Speakers

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.

• Born on 19th September 1965.
• Completed early education in Bhutan.
• Obtained Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, USA.
• Obtained Master’s degree in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, USA.
• Opposition Leader in the National Assembly of Bhutan from 2008 to 2013.
• Prime Minister of Bhutan from 2013 to 2018; re-elected in January 2024.
• A dedicated civil servant before entering politics, with particular focus on developing policies and programs to enhance technical education and vocational training in Bhutan.
• Commitment to social welfare extended beyond official duties – volunteered to establish Bhutan’s first Youth Center and form the Education Staff Welfare Scheme.
• First official to resign from his civil service position to participate in Bhutan’s transition to a parliamentary democracy; played a pivotal role in founding the People’s Democratic Party, the first registered political party in Bhutan for which he continues to serve as president.
• A strong advocate of Gross National Happiness; has spoken on leadership, conservation, climate change, poverty, democracy, and happiness at the United Nations, TED, and various international conferences.
• In recognition of his contributions, His Majesty The King conferred the Royal Orange Scarf in 2008 and again in 2013.
• In 2014, received the Royal Lungmar Scarf from His Majesty The King.
• Internationally recognized for his efforts in promoting sustainability, with the German Sustainability Award in 2016 and the Distinguished Leadership Award from the Hospitality Committee for United Nations Delegations in 2022.
• Married to Tashi Doma; has two children.
• Hobbies include volunteering, reading, trekking, bicycling, jogging, archery, yoga, music, and drama.

Jessica Sibley is the Chief Executive Officer of TIME.

As CEO, Sibley oversees the global media brand which includes TIME’s iconic magazine and digital platforms that reach the largest audience in its history of 120 million people worldwide; TIME Studios, the Emmy Award-winning film and television division and producer of award-winning branded content; a rapidly growing global live events business; TIME for Kids, which provides trusted news with a focus on news literacy for children; and more.

Since joining as CEO in 2022, Sibley has accelerated TIME’s digital transformation, expanded into new platforms, and revitalized the TIME brand overall—leading TIME to be named Media Brand of the Year by the Digiday Media Awards in 2024. She has diversified TIME’s revenue streams, launched new products, supercharged its global live events business, increased advertising revenue and meaningfully engaged new audiences, all while upholding TIME’s vision of covering leaders who shape the world and providing trusted guidance to its global audiences.

Prior to joining TIME, Sibley was the Chief Operating Officer of Forbes, where she led all revenue and growth initiatives for the world’s largest business media brand and achieved five consecutive years of growth from 2018 to 2022. Previously, Sibley held senior leadership positions at The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and Condé Nast.

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

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

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

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

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

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 has been adapted to EDU.FYI to offer university-level courses, tutoring tools and student life resources. As a Professor of Practice at the GAME School at ASU, he is teaching a course, “The Agentic Self”, January – May 2026.  Course students are using EDU.FYI and GPU technology provided by NVIDIA to build and maintain their personal AI agents.

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.

Ray Kurzweil is a world-class inventor, thinker, and futurist with a 36-year track record of accurate predictions. A leader in artificial intelligence for 63 years, he was the principal inventor of the first CCD flat-bed scanner, the first omni-font optical character recognition, the first print-to-speech reading machine for the blind, the first text-to-speech synthesizer, the first music synthesizer capable of recreating the grand piano and other orchestral instruments, and the first commercially marketed large-vocabulary speech recognition software.

Ray has won a Grammy, the National Medal of Technology, a place in the National Inventors Hall of Fame, and 21 honorary Doctorates. His latest book, The Singularity Is Nearer, debuted at #4 on the New York Times Best Seller list.

He served as a Director of Engineering and later Principal Researcher and AI Visionary at Google for 13 years where he developed an AI model that conversed in natural language with 100,000 books, a landmark precursor to today’s large language models.

Puyr Tembé is one of the most important Indigenous leaders in Brazil. A woman from the Tembé people, she was born in the São Pedro village, located in the Alto Rio Guamá Indigenous Land, in the state of Pará. Since a young age, she has been active in defending Indigenous territories and rights, deeply inspired by the leadership of women in her family.
She is the first Secretary of Indigenous Peoples of the State of Pará (SEPI), a government department created in 2023, where she leads efforts in dialogue with Indigenous territories, the fight against environmental crimes, and the promotion of Indigenous participation in public policy.
Puyr is a co-founder of ANMIGA (National Articulation of Indigenous Women Warriors of Ancestry), has served as president of the Federation of Indigenous Peoples of the State of Pará (FEPIPA), and was part of UMIAB (Union of Indigenous Women of the Brazilian Amazon). She has also coordinated Indigenous School Education in the state and plays an active role both nationally and internationally.
Her journey is marked by the fight for environmental justice, women’s leadership, land demarcation, and the appreciation of ancestral knowledge. She is a mother, grandmother, and a protagonist of the international documentary We Are Guardians.

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.

Joëlle Barral is a Senior Director of Research & Engineering at Google DeepMind (GDM). Based in Paris, she has a diverse portfolio of foundational research efforts, which includes theoretical and empirical aspects of frontier models as well as early-stage research in artificial intelligence and the life sciences. She is also in charge of GDM’s efforts in healthcare. She leads a team of researchers and engineers spread across Europe and North America.

Joëlle Barral was previously software lead at Verily, Google’s sister life sciences company, and the head of Verily Surgical. She joined Verily in 2014 and was part of the team who started Verb Surgical, Verily’s joint venture with Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon, pioneering a vision for the future of robotic surgery that leverages machine learning and digital tools to enhance the surgeon’s judgment, improve decision making, and positively impact clinical outcomes.

Before joining Verily, she was with HeartVista, a spin-off from Stanford University, where she developed an MR software package for the comprehensive evaluation of ischemic and valvular heart diseases. Joëlle Barral has authored numerous patents on topics ranging from maternal health, digital pathology, surgical robotics, and medical imaging.

She holds a B.S. degree in Math and Physics from Ecole Polytechnique, France, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering, in the field of high-resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging, from Stanford University, where she was also a Simon Stertzer Biodesign Innovation Fellow. She is the 2019 recipient of the Pierre Faurre Prize.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Dr. Sasha Luccioni is a leading scientist at the nexus of artificial intelligence, ethics, and sustainability, with a PhD in AI and a decade of research and industry expertise. She is the Climate Lead at Hugging Face, a global startup in responsible open-source AI, where she spearheads research, consulting and capacity-building to elevate the sustainability of AI systems. A founding member of Climate Change AI (CCAI) and a board member of Women in Machine Learning (WiML), Sasha is passionate about catalyzing impactful change, organizing events and serving as a mentor to under-represented minorities within the AI community. In 2024, Dr. Luccioni’s work was recognized by TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people in AI and by Business Insider on its 2024 AI Power List.

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.

Dr. Ali Taha Koç was born in Ankara in 1980. He completed his undergraduate degree in 2001 at Bilkent University, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering with full scholarship. Later, he received his master’s and doctorate degrees in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Texas at Dallas, both with full scholarships. Dr. Ali Taha Koç joined Intel in 2006 as a research and development (R&D) engineer in the USA. During his tenure at Intel, he developed 63 patents, published 23 scientific articles, and developed and managed several international projects. In 2013, he became one of the 10 awarded engineers who developed the most patents at Intel. After returning to Türkiye in 2014, he began working as the Chief Counsellor of the Prime Ministry and in the same year was appointed as the Head of Information Technologies of the Presidency. During his tenure at the Presidency, he also managed the formation of the State Information Coordination Center (SICC) in the Presidency Security Policies Department, and initiated the information flow from all ministries and security units to the Presidency. Koç was appointed as the Head of the Digital Transformation Office on 12 September 2018. Besides his duties at the Presidency, he also served as a board member of Türksat Uydu Haberleşme Kablo TV ve İşletme A.Ş. (Türksat Satellite Communications Cable TV and Business Inc.). As of October 2023, he is the Chief Executive Officer of Turkcell and serves as a board member of the International GSM Association (GSMA), Türkiye’s Automobile Joint Venture Group (TOGG), ULAK Haberleşme A.Ş., Mobile Telecommunication Operators Association (m-TOD) and Siro. He is also a licensed pilot, fluent in English, and married with one child.

Lu Zhang, Founder and Managing Partner of Fusion Fund, is a renowned Silicon Valley-based investor, a serial entrepreneur, and a Stanford Engineering alumna. With a strong technical background, Lu has extensive experience bringing a broad range of technologies to commercialization, and deep domain expertise in AI in healthcare, Enterprise AI/Networks, Edge Computing and Data Privacy. Founded by Lu in 2015, Fusion Fund is dedicated to supporting early-stage entrepreneurs working on innovation in healthcare, enterprise AI and industrial automation. With investments in over 90 companies across the U.S. and Canada, Fusion Fund has generated substantial exits over the years.

Prior to starting Fusion Fund, Lu was a serial entrepreneur and materials science researcher. Following the exit of her startup, Lu began investing in and supporting early-stage entrepreneurs. This eventually led her to create Fusion Fund in 2015. Since then, Lu has built a distinguished ecosystem and established her reputation in the VC industry. She was honored as Young Global Leader by World Economic Forum (Davos), Silicon Valley Women of Influence, Top 25 Female early-stage investor by Business Insider, Featured Honoree of VC of Forbes 30 under 30 and Town & Country 50 Modern Swans – Entrepreneurship Influencer.

Lu frequently speaks at high profile tech conferences such as World Economic Forum (Davos), Future Investment Initiative (FII), Web Summit, SuperReturn, etc. and she is a guest lecturer at Stanford University and Wharton. Lu serves as a board member of many portfolio companies, the Board Director of CommonSpirit Health Foundation, the Board and Chairwoman of the Youth Council of Future Science Award, and Jury Board of the Cartier Women Initiative and Young Leader Award. She holds an M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Stanford University.

Bill Gross is a lifelong serial and parallel entrepreneur who has started more than 150 companies with more than 50 successful IPOs and acquisitions.  He started the first and longest-running technology incubator in the world – Idealab – in 1996 in Pasadena, California, near his alma mater, Caltech, where he graduated with a degree in Engineering and Applied Science.

Bill has been on the forefront of disruptive innovation his entire life and his mission is to challenge the status quo, to be bold, and to solve big challenges in the world that others would not.

Among the transformative changes that Bill has wrought is the invention of the business model that powers most of the monetization of the Internet.  Bill invented the “paid click”, or CPC (bidded keyword cost-per-click) model with the company GoTo/Overture, which he founded in 1998. After a successful IPO and becoming the global market leader in paid search, the company was acquired by Yahoo in 2003. Today, Bill’s pioneering idea is used by Google and millions of websites around the world and remains one of his most significantly impactful inventions.

Bill is also at the forefront of climate tech and AI tech and is pioneering a new system of fair attribution, compensation, and monetization in generative AI with his newest company, ProRata.ai.  Bill is a visionary who sees the future and relishes sharing that with the world and helping entrepreneurs globally with his lessons learned from a lifetime of business creation.

In addition to serving as Idealab’s board chairman and the CEO of ProRata & Gist, Bill is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the California Institute of Technology and of the ArtCenter College of Design.

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.

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.

I am Professor of Responsible Artificial Intelligence at the Department of Computing Science at Umeå University, Sweden, where I lead the AI Policy Lab .

I am Wallenberg Scholar (2024) and Senior Advisor on AI Policy to the Wallenberg Foundations. I am a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA), and Fellow of the European Artificial Intelligence Association (EURAI) and of ELLIS (European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems). I am also Guest Professor at the Civic AI Lab, University of Amsterdam, and  Honorary Professoral Fellow at the University of Melbourne.

Given the increasing importance of understanding the societal, ethical, and legal impact of AI, I am deeply involved in international AI governance, policy, and strategy initiatives. I am currently co-chair of the ACM Tech Policy Council, member of UNESCO’s High-Level Expert Group on the Implementation of the UNESCO AI Ethics Recommendation, and member of the OECD Expert Group on AI Futures. I am also founder of ALLAI, the Dutch AI Alliance, and former member of the United Nations High-Level Advisory Body on AI, the European Commission High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence, and co-chair of the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on Artificial Intelligence. As part of UNESCO’s AI Ethics Experts Without Borders, I advise governments worldwide on the development and operationalization of national AI strategies.

My research focuses on the interconnections between people, organizations, technology, and policy, with a strong emphasis on responsible and governance-aware AI systems. My work spans from formal and computational models of agency, norms, and institutions to applied AI policy, evaluation frameworks, and socio-technical system design, combining theory, engineering, and methodological design.

I have held major leadership roles in the AI research community, including Program Chair of AAMAS 2024 and Ethics Chair of AAAI 2024, and I currently serve on multiple international advisory boards and expert panels.

In recognition of my work, I am recipient of the AI Policy Leader 2025 Award (CAIDP), AI and Ethics Professional of the Year 2022, and the Medal of Honour of the City of Oeiras (Portugal). I have published over 300 peer-reviewed articles with over 19,000 citations. My newest book, The AI Paradox, is published by Princeton University Press (2026).

I regularly speak internationally on AI ethics, governance, and policy, advise public and private organizations, and contribute to major journals, conferences, and policy processes.

I also actively communicate about AI and its societal impact and can be followed on LinkedIn or Bluesky, or through my blog Thinking in Public.

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.

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 also significantly grown revenue, while reaching the highest level of subscribers in its 167-year history. Thompson is also the former editor-in-chief of WIRED, where he built successful subscription and affiliate 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 a documentary for HBO Max.

Thompson is 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 Running Ground and 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 aged 45 and older in the 50K race, and in 2025, he became the top-ranked runner in the world in his age group for the 50-mile run. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Stanford where he earned degrees in Earth Systems, Political Science, and Economics.

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.

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.

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).

Emmy award-winning television journalist and coach Jane Hanson has spent over 30 years helping people learn to communicate better. Not only does it enhance their presence, and ensure they resonate with every type of audience, but in today’s fast paced world, it is imperative to be on one’s game 24/7. Hanson focuses on three core elements: what you say, how you say it, and how your body language keeps it all in sync.

Among her diverse array of media and presentation training clients: top tier leaders of corporations spanning the fields of finance, insurance, startups, technology, education, fashion and media; publishers and editors in chief of numerous national magazines; key opinion leaders in the pharmaceutical industry; politicians and world leaders, internet entrepreneurs; chefs and restaurateurs. She has also hosted programs on cable channels and private satellite broadcasts, covering nearly every subject, from healthcare to food to finance to religion. And she is a frequent speaker, emcee, host, and panel moderator. Events she has participated in range from the New York Emmys to Toys for Tots to the Race for the Cure to the Randall’s island Sports Foundation. She has hosted events for virtually every industry, many health care issues, dozens of schools and colleges, and many groups focusing on women and children. She is also a Forbes contributor and uses her experience working with executive leaders to offer her unique insight and expertise.

Jane Hanson grew up on the prairies of rural Minnesota, coming to New York three decades ago to join the NBC networks. She began as an anchor and correspondent for NBC New York in 1979. In 1988, Jane was named co-anchor of “Today in New York,” a position she held until 2003 when she became the station’s primary anchor for local programming and the host of “Jane’s New York”; She covered events ranging from the tragedy of 9/11 to the joy of Yankees victory parades to Wall Street and Washington; has interviewed presidents, business magnates, prisoners, and celebrities; traveled as far as the Gobi Desert of Mongolia and the great depths miles below New York City for her special reports. Most recently she hosted a daily entertainment and lifestyle program, New York Live, for NBC4 in New York City.

Jane has won 9 Emmy Awards. In addition, she was named Correspondent of the Year by New York’s Police Detectives and received a similar honor from New York’s Firefighters. She has also been the recipient of numerous other awards for her service to the community. Jane has served as the March of Dimes Walk-America Chairman, honorary chair for the Susan B. Komen Foundation’s Race for the Cure, and as a board member of Graham Windham, Phipps Houses, the Randall’s Island Sports Foundation, the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, and Telecare. She has taught courses on communication at Long Island University, Stern College, and the 92nd Street Y. Hanson is a Past President of the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

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.

Aapo Hyvarinen is Professor of Computer Science (Machine Learning) at the University of Helsinki, Finland.

He studied undergraduate mathematics at the universities of Helsinki (Finland), Vienna (Austria), and Paris (France), and obtained a Ph.D. degree in Information Science at the Helsinki University of Technology in 1997.  After post-doctoral work at the Helsinki University of Technology, he moved to the University of Helsinki in 2003, where he was appointed Professor in 2008, at the Department of Computer Science. From 2016 to 2019, he was Professor of Machine Learning at the Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, University College London, UK. Aapo Hyvarinen is the main author of the books “Independent Component Analysis” (2001), “Natural Image Statistics” (2009), and “Painful Intelligence” (2022). He is Action Editor at the Journal of Machine Learning Research and Neural Computation, and has worked as Area Chair at ICML, ICLR, AISTATS, UAI, ACML and NeurIPS. He is a Fellow at the European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems (ELLIS). His research focuses on probabilistic machine learning and its applications in neuroscience.

Mr. YU Xiaohui, President of China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of CAICT, and a professorate senior engineer.

Mr. YU also serves as Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the Internet Society of China (ISC), Chairman of the Alliance of Industrial Internet (AII), Chairman of the Artificial Intelligence Industry Alliance (AIIA), member of the Expert Advisory Committee for the Development of Strategic Emerging Industries, member of the Intelligent Manufacturing Expert Committee of the National Manufacturing Strategy Advisory Committee, deputy-director member of the Communication Science and Technology Committee of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), Chairman of the Expert Committee for Information and Communication Economy (ECICE) of MIIT, and member of the ChinaInfo100.

Mr. YU has long been engaged in the research in the fields of information and communication technology and industry, digital economy, informatization, integration of informatization and industrialization, digital infrastructure and digital governess. He has taken the lead in the systematic research in fields including industrial internet, digital economy, Broadband China, mobile internet, internet, IoT, and new infrastructure, supporting the formulation of national strategies, plans, and policies as well as technological and industrial innovation and development.

Lasha Tabidze is leading the execution of the VEON’s DO1440 and AI1440 strategies. He plays a pivotal role in shaping VEON’s evolution into a digital operator, driving the development of local digital ecosystems, accelerating AI adoption, and strengthening operational performance across all markets.

With more than 16 years of senior leadership experience in telecommunications and digital businesses, Lasha has led major transformation programs and introduced sector-defining innovations. As former CEO of Veon Georgia, he pioneered fully digital customer experiences and launched successful new products that set new industry standards. His career also spans entrepreneurial ventures, combining strategic vision with execution to build impactful digital services.

Cindy L. Bethel, Ph.D. (IEEE and ACM Senior Member) is a Professor in the Computer Science and Engineering Department and holds the Billie J. Ball Endowed Professorship in Engineering at Mississippi State University (MSU). She was a 2019 U.S. Fulbright Senior Scholar to Australia sponsored by the University of Technology Sydney. She is the Director of the Social, Therapeutic, and Robotic Systems (STaRS) lab. Dr. Bethel has managed over $12 million dollars in grant funding since starting at Mississippi State University in August 2011. She has published over 100 peer reviewed journal articles, conference papers, and workshop papers in prestigious venues. She serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Computing Research Association (2020-2023) and is a member of the CRA Government Affairs Committee (2021-2024). She also serves as a Co-Chair of the Socially Responsible Computing Working Group for the CRA. She has been active in her professional research community serving on the Steering Committee for the ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) and the ACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction (2015-2019). She was an NSF/CRA/CCC Computing Innovation Postdoctoral Fellow in the Social Robotics Laboratory at Yale University. From 2005 – 2008, she was a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow and was the recipient of the 2008 IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Graduate Fellowship. She graduated in August 2009 with her Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of South Florida with doctoral minors in Psychology and in Applied Statistics. Her research interests include human-robot interaction, human-computer interaction, robotics, and artificial intelligence. Her research focuses on applications associated with robotic therapeutic support, information gathering from children, and the use of robots for law enforcement, search and rescue, and military. 

Carlo Tortora Brayda is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cyber Eagle Project Inc., a sovereign-grade AI and cybersecurity platform dedicated to protecting critical infrastructure across NATO, Five Eyes, and allied nations. Cyber Eagle is structured as a large-scale public–private partnership addressing systemic cyber, AI, and resilience risks across energy, transport, healthcare, finance, and government systems.

He is also the Founder and Executive Chairman of the Tortora Brayda Institute for AI & Cybersecurity, a global think tank focused on AI governance, national security, and alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Institute convenes policymakers, industry leaders, and technologists to advance responsible AI deployment, cyber resilience, and international cooperation.

Mr. Tortora Brayda has been a long-standing contributor to the United Nations ecosystem. He has spoken at multiple UN summits and forums, including those convened by the International Telecommunication Union, and serves as a Judge for the UN AI for Good Innovation Factory, including its climate-focused programs featured at UNFCCC COP. His work consistently emphasizes the role of public–private collaboration in safeguarding trust, infrastructure, and societal stability in the digital age.

He is a long-term Global  Leader of the Forbes Technology Council Cybersecurity Group, where he contributes thought leadership on AI security, critical infrastructure protection, digital trust, and cyber resilience for senior business and policy audiences worldwide.

Mr. Tortora Brayda has also been engaged with the World Economic Forum as a Special Constituent and subject matter expert on Global Risks, contributing to discussions supporting G20 and multilateral risk frameworks. His WEF work has focused on the intersection of emerging technology, systemic cyber risk, geopolitical stability, and governance.

Beyond cybersecurity, Mr. Tortora Brayda has advised governments and international organizations on entrepreneurship, private sector development, and digital transformation, particularly in Africa, where he led initiatives supporting large-scale employment creation and SME growth in coordination with national governments and UN agencies.

He is a Chartered Engineer in AI information systems, a frequent speaker at global technology and policy forums, and is recognized internationally as a thought leader at the intersection of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, national resilience, and sustainable development.

Lisa Bechtold is a global executive in Data & AI, Risk Management and Governance. As Global Head of Group Risk Management at Nestlé S.A., she is globally responsible for managing a complex spectrum of risks to enable the safe and sustainable growth of the organization. Before joining Nestlé, she served as Group Head of AI Governance at Zurich Insurance, and held various leadership roles within Technology & Operations, Digital Risk Management and Corporate Legal. She holds a Ph.D in Law, an LL.M. degree (Berkeley) and completed executive education at MIT CSAIL and Stanford GSB.

Hod Lipson is a professor and Chair of the Mechanical Engineering department at Columbia University in New York. He is a co-author of the award winning books “Driverless: Intelligent cars and the road ahead” and “Fabricated: The New World of 3D printing”. His work on self-aware and self-replicating robots, recently featured by the New York Times, challenges conventional views of robotics. Lipson directs the Creative Machines Lab, which pioneers new ways to make machines that create, and machines that are creative. For more information visit http://hodlipson.com.

Ayman Essam is a distinguished expert in legal and external affairs, bringing a wealth of experience and a profound commitment to driving strategic excellence across Vodacom’s diverse markets. He is the Chief External Affairs Officer for Vodacom Group.

Ayman’s career began at Vodafone Egypt in 2001, where he spent over a decade in the Legal Department, playing a pivotal role in major acquisitions. He later served as a partner at Zaki Hashem & Partners Law Firm (2010–2012), where he led the firm’s transformation and regional expansion. In 2012, he returned to the telecom sector as Legal & Corporate Affairs Director at Orange Egypt, expanding his expertise in corporate governance and regulatory compliance. Before joining Vodacom Group, Ayman served as the Director of External Affairs and Legal at Vodafone Egypt since January 2017; During his tenure, he enhanced Vodafone Egypt’s reputation as a reliable digital partner for the government, positioning the company as a standout performer within Vodacom’s portfolio.

In his role, Ayman is responsible for Vodacom Group’s external affairs strategy across its key markets. He reports directly to Shameel Joosub, Vodacom Group CEO, and is a Member of the Vodacom Group Executive Committee.

Ayman’s previous affiliations include:

• BEBA (British Egyptian Business Association) Affiliation Member
• AmCham (American Chamber of Commerce) Affiliation Member
• Rotary Member
• CEO Women Board Member

Previously, Ayman led key functions at Vodafone Egypt, including

• External Communications & PR
• Corporate Sustainability
• Vodafone Egypt Foundation
• Public Affairs & Public Policy
• Regulatory Affairs & Government Relations
• Corporate Security.

Ayman is known for his collaborative and inclusive leadership style. He has a proven track record of fostering a culture of sustainability, integrating social contract considerations into business decisions.

Ayman’s vision aligns closely with Vodacom’s purpose of “connecting for a better future”. His focus on creating a positive impact through technology resonates with the company’s mission to empower people, protect the planet and maintain trust.

Ayman’s deep sector knowledge and proven leadership are valuable assets to Vodacom Group as the company strengthens its engagement with governments, regulators, and partners across the African continent

Shelly Levy-Tzedek is a full professor and the director of the Cognition, Aging & Rehabilitation Laboratory at Ben-Gurion University.

Prof. Levy-Tzedek completed her undergraduate studies, summa cum laude, at UC Berkeley, where she won the Bioengineering departmental citation medal. At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), she completed her M.S. and her Ph.D. degrees as an MIT Presidential Fellow and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute fellow, in the Biomedical Engineering department.

Chosen as one of Israel’s most promising 40-under-40 by The Marker Magazine for 2016, she also won the 2016 award from the Paedagogica Foundation’s special program entitled “Initiative for Excellence in the Negev”. In 2018, she won the Toronto Prize for excellence in research. In 2019 she participated in the Dagstuhl Seminar on Verification and Synthesis of Human-Robot Interaction. In the academic year 2018-19, Prof. Levy-Tzedek was a guest professor at the University of Freiburg in Germany as part of the Marie S. Curie FRIAS COFUND Fellowship Program, supported by the European Union through the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.  In 2023 she was a visiting scholar at KTH’s Digital Futures center, in 2024 she gave a keynote address at the IEEE RO-MAN conference, and in 2025 was a Senior Fellow of the Human Rights Research Consortium at the Institute of Advanced Studies in Freiburg (FRIAS).

Her lab team researches how to best employ robotics to facilitate a fast and efficient rehabilitation process. She has employed the participatory-design approach in the study of diverse technologies – from rehabilitation robots to sex robots. In recent years, she has been co-leading a global initiative to promote regulation of social robots for vulnerable populations. She takes a multi-disciplinary approach to her studies: the students on her team come from varied backgrounds, including physical therapy, engineering and psychology, and she collaborates with colleagues from Canada, the UK, the United States, Germany and Sweden who come from diverse fields such as Industrial Engineering, Psychology, Computer Science, Robotics, Anthropology, Education, Law and Philosophy.

Malik Afegbua is an award-winning Nigerian filmmaker, contemporary artist, designer, and creative technologist recognized globally for his pioneering work at the intersection of storytelling, culture, and technology. Ranked among the top five AI artists in Africa, he is widely regarded as one of the continent’s leading voices shaping the future of creativity and innovation.
He is the Founder and CEO of Slickcity Media and Executive Director of Gener8 and CELS AFRICA, where he leads groundbreaking projects merging African futurism, artificial intelligence, and immersive media to reclaim and reimagine African narratives.
A Salzburg Global Fellow, Malik serves on Nigeria’s Council for Creative Technology Futures and is an Advisory Council Member for Young Leaders in Art and Health. His acclaimed project The Elder Series sparked a global conversation on ageing and representation, featured by major international platforms and institutions.
Actively working to correct bias in the AI and digital space, Malik’s work and philosophy have been the subject of numerous academic studies, featured in art and academic books worldwide, and cited in several students final-year projects across disciplines. He has also contributed to roadmap policies on generative AI, helping shape ethical frameworks for the future of creative technology.
Through film, fashion, and technology, Malik continues to collaborate with global brands, cultural institutions, and development organizations to advance Africa’s creative digital economy and inspire the next generation of storytellers.

Salaal Hasan serves as the Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Ahya, the Middle East’s leading sustainability innovation company, delivering AI-powered software for the net-zero era. Ahya operates in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan representing 1.6GtCO2e, on a mission to manage and reduce 100 MntCO2e by 2030.
Ahya has two core products in AhyaOS – AI-powered carbon management and accounting platform (CMAP) and Tawazun – AI-enabled voluntary carbon market-place (VCM). AhyaAI acts as climate intelligence for prediction, automation and decision-support. Ahya currently has 25 MntCO2 of emissions under management (EuMs), and 200+ carbon projects across its’ platforms.
Ahya won the Middle East & Africa Goes Green Award at COP-29, finalist of COP-28 TechSprint from the Bank of International Settlements and CBUAE, and was selected to the UAE’s Unicorn Builders Program by Endeavor and the Dubai Government.
Prior to Ahya, Salaal worked with the World Bank, Dubai International Capital and JS, co-founding a venture capital fund and investing in technology ventures across emerging markets. He is a chemical engineer and Exxon Mobil Scholar, having researched the capture of carbon-dioxide and conversion to graphene via super-critical fluid technology while at college.

I am a cognitive neuroscientist and dancer based at ETH Zürich, where I lead the Social Brain Sciences (SBS) Lab. Through my research, I use complex social learning paradigms (often involving dance, acrobatics, and music), social interaction manipulations, and robots, in combination with brain imaging and other physiological measures, to explore how our brains and behaviours are shaped by different kinds of experience throughout the lifespan and across cultures.

I served as the Principal Investigator on the European Research Council Starting Grant entitled ‘Social Robots’, which ran from 2016-2024. Further funding of my research has been generously provided by the National Institutes of Health (USA), Humboldt Foundation (Germany), Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, Volkswagen Foundation (Germany), Economic and Social Research Council (UK), Ministry of Defense (UK), Marie Curie Actions, Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol (Wales), Leverhulme Trust (UK), the Australian Research Council and the Swiss National Science Foundation.

In addition to my academic activities, I am a member of UNESCO’s International Bioethics Committee, where I have been involved in compiling reports on the Ethical Issues of Neurotechnologies and the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Children and Adolescents in the Digital Environment.  I am passionate about raising the profile and participation of women in science, and enthusing the public about scientific research and how the arts and sciences and mutually benefit each other.

Raj is a technologist and global business executive with more than 25 years of experience in commercial and financial services, leading technology-driven growth initiatives and large-scale transformation programs. As EY’s Global Managing Partner for Growth & Innovation, he focuses on building next-generation capabilities that help organizations scale AI–powered transformations across our big bets like managed services, strategic alliances, sustainability and more. Previously, as Vice Chair for EY Americas Consulting, Raj led an USD$11 billion enterprise with a team of more than 40,000 consultants across the Americas. Raj holds a Master of Science degree in Computer Information Systems from the University of Miami and a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Computer Science from the Birla Institute of Technology in India.

Bernhard is the Director Global Accelerator and Ventures at the United Nations (UN) World Food Programme (WFP). Since he created the Global Accelerator in 2015, it has become one of the Worlds biggest impact startup accelerators, offering 18 annual programmes.

Prior to starting the Accelerator, Bernhard co-founded the award-winning ShareTheMeal app that crowdsources funding for WFP and has delivered over 294 million meals for hungry children worldwide. His previous experience includes creating WFP’s Business Innovation Unit and working as a Project Leader at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

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.

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.

Barbara Mazzolai is Associate Director for Robotics and Director of the Bioinspired Soft Robotics Laboratory at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genoa. From February 2011 to March 2021 she was the Director of the IIT Center for Micro-BioRobotics (CMBR). She graduated in Biology (with Honours) at the University of Pisa, Italy, and received the Ph.D. in Microsystems Engineering from the University of Rome Tor Vergata. She was Deputy Director for the Supervision and Organization of the IIT Centers Network from July 2012 to 2017. From January to July 2017 she was Visiting Faculty at Aerial Robotics Lab, Department of Aeronautics, of Imperial College of London. She is member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (Tübingen and Stuttgart, Germany) and of the Max Planck Queensland Center on extracellular matrix, and member of the Advisory Committee of the Cluster on Living Adaptive and Energy-autonomous Materials Systems – livMatS (Freiburg, Germany). In 2020, she has obtained the Italian National Scientific Qualification of Full Professor in Bioengineering. Her research activity is in the field of bioinspired soft robotics, combining biology and engineering for advancing technological innovation and scientific knowledge. In particular, she focuses her investigations on plants and invertebrate animals. In the field of plant-inspired robotics, she was the Coordinator of the EU FET-Open PLANTOID project, and currently she is the Coordinator of the EU FET-Proactive Projects GrowBot and I-SEED. In May 2021, she has started the European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant “I-Wood”, Forest Intelligence: robotic networks inspired by the Wood Wide Web. She has received various awards for her work, including the Marisa Bellisario Award and the Medal of the Italian Senate. She is author and co-author of more than 260 papers appeared in international journals, books, and conference proceedings. In 2019, she published her book “La Natura Geniale” and in 2021 “Il futuro raccontato dalle piante” (ed. Longanesi). 

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.

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.

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.

Entered Xi’an Jiaotong University at the age of 15, holding degrees in engineering, economics and financial economics. Former employee of Procter & Gamble and President of Dreame China, he led a team of over 1,500 staff and drove more than $8 billion in revenue for the home robotics business.

Elliott J Rouse is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Robotics and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan. He directs the Neurobionics Lab, who studies the dynamics of how and why people use wearable robotic systems. His group uses this understanding to develop novel hardware designs, including the Open-Source Leg. In addition, Dr. Rouse is a Senior Research Scientist at the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC). He is a recipient of the NSF CAREER Award and the Henry Russel Award at UM. He is on the Editorial Board of Wearable Technologies and is the Co-Chair of the IEEE RAS Technical Committee on Biorobotics. He received the BS degree in mechanical engineering from the Ohio State University and the PhD degree in biomedical engineering from Northwestern University. Subsequently, he joined MIT as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the MIT Media Lab. Prior to joining U-M, Dr. Rouse was a principal investigator at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab / Northwestern University, and worked as a mechanic in professional Le Mans autoracing. In 2019 – 2020, he was visiting faculty at (Google) X where he co-founded their exoskeleton development team. In 2024-2025, he was on sabbatical at the Robotics and AI (RAI) Institute, where he worked on advanced machine design workflows.

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.

Serves as the co-chair of the African Union Science Technology Commission ASRIC/ASTR  Council on 4IR. She is a visionary figure in the advancement of responsible AI, dedicated to harnessing technology for good and unlocking humanity’s potential. Recognised as a Top 10 Leader advancing AI globally. A true full-stack human Amb. Lavina combines her expertise in psychology, technology, and economics to bring a unique and insightful perspective to AI development.

Her dedication and achievements are evident in her numerous accolades including top 10 leaders shaping AI. A futurist who’s vision is to accelerate the world’s augmentation of data by creating a more intelligent tomorrow through the footprints of collective humane knowledge. She’s not just a leader; she’s an inspiration, earning the title #aiMOM for fostering responsible development for a better tomorrow.

Pranav Vempati is a thought leader and global speaker known for his insightful contributions to the technology sector. As the Founder and CEO of Makers Hive, Pranav is dedicated to creating innovative technologies that are both advanced and accessible, with a strong commitment to driving positive social change.

Pranav’s journey was significantly shaped by two esteemed mentors: the Father of the Green Revolution, Bharata Ratna Dr. M. S. Swaminathan, and Padma Bhushan Dr. T. Ramasami. Their guidance inspired Pranav to leverage technology to address pressing societal challenges. This mentorship led him to focus on developing solutions that empower underserved communities, ensuring that innovation benefits those who need it most.

In 2018, Pranav founded Makers Hive with the mission to make cutting-edge technology accessible to everyone. The company’s first product, KalArm, is India’s first and the world’s most affordable bionic hand. This groundbreaking innovation has significantly improved the lives of many by providing a functional, cost-effective solution for individuals with limb loss.

Pranav and Makers Hive have received several prestigious accolades, including Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia, Forbes Asia 100 to Watch, GQ India’s 7 Most Influential Young Indians , and he was shortlisted for One Young World Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

As a global thought leader and speaker, Pranav continues to advocate for the transformative power of technology in driving social progress. Under his leadership, Makers Hive is committed to developing affordable, innovative solutions that address deep-rooted societal challenges, ensuring that no one is left behind in the pursuit of a better future. His work exemplifies how technology can uplift and empower, making a profound impact on both industry and society as a whole.

Sawyer Fuller creates biologically-inspired sensors, control systems, and mechanical designs targeted at insect-sized air and ground vehicles, and investigates the flight systems of aerial insects. He completed his Ph.D. in Biological Engineering at the California Institute of Technology and B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and postdoctoral training at Harvard. In addition to his work in insect flight control, he also developed a frog-hopping robot at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and invented an ink-jet printer capable of fabricating millimeter-scale 3D metal machines at the MIT Media Lab. His work at the intersection of robotics and biology has appeared in journals such as Science and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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.

Davide Scaramuzza is a Professor of Robotics and Perception at the University of Zurich. He did his Ph.D. at ETH Zurich, a postdoc at the University of Pennsylvania, and was a visiting professor at Stanford University and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. His research focuses on autonomous, agile navigation of mobile robots using standard and event-based cameras. He made fundamental contributions to visual-inertial state estimation, autonomous vision-based agile navigation of micro flying robots, and low-latency perception with event cameras, which were transferred to many products, from drones to automobiles, cameras, AR/VR headsets, and mobile devices. He pioneered autonomous, vision-based navigation of drones, which inspired the algorithm of the NASA Mars helicopter. In 2022, his team demonstrated that an AI-powered drone could outperform the world champions of drone racing. He received several awards, including a IEEE Technical Field Award, the IEEE Fellowship, the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Early Career Award, a European Research Council Consolidator Grant, a Google Research Award, and many paper awards. In 2015, he co-founded Zurich-Eye, today Meta Zurich, which developed the head-tracking software of the Meta Quest. In 2020, he co-founded SUIND, which builds autonomous drones for precision agriculture. Many aspects of his research have been featured in the media, such as The New York Times, The Guardian, The Economist, and Forbes. He co-authored the book “Introduction to Autonomous Mobile Robots,” published by MIT Press, which has sold over 10 thousand copies worldwide and is among the most used textbooks for teaching mobile robotics. He has been consulting the United Nations on disaster response, the Fukushima Action Plan, disarmament, and AI for good.

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.

Sasha Stiles is an award-winning Kalmyk-American poet, artist, and AI researcher whose work explores what it means to be human in a more-than-human age. A founding figure in generative creativity, she bridges conceptual and computational art to reimagine poetry as a form of living intelligence, synthesizing text and technology, memory and imagination. Stiles’ work has been honored by the Prix Ars Electronica and Lumen Prize; featured in The New York Times, Poets & Writers, and Artforum; and exhibited around the globe, from MoMA to Gucci to Art Basel. A co-founder of theVERSEverse and graduate of Harvard and Oxford, she has served as Poetry Mentor to the humanoid BINA48 since 2018, and lives near New York with her husband and studio partner, Kris Bones.

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.

Manoj Sanker is the Co-founder and CEO of NemoCare Wellness,  a pioneering med-tech enterprise dedicated to ending preventable neonatal mortality through AI-driven precision healthcare. An alumnus of PES University(India) and a Fellow at Center for Healthcare Entrepreneurship at  IIT Hyderabad, Manoj has spent nearly a decade bridging the gap between advanced engineering and global clinical impact.

As a budding entrepreneur in the healthcare and med-tech space, Manoj’s expertise lies in smart wearables combined with machine learning and user experience design. He is the technical architect of NemoCare Raksha, an IoT-enabled  smart wearable backed by a next-generation AI analytics platform for predictive distress modeling, utilizing deep-learning algorithms to detect subtle physiological shifts ,hours before clinical symptoms appear.

His work gained national prominence on Shark Tank India Season 3, where he secured an investment to scale his “Made in India” technology globally and is backed by global funding agencies like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,BIRAC(DBT,Govt Of India initiative),IKP Knowledge Park, Axilor Ventures ,MeitY’s Startup Hub(The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), under Government of India) , Department of Science and Technology(Govt. of India),Google, Qualcomm, JICA(Japan) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

Manoj is a LIF Global 2025 Fellowship Awardee by the Royal Academy of Engineering(UK),and is a staunch practitioner of design thinking. He aspires to become a global product leader, disrupting the healthcare industry through innovative product development that serves the world’s most vulnerable infants.

Strategic leader in digital government transformation and capability building, with extensive experience advising governments on digital skills, innovation policy, and organisational readiness. Proven ability to lead cross-agency initiatives, develop digital capability frameworks, and translate emerging technology trends into actionable public sector strategies.

Prof. (Assoc.) Dr. Dimiter Prodanov, MD, PhD, is an interdisciplinary researcher at the Institute of Information and Communication Technologies (IICT) of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, with over 60 peer-reviewed publications spanning neurotechnology, mathematical physics, and mathematical epidemiology. He holds an MD degree from the Medical University of Sofia and a PhD from the University of Twente, the Netherlands, and was awarded an IBRO postdoctoral fellowship to pursue research in neuroprosthetics at the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium. Since 2023, Prof. Prodanov leads the €2M Horizon Europe ERA Chair project VIBraTE (https://vibrate-project.eu/), a Widening initiative dedicated to exploring the biomechanical and biochemical interactions between implanted electrodes and brain tissue, with the broader goal of advancing safer and more effective neural interfaces. Prior to this, he served as a senior scientist at Imec (Belgium), a world-leading centre in nanoelectronics and digital technologies, where he developed multichannel brain electrodes and later coordinated the H2020 project NanoStreeM on the safety of nanomaterials in semiconductor manufacturing and later served as a regulatory expert heading the Imec Biobank. Prof. Prodanov has a long-standing commitment to open science and open-source development: as an active contributor to ImageJ, the widely used public-domain scientific imaging platform, and his technical work consistently integrates open computational tools—including computer algebra systems and open numerical algorithms—for modelling biophysical phenomena. Since 2009 he has been engaged in the emerging discipline of Neuroinformatics and INCF, bridging machine learning and neuroscience.

In 2024, Prof. Prodanov was appointed to the UNESCO ad hoc working group on the Ethics of Neurotechnology, and in May 2025 served as an official delegate of the Bulgarian government to the UNESCO Intergovernmental Special Committee Meeting that adopted the text of the Recommendation on the Ethics of Neurotechnologies—the first global standard for the ethical governance of this cutting-edge technology. This dual role—as both scientific expert in the drafting process and official state representative at adoption—reflects Prof. Prodanov’s commitment to ensuring that advances in Brain Computer Interfaces and neurotechnology are developed responsibly and with full regard for human rights and safety.

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.

Ms. Viveros is a distinguished International Lawyer and Scholar; Trusted Expert and Senior Advisor on AI and Peace and Security; and Leading Voice for Sustainable Development in the Global South.

She is the Founder, Managing Director and CEO of IQuilibriumAI, a Consultancy Firm specialized on AI and Peace, Security, Humanitarian and Rule of Law issues, the President of the HumAIne Foundation and the Founder of the Global South Synergies and Resilience Platform, serving in different capacities across these fields to bolster scalable and expansive meaningful impact, with a special focus on the Global South and conflict and post conflict zones.

Ms. Viveros was appointed Member of the United Nations Secretary General’s High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence (AI), tasked with advancing recommendations for the Global Governance of AI and Institutional Responses, serving as Co-Lead for Peace and Security. Likewise appointed Commissioner to the Global Commission on Responsible AI in the Military Domain (GCREAIM), serving as Co-Lead for the Broader Peace and Security Domains and Member of the Report’s Drafting Committee, an AI Expert for the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), for the working groups on AI risks and accountability, as well as on AI incidents monitoring, and a Member of the High-level Working Group on AI and Fraternity under the Patronage of Pope Leo XIV. Ms. Viveros also serves as Deputy Lead of the International Law Association’s Committee on AI and Technology, for Global Norms, Governance and Comparative Regulation, as an Expert for the AI Safety and Governance Program of the Internet Conference Specialized Committee on AI, Member of the International Commission for Robots Arms Control (ICRAC), of the ITU Women and Standards Network, of the UNESCO Women 4 Ethics Platform and AI Experts Without Borders, and sits on the Advisory Board of the Cyber Peace Institute on the AI and counter-cyberthreats track. She has been recognized in Apolitico’s 100 AI in Government 2025 List, under the Category of Strategy and Vision, and is an advocate and signatory for the Call for International Red Lines to prevent unacceptable AI risks and the Potsdam Call for a ban on autonomous weapons.

Her international experience includes the International Criminal Court, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia for the disarmament of the FARC. She has also worked for the Lebanese Supreme Court, in addition to NGOs in Kenya, Cambodia and Palestine. In Mexico, she has served as Chief of Staff and Head Legal Advisor at the Mexican Supreme Court of Justice, and at the Federal Judicial Council. She also held senior national leadership positions at the Ministry of Security and Civilian Protection, and at the Federal Tax and Finance Prosecutor’s Office, serving at the level of Director General.

Ms. Viveros earned a law degree from Iberoamericana University in Mexico City in an international programme with Salamanca University in Spain, and an LL.M. in Public International Law from Leiden University in The Netherlands, and over 20 international Certifications from Expert Trainings on AI, Peace and Security, Public Administration and International Law. She is finalizing her PhD at Cologne University in Germany, supervised by Dr. Claus Kreß, on the Harmonization of AI Governance Across Civilian and Military Domains for International Peace and Security through Actionable Recommendations.

She speaks 5 languages and is a widely published author on different areas of law as well as on AI Military and Civilian Governance groundbreaking areas, highlighting the following books and articles: Autonomous Weapons Systems: The Accountability Conundrum, published separately in English and Spanish; The Ultimate and Perhaps the Last Paradigm Shift – Artificial Intelligence, published in separately in English and Spanish; AI and the International Responsibility of States, published in Spanish; Autonomous Weapons Systems and the Use of Force; Drone Swarms as Weapons of Mass Destruction; The Risks and Inefficacies of AI systems in Military Target Identification; Why Should the UN “Govern AI for Humanity”: What is at Stake and what is the Urgency; “What Is Responsible AI? A Comparative Approach”; “The Double-Edged Sword: AI and the Future of Law Enforcement”; “AI that is shaped by all of humanity, for all of humanity: The Prerequisite for Global Governance”; and “Future of Legal Efforts to Regulate AI in Armed Conflict and International Law”.

Ms. Viveros is also an internationally renowned High-Profile Keynote Speaker, having addressed over 80 events worldwide, in addition to having delivered myriad lectures and conducted numerous executive seminars and trainings to prestigious governmental and academic institutions, as well as private actors. She serves in sundry Networks of multidisciplinary and specialized experts, being part of over 20 professional boards and academic associations in an array of capacities.

Marco C. Funk is an entrepreneur and clean-energy advocate who serves as the CEO of Enerlink.ai, a platform using AI and blockchain to bring trust and bankability to local clean energy. He launched his work in 2020 with the goal of accelerating the transition to sustainable energy by maximising the value of the optimal form of energy – local, decentralised projects.

For its cutting-edge AI-powered technology and the completion of over 20,000 projects, Enerlink  won the AI For Good Innovation Factory 2025, and is looking forward to attending the Grand Finale in Geneva in July. Funk has spoken at international conferences on sustainability, clean tech and energy transition, and leads Enerlink’s mission to bring transparency, accountability and data-driven investment flows to clean energy deployment globally.

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.

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.

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.

Dr. Shantanu Pathak, PhD in women’s health from IIT Bombay. He is a passionate social entrepreneur working on a mission of creating equal and personalised care opportunities for women. His venture CareMother (Doto Health) is offering innovative digital solutions for healthcare providers and women in India and developing countries. Shantanu is awarded by “The President of India’s Innovation Scholar Award in 2015 with 15 days stay at The President House ”, Google SMB Hero Award in 2017 and Top 10 Innovator by MIT, DST and Lockheed Martin in 2018 and Emerging Leader Award by Skoll Foundation in 2019, Stanford Biodesign Impact 1 Fetal and Maternal Award 2023, HIEx World Health Assembly Talk 2024 and 2025. Shantanu is steering committee member for Heat-in-Pregnancy project funded by Wellcome Trust along with PIs from THSTI, University of Oxford, George Institute etc.

CareMother innovative digital solutions address high risk pregnancy management, fetal and labor monitoring and new born care. CareMother has impacted reached more than 500,000+ pregnancies in last 5 years primarily in India and recently being used in Vietnam, Nepal, Sierra Leon, Nigeria, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Along with entrepreneurial journey, Shantanu is also associated with NanoBios Lab , IIT Bombay and working on new problem statements on Maternal Health and Cancer care. He plans to establish India’s first Women’s Health Centre of Excellence at IIT Bombay.

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.

Alexandra Hirzel is a MedTech entrepreneur, investor, and board advisor specializing in the deployment of AI in regulated healthcare environments. She has founded and exited several companies, and now advises healthcare executives, investors, and AI-driven organizations on governance, scale, and real-world implementation across Europe and the U.S. She has served as a mentor and judge for UN AI for Good for over five years and has previously delivered both online and in-person masterclasses within the programme. Alexandra is a recent Women Hidden Figures Awards Winner and a 100 Women in Tech Nominee, recognized for leadership at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and impact.