc. He joined Alibaba DAMO Academy Medical AI Laboratory in 2021. Ling Zhang serves as the area chair of the MICCAI field and was nominated for the Best Paper Award at MICCAI 2020. His contributions to AI in oncology have been published in journals such as Annals of Surgery, Clinical Cancer Research, and Radiology.

Irene Khan

UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Opinion and Expression

United Nations

Irene Khan was appointed as UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Opinion and Expression in June 2020 and is the first woman to hold this mandate. An internationally recognized advocate for human rights, gender equality and social justice, she was Secretary-General of Amnesty International from 2001 to 2009 and Director-General of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) from 2010 to 2019. Ms. Khan is affiliated with the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, and has been Consulting Editor of the Daily Star, Bangladesh’s largest English newspaper.

Andrin Eichin

Senior Policy Advisor

Swiss Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM)

Mr. Andrin Eichin works as a Senior Policy Advisor on online platforms, artificial intelligence and digital policy at the Swiss Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) since 2019. As an expert on the intersection of digital policy and freedom of speech, he works in policy development on national level and represents Switzerland in various international fora.

On the national level, is part of OFCOM’s core policy team developing Switzerland’s new legislation for the regulation of online platforms as well as the governance approach for artificial intelligence. He has also contributed to the Swiss Government’s recent report on AI governance (published in February 2025, available here in EN) as well as a policy report on the impact of platforms and algorithms on public opinion formation and public communication (report published in November 2021, available here in FR, EN on request).

He is also actively involved in the implementation of Switzerland’s National Action Plan for the safety of media professionals, which was published in May 2023 (available here). In addition, he is the National Focal Point for the Council of Europe Campaign for the Safety of Journalists.

At the Council of Europe, he serves currently as the Chair of the Expert Committee on the Implications of Generative AI on the Freedom of Speech (MSI-AI). The Committee is tasked to develop a guidance note for Member States on the issue until the end of 2025.

Before joining the Swiss Federal Office of Communications, Andrin Eichin worked as Assistant Director in the UK’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial strategy, where was among other the UK negotiation lead for the EU Platform-to-Business Regulation. He holds a Master degree (M.A.) in International Studies from Goldsmiths, University of London and a Bachelor degree (B.A.) in International Relations from the University of Geneva. He is fluent in German, French and English and has basic knowledge in Italian.

Mohammed Rashid AlShamsi

Vice President – Commercial & Business Growth

DP World Digital GCC

Mohammed recently joined DP World as Vice President of Commercial & Business Growth within DP World Digital GCC. He brings a dynamic and results-driven background spanning digital sales, e-commerce, and data analytics, with a proven track record at leading organizations including du, Emirates, and Dnata.

Throughout his career, Mohammed has led cross-functional teams to accelerate digital transformation, optimize customer journeys, and launch innovative digital products, consistently driving revenue growth and operational efficiency. Renowned for his strategic mindset and strong commercial acumen, he blends deep digital expertise with business insight to unlock value, scale digital channels, and deliver measurable impact across complex ecosystems.

Gye-Poong Kai Byeon

Chief Business Officer

ESTsoft

His flagship project, AI Companion, offers empathetic conversation, medication reminders, and cognitive stimulation to support the well-being of older adults. In parallel, his team has developed over 500 pieces of senior-specific AI avatar content, designed to encourage mental activity and deliver meaningful entertainment. These services are now in active use at nearly 100 senior care centers across Korea, and adoption continues to grow. Collaborating with Microsoft and other global big tech partners, Byeon focuses on AI applications that offer clear, human-centered impact, particularly in areas where technology can restore connection and dignity. The broader social contribution of this work has been recognized through national ICT awards for software excellence. Previously, Byeon led IP business at CJ ENM, Korea’s largest global entertainment company, and at Turner, where he built over 1,000 strategic partnerships that transformed creative assets into immersive, multi-channel experiences. With a background in the content business industry and a master’s degree in Advertising from Michigan State University. Byeon is committed to building AI that moves people, not just efficiently, but emotionally, and delivers measurable, lasting social value.

Gao Tongqing

Chairman of Global Technology Association

InfoComm(GTI)

Dr. Gao Tongqing took office as the Chairman of Global Technology Association of InfoComm(GTI) and Deputy Director of the Science & Technology Committee at China Mobile. Dr. Gao previously held the position of Executive Vice President of China Mobile Communications Group Co., Ltd. Prior to taking up his role as a Director and Vice President of China Mobile, he served as the Chairman and General Manager of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Telecom Company, Chairman and General Manager of China Telecom Jiangsu branch, Vice President of China Telecommunications Corporation, and Executive Director & Executive Vice President of China Telecom Corporation Limited.

Additionally, Dr. Gao was appointed as the Vice Chairman of the China Institute of Communications (CIC), Deputy Chairman of the MIIT-led Expert Committee on Information and Communication Economics, and the Board Member of the GSMA.

Dr. Gao is recognized as an Expert Granted the Special Allowance of the State Council of PRC (1999) and a Recipient of the National May 1st Labor Medal (2011) for his outstanding contributions to economic and social development. He holds a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and possesses extensive executive experience in global telecommunications management, with key achievements in scientific and technological innovation, international business operations, equity investment, and policy governance among others.

Pamela Snively

Chief Data & Trust Officer

TELUS

Pamela Snively is the Chief Data & Trust Officer at TELUS. She leads the team responsible for privacy, data and AI governance and data ethics, along with data management and a number of compliance functions. Pam approaches overall data governance through the lens of customer trust, leveraging TELUS’ Customer First principle to drive the organization’s commitment to privacy and data ethics.

Under Pam’s leadership, TELUS has significantly transformed its approach to transparency about its data handling practices. This has included a refresh of the TELUS Privacy Centre to include layered information on TELUS’ data management practices, as well as some best practices to help our customers protect their information.

She participates in a number of national and international think-tanks and governance bodies related to AI, privacy and data governance, including the Information Accountability Foundation and Privacy and Data Advisory Committee for the Canadian Marketing Association. She is also a founding member and Chair of Canada’s Business Privacy Group, which is focused on building trust in Canada’s digital ecosystem.

Pam is a frequent speaker on privacy and data ethics and she actively encourages other organizations to join her in her mission to earn and elevate consumer trust in our digital ecosystem.

Fikret Sivrikaya

R&D Director

Center for Tangible AI and Digitalization (ZEKI) / TU Berlin

Fikret Sivrikaya received the Ph.D. degree in Computer Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY, USA, in 2007 and the Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from Bogazici University, Istanbul, Türkiye, in 2000. He is currently the R&D Director at the Center for Tangible AI and Digitalization (ZEKI) in Berlin, Germany. He has also been serving as academic advisor and lecturer at the Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin) since 2008, as well as the research director of GT-ARC, an affiliated institute of TU Berlin, since 2014. Dr. Sivrikaya’s primary research areas include telecommunications, IoT, wireless sensor networks, and machine learning, with an application focus on Intelligent Transport Systems and Smart Cities.

Junjie Xia

Deputy General Manager of the Technology Innovation Department

China Unicom

Mr. Xia is Deputy General Manager of the Technology Innovation Department at China Unicom, is responsible for the company’s technological innovation planning and R&D of innovative technologies. Focused on professional fields such as next-generation Internet, artificial intelligence, and network security, has long served as the Associate Rapporteur of ITU-T SG17.

Ryuki Hyodo

Chief Science Officer

SpaceData Inc.

Dr. Ryuki Hyodo is a planetary scientist and researcher specializing in planetary formation theory and planetary exploration. He has conducted research at Université Paris Cité, and has been actively involved in the design and advancement of next-generation planetary exploration missions for NASA, ESA, and JAXA.

Dr. Hyodo serves as Chief Science Officer (CSO) at SpaceData Inc., leading the development of AI-driven digital twin technologies that digitally replicate the solar system and space environments for advanced simulation, analysis, and mission planning. He also acts as a technical management advisor for Galaxies Inc., supporting the integration of artificial intelligence and digital twin solutions into space-related businesses.

Dr. Hyodo is actively engaged in space business initiatives, particularly in asteroid resource utilization and planetary defense under the ASTROMINE project, where AI-powered mapping, autonomous mining, and digital twin modeling are applied to maximize the efficiency and safety of space resource extraction and planetary protection. His research interests include using

computer simulations, AI, and digital twin methodologies to understand the formation and evolution of planetary systems, small bodies, and rings, as well as maximizing the scientific value of exploration missions by leveraging real-time data and predictive analytics.

Jumpei Takami

Associate Expert in Remote Sensing for Disaster Management, UN-SPIDER Program

United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)

Jumpei Takami is a specialist in remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS), with a strong foundation in civil engineering and advanced data analytics. He holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington, United States, where he developed his expertise in applying satellite-based technologies to environmental monitoring. With over ten years of combined academic and professional experience, Mr. Takami has contributed to international projects that utilize satellite remote sensing to address hazards such as landslides, flooding, drought, and land subsidence. He has also supported forest monitoring initiatives, including canopy height and above-ground biomass estimation.

In recent years, Mr. Takami has shown strong interest in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and digital twins. He has applied machine learning techniques—including Spatially Variant Apodization (SVA) for SAR image enhancement, Histogram-Based Gradient Boosting Classifier (HBGC) for landslide detection, and convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for forest structure analysis. Inspired by the growing role of digital twin platforms in climate resilience, he has also explored their potential to integrate satellite data with simulation models for risk forecasting and urban planning in vulnerable regions. Looking ahead, Mr. Takami is committed to advancing the integration of AI and digital twin technologies with Earth observation to support sustainable disaster management and climate adaptation, particularly in low-resource and high-risk settings.

Abbie Barbir

SG/17 Q10/17 Co-Rapporteur

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Dr. Abbie Barbir is a leader in digital security and identity management with over 25 years of experience. He is the Co-Rapporteur of ITU-T SG 17 Q10/17 Identity and Access management question. As a Senior Security Advisor, his work spans AI, Agentic AI, IAM, mobile security, and the development of user-friendly, resilient authentication protocols. Dr. Barbir holds a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering. He has many innovations in data compression, encryption, and secure algorithm design to enhance digital identity verification.

Daniel Young

Data Scientist and PhD Candidate

University of Texas, Austin

Daniel Young is a Data Scientist and incoming Ph.D. student at the University of Texas at Austin applying automatic decision-making to AI for good use-cases such as Project Resilience. Work on finding land-use planning strategies with neuroevolutionary was published in ‘Environmental Data Science’ and received the ‘Best Pathway to Impact award’ at the NeurIPS 2023 Workshop: Tackling Climate Change with Machine Learning.

Priya Samant

CEO and Co-Founder

Abris Inc.

Priya Samant is a visionary polymath transforming the intersection of artificial intelligence, cultural diplomacy, and films. As the CEO and Co-Founder of Abris Inc., she leads groundbreaking innovations like the award-winning Letzfarm, harnessing frontier technologies to address humanity’s most urgent challenges.

Priya has contributed to advancing national dialogue on technology and innovation policy as a member and advisor on committees during U.S. presidential campaigns. Her influence also spans cultural and sports diplomacy, where she fosters global understanding and unity through cross-sector collaboration.

In the cinematic world, she redefined the role of films in driving change—pioneering the credit title of “Impact Advisor” in Indian cinema. Launched in 2019, this concept has been adopted in seven Indian films and one Hollywood production, marking a paradigm shift in cause- and culture-driven filmmaking.

A respected global voice, Priya has spoken during the inaugural of the WAVES Summit, World Economic Forum in Davos, the United Nations General Assembly, and Horasis, moderating key discussions on AI, entrepreneurship, technology, and films. She was also appointed Director of the 8th International Day of Women and Girls in Science—an official United Nations observance. Through cultural diplomacy, purposeful innovation, and impactful films, Priya Samant is crafting the future with vision and action.

Olivier Francon

Associate Vice President, Neuro AI, AI Labs

Cognizant

Olivier Francon is focused on decision-making optimization, multi-agent systems, and neuroevolution as Associate Vice President, Neuro AI, for Cognizant AI Lab. He leads research and development in artificial intelligence at the lab, which aims to maximize human potential with decision AI and to further the advancement of AI for the good of society.

Prior to joining Cognizant, he was Principal Software Engineer at Sentient Technologies, where he developed and deployed distributed artificial intelligence solutions.

Before that, he was an Engineering Manager at Calypso Technology, leading developments on solutions for capital markets. Earlier in his career, Olivier worked as a software engineer contractor for BNP Paribas, Credit Lyonnais, and JP Morgan.

Olivier holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from EPITA (Ecole pour l’Informatique et les Technologies Avancées), Paris, with a specialization in Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence.

Mythili Menon

Project Officer | Advisor

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Mythili Menon works as Project Officer at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in the domain of standardization for new and emerging technologies. She serves as the Advisor of the ITU/WMO/UNEP Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence for Natural Disaster Management (FG-AI4NDM) and the ITU/FAO Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) for Digital Agriculture (FG-AI4A). Mythili possesses a strong background in environmental science, standardization, and the policy frameworks underlying sustainable development issues. Between 2015-2017, she worked for the ITU-T Study Group 20 on ‘Internet of Things and Smart Cities and Communities’ and ITU-T Study Group 5 on ‘Environment, Climate Change, and Circular Economy’. Previously, she worked as the Standardization Lead at Mandat International for various EU Horizon 2020 projects. Mythili holds a Masters in ‘Standardization, Social Regulation and Sustainable Development’ from the University of Geneva. She completed her Bachelors in ‘Environmental Science and Chemistry’ from University College Utrecht in the Netherlands. The areas relating to the sustainable development goals, artificial intelligence, blockchain, intelligent transport systems, disaster management, data management, smart cities, and IoT are of enduring interest to her and she has co-authored several publications on these subjects.

Risto Miikkulainen

VP of AI Research Cognizant AI Labs, Professor of Computer Science

University of Texas, Austin

Risto Miikkulainen is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin and a VP of AI Research Cognizant AI Labs. He received an M.S. in Engineering from Helsinki University of Technology (now Aalto University) in 1986, and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from UCLA in 1990. His current research focuses on methods and applications of AI in decision-making, particularly those based on neuroevolution and generative AI, as well as neural network models of natural language processing and vision; he is an author of over 500 articles in these research areas. At Cognizant, and previously as a CTO of Sentient Technologies, he is scaling up these approaches to
real-world problems. Risto is an AAAI, IEEE, and INNS Fellow; his work on neuroevolution has recently been recognized with the IEEE CIS Evolutionary Computation Pioneer Award, the Gabor Award of the International Neural Network Society, and Outstanding Paper of the Decade Award of the International Society for Artificial Life.

Jin Peng

Deputy General Manager of Technology Strategy and Execution Division

Ant Group

Mr. Jin Peng is Deputy General Manager of the Technology Strategy and Development Division and Head of Standardization at Ant Group. He holds membership in the China Information Technology Standardization Technical Committee and the China Social Credit Standardization Technical Committee, and serves as a Council Member of the China Communications Standards Association. He is additionally accredited as an ISO standardization expert. Mr. Peng leads Ant Group’s standards team in engagements with key international standards bodies including ISO, ITU-T, IEEE, and IETF. His primary areas of work focus on standardization in artificial intelligence, data processing technologies, and financial technology. He has led the research, development, and drafting of numerous international and national standards within these domains.

Maurice Turner

Technical Policy Lead

TikTok

Maurice Turner is a recognized public interest technologist and cybersecurity expert on the Global Public Policy team at TikTok. As the Technical Policy Lead, Turner plays a key role as a liaison collaborating between public policy and cross-functional teams to ensure understanding of cutting-edge technologies by non-technical audiences. He also advises the public policy team on a wide range of technology, strategy, and policy issues. He most recently served as a Public Policy Manager on Meta’s Global Human Rights team. Turner has also held policy positions such as Cybersecurity Fellow at the Alliance for Securing Democracy (ASD) at the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), Senior Advisor to the Executive Director at the United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC), and Deputy Director of the Internet Architecture project at the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT). He earned an MA in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, an BA in Political Science from California State University Fullerton, and a Certificate in Cybersecurity Strategy from Georgetown University.

Jeanine Vos

Head of SDG Accelerator

GSMA

Jeanine Vos is Head of SDG Accelerator at the GSMA, the global organisation unifying the mobile ecosystem. Jeanine’s mission is to help industry and partners fast-track digital innovations, capture Al’s transformational opportunity and drive responsible industry leadership.

She heads up a multidisciplinary team undertaking a portfolio of industry programmes that deliver a positive socio-economic impact across the world. For example, Jeanine set up the GSMA AI for Impact initiative, collaborating with a global taskforce of AI industry leaders to unlock AI business and societal value, scale impactful use cases and embed responsible design. She further oversees programmes to help companies strategically integrate sustainability into core business and to build capacity, talent and skills.

Prior to her current role, Jeanine was Executive Director, Connected Living at the GSMA, where she created a wide range of projects to build new market opportunities leveraging the Internet of Things. Jeanine launched strategic partnerships and programmes in digital health, mobile learning, smart cities and connected cars.

Before joining the GSMA, Jeanine worked in different mobile industry roles across the areas of Public Policy, Marketing and Strategy. She holds an MSc from the Delft University of Technology and an MSc from the London School of Economics.

Thomas Basikolo

Programme Coordinator

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Thomas BASIKOLO is Programme Coordinator in the Study Groups and Policy Department of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB). He coordinates and manages the AI for Good’s Machine Learning activities (including ML5G), is ITU lead of the Green Computing Pillar of the Green Digital Action, and is an advisor to the ITU-T Focus Group on AI-Native Networks. Prior to joining ITU, he worked as a Research Engineer in the Engineering Department of Microwave Factory Co., Ltd, Tokyo, Japan.

He received a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Yokohama National University, Japan. He is recipient of multiple Best Paper Awards, the IEEE AP–S Japan Student Award and the Young Engineer of the year award by IEEE AP–S Japan in 2018.

He has co-authored peer-reviewed journal and conference papers, predominantly in the areas wireless communications and antenna engineering. He serves as a Reviewer of IEEE and IEICE Journals. His interests includes, machine learning, deep learning, artificial intelligence and network science, and their applications in wireless networks as well as how technology can be used to advance the UN SDGs.

Sara Ballan

Senior Digital Development Specialist, Co-lead Green Digital Business Line

The World Bank

Sara Ballan Leads the Green Digital Business Line in the World Bank, Digital Transformation Vice Presidency.

She helps countries expand digital access through resource efficient digital investments, as well as effective use of digital technologies for green use cases. Sara is based in Washington DC after calling Kenya home for several years. Sara joined the Bank from an AI powered start up and has held innovation focused roles in the public and private sector.

Tim Smolcic

Director IT Sustainability Strategy

HSBC

Tim Smolcic is a global technology executive and a leading voice in sustainable IT, with over 15 years of experience driving innovation at the intersection of enterprise technology, cloud computing, AI, and environmental impact. Currently serving as Director of IT Strategy & Sustainability at HSBC, Tim leads global transformation initiatives, integrating sustainability as a core design principle for modern enterprise infrastructure.

A passionate advocate for responsible technology, Tim is an active partner of the ITU Green Digital Action initiative. His work focuses on embedding sustainability into the digital ecosystem—particularly the development of open-source tools that enable real-time measurement of software-related carbon emissions. His patented carbon tracking framework is now listed on the UN Digital Public Goods Register.

At the AI for Good Summit, Tim brings industry-wide insights from his ongoing research into the measurement and reporting of AI energy consumption. His work identifies critical gaps in current methodologies and reporting frameworks, offering evidence-based recommendations to align AI development with global sustainability goals. Through cross-sector collaboration, Tim is helping define what “green AI” means in practice—and where the industry must evolve to close the disconnect between innovation and environmental accountability.

Christopher Fabian

Co-Founder, Co-Lead - Giga

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

Chris (@chrisfabian) is a technology executive who co-founded and currently co-leads Giga. Giga is a partnership between UNICEF and ITU that is working to connect every school in the world to the internet.

His career has focused on how the intersection between new technology and global policy can solve the world’s most pressing problems and advance humanity. He has previously advised two UN Secretary-Generals on new technologies, founded and scaled UNICEF’s Innovation Unit, and worked with Heads of State and Fortune 100 CEOs to invest in responsible, forward-looking technologies.

Chris has built, invested in, and mentored technology companies from startup through multiple financing rounds and exits. He has led teams that developed some of the largest implementations of open-source software in the world, the first public-sector drone/UAV corridors, the first crypto-currency denominated fund in the public sector, and the Digital Public Goods Alliance with the Government of Norway.

He is a Commissioner for the Lancet-Financial Times, an Honorary Scholar at the Chinese Central Academy of Fine Arts, a Board Member of the European Parliament’s STOA Centre for Artificial Intelligence. He was recognized by Time Magazine as one of the “World’s 100 Most Influential People” in 2013 and as one of WIRED’s “25 People Changing the World” in 2019.

Henry van Burgsteden

Senior Innovation Officer (Office of Innovation)

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Henry is a national of the Netherlands with 20 years of experience in digital innovation. He has always explored new boundaries for the use of digital solutions for agrifood systems transformation and accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

He firmly believes digital technologies are a powerful means of implementing agrifood systems transformation through speed and scale of uptake; reduced deployment costs; growth in public awareness; delivery of innovation, connectivity, productivity and efficiency gains across sectors.

In the framework of FAO’s work, it is about creating value and impact for achieving the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31, the FAO Science and Innovation strategy and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) action agenda, leaving no one behind. This means special attention for the most vulnerable people, women, youth and the rural poor.

He leads the FAO Programme Priority Area on Digital Agriculture that is part of the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31 and leads the Digital Agriculture Unit in the FAO Office of Innovation, acts as Lead Technical Officer of the Global Network of Digital Agriculture Innovation Hubs, and has been contributing since 2020 to FAO’s engagement in the Rome Call for AI Ethics.

Erik van Ingen

Digital Innovation Consultant

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Erik VanIngen works as an innovation specialist on digital agriculture through frontier technologies such as AI, blockchain, IoT and remote sensing in the FAO Office of Innovation. He co-leads the AI and blockchain communities of practice in FAO. He coaches innovation projects in FAO on agile and design thinking methodologies. Erik has a special interest in digital sustainability, digital public goods and private sector collaboration for the agrifood value chain on topics such as climate and child labor. Before joining FAO, he worked for 10 years in the private sector in the Netherlands and Sweden as a software architect and project leader. Erik holds a bachelor in Telematics and obtained in 2020 a master’s degree at the Open University in the Netherlands in Business Process Management and IT with a specialization in data science.

Gordon Cole

Co-Founder

Blak Digital

Gordon is a Entrepreneur, Change Agent and Investor.

Gordon Cole is a Noongar man, recognised for his leadership and contribution to Australia’s Aboriginal and Business community. He is an experienced Director and an award winning Business leader.

Gordon specialises in Indigenous Services, Business, Economic Prosperity, Wealth Creation, Coaching, Mentoring and Leadership. Bridging the Digital Divide and advancing AI.

He explores Global Markets. He led the establishment of the Noongar Chamber of Commerce and Industry and is a Director on First Australians Capital.

Gordon is the Co-Founder of Blak Digital and is leading the establishment of the Djinda Innovation Hub, he is based on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar (Country) in Boorloo (Perth), Western Australia.

Jeroen Beukers

Head of Innovation Automated Driving & Smart Mobility

TPG

Jeroen is committed to assist in creating a climate of change through radical innovation. Making public transport an accessible, cool and trustworthy experience. Understanding how commuters go through their travel process and imagining the future of sustainable freedom of movement. Testing zero-emission, shared, on-demand, door-2-door, self-driving transportation solutions for people and goods transit.

His expertise on AV’s and understanding of intelligent transport systems enabled him to provide advice on the Swiss Act on L3 and L4 driving. He is a global AV technology scout, vice-chair automated mobility at the UITP, lecturer, speaker, (co)-author different articles and books as well as member of SAAM and Pave Europe.

Sebastian Hallensleben

Chair

CEN-CENELEC JTC 21

Dr Sebastian Hallensleben is the Chair of CEN-CENELEC JTC 21 where European AI standards to underpin EU regulation are being developed, and co-chairs the AI risk and accountability work at OECD. Sebastian is the initiator and Programme Chair of the Digital Trust Convention and is Principal Advisor Digital Trust at KI Park. As Chief Trust Officer at Resaro, he works towards drilling down to ground truths about capabilities of AI systems. – Previously, Sebastian Hallensleben headed Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence at VDE. He focuses in particular on operationalising AI ethics, on characterizing AI quality and on building privacy-preserving trust infrastructures for a more resilient digital space.

Lance Thompson

Head, Regulatory Cooperation Unit

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

Lance Thompson joined the United Nations in 2017 as Secretary to the UN Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) and was previously Chair of this group. In 2021, he was transferred to the Regulatory Cooperation Unit and became Secretary to the Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies (WP.6) which works on quality infrastructure and barriers to trade. He also holds the responsibilities of Focal Point within the UNECE Trade Subprogramme for gender, for disability inclusion and for disaster risk reduction.

Lance Thompson has a doctorate in social anthropology from the University of Paris V, La Sorbonne, an MBA specialized in international business where he finished as valedictorian from the ESM-A business school of Paris and a Bachelor’s in French literature from Hofstra University of New York.

In his career prior to the United Nations, he worked in the private sector specialized in customs procedures around the world as well as electronic data exchange standards. He was previously on the Administration Board of the French trade facilitation body, ODASCE. He has lived and worked in the United States of America, in France and in Japan.

Caitlin Kraft Buchman

CEO/Founder, Women at the Table and Co-Founder, Alliance for Inclusive Algorithms

Women@TheTable

Caitlin Kraft-Buchman is CEO/Founder Women at the Table – a gender equality & systems change think tank based in Switzerland. She is Co-Founder/Leader A+ Alliance for Inclusive Algorithms – a global coalition ensuring a world where machine learning does not wire already biased systems into our future. A+ Alliance is a leader of the UN’s Generation Equality Action Coalition for Technology & Innovation for Gender Equality.

Caitlin leads the AI & Equality: Human Rights Toolbox initiative – a global multidisciplinary community that works for a human rights-based approach to AI development. She is co-founder of the International Gender Champions – with hubs in Geneva, New York, Vienna, Nairobi, The Hague & Paris which brings together female & male heads of organizations, including the UN Secretary-General, to break down gender barriers. She serves on the IGC Global Board. She also serves as Civil Society lead for the World Benchmarking Alliance’s Collective Impact Coalition for Digital Inclusion, and on the Strategic Board of the French government’s Laboratory for Women’s Rights Online. She was a founding member of the team that conceived and drafted UNECE’s Gender-Responsive Standards Initiative in 2018.

Cornel Amariei

CEO

.lumen

A Romanian inventor, speaker, and entrepreneur, Cornel was born in a family where both of his parents and sister have disabilities. Growing up he founded his first two profitable companies in high school. After finishing two bachelors, he continued at one of the largest automotive companies where he was appointed Head of Innovation at 23. For his work, Cornel became the first Romanian in Forbes 30U30 Europe, an awardee of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World by JCI, and a laureate of the Global Business Hall of Fame, sharing awards with personalities such as J.F. Kennedy, Elvis Presley, or Levi Strauss.

Bingqing Peng

Senior Researcher, DAMO Academy

Alibaba Group

Bingqing Peng is currently a Senior Researcher at DAMO Academy, Alibaba Group. She received B.S. from Nanjing University with major in Mathematics and M.S. in Statistics from University of Washington Seattle. Her research focuses on time series analysis and AI for Science, with industrial applications in renewable energy and weather forecasting.

Chen Changyu

CEO

International Health Charity Association (IHCA)

Mr. Chen Changyu graduated from Peking University with a Master’s degree in International Relations. He is the co-founder of FamiCara AI mental health companion and serves as board supervisor of West Lake Social Innovation Network. He has been serving as senior program director at Ever Care Charity Foundation since 2017. He is the main designer of several educational programs, including the liberal arts education project, the youth mental health project, and the “COVID-19 Hero’s Legacy Program”. In 2020, he served as a freelance analyst for Melinda & Gates Foundation’s Beijing Office. He worked as the main editor and writer for the Global Health and Development column.

Hei Bohan

Project assistant

China Branch of the BRICS Institute of Future Networks (BIFNC)

holding a Bachelor’s degree in Robotics Engineering from the Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering at Southern University of Science and Technology, with a specialization in robot control and micro/nano-scale systems.

Zhu Wanyu

International Cooperation Department Director

China Branch of the BRICS Institute of Future Networks (BIFNC)

International Cooperation Department Director
With 10 years of work experience in government foreign affairs.

Jaco Jansen van Rensburg

Vice President of Learning

ALX

Dr. Jaco Jansen van Rensburg shapes and oversees a comprehensive portfolio of learning initiatives as Vice President of Learning at ALX, driven by a clear mission to unlock work opportunities for millions of young Africans. He guides diverse teams that develop and deliver impactful programs, ranging from equipping learners with essential, real-world digital and AI skills, Data Analytics, Data Science, and cloud computing to designing and delivering tailored corporate training solutions aligned with emerging industry needs.

With deep expertise grounded in mathematical modelling, optimisation, machine learning, engineering processes, and strategic management – including a PhD and an MBA – Jaco combines technical insight with practical business leadership. In addition to his responsibilities at ALX, Jaco serves on the advisory board of the South African AI Association, contributing to discussions around responsible AI integration and education policy.

Fan Wei

Head of AI Group Products

China Branch of the BRICS Institute of Future Networks (BIFNC)

Head of AI Group Products, dedicated to product research and development.

Zhang Kun

Senior Manager

China Branch of the BRICS Institute of Future Networks (BIFNC)

Senior manager at BIFNC, with 15 years of experience in ICT projects in China and globally, including 6 years of work experience at the ITU.

Li Jichao

Director, AI Task Office

China Branch of the BRICS Institute of Future Networks (BIFNC)

Li JiChao serves as the Director of the AI Task Office at the China Branch of the BRICS Institute of Future Networks (BIFNC) in Shenzhen.He has developed and open-sourced a robotics operating system and a large-model public service platform tailored for embodied intelligence. These innovations have been commercially deployed across sectors including education, energy, and low-altitude economy.

Previously, at the Artificial Intelligence Institute of the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), he played a key role in drafting national standards such as the LLM Capability Consortium Standard and the Embodied Intelligence Foundation Model Alliance Specification. Serving as the contact person and Deputy Secretary General of the AIIA Embodied Intelligence Working Group, he established its expert committee and Secretariat, and authored the influential report Panoramic Landscape and Trends of Embodied Intelligence.

Before that, he worked as a Senior Algorithm Researcher at Tencent Advertising and an NLP Engineer in the recommendation team at ByteDance, where he applied AI and NLP technologies to enhance the core algorithmic infrastructure for large-scale services like TikTok and Toutiao.

Lin Zhen

Director, International Cooperation Department

China Branch of the BRICS Institute of Future Networks (BIFNC)

Director of the International Cooperation Department, holds a PhD in Information and Communication, and is dedicated to research in the field of information and communication.

Yonggang Luo

Chief Engineer

Chongqing Changan Automobile

Yonggang Luo, Ph.D., Chief Engineer of AI LAB at Chongqing Changan Automobile. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Shandong University and a Ph.D. from Purdue University. His current research focuses on artificial intelligence, specifically in the development and research of in-vehicle AI algorithms. He leads his team mainly working on end-to-end multitask decision models, image processing, data synthesis, large language models, and the security of models and data. Dr. Luo has lead the development and deployment of various significant projects, including an integrated service platform for intelligent vehicle safety, a multi-agent platform for in-vehicle intelligent interaction with multimodal large language models, a battery deficiency prediction service system, and several end-to-end multitask decision models. He serves as the editor for two ITU-T recommendations and has participated in the development of several IEEE SA standards.

Sray Agarwal

Head of Responsible AI (EMEA & APAC)

Infosys

Sray Agarwal has applied AI and analytics from Financial Services to Hospitality and has led the development of Responsible AI framework for multiple banks in the UK and the US. Based out of London, Sray is Head of Responsible AI (EMEA & APAC) at Infosys. He is an active blogger and has given his talks on Ethical AI at major AI conferences across the globe (more than 20) and has podcasts, video interviews and lectures on reputed websites and social media at United Nations, Microsoft, ODSC, DSC, GOSIM to name a few. He is quite active speaker and is invited globally for speaking on areas for AI governance focusing on AI for good. His contribution to the development of the technology was recognised by Microsoft when he won the Most Valued Professional in AI award in 2020 to 2025. He is also an expert for United Nations (UNCEFACT) and have recently authored a book on Responsible AI published by Springer. He is also a guest lecturer at Jio institute. He holds patents on RAI system and methods.

Lina María Duque Del Vecchio

Executive Director and Commissioner

Commission for Communications Regulation of Colombia (CRC)

Lina María Duque Del Vecchio holds a Law degree from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, with a specialization in Business Law and a Master’s degree in Law from the Universidad Externado de Colombia.

She has held several positions at the Communications Regulation Commission (CRC), including Executive Director, Coordinator of Legal Advisory and Dispute Resolution, Acting Executive Coordinator (General Secretariat), Acting Commissioner for the Communications Session, and Legal Advisor.

As Coordinator of Dispute Resolution, she led sensitive and high-impact matters in the industry, contributing significantly to the effective implementation of regulatory policies—particularly those aimed at fostering competition and safeguarding user rights. Her outstanding performance resulted in the CRC being recognized by the National Agency for Legal Defense of the State (ANDJE) as one of the entities with the highest judicial defense success rate, achieving 95% effectiveness.

Brian Killough

Open Science AI & Data Challenge Program Director

Currently serving as the EY Open Science AI & Data Challenge program director, Brian had a prior career with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for over 35 years. During his time at NASA, Brian led the Committee on Earth Observing Satellites Systems Engineering Office.

Brian has authored over 20 technical papers and received the NASA Exceptional Service Medal in 2016 and 2022.

Moises Maldonado

Data Scientist and Innovation Officer

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Moises Maldonado is a Data Scientist and Innovation Officer at UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. He leads the design and development of Data and AI solutions to enhance global humanitarian operations through the Data Innovation Fund Programme. Complementing his role at UNHCR, he is a PhD candidate in Information Systems focusing on Responsible AI. He currently leads a major collaboration between the University of Zurich (UZH), the University of Lausanne (UNIL), and UNHCR, an initiative dedicated to embedding core humanitarian principles and values into the architecture of AI applications for the sector.

Baris Gencel

Artist

Baris Gencel, a relentlessly curious Artist and Creative Director, brings over 23 years of innovation and creativity to the heart of the digital revolution. Currently based in Shanghai working for Lanvin Group as an Director of Digital Transformation and Innovation and He been served as creative director in various global agencies. He is from Cyprus, he is an esteemed speaker, writer, and panelist, delivering insightful talks on digital art, Artificial intelligence, creativity, visual communication, experience marketing, generative AI, and creativity. Baris keeps pushing the boundaries of visual experiences with new technologies. His innate ability to manipulate technology innovatively combined with his consistent curiosity and his obsession for nature have resulted in the development and execution of unusual works. He is a rare hybrid creative talent who keeps reinventing himself, serving nature

Martin Tisné

Chief Executive Officer

AI Collaborative

Martin Tisné leads the AI Collaborative, an initiative of The Omidyar Group created to help govern and build artificial intelligence based on democratic values and principles. He was appointed Thematic Envoy to the AI Action Summit held in February 2025 in France and founded the Public Interest AI Partnership Current AI as one of the key deliverables of the Summit.

Martin brings over 15 years of investment and leadership experience to his role, including advising several heads of state on AI policy, serving as a board member of the Partnership on AI, and helping establish two multi-stakeholder initiatives and three NGOs.

He founded the Open Government Partnership (OGP) alongside the Obama White House and helped OGP grow to a 70+ country initiative. He also initiated the International Open Data Charter, the G7 Open Data Charter, and the G20’s commitment to open data principles.

As a philanthropic entrepreneur, Martin helped set up AINow, the Ethics & Governance of AI Fund, the AWO agency, Digital Action, and Reset amongst other initiatives.

Before his appointment as CEO of the AI Collaborative in September 2023, Martin was vice president of the global philanthropic organisation Luminate, leading efforts to address global digital threats to democracy through policy change, campaigns, partnerships, and litigation.

Mennatallah El-Assady

Assistant Professor at the Department of Computer Science

ETH Zurich

Mennatallah El-Assady is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at ETH Zürich, where she leads the Interactive Visualization and Intelligence Augmentation (IVIA) lab. Prior to her current role, she was a postdoctoral research fellow at the ETH AI Center and held research associate positions in Germany and Canada. Her doctoral research on human-AI collaboration earned the prestigious joint dissertation award of the German, Austrian, and Swiss Informatics Societies, along with an honorable mention for the VGTC VIS Doctoral Dissertation Award.

El-Assady’s interdisciplinary work spans data analysis, visualization, computational linguistics, and explainable artificial intelligence, with a focus on designing interactive human-AI collaboration interfaces to enhance problem-solving and decision-making. Her work is driven by a passion for empowering individuals through co-adaptive processes between humans and AI agents.

With extensive experience collaborating with political science and linguistics scholars, El-Assady led the creation of the LingVis.io platform and is currently developing the novel human-AI.io communication framework. She is also a co-founder and co-organizer of several influential workshop series, including Vis4DH and VISxAI.

In recognition of her pioneering contributions, El-Assady was named a Eurographics Junior Fellow in 2023. Her groundbreaking work at the intersection of visualization and machine learning has also earned her the 2024 VGTC Significant New Researcher Award and the 2023 EuroVis Early Career Award.

Deepa Shinde

Lead Pharma & Life Sciences Architect & Quantum Computing and Quantum Safe Ambassador

Microsoft

Deepa Shinde leads Pharma and Life Sciences architecture at Microsoft UK and serves as a Global Quantum Computing and Quantum Safe Ambassador. With over 20 years in the IT industry and five years teaching STEM subjects, she brings a unique blend of technical expertise and educational insight to her work.

As part of Microsoft’s Innovation team, Deepa focuses on designing AI-powered solutions using Microsoft’s full AI stack – from M365 Copilot and Copilot Studio to Azure AI Foundry – infused with agents, machine learning, and automation for her Pharma & Life Sciences customers. She also plays a key role in advancing awareness and adoption of quantum technologies and post-quantum security across industries.

Her background in computer science, combined with a lifelong passion for the sciences – especially modern physics – fuels her curiosity about the universe and the fundamental principles that govern it. This intersection of computing and physics naturally led her to quantum, where she now explores cutting-edge theory and its practical applications, including quantum-resistant cryptography with her customers.

Deepa is currently studying Quantum Mechanics and Computing with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), further deepening her expertise in the field.

Katarzyna Cichecka

Head, System and Applications Engineering Division

European Space Agency (ESA)

Katarzyna Cichecka – Head of System and Applications Engineering Division in European Space Agency, where her main areas of responsibility is management, and driving development for ground segment data systems. Spent her professional career in IT, creating and managing data, analytics and AI solutions for various industries across Americas and Europe. Throughout the career, have held various leadership positions in renowned multinational companies, having played a significant role in driving innovation and digital transformation.

Stewart Bain

CEO

NorthStar Earth & Space Inc.

Stewart Bain is CEO and founder of NorthStar Earth & Space. He recognizes the need for a lasting space economy and the importance that big data analytics, machine learning, and AI plays in the security and safety of the space environment.

Stewart combines a unique set of technical and business intelligence to create & commercialize disruptive technologies for aero and space applications from large scale hardware and specialized systems to sophisticated algorithms and products for advanced analytics and big data services.

At NorthStar, Stewart has focused on the benefits of a system of systems approach that combines complex hardware systems with machine learning systems using data driven algorithms to deliver high quality commercial services to precisely monitor activity in space. This is achieved with a patented Concept of Operations (CONOPS) that sets NorthStar apart as a leader in satellite image processing and big data analytics to provide a meaningful and reliable commercial contribution to space domain awareness.

Stewart leverages over thirty years of technical and business aerospace experience. Stewart led engineering design, integration, and test teams for the breakthrough 15m RadarSat 1 (passive SAR) and 2 antennas (active SAR) and deployment systems as well as the touch & control sensitivity systems for robotic arms and the in-orbit replaceable power conditioner systems for the International Space Station
(ISS). He designed and delivered numerous optical systems for various space science applications that monitored the aurora borealis and the Earth’s upper atmosphere.

Stewart led an international collaboration between NASA Langley and UBE Industries of Japan and was recognized with a NASA R&D 100 award for his distinguished contributions. He holds a master’s degree in aerospace engineering and an MBA.

Melissa Quinn

General Manager

Slingshot Aerospace

Melissa Quinn is the General Manager of Slingshot Aerospace’s International Business Unit where she is expanding the company’s space safety and security tools, globally.

Previously, as Director of Spaceport Cornwall, Melissa was instrumental in developing the UK launch industry, resulting in the UK’s first spaceport license and satellite launch with Virgin Orbit in 2023.

She is passionate about leveraging space to improve life on Earth, whilst ensuring its use for future generations. She does this through various education outreach, and public engagement programs, as well as working with investors and start-ups to finance their technologies. Melissa holds a Master of Science Degree from the London School of Economics and is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. She is a recognized thought leader and a keynote speaker, and has been featured in the New York Times, BBC World News and National Geographic

Lam Kwok Yan

Professor of Computer Science, College of Computing and Data Science

Nanyang Technological University Singapore

Kwok-Yan Lam (Senior Member, IEEE) received the B.Sc. degree (first class honors) from the University of London, London, U.K., in 1987 and the Ph.D. degree from the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, U.K., in 1990. He is the Associate Vice President (Strategy and Partnerships) and Professor in the College of Computing and Data Science at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. He is currently also the Executive Director of the Digital Trust Centre Singapore (DTC), Executive Director of the Singapore A.I. Safety Institute, and Director of the Strategic Centre for Research in Privacy-Preserving Technologies and Systems (SCRiPTS). Since August 2020, Professor Lam has been on part-time secondment to the INTERPOL as a Consultant at Cyber and New Technology Innovation. He has been a Professor of the Tsinghua University, China (2002-2010) and a faculty member of the National University of Singapore and the University of London since 1990. His research interests include distributed systems, IoT security infrastructure, distributed authentication, biometric cryptography, homeland security, and cybersecurity. Prof. Lam received the Singapore Foundation Award in 1998 from the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in recognition of his R&D achievement in Information Security in Singapore. Professor Lam is the recipient of the 2022 Singapore Cybersecurity Hall of Fame Award.

Farzaneh Badiei

Founder

Digital Medusa

Dr. Farzaneh Badiei works at the intersection of AI and internet governance, focusing on how technical systems and policies affect fundamental rights and the architecture of the internet. Her recent work examines the role of AI in trust and safety practices, including the use of automated tools for content moderation and abuse mitigation. She has contributed to policy discussions on AI training methods, the implications of web crawler restrictions, and the governance of access to training data. Through her initiative, Digital Medusa, she studies decentralization and infrastructure governance, including how AI systems interact with foundational layers like DNS and IP addressing. A central concern in her work is the preservation of the open web; she engages with standards organizations and multistakeholder bodies to resist access fragmentation and prevent restrictive defaults that limit interoperability or marginalize smaller actors. Her approach emphasizes transparency and institutional accountability with a focus on freedoms and liberty. Farzaneh holds a PhD from Hamburg University and has worked on these issues as a researcher at Yale Law School and Georgia Tech.

Yihan Wang

Marketing Manager, European Division

iFLYTEK

Ms. Yihan Wang, Marketing Manager of the European Division at iFLYTEK, is committed to promoting the practical deployment of artificial intelligence across Europe, with a particular focus on information accessibility and digital inclusion for the hearing-impaired.

She has been instrumental in the international expansion of iFLYTEK’s public welfare program, “Hearing the Voice of AI”. Since its launch in 2019, the program has provided over 200 million minutes of free speech-to-text services to people with hearing impairments, significantly improving their ability to communicate in daily life, education, and the workplace, while also greatly enhancing their overall participation in society.

Under her leadership, iFLYTEK’s AI technologies have been successfully localized and implemented in countries including Hungary, Spain, and France, and integrated into various local public service projects. Collaborating with organizations such as French disability arts groups and bilingual schools in Hungary, Through AI tools like iFLYREC, these projects have enabled barrier-free communication experiences that transcend both language and sensory limitations, effectively bridging the information gap between hearing-impaired students and the broader public. In the fields of arts education and performance, real-time AI transcription and translation have empowered more hearing-impaired artists to “speak out”—and be “heard” by the world.

Liyan Liang

Researcher

China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT)

Dr. Liang Liyan graduated from Tsinghua University and currently serves as an Researcher at the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT). His main research focuses on industry tracking, technical research, standardization, and testing verification related to Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) and biomedical signal processing. He has published over 20 academic papers on BCI, and holds 3 national invention patents. He led the development of 1 industry standard and multiple group standards for BCI, including spearheading the release of the first consumer-grade BCI standard: TCAS 891—2024 Technical Requirements and Test Methods for EEG-Based Attention Monitoring Systems.

Additionally, he organized the industry-wide release of the BCI Standardization Roadmap (2025). He participated in organizing 2 sessions of the China Brain-Computer Interface Competition and 6 sessions of the BCI Brain-Controlled Robot Competition. He has led or participated in more than ten research projects related to brain-computer interfaces.

Hervé Chneiweiss

Director, Neuroscience-Paris Seine-lBPS Laboratory ICNRS INSERM

Sorbonne University

Dr Hervé Chneiweiss, neuroscientist and neurologist, is Director of the Neuroscience-Paris Seine-lBPS Laboratory ICNRS INSERM Sorbonne University), and co-leader of theGlial Plasticity and Neuro-oncology team. Since 2013, he has been Chairperson of the Ethics Committee of theInstitut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM).In 2017, he was appointed expert to the OECD’s BNCT(“Biotechnology, Nanotechnology and Converging Technology”)working party, for the elaboration of a goodpractice quide for the medical use of neurotechnologies. Since 2023, he has been a member of the Neuroethics group of the International Brain Initiative and in 2024 was elected chair of the EBRAlINS Ethics and Society committee, Dr chneiweiss is also a former member of the National Advisory Ethics for the Life Sciences and the former chairperson of UNESCO’s International Bioethics Committee (lBc).

Sophia Smith Galer

Journalist, Author, Creator and Founder

Viralect

Sophia Smith Galer is a multi award winning journalist, author and content creator with more than 180 million video views. Her video scripting app, Sophiana, combines AI with her knowledge base to help journalists and experts platform their work on vertical video platforms and combat misinformation. In 2022 British Vogue named her one of the 25 most influential women in the UK.

Areeq Chowdhury

Head of Policy (Data and Digital Technologies)

Royal Society

Areeq Chowdhury is Head of Policy (Data and Digital Technologies) at the Royal Society. His team focuses on how artificial intelligence and other data-driven technologies can, and should, be used to benefit humanity.

Areeq founded the influential technology policy think tank, WebRoots Democracy, which ran between 2014 and 2020. He has authored various reports on digital democracy, social media, and artificial intelligence. Most notably, he led a high-profile project on disinformation during the 2019 UK General Election, producing viral deepfakes of Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn endorsing each other for Prime Minister.

Areeq holds a BSc in Economics and Political Science from the University of Birmingham. His career history includes working at: the Foreign Office; the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport; the UK Parliament; London City Hall; and KPMG.

Anupama Shekhar

Senior Director, Skills for Social Impact Programs, Microsoft Philanthropies

Microsoft

Anu leads the Skills for Social Impact Program team at Microsoft Philanthropies. Her team focuses on providing digital and AI skills and education access to people around the world. The team’s work enables skills outcomes for teachers, jobseekers, workers, entrepreneurs and students. This includes areas such as AI, Computer Science, and Cybersecurity skills. Anu previously led the Pratham Institute, a nonprofit organization focused on skilling individuals across India on vocational and digital skills. Anu has extensive leadership experience in the nonprofit and private sector, across several international locations including the US, Singapore, India and Tanzania. Anu holds an MBA from The Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania and currently serves on the board of Pratham USA and the Workforce Investment Board of San Francisco, and as board observer for Code.org.

Lindsay Strouse

Head of Partnerships

TBI

Lindsay Strouse leads global partnerships for Digital Skills and Inclusion at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, a not-for-profit advising political leaders on strategy, policy, and delivery with technology as an enabler for positive transformation. By combining cutting edge technology with deep policy expertise, her team unites government leaders, corporate innovators and citizens to reimagine and co-create the future of public systems. This includes building strategic partnerships and designing solutions that equips governments with skills to lead in the age of AI, and citizens and students to achieve better outcomes through technology.

With over a decade of experience, Lindsay is an expert in making technology more accessible and impactful. Prior to TBI, she helped launch products such as Google Assistant and built global startup and digital business ecosystems at Google. Lindsay has led social impact communities, and is the founder of corporate wellbeing brand, workwell. She brings deep expertise in brand and product strategy, marketing, and partnerships, with a global track record across the US, UK, and Asia.

Lindsay holds degrees from the University of Oxford and NYU, serves on the ITU AI Skills Coalition Steering Committee, is a passionate advocate for inclusive innovation, mindfulness, the arts and lifelong learning.

Marie Sellier

AI & IP Legal and Technical Expert

Marie Sellier has extensive experience in creative industries, with a focus on intellectual property and the music sector. She currently provides legal and technical expertise on AI in relation with IP industries.

Previously, she was Vice President Public Affairs at Vivendi, one of the world’s leading content, media, and communications groups, with a strong presence in the music industry through Universal Music Group. In this role, she actively took part to negotiations on key EU legislation, including the Copyright Directive, Digital Services Act, Digital Markets Act, Media Freedom Act, and the Artificial Intelligence Act.

Marie Sellier holds an Executive MBA from TRIUM (NYU, LSE, HEC), a master’s degree in international business law from ESSEC, and is a graduate of Sciences Po Paris.

Since 2022, she has served as a member of the Franco-German Cultural High Council, supporting bilateral cooperation in arts and culture.

Cameron Kruse

Director of Digital Technology

Bridges to Prosperity

Cameron is the director of digital technology with Bridges to Prosperity leading the technical development and implementation of Fika Map, a tool designed to predict trail bridge sites, impact, and costs. Cameron’s background is in machine learning and map-based storytelling. He is an explorer with National Geographic and has led several expeditions where he has produced films, photo essays, and interactive map-based stories focused on rural communities and climate change. Cameron is an advisor on food and climate with Earth Genome. In his free time, you may find Cameron trail running or struggling to climb large rocks in Yosemite. Learn more about Cameron’s work at cameronwkruse.com or reach out on LinkedIn.

Zhiping Chen

Vice President

ZTE Corporation

Ms. Zhiping Chen joined ZTE in 1999. She currently serves as Vice President and Head of Branding & PR Strategies at ZTE. Before that, Ms. Chen successively assumed management positions in charge of wireless system R&D, global marketing and corporate branding.

Ms. Chen holds a master degree in engineering from Huazhong University of Science and Technology. With extensive experience in the telecoms industry for over two decades, Ms. Chen has been engaged in R&D, operation and branding for many years, gaining profound and unique insights into business areas such as industry trend, business model innovation, planning and management of branding strategies in the international telecommunications field.

Ms. Chen has been rewarded the ”Technical Person of the Year 2017” Award issued by China Association of Communication Enterprises (CACE), and she is a member of the “2018 Top 10 Leaders in 5G” list issued by Communications World.

Chuen Hong Lew

Chief Executive Officer

Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)

Dahirou Thiam

Directeur général

Autorité de Régulation des Télécommunications et des Postes du Sénégal (ARTP)

H.E. Mr. Kuanyshbek Yessekeev

Advisor to President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Executive Office of the President

Republic of Kazakhstan

H.E. Mr. Rashad Nabiyev

Minister

Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan

1977 – He was born in 1977.

1994-2000 – He studied at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and received a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Public and Municipal Administration.

2000-2002 – He holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of East Carolina, USA.

1997-2000 – He worked in the Center of Information Resources and Technologies and the Department of Foreign Relations of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

2002-2004 – He worked in the Market Operations Department of the Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

2004-2011 – He worked as the head of the Department of Finance, Accounting and Economic Analysis of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies.

2011 – He was appointed as the Chairman of Azercosmos OJSC by the Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated January 24, 2011.

2021 – He has been appointed as Minister of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan by the Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated January 26, 2021.

He is fluent in Russian and English.

He is married and has three children

H.E. Mr. Prithvi Subba Gurung

Minister of Communication and Information Technology

Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Nepal

Mr. Prithvi Subba Gurung is the current Minister of Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Government of Nepal and Deputy General Secretary of the CPN (UML), is a seasoned political leader with a distinguished career spanning over five decades. A former Chief Minister of Gandaki Province and former Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Gurung has played a vital role in strengthening federal governance, promoting tourism, advocating for labor reforms, and advancing Nepal’s IT sector. Born on 13 February 1958 in Lamjung, Nepal, he holds a B.Sc. from Tribhuvan University. Known for his grassroots leadership, resilience, and commitment to inclusive development, He has a significant contribution to Nepal’s constitution drafting process and has championed federalism, social justice, employment generation, and the rights of marginalized communities. Fluent in Gurung, Nepali, and English, he continues to work towards building a digitally empowered, equitable Nepal while actively engaging in youth development, tourism promotion, and economic empowerment. He is Committed to building a prosperous, inclusive, and empowered Nepal through service, labor dignity, and federal governance. As a Minister of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MoCIT), Government of Nepal, he leads the formulation and implementation of national policies, laws, and programs related to communication, information technology, postal services, broadcasting, cyber security, and digital governance. The Minister oversees regulatory bodies, promotes digital transformation, ensures the expansion of ICT infrastructure, strengthens public service delivery through technology, facilitates innovation and startup ecosystems, safeguards citizens’ digital rights, and represents Nepal’s communication and IT interests at national and international levels. Additionally, the Minister coordinates inter-ministerial efforts to advance the Digital Nepal Framework and drive socio-economic development through ICT.

H.E. Mr. Abdul Salam Haykal

Minister

Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Syria

H.E. Mr. Oumouri Mmadi Hassani

Ministre

Ministère des Postes, des Télécommunications et de l'Economie Numérique et de la Transparence, Comoros

H.E. Mr. Jonathan Reid

Minister

Ministry of Innovation, Industry, Science and Technology, Barbados

H.E. Mr. Ernesto Rodríguez Hernández

First Deputy Minister

Ministry of Communications, Cuba

H.E. Mr. William Kabogo Gitau

Cabinet Secretary

Ministry of Information, Communications and The Digital Economy (MICDE), Kenya

Hon. William Kabogo Gitau is a visionary Kenyan leader, entrepreneur, and experienced public
administrator with a strong track record in governance and economic transformation. He served
as the first Governor of Kiambu County (2013–2017) and as Member of Parliament for Juja
Constituency (2002–2013), where he spearheaded development initiatives across infrastructure,
healthcare, education, and digital access.

As Governor, Hon. Kabogo implemented groundbreaking reforms that led to a 225% increase in
county revenue—growing from KES 800 million to KES 2.6 billion through automation and
enhanced transparency in public finance. He launched digital inclusion programs such as the
Kiambu WiFi initiative, expanded urban infrastructure, and strengthened healthcare systems with
modern equipment and emergency response capabilities.

He is also a successful entrepreneur with investments in logistics, real estate, retail, and shipping,
and a strong advocate for youth empowerment and sustainable development. Hon. Kabogo holds
a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Finance from Punjab University, India.

He continues to be a prominent voice on digital transformation, inclusive growth, and innovative
governance across Africa.

H.E. Eng. Majed Sultan Al Mesmar

Director General

Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA)

Simone Procas

Vice President and Assistant General Counsel

Simone Procas is Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at The New York Times Company, where she leads intellectual property matters including IP enforcement, IP policy, and IP-related pre-publication review of newsroom stories. Prior to joining The Times seven years ago, Simone was an Associate General Counsel at Time Inc., where she acted as lead counsel for the Sports Illustrated Group. Simone received a B.A. in Literature and Society from Brown University, an M.A. in Comparative Literature from Columbia School of Arts and Sciences, and a J.D. from Columbia Law School.

Kaan Çetintürk

Director, ICTD / Chief Information Officer (CIO)

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

Dongyu Qu

Director-General

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Dr. Qu Dongyu took office on 1 August 2019 as the ninth Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and was re-elected for a second four-year term on 2 July 2023.

During his first term, Dr. Qu championed a wide range of reforms and initiatives to overhaul the Organization’s business model, improving efficiency and implementing best practices that support programs and administrative effectiveness.

Dr. Qu strongly advocated for the transformation of agrifood systems to make them more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable and promote the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind with the ultimate goal of helping Members to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Dr. Qu launched six core initiatives during the first term, which have generated significant achievements on the ground:

The flagship Hand-in-Hand Initiative that supports the implementation of country-led and country-owned ambitious programmes to accelerate agrifood systems transformations using advanced geospatial modelling and analytics as well as a robust partnership-building approach to raise incomes, improve the nutritional status and well-being of poor and vulnerable populations, and strengthen resilience to climate change.  
The 1000-Digital Villages Initiative that promotes E-agriculture, E-commence and E-governance  in rural areas for the benefit of the local community, enabling them to apply, deploy or harness digital innovations and technologies, services and solutions, to improve their economic livelihoods, individual wellbeing, and create social cohesion through better connectivity.
The One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) Initiative that places the production, distribution and marketing models of smallholders and family farming at the centre of interventions. It helps countries leverage their potential and identify Special Agricultural Products (SAPs) adapted to their agro-ecological production systems, and national or cultural heritage, ensuring improved access to stable markets and acting as a key entry point for reaching their defined priorities.
The Green Cities Initiative that focuses on improving the urban green economy, strengthening urban-rural linkages and improving the resilience of urban food systems, services and populations to external shocks.
The One Health approach that works as part of agrifood systems transformation to balance and optimize the health of people, animals, plants and the environment. Ensuring a One Health approach is essential for progress to anticipate, prevent, detect and control diseases that spread between animals and humans, tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR), ensure food safety, prevent environment-related human and animal health threats, among others. 
The Blue Transformation Initiative that is central for increasing nutrients, through fisheries and aquaculture, in an efficient way in relation to input and output, so as to allow Member countries to achieve a diverse diet and increase food availability, and especially to improve access to healthy diets.

Before first being elected as FAO Director-General, Dr. Qu served as China’s Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), where one of his achievements was to promote inclusive and innovative development and make sure information and communication technologies (ICT) were available in rural areas so that more than 400 million farmers could use their smartphones as a new farming tool. Another national initiative led by Dr. Qu was to improve reporting of wholesale prices for agricultural products in China and foster the establishment of more than 100 specialty production areas geared to making local comparative advantages work to the benefit of local farmers. 

As Vice Governor of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, one of China’s landlocked and poorest areas, Dr. Qu formulated action plans aimed at poverty reduction, disaster reduction and prevention, women empowerment, agritourism and mutual learning platforms designed to boost trust between ethnic groups.

Before serving the senior leadership roles in government at central and local level, Dr. Qu was the Vice President of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) and the Human Resources Director at the China Three Gorges Project Development Corporation, a $40 billion investment project.

Born in 1963 to a rice-growing family in China’s Hunan Province, Dr. Qu studied horticultural science at Hunan Agricultural University and then plant breeding and genetics at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. He later added environmental science to his knowledge portfolio while earning a PhD at Wageningen University. Being recognized as one of the world’s renowned scientists, Dr. Qu has for over 30 years been directly cooperating with UN Systems, the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and private sector in formulating numerous projects and initiatives in eradicating hunger, combating malnutrition, eliminating poverty and sustainably conserving natural resources.  

Dr. Qu says he represents the combination of an “Asian soul” and a “global mind”. His motto is “Simple life, but not simple work”.

Dr. Qu is married and has one daughter and one grandson.

Siddhartha Prakash

Head, Global Health, Global Challenges Division

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

Siddhartha Prakash is a development economist with 27 years of international experience leading global health policies, projects and partnerships. Siddhartha has worked for international organizations such as the World Bank, World Trade Organization and World Health Organization, and held senior management positions at several global pharmaceutical companies and consulting firms. Siddhartha has substantive experience in advising governments, industry and NGOs on health policies and managing public private partnerships to strengthen health systems in Asia and Africa. He has led several projects on intellectual property, access to healthcare, digital health, infectious diseases, NCDs and AMR in the environment. Siddhartha is the Founder of Daily Wage Worker Platform, an NGO supporting India’s migrant workers with access to food security, healthcare and livelihoods. He manages the strategic, programmatic, financial and operational leadership of the organization. Siddhartha holds a degree in human geography from University College London and a masters in the economic history of developing countries from the London School of Economics.

Roy Burstin

Co-founder and CEO

eno

Roy Burstin is the co-founder and CEO of eno, a neurotechnology company creating personalized, biometric-driven audio experiences that support mental wellbeing. Through real-time EEG feedback and adaptive soundscapes, eno helps users better connect with their physical selves to achieve focus, calm, and emotional clarity. Before launching eno, Roy served as CEO of mitú, the leading digital media brand for young Latinos, where he helped grow the platform into a cultural powerhouse. He also co-founded Moonshot LA, an incubator that supports purpose-driven founders building ventures at the intersection of technology, wellness, and social impact.

Roy’s background spans 25+ years of leadership in digital media, pay TV, XR, and e-commerce. He holds an MBA from Wharton, advanced degrees from the Lauder Institute, and a BA from Amherst College—experiences that shaped his belief in conscious innovation and tech-enabled human growth.

H.E. Mr. Américo Muchanga

Minister

Ministry of Communications and Digital Transformation, Mozambique

Ulises Canchola Gutiérrez

Ambassador

Special Envoy for Emerging Technologies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico

Sam Daws

Senior Advisor, Oxford Martin AI Governance Initiative

University of Oxford

Sam Daws is Senior Advisor to the Oxford Martin AI Governance Initiative, Oxford University, and Founding Director of Multilateral AI. He has served for 40 years in senior multilateral roles, including as First Officer to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in New York, and advising the British Prime Minister on the creation of the UN SDGs as Deputy Director (UN) in the Cabinet Office. He previously served as Senior Principal Research Analyst (Multilateral) in the FCO, Executive Director of UNA-UK, and UK Representative to the UN Foundation.

Mr Daws is a recognised international expert in multilateral strategy, geopolitics and tech governance, and author of 14 books including The Oxford Handbook on the United Nations. An alumnus of the Oxford Artificial Intelligence Programme, and industry advisor to Oxford’s Saïd Business School, he also serves as a senior Oxford China Centre Associate, and policy lead for the University’s UN Academic Impact SDG16 hub. His academic background encompasses social anthropology, international law and relations, and science-diplomacy. His policy focus is on AI’s peace and security, sovereignty, sustainable development, and intercultural/language implications, and his regional interests include China-West policy interoperability and trust building in UN and minilateral AI governance processes, and AI developments in the Gulf States, Central Asia and ASEAN

Marta Ziosi

Postdoctoral Researcher

University of Oxford

Marta Ziosi is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Oxford Martin AI Governance Initiative, where her research focuses on standards for frontier AI.

Marta is an AI policy expert who worked for institutions such as DG CNECT at the European Commission, the Berkman Klein Centre for Internet & Society at Harvard University, The Montreal International Center of Expertise in Artificial Intelligence (CEIMIA) and The Future Society.

Previously, Marta was a Ph.D. student and researcher on Algorithmic Bias and AI Policy at the Oxford Internet Institute. She is also the founder of AI for People, a non-profit organisation whose mission is to put technology at the service of people.

Marta holds a BSc in Mathematics and Philosophy from University College Maastricht. She also holds an MSc in Philosophy and Public Policy and an executive degree in Chinese Language and Culture for Business from the London School of Economics. She spent a semester abroad at UC Berkeley, where her interest in topics at the crossroads of technology and social sciences further developed.

Tawfik Jelassi

Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information

UNESCO

Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information at UNESCO since 2021, Dr. Tawfik Jelassi is responsible for UNESCO’s programs on fostering freedom of expression, leading digital transformation, strategizing the role of ICT in education, and building inclusive knowledge societies. He holds a Ph.D. doctorate in Management Information Systems from New York University and postgraduate diplomas from the University of Paris Dauphine. Former Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Information & Communication Technologies in Tunisia as well as Dean and Professor, he has extensive international experience in higher education, scientific research, and digital technologies.

Celeste Drake

Deputy Director-General

International Labour Organization (ILO)

Thomas Schneider

Ambassador and Director of International Affairs

Swiss Federal Office of Communications

Chair of the Council of Europe Committee on AI

Thomas Schneider is Ambassador and Director of International Affairs at the Swiss Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) in the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC). He is a long-standing expert in digital governance and in the governance of the information and knowledge society and artificial intelligence. He is leading the Swiss delegation in various key international fora in these fields.

Since 2003, he has been coordinating the Swiss activities with regard to the implementation and follow-up of the UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). From 2014-2017, he was the chair of ICANN’s Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) and in this role negotiated the compromise among governments regarding the “IANA Stewardship transition”, the biggest reform in the ICANN system. He was responsible for the organization of the 12th UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Geneva in December 2017 on behalf of the Swiss government and co-chair of the IGF’s Multistakeholder Advisory Group in 2017. Since 2020, he is vice-chair of the OECD’s Committee for Digital Economy Policy, and vice-chair of the Council of Europe’s Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI) – which he chaired from 2018-2019 – and a member of the bureau of the CoE’s Ad Hoc Committee on Artificial Intelligence (CAHAI). He is the president of the EuroDIG Support Association (since 2012). He has been participating in the meetings of the UN Secretary General’s High Level Panel on Digital Cooperation, as personal advisor of former Swiss president, Ms. Doris Leuthard (2018-2019).

Ciyong Zou

Deputy to the Director General and Managing Director

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

The Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development oversees the Organization’s normative contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals, in addition to supporting and advancing the application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development in the environment, energy, and SME areas. Advancing competitiveness and job creation are also key impact dimensions for the Directorate, in addition to the advancement of digitalization and artificial intelligence. Mr Zou is also the Director General’s Special Representative for the G77 and China.

At UNIDO since 2013, Zou is the architect of UNIDO’s Programme for Country Partnership, and has guided the Organization’s field and strategic engagements.

Before joining UNIDO, he performed multiple roles, including as Deputy Director General of International Department at the Chinese Ministry of Finance, Alternate to the Chinese Executive Director at the World Bank, and Global Environmental Facility Operational Focal Point for China.

Zou holds a Ph.D. in Economics from China’s Ministry of Finance Graduate School, Research Institute for Fiscal Science.

Daniel Mordecki

Director Ejecutivo

Agencia de Gobierno Electrónico y Sociedad de la Información y del Conocimiento (AGESIC), Uruguay

Mohamed Hassam Shamroukh

Executive President

National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA), Egypt

H.E. Ms. Isabella Dageago

Deputy Minister for ICT & Media

Ministry of ICT and Telecommunications, Nauru

Current Portfolio

DEPUTY MINISTER FOR EDUCATION
DEPUTY MINISTER FOR JUSTICE & BORDER CONTROL
DEPUTY MINISTER FOR LAND MANAGEMENT
DEPUTY MINISTER FOR RONPHOS
DEPUTY MINISTER FOR NAURU MEDIA
DEPUTY MINISTER FOR INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION & TECHNOLOGY (ICT)
DEPUTY MINISTER FOR NAURU PHOSPHATE ROYALITES TRUST
DEPUTY MINISTER FOR CENPAC CORPORATION
DEPUTY MINISTER FOR NAOERO POSTAL SERVICES CORPORATION

Previous Roles and Highlights
– MINISTER FOR HEALTH (2019-2022)
– MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS (2019-2022)
– DEPUTY MINISTER FOR INTERNAL AFFAIRS (2022-2023)
– DEPUTY MINISTER FOR WOMEN (2022-2023)
– DEPUTY MINISTER FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES (2022-2023)
– DEPUTY MINISTER FOR NAURU TOURISM CORPORATION (2022-2023)

– As the Minister for Health and Home Affairs in Nauru, between 2019-2022, Hon. Isabella Dageago, who was a qualified nurse before entering politics, was one of the inspiring women spearheading the campaign to secure the wellbeing of all Nauruans during the COVID-19
Pandemic in 2020. She was also responsible for the valiant effort of Nauru to vaccinate the entire population during the pandemic era.

Viktors Makarovs

Special Envoy on Digital Issues, Latvia

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Latvia

Viktors Makarovs is the first envoy on Digital Affairs to be appointed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia. Before assuming his current post in October 2021, he focused on international outreach to counter disinformation, resilience building and media support. Viktors Makarovs holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Copenhagen and acquired a background in the Latvian NGO think-tanking community before joining the Ministry in 2011.

Sumaya Adan

AI Governance Researcher

University of Cambridge

Sumaya Nur Adan specializes in AI governance with a background in Law, AI, and Ethics. As a research affiliate at the Oxford Martin AI Governance Initiative, she delves into issues surrounding international organizations, AI risk assessment, and the design of institutions for equitable benefit-sharing. Her research also emphasizes improving access and participation for the Global Majority in AI, promoting a more inclusive approach to global AI development and policy-making. She also serves as an AI risk advisor at the Central AI risk Function team within the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology, UK government

Sumaya’s previous roles include working as a visiting researcher at the Centre for the Studies of Existential Risk, where she explored biases in military AI applications. At the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, she advocated strongly at the UN for regulating autonomous weapons and stressed the need for African nations to be involved in global AI regulatory conversations. As a summer fellow at the Centre for AI Governance, Sumaya researched international models for AI benefit-sharing, aiming to create institutional frameworks that promote equitable sharing of AI benefits and ensure broad, inclusive global participation.

With her interdisciplinary background in Law, AI, and Ethics, she has contributed to global initiatives such as the United Nations High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism and the African Commission’s efforts on AI and human rights. These roles complement her work on the Sendai Framework with the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, advancing her dedication to integrating AI governance with global policy frameworks.

Looking forward, Sumaya is passionate about developing equitable and inclusive frameworks for diverse global engagement in AI policy and decision-making processes, with a particular interest in the roles and contributions of Global Majority countries in shaping AI governance and ensuring that the benefits of AI are shared globally.

Sumaya holds an LLB from Strathmore University, with her senior thesis focusing on liability for decisions made by self-learning algorithms in common law jurisdictions. She is completing an MPhil in the Ethics of AI, Data, and Algorithms at the University of Cambridge as a Mastercard Scholar.

Rui Rui Xie

Junior Project Officer, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Graduate Student, University College London

Rui Rui graduated from University College London with a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and is now pursuing advanced studies in quantum theory and technology. Her research will focus on experimental quantum physics, with a specialisation in levitated quantum optomechanics. A dedicated community builder, Rui Rui co-founded the UCL Quantum Society and serves as its Vice President, creating a platform to foster collaboration and learning among students at all levels.

Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, Rui Rui is actively exploring the quantum startup landscape with the aspiration of launching her own deep-tech venture. Outside the lab, she is an experienced producer for the UCL Drama Society, having brought several theatrical productions to the stage.

David Nahmani

Co-founder and CRO

MountAIn

As Co-founder and CRO of MountAIn, David is a strategic and performance-focused executive with 20+ years of innovative energetic leadership and business development across France and Europe.

Easily assume executive decision making, ownership of projects and revenue objectives with ability to effectively manage through change in a local, international and multicultural fast-changing

environment.

Connecting with corporate decision makers and tech founders, leveraging global resources, innovation capabilities and relationships in order to enable their growth and scalable profitability.

Noah Luo

Chair of ITU-T SG 21

Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., China

Dr Noah Luo is the Chair of ITU-T Study Group 21. Dr. Luo had been ITU-T Study Group 16’s chairman in the period 2016-2024. Dr. Luo works for Huawei Technologies, co., Ltd as a senior consultant in the field of international standardization and industry development. Dr. Luo has a long career of working in multimedia related technical research and development and standardization since 1996 for organizations including Chinese Academy of Sciences and Huawei with ten year or so based in Europe .

Tony Maciulis

Chief Content Officer

GZERO Media

Tony Maciulis is an award-winning media executive whose career has spanned network television, digital content, and thought leadership initiatives for some of the world’s top brands.

He is currently Chief Content Officer of GZERO Media, a subsidiary of Eurasia Group. In his role, he leads a team of creators producing the US public television program GZERO World with Ian Bremmer as well as podcasts and daily newsletters and serves as executive producer and host of the series Global Stage.

Prior to GZERO, Tony was Katie Couric’s longtime producer and Head of News Video at Yahoo.

Axel Callabed

Director, Digital Technology for UN

NTT DATA Inc.

Mario Garcia

Global head of UN accounts

NTT DATA Inc.

Abishek Sakhuja

Chief AI & Data Officer

NTT DATA Inc.

Frederic Le Maistre

CIO

UNV

Alfonso Medrano

Head of Global Sustainability Business Development Strategy & Strategic Alliances

NTT DATA Inc.

Gadhu Sundaram

Chairman, Green Software Foundation

Rika Nakazawa

Chief, Commercial Innovation

NTT

Joaquim Barris

Data Lead, Mitigation Division

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Joaquim Barris assumed the role of Statistician at the Mitigation division at UNFCCC in 2014. In this position, he oversees the development and integration of data services, guiding the division’s data strategy.

With a robust background in data science, Joaquim has made significant contributions to different fields. Educated globally, he holds multiple degrees, including a PhD from Barcelona Tech.

Throughout his career, Joaquim has demonstrated a keen ability to lead the development of advanced data-driven decision-making processes. His work at the UNFCCC, coupled with his previous experiences in the private sector, underscores his commitment to leveraging data analytics for impactful solutions.

Since 2020, Joaquim Barris has also led multiple initiatives in artificial intelligence at the UNFCCC, focusing on deep learning, natural language processing (NLP) techniques, and, more recently, on large language models (LLM). His innovative approach to integrating AI into the organization’s data ecosystem has enhanced the UNFCCC’s ability to improve and accelerate several processes under the umbrella of AI diplomacy.

Vinko Lesic

Associate Professor

University of Zagreb, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing

Vinko is an Associate Professor within Laboratory for Renewable Energy Systems at University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing. His patented PhD research he shaped into the technology transfer project with a multinational aerospace R&D company. Since then, he has been leading 12 scientific-research and development and an own research group of 20 scientists. He shares his scientific commercialisation experience through mentoring in local and international programs for technology innovations. He co-authored over 80 journal and conference papers and 5 patents. His focus is on control algorithms, optimisation and artificial intelligence in renewable energy and sustainability topics or more particularly convex optimisation and machine learning methods for buildings, urban infrastructures and agriculture as climate-impacted sectors.

He is an active volunteer in IEEE association and past Vice Chair of IEEE Region 8 Member Activities (2023-24) where he coordinated programs on knowledge transfer and international networking for over 80,000 scientists and engineers from Europe, Africa and Middle East. He co-founded a program of IEEE Region 8 Entrepreneurship Initiative, aimed at design thinking, startups formation and acceleration, which examined over 800 technical innovations from 40 countries. He has also initiated an international hackathon on climate challenges and AI in Enhanced Weather Forecasting, which is now reaching the global stage. Today, he is supporting IEEE Humanitarian Technologies Board in establishing a hackathon in generative AI for sustainable development.

Anusha Dandapani

Chief AI Hub

United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC)

Current Role

Anusha leads the UNICC AI Hub, a centralized resource for AI-related initiatives across the UN system. Working closely with the UNICC Director’s Office, she drives UN-wide coordination on AI governance, development, and responsible deployment. She oversees cross-agency collaboration, capacity-building, and the delivery of AI consultancy, training, and shared solutions aligned with UN mandates. Anusha also builds strategic partnerships across the public, academic, and private sectors, promotes AI literacy, and ensures equitable access to AI tools. Representing the AI Hub globally, she advances UNICC’s leadership in ethical, sustainable, and impactful AI integration across the multilateral system.

Previous Experience

Anusha brings nearly two decades of experience in data science and AI from the financial services sector. Prior to joining UNICC, she served as a Data Science Lead at Barclays, where she led several strategic initiatives in electronic surveillance and financial crime compliance. Her work included managing cross-functional teams, aligning machine learning development with regulatory requirements, and delivering end-to-end data-driven solutions. She is also an adjunct professor, teaching Data Visualization and Visual Analytics at NYU & Fordham, and actively mentors early-career professionals in data and AI.

Jérôme Duberry

Managing Director, Tech Hub and Co-Director, Executive Education

Geneva Graduate Institute

Dr. Jérôme Duberry is Co-Director, Executive Education, Executive Director of the Tech Hub, and Senior Researcher at the Albert Hirschman Center on Democracy at the Geneva Graduate Institute. His research explores the societal and geopolitical implications of artificial intelligence (AI). Since 2022, Jérôme has been co-leading a scientific communication project on AI literacy for youth, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). Jérôme teaches courses on digital technologies and futures in the Interdisciplinary Master program (MINT), including “Technologies reshaping the conduct and future of international relations”, “Digital Diplomacy and Power Relations in Cyberspace”, and “Futures and strategic foresight: methods and practice”. As part of his interest in innovative forms of participation and collective intelligence, he has been trained in foresight and design thinking facilitation.

Duncan Cass-Beggs

Executive Director of the Global AI Risks Initiative

CIGI

Alisha Anand

Project Officer - AI and Emerging Technologies

Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD)

Sam Muller

Founding CEO

HiiL

Max Stauffer

Co-CEO

Simon Institute for Longterm Governance

Simeon Campos

Executive Director

SaferAI

Fynn Heide

Executive Director

Safe AI Forum

Renan Araujo

International AI Strategy

Institute for AI Policy and Strategy (IAPS)

Nitarshan Rajkumar

Vice-Chair, General-Purpose AI Code of Practice

European Commission

Rudy Corona Rodriguez

PhD Student

University of California, Berkeley

Lama Saouma

Senior Policy Advisor

Canada AISI

Agnes Delaborde

Head of Department

LNE, France INESIA

Miro Pluckebaum

Strategy & Research Consultant

Oxford Martin AI Governance Initiative

Ben Harack

DPhil Affiliate

Oxford Martin AI Governance Initiative

I study the potential for artificial intelligence to trigger a world war and how to prevent that from happening.

Most recently, I have led a year-long investigation into AI verification, where my team and I found that AI verification is neither impossible nor trivial. Workable systems can be built within a few years if there is political will toward this goal. Moreover, we found that AI verification can drastically open up the space for AI – both for governance and for the industry itself. The opportunities of this set of technologies are manifold, and I hope that countries and companies can be convinced to pursue them.

My background includes natural, formal, and social sciences, with a particular emphasis on machine learning, semiconductors, cryptography, and nuclear science. Previously, I also spent a decade working for Silicon Valley startups as a software engineer and manager. Presently I am completing my DPhil in International Relations at Oxford University.

Mary Jacques

Executive Director, Global ESG and Regulatory Compliance

Lenovo

Mary leads the corporate organization responsible for driving Lenovo’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and Regulatory Compliance programs. In her role, Mary advances Lenovo’s ESG strategy, performance and governance through her regulatory expertise, vision and passion for sustainability. Under Mary’s leadership, Lenovo became the first PC company with SBTi-validated net-zero targets and has garnered industry-leading ESG recognition including AAA ratings from MSCI. Mary oversees programs supporting the transition to a circular economy, climate change mitigation, ESG risk management and regulatory disclosures. Mary is most proud of her success in developing a diverse and thriving team focused on promoting meaningful and lasting change, establishing strong ESG governance structures and KPIs, building robust compliance programs in a highly dynamic regulatory environment, and supporting award-winning ESG reporting.

Mary began her career as an engineer with IBM’s Corporate Environmental Affairs organization within its Engineering Center for Environmentally Conscious Products. She then served as the Environmental, Health, and Safety Risk Manager at MIT before joining Lenovo. Her commitment to building organizations dedicated to sustainability and compliance has been the touchstone of her career.

Mary earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and Policy and a Master of Environmental Management in Resource Economics and Policy, both from Duke University

Luciano Floridi

Professor and Founding Director

Yale Digital Ethics Center

Luciano Floridi is the Founding Director of the Digital Ethics Center and Professor in the Cognitive Science Program at Yale University. He is world-renowned as one of the most authoritative voices of contemporary philosophy, the founder of the philosophy of information, and one of the major interpreters of the digital revolution. His more than 300 works about the philosophy of information, digital ethics, the ethics of AI, and the philosophy of technology have been translated into many languages. In 2022 he was made Knight of the Grand Cross OMRI for his foundational work in philosophy.

Luciano Floridi è Professor and Founding Director of the Digital Ethics Center all’Università di Yale, e Professore di Sociologia della Cultura e della Comunicazione, Università di Bologna. È conosciuto nel mondo come una delle voci più autorevoli della filosofia contemporanea, fondatore della filosofia dell’informazione e uno dei maggiori interpreti della rivoluzione digitale. Le sue oltre 300 opere sulla filosofia dell’informazione, sull’etica digitale, sull’etica dell’intelligenza artificiale e sulla filosofia della tecnologia sono state tradotte in molte lingue. Tra i vari premi e riconoscimenti, nel 2022 è stato nominato dal Presidente Mattarella Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI per il suo lavoro fondamentale in filosofia.

Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough

Global Director and Director of Strategy and Operations at the Digital Transformation Vice-Presidency

World Bank Group

Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough, is a Global Director in the Digital Vice Presidency, covering digital use [Digital Public Infrastructure, Digital Economy, and Digital Society], and also serves as the Director of Strategy and Operations. Since joining the Bank in 1995 as a Young Professional, Pswarayi-Riddihough has worked in four different regions: South Asia, East Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa. She previously served as Country Director for Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, Comoros, and Seychelles in the Eastern and Southern Africa Region. Her past roles also include Country Director for Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives in South Asia, as well as Director of Operational Services in South Asia. Additionally, she has held various operational and corporate management positions.

Lise Nicoud

Deputy Mayor

City of Évian, France

Luis Santiago

Innovation Adviser

Government Office for Information Technologies and Communication (OGTIC)

Abbas Lightwalla

Director of Global Legal Policy

IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry)

Abbas Lightwalla is the Director of Global Legal Policy at IFPI, the global trade body representing the recording industry worldwide, where he oversees efforts to secure robust legal protections for music markets internationally. He is dedicated to advancing the role of copyright in fostering investment in music and enabling the licensing of digital music services. With expertise at the intersection of emerging technologies and copyright law, Abbas leads IFPI’s policy initiatives on artificial intelligence.

Before joining IFPI in 2020, Abbas was an associate in the intellectual property department of the international law firm Bird & Bird, where he advised clients in the music, entertainment, and tech industries on intellectual property infringement and licensing matters related to content use by digital services.

Roser Almenar

ITU Secretary-General Youth Advisory Board member, PhD Candidate

AI & Space Law at the University of Valencia

Roser Almenar is a PhD Candidate in AI & Space Law at the University of Valencia (Spain) and serves as a member of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Board, representing Europe. She is currently the Co-Lead of the “AI and Space Law” Research Group, hosted by the Space Law and Policy Project Group of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), which she also spearheads. Additionally, she has contributed as a research member to the Working Group on “Balancing Innovation and Responsibility: International Recommendations for AI Regulation in Space”, under the auspices of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL), whose final report was published in December 2024. Her research focuses on the disciplines of Tech Law and Space Law, especially dealing with remote sensing, AI, data protection, and telecommunications.

Celina Lee

Co-Founder & CEO

Zindi Africa

Celina Lee is a co-founder and the CEO of Zindi (www.zindi.africa), the first data science competition platform of its kind in Africa. Celina has a passion for unleashing the power of data for social good. Celina has a proven track record of thought leadership in the intersect between data and development and has played central roles in launching global initiatives including the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (www.afi-global.org), insight2impact (www.i2ifacility.org), and now Zindi (www.zindi.africa). Celina’s work has expansively bridged across the private and public sectors and across various development areas including financial inclusion, micro and small enterprise development, gender, climate change, and public health. She has lived and worked in countries throughout Asia, Latin America, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Celina holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Applied Mathematics with a minor in Computer Science and a Master’s of International Affairs both from Columbia University.

Panda Gomm

K-pop music producer

Panda Gomm is a South Korean hip-hop producer known for his genre-blending sound and refined production style. He gained recognition by producing “No Cap” for Young B on Show Me the Money 8, and has since released narrative-driven albums such as Sleeptalking and Vertigo. Recently, he has expanded his work into film and fashion music.

Woo Sung Jung

President

Korea Foundation for Science and Creativity (KOSAC)

Dr. Woo-Sung Jung is the President of the Korea Foundation for Science and Creativity (KOSAC), a national institution at the forefront of advancing AI talent development and creative education in the Republic of Korea. Under his leadership, KOSAC has emerged as a central hub for nurturing future-ready competencies by promoting artificial intelligence (AI) education across all levels—from primary to higher education—and supporting the professional development of educators through strategic training and digital infrastructure. Dr. Jung leads initiatives that integrate AI literacy into the broader context of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education, empowering students not only to use AI tools but also to understand their social and ethical implications.
A strong advocate for equitable access to AI education, Dr. Jung represents Korea in international dialogues on inclusive digital transformation, where he emphasizes the importance of preparing societies for the AI era through human-centered, values-driven innovation. He collaborates with global partners to shape policies and practices that ensure AI and emerging technologies contribute to sustainable and creative futures.

Dr. Jung has served on numerous national science and technology committees, including the Presidential Advisory Council on Science and Technology. Prior to his current role, he was a professor at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH). He received his Ph.D., M.S. and B.S. from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).

Clemence Kyara

Chief Technology Officer

Code for Africa

Clemence Kyara is the Chief Technology Officer at Code for Africa and a Now Go Build CTO Fellow. With more than a decade of experience across research, fintech and civic-tech sectors, he leads distributed teams that use technology to drive social change across the continent. His work spans environmental monitoring (sensors.AFRICA), ML-powered media analysis (CivicSignal) and open-data initiatives (openAFRICA), platforms relied on in over 20 African countries. A committed open-source advocate and technical leader, Clemence focuses on creating ethical, scalable technology that serves the people who need it most.

Peter Sands

Executive Director

The Global Fund

Peter Sands has been the Executive Director of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria since March 2018.

Between 2015 and 2017 Peter was a Research Fellow at Harvard University, dividing his time between the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at Harvard Kennedy School and the Harvard Global Health Institute.

Peter was Group CEO of Standard Chartered PLC from November 2006 to June 2015, having joined the Board of Standard Chartered as Group CFO in May 2002.

Prior to joining Standard Chartered, Peter was a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Co.

Peter has served on various boards and commissions, including the UK’s Department of Health, the World Economic Forum and the International Advisory Board of the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He is currently Chair of the Board of Cera, a digital-first home healthcare company based in the UK.

Peter graduated from Oxford University with a First Class degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. He also received a Master in Public Administration from Harvard University, where he was a Harkness Fellow. Peter, who grew up in Singapore and Malaysia, is married to author Betsy Tobin and has four children.

Dejan Jakovljevic

Chief Information Officer (CIO), Director of Digital FAO and Agro-Informatics Division

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Mr Dejan Jakovljevic is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and the Director of Digital FAO and Agro-Informatics Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), based in Rome, Italy. He has more than 20 years of IT experience and use of technology in International Development. He is a strategic leader in the field, aiming to harness the power of technology towards achieving SDG goals. His work focuses on driving digital transformation in agrifood systems. Mr. Jakovljevic has extensive experiences focusing on strategic aspects of IT, driving organizational modernization and transformation in the International Development domain. He is passionate about bringing digital capabilities and innovation into accelerating impact in support of Sustainable Development Goals. His previous experience includes IT leadership roles in South East Asia and European Region, with UNICEF, WHO, and OSCE. In FAO, he advocates and mainstreams agro-informatics research and application to bring positive impacts in the digital transformation in agrifood systems, including geospatial information technology, big data, and AI. He led the team to get remarkable results with international recognitions, including Geospatial World Excellence Award for FAO Geosptial Platform and World Summit of the Information Society (WSIS) Champion for FAO Digital Services Portfolio.

Roberto Suarez Santos

Secretary General

International Organisation of Employers (IOE)

H.E. Mr. Raúl Pérez-Reyes

Minister of Transport and Communications

Ministerio de Transportes y Comunicaciones of Peru

Xinhui Wang

Head of Standardization and Vice President

ZTE

Wang Xinhui (wangxinhui @zte.com.cn) is currently the General Manager of Standardization and Industrial Relations in charge of technology innovation, standardization, strategy and industrial relations building, Vice President of ZTE Corporation.

He received Bachelor and Master Degrees from Northeastern University of China. He joined ZTE working on software development and system design of wireless communication system in 2000. Since 2006, he has been focusing on advanced radio access technology research and standardization with over 20 published papers and 50 granted patents held globally. The team under his leadership works in 100+ international/regional/domestic Standardization Organizations, Industrial Alliances/Fora/Consortia and Open Source Communities of significant prominence.

He has been elected Vice Chairman of 3GPP GERAN TSG for three consecutive terms since 2011. He serves as Member of Advisory Committee of IMT-2020(5G) Promotion Group, Member of Advisory Committee of IMT-2030(6G) Promotion Group and CCSA TC5 vice chairman. He has been the Keynote Speaker of IEEE ICC and IEEE WCNC along with Industrial Speaker of China Delegation for 7 continuous Global 5G Summits.

H.E. Mr. Shan Zhongde

Vice Minister

Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, People’s Republic of China

H. E. Mr. Shan Zhongde received a doctorate degree in mechanical engineering from the Tsinghua University in 2002. He was elected as an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) in 2019. He previously served as the Director of Zhengzhou Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering, the Deputy General Manager of China Academy of Machinery Science and Technology Group Co., Ltd. (CAM), the President and Secretary of CPC Party Committee of Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA) successively. He is currently the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) of the People’s Republic of China.

Stephen Kolesh

Machine Learning Engineer

Sportserve

Stephen Kolesh received his B.Sc. in Computer Science in 2023. He has held roles in various data science and machine learning capacities, most recently at Sportserve, where he works on applied ML experimentation, model deployment, and evaluation. His professional achievements include leading on Zindi globally as the top ranked competitive machine learning engineer and data scientist. His current research interests lie in scalable machine learning pipelines, model interpretability, and responsible deployment of AI systems.

Joshua Ku

Security solutions architect

GitHub

Joshua is a digital wizard at GitHub, where he moonlights as a security solutions architect, conjuring up solutions to complex challenges and guiding organizations to master the art of DevSecOps. When he’s not weaving his tech magic to keep code secure, Joshua volunteers as a mentor with ProgramEarth to teach the next generation of developers and GitHub’s Tech for Social Good program, where he assists nonprofit organizations in learning to adopt and leverage open source technologies. Outside the digital realm, you will find him looking for the next new and exciting place to eat at, spiking a volleyball on sandy shores, and carving up the slopes on his skis.

Hector de Rivoire

Director of Public Policy, Office of Responsible AI

Microsoft

Hector de Rivoire is Director of Public Policy in Microsoft’s Office of Responsible AI. He focuses on the governance of safety and security risks associated with advanced AI systems, working closely with engineers, product owners and policymakers to help develop durable AI governance frameworks. Before taking on his current role, Hector held various policy positions at Microsoft, both in France and at the global level. Prior to joining the company, he served as an economic counsellor at the French Treasury. He holds master’s degrees from the London School of Economics and Sciences Po Strasbourg and is a Visiting Lecturer at Sciences Po Paris.

Yu Ping Chan

Head, Digital Partnerships and Engagement

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Yu Ping Chan heads Digital Partnerships and Engagement at UNDP, the United Nations’ development agency. As part of the leadership of UNDP’s Digital, AI and Innovation Hub, Yu Ping helps drive global thought leadership and builds partnerships to support the agency’s digital development work.

Yu Ping previously headed the Rising Nations Initiative Secretariat at the Global Center for Climate Mobility. She has extensive experience with multilateral diplomacy and the United Nations system, having also previously led the Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology, as well as the Policy and Regional Support teams in the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism. Prior to this, she worked in the UN’s Department of Political Affairs, and in the New York Office of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Before joining the UN Secretariat, Yu Ping was a diplomat in the Singaporean Foreign Service. She served at the Singapore Mission to the United Nations in New York as well as at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, overseeing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Yu Ping has a Bachelor of Arts (magna cum laude) from Harvard University, and a Masters of Public Administration from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.

Michaela Lissowsky

Head of Human Rights Hub

Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom

Michaela Lissowsky is a human rights expert with a strong academic and professional background. Her international experience spans Geneva, Nuremberg and The Hague — key centers of human rights discourse — where she has gained valuable expertise at the intersection of legal and political accountability. What sets her professional path apart is her proven record in building and leading impactful human rights institutions.

She currently leads the Human Rights Hub at the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in Geneva, where she explores human rights in the context of contemporary challenges posed by the post-truth society and digital transformation. Previously, she served as Founding Director of the International Nuremberg Principles Academy, where she oversaw the establishment of the institution at the historic site of the Nuremberg Trials. During her doctoral research, she was a Visiting Researcher at the Trust Fund for Victims at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. She holds a PhD in Political Science from Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg.

Arif Husain

Chief Economist & Director of Analysis, Planning & Performance Division

United Nations World Food at WFP

Dr. Arif Husain is a distinguished thought leader and seasoned practitioner within the global humanitarian and development sphere. He joined the World Food Programme (WFP) in 2003 and has since held many senior positions both in the field and the headquarters, accumulating extensive experience in conflict and post-conflict settings. His missions have taken him to numerous countries worldwide, including Afghanistan, Angola, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Iraq, Liberia, Northeast Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, and Yemen.

Before his tenure at WFP, Dr. Husain served as a researcher at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota. Later, he transitioned to a role as an evaluator at the World Bank’s Independent Evaluation Group, which broadened his perspective on global development.

Currently, Dr. Husain’s role involves heading the Analysis, Planning & Performance division in WFP and providing strategic advice to global leaders on pressing economic issues and their impact on developing countries, guiding both humanitarian and development responses. His research interests span a wide array of topics, including the application of information technologies to enhance humanitarian and development response; understanding the intricate links between poverty, hunger, conflict, and migration; and analyzing how global economic challenges, conflicts, and climate shocks affect food security, social protection, and emergency and development assistance.

Dr. Husain holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Applied Economics with a minor in Forestry, earned from the University of Minnesota. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field, he was honored with the Distinguished Leadership Award by the University of Minnesota in 2021. Currently residing in Rome with his wife and two children, Dr. Husain remains dedicated to advancing his work in the realm of humanitarian and development economics, contributing significantly to making the world a better place.

Vivianne Manlai

Student

Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)

Vivianne Manlai is an International AI Governance Fellow with the Talos Fellowship.

As a former Governance of AI intern at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), she has helped craft a forthcoming UN Office for Disarmament Affairs’ (UNODA) handbook on responsible innovation for peace and security. She now contributes to the UNODA Youth 4 Disarmament Forum in the nexus of nuclear weapons and emerging technologies.

Vivianne’s work centres on responsible AI policy design and reducing risks to international peace and security from emerging technology.

Mary Kerema

OGW Secretary ICT, E- Government and Digital Economy

Ministry of ICT&DE, Government of Kenya

Mary Kerema, is a dynamic and results-driven ICT leader with over 27 years of experience in leveraging technology to enhance government services and drive digital transformation. She has a proven track record in managing large-scale IT projects, fostering cross-departmental collaboration, and implementing innovative solutions that has improved operational efficiency across Government.

Mary Kerema, was currently appointed as the Secretary ICT, E-Government and Digital Economy in the Ministry of IC&DE . Prior she was working as Deputy Director, E-Government in ICT Authority.

Her achievements include: Development of ICT Masterplan, Strategic Plans, ICT Policies, standards and Procedures for the National Government; Overseeing the development, deployment and maintenance of the government enterprise systems such as National education management Integrated system (NEMIS); implementing the Electronic Government Procurement System (e-GPS); spearheading implementation of the Re-engineered Pension Management System; Technology lead in the Digital Identity project in Kenya; Overseeing and guiding the Implementation of e-Citizen Platform.

She has recently been appointed as the deputy ambassador for ID4Africa for Kenya 2024.

Education: Master’s in Information Technology Management, [The University of Nairobi], and currently pursuing PHD in Information Systems

In recognition of her role as a pillar in development of ICT in Government ,outstanding and distinguished service to the nation in various capacities she was in 2020 awarded Order of Grand Warrior of Kenya (OGW) by His Excellency the President. She has also been recognized by The Global e-Schools and Communities Initiative (GESCI as an African leader in ICT.

Ricardo Mirón

Chief Technology Officer

Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA)

As Chief Technology Officer at the Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA), Ricardo Mirón drives the technical vision for DPGA Secretariat. He leads the team responsible for the DPG Registry, the DPG Standard, and the integration of new AI systems as digital public goods.

Ricardo brings a decade of experience in leveraging open source technology for public and social innovation. His prior roles include Director of Open Data for the Government of León, Mexico, and positions at Codeando México, Microsoft, and the United Nations Development Program. A long-time open–source contributor, Ricardo has also consulted for governments and NGOs on open government and open data implementations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Information Systems from the University of Guanajuato and a master’s degree in Software Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Madrid.

Carol Buttle

International Advisor to Governments on Technology and Critical National Infrastructure

Dr Carol Buttle has a background in counter terrorism and secure communications and spent many years as a cryptographer. As an expert in protecting Critical National Infrastructures globally, she advises multiple governments on protection and detection methods, currently serving as a consultant evaluator for multi-agency approaches to crisis and disaster planning. She regularly advises on strategies to protect countries and their citizens from deepfake technology and the dissemination of misinformation and disinformation being exploited through various channels and platforms. Having previously worked on the UK Government’s Verify and One Login programs and the Department for Science and Innovations Digital Identity and Attribute Trust Framework and its certification scheme, she is currently working with several countries to develop Trust Frameworks and conformity assessment schemes with particular focus on Digital Identity, the positive uses of AI, Smart Data and multimedia authenticity and content provenance.

Also through working with various global organisations and standards bodies, Carol is dedicated to the enhancement of cross border collaboration and knowledge sharing of good practice.

H.E. Mr Bob Rae

President

United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

Magan Naidoo

Chief Data Officer

United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)

Magan Naidoo is the World Food Programme’s (WFP) first-ever Chief Data Officer, leading the development and implementation of the organization’s inaugural Data and Artificial Intelligence strategies. Under his leadership, WFP is transforming data into a strategic asset to enhance decision-making, accelerate emergency response, optimize resources, and strengthen food systems worldwide.

With a background in large-scale data transformations across the private sector, Naidoo brings deep expertise in building data ecosystems that drive meaningful change. At WFP, he is laying the groundwork for responsible AI adoption in humanitarian operations, ensuring its use is ethical, scalable, and designed to drive lasting impact.

Gilbert Houngbo

Director-General

International Labour Organization (ILO)

Gilbert F. Houngbo was born in Togo in 1961 and has spent much of his life working to improve the prospects of the world’s most vulnerable people, using his extensive experience in policy issues, economic development, diplomacy and financial accountability.

Following an advanced degree in business management from the University of Lomé (Togo), Gilbert F. Houngbo obtained a degree in accounting and finance from the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (Canada). He is a member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants.

Gilbert F. Houngbo joined Price Waterhouse in Canada in 1986 and worked with them until 1993.

Between 1994 and 1996 he served as Director of Finance at the International Bank of Mali, before moving to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) where he held several posts, including as Head of Financial Reporting and Trust Fund Management, Comptroller and Director of Finance and Administration, Chief of Staff, and Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Director for Africa.

In 2008, Gilbert F. Houngbo was asked to serve as Prime Minister of Togo, a position he held until 2012.

He returned to the United Nations system in 2013 as Deputy Director-General for Field Operations and Partnerships at the International Labour Office.

In 2017 he was elected as the sixth President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and in 2021 he was re-elected to the post.

Gilbert F. Houngbo chairs the Board of the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) and is a board member of the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA).

In March 2022 Gilbert F. Houngbo was elected by the ILO’s Governing Body as the Organization’s 11th Director-General, becoming the first African to hold the position, and took up the role on 1 October 2022. He is focusing his mandate on promoting greater social justice, fighting inequalities and discrimination in the world of work and achieving better working conditions both through national action and by building more effective multilateral coordination and leadership. To bring this about, he is placing special emphasis on universal social protection, decent work in global supply chains and in the platform economy, the fight against child and forced labour, protecting the rights of migrant workers, promoting social dialogue and freedom of association, ensuring just transitions and attaining gender equality.

Gilbert F. Houngbo is married and has three children.

Amandeep Singh Gill

Under-Secretary-General and Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies, Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies

United Nations

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced on 10 June 2022 the appointment of Amandeep Singh Gill of India as his Envoy on Technology. The Secretary-General wishes to extend his appreciation and gratitude to the Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs, Ms. Maria-Francesca Spatolisano, for her dedication and commitment as Acting Envoy on Technology.

Mr. Gill is the Chief Executive Officer of the International Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence Research Collaborative (I-DAIR) project, based at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva.

A thought leader on digital technology, he brings to the position a deep knowledge of digital technologies coupled with a solid understanding of how to leverage the digital transformation responsibly and inclusively for progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.

Previously, he was the Executive Director and Co-Lead of the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Digital Cooperation (2018-2019). In addition to delivering the report of the High-Level Panel on Digital Cooperation, Mr. Gill helped secure high-impact international consensus recommendations on regulating Artificial Intelligence (Al) in lethal autonomous weapon systems in 2017 and 2018, the draft Al ethics recommendation of UNESCO in 2020, and a new international platform on digital health and Al.

Mr. Gill was India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva (2016-2018). He joined his country’s Diplomatic Service in 1992 and served in various capacities in disarmament and strategic technologies and international security affairs, with postings in Tehran and Colombo. He was also a visiting scholar at Stanford University.

Mr. Gill holds a PhD in Nuclear Learning in Multilateral Forums from King’s College, London, a Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Electrical Communications from Panjab University, Chandigarh and an Advanced Diploma in French History and Language from Geneva University. He is fluent in English, French, Hindi and Punjabi.

Sayed Ashraf

Special Assistant to the Director General

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Dino Cataldo Dell’Accio

Chief Information Officer

United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF)

Dino Dell’Accio is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF), where he spearheads digital innovation initiatives through the responsible adoption of emerging technologies.

A recognized leader in ethical tech governance, Dell’Accio has pioneered the integration of blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and biometric systems to enhance transparency, security, and operational efficiency across the Fund’s global operations.

His work establishes industry benchmarks for aligning cutting-edge tools with rigorous compliance frameworks, particularly through his leadership in achieving the ISO certification for the responsible and ethical use of AI—a first-of-its-kind accomplishment within the UN System and pension sector. As a sought-after authority, he frequently addresses global audiences at premier scientific forums, where he shares insights on practical and secure applications of blockchain, biometrics, and AI in public-sector innovation.

Aleksandra (Ola) Bilicka

Operations Officer

Help.NGO

Working as an Operations Officer with Help.NGO, Aleksandra (Ola) Bilicka, is passionate about the intersection of technology and social impact. She’s committed to transforming the humanitarian sector with cutting-edge technologies to drive more efficient and focused delivery in the field. With four years of experience, Ola has directly participated in deployments across the globe with mission profiles ranging from UAV-enabled assessment in the U.S., Brazil, and Türkiye, through training of local civil defense personnel in Mexico, to operational support and secure communications provision in Ukraine during high-level United Nations’ personnel movements. As a Now Go Build CTO Fellow, she’s looking to capture the potential of emerging technologies for social good and build a community of people sharing that purpose.

Sara Venturini

Chief of Member Services

Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Secretariat

Dr. Sara Venturini leads GEO’s global engagement strategy with its Members, advancing the use of Earth Intelligence—the integration of Earth observation, AI, and emerging technologies coupled with social and economic data—for informed decision-making on environment and sustainable development.

Based at the GEO Secretariat, hosted by the WMO in Geneva, she drives strategic collaboration with governments, regional partners, and public donors to align national priorities with GEO’s mission and maximise global impact.

With over 15 years of experience at the nexus of science, policy, and diplomacy, Sara has advised UN agencies and governments across multiple regions. She holds a PhD in Climate Change Science and Management from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.

Omnia Abbas Shawkat

Founder

Andariya

Ms. Omnia Abbas Shawkat is the founder of Andariya, with 17+ years of experience leading environmental, cultural and humanitarian projects and platforms across the East and Horn of Africa, the MENA region, and the U.S. She has established cultural, environmental and humanitarian digital strategies and platforms, integrating AI tools for content production, analysis and dissemination.

Nina Bekele

Strategic Partnerships Development Manager

Google

Ms. Nina Bekele is the Strategic Partnerships Development Manager for Social Impact at Google, where she leads collaborations with governments, international organizations, NGOs, and academic institutions to leverage Google’s cutting-edge technology for the public good. Her work focuses on some of today’s most pressing global challenges, including climate resilience, crisis response, food security, education, and digital transformation. Nina has a proven track record in negotiating complex deals and building strong relationships with a variety of stakeholders, enabling key Google products that help users in 100+ countries.

Prior to joining Google, Nina worked as a management consultant. She holds a Master’s degree in International Management from Erasmus University Rotterdam.

Grey Nearing

Research Scientist

Google

Mr. Grey Nearing is a Research Scientist at Google on the Flood Forecasting team. He holds a PhD in Hydrology from the University of Arizona and has worked on large-scale hydrological modeling teams at NASA, the National Center for Atmospheric Research, and NOAA. Before joining Google he was a professor of Earth Science at the University of California Davis and the University of Alabama.

Newton Campbell Jr.

Computer Scientist, AI Subject-Matter Expert for “Early Warning for All”

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Dr. Newton Campbell Jr. is a leading expert in applying artificial intelligence to global challenges. He currently serves as an AI Subject-Matter Expert for the UN’s ITU “Early Warning for All” program and as a Senior AI Researcher with the NASA OCIO. His research has focusedon geospatial AI for disaster alerts, urban air mobility, geomagnetics modeling, multiomicsanalysis for space radiation, AI for space exploration, virtual reality, and high-performance computing.

With 18 years of experience across the NASA (8 years) and Defense (10 years) ecosystems, Dr. Campbell has a proven track record of leading high-impact initiatives. From 2021-2024, he led programs with the Environmental Defense Fund, using OSINT and network analysis to uncover how environmental policy shifts connect to professional ecosystems—informing advocacy and regulation. As the inaugural Space Director for the Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth Consortium (2022–2024), he oversaw the development of lunar-rover, remote-operations, and climate mitigation technologies to accelerate the growth of Australia’s space industry.

In 2024, Dr. Campbell became the youngest member of the Board of Directors for The Planetary Society and co-founded the non-profit Heritage Space Food, which was awarded NASA’s Space Tech Catalyst Prize for its work integrating culture and exploration through gastrodiplomacy. He is a recognized 2020 Young Leader by both the French-American Foundation (FAF) and the Australian-American Leadership Dialogue (AALD).

Dr. Campbell is a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensics & GeoTechLab, a Technology Fellow at American University’s Washington College of Law, and an advisor at UC Boulder Law’s Silicon Flatirons, with a focus on AI ethics, sustainability, and the space sector. He is currently incubating Climate Links, a trans-Atlantic consortium using OSINT and AI to solve the “last mile” of sustainability and realizing SDG 17.

He earned his PhD in Computer Science (machine learning & applied mathematics) from Nova Southeastern University in 2016.

Olivier Alais

Program Coordinator

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Olivier Alais is a Program Coordinator at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), where he leads efforts to integrate human rights considerations into global technical standardization. A computer engineer by training, he brings over 20 years of experience at the intersection of technology, development, and human rights. He has contributed to national digital infrastructure programs, online protection initiatives for civil society, and social protection systems across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Olivier was previously a Fellow at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University and is currently a Technology and Human Rights Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Carr Center for the 2025–2026 academic year.

Birgit Kainz-Labbe

Coordinator, Civic Space Unit

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

Birgit Kainz-Labbé is Coordinator of the Civic Space Unit at the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Based in Geneva, she leads global strategies to expand civic space and protect those who defend human rights, with a particular focus on digital threats and transnational repression. Her work spans policy, advocacy, and cross-sector collaboration to safeguard freedom of expression, assembly, and association. Birgit regularly engages in high-level dialogues on defending civic freedoms in the digital age and emphasizes the importance of systemic support for human rights defenders.

Marlena Wisniak

Senior Legal Manager, AI & Human Rights

European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL)

Marlena Wisniak is a lawyer, researcher and activist working at the intersection of human rights, technology, and corporate accountability. She is Senior Legal Manager for AI & Human Rights at the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL), where she focuses on the governance of social media, digital platforms, and algorithmic systems. Marlena previously led the civil society portfolio at the Partnership on AI and held roles at the Danish Institute for Human Rights, Oxfam America, and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Her work incorporates feminist, anti-racist, and decolonial perspectives into rights-based technology governance.

John Omo

Secretary-General

African Telecommunications Union (ATU)

Mr. John OMO is the Secretary-General of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU), the African Union’s specialized agency for telecommunications and ICTs’ development in Africa. He has held the position since January 2019 and was re-elected for a second 4-year term at the ATU Conference of Plenipotentiaries held in Algiers, Algeria in July 2022. He leads the continental body entrusted with building consensus within African countries in the development of ICT policies, systems and services, and also in coordinating African participation in international ICT fora.

Mr. Omo has 33 years of experience as a lawyer and has contributed immensely to the development of local and international policies, legislation, agreements, and treaties in all areas of public service life but mainly in the area of ICTs.

Prior to his election as the Secretary General of the Union, he worked with the Communications Authority of Kenya, Kenya’s ICT regulator, where he provided leadership over the Authority’s legal matters and strategies. Before that, he worked in the public/civil service. Before his stint with the Kenyan ICT regulator, Mr Omo worked at the Attorney-General’s Chambers, rising to the position of Senior State Counsel.

He holds a Master of Law degree in International and Commercial law from the University of Sheffield – UK, a Bachelor of Law from the University of Nairobi – Kenya, and a Diploma in Human Rights Law from the UN Human Rights Centre, Geneva, and ILO Centre Turin among other professional courses.

Mr. Omo was awarded the Global Merit Leader Awards 2022 by Telecom Review during Telecom Review Leaders’ Summit in Dubai, UAE.

Guigo Gerber

Filmmaker

Guigo Gerber is an independent filmmaker, journalist and documentary filmmaker. He has worked for over a decade as an audiovisual producer, focusing on documentary journalism and visual narratives that address social, cultural and human issues.

Director of the AI short film “Roots of the End”, which shows the devastating effects of mining and deforestation in the territories of indigenous peoples.

With works ranging from The Next Minute, an award-winning documentary that portrays the conflict between Israel and Hamas, to AI short films such as the award-winning “El Sueño de Yoel” and Chun-Jie – Chinese New Year.

Duan Dongsheng

CEO

Hangzhou Jianmo Technology Co., Ltd.

CEO of Hangzhou Jianmo Technology Co., Ltd., holds a Master’s degree from the Department of Precision Instruments at Beihang University, with a primary research focus on intelligent hardware.

Abdukodir Khakimov

Chief IT Architect

RUDN University IONAT Tajikistan

Dr. Abdukodir Khakimov, is a Senior Researcher and telecom engineering specialist with over eight years of experience in designing, deploying, and securing advanced communication systems. His work spans mobile networks, edge/cloud platforms, and intelligent orchestration, enabling next-generation technologies such as AI-driven automation, IoT, and autonomous systems. He has led R\&D efforts in 5G/6G systems, sub-terahertz radio technologies, and edge-native computing, with practical deployments in industrial environments demanding high security and resilience. His expertise includes SDN/NFV, MEC integration, and containerized services tailored for mission-critical operations.

Dr. Khakimov’s current research focuses on adaptive models for traffic control and application migration in distributed networks. By combining deep systems knowledge with an applied research mindset, he contributes to the design of future-ready network architectures that are intelligent, scalable, and responsive to real-time demands. In addition to his research, he serves as Chief IT Architect at IONAT Tajikistan, where he leads the development and implementation of the company’s enterprise IT strategy and architecture.

Nancy Pignataro

Associate External Relations Officer, External Relations Division

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

Nancy Pignataro is an Associate External Relations Officer in the External Relations Division at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) where she coordinates WIPO engagement with UN and other intergovernmental organizations in Geneva on trade and health matters, such as the ITU WHO WIPO Global Initiative on AI for Health. She is a graduate of SOAS University of London and has worked in national and multilateral intellectual property policy since 2009 including co-authoring the 2nd edition of the WHO WIPO WTO Trilateral Study on Access to Medical Technologies and Innovation. Before joining WIPO, Nancy was IP attaché at the UK Mission to the UN in Geneva. Nancy is admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW Australia.

Hassan Nasser

Special Envoy for Multilateral Affairs

Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO)

Hassan Nasser currently serves as the Special Envoy for Multilateral Affairs at the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), appointed by the Secretary-General on 01 January 2025. In this role, he leads high-level strategic engagement with international organisations, multilateral institutions, and global governance bodies to advance DCO’s vision of accelerating digital prosperity for all. His work focuses on strengthening institutional partnerships, enhancing dialogue with the United Nations, regional organisations, multilateral development banks, and advocating for an inclusive and sustainable digital future.

Previously, Hassan was Chief of the Cabinet at DCO, where he played a pivotal role in shaping institutional relations between the General Secretariat, Member States, and Strategic Partners. He also led global policy dialogues on digital transformation and multilateral cooperation, reinforcing DCO’s position in international digital governance.

Before joining DCO in 2022, Hassan held senior leadership roles in government and corporate affairs across multiple sectors, including healthcare, technology, and infrastructure. He led high-level public-private dialogues, policy advocacy, and strategic partnerships at companies such as GlaxoSmithKline, Caterpillar, and Apple, working extensively across Africa, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, CIS, and Latin America. His work focused on shaping regulatory frameworks, driving market access strategies, and fostering sustainable development initiatives in collaboration with governments, multilateral institutions, and private sector leaders.

Hassan began his career at the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he was deeply involved in multilateral negotiations at the UN and EU levels, including the Kimberley Process for conflict diamonds, and diplomatic relations with Eastern and Central European countries.
In addition to his professional career, Hassan has been actively engaged in academic and teaching activities in Belgium. He has lectured and conducted training sessions and conferences at the Belgian Technical Cooperation (CTB) and Haute École Francisco Ferrer, while also collaborating with several other academic institutions in Belgium. His contributions have focused on international affairs and multicultural management, further reinforcing his commitment to knowledge-sharing and capacity building.

Hassan holds a degree in Oriental Studies and International Politics, as well as an MBA in International Management. A Belgian national, he is based in Riyadh and is a father of three.

Contact details: hnasser@dco.org +966(0)550146679

Fermín Selva

Program Coordinator and CTO

CRIES

Fermín Selva is an impactful Program Coordinator and CTO at CRIES, a prominent civil society organization in Latin America and the Caribbean dedicated to human rights, security, and combating disinformation. He is the architect behind CRIES’s strategic integration of new technologies, including AI and OSINT, driving projects that enhance operational efficiency and impact. Fermín’s leadership extends to team coordination and long-term technological foresight, constantly seeking innovative avenues to empower the organization.

Complementing his tech leadership, Fermín brings over a decade of experience in public affairs and communications from the private sector, serving clients in energy, pharma, and mining. This rich background uniquely positions him to identify and cultivate synergistic partnerships between the private sector and civil society, aiming for profound positive societal impact. He also acts as the Latin America & Caribbean liaison for GPPAC (Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict). Seek out Fermín to discuss next-generation tech solutions for social challenges, AI ethics in practice, and innovative cross-sector collaborations.

Cameron Berg

Research Scientist, Strategic Advisor

AE Studio

Cameron Berg is an AI researcher working at the intersection of cognitive science and machine intelligence. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Yale and former Meta AI Resident, he builds systems that enhance—rather than replace—human capabilities. His work focuses on alignment, cognitive science, and the emerging science of AI consciousness, with tools and research used across Fortune 500s, startups, and public institutions.

At AE Studio, Cameron leads technical and strategic initiatives advancing frontier alignment research, including peer-reviewed work that has shaped discussions at the White House and within top labs. He’s presented at international conferences, published in academic journals, and works across enterprise, education, and policy to push the boundaries of safe and collaborative AI.

Marcus Shingles

Co-Founder and CEO

Exponential Destiny

Marcus’ 30-year career includes the role of CEO of the XPRIZE Foundation, a leading non-profit that leverages prize-based incentive competitions to crowd-source and spark breakthrough technology innovations to help solve humanities grandest challenges. Marcus also has an extensive career as a Partner (Executive) in leading global Management Consulting Firms, specifically at Deloitte Consulting and Bain Consulting, where he helped lead the innovation and digital transformation practices, advising and working with heads of state governments and leading global corporate executive teams. Currently Marcus is the founder and CEO of an Educational non-profit organization – ExponentialDestiny.org – that specializes in entrepreneurial training and mentorship of youth in low-income communities, to help upskill them for new-economy careers. In addition, Marcus and his team (former youth Mentees) at Exponential Destiny specialize in working with public schools and after-school-programs around the world to introduce and define new educational pedagogies that leverage powerful new innovative capabilities – AI, virtual/augmented reality – to dramatically improve education and learning in underserved/budgeted communities. Marcus is a World Economic Forum advisor on the “4^th Industrial Revolution”, and has published many research papers and articles on the business and society implications as a result of exponentially emerging disruptive technologies. Marcus is based between Los Angeles, California and Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Jonas Schuett

Senior Research Fellow

GovAI

Brian Tse

CEO

Concordia AI

Brian Tse is the Founder and CEO of Concordia AI, a social enterprise advancing AI safety and governance with offices in Beijing and Singapore. He serves as an AI Governance Advisor to the World AI Conference and China’s AI Industry Alliance Safety Governance Committee. Previously, he was a member of the UN High-Level AI Advisory Body’s consultative network. Brian is also a Policy Affiliate at the Centre for the Governance of AI and former Senior Advisor to the Partnership on AI.

Jacek Siadkowski

Co-Founder and CEO

Tech To The Rescue (TTTR)

Jacek Siadkowski is the Co-Founder and CEO of Tech To The Rescue (TTTR), a nonprofit foundation and a global movement connecting technology companies ready to work pro-bono with nonprofits to solve critical social challenges. With over 8 years of experience as a social entrepreneur, Jacek has led efforts to bridge the tech and social impact sectors. Under his leadership, TTTR has grown into a network of over 1,500 tech companies offering pro bono support and 2,000 nonprofits with impactful projects, delivering innovative solutions for poverty, healthcare, education, and climate action across 100+ countries. Named one of Forbes’ 30 young Poles changing the world, Jacek is also an Ashoka Fellow and LinkedIn Top Voice, recognized for inspiring global audiences.

Kevin Mills

Head of Education and Government GTM

OpenAI

Kevin Mills leads global Education and Government partnerships at OpenAI, working with universities, school systems, and public institutions to responsibly deploy AI in support of teaching, learning, and workforce transformation. A recognized leader in education technology, Kevin previously held senior executive roles at Coursera and Udacity, where he helped expand access to high-quality learning across higher education and the public sector. He holds a JD/MBA from Stanford University and began his career at the intersection of public policy, law, and education. Kevin speaks frequently on the future of education, AI adoption, and the evolving role of public institutions in a digital age.

Luisa Olaya Hernández

Advisor on AI & Diversity

FAIR Forward / GIZ

Luisa Olaya Hernández is an Advisor on Artificial Intelligence and Diversity within Fair Forward – Artificial Intelligence for All, a flagship initiative of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). In this role, she champions inclusive AI practices, advocating for equitable representation and capacity development across AI ecosystems.

Her prior experience includes working as a consultant for the Ministry of Information Communication Technologies of Colombia and the Economic Development Office of Bogota. Driven by a commitment to breaking down barriers for women and minoritised communities, she combines personal experience with global best practices in capacity building in the field of AI.

Barclay Blair

Senior Managing Director, AI Innovation Lead

DLA Piper

As Sr. Managing Director of DLA Piper’s AI Innovation Team, Barclay advises both the firm and its clients on the applications of artificial intelligence while driving the innovative use of emerging technologies. Barclay is a trusted advisor to Fortune 500 companies, software and hardware vendors, and government institutions, and is an author, speaker, and internationally recognized authority on the broad range of issues that emerge at the intersection of law, technology, and business. Barclay is an award-winning author.

Barclay has led several high-profile consulting engagements at the world’s leading institutions to help them globally transform the way they manage information. He is the founder and president of ViaLumina LLC and the founder and executive director of the Information Governance Initiative.

Barclay is the award-winning author of the books Information Nation: Seven Keys to Information Management Compliance, Information Nation Warrior, and Privacy Nation; and has contributed to and edited dozens of additional books and publications including: eDiscovery for Corporate Counsel, Safeguarding Critical E-Documents, Email Rules, Secure Electronic Commerce, and Professional XML.

Barclay speaks internationally and has instructed at George Washington University. He has presented to industry groups such as the American Bar Association, the American Council of Life Insurers, Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, Options Clearing Corporation, the BNA Litigation Forum, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), ARMA International, AIIM International, the Society of Quality Assurance, the MER Conference, and many others.

Barclay led a best practices project for the Financial Services Roundtable, led an international standards group on cloud computing, and is frequently interviewed by media outlets on issues relevant to his expertise. In 2013, Barclay was granted an Extraordinary Ability EB-1 green card (the so-called “Einstein Visa”) by the U.S. federal government.

Barclay’s notable recent work includes working with enterprises to design custom AI solutions, with a particular focus on creatively utilizing prompt engineering and retrieval-augmented generation to increase the usefulness and veracity of LLM outputs. Barclay has also spoken about responsible use of AI models and enhancement techniques (e.g. prompt engineering) to ensure alignment with organizations’ goals and values.

Julie Lane

Sr. Director, Social Impact and Inclusion Office

CISCO

Julie Lane is the Senior Director of Cisco’s Social Impact and Inclusion Office (SIIO), where she
oversees the formalization and execution of the company’s community enablement vision. With
a focus on delivering meaningful and scalable outcomes, Julie expertly directs SIIO operations to
address the evolving needs of communities worldwide. Her portfolio includes a range of
foundational programs across the office’s key pillars, reflecting her deep expertise in operational
excellence, social impact leadership, and global team management. Julie’s distinguished career
spans over two decades, during which she has consistently driven operational success,
organizational transformation, and customer satisfaction.

Janet Mhandu

LAW Student

Embracing the Future: A Personal Reflection on AI

As I explore the vast potential of artificial intelligence, I am struck by its transformative power to reshape industries, improve lives, and unlock new possibilities. AI’s capacity to analyze vast amounts of data, learn from patterns, and make predictions has the potential to revolutionize decision-making, automate tasks, and enhance human capabilities.

Augmenting Human Potential

AI’s ability to augment human potential excites me. By automating routine tasks, AI can free humans to focus on creative problem-solving, critical thinking, and innovation. This collaboration between humans and AI can lead to breakthroughs in various fields, from medicine and education to finance and transportation.

Empowering Decision-Making

AI’s data-driven insights can empower decision-makers to make informed choices, reducing the risk of bias and error. By leveraging AI’s analytical capabilities, organizations can identify trends, anticipate challenges, and capitalize on opportunities.

Addressing Concerns

While AI’s potential is vast, I also acknowledge concerns surrounding job displacement, data privacy, and accountability. To mitigate these risks, it’s essential to:

1. Upskill and reskill: Invest in education and training programs that prepare workers for an AI-driven economy.

2. Implement robust data governance: Ensure transparent data collection, storage, and usage practices.

3. Develop AI responsibly: Prioritize transparency, explainability, and accountability in AI development and deployment.

A Future of Possibilities

As AI continues to evolve, I am optimistic about its potential to:

1. Improve healthcare: AI can help diagnose diseases earlier, personalize treatment plans, and streamline clinical workflows.

2. Enhance education: AI-powered adaptive learning systems can tailor education to individual needs, abilities, and learning styles.

3. Drive innovation: AI can facilitate breakthroughs in various fields, from renewable energy to space exploration.

By embracing AI’s potential while addressing its challenges, we can unlock a future of possibilities, where humans and AI collaborate to create a better world for all.

Rebeca Moreno Jiménez

Lead Data Scientist

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Rebeca MORENO JIMENEZ is currently Lead Data Scientist at the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) Innovation Service. Over the last ten years, she has supported UNHCR field operations across Asia, MENA, Africa, Latin America, and Europe, focusing on the use of data science and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to enhance protection and decision-making. Her career spans the humanitarian–development–peace nexus. In addition to her work at UNHCR, she has previously contributed to the humanitarian sector by conducting research for the World Food Programme on funding shortfall affecting Syrian refugees in Jordan. In development, she spent five years at the World Bank’s Mexico office, focusing on access to information, open data communications, and data protection policy. In peacebuilding, she supported ICT and early warning systems for conflict prevention with GAPS Uganda. She holds a B.A. in International Relations and an MPP from ITESM Campus Monterrey, a certificate in Foreign Policy from American University, and an Executive Education diploma from the Harvard Kennedy School. She is also a Fulbright scholar and holds an MPA from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, with a focus on innovation management, technology policy, and humanitarian affairs.

Janet Hernandez

President

TMG

H.E. Mr. Ettore Balestrero

Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva

Permanent Mission of the Holy See to the UN

H.E. Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, Apostolic Nuncio, is the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and other Specialized Institutions in Geneva and to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Prior to his appointment to Geneva, Archbishop Balestrero had been serving as Apostolic Nuncio to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2019-2023), after serving as Head of Mission of the Holy See at the Apostolic Nunciature there from July 2018 to April 2019. He held the position of Apostolic Nuncio to Colombia from February 2013 to July 2018. He served as Under-Secretary for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See from August 2009 to February 2013.

Archbishop Balestrero has also held various other positions in the diplomatic service of the Holy See, including in the Section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See (2001-2009), and in the Pontifical Representations in the Netherlands (1998-2001) and in the Republic of Korea and Mongolia (1996-1998).

Born in Genoa, Italy, on 21 December 1966, he was ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Rome on 18 September 1993. He possesses a Licentiate Degree in Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law.

H.E. Ms. Hasmik Tolmajian

Ambassador

Permanent Mission of Armenia to the UNOG and other international organizations

Education

1997 – 1999 Paris Institute of Political Sciences

1996 – 1997 Panthéon-Assas University, Paris

1991 – 1996 Yerevan State University, Department of International Relations, Faculty of History

Working experience

Since October 25, 2024- Permanent Representative of the Republic of Armenia to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva

2020 -2024 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the Principality of Monaco

2018 -2024 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the French Republic

2014 – 2018 Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Minister of the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Swiss Confederation, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Armenia to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva

2008 – 2014 Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia

2004 – 2008 Second, then First Secretary, European Department, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia

2000 – 2004 Attaché, then Third Secretary, Embassy of the Republic of Armenia to the French Republic

1995 – 1996, Referent, then Attaché, CIS Department Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia

Awards

2014 – Medal of Honor, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia

2016 – French National Order of Merit

2023 – City of Paris Grand Vermeil Medal

2024 – Medal of the National Defense of the French Republic

Diplomatic Rank

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

Knowledge of foreign languages

Armenian, French, Russian, English

H.E. Mr. Ib Petersen

Ambassador, Permanent Representative

Permanent Mission of Denmark to the UN

Ib Petersen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations in Geneva.

Mr. Petersen has from September 2020 to October 2023 served as Assistant Secretary General, Deputy.

Executive Director (Management) in UNFPA. He came to UNFPA from a position as Director for the
Department of Migration, Conflict and Stabilization of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Petersen has over 30 years of experience within the spheres of bilateral and multilateral affairs and development.

He served as the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations in New York from 2013-2019, during which period he held several important duties. Most notably, Mr. Petersen has served on the Executive Boards of the United Nations Development Programmes, including as President of the Executive Board of UN Women in 2015 and as President of the Joint UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Board in 2017. Mr. Petersen was in 2019 Denmark’s Special Envoy for ICPD25 and the Nairobi Summit as well as Special Envoy for Conflict and Fragility.

Mr. Petersen started his long-serving career with the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1985.
Throughout his service, he notably held the positions of State Secretary (Middle East, Africa, Asia, Latin America and the United Nations) from 2007-2009 and State Secretary for Development Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2009-2013. Mr. Petersen served as Under Secretary for Bilateral Cooperation from 2004-2007, and before that as Director, Department for Development Policy from 2001- 2004. During this time, Mr. Petersen led the development of new strategies for Danish development cooperation, strengthened results-based management and successfully implemented development campaigns and initiatives to support economic growth in Africa, as well as promotion of human rights, in particular women’s rights and empowerment.

Mr. Petersen holds a Master’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Aarhus. He is Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog.

Mr. Petersen is married and has two sons.

H.E. Mr. Geraldo Saranga

Ambassador

Permanent Mission of Mozambique

I. PERSONAL DETAILS
§ Name: Geraldo Gonçalves Miguel Saranga
§ Nationality: Mozambican
§ Date of Birth: 23rd March, 1965
§ Place of Birth: Inhambane/Mozambique
§ Civil Status: Married.

II. ACADEMIC BACKGROUND
§ Post-Graduation in External and Economic Policy of Brazil by the University of Brazil (UnB), in November 2013.
§ Master’s Degree in Diplomatic Studies by the Diplomatic Academy of London of Westminster University, London, in 2002.
§ Degree in Law by the Eduardo Mondlane University, in Maputo.
§ Certificate in Translation/Interpretation English –Portuguese and vice-versa by the Polytechnic of Central London, Westminster University, in 1987.

III. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
§ Civil Servant since 1986.
§ Appointed Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Mozambique to the United Nations Office in Geneva and other International Organizations, in May 2024.
§ Appointed Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary of Mozambique to the Swiss Confederation, in July 2024.
§ Minister-Plenipotentiary in the Diplomatic Carrier.
§ Director of Legal and Consular Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation (MINEC), from April, 2019 to March, 2024
§ Spokesperson of the MINEC from 2019 to 2021.
§ Focal Point for IDAI&KENNETH Emergency at MINEC.
§ Consul-General of Mozambique, in Lisbon, from 2014 to 2018.
§ Secretary-General of the Constitutional Council of Mozambique from 2005 to 2011.
§ University Lecturer of International Public Law and Political Science and Constitutional Law at the Higher Institute for Science and Technology of Mozambique (ISCTEM), at Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM), at São Tomás University of Mozambique (USTM) and at the Diplomatic Academy of Joaquim Chissano University (ED/UJC) from 2005 to September 2011 and from 2018 to May, 2024, respectively.
§ Chief of Staff (Head of the Minister’s Office) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation from February to September 2005.
§ Deputy-Director for Legal and Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, from February 2002 to September 2005.
§ Freelance Portuguese-English-Portuguese Translator and Conference Interpreter since 1987.

IV. LANGUAGES
ü Fluent in Portuguese and English (written and spoken)
ü Reasonable understanding of Spanish, French and Arabic.

H.E. Ms. Elisa Nkerabirori

Permanent Representative

Permanent Representative of Burundi to the United Nations Office at Geneva

Ambassadeur Elisa Nkerabirori est Représentant Permanent du Burundi auprès de l’Office des Nations Unies et des autres Organisations Internationales à Genève depuis juin 2023. Mme Nkerabirori est également, depuis avril 2023, Ambassadeur Extraordinaire et Plénipotentiaire du Burundi en Suisse.
Avant cette nomination, Mme Nkerabirori était, depuis 2021, Ambassadeur du Burundi au Royaume Uni. Elle avait auparavant rempli, depuis 2020, les fonctions d’Assistant du Ministre de la solidarité nationale, des affaires sociales, des droits de la personne et du genre, un rôle qu’elle avait déjà assumé à partir de 2014 auprès du Ministre des droits de la personne humaine, des affaires sociales et du genre.
De 2006 année de son entrée dans la diplomatie de son pays 2013, Mme Nkerabirori a été affectée à Bruxelles puis à Genève en qualité de Conseiller-Attaché aux affaires juridiques.
Diplômée d’une licence en droit de l’Université du Burundi, inscrite au barreau de Bujumbura en 1998, Mme Nkerabirori a été la première femme de son pays à ouvrir son propre cabinet d’avocat-conseil.
Ambassadeur Nkerabirori, née le 17 août 1969 à Bujumbura, est mère d’un enfant.

H.E. Mr. Peter MacDougall

Ambassador

Permanent Mission of Canada

Mr. Peter MacDougall took up the role of Ambassador to the United Nations and the Conference on Disarmament on 26 August 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Prior to his nomination, Ambassador MacDougall was the Assistant Deputy Minister for Global Issues and Development at Global Affairs Canada. He was also previously Assistant Deputy Minister for Europe and the Middle East.

Ambassador MacDougall joined the public service in 2000. He served in the Privy Council Office (Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet) as the Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet for Foreign and Defence Policy and Director of Operations in the Foreign and Defence Policy Secretariat from 2011 to 2016. He was previously a senior executive on refugee and migration issues in the department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

From 2016 to 2019, Ambassador MacDougall was the Ambassador of Canada to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Ambassador MacDougall is a graduate of the University of British Columbia, the University of Victoria, McGill University, the Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University, and the École Nationale d’Administration (Strasbourg).

H.E. Mr. Randolph De Battista

Ambassador and Permanent Representative

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Malta

Ambassador Randolph De Battista has been serving as the Permanent Representative of Malta to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva since January 2025.

Born in May 1987, he has deep experience in multilateral and European institutions, government, and public administration. He was a Member of Parliament in Malta from 2022 until his posting in Geneva in January 2025.

During this time he served in the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly and headed Malta’s delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

Between 2014 and 2017, Ambassador De Battista served as Chef de Cabinet at the Permanent Representation of Malta to the European Union in Brussels, where he was part of the team responsible for the organizational preparations for Malta’s first Presidency of the Council of the EU.

In 2017, he worked at the European Commission in Brussels as part of Michel Barnier’s cabinet at Task Force 50, which led the negotiations for the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU.

Earlier in his career, in 2013, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for EU Affairs. He also served two terms as CEO of Partit Laburista, from 2017 to 2020 and again from 2022 to 2024.

Ambassador De Battista holds a Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Malta. He resides in Geneva with his partner, Cyrus.

H.E. Mr. Luis Chuquihuara Chil

Embajador

Representación Permanente del Perú

Postgrados en Gestión Pública en el Instituto Internacional de Administración Pública IIAP de Francia y en Ciencia Política en el Instituto de Estudios Políticos IEP (Sciences Po) de Paris. Licenciado en Relaciones Internacionales por la Academia Diplomática del Perú con formación jurídica en la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú.

En el exterior, Representante Permanente del Perú ante la ONU y otros Organismos Internacionales con sede en Ginebra, Representante Permanente del Perú ante la Organización de Estados Americanos OEA y ante la Unión Europea UE. Embajador del Perú en Bélgica, Luxemburgo, El Salvador, Belice, Suiza y Liechtenstein. Cónsul General del Perú en Londres y Chicago. Representante residente del Perú ante el “World Economic Forum” WEF (Foro de Davos) y el Sistema de Integración Centroamericana SICA.

H.E. Mr. Vladimir Cuc

Permanent Representative

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Moldova to the United Nations Office at Geneva

Vladimir Cuc is an experienced Moldovan diplomat currently serving as the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Moldova to Geneva. Prior to this role, he was State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration from August 2021, where he played a key role in advancing Moldova’s European agenda.

Mr. Cuc has held various leadership roles within the Ministry, including Director of the European Integration Directorate (2020–2021) and Head of the OSCE and International Security Division (2010–2015). Earlier, he served as First Secretary in the International Security General Directorate (2004–2007). In these positions, he contributed to the Transnistrian conflict resolution process and worked to deepen Moldova’s bilateral relations and European integration.

His diplomatic service abroad includes postings as Minister-Counselor at Moldova’s Mission to the European Union in Brussels (2015–2018) and as Second Secretary, First Secretary, and Counselor at the Permanent Delegation to the OSCE in Vienna (2007–2010), where he also served as Charge d’Affaires from 2009 to 2010.

Throughout his career, Mr. Cuc has demonstrated a strong commitment to multilateral diplomacy, international security and Moldova’s integration with the European Union.

H.E. Prof. Muhammadou M. O. Kah

Ambassador and Permanent Representative

Permanent Mission of the Republic of The Gambia to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva

His Excellency Amb. Prof. Muhammadou M.O. Kah is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of The Republic of the Gambia to the Swiss confederation & Permanent Representative to the UN Offices at Geneva (UNOG) World Trade Organization (WTO), and other international Organizations at Switzerland.

Ambassador Professor Muhammadou M.O. Kah is a distinguished diplomat, academic, and technology policy leader with a rich career spanning international diplomacy, higher education, and global governance. He currently serves as Chairman of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) and Vice Chair of its Working Group on Data Governance. He also chairs the WIPO High-Level Conversations on IP and Frontier Technologies/AI and is a founding board member of Health AI.

Amb. Prof. Kah has held several key leadership roles in Geneva-based international organizations. These include Chairman of the Africa Group of Ambassadors (2021), Vice President (Africa) of the UN Human Rights Council (2022–2023), Vice Chair of the 34th ICRC International Conference, and Advisory Board Member of the UNCTAD Trade and Development Bureau (2021–2023). He also served as Friend of the Chair and Vice Chair of the WIPO General Assembly.
In academia, he was Vice Chancellor of the University of The Gambia, Vice President and Provost at the American University of Nigeria, and Vice Rector for Technology and Innovation at ADA University, Azerbaijan. He has taught at institutions including Howard, Rutgers, and George Washington University.

Prof. Kah is the founding Chairman of Zenith Bank Gambia, a member of the Malabo Montpellier Panel, and serves on the boards of AATF and effective RAI. He holds a Ph.D., MSc, and BSc from Stevens Institute of Technology, an MSc in Finance from George Washington University, and a postgraduate diploma from Oxford University. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science by the University of The Gambia.

H.E. Mr. Dara In

Ambassador/Permanent Representative

Permanent Mission of Kingdom of Cambodia to the UN Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva

Dara In is a Permanent Representative of Cambodia to the United Nations Office at Geneva. Prior to his appointment to Geneva, Mr. In held several roles at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, most recently as the Deputy Director-General, within the General Department of Legal, Consular and Boundary Affairs, since 2017. From 2016 to 2017, he held the position of Assistant to the Ministry, with the rank of Deputy Director-General.

Between 2008 – 2013, Mr. In worked as the Deputy Director of the Department of Legal and Consular Affairs. He held several other positions in the Asia I and II Departments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation from 2002, when he joined Cambodia’s diplomatic service.

Mr. In had been a visiting professor of Law at the Royal School of Administration in Cambodia, where he taught Law of the Sea and International Humanitarian Law, from 2018 until now. He also previously taught as a visiting professor at the Royal University of Law and Economics in Cambodia in 2011, and at the Pannasastra University of Cambodia between 2008 – 2013.

A member of the Cambodian Bar Association, Mr. In holds a Research Doctorate in Law from University College London, as well as a Master of Laws in International Law from the University of Aberdeen, and a Master of Laws from Nagoya University in Japan. He obtained a Bachelor of Laws from the Royal University of Law and Economics in Cambodia.

H.E. Mr. Noel White

Permanent Representative

Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations and Other International Organisations in Geneva

Noel White is the Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations and Other International Organisations in Geneva. He took up duty in December 2022. Previously, Ambassador White served as Ireland’s Ambassador to the EU Political and Security Committee; as Director for International Security Policy; as Ambassador to Australia, (with accreditation to New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands); and, as Director/Spokesperson at the Press Office. Mr White also worked at the EU General Secretariat of the Council. Other posts include Director of Development Cooperation and Director of Institutional Affairs at Ireland’s Permanent Representation to the EU. Mr White graduated in law from Trinity College Dublin, and subsequently studied at King’s Inns where he qualified as Barrister-at-Law.

H.E. Ms. Claudia Fuentes Julio

Ambassador, Permanent Representative

Permanent Representative of Chile to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Chile to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva. Ambassador Fuentes Julio has been Chair of the Governing Body of the International Labor Organization (ILO) from June 2022 to June 2023. Since July 2023, she is Chair of the Global Partnership against Child Labour, Forced Labour, Human Trafficking, and Modern Slavery known as Alliance 8.7. In January 2025, Ambassador Fuentes Julio was elected as Vice-President of the Latin American and Caribbean Group for the 19th cycle of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Her professional experience focuses on the promotion and protection of human rights and human security. As an academic, she has written extensively on foreign policy, human rights, the responsibility to protect, gender and diplomacy, and conflict resolution. She has taught at the Department of Peace Studies at Chapman University in California, USA, the International Relations Institute (IRI) at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Brazil, and the Department of Government at Alberto Hurtado University in Chile. Before she was an associate researcher at the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO-Chile).

On the multilateral front, Ambassador Fuentes Julio has collaborated closely with several United Nations entities on various projects. These covered a wide spectrum, ranging from projects on conflict prevention and recovery, gender, and disarmament in Latin America, to developing strategies on human security and multilateral institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean. She also worked as an election monitor for the Organization of American States.

Ms. Fuentes Julio has a Ph.D. in International Studies from the University of Denver in the United States. She also has a MA in International Relations from the University of Kent in the United Kingdom and a BA in journalism from the University of Santiago de Chile.

H.E. Dr. Fancy Too

Ambassador/ Permanent Representative of Kenya to the UN in Geneva

Permanent Mission of Kenya to the UN in Geneva

Dr. Fancy Too is a seasoned lawyer (LLB, LLM & PhD) and an advocate of the High Court of Kenya with extensive experience in both the private and public sectors in Kenya. She was awarded a distinguished Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (M.B.S.), a Presidential and prestigious award conferred in recognition of exceptional and valuable contributions in the year 2023.

Dr. Too possesses strong administrative and organizational skills, along with proficiency in technical aspects of the legal field. Prior her ambassadorial appointment, she served in several senior positions, including Dean, at the School of Law, Kabarak University, Director of Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Chairperson of NECC (National Environment Complaints Committee) and a Director of Postgraduate Programs at Strathmore University.

H.E. Ms. Mpho Michelle Mogobe

Deputy Ambassador and Charge D'affaires

Permanent Representative, Botswana

Iván Ogando Lora

Ambassadeur

Mission de la Republique Dominicaine

Iván Emilio de Jesús Ogando Lora, the new Permanent Representative ofthe Dominican Republic to the United Nations Office at Geneva, today presented his credentials to Tatiana Valovaya, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva.

Prior to his appointment to Geneva,Mr. Ogando Lora had been serving as Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Belgium and to Luxembourg, as well as the Head of the Mission of the Dominican Republic to the European Union since 2020. He was an Advisor for trade and general cooperation issues at the Vice Ministry of Negotiations and International Cooperation of the Dominican Republic from 2017 to 2020, and Director of the Caribbean Directorate in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic from 2015 to 2017.

Mr. Ogando Lora served as the first Director General of the Caribbean Forum of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States from 2011 to 2013, where he also held various positions from 1995 to 1999. He served in other high-level positions in regional and international organizations, including as General Manager of the Foreign Trade Management Strengthening Project financed by the Inter-American Development Bank from 2007 to 2010, and Executive Director of the Administrative Secretariat of the Free Trade Area of the Americas from 2000 to 2005, among others.

He was appointed to open the Dominican Republic’s first permanent diplomatic mission in Trinidad and Tobago as Minister Counselor Ad-Hoc in 1999.

Mr. Ogando Lora also has extensive academic experience. He was a professor in graduate programmes at three universities in the Dominican Republic, and from 2014 to 2021, he served as Director of the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences, Dominican Republic Programme. He is the author of multiple publications on issues of international trade and regional cooperation in the Caribbean and Europe.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and social sciences from the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, a master’s degree in economic policy, majoring in international relations from Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, and has undertaken postgraduate studies in development cooperation and management of development projects. He is married with one son and two stepsons.

Christian Guillermet Fernández

Ambassador

Permanent Mission of Costa Rica

He has been a career diplomat in the Costa Rican foreign service since 1998 and, from April 2020 to June 2023, was appointed as Viceminister of Multilateral Affairs.

He has studies in Law and International Relations with extensive experience in multilateral affairs, human rights, peace and security, International Humanitarian Law, International Law, humanitarian disarmament, and he is a great connoisseur of multilateral dynamics and particularly the United Nations.

During his experience in the Foreign Service and in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship, he worked as:

Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative at the Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the United Nations in New York (2019-2020).

Director General of Foreign Policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica (2016-2018)

Deputy Director General of Foreign Policy (2015-2016).

Deputy Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations in Geneva (2010-2015).

Deputy Permanent Representative and Political Coordinator during Costa Rica’s membership in the Security Council at the Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the United Nations in New York (2008-2009).

Director General of Foreign Policy after working with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva and in Santiago, Chile as Regional Representative a.i. of the High Commissioner (2006-2008).

H.E. Ms. Dato’ Nadzirah Osman

Ambassador

Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva

Dato’ Nadzirah Osman, was appointed as Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the United Nations Office at Geneva on 31 October 2023.

Prior to her appointment to Geneva, Ms. Osman had been serving as Ambassador of Malaysia to the Netherlands and Permanent Representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons since September 2021. She was Ambassador of Malaysia to the Czech Republic from January 2014 to July 2017. She also served as Counsellor at the High Commission of Malaysia in London, United Kingdom, from May 2004 to April 2009, and as Second Secretary at the Embassy of Malaysia in Mexico City, Mexico, from November 1997 to July 2001.

A career diplomat, Ms. Osman has held several other positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Malaysia, including as Deputy Secretary-General, Department of Multilateral Affairs from January 2019 to September 2021; Undersecretary, Multilateral Political Division from July 2017 to January 2019; Undersecretary, Human Resource Management Division from May 2010 to January 2014; and Undersecretary, Multilateral Economic Division from April 2009 to May 2010. She joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in March 1996.

H.E. Ms. Kadra Ahmed Hassan

Ambassador

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Djibouti to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva

H.E. Kadra Ahmed Hassan is currently the Chair of the Special Committee on Trade and Development (CTDSS) at the WTO since November 2019. She also coordinates the LDC group at the World Trade Organization, as well as chairs the coordination committee of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). H.E. is a member of the Advisory Centre on WTO Law (ACWL) Board. Since 2021, H.E. is the Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of Complementary Standards, Human Rights Council (HRC) and since 2025, a member of the Human Rights Council’s Advisory Board on Gender Equality, as well as a senior member of AWLN Djibouti.

H.E. Ms. Anita Pipan

Ambassador

Mission of Slovenia to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva

Permanent Representative of Republic of Slovenia to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Anita Pipan, took up her post in June 2021.

She is a career diplomat with over 30 years’ experience in international relations, multilateral affairs and high-level diplomacy.

She has served abroad in various capacities, including as Slovenian Ambassador to Greece, Belgium, African Union, and Alternate Representative of Slovenia to the UN Security Council. Ambassador Pipan has held different leadership positions in the Slovenian MFA, mainly dealing with multilateral organizations, human rights, security policy and development cooperation. She is currently co-chairing the Group of Friends for the Human Rights of Older Persons, the Group of Friends on Water and Peace and is Chair of the Working Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s accession to the WTO.

Ms. Pipan holds a Degree in Law from University of Ljubljana and a Master’s Degree in Law of International Economic Integration from Université Paris 1 – Panthéon Sorbonne and Universidad del Salvador Buenos Aires.

Liu Guiqing

Executive Director, President and Chief Operating Officer

China Telecom

Vlad Grankovsky

Co-founder

Hidoba Research

Vlad holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science. He has worked in machine learning and neuroscience, taught at a school, and served as a judge for computer science olympiads for school students.

He is the cofounder of an AI startup called Hidoba Research, where he is building a platform that enables human experts to create AI clones of themselves.

Tomaz Levak

Co-founder

Umanitek

Tomaz co-founded Trace Labs in 2013, the core development company behind the OriginTrail Decentralized Knowledge Graph (DKG). As a co-inventor of theDKG, he has steered strategic product development and spearheaded its adoption across some of the world’s most impactful sectors including supply chains, transportation, life sciences and healthcare, and construction. He achieved that by collaborating with some of the world’s biggest brands, national rail operators, international standards bodies, and multiple government-funded projects.

As a symbolic-AI technology, the DKG tackles three pressing challenges of the AI era: information trust, data ownership, and censorship-resistant connectivity. To combat related harms such as illegal content, intellectual-property infringements, and deepfakes, Tomaz co-founded Umanitek.

A regular speaker at Web3 and AI conferences, Tomaz demonstrates how OriginTrail and Umanitek together enable a trustworthy, human-centric AI future.

Roxanne Ducharme

Filmmaker

Roxanne Ducharme is a French Canadian AI filmmaker and Creative Director who blends four decades of expertise in film animation, illustration, and storytelling with cutting-edge generative tools to create bold, emotionally resonant visual narratives.

A Daytime Emmy® Award winner with additional honors from international AI film festivals, her work spans feature films, documentaries, television series, video games, and advertising. Her film credits include An American Tail: Fievel Goes West produced by Steven Spielberg, the Oscar-nominated British short The Village, and the beloved animated series Arthur. Her illustrations have also been featured in animated segments for National Geographic, Discovery Channel, and the Science Channel.

Roxanne uses AI as a creative instrument to craft surreal, metaphorical worlds and distinct visual identities, particularly for projects with a strong artistic voice.

Eugenio Salas Iturriaga

Data Governance Specialist

Alexandr.ia (Entrepreneurship)

Eugenio Salas is the founder of Alexandr.ia, an initiative dedicated to delivering inclusive, AI-powered education in Mexico. Inspired by the historic Library of Alexandria, one of the greatest hubs of knowledge and learning in ancient times. Eugenio’s mission is to design tools and solutions that provide personalized, high-quality, and accessible education, empowering Mexicans to thrive in the AI era.

Eugenio has assembled a multidisciplinary team of educators, psychologists, developers, marketing experts, and business intelligence professionals to collaboratively tackle the challenges of inclusive education. His leadership has inspired innovation and teamwork, appreciating diverse contributions while steadily building Alexandr.ia toward its vision of transforming education in Mexico. This initiative underscores Eugenio’s deep commitment to harnessing AI’s transformative potential for societal benefit, fostering a more inclusive and equitable future.

In addition to leading Alexandr.ia, Eugenio brings extensive experience as a Data Governance Specialist. His work includes developing global policies, metadata documentation guidelines, and strategies for effective and compliant data management. Eugenio is particularly skilled in implementing advanced methodologies such as Data Mesh and designing change management programs to foster a data-driven culture within organizations.

Eugenio’s expertise is rooted in a strong academic foundation, with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Intelligence specializing in descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics from Tecnológico de Monterrey.

Known for his passion for data and artificial intelligence, Eugenio is driven by a desire to create a meaningful impact on society. His innovative mindset, coupled with his dedication to fostering collaboration and education, positions him as a leader in bridging technology, strategy, and governance to build a more inclusive and data-driven world.

Valeria Soler

Ministry of ICTs of Colombia

Valeria Soler currently works for the ministry of ICTs of Colombia, specialising in the intersection of technology, society, and international cooperation. She is also the ambassador of Women in AI Colombia, a flourishing community full of career advancing opportunities and collaboration among its members.

Her background is diverse stemming from Political Science and Design where she found her calling in the technology sector. She has worked on startups, game design, is a trained dialogue facilitator, speaks more than 4 languages, and has traveled to more than 30 countries. She practices mindfulness and breathwork regularly and she is a fellow burner.

Her interests are AI, education, innovation, peace, personal development and entrepreneurship.

She is recognized for her ability to tackle complex, high-stakes challenges with creativity, resilience, and dedication and for daring to exceed expectations and forgetting that there is even a box to begin with.

Valeria is committed to highlighting the leadership and advancements of LATAM and creating the context of possibilities where radical and daring innovation can take place, leveraging technology for societal benefit. That is why she will now be leading the Bogota Hub of AI for Good.

Vinay Kaushik

Assistant Professor

Indian Institute of Information Technology Sonepat

Dr. Vinay Kaushik is an Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute of Information Technology Sonepat. He earned his Ph.D. in Computer Vision from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, where he focused on self-supervised scene depth and ego-motion estimation. He holds an M.Tech in Computer Applications from IIT Delhi and a B.Tech in Computer Science from MAIT, GGSIPU, India. His prior experience includes a role as a Research Scientist at VueMotion Labs, where he worked on AI-driven human motion analysis using computer vision. Dr. Kaushik’s research spans Computer Vision, Deep Learning, Generative AI, SLAM and AI for Social Good. He has published extensively in top-tier international conferences and journals, and has been actively involved in organizing several prominent workshops in AI, AgroVision, BiomedicalVision and multimedia.

Ahmed Alkhateeb

Assistant Professor

Arizona State University

Ahmed Alkhateeb received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Cairo University, Egypt, in 2008 and 2012, and his Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin, USA, in 2016. After the Ph.D., he spent some time as a Wireless Communications Researcher at the Connectivity Lab, Facebook, before joining Arizona State University (ASU) in Spring 2018, where he is currently an Assistant Professor in the School of Electrical, Computer, and Energy Engineering. His research interests are in the broad areas of wireless communications, signal processing, machine learning, and applied math. Dr. Alkhateeb is the recipient of the 2012 MCD Fellowship from The University of Texas at Austin, the 2016 IEEE Signal Processing Society Young Author Best Paper Award, and the NSF CAREER Award in 2021.

Marco Carugi

Senior Consultant, Advanced ICTs and Standardization

Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

Marco Carugi is a senior consultant with Huawei Technologies on advanced ICTs and related standardization since 2018. He has professional experience in R&D and technology strategy, with past positions in different roles within Solvay group, Orange Labs, Nortel Networks CTO division, ZTE R&D Technology Strategy, as well as consultant with various customers, including NEC (2015-2018). IMT-2020/5G and Future Networks, IoT and Smart Cities, AI/ML for Networks and Autonomous Networks are the main technical areas he is currently involved in.

Active in standardization since long time, he has led specifications in different domains and held various leadership positions. He currently serves as Rapporteur for ITU-T Q20 of SG13 (“Networks beyond IMT-2020 and Machine Learning: Requirements and Architecture”) and Rapporteur for ITU-T Q2 of SG20 (“Requirements, capabilities and architectural frameworks across verticals enhanced by emerging digital technologies”). He also acts as Vice-Chair of the ITU-T JCA on Machine Learning, co-Convener of the ITU-T Correspondence Group for datasets applicable for AI/ML in networks, ITU-T SG20 Mentor, SG20 Liaison Officer to ISO/IEC JTC1/SC41 and member of the IEC-ISO-ITU Joint Smart Cities Task Force.

Marco holds an Electronic Engineering degree in Telecommunications from University of Pisa (Italy), a M.S. in Engineering and Management of Telecommunication Networks from National Institute of Telecommunications (France), a Master in International Business Development from ESSEC Business School (France), and completed an Executive Program on Big Data Science at Ecole Centrale Supelec (France).

Liya Yuan

Open Source & Standardization Engineer

ZTE Corporation

Liya Yuan is an open-source & standardization engineer at ZTE, focusing on the field of AI for telecommunication networks. She is currently the Technical Steering Committee (TSC) chair of the AI project Adlik, which is incubated in the Linux Foundation AI Foundation. She also takes an active part in ITU-T standardization activities and serves as WG4 chair in the ITU-T AINN focus group.

Jiaying Meng

Junior Programme Officer

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Jiaying Meng is the AI Readiness consultant at ITU. Her work focuses on the ITU AI Readiness Framework which aims to capture the benefits of integrating AI in various domains by adopting a bottom-up approach.

She holds a master’s degree at the Geneva Graduate Institute 2024, where she specializes in international development studies, with a keen focus on sustainable trade and finance. Prior to this, Jiaying pursued her bachelor’s degree at China Foreign Affairs University, with a specific focus on diplomacy and foreign affairs management. This academic background enriched her understanding of global dynamics and nurtured her passion for international development.

Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven

Board member

GIZ

Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven is Managing Director of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH since October 2020. Ms. Hoven is a development economist with more than 30 years of international experience focusing strongly on sustainability, gender and climate issues as well as digital transformation. From 2010 to 2014, she served as World Bank Group Executive Director representing Germany. Prior to this assignment and thereafter, she held various high-level positions in the BMZ (German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development). During this time, Ms. Hoven spearheaded new global initiatives such as the NDC Partnership and AFR100, as well as multistakeholder partnerships in the field of climate risk insurance and finance. She is a member of, amongst others, the Supervisory Board of the German Energy Agency (dena), the Board of Trustees of the Max Planck Institute for Tax Law and Public Finance, the Agora Verkehrswende Council and the Insurance Development Forum (IDF) Steering Committee. Ms. Hoven studied economics and political science at Justus-Liebig University Giessen and Université Paris IX/Dauphine. She is alumna of the postgraduate program of the German Development Institute (now IDOS).

Photo: GIZ/ Gaby Gerster

Roman Chestnov

Digital Services Project Officer

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Roman Chestnov works with the Digital Services Division of the ITU Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D) on innovative applications of digital technologies and digital public goods (DPGs). Since joining ITU in 2020, he has collaborated with more than a dozen countries and public sector entities on projects and initiatives in the areas of digital health, digital public services, digital agriculture, and digital rural development, among others. He has been part of the WHO-ITU inter-agency team working on health communication and telemedicine solutions for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). As part of this work, he contributed to the implementation of a pilot AI telemedicine application for remote diabetic retinopathy screening in Senegal.

Working with the ITU-led Smart Villages and Smart Islands initiative, he has also supported needs assessment for rural digital infrastructure for essential service delivery in remote rural areas, including health and agriculture needs. As part of the GovStack Global Initiative, he has been supporting regional cooperation on digital government for Central Asia and the Caucasus countries, involving knowledge exchange for better digital public services design and architecture. Through his engagement in projects involving the development and use of digital public goods, Roman developed a strong interest in open-source technology and its applications. He also has a strong interest in machine learning and conducted research on AI implications for international relations and law between 2019 and 2022.

Prior to joining ITU, Roman worked with the United Nations Development Programme and the International Labour Organization on impact assessment, data-driven research, and analysis of access to essential services in developing countries.

Alexander Hoffmann

Executive

IFM group

In 2011, Dr. Alexander Hoffmann founded Statmath GmbH together with Christian Friedrich while simultaneously completing his doctorate in mathematics. From the very beginning, the company’s focus was on using algorithms to generate added value from customer data. As a result, the company has become a pioneer in the field of data science. Over the years, Alexander Hoffmann’s role has shifted slightly – from start-up founder to managing director of a 40-strong team. With IFM joining as a shareholder, IFM Statmath GmbH is now active internationally and across industries.

IFM Statmath GmbH has been on the digital hunt for clues in the data forests of its industrial customers since 2011. The use of our intelligent data science solutions helps companies to gain completely new insights from their own machines and ERP data. Our software solutions lead to an enormous increase in efficiency and to the discovery of considerable savings potential in various areas, with the aim of improving the business performance of our customers.

Mirja Kuehlewind

Master Researcher

Ericsson

Mirja’s work is focused on transport protocol evolution. She has been active in IETF standardization since 2009, where she is a member of the Internet Architecture Board (IAB). She also co-chairs the Measurement and Analysis for Protocols research group (maprg) in the Internet Research Task Force.

Mirja joined Ericsson Research in February 2019. Before this she worked as a Post-Doc at the Networked Systems Group (NSG) of the Computer Engineering and Networks Laboratory at ETH Zurich, Switzerland, on topics around Internet measurements and transport protocol design. She received her PhD in 2015 from the University of Stuttgart, Germany, in the field of TCP congestion control.

From March 2020 to March 2024, Mirja served as Chair of the IAB. From April 2016 to March 2020, she was an IETF Transport Area Director (AD). She is an author in multiple working groups, including QUIC, TCP maintenance and minor extension (tcpm), and Transport Services (taps), and has also been co-chair of the IETF’s RTP Media Congestion Avoidance Techniques (rmcat) and TCP increased security (tcpinc) working groups.

Latif Ladid

Founder & President, IPv6 FORUM, Chair, AI & Blockchain Global Forum, Founder of EU Public Safety Forum, Member

3GPP PCG Board

Founder & President, IPv6 FORUM www.ip6forum.org,

Chair, AI & Blockchain Global Forum

Emeritus Trustee, Internet Society www.isoc.org.

Founding Co-Chair, IEEE Future Networks World Forum 2024 https://fnwf2024.ieee.org/

Board Chair IPv6 Ready Logo Program https://www.ipv6ready.org/

Board Chair, IPv6 Education Program: https://education.ipv6forum.com/

Member of 3GPP PCG (Board) (www.3gpp.org)

Former Co-Chair, IEEE Blockchain World Forum

Former Chair, IEEE IoT World Forum

Former Chair, ETSI IPv6 Industry Specification Group

Former Founder of the EU Public Safety Forum from an EU Project called u2020.

Former Member of UN Strategy Council Member of Future Internet Forum EU Member States (representing Luxembourg).

Founder of EU Public Safety Forum

Former Research Fellow @ University of Luxembourg (since 2006) on multiple European Commission Next Generation Technologies Projects.

IPv6 Forum Internet Pioneer Award, 2002, IPv6 Life Time Achievement Award, 2016.

Robert Froehler

VP Europe Enterprise

Nokia

Nilo Pasquali

Superintendent of Planning and Regulation

Agência Nacional de Telecomunicações (ANATEL), Brazil

Specialist in Regulation at Anatel since 2005, Nilo was Manager of Regulation of Mobile Services from 2010 to 2013 and Manager of Regulation at the Superintendence of Regulation and Planning of Anatel from 2013 to 2017. Since December 2017 he has held the position of Superintendent of Planning and Regulation of Anatel, coordinating the development of rules and regulations for all telecommunications services, the preparation of bidding notices for the granting of telecommunications services and the right to use radio frequencies and the proposal of measures to expand access to telecommunications services. Graduated in Electrical Engineering from the University of Brasília (UnB) and post-graduated in Regulation in Telecommunications also from UnB.

David Cuckow

Director of Digital

Digital- BSI

At BSI, David is responsible for the National Standards Body (NSB) global strategy on all things digital, and the development and implementation of the sector’s market engagement. Supporting cross-sector industries and government stakeholders to innovate by accelerating the adoption of digital technologies, identifying and codifying excellence to transform and improve business, process and culture for both social and economic benefit.

Gudela Grote

Professor

ETH Zurich

Prof. Gudela Grote, a distinguished authority in work and organizational psychology, has been Full Professor at the Department of Management, Technology, and Economics at the prestigious ETH Zürich since 2000. With a focus on integrating psychological principles into job, organizational and technology design, Prof. Grote’s research addresses evolving demands of technology, economy, and society. Her impactful contributions are showcased in renowned journals and through collaborative initiatives with industry leaders. As Co-chair of the TASC Platform, she spearheads efforts in accountable AI development and use, advocating for transparency, fairness, and interdisciplinary collaboration. With a doctorate from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a large international research network (e.g., King’s College London, MIT Sloan, Harvard, Stanford, Curtin University Perth) Prof. Grote is a trailblazer in her field.

Stuart Russell

(*joining remotely) Professor of Computer Science and Director of the Center for Human-Compatible AI

University of California, Berkeley

Stuart Russell received his B.A. with first-class honours in physics from Oxford University in 1982 and his Ph.D. in computer science from Stanford in 1986. He then joined the faculty of the University of California at Berkeley, where he is Professor (and formerly Chair) of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences and holder of the Smith-Zadeh Chair in Engineering. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Neurological Surgery at UC San Francisco and Vice-Chair of the World Economic Forum’s Council on AI and Robotics.

Russell is a recipient of the Presidential Young Investigator Award of the National Science Foundation, the IJCAI Computers and Thought Award, the World Technology Award (Policy category), the Mitchell Prize of the American Statistical Association and the International Society for Bayesian Analysis, the ACM Karlstrom Outstanding Educator Award, and the AAAI/EAAI Outstanding Educator Award. In 1998, he gave the Forsythe Memorial Lectures at Stanford University and from 2012 to 2014 he held the Chaire Blaise Pascal in Paris. He is a Fellow of the American Association for Artificial Intelligence, the Association for Computing Machinery, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

His research covers a wide range of topics in artificial intelligence including machine learning, probabilistic reasoning, knowledge representation, planning, real-time decision making, multitarget tracking, computer vision, computational physiology, global seismic monitoring, and philosophical foundations. His books include “The Use of Knowledge in Analogy and Induction”, “Do the Right Thing: Studies in Limited Rationality” (with Eric Wefald), and “Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach” (with Peter Norvig). His current concerns include the threat of autonomous weapons and the long-term future of artificial intelligence and its relation to humanity.

H.E. Mrs. Francisca E. Méndez Escobar

PR Ambassador

Permanent Mission of Mexico to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva

Ambassador Francisca Méndez was born in Mexico City and joined the Mexican Foreign Service in 1991. She holds a degree in Political Science and Public Administration, and two master’s degrees: one in Latin American Studies from UNAM and another in Law and Economics from the State University of Milan. She also holds diplomas in international politics, public diplomacy, and Arab studies. Her diplomatic career includes work in various departments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic missions such as consulates in Milan and Barcelona, and embassies in Romania, Costa Rica, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the European Union. She served as Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (2017–2022), where she also represented Mexico to the International Renewable Energy Agency and received the “Independence Decoration First Class” honor. Since 2022, she has been Mexico’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva. She has participated in over 300 multilateral meetings and has strongly promoted economic and cultural cooperation. She is the author of several books and articles on foreign policy, sustainable development, gender equality, and disability. In 2022, she published a book on autism titled Why Doesn’t Fer Want to Grow Up? She speaks Spanish, English, French, and Italian. She is married and has two children.

Chris Brown

Vice Chair of the Data Working Group

World Internet Conference (WIC)

Chris Brown has a Masters’ degree from Cambridge University in Oriental Studies with Economics. He has more than 30 years’ experience providing leadership, strategic direction and high-level management support to complex political, legal and economic cooperation programmes in Europe and Asia.

After 5 years working for UK and German companies establishing ventures in China and elsewhere in Asia, Chris worked for the EU running a major programme addressing structural reform in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in China between 1995-2001 as a strategic part of China’s accession to the WTO.

From 2002 to 2004, Chris was Operations Director for the EU, based in Thailand, promoting information technology partnerships between Europe and Asia in the eGovernment, Transport, Agriculture, Environment, Education and Health sectors, particularly in China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Cambodia.

Chris subsequently managed the EU’s Information Society programme in China from 2004-2010, conducting research on e-Commerce, Telecoms, e-Governance, Data Protection and Information Security with the State Council, Ministry of Industry & Information Technology (MIIT) and other Chinese government agencies.

From 2012-2017, Chris was Director of the EU’s Policy Dialogues with China, to implement economic-related strategies across multiple sectors. Some key milestones achieved are the establishment of the EU-China Broadband Expert Working Group, the High-Level Urbanisation Partnership, the Green Smart Cities initiative, the China Europe Water Platform, Green Transportation and the EU-China Think-Tank Dialogue.

Chris worked in the European Commission HQ in Brussels from 2017-2019, advising EU policy-makers on Investment Climate in emerging economies, notably in subSaharan Africa. From 2019-2024, Chris was Director of the China-UK Business Environment Programme (BEP) with the British Standards Institute (BSI), promoting international standards in eCommerce, Green Smart Cities, Good Governance and Building Intelligence Modelling (BIM). He is currently BSI’s Regional Director for the UKASEAN Economic Integration Programme, working on the rollout of the Digital Toolkit, standards in Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) and Net Zero.

Chris is also a Member of the World Internet Conference (WIC), Vice Chair of the Data Working Group and Panellist for the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Working Group. He has been a Board Member of the UK’s National Centre for Entrepreneurship in Education with a mandate to foster research partnerships between UK and China.

Liudmila Zavolokina

Professor of Digital Innovation and Information Systems

University of Lausanne

Prof. Dr. Liudmila Zavolokina is a professor of Digital Innovation and Information Systems at the University of Lausanne. Her research focuses on human-centred design and use of digital technologies in areas that create public value, including humanitarian applications, resilience to propaganda, and government technology.

Ahmed Said

Director, International Affairs

National Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (NTRA), Egypt

Erland Cooper

Emmy nominated, Scottish composer, producer & multi-instrumentalist

Erland Cooper is an Emmy nominated, Scottish composer, producer & multi-instrumentalist originally from the Orkney Islands. As a solo artist, he has released five critically acclaimed studio albums, with multiple companion LPs & EPs, including a trilogy of work inspired by his childhood home, as well as themes of nature, people, place & time. His work combines field recordings with traditional orchestration & contemporary electronic elements. Through music, words and cinematography he explores landscape, memory & identity. He develops these themes further by partnering with artists, writers and poets. Cooper also works across mixed media projects including installation art & film. He’s widely known for burying the only existing copy of the master tape of his first classical album in Scotland, deleting all digital files & leaving only a treasure hunt of clues for fans and his record label alike to search for it. The tape was found, unearthed and released exactly as it sounds from the earth in 2024, reaching number 1 in the official classical album charts.

Francesca Bosco

Chief Strategy Officer

CyberPeace Institute

With over 18 years of experience at the intersection of international law, human rights, and technology policy, Francesca Bosco has held senior roles at leading global institutions, including the United Nations and the World Economic Forum. Her career has focused on advancing actionable strategies in justice, peace, and digital security—particularly in how emerging technologies impact societal resilience.

As Chief Strategy Officer at the CyberPeace Institute, Francesca leads the development of strategic programs and multistakeholder partnerships to strengthen digital resilience across sectors.Her work bridges the technical and policy dimensions of cybersecurity, with a focus on mitigating harms from cyberattacks and disinformation, and ensuring emerging technologies like AI serve the public good. Her expertise lies in connecting global policy frameworks with operational support, ensuring that cybersecurity capacity building and technical assistance efforts are sustainable, context-specific, and aligned with development priorities.

Steffen Beerbaum

Head, Application of Digitalisation in agriculture and rural areas

German Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity

Dr. Steffen Beerbaum is head of the unit Application of Digitalisation in agriculture and rural areas at the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity. He studied agricultural sciences in Stuttgart-Hohenheim (Germany) and agricultural economics in Montpellier (France). He received his doctorate from the University of Stuttgart-Hohenheim. Since 2001 he has held various positions at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity.

H.E. Mr. Seong deok Yun

Permanent Representative

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva

Ambassador YUN, Seong deok is the Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva.

Since June 2024, he has chaired the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization (ILO), and—after serving successively as Second and First Vice-Chair of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Council in 2022—he was elected President of that Council in November 2024.

From 2013 to 2016, he served as Counsellor and Deputy Chief of the Mission of the Republic of Korea to the European Union in Brussels. He was appointed Director-General for Bilateral Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2017, overseeing Korea’s bilateral economic diplomacy.

Between July 2018 and 2021, he served as Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, deepening Korea’s partnership with North Africa and the Arab region.

In June 2021, he became Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, and in February 2022, he was appointed to Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He assumed his present multilateral post in Geneva in December 2022, where he continues to advance Korea’s interests on labour, migration, trade, and other global agendas.

Ambassador YUN earned a B.A. in English Language and Literature from Seoul National University and completed diplomatic and international relations programs at the University of Oxford and the University of London.

Paul Gaskell

Deputy Director: Digital Trade, Internet Governance & Digital Standards

Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

Paul Gaskell previously served in the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, where he specialised in EU policy, and international security and data issues. This included postings in Vietnam and Kuwait.

Subsequently, in the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, he led data adequacy discussions with the European Commission during EU exit negotiations, and later worked on tackling online harms and the Online Safety Act.

In the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology, he is now leading UK policy on global internet governance, digital technical standards and digital trade. He has been UK Head of Delegation previously to bodies such as the UN International Telecommunication Union, the Internet Governance Forum and ICANN.

Tonee Ndungu

Founder

Kytabu Inc.

Tonee Ndungu is a distinguished entrepreneur, speaker, and author with a dynamic presence in the fields of education technology and social finance. He is best known as the founder of Kytabu, Kenya’s premier digital education company, and Tribbe Nation Inc., a peer-to-peer lending and group savings platform aimed at enhancing financial inclusion across Africa. The founder of the NAILAB between 2009 to 2012, he raised $5.5 million before leaving to start Kytabu, an Edtech company, to address education resources for children with his experience being a dyslexic leaner as his inspiration.

Dietram Oppelt

Chair

UNFCCC Technology Executive Committee (TEC)

Dietram Oppelt brings over 30 years of experience in managing and coordinating projects focused on climate mitigation, climate finance, and energy efficiency. Throughout his career, he has supported the development and transfer of low- and zero-emission technologies and contributed to sectoral mitigation strategies across more than 30 countries, covering sectors such as energy, buildings, industry, transport, waste, and agriculture.

Currently serving as the Chair of the UNFCCC Technology Executive Committee (TEC), Dietram is actively engaged in advancing global climate technology solutions. His international expertise is further enriched by his years of professional experience in Japan and China, bringing a deep understanding of regional climate strategies and innovation needs to his leadership role within the TEC. Dietram holds a Master of Science from London School of Economics, a Bachelor from St. Gallen University Switzerland and Postgraduate from Tokyo University.

Jacobo Castellanos

Coordinator Technology, Threats, and Opportunities

WITNESS

Jacobo Castellanos is the Coordinator of the Technology, Threats, and Opportunities team at WITNESS, a global human rights organization that empowers people to use video and technology to expose injustice and drive change. In this role, he leads efforts to analyze how emerging technologies, such as generative AI and manipulated media, impact the safety, credibility, and agency of communities documenting human rights abuses.

Jacobo co-chairs the Threats and Harms Task Force of the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA), a multistakeholder body creating open technical standards for verifiable provenance of digital content. His contributions focus on embedding a human rights lens into both the technical architecture and the governance models of emerging standards, especially in light of growing concerns about mis/disinformation and AI-generated media.

He also leads global consultations with grassroots organizations, journalists, activists, and technologists to ensure that WITNESS’ advocacy is informed by the real-world needs, expectations, and strategies of those most affected. This participatory approach ensures that the policies and technologies WITNESS engages with are not only effective but equitable and inclusive.

Jacobo regularly contributes to international forums shaping policy and practice on content authenticity and digital rights.

Gillian Hinde

Global Corporate Responsibility Leader

As EY Global Corporate Responsibility Leader, Gill leads implementation of the EY Ripples program to help drive sustainable inclusive growth in our communities, as well as overseeing efforts to embed social and environmental value creation more deeply in everything we do. In this role, Gill provides global strategic oversight for initiatives such as AI for Good, which exemplify EY Ripples’ ambition to empower 1 billion lives through responsible innovation and collaboration.

A native South African, Gill moved to Sydney, Australia, where she joined EY in 2010. There, she spent six years with Advisory and Financial Services before joining the global Digital team, helping to develop and package new digital service offerings.

Combined with experience at Unilever and then the Standard Bank Group in South Africa, launching new services for the underbanked, this explains her passion for innovating new models and collaborations that can help accelerate the creation of social and environmental impact at scale.

Kevin Frey

Director

UNICEF

Dr. Kevin Frey

Chief Executive Officer,

Generation Unlimited

As both an entrepreneur and an executive, Kevin has spent his career at the nexus of the private and public sectors, spanning the education, technology, human capital and international

development spheres.

Prior to joining Generation Unlimited as CEO in 2021, Kevin served as the CEO of Right To Play — an international development organization to protect, educate, and empower children and youth.

At the age of 27, Kevin founded his first company, TeachAway, a job-matching and professional development platform for teachers. TeachAway expanded its EdTech and JobTech offerings with Skooli, an online tutoring platform, and Klassroom, a USA-accredited e-learning provider of K-12 teacher licensure.

Before Right To Play, Kevin spent 15 years in the international and higher education sectors, most recently leading Canada’s top-ranked MBA program at the University of Toronto as the Managing Director.

Kevin’s academic background includes a Doctorate in Business Administration from IE Business School, where his research focused on entrepreneurship; a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University; and an Honours Bachelor of Arts with High Distinction from the University of Toronto, where he majored in Philosophy and History.

Laura Turkington

Global Corporate Responsibility Commercial and Innovation Leader

Laura leads the EY Global Corporate Responsibility Commercial and Innovation team, responsible for developing EY Ripples projects and strategic collaborations. She brings over 20 years’ experience working across the private, nonprofit and government sectors in more than 10 countries. As part of her portfolio, she leads the AI for Good initiative—an ambitious effort to unlock the potential of responsible AI in advancing education, safeguarding the environment, and sparking social innovation in communities around the world

Prior to joining EY, Laura spent a decade at Vodafone, where she was responsible for driving the global innovation agenda. She also held several purpose-led roles including developing Vodafone’s global sustainable business strategy, as well as building and implementing new social investment strategies in Tanzania, India and Ireland.

Among other past experiences, Laura has driven a rickshaw across India in the name of women’s empowerment. She has also spent six months living on a deserted island, dedicated to marine conservation, and brings this zeal for positive change to her work every day.

Jerry Sheehan

Director of Science, Technology, and Innovation

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

H.E. Ms. Liisa-Ly Pakosta

Minister

Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs, Republic of Estonia

H.E. Ms. Rahayu Mahzam

Minister of State

Ministry of Digital Development and Information, and Minister of State at the Ministry of Health, Singapore

Udbhav Tiwari

VP Strategy and Global Affairs

Signal

Udbhav Tiwari is the VP for Strategy and Global Affairs at Signal. Udbhav’s experience in the technology sector spans both global and regional contexts, where he was formerly the Director for Global Product Policy at Mozilla, with prior roles at Google and the Centre for Internet and Society in India. He has testified before the U.S Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and been quoted as an expert by CNN, The Guardian, Wired, Financial Times, BBC, and Reuters. Udbhav was previously affiliated with the Carnegie Endowment for Peace and was named to India Today’s “India Tomorrow” list in 2020.

Komal Kalha

Deputy Director, Intellectual Property and Trade

IFPMA

Komal leads IFPMA Intellectual Property and Trade Policy portfolio.

Komal works with UN member states and international and regional organizations to promote global health solutions by advocating international best practices for IP protection, removing market access barriers, and creating a sustainable ecosystem to incentivize innovation.

Her experience as a corporate attorney and trusted government advisor enables Komal to resolve complex domestic and international policy and business challenges in numerous sectors.

Prior to joining IFPMA, Komal led the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s attaché program in South Asia. She was the principal strategic advisor to the US Government (USG) on all aspects of Intellectual Property for India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Afghanistan, and Maldives.

In addition, Komal led negotiations with South Asian Governments relating to IP policy initiatives of the USG. Komal has also developed and executed several technical assistance and capacity building programs aimed at creating a sustainable innovation ecosystem that promotes, protects, and enforces IP.

She holds a Master of Law (LLM) from the George Washington Law School and an Bsc LLB (Hons) in IP from West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences.

Qi Shuguang

Vice Deputy Engineer, China Telecommunication Technology Labs (systems)

China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT)

She graduated from Beijing university of posts and telecommunications in 2007 and holds a master’s degree in computer science. She has been working in the field of green and low carbon ICT for more than 10 year. Currently she is the Vice Deputy Engineer of China Telecommunication Technology Labs (systems) in China Academy of Information and Communication Technology (CAICT). Her focuses include fundamental Research, prospective study and standardization work in digital sustainable development and net zero.

She is also Vice Chair of ITU-T Study Group 5, Chair of WP3 on climate action and Chair of the Asia Pacific Regional Group in ITU-T SG5; and lead of WG2 (Large scale renewable energy deployment and digitalization) and lead of Aisa Pacific Regional group in the Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (CEET) under the auspices of the United Nations Secretary-General. She is also very active in IEC TC22 and IEC SyC LVDC. She is Chair of Working Group 1 / Technical Committee 4(Power and environment for ICT) in China Communication Standardization Association (CCSA).

She developed around 20 Recommendations as main contributor in ITU such as ITU-T L.1210, ITU-T L.1380 series Recommendation on smart energy. Moreover, she is also very active in Chinese domestic standardization activities and developed more than 20 Chinese standards including National standards, industrial standard and regional standards. She has got first prize scientific rewards from China Institute of Communications and first prize scientific reward from CCSA. She was also awarded funding for participation in international activities as a young scientist.

Peter Vanham

Business journalist, Author, Researcher | Editorial Director, Leadership

Fortune

Peter Vanham is a business journalist, author, and researcher, who writes about the global economy and the people who shape it, as well as concepts such as stakeholder capitalism and sustainability.

As an author, his books include The New Nature of Business (with Andre Hoffmann, 2024), Stakeholder Capitalism: A Global Economy that Works for Progress, People and Planet (with Klaus Schwab, 2021) and “Before I Was CEO: Life Stories and Lessons from Leaders Before They Reached the Top” (2016). His books have been translated into over a dozen languages.

As a journalist, Peter works as Editorial Director, Leadership, at Fortune, and is one of the main contributors to Fortune’s CEO Daily flagship newsletter. Prior to Fortune, he was Head Writer and Head of the International Media Council at World Economic Forum. His articles appeared in dozens of media, including Financial Times, Harvard Business Review, and Foreign Policy.

As a researcher, Peter is pursuing an Executive PhD at ESCP Business School in Paris. He holds Executive Master’s degrees in Management Research (ESCP) and Global Leadership (World Economic Forum), and Master’s degrees in Business and Economics Journalism (Columbia University, with a Fulbright scholarship) and Commercial Engineering (KU Leuven).

He lives and works in Geneva, Switzerland, with his wife and two daughters.

Preksha Shah

Project Research Scientist, IIT Bombay | Co-Chair of Working Group 4 (WG4), ITU-T Focus Group on AI-Native Networks (FGAINN)

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Dr. Preksha Shah is an experienced Research Scientist and Ph.D. in Electronics and Communication Engineering, currently serving as a Project Research Scientist at IIT Bombay. She has a demonstrated record of success in conducting and publishing high-impact research across domains central to next-generation wireless communications and intelligent network systems. Her research interests span across 5G and 6G technologies, with a particular focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for network optimization, Terahertz (THz) and millimeter wave (mmWave) communications, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), massive MIMO (mMIMO), and Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces (IRS).

She is currently serving as a Co-Chair of Working Group 4 (WG4) in the ITU-T Focus Group on AI-Native Networks (FGAINN). Dr. Shah is also an active contributor to 3GPP, contributing to standards development around AI integration and energy efficiency in next-generation mobile networks.

In recognition of her impactful work, she was honored as one of “100 Brilliant and Inspiring Women in 6G” (2024) by Women in 6G™.

She has authored/co-authored several peer-reviewed publications in leading international journals and conferences on 6G, AI-native networks, and wireless communications. Dr. Shah has served as a reviewer for several international journals, further underscoring her active engagement in the global research community.

Her work sits at the intersection of AI-driven network intelligence and future wireless technologies, positioning her as a key contributor in shaping the evolution toward AI-native 6G networks.

Ivana Drobnjak

Director of the Undergraduate Programme in Computer Science

University College London (UCL)

Professor Ivana Drobnjak is Director of the Undergraduate Programme in Computer Science at University College London (UCL), a member of the UNESCO Chair in AI, and Organisation Lead at the Green Software Foundation (GSF). Her research focuses on computational healthcare and the development of responsible, human-centred AI systems, with attention to ethics, transparency, fairness, bias reduction, and sustainability.

She is actively involved in advancing more energy-efficient and environmentally responsible approaches to AI, particularly through her work with GSF, where she contributes to global efforts to promote greener software development practices. Her recent work explores the intersection of AI model design, software optimisation, and sustainability, and she is engaged in collaborations with academic, industry, and policy partners on responsible innovation.

Professor Drobnjak recently spoke at the United Nations Secretariat on ethical AI, and is also an ABSW Media Fellow at The Guardian, where she works to bring critical issues around AI and sustainability to broader public audiences.

Silvia Grandi

Director

Department for Digital, Connectivity And New Technologies

Director in the Italian public administration, currently serving as Head of Office II – Coordination of Department Policies, Studies and Analysis, and International Relations at the Department for Digital Connectivity and New Technologies within the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy. In this capacity, she contributes to strategic initiatives in digital, AI and technological policy, with active engagement in key international fora such as the G7, G20, ITU, and various EU-level activities.

She works on the advancement of the interlinkages between AI and sustainability, among other, by supporting the AI HUB for Sustainable Development Initiatives, and promoting the development of standardisation in Quantum Technologies.

In addition to her institutional role, she serves as a professor of Sustainable Development, Geopolitics, and Economic Geography at several Italian universities. Her academic work complements her public service, bridging policy expertise and scholarly research on the global challenges and opportunities posed by sustainable development and technological transformation. She received her Master’s degree in Engineering cum laude from the University of Bologna (Italy), a Postgraduate Master’s in Management from the Solvay School of Management at Vrije Universiteit Brussels (Belgium), and a PhD from the Department of Economics at the University of Bologna. She specialised at the Science Policy Research Unit of the University of Sussex (UK) and at the University of Cambridge (UK).

Tim Unwin

Catalyst, Emeritus Professor

ICT4D Collective

Tim Unwin is a British academic and public figure, specialising in the uses of digital technology by the world’s poorest and most marginalised peoples. He led the UK Prime Minister’s Imfundo initiative (creating partnerships for using IT in education in Africa) between 2001 and 2004, was Secretary General of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation between 2011 and 2015, and Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair in ICT4D at Royal Holloway, University of London between 2007 and 2023. He is currently writing a book provisionally entitled “Digital Technologies and Inequality: an Emancipatory Manifesto” (Routledge 2026), about why digital tech is being used to enslave rather than liberate the world’s poorest and most marginalised peoples. https://ict4d.org.uk; https://timunwin.blog.

Daniel Murenzi

Principal Information Technology Officer

East African Community

Jungwan Cho

CEO

CIT Coding Academy

Sue Turner

Founding Director

AI Governance Limited

Frauke Goll

Managing Director

Applied AI Institute of Europe

Tom Wambeke

Chief - Learning Innovation Programme

ITC ILO

Romain Leroy-Castillo

Director Projects & AI

Swiss Sustainable Finance

Romain Leroy-Castillo is the Director Projects and AI at Swiss Sustainable Finance, the leading Swiss organization accompanying the financial services sector in the transition to sustainable finance. At SSF, Romain leads among others the Artificial Intelligence initiative – publications, conferences, workshops and education sessions on AI applications for sustainable finance, rollout of AI-powered tools for SSF members, etc. Before joining SSF, he was Managing Director in global bank.

He intervenes as lecturer at Ecole Polytechnique in Paris and other universities on the topics of sustainability and artificial intelligence. Romain graduated from Sorbonne University (philosophy), SciencesPo Paris (political science), ESCP (business management) and from Oxford University Executive Education (artificial intelligence).

James McDonald

Director, Travel Transformation

World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC)

Robyn Scott

CEO and Co-Founder

Apolitical

Robyn Scott is CEO and Co-Founder of Apolitical. Apolitical is the world’s largest online network for government, used by a quarter of a million public servants in 160 countries to gain new skills and share best practice. Prior to Apolitical Robyn founded several impact-focused startups and worked at the Financial Times. She serves on the board of Invisible Technologies, one of the world’s fastest growing AI companies. Robyn holds a number of advisory roles including with the World Economic Forum’s AI Governance Alliance, the World Economic Forum’s Global Futures Council on Govtech and Digital Public Infrastructure, the World Bank’s Working Group on AI in the Public Sector, and the External Advisory Board for the UK Policy Profession. She also serves on the investment committee of 100x, the London School of Economics’ impact accelerator. She was named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and a Gates Cambridge Scholar. She holds a BSc in Bioinformatics from Auckland University and a Masters in Bioscience Enterprise from the University of Cambridge, where she graduated with distinction.

Lei Ji

General Manager

Alibaba DAMO Academy

Ana Martiningui

Vice President of Global Development

JA Worldwide

John Paul Danaee

CEO

Equitably.ai

Joon Baek

Co-founder

Youth for Privacy

Fahad AlBeyahi

Head of Sync Global Digital Wellbeing

Ithra

Wayne Morgan

Co-Founder & Global Head of Strategy, Innovation & Partnerships

She is AI Magazine

Sobanan Narenthiran

CEO

Breakthrough Enterprise

From medical student to prisoner to AI ethicist and social entrepreneur, Sobanan Narenthiran’s journey defies convention and powerfully reframes what it means to innovate for good.

Today, as CEO of Breakthrough Social Enterprise, Sobanan leads one of the UK’s most mission-driven organisations focused on bridging the divide between underserved communities and the most transformative technology of our time: Artificial Intelligence. Breakthrough designs and delivers inclusive, government-backed AI and digital skills programmes that equip people from marginalised backgrounds including those impacted by incarceration, poverty, and systemic exclusion to thrive in an increasingly automated world.

His lived experience of the justice system shapes a bold, systems-level approach to AI ethics, economic empowerment, and digital rehabilitation.

At the heart of his work is a clear mission: to humanise AI, democratise opportunity, and reimagine a future where no one is left behind in the digital revolution.

Sobanan’s work explores:

The intersection of AI, ethics, and human rights, ensuring marginalised voices shape the development and deployment of intelligent systems.
AI for economic justice, leveraging emerging technologies to build scalable, equitable pathways into employment.
Digital rehabilitation, pioneering new models that use AI to transform re-entry and reintegration into society.
The Silicocene, a visionary concept he introduced to mark a new epoch of ethical intelligence, ecological regeneration, and post-Anthropocentric values.

Sobanan is part of a global movement proving that AI can be a force for equity, not just efficiency. At AI for Good, he champions inclusive design, citizen-led innovation, and the urgent need to embed lived experience into the very fabric of our technological future.

Let’s build the future—ethically, inclusively, and intelligently.

Ajala Sodiq Babalola

Co-founder & Partnership Director

Pristine SACC Initiative

Jovan Kurbalija

Director

DiploFoundation

Dr Jovan Kurbalija is the Founding Director of DiploFoundation and the Head of the Geneva Internet Platform. A former diplomat, Dr Kurbalija has a professional and academic background in international law, diplomacy, and information technology. He has been a pioneer in the field of cyber diplomacy since 1992 when he established the Unit for Information Technology and Diplomacy at the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies in Malta.

Dr Kurbalija was a member of the United Nations (UN) Working Group on Internet Governance (2004-2005), special advisor to the Chairman of the UN Internet Governance Forum (2006-2010) and a member of the High-Level Multistakeholder Committee for NETmundial (2013-2014). In 2018-2019, he served as co-Lead and Executive Director of the Secretariat of the United Nations (UN) High-Level Panel on Digital Cooperation.

He has taught AI, digital diplomacy, and cybersecurity at Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, the College of Europe in Bruges, the University of Malta, and the University of St. Gallen.

His book, An Introduction to Internet Governance, is translated into nine languages and used as a textbook for academic courses worldwide.

Dr Kurbalija has been involved in AI since 1992, when he created the first expert system on international law. He has been addressing AI holistically from technological, legal, governance, philosophical, and linguistic perspectives. As a conceptualiser of bottom-up AI, Dr Kurbalija has been focusing on open-source AI.

Shama Patari

VP & Deputy General Counsel Ethics & Compliance, Government Relations & Global Trade Regulation

Lenovo

Carolyne Mélanie Régimbal

Chief of Service

United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA)

Kate Margaret Barnes

Director of Global Skills Partnerships

Microsoft

Adriana De Oro

Coordinator

Geneva Innovation Movement

Mattie Zazueta

Global Affairs

OpenAI

Anil Kumar Bhardwaj

Deputy Director General

Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, INDIA

David Soldani

Senior Vice President, Next Generation Advanced Research

Rakuten Mobile

David Soldani joined Rakuten Mobile in 2021. In his role, as Senior Vice President Next Generation Advanced Research, he leads the development of advanced enabling technologies in-house, powered by AI/ML and eBPF, to enhance productivity, mitigate risks, and improve performance of workloads running on modern Telecom networks and data centers.

Prior to joining Rakuten Mobile, Soldani was Chief Technology and Cyber Security Officer (CTSO) within ASIA Pacific Region at Huawei; Head of 5G Technology, e2e, Global, at Nokia; and Head of Central Research Institute (CRI) and VP Strategic Research and Innovation in Europe, at Huawei European Research Centre (ERC).

He also held prestigious academic positions, currently serving as Adjunct Professor with the University of New South Wales (UNSW). Previous postings include Visiting Professor with the University of Surrey, U.K., and Industry Professor with The University of Technology Sydney (UTS).

Soldani received his Doctor of Science degree in Technology with distinction from Helsinki University of Technology in Finland and his Master of Science degree with magna cum laude from the University of Florence in Italy.

Soldani hails from Italy and is currently living in Australia with his family, and can be reached at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-david-soldani/

Daniel Dobos

AI Research Director

Swisscom

Dr Daniel Dobos is Research Director at Swisscom. He is responsible for relations with universities, universities of applied sciences and other research institutions. Together with employees from all Swisscom business areas, he and his team develop solutions that use the latest research and technology developments for the benefit of Swisscom customers. Previously, he led research and AI data analysis projects at the CERN research centre and at the United Nations.

Alexander Ntoko

Chief of the Operations and Planning Department

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Alexander NTOKO is the Chief of the Operations and Planning Department in ITU where he plays a critical role in crafting and executing the strategic movements of ITU’s Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T).

He coordinates ITU activities on the Digital Object Architecture (DOA) and represents ITU in ICANN’s Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC).

Prior to taking up his current position, he was Head of ITU Corporate Strategy Division (CSD), where his responsibilities included ensuring organization-wide consensus and support for the development, implementation, and evaluation of the ITU Strategic Plan. He assisted and advised the ITU Secretary-General in policies and strategies and was responsible for the coordination of ITU activities in many areas, including the Internet and cybersecurity.

He has organized and spoken at many international events on a wide range of global Internet-related public policy issues and has written papers on technology strategies for the Internet, ICTs, and cybersecurity. As an ITU official, he has travelled to about 100 countries and has developed a broad perspective of ICT policies and strategies.

From the early 1990s, he played a key role in the introduction of the Internet and Cybersecurity to the ITU. Since 1998, he has managed the implementation of projects on the Internet, ICT applications (e.g., e-health, e-government, e-agriculture, e-education, e-payment, and e-business) and cybersecurity, including the use of advanced security technologies (biometric authentication and Public Key Infrastructure) in developing countries from all regions of the world.
He obtained a Bachelor’s (BSc) and Master of Science (MSc) degrees in Computer Science from the State University of New York.

Javan Erfanian

Senior Director of Strategy

GTI

Javan Erfanian is a senior wireless technology strategist and adviser. He has over 25 years experience in mobile technology formulation, innovation, standards, and strategies, having worked with Bell Canada, R&D centers, and global industry alliances such as NGMN, ITU, GSMA, and ETSI, closely working with a number of organization partners and members of GTI.

Javan has many research publications and citations and has led many industry initiatives on wireless technology enabler and use case evolution including AI. He has been part of IEEE Communications Society leadership community and a distinguished speaker since 90s, and a recipient of IEEE Millennium medal in 2000.

Nadim Maamari

Head of Edge AI and Vision System

CSEM

Dr. Nadim Maamari is the Head of Edge AI and Vision System at CSEM, where he leads cutting-edge research and development in embedded artificial intelligence and advanced computer vision technologies. With over a decade of experience across industrial and academic settings, he specializes in deploying AI-powered vision systems for high-precision applications, including semiconductor inspection, smart manufacturing, and precision agriculture. His work focuses on bringing intelligence to the edge, enabling real-time, low-latency decision-making in constrained environments. Dr. Maamari holds a PhD from ETH Zurich and has authored scientific publications and patents in AI-driven metrology and optical inspection.

Jason Slater

Chief AI, Innovation and Digital Officer

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

Jason is the Chief AI, Innovation and Digital Officer at UNIDO, overseeing projects and programs related to AI, digital transformation, and innovation, with a key focus on the Digital Economy. He co-leads efforts under Objective 2 of the Global Digital Compact, which aims to advance inclusive and sustainable digital transformation.

Previously, Jason served as UNIDO’s Digitalization and Innovation Officer, spearheading the organization’s digital and transformation initiatives and driving innovation solutions. His leadership emphasizes optimizing service delivery through digital solutions, collaborating closely with stakeholders to enhance processes and outcomes.

With extensive experience at UNIDO, Jason has held roles as the head of IT, strategic financial management, business transformation, and communications. Before joining UNIDO, he led finance management consulting in the UK public sector and served as head of finance at a large multinational corporation. Jason is a Chartered Management Accountant and holds an MBA.

Domenico Zipoli

Senior Research Fellow and Project Coordinator

Geneva Human Rights Platform

Dr. Domenico Zipoli is a Senior Research Fellow and Project Coordinator at the Geneva Human Rights Platform, a project of the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. His research focuses on the question of connectivity among international human rights mechanisms and on national strategies for monitoring, implementation, and follow-up of international human rights obligations and recommendations. He is currently leading a research initiative aimed at advancing digital solutions to improve the efficiency of human rights and SDG monitoring and implementation, leveraging digital human rights tracking tools, databases and artificial intelligence.

At the Geneva Human Rights Platform, Dr Zipoli provides expert input to different Geneva-based international organizations, permanent missions and coordinates the organization and development of GHRP projects, events, workshops and training courses.

Dr Zipoli holds a PhD in International Human Rights Law from the University of Oslo, a Master of Laws (LLM) in International Human Rights Law from Lund University and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Exeter.

Rodrigo Hübner Mendes

CEO & Founder

Institute Rodrigo Mendes

Rodrigo Hübner Mendes is the Founder and the CEO of the Rodrigo Mendes Institute, a non-profit organization whose mission is to guarantee that every child with disability has access to quality education. The institute develops research and teacher training programs in several countries aiming to transform the public education systems into environments that respect and value human diversity. Hübner Mendes began his career in 1998 as a business consultant at Accenture. In 2004, he decided to dedicate his efforts for the social sector, assuming the management of the Rodrigo Mendes Institute. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Human Diversity Management from the Getulio Vargas Foundation. Hübner Mendes is a Young Global Leader (World Economic Forum) and a fellow of Ashoka. He has received numerous awards and serves on the board of several Brazilian organizations. Since 2015, Rodrigo has been working as a consultant for UNESCO and for The Government of Angola.

Jonathan Turnbull

Program Manager - gTech Sustainability

Google

Jon works within Google’s Sustainability & Partnerships team where he works with teams across Google and with external partners to progress company-wide goals with a focus on Environment x AI. Building partnerships is at the core of his work, recognizing that Google can only successfully achieve its goals in collaboration with governments, NGOs, think tanks and experts to jointly unlock the system-wide transformations required.

Previously, Jon worked in technology consulting before more recently working on sustainability in advertising, including delivery of Google’s Carbon Footprint for Google Ads.

Outside of work, he enjoys skiing, coaching his son’s football team and spending time with his family outdoors.

Juha Heikkilä

Adviser for Artificial Intelligence

European Commission

Juha Heikkilä is an Adviser for Artificial Intelligence in the European Commission Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology, focusing on international aspects. He has been strongly involved in developing the Commission activities in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. He led a unit which was instrumental in developing the EU AI strategy, as first published in the Communication on Artificial Intelligence for Europe, in the Coordinated Plan on Artificial Intelligence and the ecosystem of excellence of the White Paper on AI, and engaging with the High-Level Expert Group on AI. He oversaw a significant funding programme on Robotics and AI, including the €700m Public-Private Partnership in Robotics. He was also setting up the new Public-Private Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics, which started in June 2021. Previously, Juha Heikkilä did computational linguistic research at the University of Helsinki, and he holds a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Cambridge.

Daniela Rus

Director, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL)

MIT

Daniela Rus is the Andrew (1956) and Erna Viterbi Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Director of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) at MIT. Rus’s research interests are in robotics, mobile computing, and data science. Rus is a Class of 2002 MacArthur Fellow, a fellow of ACM, AAAI and IEEE, and a member of the National Academy of Engineering, and the American Academy for Arts and Science. She earned her PhD in Computer Science from Cornell University.

Caden Kacmarynski

Quantum Coalition | Chief AI Architect

MorelandConnect

Caden is Chair of the Quantum Coalition and Chief AI Architect at MorelandConnect, where he helps design and deliver AI solutions across healthcare, manufacturing, and enterprise sectors. He is a current master’s student in entrepreneurial physics at Case Western Reserve University, where he also founded the Case Quantum Club and played varsity football. Caden previously conducted research in quantum optics at Argonne National Laboratory. In his free time, he enjoys watching sports, working out, and playing video games.

Ben McDonough

Alumnus Advisor

University of Colorado Boulder

Ben is a graduate student in Physics at CU Boulder. Ben’s interests lie at the intersection of quantum information and condensed matter theory, dynamical phase transitions, and quantum chaos and thermalization. In his free time, Ben enjoys rock-climbing, learning languages, and playing Flute.

Francesco Carnielli

Technical Director

Ignitia

Mr. Francesco Carnielli is Technical Director at Ignitia, where he leads technology strategy and innovation to deliver hyper-local weather forecasting for smallholder farmers in emerging markets. Prior to Ignitia, Francesco was a founding employee at Everli – a leading online grocery marketplace – where he helped scale the company’s engineering teams and platform through multiple growth stages from early startup to Series D, operating in over 135 cities across Europe. Francesco holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the Università degli Studi di Verona and is passionate about building impactful, scalable solutions that bridge technology and sustainability.

Theresa Fehle

Chief of Staff

Ignitia

Ms. Theresa Fehle is Chief of Staff at Ignitia, where she drives strategic growth, partnerships, and impact initiatives to make accurate weather data accessible to underserved communities across emerging markets. With European roots and a global footprint spanning six countries, Theresa combines her expertise in climate and agritech with a passion for innovation, venture capital, and sustainable development. She holds a Master of Science in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Nova School of Business and Economics and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, with a focus on Finance.

Gabriella Crimi

Senior Engagement Manager

McKinsey & Company

Gabriella is a Senior Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company, where she leads digital and AI transformations across both public and private sectors. She has extensive digital strategy, product, and responsible AI experience. At McKinsey, Gabriella advises governments, corporations, foundations, and non-profits on large-scale change programs, capability building, and transformation strategy.

Driven by a deep commitment to social impact, Gabriella holds an MPhil in International Development from the University of Oxford—a path inspired by her early experiences in community and global development.

Andro Kortis

Product Lead

DISHA

Andro is DISHA’s product lead, with over 15 years of experience delivering innovative, ethically grounded digital solutions across global markets. Specializing in digital identity, AI/ML governance, and emerging technologies, he combines purposeful innovation with a strong commitment to privacy, inclusion, and impact.

He has led cross-functional teams and initiatives at Mastercard, the World Bank, Vodafone, and other international organizations – shaping products and policies across financial services, healthcare, agriculture, logistics, and the public sector. He is passionate about building scalable, trustworthy ecosystems where technology serves people—especially at the intersection of social impact and artificial intelligence.

Andreas Vallgren

Co-founder and Chief Science Officer

Ignitia

Dr. Andreas Vallgren is a Co-founder and Chief Science Officer at Ignitia, where he has led scientific R&D since 2011. His work focuses on developing cutting-edge innovations to improve climate resilience for some of the world’s most vulnerable populations. Under his leadership, Ignitia has closed the performance gap of weather forecasting in regions where traditional global models underperform, and has enabled real-time extreme weather alerts to reach even remote rural communities — boosting agricultural outcomes and decision-making in the process.

Dr. Vallgren holds a PhD in Fluid Mechanics from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm. He also earned a Master of Science in Meteorology from Uppsala University, and a Master’s in Space Engineering from Luleå University of Technology, with part of his studies completed at Monash University in Australia. Additionally, he holds a graduate certificate in Applied Science from the University of South Australia through the International Space University (ISU) Summer Session Program. During his doctoral years, he was also a frequent weather presenter on Swedish national television (SVT).

David Pastor-Escuredo

Digital Innovation Lead, UCL and UPM

CNRS and UCSD

Dr. David Pastor-Escuredo is a Ph.D. from UPM in Artificial Intelligence and Complex Systems working with CNRS and UCSD. He did his postdoc at CNRS. He was a data-driven sustainability pioneer working with several United Nations agencies and BID. He has worked as advisor of UN Global Pulse Jakarta and also as lead data scientist for UNICEF and UNHCR. He led the digital innovation ecosystem at UPM for itdUPM working with Climate-KIC and MIT. Currently, he leads Digital Innovation and AI projects at UCL and UPM. He is an expert of the ITU’s Early Warning for All and U4SSC initiatives. Also, he is a fellow of the EIT Health of the Catalyst Europe and SCIFI programmes. He owns LifeD Lab where he designs innovations for a sustainable future. He is also a fellow of the CEO Academy of UCAM HiTech.

Archana G. Gulati

Deputy to the Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Dr Archana G. Gulati is Deputy to the Director of the ITU’s Development Bureau. With over 34 years of experience in policy making and regulation, she specialises in universal service, digital transformation, regulation of frontier technologies and competition regulation. Her journey began as an Indian Civil Services officer (1989 batch), and she continued to excel in her field after taking voluntary retirement in 2021. Her career milestones include serving as the Director, Public Affairs and Policy at Google, India, until October 2022.

Dr Gulati’s academic journey is marked by her pursuit of excellence. She holds a BA Honours in Economics from Lady Sri Ram College, University of Delhi, an LLM (Telecom & IT law) from the University of Strathclyde, UK, and a PhD. from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.

Her various posts in the Indian government include Advisor (Digital Communications) at the National Institute for Transforming India (NITI Aayog), Senior Deputy Director General / Officer on Special Duty to the Chairperson of the Telecom Commission of India, and Advisor and Head of the Combinations (M&A) Division at the Competition Commission of India. She has also held the position of Financial Advisor to the National Disaster Management Authority of India. Prior to joining the ITU, she was a professor of digital regulation at leading public policy and business schools in India. She has also previously served as an expert with the International Telecommunications Union.

Chris Emberson

GIS professional

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Chris Emberson is a GIS professional with over 25 years’ experience in geospatial technologies, and holds a Master’s degree in Geographical Information Management from Cranfield University, UK.

Loretta Hieber-Girardet

Chief, Risk Knowledge, Monitoring and Capacity-Development Branch

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)

Loretta Hieber Girardet is the Chief of the Risk Knowledge, Monitoring and Capacity Development Branch covering risk information and analytics, climate change, disaster loss and monitoring data and capacity-building for UNDRR globally.  Previously, she served as Chief of the UNDRR Asia-Pacific regional office, covering 38 of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.  Loretta served in various management positions at OCHA for over a decade before joining UNDRR, including overseeing the global Cluster coordination mechanism and having responsibility for IASC mechanisms on coordinated humanitarian needs assessments. She also has a background in public health and worked for the World Health Organization in various capacities, including in emergency contexts in Afghanistan, Pakistan and sub-Saharan Africa.  Her experience in emergency contexts spans more than 25 years and she is the author of several publications including Lifeline Media: Reaching Populations in Crises which promotes greater accountability to people affected by disasters. Her academic background includes fellowships and degrees from the Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Paris-Assas.

Thomas Bousios

Director and CIO

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Thomas Bousios serves as Director and Chief Information Officer (CIO) at IFAD, where he steers the Organization’s information technology strategy, overseeing operational systems, financial and data analytics platforms. He has conceptualised a decentralized AI community adoption approach using hands-on practices for embedding AI into institutional routines and is leading IFAD’s efforts to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) within corporate operations and practices. Due to this early engagement in practical AI adoption, he has frequently contributed to shaping approaches and insights within the UN including the High-Level Committee on Management (HLCM) networks, as well as with the International Financial Institutions communities.

Prior to IFAD, he held leadership roles in the European Union and the European Defence Agency (EDA), overseeing all systems, community platforms and classified networks. Before that, he served as ICT Group Leader at Fusion for Energy (F4E) in support of EU’s contribution to the ITER nuclear fusion project. He began his career at Citibank, and in management consulting as team leader with Deloitte Consulting and Ernst & Young Global Client Consulting.

He holds an MBA and a Master’s degree in Business Informatics from the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, and has completed the innovative CIO program at Stanford University.

Chris Meserole

Executive Director

Frontier Model Forum

Chris Meserole is the Executive Director of the Frontier Model Forum and an expert in AI safety and security. He works closely with experts from the member firms of the FMF – Amazon, Anthropic, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI – to identify best practices for identifying, evaluating, and mitigating the potential risks to public safety and security from frontier AI systems. Meserole previously served as the director of the Brookings AI and Emerging Technology Initiative and a fellow in the Brookings Foreign Policy Program.

Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu

Chairman of the Board & President

Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK), Türkiye

Sean Fulton

Of Counsel

DLA Piper

Sean Fulton is a seasoned generalist litigator and has extensive experience counseling and representing multinational companies in “bet-the-firm” state/federal litigation, including products liability/mass torts, securities class actions, employment, antitrust, bankruptcy, and other complex commercial disputes. He has also represented those clients in related regulatory investigations brought by the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and state attorneys general. Those multinational companies include leaders in the automotive, alcohol/spirits, banking, cryptocurrency, e-commerce, energy, manufacturing, and wireless carrier industries.

Sean has particular expertise in artificial intelligence (AI), cryptocurrency, and other emerging technologies, and leverages his extensive litigation experience to advise organizations on the risks associated with adopting such technologies. He has advised numerous Fortune 500 organizations on implementing and maturing enterprise-wide AI governance frameworks and designed and led legal red teaming exercises for AI use cases across various industries. Sean also regularly advises clients on risks associated with technology transactions. He is a thought leader on issues at the intersection of technology and the law, and regularly publishes and speaks on these areas.

Sean also maintains an active pro bono practice. He is currently serving as pro bono counsel for the National Center for Law and Economic Justice in federal impact litigation involving a state’s implementation of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”). He also acted as lead pro bono counsel in a class action brought by tenants against their landlord and an arbitration brought by a charter school against a construction company.

Eugênio Vargas Garcia

Ambassador and Director, Department of Science, Technology, Innovation and Intellectual Property

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil

Eugenio V. Garcia – Ambassador and Director, Department of Science, Technology, Innovation and Intellectual Property, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil. Former Deputy Consul General in San Francisco, Head of science, technology and innovation, and focal point for Silicon Valley. 30 years of professional experience in foreign policy and diplomacy. PhD International Relations. Academic researcher on artificial intelligence and global governance. Former senior adviser to the President of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, 2018-2020.

Perrine Séguin

Medical Director

Kurage

Perrine Séguin is a medical doctor specializing in physical and rehabilitation medicine, with a robust academic background that includes a PhD in Neuroscience. Her expertise lies in the development and application of neurotechnologies aimed at improving the quality of life for individuals with severe motor disabilities, particularly those resulting from strokes or spinal cord injuries. Her doctoral research was centered on brain-computer interfaces, specifically designed for patients suffering from locked-in syndrome, showcasing her commitment to pioneering technologies that bridge the gap between fundamental neuroscience and clinical applications.

Currently, Perrine serves as the Medical Director at Kurage, a cutting-edge company focused on restoring mobility through innovative neurostimulation techniques. In her role, she is instrumental in developing and implementing clinical protocols for the NeuroSkin medical device. NeuroSkin is an advanced, AI-powered device designed to enhance mobility for patients experiencing paralysis. Her work involves not only the technical development of the device but also ensuring its practical application in clinical settings, thereby facilitating improved patient outcomes.

Gabriela Ramos

Mexico

Gabriela Ramos is the Assistant Director-General for the Social and Human Sciences of UNESCO, where she oversees the institution’s contributions to building inclusive societies. Her mandate includes tackling economic inequalities of income and opportunity, and promoting social inclusion and gender equality. She also oversees the youth support agenda, promotion of values through sport, fight against racism and discrimination, and ethics of science, including of neurotechnology and the internet of things. She has overseen the development and adoption of the first global instrument to promote the ethics of artificial intelligence, adopted by acclamation in 2021 by UNESCO’s General Conference. She also launched the Global Forum against Racism, to catalyse the political support that member countries have given to this cause. On gender, she has advanced several initiatives, particularly to combat gender stereotypes and biases, including in new technologies.

Previously, Gabriela Ramos worked as Cabinet Director and Sherpa for G20/G7APEC at the OECD, contributing to increasing the OECD’s global impact and leading key initiatives such as “Inclusive Growth”, “New Approaches to Economic Challenges”, “Climate Change and Growth”, the gender strategy and work on well-being and children. At the G20, she contributed to the international reform of tax systems; the adoption of the gender quota (to reduce the labour gap) and the establishment of the W20; and the adoption of the principles of artificial intelligence, among others. She also oversaw Global Relations and the OECD’s membership enlargement process.

In 2019, she launched the Business for Inclusive Growth (B4IG) platform, bringing together 40 multinational companies committed to reducing inequalities. Previously, she was Director of the OECD Office in Mexico and Latin America where she supported reforms in education, telecommunications, gender and health. She was a member of the Mexican Foreign Service.

In 2013, she was awarded the Order of Merit (Ordre du Mérite) by the President of France. Her work to promote gender equality has earned her several awards including from Forbes and Apolitico. She has been a Fulbright and Ford McArthur Fellow. She is an alumna of Harvard University’s Masters in Public Policy and Universidad Iberoamericana’s BA in International Relations. She is a board member of the “Paris Peace Forum”; the “UNICEF Advisory Board”; as well as the “Lancet Commissions on COVID and on Men’s Violence against Women”, and member of the Danone “Entreprise à Mission” Committee.

Patricia Shaw

CEO

Beyond Reach Consulting Limited

Patricia has over 20 years’ experience as a lawyer in data, technology and regulatory/government affairs and is a registered Solicitor in England and Wales, and the Republic of Ireland. During her time working as a Solicitor, she has worked for both FTSE50 companies and the NHS. She has authored and edited several works on law and regulation, policy, ethics, and AI. She has a particular interest in algorithmic bias, autonomous decision making in high impact AI systems, privacy, and fairness, and how AI impacts on gender, religion, and belief. Her focus has predominately been areas where there is high risk impact on society such as in Finance, Health, and Education (including the impact on the future of work).

Trish is an expert advisor to the Council of Europe on Generative AI and the impacts of Freedom of Expression (MSI- AI), is an independent expert on the European Commission’s General Purpose AI Code of Practice working group concerning AI Governance, on the project advisory board to the Global Partnership on AI Group concerning Transformative AI policy for Gender, Diversity and Equality, sits on the UKAS Artificial Intelligence Technical Advisory Committee, and represents Equinet in the making of the fundamental rights centred EU AI Act standards with Cen/Cenelec.

She is also an expert advisor on the IEEE’s CertifAIEd (previously known as ECPAIS) ethical certification panel, is an IEEE Maestro (a title only given to 3 people in the world) and, sits on IEEE, BSI, and ISO standards working groups. She is also an advisory board member to: AI & Faith, AI Christian Partnership, AI Faith and Civil Society Commission, and to Baylor University’s Centre for Standards in Ethical AI, as well as a Fellow of ForHumanity working on Independent Audit of AI Systems.

Her other roles include being Chair of the UK’s Society for Computers and Law (SCL) (being the first female chair in its 50 year history), being on the boards of the International Technology Law Association (iTechlaw), the International Federation of Computer Law Associations (IFCLA)) and Women Leading in AI (which has produced works such as ‘10 principles of Responsible AI’ launched in the UK Parliament in 2019, and, with EqualityNow, the Alliance for Universal Digital Rights (Audri.org) – a digital framework for a future where everyone (especially women and girls) in the digital world can enjoy the right to safety, freedom and dignity.

In 2021, Patricia was listed on the 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics™. Patricia was also named on Computer Weekly’s longlist as one of the Most Influential Women in UK Technology in 2021, in 2022, in 2023, and again in 2024.

Ivy K. Lau-Schindewolf

International Policy and Partnerships

OpenAI

Christian Wolfrum

Provost, Deputy President

Nanyang Technological University

Prof. Dr. Christian Wolfrum has been Full Professor for Translational Nutrition Biology at the Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health at the ETH Zurich since January 2017.

Christian was born on July 17, 1972 in Bonn, Germany and studied Chemistry at the Westfälische Wilhelms Universität Münster, Germany. After his graduation, he spent six years as a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Prof. Markus Stoffel at the Rockefeller University in New York, USA. In 2007 he moved to the ETH Zurich and in 2008 he was appointed Assistant Professor for Obesity Research. His research focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the altered adipocyte differentiation and maturation associated with obesity and other metabolic disorders.

Christian Wolfrum received several honors, including the H.P. Kaufmann Award (2000), the Young Investigators Award by the EFSTL (2004), the Starting Independent Researcher Grant from the ERC (2008) and the Rössler Award (2014).

Since 2023 he is Vice President for Research and a member of the Executive Board at ETH Zurich.

Katharina Frey

Deputy Head Digitalisation Division, FDFA, future ICAIN Executive Director

ETH Zurich

Katharina Frey is a Swiss diplomat who is currently serving as Deputy Head of the Digital Foreign Policy division within the Swiss Foreign Ministry, which she helped to establish. She is leading several key projects on Switzerland as a digital host state and on cybersecurity for International Geneva. She is also currently leading the incubation phase of the International Computation and AI Network (ICAIN) Initiative, a joint project with ETH/EPFL and several international partners aimed at broadening access to AI research and development. She holds a Master’s degree in Law from the Universities of Zurich and Geneva, as well as a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the London School of Economics.

Jennifer Woodard

Vice President, Artificial Intelligence

Logically

Jennifer Woodard is an AI founder, executive, and researcher specializing in emerging technology, security, and public policy. With over 20 years in the tech industry and a decade of hands-on AI research, she has built and led teams at the forefront of AI applications for security and public safety.

Currently, Jennifer is the Vice President of Artificial Intelligence at Logically, where she leads the development of AI-driven solutions to detect and combat narrative threats, coordinated influence campaigns and adversarial activity, among other harmful online phenomena.

Previously, as Vice President of Research and Adoption, she focused on transitioning cutting-edge AI methodologies from research to real-world impact.

Jennifer co-founded Insikt AI (acquired by Logically in 2024), pioneering AI applications for national security, counterterrorism, and combating disinformation. Under her leadership, Insikt earned 4 Seals of Excellence from the European Commission for its innovative AI methods. Before that, she co-founded Sisu Labs, applying NLP and network analysis methods to uncover hidden influence networks for customers in the enterprise space. She also co-founded Dataietica, a research institute focused on ethical AI in security and policing.

Jennifer has been an external expert for the European Commission since 2013, advising the Commission on AI and security research, and, most recently, assessing the technical robustness of AI systems in EU-funded research. She also serves on the Expert Board of CERIS (Community for European Research and Innovation for Security – Directorate General HOME, European Commission), supporting EU innovation in counterterrorism, border security, and crime prevention. Additionally, she is a Vice Chair for the Social Science Panel (SOC) under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie programme, European Commission, focusing on AI, social networks, and ethics in AI.

Jennifer is a regular speaker on AI for security, countering extremism and radicalization, disinformation, and other online harms at high level events and forums on AI, including the European Commission, European Parliament, the European Innovation Council, the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Center (UNCCT), the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Jennifer currently serves on the EU AI Office’s Working Group 2 – Risk identification and assessment measures for systemic risks for the drafting of the EU AI Act’s EU General-Purpose AI Code of Practice. She has also briefed the UN Security Council on the potential danger posed by AI-powered disinformation at scale and opportunities for AI to help mitigate the negative effects of narrative threats.

Jennifer is an advisor to both public and private sector organizations on emerging AI methodologies and their application to security challenges. She also lectures on AI for national security at Reichmann University’s International Institute for Counter-Terrorism and serves as an Advisory Board Member for AI in the legal field at the Global LegalTech Hub.

Mark Nitzberg

Interim Executive Director and co-founder

International Association for Safe & Ethical AI (IASEAI)

Dr. Mark Nitzberg is Interim Executive Director and co-founder of the International Association for Safe & Ethical AI, or IASEAI (“eye-see-eye”). Since 2016 he is Executive Director of the Center for Human-Compatible AI (CHAI) at the UC Berkeley AI Research Lab (BAIR). He is an advisor to government and industry on AI developments, impacts and governance. Mark has built technology ventures applying AI in health care, finance, education and development aid, has worked at Bell Laboratories, Microsoft, and Amazon, and has developed and has run diverse programs in industry and academia.

David Filip

Senior Director of Standards and Industry Development

Huawei

Dr. David Filip is an ISO/IEC JTC 1 PAS Mentor, ISO/IEC JTC 1/AG 14 Systems integration facilitator, Convenor, ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 42/WG 3 Trustworthiness of AI, part of the National chair for NSAI TC 02/SC 18 AI, as well as the Head of the Irish national delegation for ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 42 AI & CEN-CENELEC JTC 21 AI. Furthermore, he works for the ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 38 liaison to OASIS.

Currently, Dr. David Filip is a Senior Director of Standards and Industry Development at Huawei Technologies.

Before joining Huawei as ISO/IEC JTC 1 strategist in January 2021, David ran standardization activities for ADAPT Centre @ Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick, and Moravia (now RWS Moravia).

Alaa Abdulaal

Chief of Digital Economy Intelligence

Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO)

Hosting the reception on behalf of DCO, Alaa Abdulaal is the organization’s Chief of Digital Economy Intelligence. She joined DCO in 2021 and has since led over 60 projects and contributed to digital maturity assessments across 50 countries. She has also played a key role in developing the DCO’s Digital Economy Navigator and its Digital Space Accelerator.

Prior to DCO, Alaa Abdulaal advised governments and international organizations on digital policy, managing cross-functional teams and budgets and supporting strategic collaboration. She began in database and technical operations, with experience at the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, before holding the position of Director of IT Strategy and Governance at the Saudi Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services until she joined DCO.

Olga Zorova

Communications Director

Findanode

With a decade of experience in marketing and communications, Olga has helped brands across fintech, IT, pharma, retail, and HoReCa refine their positioning and build meaningful engagement. Her background spans both agency and in-house roles, giving her a well-rounded perspective on brand strategy, executive personal branding, and reputation management. Passionate about process optimization and business impact, Olga’s work is centered on making communications both strategic and human—helping brands cut through the noise and drive real results.

Caroline Gans Combe

Associate Professor

OMNES EDUCATION - INSEEC

Caroline Gans Combe is an associate professor at INSEEC @ OmnesEducation, where she works on new paradigms of innovation and value creation, and teaches courses on data science, monitoring and impact indicators and related ethical issues. She is an independent expert for the European Commission in various fields such as health, ICT, data security, SME financing and ethics. In this respect, she chaired a working group on best practices in the use of data in research (ethical guidelines on data protection and privacy) and was appointed to the expert group assessing the growth potential of SMEs benefiting from the EU’s dedicated instrument.

A graduate of the Institut d’études politiques de Paris, she holds a master’s degree in ICT law, a Phd in language modelling, and is completing a thesis on new value paradigms: improving the financial valuation of economic agents by integrating cycles currently ignored in existing accounting methodologies and tools, and is an MIT-certified data scientist.

Kushal Sagar Prakash

Head, Global Institution Engagement

TikTok

Kushal leads TikTok’s engagement with global institutions, shaping public policy partnerships with international organizations and multistakeholder forums. He previously served as Chief-of-Staff to the VP of Global Public Policy, supporting key initiatives across 100+ markets in Asia, Africa, and Australia. Before joining TikTok, he established a public policy consulting firm advising over a dozen corporations, multilateral agencies, universities, and research institutions across the Asia Pacific. His earlier work spans government programs for SMEs, startups, and skills development, as well as social impact initiatives in 25 countries with a global nonprofit.

Shirin Hamid

CIO

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Saiyeba Zaman

Project Officer-DRM, Pilot Programmatic Partnership (PPP) Programme

Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS)

Saiyeba Zaman is a dedicated disaster risk and climate resilience specialist in humanitarian programming, anticipatory action, and community-based adaptation. Currently serving at the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) in partnership with the German Red Cross, she leads multi-stakeholder initiatives that strengthen local resilience, early warning systems, and climate justice—particularly for women and youth in high-risk areas.

With an academic background in Disaster Science and Climate Resilience from the University of Dhaka, Saiyeba combines technical expertise in GIS, data analysis, and participatory research with a passion for inclusive governance and gender-responsive programming. Her work spans forecast-based financing, emergency response coordination and advocacy for shock-responsive social protection. Saiyeba leverages technology from geospatial tools to community-driven early action protocols to reduce risks for vulnerable populations. She has contributed to policy dialogues, published research on cyclone shelter accessibility, and trained grassroots volunteers to build equitable, climate-resilient futures.

M Maruf Alam James

Assistant Director of the ICT Division

University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh

M Maruf Alam James is the Assistant Director of the ICT Division at the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh with a strong background in ICT infrastructure, James has designed and overseen network and software architecture for UGC and various universities across Bangladesh.

In addition to his contributions to tertiary education policy and digital transformation in higher education, James specializes in the application and integration of Large Language Models (LLMs) for education, research, and administrative automation. He is passionate about leveraging AI to enhance digital learning, streamline institutional workflows, and support evidence-based policy formulation.

Sadia Afrin Sayfa Negaban

Student

University of Dhaka

Sadia Afrin Sayfa Negaban is a final-year student of Meteorology at the University of Dhaka. Passionate about climate change, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable development, she has been actively involved in various national and international initiatives. Her affiliations include the Avoidable Death Network as a Future Leader and Intern, Campus Ambassador at the Environment and Climate Change Hub, and participant in ICIMOD’s Geospatial Empowerment Program. She was also recognized as the 2nd runner-up in Climathon 2024 and has received multiple awards for academic and creative excellence.

Beyond academics, Sadia has organized and volunteered in numerous events promoting environmental awareness, including World Meteorological Day celebrations and international conferences. She is especially committed to empowering youth and vulnerable communities through research, advocacy, and inclusive climate action. With strong communication skills and a collaborative mindset, she continues to strive for a more resilient and equitable future.

Tonoy Mahmud

Dept. of Disaster Science and Management

University of Dhaka

Tonoy Mahmud is a disaster science researcher with academic roots in the University of Dhaka, holding both BSc and MSc degrees in Disaster Science and Management. With a strong interest in geospatial technologies, climate risk, and hazard modeling, he has worked extensively in both academic and applied research. His professional journey includes roles as a Research Assistant in diverse projects on nuclear site risk assessment, landslide hazard mapping, and hydrometeorological risk analysis for vulnerable communities, as well as a Research Fellow at Oxfam Bangladesh focusing on drought dynamics.

Tonoy has co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications in remote sensing, landslide susceptibility, drought analysis, and climate vulnerability. He brings strong expertise in GIS, remote sensing, and statistical modeling using Python, R, and Google Earth Engine. Beyond research, he is an active Wikipedia editor, creative photographer, and passionate cyclist, driven by a vision to integrate science and technology for building disaster-resilient futures.

MD Asif Rafsan

Disaster risk reduction and climate resilience professional

ASIF RAFSAN is a disaster risk reduction and climate resilience professional with over six years of experience in anticipatory action, early warning systems, and climate change adaptation. He holds both Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Disaster Science and Management from the University of Dhaka. As a Senior Program Officer at IFRC Bangladesh, he led the development of the national roadmap for the “Early Warnings for All” initiative, working closely with government ministries and technical partners.

Asif has worked with leading organizations including BRAC, UNDP, ADPC, and Oxfam, contributing to policy advocacy, capacity building, and field-based research. His expertise includes GIS-based risk mapping, vulnerability assessments, python and stakeholder coordination. He has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications on disaster impacts, migration, and loss-damage assessment. Known for his strong analytical, facilitation, and communication skills, Asif is committed to advancing inclusive, evidence-driven solutions in disaster risk governance and climate resilience in Bangladesh and beyond.

Shamima Ferdousi Sifa

Assistant Professor in the Department of Disaster Science and Climate Resilience

University of Dhaka

Shamima Ferdousi Sifa is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Disaster Science and Climate Resilience at the University of Dhaka. She specializes in climate change impacts, disaster risk reduction, hazard assessment, and early warning systems. Her academic journey began at the University of Dhaka, where she earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Disaster Science and Management. Over the years, she has led and contributed to numerous national and international research projects focusing on landslides, floods, soil salinity, and urban heat islands using GIS, remote sensing, and statistical modeling.

She has a strong publication record and has presented her research at prestigious international platforms, including the AGU Fall Meeting. In addition to her research, she plays a vital role in academic coordination, curriculum development, and training programs related to disaster resilience. She is also actively involved in professional networks promoting climate and health adaptation, gender equality, and community resilience.

Margherita Philipp

Data scientist, EconAI

Fundació d'Economia Analítica (FEA)

Margherita Philipp is a data scientist at EconAI, a research group based in Barcelona. She graduated with an MSc in Data Science from the Barcelona School of Economics (BSE) where she wrote her thesis on predicting conflict with the help of text-based data. She is currently exploring ways of nowcasting and forecasting institutional disruption and electoral violence. She has a background in philosophy, politics, and economics and has worked as a monitoring and evaluation consultant on a wide range of projects in the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Erica Allis

Senior Programme Officer, Global Framework for Climate Services

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Erica Allis is a Senior Programme at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). She is the WMO Secretariat focal point for the Global Multi-Hazard Alert System Framework, which aims to accelerate MHEWS capabilities in Members, and supports the work of the WMO Standing Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction and Public Services. Prior to joining WMO she was the Associate Director of the International Research Institute for Climate and Society at Columbia University. She has expertise in disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and extensive experience in the co-design of decision support services and impact-based forecasting methods.

Scott Williams

Disaster Risk Management Expert & Board member

Resurgence

Scott is a seasoned expert in disaster risk management and a passionate advocate for systemic change. A runner and poet at heart, Scott brings a unique blend of analytical rigor and creative insight to his work, often focused on fostering mutual learning and opening up spaces for transformative thinking.

He serves as an advisor to a range of global initiatives and institutions, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). His current advisory roles span the High-Level Dialogue on Energy, the High-Level Initiative on Financing for Development in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond, the G20 Sustainable Finance Study Group, and the UN’s Global Risk Assessment Framework (GRAF). He also contributes to the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (GAR), helping to deepen understanding of the systemic nature of risk in a rapidly changing world.

Previously, Scott spent two decades at PwC, where he held leadership roles including Director of the Disaster Risk Management Practice, Sustainability and Climate Change Practice Leader for PwC Japan, and member of PwC’s Global Sustainability Governance Board.

Dilupa Nanayakkara

Communications and Marketing Lead

Resurgence

Dilupa is a strategic communications and marketing leader with over 20 years of experience across global media, climate resilience, and international development. With a background that includes senior roles at Bauer Media and News UK, she has been involved in high-impact campaigns for top-tier brands such as P&G, Coca-Cola, and Unilever. Now focused on climate action, she serves as Communications and Marketing Lead at Resurgence, where she has helped elevate the award-winning DARAJA early warning initiative. Her work spans multimedia storytelling, global conference engagement (COP26–COP29), and co-authorship for climate resilience publications including for the Global Center on Adaptation.

At Resurgence, Dilupa has co-produced over 15 climate-focused videos and digital campaigns that have boosted global engagement and helped secure international recognition, including the 2024 World Habitat Award. She brings a combination of corporate strategy and grassroots impact, blending data-driven marketing, creative storytelling, and stakeholder collaboration.

Esraa Elgadi

DARAJA Project Manager (East Africa & MENA)

Resurgence

Trained in architecture (University of Khartoum) and project management (Ahfad University for Women), Esraa specialises in disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate resilience, and community-led adaptation. She served as Sudan’s Transport Sector Lead for the 2020 Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (World Bank/UNDP) and led a heritage-based, community-driven climate resilience research project on Tuti Island, Sudan (2022-23).

Esraa currently manages the DARAJA Sudan Emergency Forecasting and Early Warning Service program, which delivers actionable weather forecasts to vulnerable and conflict-affected communities – empowering 48 million people in Sudan, including farmers and internally displaced persons (IDPs), to navigate extreme weather and compound crises.

Ko Barrett

Deputy Secretary-General

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Ms. Ko Barrett was appointed as WMO Deputy Secretary-General in January 2024 and began her mandate on 1 April 2024. Prior to her appointment, Ms. Barrett served as the Senior Advisor for Climate at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In this role, she provided strategic advice and direction within NOAA to enable the Agency to align, integrate, and extend its capabilities to best provide the climate services needed to address the climate challenge. She represented NOAA’s interests in government-wide efforts to transform the economy and achieve US climate goals to reduce emissions and stabilize global temperature by mid-century.

In 2015, Ko Barrett was one of the first women elected to serve as Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a role she held until July 2023. As Vice-chair, Ms. Barrett utilized her talent for facilitating consensus to advance the organization’s work. She championed the Special Report on Oceans and Cryosphere, chaired the Gender Action Team, and led the Science Board for the Scholarship Program for scientists from developing countries. Her quotes on climate change and its impacts were featured in thousands of articles worldwide.

For over 15 years, she represented the United States in delegations responsible for negotiating and adopting climate science and policy outcomes. In addition to her work with the IPCC, she served as a lead negotiator on adaptation and capacity building issues for the United States in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Ko Barrett is widely recognized as an expert on climate science and policy, particularly on issues related to climate impacts and strategies to help society adapt to a changing world.

Ms. Barrett joined the Senior Executive Service in 2016. She served as the Deputy Assistant Administrator for NOAA’s Research Programs for five years, following various leadership positions in its Climate Program Office for over a decade. Before joining NOAA in 2005, Ms. Barrett was the Director of the Global Climate Change Program at the US Agency for International Development, where she oversaw climate activities in more than 40 countries.

Ms. Barrett has won multiple awards for her contributions to NOAA, the nation and our planet. These include the NOAA Administrator’s Awards in 2010 and 2015, the U.S. Department of Commerce Gold Award for Leadership in 2021, and the U.S. Department of State Meritorious Honor Award in 2011. She also shared a Nobel Peace Prize with members of the IPCC in 2007. In 2017, Ms. Barrett was the commencement speaker and received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of North Carolina – Asheville. In 2021, she received a Distinguished Presidential Rank Award, one of the most prestigious awards in the federal career civil service. Most recently, in 2022, the Global Landscape Forum included Ms. Barrett on its list of 16 Women Restoring the Earth.

Ms. Barrett holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies from the University of North Carolina – Asheville. There, she was named a University Scholar, Distinguished Research Scholar, and was elected a member of the Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society.

Milena Grecuccio

Deputy Director

United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC)

Rhiana Spring

CEO and Founder

Spring ACT – Action. Compassion. Technology.

UN AI for Good Award Finalist. Rhiana Spring is an international human rights advocate and the founder of Spring ACT. With the United Nations, the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and diverse legal teams, Rhiana has defended the most vulnerable individuals and spearheaded multinational human rights projects across 18 countries across Africa, Asia, South America, and Europe. Aged 17, Rhiana setup and ran her first IT business, having taught herself multiple programming languages. Her team developed “Sophia“, the world’s first chatbot empowering victim-survivors of domestic violence to gather potential evidence and seek help anywhere in the world. To date, Sophia has had over 41,000 confidential conversations, in 172 countries. And 25 languages. Her work has been recognised with multiple international innovation awards, including from the President of Switzerland and recognitions from MIT, and gained international media attention. Rhiana was recently named “Europe’s Best Impact Entrepreneur” by the European Investment Bank. Rhiana is on a mission to scale up this impact and is looking for impactful global partners to join forces.

>> AI for Good Award video: https://vimeo.com/springact/ai-for-good-united-nations-chatbot-sophia?share=copy

>> Spring ACT : www.springact.org

>> Chatbot Sophia: www.sophia.chat

RIkin Gandhi

CEO

Digital Green

Rikin Gandhi co-founded Digital Green as a project within Microsoft Research India, inspired by his passion for supporting smallholder farmers developed through time in rural India. With degrees from MIT in Aeronautical Engineering and Carnegie Mellon in Computer Science, he began his career at Oracle, where he developed patented linguistic search algorithms. Today, Digital Green reaches over 8 million farmers across India, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Brazil, and Kenya. Its flagship platform, Farmer.Chat, uses conversational AI to deliver timely, localized advice and connect farmers to markets. Rikin is a TED Fellow and Ashoka Fellow, and has co-authored leading studies on agri-food systems transformation.

Moses Samanhyia

CEO

Soil Solutions

Moses Samanhyia is a product strategist, AI innovator, and social impact entrepreneur based in Ghana. He leads digital initiatives like Farm Assist, an AI-powered chatbot that delivers instant agricultural advice to smallholder farmers. As CEO of Soil Solutions Ghana, Moses integrates machine learning with local expertise to improve soil health and food security. He’s also driving Sophia, a generative AI tool supporting survivors of domestic violence. With a background in telecom engineering and a passion for purposeful technology, Moses builds tools that empower underserved communities through accessible, user-centered design. His work bridges tech and development for scalable, inclusive change.

Impact Award Storytelling : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GjpEu_GR4_mq4DRq4gO62nUp03SdN3-K/view?usp=sharing

Visit Our Website Soil Solutions : https://soilsolutionsgh.com

Chat With Farm Assist: https://farmassist.chat

Aral Surmeli

Founder / Physician

HERA Digital Health

Dr. Aral Surmeli is a physician, public health expert, and social entrepreneur dedicated to transforming healthcare access for refugees and displaced populations. As the Founder and CEO of HERA Digital Health, he leads an award-winning nonprofit that uses AI-powered digital tools to connect refugee women and children with essential health services, including immunization, pregnancy care, and health record management. Under his leadership, HERA has reached over 300,000 refugees, working alongside Ministries of Health, humanitarian organizations, and refugee communities to design culturally relevant and user-friendly solutions.

Dr. Surmeli holds a Master of Public Health from Harvard University and is pursuing a Doctor of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University. His innovative work with HERA has been recognized by Google.org, Grand Challenges Canada, Solve at MIT, and the AI for Good Impact Awards. He is passionate about leveraging technology and participatory research to break down barriers to healthcare in crisis settings and is actively expanding HERA’s reach across the Middle East and Africa.

Aditya Kulkarni

Founder and CEO

CareNX Innvovations Private Limited

Aditya Kulkarni is the Founder and CEO of CareNX Innovations, a healthtech social enterprise using AI and smart devices to improve maternal and fetal care in low-resource settings. With a background in AI and computer science, Aditya has led CareNX to impact over 500,000 pregnancies across India, Africa, and Southeast Asia. A recipient of global recognition from UNICEF, MIT Solve, Stanford Medicine, and Queen Elizabeth II, he is passionate about creating equitable access to quality healthcare. Aditya holds a Master’s in AI and has completed leadership programs at the University of Cambridge and MIT.

Chaouki Kasmi

Chief Innovation Officer

Technology Innovation Institute (TII)

Wafae Bakkali

Staff Generative AI Specialist, Blackbelt

Google

Dr. Wafae Bakkali is a Staff Generative AI Specialist, Blackbelt at Google. Through her role, she guides organizations across various industries and geographies in adopting and building Generative AI solutions. She holds a PhD from IMT Atlantique, France, and was a postdoctoral researcher at CentraleSupélec, Paris-Saclay University. Wafae also actively contributes to the AI community as a speaker at international tech conferences and a mentor in AI hackathons and startup events

Sanand Sasidharan

Principal Scientist

GE HealthCare Technology & Innovation Center

Sanand Sasidharan is a Principal Scientist, Natural Language Processing at the GE HealthCare Technology & Innovation Center, where he leads cutting-edge research in natural language

processing and machine learning related to Oncology. With over a decade of experience at GE Global Research, he has contributed significantly to projects involving text analysis on noisy, domain-specific data, open-domain question answering, and semantic reasoning over linked data.

Sanand holds 16 patents and has authored 9 research papers in the domain of Artificial Intelligence, underscoring his deep expertise and innovative contributions to the field. His academic background in computer vision and electronics engineering supports his ability to bridge theoretical AI concepts with practical healthcare applications. His recent work in oncology reflects a deep interest in using technology to improve patient outcomes and streamline clinical workflows.

Howard Lakougna

Senior Program Officer

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Howard Lakougna is currently a Sr. Program officer at the Gates foundation in Seattle. His team focuses on scaling digital public infrastructure in LMICs and accelerating the impact of digital solutions and emerging technologies. His professional background is in technology development, system designs, AI/ML, and product management. Before the Gates foundation, he was a technical program manager at Facebook/Meta, working on cross-platform initiatives in the Social Impact division. He also worked at PATH, Providence Health systems, and GE Healthcare, building products at the intersection of technology and social impact. Howard holds a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, a master’s degree in biomedical engineering, and an MBA in Marketing and Entrepreneurship.

Christian Merz

Co-Lead ‚FAIR Forward: Artificial Intelligence for All’ | Division Economic and Social Development

Digitalisation

Christian Merz is co-leading the BMZ funded program FAIR Forward – Artificial Intelligence for all dealing with the responsible usage of Artificial Intelligence in international cooperation. Being with GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) for more than 5 years he co-coordinated the GIZ Data Lab. Beforehand he has worked within the Agricultural Development Program of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as the Senior Program Officer for Digital Solutions. Between 2011 and 2016 he managed SAP’s research program on ICT4D (Information and Communication Technologies for Development) covering agriculture, rural logistics, procurement & retail, financial services etc. He received his Diploma in Physics from the Albert-Ludwigs-University in Freiburg, Germany.

Jimena Luna

Global AI Policy Lead

Lenovo

Jimena Luna is the Global AI Policy Lead for Lenovo based in Washington D.C. Jimena brings 15+ years of experience working with The World Bank Group, The White House (Office of the Federal CIO), and the private sector at the intersection of technology policy, economic development, and global affairs in EMEA, LATAM, and North America. Her policy areas of expertise include AI, emerging technologies, data governance and digital development.

At Lenovo, Jimena leads AI policy engagements with policymakers, regulators, academics, and international institutions—connecting the dots between AI regulations and business priorities. She is responsible for high-level commitments with institutions and governments, as well as building the company’s global thought leadership on AI.

She holds a B.A. in International Relations from Boston University and a M.A. in International Economics from the Aix-Marseille School of Economics (France), with recent studies in artificial intelligence at the University of Oxford and The London School of Economics. Jimena is fluent in English, French, Spanish, and conversational Italian.

Maria Galindo Garcia-Delgado

Secretary of Digital Policies

Government of Catalonia

Maria Galindo (Barcelona, 1982) has over 20 years experience in public policy and consulting, specifically in Digital Policy and International Affairs.

She has served in different positions in the public administration: in the Government of Catalonia, currently as Secretary for Digital Policy (since 2024), as Director-general for Digitalisation and Urban Agenda (2020-2022), and as project manager in ACCIÓ (2006-2011).

She also worked at the Barcelona City Council, implementing the city’s Smart City vision and managing the Barcelona Institute of Technology for the Habitat (BIT Habitat) (2011-2015).

She has also developed her professional career in consulting, leading the International and Smart City practices and directing projects in Latin America, Europe and Asia.

She has represented the different organisations in front of the European Commission, the Inter-American Development Bank and United Nations, and was a recognized member of the high level group of the European Commission on Smart Cities and Communities.

In September 2022 the European Commission appointed Maria as Board Member of the European Mission to deliver 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030.

She has published and co-authored a number of papers and articles, including the European Commission’s Rolling Agenda for Smart Cities, or the World Economic Forum’s Guidelines for Sustainable IoT Adoption.

She lectures at a number of universities (La Salle in Barcelona, University Externado Colombia, ISDE in Madrid, Bocconi in Milan) and participates in conferences worldwide. She’s also member of the Women in Tech global movement and is a Jury member of the Women in ICT Awards and the Smart City Expo Global Awards.

She studied Economics at the University of Barcelona and the London School of Economics (LSE) and holds an Executive Master in Public Administration (ESADE Business School), and a specialisation course on ESG and Climate Change at Wharton – University of Pennsylvania.

Ivan Dotu

Applied Science Lead

Giga - UNICEF

Dr. Ivan Dotu is the Applied Science Lead at Giga, a UNICEF-ITU initiative connecting all schools to internet. He is a widely recognized researcher in the fields of both AI and Computational Biology. Dr Dotu finished his PhD in 2006 and since then he has held different positions at Brown University, Boston College and The Jackson Laboratories among others. Dr Dotu has co-authored close to 50 scientific papers in both international journals and conferences and has served in different conference committees and review boards. Dr Dotu has also held industry positions and is co-founder of 2 biotech start-ups.

Lorenzo Longobardi

Data Scientist

WorldFish (CGIAR)

PhD-trained marine scientist with 8 years of experience turning messy environmental and fisheries data into policy-ready insights. I architect reproducible data pipelines, build full-stack dashboards (React / Next.js / Shiny) and wrangle multi-country vessel-tracking streams for international NGOs and national fisheries agencies. From designing rugged field-collection workflows in low-connectivity coastal communities, through cloud-based ETL and database management (GCP, MongoDB), modelling and validation, to interactive visualisation, I deliver the complete analytics chain in close collaboration with governments, universities and fishers. I operate at the interface of research, analytics and stakeholder engagement.

Dr. Manpreet Kaur, PhD

Director of Strategy & Product

SidLabs Online LLP

Many mission-driven leaders have bold visions—but find themselves stuck in complexity.

They’re juggling impact goals, stakeholder expectations, ethical AI dilemmas, and rapid growth—while trying to align people, product, and purpose. The result? Great intentions, fragmented execution, and tech that doesn’t quite serve the people it’s meant for.

That’s where I come in.

I’m Dr. Manpreet Kaur—a developmental psychologist turned Strategy & Product Director with 12+ years of global experience at the intersection of **human-centered AI, systems design, stakeholder alignment, and ethical innovation**.

I help VCs, founders, and impact leaders de-risk innovation, design scalable solutions, and cut through the noise—so they can focus on vision, results, and real-world change, not tech bottlenecks.

My approach combines deep behavioral insight, design thinking, and systems strategy. Whether I’m aligning multi-sector stakeholders, guiding AI product roadmaps, or translating complexity into clarity—I build with empathy, scalability, and measurable outcomes in mind.

🔹 Highlights:

* Led AI strategy for award-winning solutions recognized at the UN AI for Good Summit (2025)

* Increased engagement & delivery efficiency by average 35–40% across social-impact platforms

* Served global clients incl. **Bank of America, APA, Forbes Marshall, Indian Defense Intelligence**

* Founded 3 ventures, with 2 acquired by SidLabs LLP

* Designed inclusive AI systems informed by neurodiversity, psychology, and human-centered ethics

But my edge isn’t just strategy. It’s the perspective I bring.

I began my career supporting children in underserved communities—from the slums of New Delhi to conflict zones in India’s Red Corridor. I worked with thousands of children across 6 countries, sharpening my understanding of systems, trauma, and trust.

A moment that shaped me: A child once asked, “Will I ever feel safe online again?”

That question stayed with me. It’s why I design not just smart systems, but safe, dignified, human-centered ones.

My work is personal. I come from a lineage of resilience—descendant of Partition survivors, granddaughter of a Kashmir-deployed veteran, daughter of a martyr and genocide survivor. I don’t just build tech. I build trust, care, resilience and courage into every product I lead.

—

If you’re navigating complexity and building for real impact—let’s talk.

I’m always open to smart conversations, purpose-driven partnerships, or fresh perspective sessions.

Free Resources:

1. Standardized Psychological Assessments by APA for children and adults are now available Online at talktomissmp.com, powered by SidLabs)

2. The CARE Children’s Application Review and Evaluation Platform (Based on CARFramework, 2013 available at care.talktomissmp.com, powered by SidLabs)

Leen D’hondt

Director of Technology and Data

Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team

Leen is the Director of Technology and Data at the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT). Her drive, connecting people through mapping for Social Good.

The HOT Technology team she leads co-creates open-source tools that empower communities to create and use geospatial data in a collaborative way. The democratization of this geospatial technology ensures that communities govern their own data, protect it, and use it to meet local needs. It enables people to actively participate in decision-making and become local change-makers through the use of community-generated data.

Rory Collins

Global IM & Analytics Advisor

UNOPS

Rory Collins is the Global Information Management and Analytics Advisor for the UNOPS Peace and Security Cluster. Specializing in innovation and technology integration, he leads UN projects focused on enterprise systems, remote sensing, and enhancing efficiency in humanitarian mine action

Kartik Sawhney

Co-founder

I-Stem

Kartik is a disability advocate and technologist who has not let his disability prove an impediment in the pursuit of his personal and professional goals and has done substantial work in empowering other people with disabilities to be successful tech professionals. As the first blind student to pursue science education in high school in India, he advocated for change in rules that now allow all blind students across the country to pursue sciences in high school. Similarly, after several months of advocacy, he convinced the top technical universities in India to open their doors to blind students, leading to at least thirty students in India pursuing engineering today.

A computer science graduate of Stanford University, Kartik co-founded I-Stem that develops technical solutions to empower them to access educational and employment opportunities. I-Stem also works closely with the government, technical universities and corporates to make their campuses and culture more inclusive, and has worked with nearly 25,000 people with disabilities so far. Further, given his experience in accessibility and assistive technologies, he serves on boards of several organizations and other high-level committees, such as the Education Commission’s Expert Panel on Technology and Education and national Federation of the Blind. His work and views have been published in several journals including UNICEF’s State of the world’s children Report among others.

In recognition of his leadership potential and work, Kartik received the Queen’s Young Leaders Award 2016 from Her Majesty The Queen. In addition, he has received the National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (India’s highest honor for contributions to the disability sector) and was selected as one of the 17 UN young leaders for Sustainable Development Goals 2018 by Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth. He is an Echoing Green fellow, an MIT Solve winner, and a UNICEF digital champion. Kartik’s vision is to redefine disability through achievement.

Claudia Seitz

Professor of Public Law, European Law, Public International Law and Life Sciences Law

UFL, Liechtenstein

Claudia Seitz studied law at the Universities of Freiburg, Basel and Strasbourg with stays abroad in Helsinki and Florence. After passing the First State Law Examination in 1996, she worked as a stagiary in the cabinet of the German judge at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. After completing her legal clerkship and the Second State Law Examination in 1998, she worked as an associate at the international law firm Cleary Gottlieb in Brussels from 1998 to 1999. In 2001, she received her doctorate in European law. at the University of Basel.

From 2002 to 2009, she worked as counsel at an international life sciences company in Basel. In addition, she completed postgraduate studies at King’s College London from 2006 to 2007 and a master’s degree from 2008 to 2009, which she completed in 2009 with a master’s degree (Master in Arts, M.A.). Since 2007, she has been a lecturer at the University of Basel in the Department of Public Law.

From 2014 to 2019, she was Max Geldner Assistant Professor at the University of Basel. Since 2019, she has been a visiting professor at the University of Ghent and also a lecturer at the Universities of Basel and Bonn. In 2024, she was also a visiting professor at Bina Nusantara University (BINUS) in Jakarta. Since 2021, she has been researching and teaching at the Private University in the Principality of Liechtenstein (UFL) in constitutional and administrative law, European law, international law, life sciences law and the law of new technologies.

Claudia Seitz habilitated at the University of Basel with a habilitation thesis on “Health and the State”. In 2022, she was awarded the Venia Legendi for Public Law, European Law, International Law and Life Sciences Law.

In 2023, she obtained a second Master’s degree (Executive Master in Law and AI) at the Brussels School of Artificial Intelligence (BSC Brussels).

At the beginning of 2023, Claudia Seitz was appointed Professor of Public Law, European Law, International Law and Life Sciences Law at the UFL, she is the designated head of the Institute for European and International Law (IEVR).

Zoltán Turbék

Deputy Permanent Representative

Permanent Mission of Hungary to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva

André Anjos

Group Leader in Medical AI and Scientific Researcher

Idiap Research Institute, Switzerland

André Anjos holds a Ph.D. degree in signal processing and machine learning (2006) studying the application of neural nets and statistical methods for particle recognition in the context of High-Energy Physics experiments at Large Hadron Collider at CERN, Switzerland. He joined the Idiap Research Institute in 2010 where he focused on biometrics applications. Nowadays, André leads the Medical AI Group at Idiap. Current interests include medical decision making, image and signal processing, machine learning, research reproducibility and open science. André teaches graduate-level machine learning courses at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Idiap’s Master of AI and serves as reviewer for various scientific journals in pattern recognition, image processing and biometrics.

Edward Kwakwa

Assistant Director General, Global Challenges and Partnerships Sector

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

Edward Kwakwa is Assistant Director General, Global Challenges and Partnerships Sector, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva. He served as General Counsel at WIPO from 2004 until September 2016. Kwakwa holds an LL.B. degree from the University of Ghana, an LL.M. from Queen’s University in Canada, and an LL.M. and a J.S.D. from Yale Law School in the U.S.A.

Before joining WIPO, Kwakwa practiced with the law firm of O’Melveny and Myers in Washington, D.C., worked as International Legal Adviser at the Commission on Global Governance in Geneva, as Senior Legal Adviser at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and as Legal Affairs Officer at the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Carlos Uribe

Programme Specialist Disaster Risk Reduction Unit - Natural Sciences Sector

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Carlos Uribe serves in the Disaster Risk Reduction Unit of UNESCO’s Natural Sciences Sector, based in Paris. He brings over 17 years of international experience in disaster risk reduction and climate resilience.

At UNESCO, he leads global initiatives that support Member States through technical cooperation, science-informed policy advice, and interagency coordination.

Carlos previously served at UNDRR, first at the Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean, where he led work on risk knowledge and analysis, and later at the Global Office in Bonn, where he coordinated and supported global efforts to integrate DRR and climate action. He also worked with UNDP in Haiti, and in the past, has contributed to operational risk mapping and emergency response worldwide through the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters and the Copernicus Emergency Management System (EMS).

His work focuses on advancing multi-hazard risk analysis, early warning systems, and the integration of DRR into climate and development agendas.

Mike Walton

Head of Digital

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Mike Walton heads up the Digital Service at UNHCR. He has coordinated the development and delivery of the organization’s Digital Transformation Strategy that looks at the opportunities Digital Inclusion can bring to service delivery, education and employment and how to deal with the associated risks. Mike has worked at UNHCR for 10 years. Prior to this his experience included working with International NGO’s and UK charities. From his first role at Friends of the Earth through to working with UNICEF, WSPA and Guide Dogs Mike has always advised on the power of digital to transform the way we work, to engage more successfully and bring lasting impact.

Laetitia Kirianoff Crimmins

Head of Humanitarian Affairs

Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations and to the other international organizations in Geneva

Gisella Lomax

Senior Advisor on Information Integrity on Digital Platforms

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Gisella Lomax leads UNHCR’s digital protection capacity to strengthen information integrity, responding to and mitigating information risks for refugees and humanitarian action. Gisella joined the United Nations in 2011, serving in various roles across the UN system including human rights, climate, disarmament and peacebuilding, prior to her current role as a humanitarian focused on forced displacement and protection. Gisella’s first career was in journalism, reporting on news and culture for international media organisations.

H. E. Eng. Haitham Abdulrahman AlOhali

Vice Minister

Ministry of Communications & Information Technology (MCIT), Saudi Arabia

His Excellency, Haytham AlOhali, was appointed Vice Minister of the Ministry of Communications & Information Technology (MCIT) in 2018. Prior to his appointment, the Vice Minister held a number of senior management positions with Cisco Saudi Arabia, ﬁnishing his time with the organisation as Managing Director.

While Managing Director for Cisco Saudi Arabia, His Excellency managed both public and private sector partnerships, playing an active role in client digital transformation journeys. In this role, His Excellency assisted clients from across the Government, Healthcare, Education, and National Security & Defense sectors. His Excellency was also a long-time member of Cisco Saudi Arabia’s CSR board.

Prior to joining Cisco in 2006, His Excellency was Deputy GM for the ECDL foundation in Saudi (2003-2006), where he focused on the education sector and helped establish an IT literacy program.

His Excellency holds a bachelor’s degree in Electric Engineering from Seattle University.

John Samuel Gibson

Partner

DLA Piper

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dev Verma

Team Qryptonian

Dev is a recent physics graduate and scholar from Nanyang Technological University. He enjoys exploring how and why things happen in our ever-changing universe, and is especially interested in using the principles of quantum physics to help shape the next wave of technological development.

As Team Qryptonian, Dev won the Education Track at the FLIQ Hackathon and is excited to share his journey.

Nermine Chaabani (QBusters)

Team QBusters

Quantum Control (PGI-8) Institute, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany

QBusters is a four-member team comprising three PhD students (Nermine Chaabani presenting, Manuel Guatto and José Diogo da Costa Jesus) and one PhD graduate (Dr. Francesco Preti) from the Quantum Control (PGI-8) Institute at Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany.

Janhavi Chaurasia

Team Qcanary

Kazuki Tsuoka

Team p3nguin

University of Tokyo

Kazuki Tsuoka is a Ph.D. student in chemistry at the University of Tokyo, where his research focuses on developing quantum algorithms to simulate the quantum dynamics of chemical systems. An avid quantum enthusiast for four years, he actively contributes to open-source projects and participates in quantum computing hackathons. As Team p3nguin, Kazuki won the Science Track at the FLIQ Hackathon for his innovative work on solving the Max-Cut problem using quantum-classical hybrid algorithms.

Arnd Bätzner

Founder

BAETZNER METROPOLITAN

Arnd Bätzner provides consulting and government advisory on the alignment of multi-modal transit systems with the built environment and strategic land use planning. Focus areas include physical and data integration of future autonomous and demand-responsive transport with high-capacity modes, designs of passenger intermodal facilities and bus electrification strategies. Holding a master in physics and a major in transit management from ETH Zurich, Arnd is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of St.Gallen’s Institute for Systemic Management and Public Governance: His academic research focuses on urban elevated walkability enhancers such as skybridges, cable cars and people movers.

Arnd has been directing projects in Southeast Asia, Europe and the Americas for both the public and private sector. From 2011 to 2023, he was a non-executive director of Switzerland’s nationwide Mobility Car Sharing system, in charge of market foresight. He co-directed the development of the Swiss Federal strategy on data exchange in future Autonomous driving.

Arnd is co-chairing the Austrian Ministry of Transport’s strategic advisory board on research, technology and innovation. For the World Public Transport Association UITP, he is a trainer on bus electrification and shared mobility integration worldwide. Arnd chaired UITP’s trolleybus committee and is a founding member of its Shared Mobility Committee. For a decade, he has been a member of TRB’s committees on and on Rail Transit Systems and on Emerging and Innovative Public Transportation Technologies.

Carlos Ruiz-Garvia

Team Lead, Adaptation Committee Unit

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat

Carlos Ruiz-Garvia has been with the UNFCCC secretariat (UN Climate Change) for 14 years and currently leads the Adaptation Committee Unit in Bonn, Germany. He previously headed the UNFCCC Regional Collaboration Centres for Latin America and the Caribbean and managed the Global Innovation Hub, promoting low-carbon development, climate resilience, and collaborative climate strategies. Before joining UNFCCC, Carlos contributed to Fundación Chile, Repsol-Andina, FAO Bolivia, and the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research in Mexico, and served as Director of Operations at Assurance Services International GmbH, Germany.

Carlos holds a Forestry Engineering degree from Universidad de Concepción, Chile, a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Forestry from the University of Göttingen, and certificates in Project Management and Economics from Harvard. His master’s thesis earned the IUFRO Excellence Award in Forestry Sciences in Australia.

Carlos Abellán

cofounder and CEO

Quside

Carlos Abellan is a cofounder and CEO of Quside. He graduated as a telecommunications engineer by the UPC (Barcelona) and then carried out his doctoral studies at ICFO, under the supervision of Prof. Valerio Pruneri and Prof. Morgan W. Mitchell. He focused on the development of quantum technologies for secure communications and supercomputation, where he is coinventor of 10 patent families as well as coauthor of 20 papers in scientific journals. Carlos has founded two technology companies to date, attracting early-stage private investment internationally. He has also received a variety of awards, including the MIT Innovators Under 35 Europe 2018, the Pioneer award by the Catalan government or the Ehrenfest best paper award.

Wendy Cue

IASC Senior PSEAH Coordinator

Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC)

Ms. Wendy Cue is the IASC Senior PSEAH Coordinator. Previously, she was Head of OCHA’s Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean. Ms. Cue has more than 20 years of international and UN experience in humanitarian affairs, human rights, and sustainable development. Her previous assignments include as Head of the OCHA Office in Nepal, Chief of the Emergency Preparedness Section, Coordinator for the Nepal Risk Reduction Consortium, Chief of the Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit, Field Manager for the Pandemic Influenza Contingency, and Team Leader for human rights investigations in Rwanda and Haiti. She has led UN emergency teams to coordinate initial response to the tsunami in Sri Lanka, floods in Pakistan, volcano eruption in Cabo Verde, and hurricane in Haiti.

Ramesh Rajasingham

Head and Representative of OCHA Geneva and Director of the Coordination Division

OCHA

Ramesh Rajasingham was appointed Head and Representative of OCHA in Geneva and Director of the Coordination Division in September 2018. Rajasingham has more than 25 years’ experience in the UN, including as OCHA’s Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, and Acting Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator. He has carried out assignments with OCHA and UNICEF and worked in crisis settings around the world, including as Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis. Rajasingham, a Sri Lankan national, holds a Master’s in Economics and speaks English and French.

Leslie Teo

Senior Director of AI Products

AI Singapore

Leslie is Senior Director of AI Products at AI Singapore where he is tasked with catalysing the use of AI in businesses. He and his team work with companies to identify important use cases and build enabling AI products to support such use cases.

Leslie is passionate about data, data science, machine learning, and AI. He pivoted from a career in economics, finance, and investing in 2019. That year, he joined Grab as Head of Data Science, Policy, and Data Initiatives and Advisor to the CEO. In that role, he sought to answer critical business and social questions using data and build products that provided relevant insights, such as congestion patterns and creating safer bike paths. He helped lay the foundation for the data science and analytics role at Grab and Singtel’s digital bank (GxS).

A�er Grab, Leslie was Managing Director at Great Eastern Life Insurance for Data and Strategic Transformation. He and his team were responsible for enabling data analytics and data science across the organisation and fostering business transformation capabilities to deliver value in areas such as distribution, marketing, risk management and digital products.

Before Grab, Leslie was the Director of the Economics and Investment Strategy Department and Chief Economist at GIC Private Limited, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund. He oversaw the team responsible for asset allocation, total portfolio construction, systematic investing, and identifying critical long-term trends that would impact GIC’s portfolio. He remains an advisor to the government on reserve management issues.

Leslie was also at the International Monetary Fund. During his Fund career, he worked on financial sector restructuring, financial stability, public debt management, monetary policy, and operations.

He was also Head of the Financial Surveillance Division at the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Leslie has a strong belief in education. He was a Board member of the Pacific Pension and Investment Institute and the National University of Singapore. He was a Vice President of the Economic Society of Singapore, chaired the advisory board for NUS’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and advised NUS’ Investment Committee and Business School.

Leslie has a Liberal Arts and Sciences degree from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. in Economics and Finance from the University of Rochester. He has a Masters in Information and Data Science from the University of California at Berkeley. In addition, he is a certified Financial Risk Manager and a CFA charter holder.

Gryffin Wilkens-Plumley

Strategic Project Consultant

Missions Publiques

Gryffin Wilkens-Plumley of Yale University is a rising practitioner in the field of deliberative democracy and AI governance. He currently works at Missions Publiques in Paris, where he supports the Global Coalition for an Inclusive AI and helps design and implement citizen engagement processes for global AI policy. Gryffin has led public deliberation projects at Yale and contributed to multilateral initiatives connecting democratic innovation with emerging technologies on a multistakeholder basis. His work bridges political theory, institutional design, and global governance, with a focus on ensuring that the voices of ordinary citizens shape the future of AI.

Jérôme Bellion-Jourdan

Senior Fellow

Institute for Global Negotiation

Jérôme Bellion-Jourdan was appointed in 2025 as a Vice-Chair of the newly established Steering Committee of the AI for Good Impact Initiative. For the Institute for Global Negotiation, he leads the “Global Negotiation Support” initiative offering advisory roles to Chairs, Facilitators, negotiation bodies of UN and other multilateral processes. His expertise in negotiation and global issues also draws from his experience as a diplomat and negotiator for the European Union in the United Nations and more recently as Deputy Secretary-General of the International Organization of Employers.

As an EU diplomat, Jérôme Bellion-Jourdan led negotiations on Business and Human Rights and a range of other global issues. He was also called to support negotiation teams in other fora such as the World Health Assembly and the Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems. Mindful of the power of collective action, he has been involved in several multi-stakeholder initiatives: he represented the EU in the Steering Committee of the Mega-Sporting Events Platform and in the Group of Friends of the co-Chairs (Switzerland, ICRC) of the Montreux Document Forum on the Governance of Private Military and Security Companies.

Jérôme Bellion-Jourdan also served as Director of the International Negotiation and Policy-Making Program at the Graduate Institute in Geneva. He has also been called by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to design and lead negotiation trainings and by the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie in joint workshops for climate, digital and trade negotiators. The OIF mandated him to co-author a handbook: Ligne du temps de la négociation. Prior to Geneva, Jérôme Bellion-Jourdan was posted with the European Commission in Cairo and Jerusalem.

He is regularly invited as speaker/moderator in regional and global events e.g. due to dialogue with former European Commissioner Thierry Breton at the AI ON US Summit on responsible AI in Biarritz (France) on 15-16 October 2025. He holds a Ph.D in Political Science of Sciences Po. Paris and sits on the Board of Directors of Sciences Po. Grenoble. He co-authored a book and has also published in academic journals and mainstream media. Among others, following his visit to New York for the Summit of the Future and the adoption of the Pact for the Future, including the Global Digital Compact, he published an opinion piece for SwissInfo: The United Nations Pact for the Future: From Negotiation to Action?

Alicia Morrison

Senior Director for Technology for Development

Mercy Corps

Alicia Morrison is the Senior Director for Technology for Development at Mercy Corps. In this role, she is responsible for guiding organizational vision and strategy for the application of digital technologies and data science for Mercy Corps programs at scale. In her five years at Mercy Corps, Alicia has focused on enhancing the use of data-driven decision making and the innovative use of data science, geospatial technologies, AI/ML, and driving the adoption of cloud-based solutions. She has had a diverse international career spending time in the Middle East, Central Asia, East Africa, and Europe. Alicia holds a Master’s in Public Affairs and an MS in Environmental Systems Analysis and Modeling from Indiana University (Indiana, USA).

Gatis Ozols

Deputy State Secretary in charge of digital transformation

Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development, Latvia

George Michaelides

Commissioner of Electronic Communications

Office of the Commissioner of Electronic Communications & Postal Regulation, Cyprus

V.S. Subrahmanian

Professor of Computer Science and a faculty fellow, Buffett Institute for Global Affairs

Northwestern University

V.S. Subrahmanian is the Walter P. Murphy Professor of Computer Science and a faculty fellow at the Buffett Institute for Global Affairs at Northwestern University. He is Co-Director of the Northwestern Network for Collaborative Intelligence and directs the Northwestern Security and AI Lab, which conducts research in artificial intelligence related to cybersecurity and international security issues. Subrahmanian creates machine learning models that analyze data to predict or influence outcomes, with applications ranging from forecasting terror attacks to determining whether digital audio, video, and images are real or fake. He is an elected fellow of both the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence. He is or has served as an editor of numerous scientific journals including Science.

Alejandro Ortega

Policy Engagement Lead

Apollo Research

Alejandro Ortega is the Policy Engagement Lead at Apollo Research, an independent AI evaluations organisation that specialises in AI scheming and deception.

Lauren Phillips

Director of Program Management

Inception, a G42 company

Lauren Phillips is Director of Program Management at Inception, where she leads QudraTech, an AI upskilling initiative training Emiratis to build culturally grounded technologies like the Arabic LLM, Jais. With expertise across the AI lifecycle, she focuses on developing inclusive talent pipelines that align local values with global AI innovation.

Tanya Perelmuter

GTC ambassador, Director of Strategy & Co-Founder

Fondation Abeona

Tanya Perelmuter is an expert in data technologies and a co-founder of the AI and Society Institute. She also co-founded Fondation Abeona, which champions responsible AI, and serves as its director of strategy. She was a founding member and director of data partnerships at Riskdata, a Fintech platform that analyzed hedge fund risk exposure. She started her career at Con Edison, adapting the New York City power grid and infrastructure to load demands produced by emergence of the internet and personal computing. Tanya holds an engineering degree from Columbia University, an MS in Management of Technology from NYU, and a certification in data science from École Polytechnique.

Lacina Koné

Director General and Chief Executive Officer

Smart Africa

Mr. Lacina Kone, is the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of Smart Africa having joined the organisation in March 2019.

He oversees the process of defining and advancing Africa’s digital agenda and has overseen the development of continental blueprints for Africa on Digital Identity, ICT Start-ups and Innovation Ecosystems, Smart Villages and the definition of Africa’s Smart Broadband 2025 Strategy in addition to advancing additional key continental initiatives. In recognition for this work, Mr. Kon has been recognized in 2021 as 12th among the 50 personalities advancing Africa’s digital transformation.

Prior to that, Mr. Koné was the advisor to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire (2017-2018), in charge of Digital Transformation and Public Reforms, and was also the advisor to the President from 2011-2017. Mr. Kone is a professional of ICT industry with over 25 years experience in the telecommunications, satellite and intelligent transport system. Prior to that, Mr. Kon held during his career several high level technical and managerial positions with prestigious firms such as Booz Allen Hamilton and Intelsat.

Mr. Kone is a graduate of three continents. United Arab Emirates, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering, in the UK, it has validated its Polytechnique rank at the University of Brunel, and the United States, his MBA from George Washington University.

He also sits on the advisory boards of Benya Capital in Egypt and Townlabour Technologies in the USA and he is also a Commissioner in the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development (BBCOM).

Fanny-Carlotta Rotino

Child Protection Specialist

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Fanny-Carlotta Rotino is a Child Protection Specialist for the Child Online Protection (COP) initiative at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Acting as ITU’s focal point and global project manager on child online protection, she manages global partnerships and programmes at ITU Headquarters and provides support to ITU regional offices around the world to introduce and improve prevention and response to online risks and harms for children.

Prior to joining ITU, Fanny has worked in both non-governmental and international organisations on child rights with a specific focus on child protection and child participation, on intersectoral partnerships, and on the sustainable development goals.

Fanny holds a Masters’ Degree in international relations and peace and conflict studies from the Goethe University in Frankfurt a.M. with a specific focus on human rights and humanitarian aid.

Malkia John

Founder

Sauti Salama

Malkia John is a Kenyan engineer and feminist tech advocate whose work focuses on using AI, data science, and digital tools to strengthen gender-based violence response systems. As founder of Sauti Salama, she has supported over 200 survivors with access to legal aid and mental health care, while training 500+ women and girls in digital security. Her work is grounded in lived experience and a bold vision: to build a safer, more just digital future for women and marginalized communities across Africa.

Bruno Liebhaberg

Executive Chairman

Centre on Regulation in Europe (CERRE)

Bruno Liebhaberg is Executive Chairman of the think tank Centre on Regulation in Europe (CERRE) which he founded in 2010.

From 2018 to 2021, he was also the first Chairman of the European Union Observatory on the Online Platform Economy. He is also an Honorary Professor at the Université Libre de Bruxelles’ Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management (SBS-EM ULB) where he taught from 1979 to 2018. Earlier in his career, he advised former European Commission President Jacques Delors on industry and R&D matters related to the completion of the EU Single Market.

He holds a Master’s in management sciences from SBS-EM ULB and a Ph.D. in Industrial Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Shyama Kuruvilla

Director, AI at the Global Centre for Traditional Medicine

World Health Organization (WHO)

Dr. Shyama Kuruvilla is the Director a.i. of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre, where she leads work across research and innovation, health systems integration and quality, cross-sectoral partnerships, and the convening of a biennial WHO Global Summit. The Centre’s work includes a focus on leveraging responsible artificial intelligence to connect centuries-old healing systems with cutting-edge technologies, scaling up evidence synthesis and innovative solutions for the health and well-being of people and the planet.
Previously, Dr. Kuruvilla was WHO Senior Strategic Adviser for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Life Course, including as technical lead for the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on UHC. She was Director of the UN Secretary-General’s Independent Accountability Panel and led the development of the UN Every Woman Every Child Global Strategy that underpinned a global movement supporting investment, implementation and impact in countries. Earlier, she was part of the founding WHO team that established the Health Internetwork Access to Research Initiative (HINARI), expanding equitable access to global scientific knowledge, and has also worked in academia and rural primary health care programmes.

Dr. Kuruvilla holds a PhD from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, an MSc from Cornell University, and a medical degree from Christian Medical College, Vellore.

Peter Schiøler

Information Manager, WHO Health Emergencies Cairo

World Health Organization (WHO)

Peter is a digital solutions expert specializing in knowledge technologies, automation, and AI applications for health emergencies. Based at WHO’s Cairo office, he develops innovative tools that enable rapid, high-quality assessments and data-driven decision making during crises. His technical expertise spans AI-driven emergency assessment tools, automated knowledge management systems, real-time crisis analytics, and humanitarian technology innovation. Passionate about effective international humanitarian assistance, Peter contributes to WHO’s AI-powered health emergency toolkit development, creating solutions where timely response is critical.

Nick Bradshaw

Founder & Chair

South African AI Association (SAAIA)

Nick has been in the tech industry for 25+ years working in Europe, North America & Africa. He is founder of Africa’s largest B2B AI practitioner community connecting people, investors and businesses to opportunities in the region. He is also Chair & Founder of the SA AI Association (SAAIA) focusing on the deployment of Responsible AI in South Africa

Cynthia Leungo Lesufi

Minister Counsellor

South African Mission to the UN ITU Office

Cynthia Lesufi studied law at the University of North-West, Mafikeng, and Master of Arts in ICT Policy and Regulations at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. She also did a Post Graduate Diploma in Management Practices at Henley Business School, Africa. In addition, she obtained a Certificate in Telecommunications Policy, Regulation and Management from Wits Business School.

Cynthia is a seasoned Policy and Regulatory Development Manager with over 15 years of experience in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. In her current role in the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) she is responsible for key areas such as developing and implementing ICTs communications strategies and policies and stakeholder relations engagements. She is the current ITU Minister Council and African Coordinator for ITU Activities in Geneva.

Cynthia has been privileged to be one of the key members of the national delegations to supra- national conferences of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), African Telecommunications Union (ATU), United Nations (UN) and International Telecommunications Union (ITU). She has actively participated in and led the preparation of contribution documents to conferences in the form of South African position papers for developing a global policy framework on emerging technologies. She has participated in several ITU council meetings and ITU study groups and working group meetings. She was also a panellist for WISIS Forum 22 session on ICTs Access and Affordability in Developing Countries for Digital Inclusion

She also participates actively in developing and implementing national digital policies, policy direction and legislation. She has led the development process of the Draft National Data and Cloud Policy that is due to be finalised.

Cynthia is highly skilled in effectively communicating national and regional government policy positions in multilateral and bilateral relations at international fora. She is experienced in engaging with complex stakeholders within SADC and the African continent for purposes of lobbying for and developing common regional positions and proposals for international conferences. Her experience includes managing sizeable teams, project management, leading ICT policy formulation and implementation, and stakeholder engagement across the public and private sectors, academia, and civil society. She has vast experience in involvement and working with multilateral and international organisations. In addition, Cynthia is experienced in fostering inter-departmental and country collaboration and cooperation in the implementation and monitoring of the ITU’s resolutions, recommendations, and international treaties.

Johann Krige

Special Adviser to the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies

The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, South Africa

Marie Didier

Founder

MATIS

Marie Eve Didier is the Founder of a Startup creation, MATIS, within CSEM.

MATIS (Monitoring Art with Technology Innovation and Science), part of the CSEM (The Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology) post-doc for industry program, provides an intuitive and affordable solution that supports art experts who authenticate paintings.

MATIS develops a multispectral camera that is connected to an image processing software: the machine-learning technology examines the scattering, diffusion, and penetration of different lights in pain layers, which allow art experts to access valuable information to authenticate paintings.

Johan Stander

Senior Director of Services

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Dr Johan Stander is currently the Senior Director of Services with the World Meteorological Organisation in Geneva. Dr Stander studied meteorology and went onto gain a PhD in Oceanography. He worked for the South African Weather Service where he enjoyed extensive experience which included forecasting, observations, data, research, services, international relations and management.

While Dr Stander joined WMO in 2020 his engagement with WMO goes back more than 25 years supporting a wide portfolio of oceanographic and marine initiatives with his vast experience recognised in his election as the Co-President of the WMO-IOC/UNESCO Joint Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM) in 2012.

As the Senior Director of Services Dr Stander leads of broad expert team ranging from Disaster Risk Reduction, Early Warning Services, public weather service, Water management, Hydrology, Cryosphere, Marine and Oceans, Aviation, Climatology, Agriculture, Energy, Health, Socio Economic Benefits, and technical support to programme funding projects in particular LDC’s and SIDS. His underpinning principles of Teamwork, Collaboration and Hard Work ensure WMO Members, receive the required support so that collectively we can all serve the needs of the most vulnerable in our ever changing world and together make a difference to the whole of humankind.

Luo Zhong

Chair of SG16

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Pan Feng

Deputy Director

Cyberspace Administration of Beijing

Seán Ó hÉigeartaigh

Co-lead of Safety and Governance Promotion Program of SC on AI; Programme Director of Centre for the Future of Intelligence

University of Cambridge

Liang Hao

Executive Deputy Secretary-General

WIC

Erika Gutierrez

Specialist in machine learning and geospatial data

Erika Gutierrez is a specialist in machine learning and geospatial data, leveraging these technologies to tackle pressing issues in climate resilience, sustainable development, and disaster response. She has collaborated with the United Nations, the World Bank, and private sector partners to develop data-driven tools for building damage assessment, climate risk analysis, political conflict forecasting, and ESG reporting.

David Vivancos

Science and Technology Serial Entrepreneur

With pioneering activities since 1995 in fields such as Internet, Java, Electronic Art, Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence, Apps, Nano Sciences, 3D Printing, Neurotechnologies, Brain-Computer Interfaces, or Deep Learning, including starting up 5 ventures and dozens of initiatives in these fields.

Keynote speaker and author of 5 books, with more than 400 conferences, seminars, and workshops lectured in Europe & US. Associate lecturer in several universities, business schools, and corporations.

Advisor to 35+ boards & CEOs, from Fortune 500s to innovative startups, in the journey from the digital world to the fully automated world.

Artificial Intelligence algorithmist, with more than 26,000 hours devoted to General Artificial Intelligence research. Kickstarted the Artificiology field. Qubic scientific advisor.

Brain explorer at MindBigData; built the largest open dataset of multimodal brain signals for Machine Learning.

Mark Boyce

CEO

GovTech Barbados Limited

Mark Boyce is the CEO of GovTech Barbados Limited, a state-owned enterprise in charge of whole-of-government digital transformation.

Natalie Choprasert

Founder

Brand Nat

Natalie Choprasert is an AI automation educator and content creator dedicated to making advanced technologies accessible for small business owners, marketers, and consultants. Through her platform, Brand Nat, she transforms complex AI concepts into practical, no-code solutions that enhance efficiency and productivity.

With a global audience exceeding 850,000 across social media platforms, Natalie is recognized for her engaging tutorials and actionable strategies. Her expertise has led to collaborations with over 70+ leading tech companies, including Microsoft, Google, OpenAI, Anthropic, Zapier, HubSpot, Samsung and more. Her insights have been featured in prominent media outlets such as Forbes, BBC, and The New York Times.

An international speaker and advocate for “humanized automation,” Natalie emphasizes the integration of AI tools that complement human creativity and strategic thinking. Following a successful company exit, she continues to empower businesses to leverage AI for sustainable growth.

Dr. Erica Moret

Director, United Nations Affairs and International Organizations at Microsoft

Microsoft

Dr Erica Moret is Director for United Nations Affairs and International Organizations at Microsoft, Geneva. In her work, she supports the UN in tackling global challenges through technology innovation (including Artificial Intelligence) and multi-stakeholder engagement. A former diplomat, she has a DPhil (Ph.D.) from the University of Oxford and is a graduate of France’s Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA). She is co-founder and former Policy Director at the Swiss Centre for International Policy Engagement, Polisync, where she convened multi stakeholder dialogues and led applied research projects for the United Nations, World Bank, European Union and humanitarian organisations. Until 2024, she was Senior Researcher at the Geneva Graduate Institute’s Global Governance Centre and Centre of Humanitarian Studies, as well as Visiting Professor at Sciences-Po’s Paris School of International Affairs. She has provided testimonies and strategic advice on humanitarian affairs and global security to the United States (State Department, Treasury, Congress); Canada (Global Affairs, Senate and House of Commons), Switzerland (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs), EU (European Parliament, European Commission, European External Actions Service) and UK (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, HM Treasury, both UK Houses of Parliament).

Hovig Etyemezian

Head ,Innovation Service

UNHCR

Hovig Etyemezian currently heads the Innovation Service at UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. He has previously served in and led various complex humanitarian emergencies across Lebanon, DR Congo, Algeria, Mauritania, Iraq, Jordan, and Tunisia. Hovig has worked closely with refugees and forcibly displaced people, focusing on community engagement and empowerment, diplomacy with host governments, and optimizing humanitarian responses. Prior to his humanitarian career, he worked in human rights, peacebuilding, and journalism.

Mick Costigan

Member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors

Long Now

Mick Costigan leads the Salesforce Futures team, helping Salesforce leaders and customers anticipate, imagine and shape the future, with a focus on AI, sustainability, and work. He has a decade of experience leading innovation, foresight, and strategy teams at Salesforce. Prior to that he spent ten years in strategy consulting with Global Business Network (GBN) and Monitor Group, serving corporate, government and philanthropic clients across five continents. He also spent a year as a fellow in the AI Policy team at the World Economic Forum.

Mick has been a member of the Long Now since moving to San Francisco in 02007 to work at GBN, where he first encountered many of the people and ideas that shaped both organizations. Mick is profoundly honored to serve the mission and community of Long Now as we transition to our Long Q2, which will be a pivotal quarter-century for our civilization and our foundation.

Yilmaz Akkoyun

Senior Policy Officer

Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development

Yilmaz Akkoyun works as Senior Policy Officer at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung, BMZ) in Berlin in the digital technologies unit and the Chief Digital Officer´s office. He graduated within the Global Public Policy Network (GPPN) dual degree program from Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) in the city of New York with an Master of Public Administration (MPA) specializing in Advanced Policy and Economic Analysis as well as from the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin with an Master of Public Policy (MPP).

Sarah Mullane

Director, Health Technology

Johnson & Johnson

In both research and industry settings, Dr. Sarah Mullane has combined behavior science, data science, technology and to explore what works for whom, when and under what circumstances. In her current position at Johnson & Johnson Foundation as Director, Health Technology, she leverages technology as an enabler to deliver on the impact goals of the Global Health Equity team.

Prior to joining J&J, Sarah completed Postdoctoral Training at Arizona State University focused on Health Behaviors & Technology, co-leading several cross-sector research initiatives from prompt-based behavioral messaging and community-based physical activity interventions to large-scale workplace interventions using wearable technology, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Growing up in the UK, Sarah earned her PhD in Sports Engineering at Loughborough University where her curiosity for human behavior and technology piqued. It is this curiosity that continues to shape her professional and personal goals of tackling health disparities, driving the debate on digital inclusion, adopting a “fail-forward” mindset and leveraging “Tech for Good.”

Emmy Lou Versoza-Delfin

Director

Department of Information and Communications Technology – Philippines

Yejin Choi

Generation17 Young Leader, Founder

Dubu & Dubu Ping Pong

Christian Thiele

Senior Director, Global Ground Vehicle Standards

SAE International

Christian Thiele is passionate global automotive industry leader, with over 30 years of experience leading tier one suppliers delivering mechatronic product to the OEMS, proven growth-driver through strategic business development with strong focus on the mobility industry. Christian is an entrepreneurial innovator, with an extensive record of accomplishment of analyzing and distilling automotive industry trends and developing actionable strategies across sectors, with proven ability to identify profitable new emerging global markets. Since February 2022, Christian joined SAE International to lead the organizations development and research supporting the development of ground vehicle consensus-based standards for the benefit of industry and humanity.

Manel Martorana

Head of Digital Technology for Spain & International Organisations

NTT DATA Inc.

Barclay Knapp

Chief Executive Officer

Alberto Di Meglio

Head of Innovation

Frontier Technologies

Alberto Di Meglio is Head of Innovation and Group Leader of the Frontier Technologies and Initiative Group in the CERN IT Department. Alberto is an Aerospace Engineer (MEng) and Electronic Engineer (PhD). He joined CERN in 1998 and took part since its early stages in the development of the worldwide High-Energy Physics computing infrastructure. Alberto was Head of CERN openlab, one of the foremost CERN public-private R&D collaboration programmes, and coordinator of the CERN Quantum Technology Initiative, a programme to define and implement collaborative R&D projects between CERN, academia, and industry on quantum computing and technologies for fundamental research applications. Since 2024 Alberto leads the NextGen Triggers project, an ambitious R&D programme to explore applications of Artificial Intelligence to the high-energy physics detectors online data processing systems. Alberto’s main research interests are at the intersection of science and technology with a strong focus on societal impact and knowledge sharing.

Mauro Sulis

Lead Research & Technology Scientist

Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST)

Mauro Sulis is a Lead Research & Technology Scientist at the Remote Sensing and Natural Resources Modelling Group of the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology. He is a Hydraulic Engineer with a PhD in Water Science. His research focuses on the exchanges and feedback mechanisms within the integrated groundwater-to-atmosphere water–energy–carbon cycle, with a particular emphasis on the role of vegetation. In his work, Mauro leverages high-performance computing (HPC) capabilities through the synergistic use of advanced numerical simulations, multi-source remote observations, and novel data-driven approaches. He leads a wide range of fundamental and applied research projects aimed at generating knowledge and providing decision support for pressing societal challenges such as agro-water management, environmental protection, and food security.

Luigi Serio

Principal Scientist and Project Leader

CERN

Dr. Luigi Serio, a Principal Scientist and Project Leader in the Technology Department at CERN, Geneva, holds an MSc in Nuclear Engineering from Politecnico di Milano and a PhD from Cranfield University. His research spans international projects in AI, nuclear fusion, and particle accelerators. Dr. Serio actively participates in several international technical and advisory committees, including SLAC LCLS-II, Fermilab PIP-II, DUNE, MADMAX, and the ESOC AI Committee.

Dr. Serio has authored over 150 publications in the fields of nuclear engineering, cryogenics, and AI technology.

H.E. Ms. Ernestine Kornelis

Jorge Fernandes

Head of Innovative Finance, Frontier Innovations and Venture Building

UN World Food Programme Innovation Accelerator

Leveraging 20 years leading innovation in the private sector, Jorge Fernandes is the Head of Innovative Finance, Frontier Innovations and Venture Building at the UN World Food Programme Innovation Accelerator, based in Munich Germany. Together with his team of technology experts (including AI/ML, Blockchain/Web3 and Robotics) and innovative finance specialists, Jorge is driving the development of new solutions aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of WFP operations, at attracting impact investments towards humanitarian and development assistance, and at promoting financial inclusion of the people WFP serves.

Rich Parker

Learning Expert & Emergencies Specialist

Rich Parker is a training professional with 17 years of experience in the humanitarian and emergency response sector. He has longstanding collaborations with organizations such as WHO, OCHA, international NGOs, and Emergency Medical Teams. In recent years, he has led the development of innovative simulation-based technologies aimed at scaling capacity-building efforts and advancing the localization of emergency preparedness.

Kaythry Pandurangan

Associate Professor

Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering

Dr. Kaythry Pandurangan is an Associate Professor at Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Chennai, India, with over two decades of experience in teaching and research. Her work focuses on 5G and beyond wireless systems, Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), Data Security, and AI-enabled communication frameworks.

She is a mentor and researcher at SSN’s 5G Use-Case Lab, supported by India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT), and has been actively involved in the ITU AI for Good – 5G/6G Sandbox Challenge, Build-o-thon where her team won the Best Student Participant Team Award, and she was honored with the Best Mentor Award, respectively.

Two of her AI-based problem statements were shortlisted for inclusion in the AI for Good Global Summit 2025 official report:

· Environment-Based Endurance Testing in Autonomous Vehicles

· Spatio-Temporal Microclimate Prediction Using Deep Learning

A frequent contributor to international events such as the India Mobile Congress and ITU WTSA-24, Dr. Kaythry champions inclusive, AI-driven digital transformation. Her mentorship spans technical innovation, social impact, and youth engagement in emerging technologies.

She is also a recipient of the Best National Service Sscheme Programme Officer Award from Anna University and the Tamil Nadu Government, reflecting her commitment to academic excellence and community service.

Ambrose Ruyooka

Head of Research and Development

Ministry of ICT & National Guidance, Uganda

Ambrose Ruyooka PMP, serves as the Head of Research and Development at Uganda’s Ministry of ICT & National Guidance, where he leads the country’s technical coordination efforts for developing a National AI and Emerging Technologies Governance Framework. His work focuses on ensuring Uganda’s digital transformation is ethical, inclusive, and aligned with global standards. With over 20 years of experience in ICT policy, innovation, and capacity building for public sector digital transformation, Ambrose has played a key role in Uganda’s engagements with international bodies. Ambrose is also deeply passionate about the role of AI in transforming education systems and advancing digital skills development, seeing these as essential to creating resilient, future-ready societies. He advocates for policies and standards that safeguard human rights, foster digital inclusion, and build trustworthy AI ecosystems that serve both national and global development goals.

Elzahraa Ibrahim Mohamed Abdelhafiz

Member

AI for Good Scholars – Innovate for Impact program

Recent graduate in Electronics majoring in Computer Engineering from Multimedia University, Malaysia. Member of the AI for Good Scholars – Innovate for Impact program, supporting the review of global AI use cases aligned with UN SDGs. Passionate about responsible AI and real-world impact.

Wei Wei

Director General, Department of Science and Technology

MIIT

Charlyne Restivo

Programme Coordinator

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Charlyne Restivo serves as Programme Coordinator at the ITU Standardization Bureau, where she leads a portfolio of global programmes and strategic initiatives at the intersection of technology, diplomacy, and the representation of women and youth in standardization.

Early in her career, she worked in the Office of the Secretary-General at ITU, serving for four years in direct support of the Secretary-General and contributing to executive coordination at the highest level of the organization.

Since joining ITU in 2013, she has contributed to several major institutional priorities, including the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA), AI for Good Global Summit, and the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). She manages partnerships with industry and international standards development organizations.

Charlyne was the inaugural Co-Chair of the ITU Youth Task Force, where she guided intergenerational collaboration toward concrete outcomes, and she continues to promote youth engagement in standardization processes.

A political scientist by training, she holds both a bachelor’s and a specialized master’s degree in international relations from Sciences Po Lyon (France), and also studied at the University of California, Santa Cruz (USA). She is a certified PRINCE2 project manager, and speaks French, English and some Spanish.

Rajat Moona

Director

IIT Gandhinagar

Prof. Moona heads the Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar (IITGN).

Prof. Moona is also a Professor of Computer Science at IIT Kanpur and has supervised several postgraduate theses. He along with his students and colleagues, has authored 18 patents, several research papers and books.

He had been instrumental in defining applications such as smart card driving license, vehicle registration, e-passport, electronic toll collection, mobility card, etc. The research area of Prof. Rajat Moona spans over embedded computing, computer security, VLSI design and Operating Systems.

In the past Prof. Moona had been the founding Director of Indian Institute of Technology Bhilai and the Director General of Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC). Prof. Moona is recipient of several awards and recognitions, including Indo-US Science and Technology Fellowship, Poonam and Prabhu Goel Chair Professorship, VASVIK Award for the year 2010, IESA Techno-visionary Award 2014, fellowship of Maharashtra Academy of Sciences 2015 and National award of Election Commission of India 2016 for the best electoral practices.

Prof. Rajat Moona is an active member of the technical committee of Election Commission of India for EVMs and has been instrumental in defining the EVMs and VVPAT. He has also been instrumental in defining national voter service portal and national electoral search for the voters and various other IT initiatives at Election Commission of India.

Saranpal (“Sunny”) Rai

President of Electrical, Connected World and Transportation Technologies businesses

Intertek

Sunny is the President of Electrical, Connected World and Transportation Technologies businesses at Intertek. Sunny joined Intertek in 1986 and has held various roles in engineering, sales leadership & operational management for the Semiconductor, Renewable Energy, Industrial product and Connected World businesses.

Most recently Sunny has been instrumental in the development of the Cyber Security, Functional Safety and Artificial Intelligence services. The Intertek AI2 offering at Intertek brings Transparency, Safety & Security to the AI systems and products. Sunny’s 35+ years of experience has supported the implementation of an End-to-End Assurance service for Smarter, Safer, Trusted AI solutions.

Mr. Rai holds a B.Sc. degree from University of Delhi, India and a degree in Electronic Engineering Technology, from San Francisco, California. Sunny is a well-recognized leader in the Product regulatory & quality assurance industry worldwide with countless papers,
articles, and public policy engagements to his credit. He has been an active member of the standard developing activities, including the Co-Chair of International Compliance & Regulatory Committee (ICRC) at SEMI and a founding member & leader for IECRE Renewable Energy scheme at IEC and a member of the Product Testing & Certification Committee at TIC Council.

Louise Burke

CEO

Open Data Institute

Louise is the ODI’s Chief Executive Officer and leads the team to deliver on the organisation’s mission and vision. Having joined the ODI in 2012 Louise previously held roles as chief finance officer and chief operating officer. She has expertise in data governance, data literacy, data institutions, data assurance and innovation, as well as a professional background in accountancy and finance. She was named one of the 100 Top Influencers across the UK’s open technology communities in 2021.

With a career that has involved building many businesses from the ground-up, and expertise in fundraising, mergers and acquisitions, and scaling, Louise has commercial acumen along with a commitment to deliver on the ODI’s vision.

As an accountancy professional, she has lectured in the UK and overseas for the ACCA and CIMA and has authored academic books, study systems and business articles.

Elizabeth Osta

Co-Lead, Frugal AI Hub, Visiting Fellow

Cambridge Judge Business School

Elizabeth is a digital and data strategist advising CXOs on AI, innovation, and responsible data use. Former Chief Data Officer at HEINEKEN, she also founded Digital Forward and holds leadership experience across banking, consumer goods, and social impact.

Roger Jasek

Partner

Deloitte

Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona

Director

United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)

Pernille Fenger

Director of the UNFPA Representation Office in Geneva

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Ayman El-Sherbiny

Chief of ICT Policies, Digital Cooperation and Digital Development

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA)

Chengetai Masango

Head of Office

UN Secretariat for the Internet Governance Forum

Johanna Hill

Deputy Director-General

World Trade Organization (WTO)

Ms Johanna Hill (El Salvador) began her role as Deputy Director-General in November 2023. She is a trade expert with more than 25 years’ experience in international trade. Previously, she held the position of Managing Partner of the San Salvador Office of CA Trade Consulting Group, where she advised firms and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on issues relating to international trade and foreign direct investment. Other roles have included Executive Director of El Salvador’s Chamber of Telecommunications and member of the Board of Directors of Banco Azul. Ms Hill has also served as Vice Minister of Economy, where she was responsible for the conduct and implementation of trade policy, negotiations of bilateral free trade agreements and multilateral negotiations. Prior to her appointment as Vice Minister, she occupied different positions within the Ministry of Economy, including Deputy Director and Director for Trade Policy. She holds a master’s degree in International Economic Policy from the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University, New York, and a Bachelor’s degree from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts.

Mohammed Al Khamis

Acting Deputy Director General

Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA)

Mohammed is a Computer Engineer by training and is a Digital Government expert with over 19 year of in-depth experience in digital transformation and digital solutions and the ICT sector at large. He is the Director of Development Department at Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) and was also appointed Program Director of the UAE Smart Government National Plan. His key responsibilities include planning, developing and executing national scale programs that impact the advancement of UAE’s national digital sector. His strategic role involves leading the development and implementation of the information and e-government strategy in alignment with the TDRA and the national objectives under Vision 2031 and the UAE Centennial 2071. He is also contributing to the TDRA’s vision, mission and overall strategy to ensure the delivery of its objectives and KPIs.

Ir. Haji Jailani bin Haji Buntar

Chief Executive

Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI)

Julissa Cruz

Executive Director

INDOTEL, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Julissa Cruz Abreu is the Executive Director of the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (INDOTEL), since August 19, 2020, designated by its Board of Directors.

Telecommunications expert with more than 20 years at the service of the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (INDOTEL), the regulatory body of telecommunications in the Dominican Republic, where she has served, among other positions, as Director of International Relations, Compliance Commissioner, dependency of the Board of Directors and Head of the Regulation Department, where she was an active part in the initiatives and preparation of the current regulatory framework and led, from that position, the implementation of number portability in 2009.

Currently, under the mandate of the Board of Directors, she is leading the technical team of the regulatory body that is executing various transformation projects in the telecommunications sector, such as the National Broadband Plan for the Dominican Republic, the Radioelectric Spectrum Tender for the deployment of fifth-generation Networks, the implementation of Digital Terrestrial Television and the drafting of the new Information and Communication Technology Law of the Dominican Republic.

She worked in the area of Regulation of Operators of the National Commission of Markets and Competition of Spain and has participated as a speaker in international conferences on Number Portability, Spectrum Management, Price Regulation in Telecommunications, Gender Equity and Inclusion in ICT. She has advised Central American regulators in their implementation processes of Number Portability, participating, in turn, as a teacher and speaker in multiple seminars, workshops and courses on telecommunications regulation.

She has a degree in Accounting from the Technological Institute of Santo Domingo, has a Master’s Degree in Corporate Finance from the same university, also specializing in Regulatory Economics at the Universidad Argentina de la Empresa, Regulation of Public Services at the National University of Córdoba, Argentina and Price Regulation in the Telecommunications Industry at the CEDET foundation, Madrid, Spain.

Ernst Noorman

Ambassador at Large for Cyber Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Ambassador Ernst Noorman has a long career within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as within other ministries. Before taking up his new position as Ambassador at Large for Cyber Affairs one and a half month ago, he has served the past 13 years as ambassador for the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Burkina Faso, Suriname, Afghanistan, and Colombia respectively.

Before that he worked amongst others at the Ministry of Finance in the Euroteam, responsible for the introduction of the euro in the Netherlands, and for the Ministry of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations, where he was responsible for the financial negotiations leading to the constitutional changes of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

As a junior diplomat he has served in India and Tanzania.

Ambassador Noorman obtained his master’s degree in economics at the University of Amsterdam, the city where he was born and presently is living with his wife.

Jacek Oko

President

Office of Electronic Communications, Poland

Scientist and manager with many years of experience. Associated with the Wroclaw University of Science and Technology and the Wroclaw Centre for Networking and Supercomputing. Author of many scientific publications.

His professional interests focus on technical, economic and legal aspects of telecommunications services and data communication networks, as well as on the development of the Internet, the convergence of telecommunications, information technology and media, and the problems of the information society.

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Country or Area	ISO-alpha2 Code	ISO-alpha3 Code	Developed / Developing regions
Algeria	DZ	DZA	Developing
Egypt	EG	EGY	Developing
Libya	LY	LBY	Developing
Morocco	MA	MAR	Developing
Sudan	SD	SDN	Developing
Tunisia	TN	TUN	Developing
Western Sahara	EH	ESH	Developing
British Indian Ocean Territory	IO	IOT	Developing
Burundi	BI	BDI	Developing
Comoros	KM	COM	Developing
Djibouti	DJ	DJI	Developing
Eritrea	ER	ERI	Developing
Ethiopia	ET	ETH	Developing
French Southern Territories	TF	ATF	Developing
Kenya	KE	KEN	Developing
Madagascar	MG	MDG	Developing
Malawi	MW	MWI	Developing
Mauritius	MU	MUS	Developing
Mayotte	YT	MYT	Developing
Mozambique	MZ	MOZ	Developing
Réunion	RE	REU	Developing
Rwanda	RW	RWA	Developing
Seychelles	SC	SYC	Developing
Somalia	SO	SOM	Developing
South Sudan	SS	SSD	Developing
Uganda	UG	UGA	Developing
United Republic of Tanzania	TZ	TZA	Developing
Zambia	ZM	ZMB	Developing
Zimbabwe	ZW	ZWE	Developing
Angola	AO	AGO	Developing
Cameroon	CM	CMR	Developing
Central African Republic	CF	CAF	Developing
Chad	TD	TCD	Developing
Congo	CG	COG	Developing
Democratic Republic of the Congo	CD	COD	Developing
Equatorial Guinea	GQ	GNQ	Developing
Gabon	GA	GAB	Developing
Sao Tome and Principe	ST	STP	Developing
Botswana	BW	BWA	Developing
Eswatini	SZ	SWZ	Developing
Lesotho	LS	LSO	Developing
Namibia	NA	NAM	Developing
South Africa	ZA	ZAF	Developing
Benin	BJ	BEN	Developing
Burkina Faso	BF	BFA	Developing
Cabo Verde	CV	CPV	Developing
Côte d’Ivoire	CI	CIV	Developing
Gambia	GM	GMB	Developing
Ghana	GH	GHA	Developing
Guinea	GN	GIN	Developing
Guinea-Bissau	GW	GNB	Developing
Liberia	LR	LBR	Developing
Mali	ML	MLI	Developing
Mauritania	MR	MRT	Developing
Niger	NE	NER	Developing
Nigeria	NG	NGA	Developing
Saint Helena	SH	SHN	Developing
Senegal	SN	SEN	Developing
Sierra Leone	SL	SLE	Developing
Togo	TG	TGO	Developing
Anguilla	AI	AIA	Developing
Antigua and Barbuda	AG	ATG	Developing
Aruba	AW	ABW	Developing
Bahamas	BS	BHS	Developing
Barbados	BB	BRB	Developing
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba	BQ	BES	Developing
British Virgin Islands	VG	VGB	Developing
Cayman Islands	KY	CYM	Developing
Cuba	CU	CUB	Developing
Curaçao	CW	CUW	Developing
Dominica	DM	DMA	Developing
Dominican Republic	DO	DOM	Developing
Grenada	GD	GRD	Developing
Guadeloupe	GP	GLP	Developing
Haiti	HT	HTI	Developing
Jamaica	JM	JAM	Developing
Martinique	MQ	MTQ	Developing
Montserrat	MS	MSR	Developing
Puerto Rico	PR	PRI	Developing
Saint Barthélemy	BL	BLM	Developing
Saint Kitts and Nevis	KN	KNA	Developing
Saint Lucia	LC	LCA	Developing
Saint Martin (French Part)	MF	MAF	Developing
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	VC	VCT	Developing
Sint Maarten (Dutch part)	SX	SXM	Developing
Trinidad and Tobago	TT	TTO	Developing
Turks and Caicos Islands	TC	TCA	Developing
United States Virgin Islands	VI	VIR	Developing
Belize	BZ	BLZ	Developing
Costa Rica	CR	CRI	Developing
El Salvador	SV	SLV	Developing
Guatemala	GT	GTM	Developing
Honduras	HN	HND	Developing
Mexico	MX	MEX	Developing
Nicaragua	NI	NIC	Developing
Panama	PA	PAN	Developing
Argentina	AR	ARG	Developing
Bolivia (Plurinational State of)	BO	BOL	Developing
Bouvet Island	BV	BVT	Developing
Brazil	BR	BRA	Developing
Chile	CL	CHL	Developing
Colombia	CO	COL	Developing
Ecuador	EC	ECU	Developing
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)	FK	FLK	Developing
French Guiana	GF	GUF	Developing
Guyana	GY	GUY	Developing
Paraguay	PY	PRY	Developing
Peru	PE	PER	Developing
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands	GS	SGS	Developing
Suriname	SR	SUR	Developing
Uruguay	UY	URY	Developing
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)	VE	VEN	Developing
Kazakhstan	KZ	KAZ	Developing
Kyrgyzstan	KG	KGZ	Developing
Tajikistan	TJ	TJK	Developing
Turkmenistan	TM	TKM	Developing
Uzbekistan	UZ	UZB	Developing
China	CN	CHN	Developing
China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region	HK	HKG	Developing
China, Macao Special Administrative Region	MO	MAC	Developing
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea	KP	PRK	Developing
Mongolia	MN	MNG	Developing
Brunei Darussalam	BN	BRN	Developing
Cambodia	KH	KHM	Developing
Indonesia	ID	IDN	Developing
Lao People’s Democratic Republic	LA	LAO	Developing
Malaysia	MY	MYS	Developing
Myanmar	MM	MMR	Developing
Philippines	PH	PHL	Developing
Singapore	SG	SGP	Developing
Thailand	TH	THA	Developing
Timor-Leste	TL	TLS	Developing
Viet Nam	VN	VNM	Developing
Afghanistan	AF	AFG	Developing
Bangladesh	BD	BGD	Developing
Bhutan	BT	BTN	Developing
India	IN	IND	Developing
Iran (Islamic Republic of)	IR	IRN	Developing
Maldives	MV	MDV	Developing
Nepal	NP	NPL	Developing
Pakistan	PK	PAK	Developing
Sri Lanka	LK	LKA	Developing
Armenia	AM	ARM	Developing
Azerbaijan	AZ	AZE	Developing
Bahrain	BH	BHR	Developing
Georgia	GE	GEO	Developing
Iraq	IQ	IRQ	Developing
Jordan	JO	JOR	Developing
Kuwait	KW	KWT	Developing
Lebanon	LB	LBN	Developing
Oman	OM	OMN	Developing
Qatar	QA	QAT	Developing
Saudi Arabia	SA	SAU	Developing
State of Palestine	PS	PSE	Developing
Syrian Arab Republic	SY	SYR	Developing
Turkey	TR	TUR	Developing
United Arab Emirates	AE	ARE	Developing
Yemen	YE	YEM	Developing
Fiji	FJ	FJI	Developing
New Caledonia	NC	NCL	Developing
Papua New Guinea	PG	PNG	Developing
Solomon Islands	SB	SLB	Developing
Vanuatu	VU	VUT	Developing
Guam	GU	GUM	Developing
Kiribati	KI	KIR	Developing
Marshall Islands	MH	MHL	Developing
Micronesia (Federated States of)	FM	FSM	Developing
Nauru	NR	NRU	Developing
Northern Mariana Islands	MP	MNP	Developing
Palau	PW	PLW	Developing
United States Minor Outlying Islands	UM	UMI	Developing
American Samoa	AS	ASM	Developing
Cook Islands	CK	COK	Developing
French Polynesia	PF	PYF	Developing
Niue	NU	NIU	Developing
Pitcairn	PN	PCN	Developing
Samoa	WS	WSM	Developing
Tokelau	TK	TKL	Developing
Tonga	TO	TON	Developing
Tuvalu	TV	TUV	Developing
Wallis and Futuna Islands	WF	WLF	Developing