Aaron Rose is a trusted advisor to business, government, and nonprofit leaders. Applying his critical thinking and problem-solving skills in corporate strategy, international business, and the business of innovation, Aaron possesses a proven track record leading organizational transformation while delivering on long- and short-term results. He leverages his experiences and knowledge to help clients with business planning and global corporate expansion including identifying new export markets, implementing sales and marketing localization initiatives, developing risk mitigation and business resilience strategies, and establishing leadership training and corporate governance policies.

In the public sector, Aaron advises governments on how to develop national comparative advantages and communicate investment opportunities to attract foreign direct investment to support private sector development initiatives including public-private partnerships. He also leads Global Tactics' Global Clinic for CEOs.

Aaron has held advisory roles at several companies where he advised executive management on establishing their company's strategic direction and achieving their long-term goals.

His entrepreneurial experience includes the founding of several successful ventures such as ROI3, Inc., a company that developed localized software-as-a-service platforms for mobile device users in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, and Yeeko Inc., a digital media company and publisher of Yeeko Magazine, a Chinese-language periodical focused on culture, arts, and literature. He currently serves a board chair of the Silicon Valley Forum, a nonprofit organization that fosters innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership in Silicon Valley and throughout the world.

Additional information about Aaron's background and business approach may be found on his LinkedIn profile and blog, GT Perspectives. 

Adrian Bucher is the Senior Data Analyst at UKCDR - the UK Collaborative on Development Research. UKCDR works side-by-side with government departments and research funders to amplify the value and impact of research for global development by promoting coherence, collaboration, and joint action among UK research funders. As the Senior Data Analyst, Adrian leads the data mapping, analysis, and foresight pillar of the organisation’s strategy. This largely involves facilitating research funders’ joint understanding of their activities and priorities, and how these fit within the wider international development research landscape. Previous analyses include those around specific geographies, pandemic preparedness, and climate change. Adrian also leads UKCDR's work on disasters risk resilience and acts as the convener of the Disasters Research Group which brings together UK research funders or experts linked to international disaster reduction initiatives to promote coordination, networking and collaboration opportunities at the UK and international level.

Ms. Sokolenko is co-founder of the Association of Sustainable Development Experts (ASDE), an international association of professionals committed to developing sectoral expertise  to promote green economy and sustainable civil society.

She has a 15 years of experience, specialized in green finance and impact investments, 10 of which on senior positions. Alina has a proven record of a sound practical ESG approach to project appraisal and problem-solving in line with best international practices in over hundred projects in different industry sectors: manufacturing and services, transport, agro/food, retail, energy, municipal infrastructure, and financially intermediated operations. She has a variety of sectoral experience in sustainability and green investments and is working extensively with international development banks, funds, donors, and private and public sectors.

Over the past ten years, she has served as global sustainability expert lead for multiple organizations, including the World Bank, IFC, EBRD, FMO, UNDP etc in Europe and Central Asia. Experienced in practical development and implementation of an integrated management system by EU frameworks, IFI’s requirements (IFC PS, EBRD PR) the world's best practices, emerging sustainability framework/standards/rating (e.g. GRI, TCFD, ISS, etc) lender’s, and other stakeholder’s requirements.

Alina holds a master degree in Environmental Science and Business Administration. Certified in Sustainable Finance in Cambridge University, she is also a licensed GRI trainer, ISO Auditor, and Certified Circular Economy Instructor.

PhD in Development and Environment at the Federal University of Paraíba/Brazil, Master in Phytotechnics (Plant Production) from the Federal University of Viçosa and Graduate in Agricultural Engineering from the Federal University of Paraíba. Researcher at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) since 2002, working on research projects in the area of ​​Agronomy, with an emphasis on Agroecology and the Environment, Alternative production systems, utilization and use of Organic Waste, Ecological Soil Management and Cultural Tracts, Family farming, Coexistence with semi-aridity, Phytotechnics and Mandioculture. She is a teacher and advisor for the Professional Master's Program in the National Environmental Sciences Teaching Network (PROFCIAMB) at UFPE, the Postgraduate Program in Rural Extension (PPGExR) at UNIVASF and the PPGADT (Postgraduate Program in Agroecology and Territorial Development UNIVASF /UNEB. She is a member of the Committees or Working Groups at Embrapa: Portfolio Management Committee (CGPort) Bioefficiency in Agriculture, Brazillian One Health Permanent Committee, Local Publication Committee (Embrapa Semiarid), Waste Management Plan Working Group Solids PGRS (Semiarid Embrapa), Local Sustainability Committee (Petrolina/PE) and the Brazillian Strategic Council of the National Bioinput Program. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alineaurea-florentino-silva/ 

Dr. Anna Yusim is an internationally-recognized, award-winning, Board-Certified, Stanford- and Yale-educated Psychiatrist & Executive Coach with a Private Practice in New York City, Connecticut, California and Florida. With clients including Forbes 500 CEOs, Olympic athletes, A-list actors and actresses, and the Chairs of academic departments at top universities, Dr. Anna Yusim helps influential people achieve greater impact, purpose, and joy in their life and work. Dr. Yusim is the best-selling author of Fulfilled: How the Science of Spirituality Can Help You Live a Happier, More Meaningful Life. As a Clinical Assistant Professor at Yale Medical School, Dr. Yusim is presently working to create a Mental Health & Spirituality Program / Center at Yale with Dr. Christopher Pittenger, which will be a bridge between the Yale Medical School and Yale Divinity School. Dr. Yusim is the Chief Medical Officer of Conscious Health, a holistic mental health treatment center based in California that bridges ancient psychospiritual wisdom with state-of-the-art, evidence-based mental health interventions like ketamine, transcranial magnetic stimulation and other treatment modalities. Dr. Yusim has published over 400 academic articles, book chapters, scientific abstracts, book reviews, and articles for the lay public on various topics in psychiatry. A frequent contributor to CNN, Fox News, ABC, and NBC, she has been a guest on hundreds of national and international TV shows, radio programs, and podcasts.After working as a neurobiology researcher with Dr. Robert Sapolsky Ph.D. and completing her studies at Stanford University, Yale Medical School, and the NYU Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Dr. Yusim felt that something was missing from her life. In her quest to find it, she traveled, lived, and worked in over 70 countries, while studying Kabbalah, learning Buddhist meditation, and working with South American shamans and Indian gurus.

Dr. Ashish Sharma is the Climate and Urban Sustainability Lead at the Discovery Partners Institute, University of Illinois System. He is a faculty in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He holds a joint appointment as a Climate Scientist at Argonne National Laboratory. He is the Director of the NSF-UKRI joint-funded Global Center on Clean Energy and Equitable Transportation Solutions (CLEETS). He is named to Crain's Chicago Business' 40 Under 40 class of 2023. Dr. Sharma completed his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from Arizona State University. Dr. Sharma has expertise in atmospheric sciences, focusing on regional climate, air quality, and assessing adaptation and mitigation strategies. Through collaborative research across science, engineering, social sciences, and policy, he studies environmental justice issues, including heat, fog, air quality, and high-impact weather. Dr. Sharma has secured funding as PI or co-PI from diverse agencies, such as the U.S. DOE, NSF, NASA, Walder Foundation, IBM, and ComEd Exelon Energy. Dr. Sharma is a fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society. He serves on the Trust for Public Land's Natural Solutions Tool advisory committee (2022). He has co-authored an assessment of climate change impacts on the Great Lakes region (2019), a special climate assessment for Illinois (2021), and a NOAA report on aligning research priorities to enhance resilience to extreme heat (2019). As a co-author of the first climate action plan for the Chicago metro region (2021), he has received numerous awards, including the American Planning Association Merit in Sustainability Award (2022) and the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions Climate Leadership Award (2021). The Illinois State Museum exhibits his work on climate change, injustice, and heat in Chicago. He has contributed as a reviewer for the IPCC report and many international scientific journals. Dr. Sharma is a US EPA Science Advisory Board member for the EJ Screen review panel. He is also a member of the Illinois Commission on Environmental Justice and the Illinois State Museum, appointed by the Governor. He is the Associate Editor of the Frontiers in Environmental Science: Atmosphere and Climate journal. He has testified on a subject matter hearing on urban heat island effect and solutions to the City of Chicago Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy (2021). He has briefed the U.S. Senate Climate Taskforce, U.S. House of Representatives, and congressional staff on Capitol Hill on the impacts of climate change in the Great Lakes Region (2019).

Mamadou Bhoye BALDE

AMBASSADOR OF PEACE, UNESCO CENTER FOR PEACE USA and Country Representative of the UNESCO Center for Peace USA in Guinea, is a highly accomplished professional with a rich background in information technology, education, and development. His experience spans roles such as Manager at Baldeh+23 Technology Gambia, where he advanced IT infrastructure, and a teleoperator at CallConnect Sarl Maroc, enhancing communication systems. In education, Mamadou has significantly contributed as a Teacher-Researcher at ISFAD, a Trainer for the Guinean Ministry of Higher Education, and through his work with UNESCO’s IMAGINÉCOLE Project, promoting innovative educational strategies.

Beyond his professional roles, Mamadou's dedication to community and development is profound. As the National Representative of the American Foundation for Economic and Social Development (FADES) in Guinea, he addresses poverty and inequality. His leadership as Ambassador of Peace underscores his commitment to promoting peace, scientific collaboration, and inclusive sustainable development. His work has earned him various accolades, including the Honorary Diploma from Donka Conakry High School and recognition from notable figures like Senator Benjamin L. Cardin. Additionally, as the founder of the NGO FLEA and a member of the YALI Network, Mamadou continues to empower women and young leaders, driving positive change in Africa.

Beatrice Olutoyin Opeolu is the Founder and Director of BEE Solutions and Consultancy Services and a professor of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. She focuses on the interactions between man and the environment, investigating chemical contaminations, remediation of toxic chemicals, and the health risks to humans and ecosystems. She has published over 120 articles in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters and conference proceedings. Beatrice serves on the Technical Committees of several nationally funded projects in South Africa. She is a South African Bureau of Standards (SABS)- Biological Testing Methods voting committee member. She was a co-developer of an international programme of the SETAC online short course aimed at developing countries. Beatrice is well regarded as an evaluator of academic programmes for the South African Council on Higher Education (CHE). She is a Past President of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Africa. She is the President of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) World Council. She is also a Fellow of SETAC. Beatrice has several research and service awards to her credit. She won the inaugural HERS-South Africa Trailblazer Award in 2023. Beatrice is involved in community engagement projects and has a robust research network of scientists across the globe. Over the past two decades, Beatrice has delivered several speeches as a participant, invited speaker, and keynote speaker in local, regional, and international conferences. She is a sought speaker and panelist at events, including the United Nations Commission on Status of Women (CSW) side events. Beatrice mentors many environmental science practitioners in academia, business, and government. Beatrice is passionate about people, science, and the environment. This inspired her to establish BEE Solutions and Consultancy Services to build a sustainable future using science and indigenous wisdom through strategic partnerships across the globe.

Benjamin Young is Senior Program Manager for Strategic Initiatives at the New York Academy of Sciences, where he develops innovative global programs and partnerships that advance scientific research and policy for the public good. At the International Science Reserve, he collaborates with a growing network of leading scientists, institutions, and companies that has come together across disciplines and borders to prepare for and mitigate some of the world’s most pressing crises. Benjamin brings a background leading strategic initiatives and program development across public, private, nonprofit, and philanthropic settings. Building on a steadfast commitment to resilient and equitable societies, some of his past roles have involved designing and managing social impact grant-making programs, building teams and capacity for organizations large and small, crafting policy, and establishing public-private strategic partnerships. He has held teaching appointments at Columbia, Princeton, and the Ecole Normale Superieure in France.

Adam is a Senior Manager of Environment for the International Zinc Association (IZA). In his role, Adam manages international environmental research and application efforts, focusing on developing and understanding environmental quality standards. He also works within a multidisciplinary Environmental Health and Sustainability team that evaluates and promotes sustainability across various spatial and temporal scales. Prior to joining IZA, he spent 16 years developing and applying predictive state-of-the-science environmental quality models for a variety of metals in various environmental media while working at Windward Environmental and HydroQual. Adam is a Board-Certified Toxicologist (DABT) with extensive water quality standards and environmental data analysis experience. He received his PhD in Environmental Toxicology from Clemson University while investigating the effects of water chemistry on metals bioavailability. Prior to graduate school, Adam earned a degree in biology from the State University of New York College at Fredonia. He is currently based in Syracuse, NY.

Björn Halleröd has been researching living conditions, health, and working life since the mid-1980s, expanding to include children’s living conditions in low- and middle-income countries. He currently leads projects linking living conditions with environmental challenges.

He has taught at all university levels. From 2010 to 2014, he led the doctoral program at the Department of Sociology in Gothenburg, and previously held the same position at Umeå University.

Since 2001, he has held various roles at the Swedish Research Council, including Secretary General for research infrastructures from 2015 to 2021. This role involved scientific responsibility across all academic areas and international cooperation.

Recently, he has assisted the Swiss National Science Foundation and the Dutch Research Council. Since autumn 2023, he has served as Senior Advisor for Research Infrastructure to the Vice-Chancellor at the University of Gothenburg.

Prof Catalina Spataru is the Founder and Head of Islands and Coastal Research Lab (ICR) and the Director of University College London’s Energy Institute. Her research interests revolve around energy-resources-sustainability-resilience, the quantification of scenarios and transition pathways with stakeholders’ engagement, with particular focus on clean energy technologies. Throughout her career, she developed mathematical models, and interdisciplinary toolboxes, led more than 30 research and consultancy projects in UK and internationally. The latest project she led being Re-Energize Governance of Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience for Sustainable Development, funded via Belmont Forum DR3 Call, with support from various funding Agencies: CNR (Italy), JST (Japan), QNRF (Qatar), UKRI (UK), NSF (US). Part of this she designed and led the development of the Re-Energize DR3 toolbox for assessing the resilience and adaptation of islands and coastal cities to climate change hazards, impact on resource use, energy technologies, finance and communities, in collaboration with stakeholders, including local communities, development practitioners, policymakers, to understand, advance and apply resilient solutions to sustainable development and adapt to climate change. 

Catherine Régis is a Full Professor of Law at the University of Montreal (UdeM) and Director of Social Innovation and International Policy at IVADO, a major AI research, training and knowledge transfert consortium in Canada. She holds a Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy and a Canada-CIFAR Chair in AI and Human Rights. She is an Associate Academic Member at Mila (Quebec AI Institute),  the codirector of the Health Hub – Policies, Organizations and Law (H-POD) as well as an Expert Member of the Working Group on Responsible AI for the Global Partnership on AI. Her research projects focus on the regulation of AI in healthcare systems and on the integration of human rights in national and global AI governance. She co-authored the UN-Habitat-Mila white paper “AI and Cities: Risks, Applications and Governance” (2022) and recently published two books:  B. Prud’homme, C. Régis & G. Farnadi (dir.) «Missing links in AI governance» UNESCO Press (2023); C. Régis et al.,  «Human-Centered AI: A Multidisciplinary Perspective for Policy-Makers, auditors, and users» CRC Press (2024).

I am a Public Health Physician and Telemedicine expert

Dr Cornelia C. Walther, Founder POZE@ezop, a global alliance for systemic change. As a humanitarian practitioner, she worked for two decades with the United Nations in large scale emergencies in West Africa, Asia, and Latin America with a focus on advocacy and social and behavior change. As a lecturer, executive coach and researcher, she collaborates with universities across the Americas and Europe. She is presently a Senior Visiting Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2017 she initiated the POZE dynamic (Perspective – Optimization – Zeniths – Exposure) in Haiti, which has since grown into a global transdisciplinary network of  researchers and practitioners committed to inclusive social change.

Since 2021 her focus is on aspirational algorithms and the need of human agency to harness technology for social good. She is a regular contributor on Forbes, writing on prosocial AI. 

Books 2020-2021 (ENG/DE)

Website 

NEW Publications : 

Human Leadership for Humane Technology 

Handbook Quality of Life and Social Change 

Cyrus Paul Olsen III, DPhil. (Oxon.) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Theology/Religious Studies at The University of Scranton and Affiliate Research Fellow at Harvard Medical School/Brigham and Women’s Hospital through the Human Network Initiative (HNI), a subsidiary of the Dhand Lab specializing in stroke health.  Collaboration with Harvard is made possible by the Templeton World Charity Foundation Grant he co-manages with Ian Corbin, PhD: “Buffering, Porosity and Brain Health in Uganda” (2022-2025).  Additionally, Cyrus works with markting firms and social impact organizations, both as a volunteer and through his own company TunedToCyrus,LLC.  His work is multi-disciplinary and aimed at uplifting partners in research, especially in East Africa.  For a recent video he created to highlight collaborative scientific research, see: https://youtu.be/COombnp7WJ8?si=UjlO17dDPpFg_Skk

Daniel Gebregiorgis, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental systems in the Department of Geosciences at Georgia State University. Dr. Gebregiorgis' current research focuses on understanding response of the East African and Asian monsoon systems to changes in natural (e.g., changes in the Earth's orbit) and anthropogenic forcing (e.g., emission of greenhouse gases), the mechanisms and rate of change that characterized Earth's past climate variability, and the influence of large-scale coupled ocean and atmospheric circulation patterns such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) on East African monsoon rainfall. Dr. Gebregiorgis directs and co-directs the Paleoclimate and Climate Change and Environmental Research Labs, respectively.

Nurse; Doctor in Nursing, health and human care; Master in Quality Management, Prevention and Environment; Specialist in quality management and health audit.  

Leader of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments – ANHE Latin America and represents it before the Latin American Climate and Health Network. 

Dean of the Faculty of Nursing Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia Santa Marta Section

Dr Rodney Hart is Employed by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Stellenbosch, as a Research Team Manager (RTM) for the Post-Harvest & Agro-Processing Technologies research team. Our research teams’ principal areas of research are post-harvest technologies, agro-processing and fermentation technology as means of reducing post-harvest losses and value-addition towards food safety and economic opportunities for, especially rural communities. He has 20 years of experience doing research in the fields of Fermentation and Agro-processing Technologies, and Microbiology (food, industrial, and environmental). He is the principal investigator for the ARC's yeast breeding and development project. Under this initiative, one red wine yeast was commercialised through a license with a global yeast manufacturer. After successful experiments with regional and global commercial cellars, another hybrid strain of yeast caught the interest of another worldwide yeast company. He is a member of the Nutrition Society of South Africa (NSSA), the South African Society for Microbiology (SASM), and the South African Association for Food Science & Technology (SAAFoST). He regularly participate in national and international conferences, either as the primary or co-author of a poster presentation or as an oral presenter. In the last five (5) years, he  co-authored seventeen (17) oral presentations, gave seven (7) oral presentations, one (1) Keynote presentation, and was the corresponding and first author of eight (8) and three (3) poster presentations, respectively. He  hold a registration number i.e., 1484969 with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP), designating me as a "Professional Natural Scientist" (Pr.Sci.Nat.), since 2007. Additionally, he actively serves on National Research Foundation (NRF) advisory and review panels, including ‘Assessment and Rating of individual researchers’; and ‘Five-year Assessment of the research chair for the National Research Foundation’ between 2013 and 2023. He also serve on the Western Cape Department of Agriculture's (WCDoA) Agri-Processing Commodity Project Allocation Committee (CPAC), which reviews funding proposals for the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP). Furthermore, he is actively involved in the active mentoring and supervision of Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) students who are pursuing National Diplomas (ND) and BTechs, in addition to post-graduate interns (BSc.Hons, MSc) from the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) and the Department of Science and Innovation/Human Sciences Research Council (DSI/HSRC). Currently, he co-supervises two (2) PhD and one (1) MSc student, with one (1) more PhD student to register in 2024 as well as five (5) DSI/HSRC and WCDoA interns. As a researcher, I actively conduct research, interpret data, make recommendations to the industry, and compile technical and progress reports.

Prof Stephen Amoo is a Principal Researcher and the Research Team Manager of the Medicinal Plants and Industrial Crops Division in the Agricultural Research Council, South Africa. He is a rated researcher by the National Research Foundation of South Africa. He is affiliated with the North-West University, South Africa as an Extraordinary Professor. His research interests include ethnobotany, medicinal plant propagation and cultivation, plant physiology, and agroprocessing. He leads a research team focussing on the value chain development of economically important medicinal and industrial crops. He has published scores of scientific papers (over 100) in international journals, supervised and mentored postgraduate students (PhD and MSc) and postdoctoral fellows to completion. He serves on the editorial board of many scientific journals.

As TÜV SÜD's Chief Sustainability Officer, Celine Bilolo is responsible for leading the company's global sustainability services and driving continuous improvement in environmental and social impact. She brings a background in sustainability management consultancy and investment management, which has equipped her with a wealth of experience in the creation of sustainability organisations and the management of a variety of sustainability projects.

Throughout her career, she has provided assistance to companies of varying sizes and public institutions, guiding them through regulatory initiatives and facilitating international experience. Prior to joining TÜV SÜD, Dr. Bilolo managed investments in social enterprises across sub-Saharan Africa for a global pharmaceutical company’s impact investment fund. She holds a degree in business administration with a finance major from Augsburg University and an MBA from the University of Dayton (USA). Additionally, she holds a doctorate with honours from the University of St. Gallen and the Said Business School at the University of Oxford. 

For more information: Dr. Céline Bilolo | LinkedIn 

Dr Emmanuelle Cohen-Shacham is an independent consultant, researcher, and group lead, working at the interface between science, policy and practice, focusing on nature conservation, environmental sciences and policy and Nature-based Solutions.

Emmanuelle leads the Thematic Group on Nature-based Solutions (NbS), at the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM). She has been co-leading the work on NbS at IUCN CEM since 2014, focusing on developing the definition, principles for NbS; and developing and implementing the Global Standard for NbS on multiple case studies around the globe. She has led and contributed to several NbS publications. She currently works in a research project addressing environmental challenges in the Jordan Valley, involving Israeli, Patestinian and Jordanian researchers.

She holds an M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences from Wageningen University, the Netherlands, and her Ph.D. from Tel-Aviv University, Israel, focusing on ecosystem services and ecosystem management in Mediterranean wetlands.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ecohenshacham/

Erica Fischer, PhD, PE is an Associate Professor of Civil and Construction Engineering at Oregon State University. Dr. Fischer’s research interests revolve around innovative approaches to improve the resilience and robustness of structural systems affected by natural and man-made hazards. Dr. Fischer performs research on a variety of different structural systems including steel, timber (CLT), composites (concrete-CLT and steel-concrete), and thin shells subjected to hazards such as earthquakes and fires. She has participated in post-earthquake reconnaissance team missions in diverse regions including Haiti, Napa, California, Italy, and Mexico City; and led post-wildfire reconnaissance after the 2018 Camp Fire and 2021 Marshall Fire. Dr. Fischer has experience as a practicing structural engineer and holds a Professional Engineering license in the states of Washington, California, and Oregon. She is Co-Chair of the ASCE Fire Protection Committee, and a voting member of AISC Task Committee 5 and AISC Task Committee 8.

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fischererica/

Website: https://www.ericafischer.org/

Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Lagos, Lagos and presently Visiting Scholar Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan /Fellow of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taiwan (R.O.C).

Garry Sotnik is a sustainability scientist committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and intergenerational wellbeing. He works with communities and organizations on solution innovation, decision analysis, strategic planning, and cross-sector partnerships. He also develops AI-based decision support tools for adaptive planning and applies them and other scientific techniques in studying the relationship between micro-level human decision making and macro-level social outcomes. At Stanford, Garry teaches adaptation to climate change, decision-making, strategic planning, and transformative societal change. His prior work ranges from social protection and resilience in the Middle East to decision-making and adaptation to policy and climate change in the United States and Ukraine.

Executive Head of the Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators (CeSTII) unit at the Human Sciences Research Council. Over the past twenty years, she has worked in the field of innovation studies, to understand the role of universities and public research institutes in economic and social development, and the determinants of skills and knowledge flows within sectoral, national and global systems of innovation. Her current research focus is oriented towards more contextually appropriate datasets, measures and indicators of Science, Technology and Innovation for inclusive and sustainable development in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. She has collaborated widely on comparative research projects in Africa, Latin America, Asia and Europe, and has led large scale projects for national government, building alliances and networks between researchers, policy makers and practitioners in South Africa and the global South

Hanieh Khataee is the Director of the Strategy and Impact Department at Qatar Foundation. With over 20 years of international development experience, Hanieh has led organizations to achieving national priorities for society, the environment and economy with informed, sustainable, community-centered solutions. Her work is deeply rooted in developing better health and wellbeing outcomes for individuals and the population with a strong focus on innovation, translation of evidence, and meaningful engagement globally.

Huixin Zhong is a Ph.D. candidate at the Center for Doctoral Training in Accountable, Responsible, and Transparent AI at the University of Bath, UK. Huixin successfully passed her Ph.D. viva in April 2024. She has an interdisciplinary background that includes AI, psychology, behavioral economics, and law. Huixin holds an MRes degree in Accountable, Responsible, and Transparent AI from the University of Bath, an MSc in Social Psychology from Lancaster University, and a BSc in Psychology with a minor in Law from Chongqing Medical University. Her publications cover a wide range of topics in AI, such as interdisciplinary AI governance presented at leading AI conferences, decision making in human-AI teams, rehabilitation robots for children with autism, and affective computing. 

Ikko Tucker is passionately committed to the advancement of a healthier and more sustainable global future.  She has focused on promoting grassroots-oriented environmental sustainability in urban communities in the GCC by cultivating and developing a new generation of environmentally conscious leaders.  Before joining Sandooq Al Watan, a UAE-based nonprofit philanthropic organization, she served at Zayed University as the Associate Dean of the University College, the founding Chair of the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, and an Associate Professor in the College of Natural and Health Sciences.  She received her PhD in Agronomy from Pennsylvania State University and has previously held academic appointments at Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.

Joaquim Jorge is a Full Professor at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Universidade de Lisboa, in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (DEI). He holds the UNESCO Chair of Artificial Intelligence and Extended Reality and teaches Computer Graphics and Human-Computer Interaction. Additionally, he serves as Adjunct Professor at the University of Wellington and Invited Honorary Professor at the Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro. His past roles include Adjunct Professor at the University of Calgary, Technical University of Vienna, and Technical University of Darmstadt.

Joaquim has chaired or co-chaired numerous international conference scientific committees, including IEEE VR 2020, Eurographics 2016, and IUI 2012. He has organized over 50 international events such as IEEE VR 2022, ACM ISS 2020, and INTERACT 2011. A member of the Eurographics Association since 1986, he served on its Executive Committee from 1997 to 2006. He has been involved in several national and European projects, notably coordinating the SmartSketches European project. He leads the Graphics & Interaction Research Group at INESC-ID since 2000. As Editor-in-Chief of the Computers & Graphics Journal since 2007, he also founded the Graphics & Visual Computing Journal in 2018.

Joaquim has supervised 16 doctoral theses, 70+ MSc theses, and 50 capstone projects. He has authored or co-authored over 378 peer-reviewed publications, including 164 conference presentations, 3 books, and 63 journal articles. His extensive service includes membership in over 208 international program committees, IFIP's Human-Computer Interaction Technical Committee (TC13), and roles with ACM/SIGGRAPH and IEEE.

His accolades include the IFIP Silver Core Award (2014), Eurographics Association Fellow (2010), ACM Distinguished Member (2017), and IEEE Distinguished Contributor (2022). He was elected to the IEEE Computer Society Board of Governors (2023-2025) and became a Membre Libre of the French National Academy of Surgery in 2022.

Joaquim has chaired or co-chaired numerous international conference scientific committees, including IEEE VR 2020, Eurographics 2016, and IUI 2012. He has organized over 50 international events, such as IEEE VR 2022, ACM ISS 2020, and INTERACT 2011. A member of the Eurographics Association since 1986, he served on its Executive Committee from 1997 to 2006. He has been involved in several national and European projects, notably coordinating the SmartSketches European project.

His evaluation work includes serving as a proposal evaluator for the NSF's ITR program and the European Commission's IST program. He consults for FhG/IGD on Multimodal Interfaces and leads the Graphics & Interaction Research Group at INESC-ID since 2000. As Editor-in-Chief of the Computers & Graphics Journal since 2007, he also founded the Graphics & Visual Computing Journal in 2018.

Joaquim has supervised 16 doctoral theses, 68 MSc theses, and 50 capstone projects. He has authored or co-authored over 378 peer-reviewed publications, including 164 conference presentations, 3 books, and 63 journal articles. His extensive service includes membership in over 208 international program committees, IFIP's Human-Computer Interaction Technical Committee (TC13), and roles with ACM/SIGGRAPH and IEEE.

His accolades include the IFIP Silver Core Award (2014), Eurographics Association Fellow (2010), ACM Distinguished Member (2017), and IEEE Distinguished Contributor (2022). He was elected to the IEEE Computer Society Board of Governors (2023-2025) and became a Membre Libre of the French National Academy of Surgery in 2022.

José M. Muñoz is an associate at the Institute of Neurotechnology and Law, United Kingdom, and the International Center for Neuroscience and Ethics (CINET), Spain. Formerly, he worked as a research fellow at Harvard University, the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Navarra. His areas of specialization are neuroethics and AI ethics.

He is the author of more than 70 publications, including works in Nature, Science, Nature Biotechnology, Neuroethics, the Encyclopædia Britannica, and The Boston Globe. He has served as a consultant and speaker for numerous institutions, including the United Nations, the Organization of American States (OAS), the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament (Parlatino), the Spanish Royal Academy, the Parliament and Human Rights Commission of Australia, the Senate of Mexico, the Chamber of Deputies of Argentina, and the Senate and Supreme Court of Chile.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmmunoz81/

Dr. Kong is a professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (budgetary cross-appointed) and Mathematics Department (cross-appointed), University of Toronto, where he serves as the director of the  Artificial Intelligence and Mathematical Modeling lab (AIMM lab). Additionally, he is the Director of the Africa-Canada Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Innovation Consortium (ACADIC) and the Global South Artificial Intelligence for Pandemic and Epidemic Preparedness and Response Network (AI4PEP). He is also the Regional Node Liaison to the steering committee of the Canadian Black Scientist Network. He obtained his Ph.D. in Mathematics with a certificate in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Alberta, and his MSc in Mathematical Modelling from the University of Hamburg, Germany, and the University of L’Aquila, Italy. His B.Sc. in Mathematics (major) and Computer Science (minor) were acquired at the University of Buea, Cameroon, and his B.Ed.  in Mathematics was earned at the University of Yaounde I, Cameroon. He did a 2-year postdoc at Princeton University. Dr. Kong is an AI, data science, mathematical modeling, and mathematics education expert. His principal research program focuses on developing and deploying innovative artificial intelligence, mathematical and data science methodologies, and technologies for decision­makers in communities, public health, government, and industry to provide important insights into local and global-scale socio-ecological challenges. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Kong led a team of 52+ researchers across nine African countries, using AI to help contain and manage the virus. In 2022, he founded the AI4PEP network, overseeing 160+ researchers from 16 countries. The network uses Southern-led responsible AI solutions to enhance public health systems for better prevention, preparedness, and response to disease outbreaks. Dr. Kong’s many research contributions and exceptional leadership have earned him several prestigious awards and recognitions.

Karen Mulberry is Senior Manager of Technology Policy and International Affairs at the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA) where she manages strategic public and government affairs programs and engagements within and across the organization. Karen has been involved in shaping policy development, identifying strategic initiatives, and providing technical standards through leadership at the intersection of technology, standards, regulation, and policy throughout her career. She holds a BS in Organizational Behavior from the University of San Francisco and an MBA from the University of Phoenix.  

Katie is a UN Youth Representative for CLAN (Caring & Living As Neighbours) and serves as the Project Officer for @MATES4Kids (Maximising Access to Essential Supplies for Children). She is currently pursuing her Master's in Public Health (MPH) at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. As a Graduate Research Assistant, Katie studies how limited water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) access in low-resource settings affects an individual's psychosocial well-being.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherineblomkvist/

Larisa K. Schelkin is CEO, Global STEM Education Center, Inc. a nonprofit corporation. Larisa is a teaching faculty at the United National Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Global Diplomacy Fellowship Program and at the UN General Assembly President’s Fellowship “HOPE”. She teaches courses on Science Diplomacy, Sustainable Development Goals, Global Environmental Outlook, UN Environmental program, NASA GLOBE education. Larisa is a UNITAR Fellow on Global Diplomacy, a Fellow on Education Policy, Institute for Education Leadership (IEL), Washington, DC, and a Fellow and Board member of Massachusetts Academy of Science. She is serving on the Governing Board of the Journal of Science Policy & Governance (JSPG). Larisa is a NASA GLOBE US Partner, IVSS Judge and serves on the GISN. She is a NASA GLOBE UN & SDGs consultant and a member of NASA GLOBE GIO TEPE team. Larisa held executive positions both in academia & global STEM corporations (WPI, WIT, Tufts University; TYCO Electronics Global Corporation). She has more than 20 years of professional experience in engineering research and development; and in global education. In addition to her engineering and computer science degrees Larisa studied Global Education at Harvard University Graduate School of Education “Think Tank” in Spring 2015 – 2019. Larisa is a NASA GLOBE Partner and NASA GLOBE educator. Larisa Schelkin is the author of the Global STEM Classroom ® teaching and learning virtual exchange model.  She has developed over 35 Global STEM projects and established partnerships with K-12 schools & universities in 12 countries. Larisa is a strong advocate for science diplomacy, for women in science and engineering and for diversity and inclusion in STEM. She holds BS and MS in Petroleum Engineering & MS in Computer Science. Prior to moving to Massachusetts, USA, Larisa and her family lived in Bashkortostan, Russia, India, and Africa.

Leif P. Christoffersen is the Biodiversity Partnerships Lead for Basecamp Research, a UK biotechnology company were he leads the Biodiversity Collaborations program.  Leif previously served as the Business Liaison for the Diomics Corporation, a San Diego biotechnology company conducting SARS-CoV-2 (COVID) research.  Previously, as the Founder of Resource Innovation Consulting, Leif led a team of scientists in a molecular breeding project working with Salicornia for the Masdar Institute in Abu Dhabi, UAE.  Earlier, he served as Director of Biomass Integration, Agriculture, and Business Development at Yules resulting in successful biomass utilization, agriculture projects in Arizona and Italy, as well as developing and managing a raw material supplier relationship with Patagonia for their Yulex (natural rubber) surf wetsuits.  After graduating from UCSD's Rady School of Management with an MBA, as of three founding partners for Teotl Energy Partners, he built a team of 8+ consultants serving 20+ clients, including AeroVironment, Hawaii Bioenergy, Rincon Pharmaceuticals, and DOD through the Office of the Secretary of Defense.  Previously, he was the first em-loyee to establish the EO Wilson Biodiversity Foundation where he was responsible for developing their BioTrust program for bioprospecting.  At Diversa, he managed 20+ domestic and international partnerships, and all bioprospecting related grants, including the Initiatives for Proliferation Prevention project (US DOE) in Russia.  As VP of WFED he focused on International Environmental Conflict Resolution, worked with UNEP on a climate change project through COP1 and COP2, and led bioprospecting programs with INBio in Costa Rica and in the US with the Yellowstone National Park, the National Park Service, and DOI.  He started his career working with CARE as the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for an agroforestry project in Kenya.  Leif received his bachelor's degree from Hobart College in Geneva, NY.

Linky Mahlako Makgahlela is a Research Team Manager for Animal Breeding and Genetics at the ARC – Animal Production, and Affiliated Associate Professor at the University of the Free State. Her research extensively explored applied statistical and computational genetics in animal breeding. Current research aims to establish cost effective pipelines and computational models for the implementation of genomic selection technology in livestock breeding. Other immediate genomics opportunities include identification of genetic defects/recessive genes impairing fertility in cattle, genes associated with adaptation and disease resistance, landscape genomics to manage genetic diversity and signatures of selection for conservation strategies. Prof Makgahlela is the chairperson of the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions, Professional Advisory Committee for Animal Science and the Steering Committee member of the World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production.

Médico Clínico. Univeridad de Buernos Aires 1983.Prof. diplomatura en Diabetes y Metabolismo Universidad Católica Argentina.Asesor del Minsiterio de Salud de la Provincia de Misiones Argentina.Asesor/Consultor del Ministerio de Salud de la Nación Argentina en las Guías de Practica Clinica de Diabetes Mellitus y sus complicaciones.Asesor para el uso de Medicamentos de Alto costo de la Obra Social de Tierra del Fuego.Asesor de la Sociedad Española de Salud de Precisión en Farmacología.Magister en Farmacopolítica.Ex Presidente de la Sociedad Argentina de Medicina.Participante de SSunga 77 y 78.

Lumbie Mlambo is an Impact Entrepreneur from Generation X, affectionately known as "The Water Lady." She dedicates her efforts to providing clean water access, empowering underrepresented women and girls, and mentoring youth on leadership skills and community engagement. Inspired by her humanitarian father, Lumbie founded JB Dondolo, a nonprofit organization focused on clean water access using science and technology to improve health and economic opportunities for underserved women and girls, particularly in Africa.

Lumbie's passion for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals has led her to become a Global Goals Ambassador, where she advocates for global change and the transformative power of knowledge. As a dedicated entrepreneur, she serves as a Judge for Africa’s Business Heroes, a Hub Lead for the Tony Elumelu Foundation, and is a speaker and alumna of the 10x1000 Tech for Inclusion.

More information about Lumbie can be found on her website.

Professor, Director of Research and Innovation Center of Baku State University: Baku , Azerbaijan.

Kaggle Days Creator and Community Leader (over 16 mln AI experts), CEO of LogicAI (AI technology company), CEO of RecoAI (Award winning AI recommendations), CEO of Elephant AI (digital transformation and bestselling AI courses), Ph.D. Researcher in AI & AI book author.

Matt is a serial entrepreneur, most recently selling his crossfit gym to come work with his younger brother Eric at Generation Atomic. He became interested in nuclear power after assisting in a march for Diablo Canyon power plant in 2016. As a passionate outdoors enthusiast, he became a strong nuclear supporter after understanding its small land footprint and lack of carbon emissions. He has extensive experience in event organizing and project management.

Michael van der Laan is a Specialist Researcher in the Agricultural Research Council’s Water Science division. He completed his PhD on modelling non-point source nutrient pollution from agriculture, and then joined the South African Sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI) for two and a half years. Thereafter, Michael worked at the University of Pretoria as an academic in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences until 2021, before joining the Agricultural Research Council in his current role.

Michael’s research focuses on various aspects of agricultural water, including modelling water and solute fluxes in agro-ecosystems, determining the impact of climate change on crop production, and applying big data and artificial intelligence in agricultural water management. He is actively involved in supervising PhD and MSc postgraduate students and has published over 40 peer-review journal articles. Additionally, Michael serves as the treasurer of the South African National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (SANCID) and is an Extraordinary Lecturer at the University of Pretoria.

Dr Michelle Skelton is a successful program manager and leader in the field of genomics and data science in Africa. As the current leader of the H3Africa and DS-I Africa Coordinating Centre's based at the University of Cape Town, she plays a pivotal role in advancing scientific research and collaboration on the continent.

In her role as the Principal Investigator of the H3Africa Administrative Coordinating Centre (H3ACC) and the Harnessing Data Science for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa (DS-I Africa) Coordinating Centre, Dr Skelton manages a team responsible for supporting these Consortia in various key areas including administration, communications, fiscal management, guidelines and policy development and coordination of meetings and conferences. With the support of core funders such as the NIH/NHGRI/FIC and Wellcome Trust, she has overseen the growth of the consortium to include over 500 individuals and 51 projects.

Dr Skelton's efforts have been instrumental in facilitating scientific exchange, networking, and collaborative brainstorming through in-person Consortium Meetings held in various African countries. She actively engages with stakeholders, government officials, global and grassroots organizations and governance working groups to raise awareness about the importance of scientific research, effective and sensitive data sharing practices towards solving health issues in Africa.

Dr Skelton's dedication to supporting early career scientists and promoting professional development within the scientific community has been a cornerstone of her work. Through fellowship programs, training initiatives, and strategic partnerships, she continues to empower the next generation of scientists to catalyze research findings into tangible solutions that will improve health outcomes for all in Africa and beyond.

Dr Mirinda van Kleef - has been involved in heartwater research at the Agricultural Research Council – Onderstepoort Veterinary Research (ARC_OVR) since 1987. She has authored and co-authored 33 scientific papers in peer reviewed journals and mentored eight MSc and five PhD students as an Extraordinary Lecturer in the Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria (2005 –2023). Mirinda is a specialist researcher in the Vaccine and Diagnostic Development programme and leads a research team that develops recombinant vaccines against economically important agricultural animal diseases of Africa. They rationally develop vaccines by characterising the immune responses induced by the pathogenic organism in the host and identify the antigens and epitopes that induce those responses for use in a recombinant vaccine. In this way they developed a multi-epitope heartwater DNA vaccine (Patent number 2019/04764) that offers 60% protection and are working towards further improving this vaccine. Mirinda is also driving the ARC One Health Center of Excellence.

Olayinka Fagbemiro has dedicated over 17 years to advancing space science and technology as the Chief Scientific Officer at the Nigerian Space Agency. She currently leads the Space Education Outreach Unit and is a vital member of the Planning, Policy, and Research team. Her leadership extends to her role as the Founder and National Coordinator of Astronomers Without Borders Nigeria, an NGO leveraging astronomy to foster STEM education and address educational inequalities across Nigeria.Olayinka is pursuing a PhD in Geoinformatics at the African University of Science and Technology, where her research focuses on the use of deep learning algorithms for urban development studies. Her expertise in spatial sciences is further augmented by her academic background, with a B.Sc. in Computer Science from the University of Ilorin and an M.Sc. in Technology Management from Obafemi Awolowo University.A fervent advocate for STEM education, Olayinka has initiated several programs aimed at inspiring the next generation of African scientists and engineers. Her efforts have significantly increased access to STEM education in underserved communities, empowering youths through scholarships, mentorships, and hands-on workshops. She champions educational initiatives that promote STEM among underrepresented groups, particularly young girls and children in Internally Displaced People’s camps, significantly contributing to reducing gender disparities in STEM fields within the region.In addition to her academic and educational pursuits, Olayinka actively participates in international space policy discussions, advocating for inclusivity in global space endeavors. Her leadership and commitment have garnered her numerous accolades, including the International Aeronautical Federation Young Professional Award and being named one of Nigeria’s top 100 Women in Tech. She is also a 2020-21 TechWomen Fellow, an initiative by the U.S. Department of State. She is also a 2024 Karman Fellow

Dr. Peter Bloomfield MD MPH grew up in the Washington DC area and joined the Peace Corps after college to work in health education.  He went on to graduate from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and School of Public Health and train in Emergency Medicine at Olive View-UCLA.  Through his work at the Nithyananda Hindu University he studies the powerful physiologic and psychologic effects of Yoga and the Vedagamic lifestyle.

Raj Vidhale is a high school junior from New Jersey and is among the youth leading the push for financial equality through his contributions to microfinance as a part of Small Step Loans (SSL), a group that distributes interest-free loans to small businesses in developing countries worldwide. SSL has provided over $7000 in loans, continuing to expand worldwide. Raj is also a finance lead at Fidutam which has a microfinance platform providing over $400,000 in financial assistance to those in need. Feel free to reach out on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raj-vidhale-b776a8266/.

Rajesh Gopalakrishnan Nair is a research fellow in the Valuing Sustainability Future Science Platform of the Agri-Food Business Unit of CSIRO. He studied Physics, Agriculture and Applied Economics and obtained PhD in Innovation Studies. His current research is on innovation policy for sustainability.

·       Consultant Pediatric Endocrinologist at The Medical City (MCMSS), Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.

·       Assistant professor of Pediatrics at AL-Neelain University, Khartoum, Sudan

·       Head of the Sudan Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship Program (SPEFP) training committee.

·       Deputy chair of the Education Committee in the Arab Society for Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes (ASPED) and Sudan Representative in ASPED

·       Lead DSD/ CAH focus group in the African Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Endocrinology (ASPAE).

·       General secretory of Sudan Society for Pediatric Endocrinology and DM (SSPED).

·       Sudan Childhood DM Association (SCDA) Clinics’ supervisor: The lead person in supervising 26 DM clinics all over Sudan (> 10,000 children under the care), (December 2018 up to now) and continues supervising clinics and managing clinics supply during the Sudan conflict.

·       Life for A Child (LFAC) program coordinator in Sudan, overseeing clinics’ problems, observing supply flow, and supervising staff training. (August 2018 up to now).

·       Executive Member, Sudan Association of Pediatricians (SAP): Vice Academic Secretary, (2015-2017), Head Academic Secretary, (2017-2020), General Secretary, (2020-2022).

·       Executive Member, case management committee, Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), as Sudan Association of Pediatricians (SAP) representative during the period of the Covid-19 crisis, leading pediatric team, national pediatrics COVID protocol, and supervised pediatric & HCP training in all of Sudan, (March - September 2019).

·       Founder of Care Point Medical Center: The first private subspecialty center in Sudan with an expert multidisciplinary team, and access to genetic testing and training services, (February 2022- Up to now).

·       Has participated as a speaker in more than 30 local, regional, and international conferences.

·       Has participated in and attended more than 150 workshops and conferences, both locally and internationally.

·       Chief organizer and moderator in many local & international events and conferences.

·       Has more than 30 publications research projects and research collaborations with several international institutes

·       Has a special interest in pediatric Adrenal disorders and enhancing diabetes care in resource-limited countries with research, publications, and active contributions in this field.

LinkedIn

Sandy Martinez is a self-motivated professional who brings over 25 years of professional experience to any setting. Sandy’s background and experience includes Web3 advising, career coaching, experience production, loss prevention, management, leadership, higher education finance and budgeting, employee engagement and improvement programs, building personal brands, and exceptional customer service. 

Sandy Martinez is the Founder and CEO of Strive Studio Career Coaching & Consulting to support women of color and professionals to thrive in their careers and assist organizations on diversity, equity and inclusion, organizational culture, and staff success initiatives. Sandy is also a Web3 advisor who has worked with global brands like Jarritos enter this innovative ecosystem. As an education advocate and experienced higher education leader, she believes in education as a powerful tool to empower others. This advocacy work led her to being the dynamic WebTr3s al Aire radio show host dedicated to informing and educating the Spanish speaking community about the Web3 and NFT industry. She is a community builder, Hispanic & Latino advocate, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker to inspire others with her powerful story as a first generation immigrant from Zacatecas, Mexico. Sandy is also passionate about empowering women serving as an engaged Board Member of Young & Empowered Women’s Association and United Latinas elevating women across the nation and beyond. As the founder of Women of Web3 (WW3), Sandy leads a movement that elevates and empowers female leaders, creators, and developers in fostering gender equality within the Web3 and Digital Assets sectors in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 5 and 10. Her “why” is connecting others with opportunities to make a difference in their lives.

Sandy’s impactful work has earned her recognition as the 50th president for the Arizona State University (ASU) Chicano Latino Faculty and Staff Association, serving as Chair for the ASU Commission on the Status of Women, being named a 2019 Badass Woman of ASU, being featured in Shoutout Arizona Magazine, being featured in Times Square for NFT NYC and for her work with Women of Web3 in 2023, co-leading a session at the United Nations 78th Science Summit featuring 17 women trailblazers in Web3 to foster gender equality and inclusivity in the digital realm, and being named 100 Most Inspirational Women of Web3 & AI for 2023 by Unstoppable WOW3’s Most Inspirational Women. 

As a proud Sun Devil, Sandy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Communication, a minor in Business, and a Master’s in Higher and Postsecondary Education with a focus on university administration. Away from her professional and volunteer endeavors, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking, yoga, cooking, CrossFit, rooting for the Los Angeles Dodgers and learning more about Web3 and other emerging technology.

I humbly believe that our skills, talents, and experiences should not be sources of personal pride. A better world begins when our achievements are measured not by how they make us stand out, but by how they enable us all to rise together and allow others to see the light through us.
🌍 My career is a testament to the power of dedication and vision. With a background in Earth sciences, Information Technologies, and Humanitarian Aid, complemented by ongoing doctoral research in Digital and Analytical Sciences, I have cultivated a comprehensive skill set that bridges multiple disciplines. This foundation, bolstered by over 450 certifications in humanitarian aid and international development, has been key to meeting, with a solid basement, challenges in an ever-evolving world.
🔍 I have honed exceptional skills in multi-level analysis, particularly in using satellite imageries, Big Data in advanced information systems, applied to both MEAL, IM, GIS and Data Analysis, more especially with the latest technologies such as AI, RPA, Blockchain, IoT, NLP, and ML. These competencies have been pivotal in addressing and mitigating natural disasters and developing sustainable digital solutions that empower communities worldwide to prepare, face, and recover efficiently.
🌐 My experience spans over 15 countries across three continents, encompassing both the Global North and Global South. This has provided me with a deep understanding of fields’s realities and donor’s perspectives.
I excel in downscaling, upscaling and implementing strategies and policies through accountable diplomacy and inclusive methodologies, ensuring projects effectively meet diverse needs and expectations are clear between stakeholders.
🚀 Most recently, I have concentrated on revolutionizing humanitarian data analysis and advancing technology for good. My leadership in various projects underscores my commitment to continuous learning and passionate advocacy for global improvement.
🎯 My deepest pleasure is always to work ,collaborate and support everyone, in order to create a sustainable and equitable world where technological advancements and human-centric strategies work hand in hand to address the most critical challenges facing our global community. #SDGs

Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Dental Medicine, Catholic University of Portugal, Viseu, Portugal
Researcher at CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
Lecturer at The University of Puthisastra, Cambodia

Dr. Suzanne Dumouchel, PhD in French literature, is partnership coordinator of OPERAS Research Infrastructure that gathers +50 members in 13 countries. Strongly committed to the Open Science policy, she is focused on impulsing more social and human aspects in technical and scientific development. Director of the European Open Science Cloud Association (+200 members worldwide), she is a big fan of infrastructures - especially research infrastructures. Passionate about open governance and innovative management for distributed organisations, she is the head of International Cooperation at the Directorate of Open Research Data in the world’s largest research performing organisation, the CNRS.

Taro Kuusiholma is Ph.D candidate at the Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT) School of Global Governance focusing mainly on air and space governance. Previously he worked as General Counsel and consult for several aviation and space companies and as Special Adviser for Finnish Transport Safety Agency (CAA Finland) Regulation and Development department. He has been actively involved in different international Space and Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems working groups and panels. He was adviser in EASA P&M TAG, adviser for Norway in ICAO UASSG, Plenary member of ICAO RPASP and member of ICAO and UNOOSA Space Group, member of JARUS and former Chair of the Legal and Policy Committee of the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS). Taro is inter alias Fellow of Royal Aeronautical Society, Forign Member of Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Tushar Gupta, IIT Delhi graduate and Electronics Design Automation professional at Siemens EDA, will discuss sustainability in such STEM programs through motivation and excitement building via national and international robotics championships, need for industry collaboration and low-cost manufacturing of robotic kits

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tushar-gupta-1624691/

Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH, was appointed Secretary of Health for the Great State of Washington by Governor Jay Inslee in December 2020. He is the first physician of South Asian descent to serve in this leadership role in the history of the state of Washington.His appointment came at a difficult time starting the very week of the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines into the state. In assuming this role in Washington, Dr. Shah made the transition from the front lines of response in Texas as Executive Director and Health Authority for Harris County Public Health (HCPH) – the public health agency for the nation’s third largest community with nearly five million residents.Dr. Shah earned his BA (philosophy) from Vanderbilt University; his MD from the University of Toledo Health Science Center; and completed an Internal Medicine Residency, Primary Care/General Medicine Fellowship, and MPH (management), at the University of Texas Health Science Center. He also completed an international health policy internship at World Health Organization headquarters in Switzerland.Upon completing training, Dr. Shah began a distinguished career as an emergency department physician at Houston’s Michael DeBakey VA Medical Center, where he provided clinical care for our nation’s veterans for over two decades. He started his formal public health journey as Chief Medical Officer at Galveston County’s Health District before joining HCPH. Under his leadership, HCPH won numerous national awards, including recognition as Local Health Department of the Year. Among his many career recognitions, he was awarded the Milton and Ruth Roemer Prize in recognition for outstanding innovative public health work. Dr. Shah has held numerous leadership positions with entities like the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; American Public Health Association; Trust for America’s Health; Network for Public Health Law; Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute; and the National Association of County and City Health Officials, where he served as president, representing nearly 3,000 local health departments nationwide.Over his career, Dr. Shah has responded to countless domestic and global emergencies, and has been a clinician, innovator, educator, and leader in health. He has championed the interests of underserved communities, the intersection of health and healthcare, digital health, partnerships, and the cornerstone values of equity, innovation, and engagement (EIE).

Prof. dr Violette Geissen  is a personal professor with the Soil Physics and Land Management group, Wageningen University, Netherlands. She has >20 years of experience in soil sciences and agronomy. She has published over 100 articles in international scientific journals. She has experience coordinating large international projects, such as EU-projects CariWatNet, CASCADE and currently, SPRINT.

Dr Zisis Kozlakidis is the Head of Laboratory Services and Biobanking at the International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization (IARC/WHO). He is responsible for one of the largest and most varied international collections of clinical samples in the world, focusing on gene–environment interactions and disease-based collections. This WHO infrastructure supports multinational efforts in making treatments possible and delivering those to resource-restricted settings. Dr. Kozlakidis has significant expertise in the field of biobanking and has served as President of ISBER (https://www.isber.org/), and as board member.

Dr. Kozlakidis is a virologist, with a PhD in microbiology from Imperial College London. He is an elected Fellow of the Linnean Society of London, the Royal Academy of Sciences, UK, and a Turnberg Fellow of the UK Academy of Medical Sciences.  He serves EOSC as co-chair of the Taskforce on ‘Upskilling countries’; and he also serves as editor-in-Chief for the peer-reviewed international scientific journal ‘Innovations in Digital Health, Diagnostics and Biomarkers’.

He holds visiting faculty positions in China (Medical School, South Central University), Belgium (Université Libre de Bruxelles) and the UK (St. George’s Medical School, University of London and Business School, City University of London).

Ngagoum Ndalloka Zita is the Founder and Executive president of CAPAWIC and a 2024 Women Leader in Energy and Climate Fellow. She is a PhD candidate in energy engineering and a research assistant at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Her primary focus lies in the realm of solar energy, where she is engaged in solar module prototyping and characterization. Her research interests extend to solar photovoltaic (PV) recycling, circular economy, and PV reliability. Ngagoum Ndalloka’s achievements include awards such as the Pan African University Scholarship, which supported her MSc in energy engineering at the Pan African University Institute of Water and Energy Sciences (PAUWES). During her master’s studies, she led the institute’s Climate Change and Gender Club. This leadership position sparked her interest in helping women join the renewable energy workforce. This in turn resulted in the creation of the Career Advancement Program for African Women in CleanTech (CAPAWIC), an initiative to empower African women and young girls by equipping them with the knowledge and skills essential for their professional integration and advancement in the clean energy sector. Ngagoum Ndalloka holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronics engineering from the University of Buea, Cameroon. In addition to her academic pursuits, Ngagoum Ndalloka has participated in numerous energy-oriented fellowships, training programs, and internships, including the Open Africa Power program by ENEL Foundation, the career training program and the student energy fellowship organized by Student Energy, the Rising Solar Power Fellowship sponsored by the Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy in partnership with Grid Alternatives, and the African Fellowship for Young Energy Leaders organized by the Renewable Energy Technology Training Institute in partnership with RETTI Virtual University. Ngagoum Ndalloka has also worked as a research intern at Schneider Electric in Algeria and as a program management intern with the Women for Sustainable Energies and Climate Action.

Dr. Aletha de Witt is the Director of Radio Astronomy Projects at the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) in South Africa. With a PhD in Astrophysics, she specializes in advancing global reference frames through high-frequency interferometric observations using radio telescopes across the globe. Dr. de Witt leads key astrometric, geodetic, and astronomical initiatives and collaborates internationally through her roles with the International VLBI Service for Geodesy and Astrometry (IVS), the Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS), and the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Her work enhances global geospatial infrastructure and research by integrating advanced astronomical and geodetic observational programs. At DSI, she drives critical projects, fosters national and international collaboration, and strengthens Africa’s research infrastructure and capacity in these fields.

Stefano Puntoni is the Sebastian S. Kresge Professor of Marketing at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and the co-director of AI at Wharton, a center dedicated to fostering and disseminating research on the impact of AI in business. He holds a PhD in marketing from London Business School and a degree in Statistics and Economics from the University of Padova, in his native Italy. His research has appeared in many leading academic and managerial outlets. His research investigates how AI technology is changing consumption and society. Stefano teaches in the areas of marketing strategy, new technologies, brand management, and decision making.

Hamilton Mann is the Group Vice President of Digital Marketing and Digital Transformation of Thales, a global leader in advanced technologies, investing in digital and "deep tech" innovations: artificial intelligence, big data, connectivity, cybersecurity, and quantum technologies. He's also a Senior Lecturer at INSEAD, HEC Paris and EDHEC Business School in Digital Transformation. His work has been featured in a variety of media including Stanford Social Innovation Review, Forbes, Knowledge at Wharton, INSEAD Knowledge, Harvard Business Review France and The European Business Review. Furthermore, he actively participates in advancing digital technologies, artificial intelligence in particular, for positive societal change as a mentor at the MIT Priscilla King Gray (PKG) Center and as the Founder and Host of “The Hamilton Mann Conversation,” a “Masterclass” podcast on Digital for Good. He was inducted in 2024 in the radar of Thinkers50 as one of the 30 global most prominent rising business thinkers.

Bo Viktor Nylund has served the most vulnerable children and families across the world since 1994. As Director of UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight (Florence, Italy), he leads a diverse team in tackling the questions of greatest importance for children. Through research and foresight, UNICEF Innocenti drives change for children, sparks global discourse and engages young people. Before October 2022, Bo Viktor served as UNICEF’s Representative in Syria, reaching nearly 12 million people in need, and using advocacy to open unprecedented opportunities with both Government and non-state actors. Since joining UNICEF, Bo Viktor has worked in Bangkok, Bujumbura, Colombo, Damascus, Geneva, Khartoum, Nairobi and New York, and focused on child rights and protection, corporate social responsibility and humanitarian policy and planning. He previously worked with UNHCR as a protection officer. Bo Viktor has master’s degrees (Columbia University Law) and a PhD (Geneva Graduate Institute for International Studies).

Professor Raghu Iyengar’s research interest is in the area of modeling individual decisions across a variety of contexts. His research has been published in Journal of Marketing Research and Marketing Science.Professor Raghu Iyengar is a Co-Editor for Journal of Marketing Research. He has previously served on the editorial board of Marketing Science and as an Area Editor for Management Science.Professor Iyengar’s teaching interests are in the area of Marketing Analytics. He earned his PhD from Columbia University and his undergraduate degree from IIT Kanpur, India.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jabbour/

Jaden Dicopoulos is a Data Scientist and AI Specialist at The Wharton School's AI and Analytics Initiative. With a focus on the intersection of artificial intelligence and education, Jaden is dedicated to creating educational content that empowers students, faculty, and staff to harness the full potential of AI. At Wharton, Jaden plays a pivotal role in guiding the academic community towards making informed, strategic decisions on AI, ensuring its effective and ethical application across various domains. Their expertise helps bridge the gap between cutting-edge AI technologies and practical, real-world implementation.

Dr. Upasana Dasgupta holds a PhD in Space Law from the Institute of Air and Space Law (IASL), McGill University. She has more than a decade of experience as a space law academic. Currently, she is serving as a postdoctoral researcher at Canada Research Chair in International Political Economy, ESEI, Université Laval, focusing on divergent State practices and views with regards to space treaty provisions regarding the common benefit principle. She has also taught courses such as space law and international law at O.P. Jindal Global University, India. Further, as a Board member of non-profit ACES Worldwide, she is heading the Space and Sustainability Compact Agreement Initiative in South Asia.

Dr Nowbuth is a civil engineer by training, with a PhD in the field of Hydrogeology from Imperial College, University of London, follow by a Postdoctorate research study at the USGS, San Diego in the field of contaminant transport. Her research has focused on the water sector with climate related disaster such as flood and drought. She has an extensive network in Africa, with WaterNet, Warfsa/Sanwatche, South Africa, and the Global Water Partnership. She was involved in the regional SADC project on Monitoring of the Environment for Security in Africa (MESA) and has since incldued training on flood modelling and remote sensing. 

Dr Boafo is a social ecologist with a PhD in Sustainability Science from the United Nations University Institute for Advanced Study of Sustainability, Japan, a MSc in Environmental Science adn a degree in Geography and Resource Development from University of Ghana. Yaw has been working in the fields of climate and ecosystem change assesment, vulnerability and resilience in socio-ecological systems, food security, and disaster risk for sustainable development. She was involved in several interdisciplinary projects including Anticipatory Learning on Climate Change Adaptation and resilience (ALCCAR) (2009-2011), Enhancing Resilience to Climate and Ecosystem Changes in Semi0arid Africa (2011-2016), Food security impacts of industrial crop expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa (2015-2018), he is serving as a lead author for the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Throughout his career, Yaw worked with local communities, development practitioners and policymaers to identify, advance and apply, place-based and resilient solutions to sustainable development challenges.

Prof. Xiaojing Lv is the deputy Director of Shanghai Urban Energy Society and deputy Secretary General of China Marine Engineering Committee. She engaged in hybrid intelligent systems of fuel cell/gas turbine, zero carbon Marine power systems, hydrogen energy production and utilization from the theoretical and experimental points.  She has developed high-precision mathematical models and software libraries (SOFC.MCFC, gas turbine, smart energy system, zero-emission ship power system, all-eclectic ship micro grid, intelligence controller based on NN, multiple fuel to H2, such as biomass, LNG, sea water, and NH3), and the relative experimental platforms. She was leading over 15 national and Shanghai municipal government projects,including the international co-projects, published more than 80 papers and 15 patents,co-edited 4 books. Also as an 20 members team leader in low-carbon smart energy system in the Smart Energy and Big Data Research Center in SJTU, China.

Ruth Pritchard-Kelly is an expert on satellite regulatory policy with over 30 years of experience. She has advised governments and industry on regulatory, spectrum, and sustainable space policy, and is currently an advisor to Apple. Pritchard-Kelly was the Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at OneWeb, and worked at O3b, SES, and American Mobile Satellite. Pritchard-Kelly has a Master’s Degree in space and telecommunications policy from George Washington University and a J.D. from the University of Maryland. Ms. Pritchard-Kelly is a member of the Advisory Committee for the Secure World Foundation, and has served on the Boards of the US Telecommunications Training Institute, the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation, and the Commerce Department’s Spectrum Management Advisory Committee.

Brazil (1985), working in internal & emergency medicine until 2005. She has an MSc in Aerospace Medicine - Wright State University, USA (1991) and PhD in Space Physiology - King's College London (1998). For 3 years she was a Space Scientist at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Centre (DLR) in Cologne, Germany, before founding/coordinating the Microgravity Centre, PUCRS, Brazil, for 18 years. Thais has been linked to King's College London in different academic positions since 1994, having acted at CHAPS, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, as Deputy Course Director/Senior Lecturer of the Space Physiology & Health MSc degree course (2009-2020). She is currently academically linked to: Unyleya & UFCSPA, Brazil; the Innovation and eHealth Center, Space Medicine Group, Carol Davila Univ of Med & Pharmacy, Romania; Center for Aerospace Med Studies, Fac of Med, Univ of Lisbon, Portugal; EIIS MSc in Space Entrepreneurship, Italy. She is Co-founder/CEO of InnovaSpace Ltd, UK. Thais has 30+ years of experience teaching and researching in Aerospace Medicine, Space Physiology, Aerospace Biomedical Engineering and TeleHealth & Digital Health, including participation in 400+ scientific events with 500+ scientific papers and lectures presented. She has authored books, chapters and numerous papers. Thais is a Fellow at RSA, a member of the Moon Village Association (WG Lunar Human Phys and Biology) an Elected Academician of the International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine, and International Academy of Astronautics, for which she serves on the Board of Trustees (2019-2025) and IAA Committees (2012-2025). She is also a member of international associations/societies in space, aviation and telehealth (ISfTeH), Board Member of companies and organisations (ACESworldwide), reviewer for journals, and holds patents related to Space Life Sciences. Thais was a voluntary Mentor for Space4Women, a United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA, 2020-2021) initiative. She participated in ESA parabolic flight campaigns (2000 & 2006), is a member of ESA Topical Teams and participates in NASA funded projects. In 2021, through InnovaSpace and in partnership with a pharmaceutical company, she participated in research at the ISS (Kibo module). Acts as an educator, researcher and consultant in projects of ESA, NASA, DLR, PT Space, AEB-Brazil, InnovateUK, BlueAbyss, Optimal Cities UK, International Space University, Prog Oportunidades, El Salvador

Dr. Joseph N. Pelton is Chairman of the Alliance for Collaboration in the Exploration of Space (ACES Worldwide). He is also Director of Academics and Research for the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS) and Chairman of the IAASS Academic Committee and a member of its Board. He is the Dean Emeritus and former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the International Space University. He is also the Director Emeritus of the Space and Advanced Communications Research Institute (SACRI) at George Washington University, where he was also Director of the Accelerated M.S. Program in Computers and Telecommunications. In earlier positions, Dr. Pelton held managerial positions at Comsat and Intelsat. He also served as Professor and Director of the Interdisciplinary Telecommunications Program at the University of Colorado-Boulder, where he served as the Director of the Center for Advanced Research in Telecommunications and Technology (CARTT).. He served as Founder and Executive Director of the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation, and also as the Founding President of the Space & Satellite Professionals International (SSPI). 

Guest Sonono is a certified permaculture designer, practitioner and educator from Zimbabwe. He is very passionate about nature and empowering people with knowledge. Guest is currently involved with Vine Permaculture (Ireland) as a permaculture designer, author and educator. He writes blogs about permaculture chickens, and has also published a handbook on raising permaculture chickens. Guest is also a teaching assistant for an online permaculture course taught by Geoff Lawton of Permaculture Research Institute (Australia). In addition, he is a member of the Diploma Working Group of Permaculture Association (UK). Guest’s goal is to help people rehabilitate and establish permanent sustainable systems.

Prof. Dr. Ingrid Vasiliu-Feltes is a globally recognized deep tech advocate, futurist, and exponentialist with an extensive leadership track record in academia, the corporate world, and the not-for-profit sector. As an avid proponent of cyber-ethics harmonization, she serves as a digital strategist and advisor to boards and C-suites, lending her visionary leadership and deep tech expertise to numerous organizations.

Prof. Dr. Vasiliu-Feltes is a recognized leader in deep tech diplomacy, enterprise-level deep tech orchestration, specializing in AI, blockchain, multi-cloud computing, satellite internet and high-speed networks. She has developed cyber-ethics frameworks and best practices for sustainable, inclusive and diverse smart city deployments. 

She has delivered numerous executive briefings, workshops and masterclasses for various UN and EU-affiliated groups, emphasizing the importance of proactive cyber-innovation ecosystems.

A co-inventor of multiple deep tech patents Prof. Dr. Vasiliu-Feltes holds several national and international leadership roles, including the Institute for Science, Entrepreneurship, WBAF Global Science, Technology and Innovation Committee, and the World Smart Cities Development Council.

An alumna of prestigious institutions such as MIT, Harvard, Stanford, and Columbia University, Prof. Dr. Vasiliu-Feltes brings a multidisciplinary approach to her work. Her extensive knowledge and insights have made her a sought-after keynote speaker and a top-ranked global thought leader, promoting deep tech diplomacy and alignment with the UN 2030 and 2050 agendas.

Ian Parker, Chairman Healixa, Inc. has extensive experience leading strategic and capital raising transactions. Mr. Parker has advised on or completed several billion in turnarounds, M&A and capital markets transactions, including joint venture formation, private equity, public equity, mezzanine, and bank and bond market borrowing. Mr. Parker’s career has exposed him to create many industries such as pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, software development, defense, film and television producers, heavy machinery manufacturers, insurance companies and re-insurers, logistics, lease financing companies and more.

Mary Kurek is the President and CEO of Frontrunners Development, a global business development company headquartered in the United States. The company focuses on relationship building and has developed a large and diverse network of problem solving experts, innovators, diplomats, and leaders in governments, NGOs, and diplomatic spaces. The work drives toward sustainable impact in many spaces, but primarily healthcare, technology, economic development, education, and climate. Kurek connects her curated network with solutions, new opportunities, resources for growth, and more. Successes include smart city project development, education projects with multiple stakeholders, and securing partnerships, publicity, contracts, distribution channels, funding opportunities, diplomatic invitations, and advisory board positions for clients. Kurek’s background includes working with the NC Governor’s Press Office, two cultural international visitation programs (1 state and 1 federal), and Chamber of Commerce Executive Director service. Ms. Kurek serves on several international economic development and youth-focused advisory boards, is an appointee to the Royal House of Madagascar as a Trade and Investment Counselor and also an appointee to the NC Governor’s Advisory Council on Aging. She has been awarded NC’s Order of the Long Leaf Pine (NC’s highest honor for exceptional service) and is a recipient of a Commendation by a Commanding General of USMC, Cherry Point for outstanding service as a liaison for the military facility. Kurek is a proud member of Rotary Club.

Noleen Mariappen is an Impact Entrepreneur as well as an ESG & SDG Advisor & Consultant. Her focus is on enabling purpose-centric growth, and bridging the digital divide for inclusion, access, empowerment and positive impact. She’s an advocate of conscious capitalism, tech for good, and purpose-driven partnerships, and a speaker on inclusion, tech, sustainability and impact.

Her roles include:
- Founder of Impactoverse & Saffa Global
- Co-Founder of Think Ocean CIC
- Fractional Director of Strategy & Operations at Aunua Global
- Fractional Director of Strategy & Partnerships of Digital Mind State & Tech with Soul
- Expert Advisor at UNIPLAT
- Expert Advisor at The Green Pillar Climate Change Education
- Director of Projects & Partnerships at African Leadership Organisation
- Hult $1million Prize Judge & Expert Pool Mentor
- Government Blockchain Association Sustainability Stewardship Expert
- President of EST FAB (Fintech and Blockchain Association) UK Chapter

As a Senior Assessor for the Dubai QualityGroup, an Initiative of Dubai Economic Development Department and the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Kanti Shetty was instrumental and contributed to setting benchmarks in Corporate Excellence.

As a Senior Assessor for the Dubai QualityGroup, an Initiative of Dubai Economic Development Department and the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, she was instrumental and ontributed to setting benchmarks in Corporate Excellence.

Until 2010, her role as company spokesperson allowed her to guide public narratives and head marketing initiatives, broadcasting our brand ethos worldwide.

As Chair of the Asia Business Council and a premium member of both the Arlington and India Chamber of Commerce, she is dedicated to fostering international business relations and enhancing investment opportunities. In her role as a Premium Advisor at JB Dondolo, she underscores her commitment to philanthropy, which she pursues with a passion for igniting change and enriching lives.

Dr. Moradeun Ogunlana is a recognized leader on women empowerment for Africa in the United States and around the world, is the President/CEO of Innovative Global Consulting (IGC) Group, an Infrastructure, Agriculture, Energy, Business, and Economic Development corporation connecting businesses in Africa to the World. During the late 2000s, she assumed the chairmanship of The Global Summit Group, which works on economic equity issues affecting women through groundbreaking research and training programs. Her commitment to women’s economic empowerment has extended to the global arena as Ambassador for Peace, where she has provided a forum through the Global Council of Women for Development to exchange best practices in accelerating women’s economic progress. 

Widely recognized for her outstanding leadership of providing access to health and wellness for women and children in rural areas, she leads an international non-profit group that focuses on empowering women globally through access to healthcare, economic empowerment, agriculture and trade associations, cultural developments, and partnerships.

Sai Shetty has made profound impact through philanthropy and leadership is truly inspiring. At 18, Sai selflessly funded a scholarship from his all-year savings, offering crucial treatment and support to a child with severe autism, significantly enhancing their life. This is one of the five students that he gave away scholarships in 2023.

Sai’s commitment extends to collaborating with the judiciary on a truancy program, providing empathetic support and solutions to teenagers, thus addressing the deeper issues behind school non-attendance with compassion and understanding.

As President of the Mayor’s Youth Commission in Arlington, Sai led initiatives for educational advocacy, notably supporting JB Dondolo’s mission to provide clean water in Igusi, Zimbabwe, facilitating school attendance for young children and fostering opportunities for education.

Sai embodies a belief in education and community support’s transformative power, with actions that significantly address needs and promote empathy. His exceptional dedication and leadership in tackling societal challenges underscore his worthiness as an exemplary role-model for many.

Gretchen Villegas is a Senior leader at The Impact Table and has 25+ years of experience specializing in mission-driven innovative program designs through partnership development, impact scaling, and revenue growth. Professional experience in managing international country programs in vulnerable communities with a portfolio total of over $320M+ funded by both public and private donors.

Experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer in South America, and a 15+ year career managing USG-funded programs in Latin America and Africa, working in partnership with communities, local and international private sector partners, philanthropists, impact investors, and governments to find sustainable solutions to poverty so that marginalized households realize a viable pathway to a resilient, dignified life. 

Wide-ranging expertise in executive level leadership of global program portfolio effectiveness through evidence and data, intentional program design to optimize impacts for vulnerable children and their families, rigorous research to learn and adapt in program implementation, and revenue strategies to scale and enhance reach of programmatic initiatives. 

Relationships include Cargill, Walmart, US Agency for International Development (USAID), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Norwegian Government, Gates Foundation, and MasterCard Foundation. Countries of work experience include Colombia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, Guatemala, Suriname, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Nepal, Cambodia, India, Bangladesh, East Timor and the United States. 

Annie Gibbins, is a passionate and purpose driven Success Catalyst – Multi award winning Founder and CEO of Women’s Biz Global, Women’s Empowerment Coach, Podcast Host, Magazine Editor, International Speaker and #1 Best Selling Author. Annie’s 30 year career has been forged across Health, Education, Corporate, NFP and Charity sectors, while navigating 3 degrees and raising 5 children including 2 sets of twins 26 months apart. Her incredible journey has led to championing imbalances around gender equity and equality and empowering women to achieve success on their terms in business and life. Women from around the world access Annie’s wisdom gained through decades of applying proven life and business growth strategies. Her coaching programs, mentorship, online courses, workshops and books are some of the ways she shares her knowledge and works with women to identify, tap into and realise their own magic. The power, freedom and confidence women gain shifts them from where they now are to where they dream to be.

Jennifer Tan is the EVP – Strategy Development and Government Affairs, GBA of Ant Group.  She is also the Program Head of 10x1000 Tech for Inclusion, a philanthropic initiative by Ant Group. 

She was winner of the Outstanding Women Professionals and Entrepreneurs Award and was named one of Fintech’s Top 100 Leaders by Fintech Magazine. She was named ACCA Advocate of the Year 2019, both for Hong Kong and Greater China, and was the Chairlady of ACCA Hong Kong. She is the ACCA Global Council Member for 2022-2025. 

Jennifer is committed to driving the fintech development and actively engages in voluntary community services focused on youth development. She serves on advisory committees for various universities and is a frequent speaker at industry forums and universities.

Carme Artigas is a Spaniard Executive and Entrepreneur as well as a recognized Expert in Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and Technology Innovation. In 2006 she co-founded was was the CEO at Synergic Partners, pioneer company in Europe specialized in Big Data/ AI acquired by Telefónica in 2015 where she kept serving as CEO until end of 2018.

Since January 2019 she is providing high level strategic advice and has become Board Advisor in several international companies and institutions, contributing with her knowledge on issues related with digital transformation, ethics in artificial intelligence, data-driven organizations, robotization, cultural change, industry 4.0,etc. She is a recognized technology innovator and conference speaker at international level.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carme-artigas-7316513/

Colorado State Representative Cathy Kipp has served in the Colorado House since January of 2019. She currently serves as the State Representative for House District 52 which covers much of both south and east Fort Collins. She chairs the House Energy and Environment Committee, and serves on the House Finance Committee.She sponsored Bill HB24-1058 Concerning protecting the privacy of individuals' biological data, and, in connection therewith, protecting the privacy of neural data and expanding the scope of the "Colorado Privacy Act" accordingly.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathy-kipp-009a3541/

Jared Genser is an international human rights lawyer and serves as outside General Counsel to the Neurorights Foundation. He is a managing director of Perseus Strategies, a public interest law firm, a special advisor on the Responsibility to Protect to the Organization of American States, and an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredgenser/

Allan McCay is Codirector of the Sydney Institute of Criminology, an Academic Fellow at the University of Sydney Law School and President of the Institute of Neurotechnology and Law. He was commissioned by the Law Society of England and Wales to write the report Neurotechnology, Law and the Legal Profession (2022). This world-first consideration of brain-computer interfaces and other forms of neurotechnology was reported by media sources around the world in over 20 countries, including reports from the BBC and The Times. The Law Society also published his 2023 update, and he is working on another for 2024.

He is a member of the Australian Human Rights Commission Expert Reference Group on Human Rights and Neurotechnology as well as being a member of Standards Australia’s Brain-computer Interface Committee, the Minding Rights Network (an international group of scholars who work on fundamental rights and emerging technologies), and also an Affiliate Member of Macquarie University's Ethics and Agency Research Centre.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/allan-mccay-81b285185/

Eric García-López received a dual PhD in Legal and Forensic Psychology and Neuroscience from the Complutense University of Madrid, Spain. He completed his postdoctoral studies in evolution and human cognition at the Institute of Interdisciplinary Physics and Complex Systems at the University of the Balearic Islands, Spain. Both his PhD and postdoctoral research were funded by the Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencia y Tecnología in Mexico (CONAHCYT). Dr. García-López’s previous academic appointments include Visiting Researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law and Professor of Victimology at the Faculty of Medicine at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). He has served as an external consultant to UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) and as a senior consultant to UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) on the current status of neurorights in Mexico. He has also been a visiting researcher for the Neuroscience and Criminal Law Project at the Toledo Law School of the University of Castilla-La Mancha. He is associate editor of Frontiers in Forensic and Legal Psychology and guest editor of Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-eric-garcía-lópez/

Samiran Banerjee is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiological Sciences at North Dakota State University. Previously, he held research positions at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization in Australia and Agroscope in Switzerland. He is a soil microbiologist with expertise in omics and machine learning approaches, and experience in ecology and soil-plant-microbe interactions. His research utilizes a combination of high-throughput sequencing, synthetic biology, and advanced statistical approaches to understand the rules that govern the microbiome assembly and microbe-microbe interactions. He also examines microbiome recruitment into the rhizosphere and roots, and how various abiotic and biotic factors alter the structure and functions of plant and soil microbiomes. He serves as a reviewer for several federal and international funding agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Science Foundation, and Genome Canada. Banerjee received a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in botany from University of Calcutta, India, an M.Sc. degree in plant and soil sciences from the University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom, and a Ph.D. in soil science from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada.

Dr Chantelle Girgan holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences and Management, specializing in nematode taxonomy. Dr Girgan is a researcher at ARC-PHP in the Nematology unit. Dr Girgan is a nematode taxonomist that specializes in free-living nematodes, soil health and plant-parasitic nematode families Pratylenchidae, Criconematidae and some Hoplolaimidae. Her research includes nematode diversity in natural ecosystems including grasslands and peatlands. Dr Girgan also does research on the diversity of free-living nematodes and the use of nematodes as biological indicators of soil health. She is the curator of the National Collection of Nematodes. In her career Dr Girgan has described various new nematode species and has been a part of various nematode projects specifically in agricultural soils and grasslands. These projects all include the use of nematodes as biological indicators of soil health and the use of these organisms to reflect changes in the soil caused by environmental changes, climate changes and crop management strategies. At the ARC her daily activities includes doing diagnostic services, identifying nematode species, conducting research projects and curating the National Collection of Nematodes. Dr Girgan is also the lead on a diagnostic services package that focus on soil health which includes bioindicators such as fungi, bacteria and nematodes, as well as abiotic characteristics of soil.

Dr. Paul Wilde is a founding fellow and the current President of the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety. He has 30 years of experience in safety standards development, launch and reentry safety evaluations, and explosive safety analysis. He has performed leading roles for multi-organization projects in high-profile situations, such as the investigations of the Columbia and SpaceShipTwo accidents, as well as quantitative risk analyses for the maiden flights of the many launch and reentry vehicles. As chairman of the Range Commanders Council Risk Committee, he led a multi-agency team responsible for the development of internationally recognized standards on the safety of launch and re-entry operations. He co-edited the “Safety Design for Space Operations” book, and he has published over 100 technical reports and papers.

Dr. Wilde currently serves as the Chief Engineer for Commercial Space Transportation in the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, where he develops innovative ways to resolve technical and policy issues, guides research, and facilitates educational outreach and training. As tri-chair for the Common Standards Working Group, he coordinates FAA, NASA, and the USSF efforts to establish and maintain common public safety requirements and compliance evaluation standards for all US space transportation.

Mr. YOSHIHARA, Toru is the Director of System Safety and Space Operations Safety Unit in JAXA Safety and Mission Assurance Department. He also serves as the chairman of JAXA System Safety Review Panel.

Mr. YOSHIHARA joined JAXA, former NASDA in 1995 and he was in charge of system safety engineering for the Japanese KIBO module under the ISS Program, especially for the hazard analysis and safety reviews regarding the pressurized module and the robotic arm system.

He served as a lead safety engineer for the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) after joining the Human Space Safety and Mission Assurance Office in 2008, then contributed safe and successful achievements of the Japanese resupply missions to the ISS by HTVs.

Mr. YOSHIHARA transferred to the Safety and Mission Assurance Department in 2013 and joined Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC). He has worked for updating “IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines” and associated international activities in the Working Group 4, and currently he is a head of JAXA delegations for IADC.

He is an authority of the JAXA standards related to the system safety and space operations safety and assisting the Japanese Government to establish guidelines for licensing under the Space Activity Act.

Prof. Andrea Harrington currently serves as the Co-Director of the Institute of Air and Space Law and Associate Professor at the McGill Faculty of Law. She also teaches in the Space Resources Program for the Colorado School of Mines. Prof. Harrington previously served as Dean of Space Education and Full Professor at Air University for the United States Space Force (USSF), where she was responsible for overseeing the West Space Seminar and Schriever Space Scholars, as well as leading Guardian Education development efforts for USSF Space Delta 13. In that role, she led the establishment of ground-breaking USSF academic programs in Washington DC through Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. She is a licensed attorney in Massachusetts. She served as Associate Director of the University of Mississippi Air and Space Law programs and Associate Chair for the Policy, Economics, and Law Department in the International Space University’s Space Studies Program. She holds a DCL and LLM from McGill, a JD from the University of Connecticut, an MSc in European Politics and Governance from the London School of Economics, and a BA from Boston University.

Professor LIU Hao possesses an in-depth knowledge and extensive experience in Air and Space Law, AI and Digital Economy, and Global Governance. His professional journey has been marked by a dedication to the advancement of emerging technologies and aerospace operations, including unmanned aviation, sub-orbital flight, Higher Airspace Operation (HAO), commercial space ventures, and the integration of the digital economy with artificial intelligence.

Actively participating in key international organizations such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems (JARUS), Professor LIU Hao plays an instrumental role in driving innovation and supporting the emergence of new businesses in the aerospace sector.

Since 2009, he has been deeply involved in shaping the air, space, and digital economy legislation within China, making significant contributions to the field's development and progress.Currently, Professor LIU Hao holds the positions of Secretary General of JARUS and Executive Chair at the School of Global Governance, Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT).

For further inquiries or to establish communication, please contact Professor LIU Hao via email at liuhaosgg@bit.edu.cn or sg@jarus-rpas.org.

Bhavna Gupta, AI and robotics faculty and lead for outreach programs at Bharat AI Labs will discuss key aspects of the model pioneered by Bharat AI Labs Foundation, an NGO focusing (SDG4, SDG5, SDG10) on an effective low-cost STEM education model, supplementing efforts of government in training educators and providing STEM, robotics, and Artificial Intelligence based education to under resourced students

Dr Preeti Chikara, Professor, Head PR and International Relations at KIET Group of Institutions, International Women Achievers Award recipient, motivational coach will focus on weaving leadership and soft-skills into the STEM program (SDG4), with emphasis on under-privileged students

Eshan Gupta, graduate of Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, having experience in international governance (US Department of State, pursuing Fulbright-Nehru research grant in India for rural development and energy access equality) will discuss on his insights on SDG10, and observations related to successful practices in this model and how they align with those in OECD countries.

Ms Jaya Kaushik, double Masters and Educator at SureVin International School will share insights on developing young girls as STEM leaders in rural regions

Dr Kshma Swarnakar, CBSE resource person, dedicated educator with background in integrating technology into modern pedagogy will address SDG4, SDG9

https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkshmaswarnkar/

Craig Williams joined Flagship Pioneering in 2023 as an Operating Partner helping drive value creation, scientific progress, strategy, and execution for ProtoCos and NewCos. He also serves as a President of Apriori Bio.

Prior to Flagship, Craig spent more than two decades at GSK and ViiV Healthcare. During his time at GSK, Craig was charged with developing business strategies, managing operations and driving sales for vaccines and therapeutics globally, helping to launch over 15 vaccines and medicines around the world. in 2011, Craig served as special advisor to the CEO helping to lead the company's access to medicines agenda through which GSK ranked #1 in the Access to Medicines Index for 8 consecutives years (amongst the top 20 world's largest pharmaceutical companies). 

Over his career, Craig took on roles of increasing scope and complexity, including US Vaccines sales and marketing leadership roles, overseeing commercialization of vaccines and medicines in Africa and Southeast Asia, heading the company’s UK Respiratory business, and serving as Global Vaccines Commercialization Lead where he led a cross-functional team responsible for the development and launch of a global vaccines portfolio.

Craig has also served as Head of ViiV International, in which he oversaw ViiV's HIV business in nearly 150 countries and facilitated access to innovative HIV medicines for millions of new patients in low- and middle-income countries. Craig received both an MBA and B.A. from Florida A&M University School of Business & Industry.

Dr. Nirmala Sivaji, M.D., FFARCS-I, FRCPC, was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, and studied medicine at Colombo Medical College. After anesthesia training in the UK and passing the fellowship exam in Ireland, she migrated to Canada, where she passed the Canadian fellowship exam. She has been a Consultant Anesthesiologist in Ontario for the past 28 years. Passionate about serving the mission of The Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism (SPH) Bhagavan Nithyananda Paramashivam, she aims to help humanity elevate their consciousness and heal mental, physical, psychological, and emotional pain for a blissful life.

Dr. Patel is a board certified psychiatrist with 26 years of experience working with adults and adolescents. He is experienced in providing full spectrum mental health care, including Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia and Substance Abuse Disorder. Dr. Patel tailors his medical care to each patient's needs and values an integrative approach to mental health, incorporating medications, therapy and healthy habits such as meditation, yoga, and nutrition. He obtained his medical degree from BJ Medical College in India and completed his clinical residency training at Bronx-Lebanon Hosp., an Albert Einstein college of medicine affiliated program in New York.

Shachie Aranke is a Neurologist practicing at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center.  She graduated from the Medical College of Georgia in 2003.  She completed a residency in Neurology at the University of Minnesota in 2007.  From the University of Michigan she completed a fellowship in EMG/Neuromuscular Medicine in 2008 and a fellowship in Epilepsy in 2009. Due to experiencing the benefits of practices such as meditation and plant based diet from a young age she has developed an interest in holistic approaches to enhance health and prevent disease.  She enjoys exploring and sharing such holistic approaches with her patients.

Dr. Sandeep Pandove, M.D., is currently practicing as a hospitalist at Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center. He has a profound interest in reversing chronic health diseases and addressing mental health issues through lifestyle changes, particularly nutrition, which has proven to be a transformative experience.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/johns-hopkins-howard-county

Cyrus Paul Olsen III, DPhil is an Associate Professor in the Department of Theology/Religious Studies at The University of Scranton and Affiliate Research Fellow at Harvard Medical School/Brigham and Women’s Hospital through the Human Network Initiative (HNI), a subsidiary of the Dhand Lab specializing in stroke health. Our collaborative research at Harvard is funded by the Templeton World Charity Foundation (#20714): see https://www.templetonworldcharity.org/projects-resources/project-database/20714

Yevgeniya Afanasenko is a British-Ukrainian environmentalist, ESG professional and sustainability promoter with over 20 years’ experience. She is Principal Environmental Advisor for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, where she is helping the clients across countries of operation to implement the projects in line with the best international practices for sustainable management of environmental and social impacts. 

Yevgeniya Afanasenko holds Master’s degree in environmental protection and management and is also a certified ISO 14001/OHSAS 18001 auditor, NEBOSH and CSR practitioner. Yevgeniya’s work is focused on such topics as environmental and social assessment and management, regulatory compliance, ESG, sustainability, climate change, biodiversity protection, renewable energy, and green infrastructure. 

During her professional career she worked for various types of organizations – NGO, global power corporation, sustainability consultancy and international financial institution – across variety of countries and sectors. She has also been active collaborating with multiple stakeholders, presenting at various fora, delivering trainings, and promoting the topics of sustainability, green economy transition, EHS standards, MDB requirements and best management practices. 

Dr. Holly Wright is Research Manager for the Archaeology Data Service, based at the University of York, UK. Her research focuses on the development of digital infrastructures for archaeological data, the digitisation of archaeological workflows, archaeological data management and preservation, the use of Web standards, and Semantic Web technologies and methodologies in archaeology.

Willy-John Martin, Pou Pūtaiao - Director Māori Science, Innovation and Technology, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, New Zealand. Dr. Willy-John Martin is a key thought leader in the New Zealand science system. The distinctive breadth of his experience is a fusion of government policy, science sector experience and Te Ao Māori, the Māori world. He tribal roots are to Ngātiwai, Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Tamaterā and Ngāpuhi. Willy-John is the first Director, Māori Science, Innovation and Technology at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). Since 2020, his work has created a step-change in how the government understands and implements Māori knowledge, talent, and interests across its science system policies, funds and initiatives. In 2023 he received the MBIE Spirit of Service Award, and the Pae Kahurangi/Building our Future Award, in recognition of his work. Willy-John has held influential roles across the government and research sectors. He has a PhD from Te Herenga Waka Victoria University. His research career explored immune conditions of priority to Māori and Indigenous peoples, first at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research in New Zealand, and then at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) in Australia. In 2020 he received the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Mātanga Ora award in acknowledgement of his health research work. He currently serves on the Māori expert group of the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Te Urungi, and the Māori Governance Group for the Rheumatic 

Karine Duhamel, Director, Indigenous Strategy, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council: Dr. Karine Duhamel (she/her) is an Anishinaabe historian and a member of Red Rock Indian Band in northwestern Ontario. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education, as well as a Masters degree and PhD in history. She served as Director of Research for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) from 2018 to the end of its mandate in 2019. In 2021, she was awarded the Bruce and Lis Welch Community Dialogue Award through the Simon J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University for her work with the Inquiry. In 2022, she joined the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada as Director of Indigenous Strategy, working to implement the Tri-Agency strategic plan to better support Indigenous research and research training in Canada. In addition to her role as a public servant, she is an official Speaker for the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba, an Indigenous fellow at Simon Fraser University, and an Research Affiliate of the Centre for Human Rights Research at the University of Manitoba.

Arne Flåøyen, Director. NordForsk is an organisation under the Nordic Council of Ministers and  facilitate research cooperation in the Nordic Region, and ensures the highest international quality while contributing Nordic added value. This goal also means delivering research that contributes to a green,competitive and socially sutainable Nordic region. NordForsk contribute to Vision 2030, of becoming the most integrated region in the world. In recent years, NordForsk has initiated different activities to support, raise awareness, and build research capacity with and by Indigenous Communities.

Dr Thandi Mgwebi is the Group Executive: Business Advancement of the National Research Foundation of South Africa. She served as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation, and Internationalisation at Nelson Mandela University (NMU) and the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). Through these strategic roles, she has gained extensive experience and is an internationally recognised leader in higher education. Dr Mgwebi has championed partnerships with many international organisations inside and outside of Africa. Her commitment to international collaboration is apparent in the many roles she plays in various committees, such as her role as a Council Member of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Leadership Council; the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences; and various other national and international committees. In her previous tenure at the NRF, she championed partnerships with Fulbright, the British Council, the Newton Fund and others. She also played a pivotal role in driving the transformation of the DSI-NRF South African Research Chairs Initiative leading to the appointment of women Chairs, known as SARChI.

Colleen Strawhacker, Program Manager, Office of Polar Programs. Dr. Colleen Strawhacker serves as a Program Officer for the Arctic System Science, Arctic Research Coordination and Policy Support, and Navigating the New Arctic Programs. Dr. Strawhacker earned her Ph.D. in Anthropology from Arizona State University in 2013, where she focused on the archaeology of climate-driven risk to food security in the U.S. Southwest and the North Atlantic. Her expertise includes convergent research approaches spanning the natural and social sciences and developing cyberinfrastructure approaches for the social sciences and Indigenous Knowledge. She spent the first part of her career working on the interplay between humans and their environment in the U.S. Southwest and then transitioned to working in the Arctic during a postdoctoral position at the National Snow and Ice Data Center at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Ian Crawford is Professor of Planetary Science and Astrobiology at Birkbeck College, University of London, UK

Dennis O'Brien is a space lawyer and former member of the NASA - UC Law Research Project in San Francisco. In 2017 he started the Space Treaty Project, a scientific and educational nonprofit located in northern California. Since then he has produced over 35 papers, articles, and presentations on space law and policy, focused mainly on the rights and responsibilities of the private sector and the development of outer space resources. For more information, please visit www.spacetreaty.org.

Prof. Daniel Ayuk Mbi Egbe is cofounder and Chief Executive Officer of the African Network of Solar Energy (ANSOLE) (www.ansole.org/www.ansole.com), an institution that fosters education, vocational training and research in renewable energies and water-related issues in Africa and beyond. He is initiator and coordinator of the the scientific platform BALEWARE (Bridging Africa, Latin America and Europe on Water and Renewable Energies Applications-www.baleware.org). He is Senior Researcher at the Energy Institute at the Johannes Kepler University (JKU) Linz, Austria, at the same time Privatdozent at the Institute of Polymeric Materials and Testing of JKU Linz. In November 2021 he was appointed Honorary Professor in Organic Chemistry at the College of Science and Technology of the University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda. Since June 2022 he is an Extraordinary Professor of Renewable Energy at the Department of Chemistry, Material Science, Innovation and Modelling Research Focus Area, North-West University, Mafikeng, South Africa. He is a board member of the World University Service Germany e.V., an NGO that advocates for human right for education. In 2016 he became the 1st Brian O´Connell Distinguished Visiting Fellow of the University of the Western Cape, South Africa. Since 2014 he is consultant at African Centre for Technological Studies in Nairobi Kenya. From 2012 till 2014 he was scientific consultant at the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste, Italy. He is an evaluator for various funding agencies (World Bank Group, PASET-RSIF, etc) and visiting lecturer/professor at many African universities.Egbe did his BSc in Physics and Chemistry at the then University of Yaounde (presently University of Yaounde I) before pursuing his studies at the Friedrich-Schiller University of Jena, Germany, where he obtained a MSc in Chemistry (1995), a PhD in Macromolecular Chemistry (1999) and a habilitation in Organic Chemistry (2006). From 2006 to 2008, he spent postdoctoral stays at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz, Germany, the Technical University of Eindhoven in the Netherlands, and at the Technical University of Chemnitz, Germany, prior to moving in 2009 to the Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria, Egbe’s main research interest is the design of semiconducting materials for organic solar cells and other optoelectronic applications. He has published morethan 130 peer-reviewed articles (Google Scholar of July 22: Citation > 4500, H-index: 37, i10-index: 89). He speaks 6 languages and is father of 4 children

Ojenge Winston is a computer scientist with expertise in artificial intelligence, specifically, machine learning. He is also an expert in automation, and has a passion to combine machine learning with automation and internet of things to develop Industry 4.0 systems. He is currently an excited student of Ethics of AI. His life’s mission is to develop innovative and responsible digital technologies that achieves the sustainable development goals for the African society. He has an experience of 8 years in innovative digital systems design and development, examples of which are; a) Use of machine learning to explore the exploitation of under-used terrestrial television frequencies for opportunistic use by overwhelmed mobile/cellular network cells in a cognitive radio approach. This study led to his PhD thesis b) As a lecturer in the department of computational science and engineering at the Technical University of Kenya, he designed and is in the process of developing, together with students, an IoT/ Machine Learning-based water treatment plant to be used as a control system laboratory kit (ongoing) c) As a consultant in 2018, designed an Industry 4.0 infrastructure for Sony Sugar Company (a sugar miller in Kenya); but not developed yet. d) Designed and in the process of developing an IoT and Machine Learning-based air pollution mapping against respiratory infection prevalence in 3 locations of varying pollution in Nairobi city (ongoing) Dr. Ojenge has a PhD in computer science, with a specialty in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Currently, he is a senior research fellow and heads the digital economy program at the Africa Center for Technology Studies (ACTS), having joined from the Technical University of Kenya. At ACTS, he has led and is leading, the following projects; Co-Lead, Scaling Responsible AI Solutions Project (GPAI-SRAIS 2024) African Track – A USD 150,000 GPAI/IDRC/CEIMIA-funded project that mentors African AI development teams to scale their solutions responsibly (ONGOING) Lead, Benchmarking the Control of Kenya’s Research in Dual-Use Technologies, Against Global Standards – a USD 18,000 CRDF Global/James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies- funded project that investigates the level of controls over research activities in dual-use technologies (AI, additive manufacturing, nuclear technologies, genetic engineering etc) in Kenya (ENDED). Lead, Explainable and Auditable AI in the Nexus of Climate Change and Food Security – a USD 25,000 Notre Dame-IBM Ethics Lab-funded project that interrogates the extent of gender bias in the application of AI to predict yield for credit/insurance access. The study also develops a policy framework on prevention of the bias, and preventive policy briefs (ENDED). Lead, Review of the A4D Africa Scholarship Research Studies through a Gender Equality & Inclusion (GEI) Lens – a USD 13,000 IDRC-funded continental project that enhances AI researchers’ understanding and inclusion of GEI in their research and development activities (ONGOING). Co-Lead, AI4D Africa Scholarships in Responsible AI – a USD 2.4 million IDRC/SIDA-funded continental project that manages both program and finances of the project (ON-GOING). Co-Lead, Artificial Intelligence or Jobs: Which Way Forward for Africa study – A USD 25,000 Facebook/HSRC funded study that researched on perceptions, fears and facts about the effects of AI in Africa (ENDED). He has 5 certified patents with the Kenya Industrial Properties Institute (KIPI), with one more in examination; 1. School Bus Location Monitoring Tool 2. Forum Attendance Management Tool 3. Automatic School Bell with GSM/Web Override 4. Remote TV Receiver Channel Consumption Monitoring Tool 5. Approval Process and Technique for Opportunistic Use of Boradcast Terrestrial TV Receiver Holes by Cognitive Radio He has authored several scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals and conferences. Ojenge has also authored a book which is a collection 13 short stories found at https://a.co/d/i0bQcmv.

His Excellency Michel Boukar was appointed Minister of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy of Chad on 2 January 2024. He is a multidisciplinary expert and doctoral candidate at the University of Douala, Cameroon. He is a former Minister of Petroleum and Energy in Chad, a former advisor on petroleum and mining to the President of the Republic and a former advisor on mining, energy and petroleum to the Prime Minister. He holds a total of 8 master's degrees, including a master's degree in energy engineering from EIER (Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso) and a master's degree in renewable energy from the Polytechnique University of Maroua. He holds a degree in electromechanical engineering and a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of N'Djamena, as well as certificates from the UN Training School in peacekeeping, protection of civilians, prevention of violence against women and promotion of gender equality in peacekeeping.

He is the initiator of the energy policy in his country Chad through the new law 036 /PR/2019 on the energy sector in Chad by defiscalising all renewable energy installations, he has more than 20 years of experience in consulting, engineering and research, project management including in the environment and energy sectors, of which more than 10 years in the private sector and more than 15 years in community life.

He founded an association in 2003 and is now president of the NGO ACID, whose website is https://www.ongacid.org/. He works extensively in rural areas in the fields of agriculture, environment, waste management, climate change and violence against children.

Prof. Dr. Chérif Dridi Head of NANOMISENE RD Laboratory Member of the African Network for Solar Energy (ANSOLE) Member of “Green and Sustainable Electronics ” UNESCO Chair Vice-President: Arab African Council for Sustainable Development Member of Tunisian Renewable Energy Association Member of UNESCO UNISA ITLABS-African Chair in Nanoscience & Nanotechnologies @mail : cherif.dridi@crmn.rnrt.tn / dridi2@yahoo.fr Chérif Dridi received the Ph.D. and Habilitation HDR degrees in physics, 2003-2010, from the University of Tunis, Tunisia. After 14 years with the ISSAT (Institut Supérieur des Sciences Appliquées et de Technologie) of Sousse, where he founded the GREENS Team, as an Assistant/Associate-Professor of Physics, he arrived at the Center of Research on Microelectronics and Nanotechnology (CRMN), technopole of Sousse, as an associate-Professor and since January 2016 he is full professor of Physics-Nanotechnology and Head of NANOMISENE (NANOmaterials and MIcrosystems for Health, ENvironment and Energy) Research/Development Laboratory of the CRMN. His research is focused on the development of Nanomaterials and nano/micro-Systems for health, environment, agriculture and food safety as well as Renewable energy harvesting, saving, and storage (supercapacitors, green H2). He was a Principal Investigator/Expert Researcher in several national and bilateral (Tunisian - French/Algerian/Moroccan & multilateral (NATO Linkage/Science For Peace and EU FP7 IRSES Marie-Curie) international projects. He was/is Tunisian NCP in Nanotechnologies, Advanced Materials, Biotechnology, and Advanced Manufacturing and Processing (NMBP) in Horizon 2020 EU Projects (2016/2017) and in the UNESCO UNISA ITLABS-African Chair in Nanoscience & Nanotechnologies. He together with his research group and collaborators, has published/presented over 230 peer-reviewed journal publications/communications, in the above- mentioned scientific research areas. He has been invited in different universities and given invited talks at several conferences. In recent years, he participated to several Committees for International Conferences and Symposia.

Gaëlle Kafira Minoungou/Ko is a native of Burkina Faso. At her country's Ecole Normale Supérieure, she contributes to the training of physics teachers, both in theoretical subjects and in renewable energies. These researches are focused on the development or appropriation of cost-competitive systems that can be manufactured in developing countries to convert solar energy into heat, cold and electricity. She is also interested in the promotion of gender equality, and more specifically in the role of women in the sciences.

Emmanuel UWINEZA is a Rwandan educator and sustainability advocate with a passion for bridging the gap between science education and global development. Born in the Southern Province in 1986, his academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the National University of Rwanda (now the University of Rwanda- College of Science and Technology) in 2012. UWINEZA's pursuit of knowledge extends beyond physics. In 2019, he earned a Master of Arts in International Relations from Mahatma Ghandi University, showcasing his commitment to understanding the broader context in which science is applied. This dual expertise is evident in his professional career. Since 2019, Uwineza has served as an Assistant Lecturer at Rwanda Polytechnics/ Tumba College, sharing his scientific knowledge with the next generation. Concurrently, his dedication to sustainability is reflected in his leadership roles. He co-founded Ifatizo Organization (IO), a Rwandan NGO focused on sustainable energy projects and promoting the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa. He is also a member of the African Network for Solar Energy (ANSOLE), an international NGO working towards similar goals. UWINEZA's commitment to lifelong learning is evident in his active participation in national and international conferences, seminars, and workshops. These include The Association of Technical Universities and Polytechnics in Africa (ATUPA) conference on "The Future of Jobs" and ANSOLE events focused on sustainable energy and water. Through his dedication to science education, leadership in sustainability organizations, and continuous learning, Emmanuel UWINEZA exemplifies a powerful bridge between scientific knowledge and its application for a more sustainable future in Africa.

Researcher at the ENEA Sustainable AgriFood Systems Division, graduated in Chemistry with a PhD in Analytical Chemistry, she concluded the research activities of a second PhD in Agriculture, Food and Environment. Specialist on atomic spectroscopic and mass spectrometry techniques and Metrology, she conducts R&D activities on Reference Materials and Methods; measurement uncertainty; food quality, safety and traceability; sustainability of agrifood systems; chemical risk assessment. Scientific Secretary of the IMEKO TC23 Metrology in Food and Nutrition and member of the Eurachem WG on Reference Materials UNI Committee General Metrology. She is one of the 10 Italian experts on Circular Economy selected by the Italian Ministry for the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) for the participation to the Comité des Dix-Italie - Sommet des Deux Rives initiative. Awarded with the Premio Leonardo UGIS for “research and its communication” on 2014. She is the Coordinator of the Research Infrastructure METROFOOD-RI – Infrastructure for Promoting Metrology in Food and Nutrition, included in the ESFRI Roadmap for the Domain Health and Food (www.metrofood.eu), currently funded under the HEu project METROFOOD-EPI. She is engaged as PI for ENEA in several national and European ongoing projects, such as the HEu AgroServ, DGR4Food, FHERITALE and EOSC-Beyond, the H2020 FNS-Cloud, iNEXT-Discovery and FoodSafety4EU and the ERANET SUSFOOD CORE ORGANIC “PROVIDE”. In the frame of the Italian National Plan for Recovery and Resilience funded by NextGenerationEu, she coordinates the project METROFOOD-IT, focused on “Strengthening of the Italian RI for Metrology and Open Access Data in support to the Agrifood” (www.metrofood.it).

Dr. Julio A. Ramirez is the Karl H. Kettelhut Professor of Civil Engineering in the Lyles School of Civil Engineering of Purdue University. Since 2016, he has been the Principal Investigator and Center Director of the Network Coordination Office (NCO) of the NSF funded Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI). Dr. Ramirez is a full voting member of the technical Joint Committee ACI-ASCE 445, Shear and Torsion; and ACI-ASCE Committee 408, Bond and Development of Reinforcement. He served as the chief officer for the George E. Brown Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) during the period of October 2009 to September 2015. He has served as an Associate Editor for the Committee on Concrete and Masonry Structures (CCMS) Division of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Structural Journal and has been a member of several National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) research panels. Prof. Ramirez has served in NSF proposal review panels for several directorates. Dr. Ramirez is a Distinguished Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Fellow of the American Concrete Institute and the recipient of the 2000 Delmar Bloem Award and the 2006 Joe W. Kelly Award of the American Concrete Institute.

Dr. Ellen M. Rathje is the Janet S. Cockrell Centennial Chair in Engineering in the Department of Civil,
Architectural, and Environmental Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin (UT). She has expertise in the areas of seismic site response analysis, seismic slope stability, engineering seismology, and liquefaction. Dr. Rathje is a founding member and previous Co-Chair of the Geotechnical Extreme Events Reconnaissance (GEER) Association, and currently the Principal Investigator for the DesignSafe-ci.org cyberinfrastructure for the NSF-funded Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI). She has been honored with the 2022 Peck Lecture Award from the ASCE Geo-Institute, the 2018 William B. Joyner Lecture Award from the Seismological Society of America and the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute and the 2010 Huber Research Prize from the ASCE. She was elected Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2016.

Dr. Jason DeJong is a Professor at the University of California, Davis. Jason is the Director of the NSF NHERI Center for Geotechnical Modeling and chair of the TC102 Technical Committee on Site Characterization. He is also a Co-PI of the NSF Engineering Research Center on Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics. Prof. DeJong’s major technical contributions have been in the areas of soil and site characterization, earthquake engineering, biogeotechnics, and geotechnical sustainability. Results from his research program have been disseminated through more than 250 publications, recognized through numerous national and international awards, and adopted in industry practice. Jason regularly consults on large geotechnical infrastructure projects.

Venkat Venkatakrishnan is the director of research for the Discovery Partners Institute. In his role at DPI, Venkat works with faculty and leadership across the University of Illinois System campuses and our partners in building DPI’s research and development portfolio.Venkat’s primary research interests are in cybersecurity, and he is well known for his work in the security analysis of software applications, cyber-attack detection, and security policy enforcement. His research has won five best-paper awards in top cybersecurity venues. Venkat has received over $18 million of federal grants from federal agencies including the National Science Foundation, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Office of Naval Research, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Energy, as well as industrial sponsorship from IBM, Lucent and CACI. He led the creation of an interdisciplinary Ph.D. training program in cybersecurity with colleagues from five different colleges at UIC.Venkat received the National Science Foundation’s CAREER Award in 2009, UIC’s award for Excellence in Teaching in 2015, and the University Scholar award in 2017.

Dr. Chockalingam Aravind Vaithilingam, a professional Chartered Engineer registered with the Engineering Council UK. He holds doctoral degree in electrical power engineering with his PhD work earning Gold at the MTE 2013. He is a very frequent speaker at various international and national platforms. Dr. Aravind is the Programme Director for the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Programme which is the first programme within the school to be ranked in the QS 2023/QS2024 narrow subject. Dr. Aravind is also a Professional Technologists with the Malaysian Board of Technologists, a member with the Society of Engineering Education Malaysia, a Senior member with IEEE and member of IET UK. Dr. Aravind currently also heads the Clean Technology Impact Lab aligned to the SDG 6 and SDG 7 as part of alignment of future of education research and advocacy strategy of Taylor’s University. Dr. Aravind heads VERTICALS, a high impact research cluster and holds multiple filed patents in energy applications with the more recent hybrid low-cost solar energy harvester in 2021. He has published over 150 indexed dissemination and secured projects of grant value USD 287,703 of which 50.6 % as principal investigator since 2007. Dr. Aravind is also a developer of multiple award-winning CODE design thinking enterprise framework which he used to develop teaching, learning, research, teaching, and consulting solutions.

Scientists, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India

RITM Biorisk Management Office Head, Plebeian B. Medina, was chosen as the 1st Biorisk Association of the Philippines (BRAP) 2022 Biosafety Champion during the 5th BRAP Annual Convention and 3rd International Forum held on 03 September 2022. 

“Nothing is more fulfilling than witnessing change and improvements in laboratories because of biosafety and biosecurity. We as biorisk officers are agents of change. Our service is priceless,” says Mr. Medina in his acceptance speech.

Mr. Medina is a Certified Biosafety Officer and a Certified Professional by the International Federation of Biosafety Association (IFBA) in Biorisk Management and Biosecurity. He established and currently leads the RITM Biorisk Management Office, and chairs the Institutional Biosafety Committee.

Among his notable achievements in the Institute is the establishment of the ladderized biosafety training in 2015 which then evolved to a national training program aiming to develop and promote the culture of Biosafety in the public health preparedness, service, and response at RITM in 2015.

Dr Cheong specialises in the establishment of public health surveillance infrastructure in low-middle income countries. He is affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine; a visiting scientist to the World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO-IARC) Biobank & Cohort Building Network; technical lead consultant for ASEAN Biobank Feasibility Study and principal investigator for Macau (China) Biobank Feasibility Study. He is also the vice-director for Smoke-Free & Healthy Life Association of Macau (China). His current focus is the sustainability development of public health surveillance infrastructure in low-middle income countries.

Annette Schmid, PhD, is a Sr Director Global Science Policy at Takeda where she focusses on policies related to biospecimen, data, AI and innovative scientific approaches in clinical trials. She has 25+ years of experience as a scientist in academia and industry, co-founded the Science Policy Think Tank, has lead a number of industry fora, including PINTAD and GBITR and has been part of the QIBA steering committee and FNIH working groups with a particular interest in seeing appropriate innovation and industry consensus in clinical trial endpoints for novel treatments. Prior to her career in science, she worked for the German State Department mostly in cultural and legal affairs. 

Dr. Bandar Alknawy holds the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGHA) and President of King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS). Also an Executive member of the Saudi Health Service Council and Health Sector Transformation Program, the national governing healthcare bodies.

He is a strong advocate of patient safety and quality and digital health, has led several high-impact initiatives. Under his supervision, the Health Sciences University and King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre commissioned state-of-the-art campuses. He has led a system-wide implementation of the electronic health record system covering the entire MNGHA network.

His latest project was the Riyadh Global Digital Health Summit, a G20-associated event that envisioned a global health system connectivity in preparedness and response to COVID-19 Pandemics. The event was one of the largest virtual health conferences of the year and certainly the largest one on public health combined with digital health.

He was also the President of the second edition of the Riyadh Global Medical Biotechnology Summit and discuss the latest developments in the medical biotechnology globally with the aim of forging global strategic partnerships in this fast growing field with the participation of local, regional and international biotechnology community including academic, industrial and government entities

Elchin Safarali oglu Babayev  born April 4, 1965. He is an Azerbaijani scientist, Doctor of Philosophy in physical and mathematical Sciences, associate professor. Rector of Baku State University (since March 11, 2019). He is a member of the International Astronomical Union, European Astronomical Society, Eurasian Astronomical Society, International Biometric Society.

In September 2005, he was awarded the Taraggi Medal.

Prof. Dr. Sevil YÜCEL

Yildiz Technical University

Faculty of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering

Department of Bioengineering

Esenler, Istanbul/TURKIYE

Phone:+90212 383   4634 - 4644

Fax: +90212 3834625

syucel@yildiz.edu.tr

Research Interest: Biomaterials and drug delivery systems. In the section of biomaterials; Ceramic and Polymeric materials based dental composites, bone tissue scaffolds (soft and hard tissue scaffolds with electrospinning and 3D printer), dental membranes (fiber structured; bioceramic and/or polymeric).

Chief Expert on Energy Efficiency Financing and Policy, UNIDO. Special Advisor to the Head of the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine

More than 17 years of professional experience and achievements in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy, greenhouse gas emission reduction and climate change prevention

Among the notable achievements is contributing to the development and launch of a unique financial instrument, the Loan Guarantee Fund, for the implementation of energy efficiency measures in industry

Nic Talbot-Watt has extensive forecasting experience, from prevalent disease states for drug treatment forecasts, to analysis/modelling of disease risk factors by population grouping for diagnostic & vaccine market forecasts. She also holds an honours degree in Pathology from the University of St Andrews and is a member of the Royal Society of Medicine.Nic has over 20 years of market & disease modelling experience, covering  global, EU-level & country level forecasts across a broad range of therapeutic areas (including infectious disease) & clinical development / life-cycle phases. She worked for 4 years for the MattsonJack Group in their EU office pioneering transparent model & user interface development, building epidemiologies for their syndicated subscription service (Epidatabase), running epidemiology, forecast modelling & Excel best practice training courses for pharma industry clients before moving to the client side. Nic was Portfolio Manager for GE’s Medical Diagnostics business & Head of Forecasting for GE Healthcare before leaving to set up Black Swan Analysis and developing the Epiomic segmentation database and Onco-Strat (a proprietary oncology forecasting platform). Most recently Nic is Associate director of business analytics and insights for Gilead Sciences UK.

Chioma Blaise Chikere is a Professor of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology in the Department of Microbiology, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, where she was employed in 2005 as an Assistant Lecturer. She was the Director, Entrepreneurial Centre, University of Port Harcourt 2022-2024 and currently the head, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt. Prof. Chikere is also a Professor Extraordinarius at the Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES), University of South Africa (Unisa).

Her research focuses on bioremediation of crude oil-polluted soil using nature-based strategies and she has over 60 articles in peer-reviewed journals, 70 local and international conference papers presented and 9 conference proceedings. Her Ph.D. Thesis entitled ‘Bacterial Diversity and Community Dynamics during the Bioremediation of Crude Oil - Polluted soil’ was awarded by National Universities Commission (NUC) Nigeria the ‘BEST DOCTORAL THESIS IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES’ for 2010. Other awards and honours to her credit are: International Foundation of Science (IFS) Sweden research grants in 2007 and 2012; University of Port Harcourt 2015 distinguished merit award for diligent and meritorious service; 2016 TWAS-UNESCO Associateship (June 2016 - Dec. 2020) to Department of Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa; the Elsevier Foundation 2017 Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge 2nd prize; Applied Microbiology International – AMI  conference abstract scholarship travel grants; 2022 SciDev.Net 20% women in climate action research in the global South; 2022 Sense about Science (UK) global risk practitioner; University of Port Harcourt’s Chancellor’s research icon award at the 33rd combined convocation; Higher Education Resources Services-South Africa (HERS-SA) alumna; Times Higher Education sub-Saharan African universities advisory board member; the Vice Chancellor’s award for globalization of University of Port Harcourt through research contributions in 2023 and European Union-funded Erasmus+ AMIGO International Credit Mobility (ICM) project 2022 - 2026 with 5 European Universities. 

Masami Onoda is currently Director of JAXA Washington D.C. Office, representing the Japanese space agency in the Americas. Dr. Onoda has extensive experience in international affairs, satellite applications and industry relations. She has held several international positions, including at the intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, and at the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs in Vienna, Austria. She worked with Small and Medium size Enterprises on small satellite technology transfer while operating the JAXA office in Osaka, Japan. Dr. Onoda holds a Ph.D. in Global Environmental Studies (2009) and master’s degree in environmental management (2005), both from Kyoto University Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, and a BA in international relations from the University of Tokyo.

Dr. Muhammad Sharif is an Advisor Science and Technology at Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco. Prior to join ICESCO Dr. Sharif was serving as Asst. Professor at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He earned his graduation from Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT) and Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Rostock Germany. He held various research positions within academics and industrial environments throughout his career with major emphasis on materials synthesis and catalytic process development. Sharif is also an entrepreneur with experience in technology development and commercialization for diverse application in upstream, downstream petrochemical and construction chemical industry. Prior to his employment at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals Saudi Arabia, he was also an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry COMSATS Institute of Information and Technology Abbottabad Pakistan, Senior Scientist, Team Leader and Head of Bulk Chemical Labs at LeibnizInstitute for Catalysis Rostock, Germany. His research experience and expertise spans a wide range of topics in development of new materials, their application in industrially relevant applications.

Dr Sharif has delivered around 200 public talks, seminars, presentations around the world, which include, as Plenary, Keynote speaker, public seminar, motivational talks.

Paul Dykewicz is a senior analyst who has covered satellites, space, defense, aerospace, telecommunications, airline and other industries. As the executive editorial director of Eagle Financial Publications in Washington, D.C., he leads and mentors staffers, while serving as editor of www.stockinvestor.com, www.dividendinvestor.com and other websites. An award-winning journalist who is adept at recognizing early-stage trends, Paul writes two columns a week and analyzes key developments to address what will happen next. For example, Paul detected early signs of the February 2020 stock market crash and wrote columns about how to preserve assets and reenter the market.

Paul complemented his background in writing about defense, aerospace, space and cybersecurity companies by earning his MBA in finance from Johns Hopkins University to offer especially insightful coverage. Prominent news organizations where he has worked or provided contributions include Dow Jones, the Wall Street Journal, Investor’s Business Daily, USA Today and others. Paul also has served as business editor of a daily newspaper in Baltimore, editor of Satellite News and assistant managing editor of roughly one dozen publications at Phillips Business Information (now Access Intelligence), including Via Satellite magazine and Space News.  He has won many awards, including one from the Newsletter Publishers Association. In addition, he has won several awards from the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association, now the MDDA Press Association. 

Edward Ge is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Aethero, a company building space-rated computers for in-orbit data processing. He previously co-founded Stratodyne, a startup that built stratospheric mapping balloons for customers like the Department of Defense. Aethero launched the first-ever edge computer to use a 1024-core GPU onboard the Deimos satellite in 2024, and works with customers across on-orbit servicing, earth imaging, and telecommunications to bring computing to space.

J. Marty Anderies is a professor with joint appointments in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change, the School of Sustainability, and the School of Complex Adaptive Systems. He is also Associate Director of the Center for Behavior, Institutions and the Environment at Arizona State University. He joined the ASU faculty in 2002 after receiving his Ph.D. in Mathematics from The University of British Columbia in 1998. Professor Anderies' current research interests focus on robust management and robust institutional design for coupled social-ecological systems. He studies a range of archaeological, historical, and present-day examples of social-ecological systems using multiple methods including human subject experiments, qualitative case-study analysis, and formal mathematical modeling to analyze how ecological, behavioral, social, and institutional factors generate vulnerability and/or enhance resilience and robustness in social-ecological systems. Other areas of interest include economic growth, demographics, migration, environmental justice, and inequality.

Alexander Kraus serves as the Chief Technology Officer in Mobility at TÜV SÜD. His areas of expertise include stakeholder orientation, commercial objectives, leadership, and innovation in change management. Alexander is a strategic thinker with an extensive international network, both of which he applies in his role.

In addition to his role at TÜV SÜD, Alexander is a Board Member at the IEEE Standards Association and the Chairman of the Board and Co-Founder of the International Alliance for Mobility Testing and Standardization (IAMTS).

Mr. Kraus holds a Master of Science degree in automotive engineering and has over 19 years of experience in international management and leadership. He has a proven track record in building and managing teams, increasing market share, and improving business profitability.

More information: Alex Kraus | LinkedIn

Dr. Elena Diekmann is the co-founder of Pluumo, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and a lecturer at the Dyson School of Design Engineering at Imperial College London. As the Co-Director of the MSc in Cleantech Innovation and with an MA/MSc in Innovation Design Engineering, she is dedicated to fostering sustainable and innovative design solutions.

Dr. Diekmann's entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to environmental sustainability are evident in her work with Pluumo, which focuses on developing eco-friendly materials. Her role as a lecturer and director at Imperial College London reflects her passion for education and mentorship, inspiring the next generation of innovators and designers.

More Information: Dr. Elena Dieckmann | LinkedIn

Aleksandar Damyanov is the Technical Manager for Green NCAP, which is dedicated to promoting clean and sustainable individual mobility through the assessment of the environmental performance of new cars.

His dual passion for vehicles and technology, coupled with his affinity for nature, led him to pursue a scientific career at the Vienna University of Technology, where he served as the lead researcher on numerous projects.

His activities focused on a range of topics related to the development and testing of more eco- and climate-friendly powertrain solutions, including alternative and sustainable fuels, new engine concepts, full vehicle testing, hybrid, and fully electric powertrains. Dr. Damyanov's engineering experience is leveraged at Green NCAP to motivate the automotive industry to enhance their products, in a manner analogous to Euro NCAP's role in promoting safety.

More Information: Aleksandar Damyanov | LinkedIn

• • • Dr. Himani Jain, Senior Programme Lead at The Council, has about 20 years of experience across strategic philanthropies, academia, consulting firms, and development authorities.
      At CEEW, Himani leads the team's research towards emerging transport technologies, public transport planning and the development of smart mobility zones for the Global South. Himani has expertise in land use and mobility planning, road safety, inclusive approaches, and mobility business solutions development.
      She actively develops policy notes and implementation strategies for local and national governments, and UN agencies. A professionally trained architect and urban regional planner, she holds a doctorate degree in transport planning from IIT Delhi. 

Hermann Brand serves as the European Standards Affairs Director at IEEE Technology Centre GmbH. With a previous role as the Director of Innovation at ETSI, Dr. Brand brings a wealth of experience in setting and advancing technological standards.

Dr. Brand's work is characterized by a strategic vision for the future of technology and a commitment to fostering collaboration. His leadership in both IEEE and ETSI highlights his expertise and influential position in shaping the technological landscape in Europe.

More Information: Hermann Brand | LinkedIn

Pascal Mast is the Director of Sustainable Technology at TÜV SÜD Mobility, where he has been contributing for over 20 years. Mr. Mast’s journey at TÜV SÜD began in October 2000 as an Automotive Technology Engineer. He progressed to Team Leader for Vehicle Dynamics and Chassis in September 2006, then became the Laboratory Manager for the Emissions Laboratory in Heimsheim near Stuttgart in January 2012.His expertise spans corporate sustainability, CO2 emissions, hydrogen, and e-mobility.

In light of the urgent need to address climate change and the imperative to significantly reduce energy consumption, Mr. Mast is at the forefront of the transition to alternative fuel vehicles. He places great emphasis on the importance of government regulations in reducing carbon emissions and the pivotal role of electric vehicles, powered by either batteries or fuel cells, as the future of road transport. His work is focused on driving forward e-mobility, a pivotal transformation in the automotive industry. It represents the most advanced and promising road transportation technology to date. His leadership demonstrates a profound dedication to sustainable innovation and the future of mobility.

More Information: Pascal Mast | LinkedIn

Dr. Gunnigle is a senior member of the Brain-Gut Microbiota Axis group at APC Microbiome Ireland. He manages number of projects and external collaborations that are focused on understanding the bi-directional communication between brain and gut microbiota, and the mechanisms and physiological events including stress and immune-related disorders at key windows across the lifespan. In our group we are particularly focused on dietary and other interventions that can affect brain health via the microbiome.

Dr. Nelson Abrantes is a researcher at CESAM and Department of Biology - University of Aveiro, Portugal with expertise in aquatic ecotoxicology and ecological risk assessment. He has participated in several national and international projects (5 as Principal Investigator(PI); 2 as co-PI). His research work includes 94 SCI papers (h-index; 29, cited: > 3K times).

Dr. Vervaet is a postdoctoral researcher at the Lab of Pathophysiology working on the cell biology of repair in acute and chronic kidney injury and on the mechanism of pesticide induced kidney disease.

Maaike will be analysing and comparing the human microbiomes from the nasal swabs and fecal samples taken from participants at the case study sites. She will be working in the lab, extracting the DNA from these samples, and she will also perform the data analysis. Next to that, she will be working with human organoids (airways and intestines) and investigating their response to 5 different PPP compounds by analyzing differences in gene expression.

Dr. Gai has a background in data analysis and global sustainable development. She is involved in developing the SPRINT Global Health Risk Assessment Toolbox.

Dr. Gertie H.P. Arts studied Biology at the Radboud University in Nijmegen, The Netherlands. She is Doctor in the Natural Sciences and received her title in Aquatic Ecology at the same University. She works at Wageningen Environmental Research as a senior research scientist in the Environmental Risk Assessment team. She is involved in experiments and methodologies for higher-tier risk assessment procedures for contaminants including the ecological evaluation of pesticide-risks in freshwaters and in natural terrestrial vegetation. In 2008 she was deputy project lead of the Nature Balance for the Dutch government. She has been involved in the Natura 2000 reporting of aquatic habitats in The Netherlands and in projects within the context of the Water Framework Directive. She participated in the Red List Project for the European Commission. Currently she is involved in several projects to improve the risk assessment for low-concern substances. From 2010 - 2020 she has been active in the governance of SETAC. From January 2019 – December 2019 she was president of SETAC World Council. Since 2020 she is Past President of SETAC World Council.

Manuela Morais is tenured Associate Professor at the Biology Department in the University of Évora, integrated member as the Researcher Institute of Earth Science (ICT: https://www.icterra.pt/), and head of the Water Laboratory at the same University, and unit of research and development projects. Her research interest focusses on aquatic ecology, management, and conservation of freshwater ecosystems. She has been working on ecology of benthic invertebrates, periphyton and phytoplankton, aquatic systems conservation and rehabilitation. She has conducted her research mainly in south of Portugal, under Mediterranean climate conditions, where intermittent rivers are part of the rivers network and have develop many evolutionary adaptations of species. She is author of more than 100 manuscripts published in books and journals, and by invitation, has given scientific communications in Portugal, Europe and Brazil. In a more applied context, she is strongly experienced in project management of freshwater ecosystems in southern Portugal. She is the national coordinator of the “Network of Environmental Studies in Portuguese-Speaking Countries (REALP)” and, within the scope of this network, she integrated the scientific Committee of the PhD in Environmental Management and Policies, at the University of Cape Verde. She is also the leader of the ERASMUS consortium AMIGO (https://www.erasmusamigo.uevora.pt/en/erasmus-amigo-2/), created to encourage the sharing of knowledge and the consolidation of effective pedagogy strategies, directed to the area of the environment in its interdisciplinary scope. AMIGO has cooperation with: Southern Mediterranean (ENI) Algeria, Israel, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia; Western Balkans (IPA) – Albania and Montenegro; Latin America (DCI) – Argentina, Brazil; Industrialized countries America – Chile, United States of America; Africa – Angola, Cape Verde, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe.

Prof. Ulviyya Hasanova - ICESCO Biomedical materials Chair,

Baku State University,

Faculty of Biology,

ICESCO Biomedical Materials,

Work telephone: +994 (12) 539 0535

Mobile telephone: +994 (50) 362 4064

email: u.alimammad@gmail.com

Research Interest: Synthesis of supramolecular compounds, metal oxide nanoparticles, graphene oxide using different techniques, their characterization (SEM, TEM, AFM, FTIR, UV, AAS, XRD, EDS, NMR, mass spectroscopy), application of nano supramolecular ensembles in biomedical field and for environmental purposes

·         Develop advanced materials with potential antimicrobial properties for biomedical applications which include 3D tissue scaffolds.

·         Membrane materials for water purification and desalination

·         Application of cement-reinforcing additives based on synthesized nanostructures

Ndiarka is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, former executive at Rolls-Royce, and the founder and CEO of Kowry Energy, a renewable energy company dedicated to revolutionizing decentralized energy in Sub-Saharan Africa. Drawing from her distinguished background as a former Executive at Rolls-Royce Group, Ndiarka's 15-year tenure equipped her with invaluable expertise in Supply Chain, Operational Excellence, Engineering, and Customer Business. Her time at Rolls-Royce served as a catalyst for her journey towards reshaping the energy landscape.

Prior to her influential role at Rolls-Royce, Ndiarka made her mark in the automotive industry, where she thrived for 7 years, assuming multiple operational positions in Supply Chain management. These experiences fortified her ability to navigate the complexities of industry operations.

With an exceptional track record of over 18 years, Ndiarka has excelled in senior leadership positions across intricate, global, and regulated environments. She is a resourceful professional known for her communicative approach, enabling her to build lasting relationships with customers, partners, and employees. Ndiarka firmly believes that people are at the core, and sustainable success can only be achieved through this focus. Her passion for coaching and mentoring reflects this conviction.

Carl Mörch is co-director of FARI – AI for the Common Good Institute (ULB-VUB) – and a member of the AI Ethics & Law Board of the Federal initiative AI4Belgium. He is also a member of the Ethics Special Interest Group of CLAIRE and a co-chair of CLAIRE Brussels office. Carl aims at fostering high-quality applied projects related to AI, Data and Robotics that could serve the Brussels Region and its inhabitants. With FARI, he wants to support initiatives that can reinforce education around these technologies and could help bridge the gap with civil society. He was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship by the International Observatory on the Societal Impacts of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies (OBVIA) in 2020. His personal research work is oriented towards the concrete application of high-level ethical principles in applied domains. In general, he is interested in the responsible development of technologies in society and health care (Psychology and Dental Medicine in particular).

Diana Mosquera is a physicist and artificial intelligence researcher from Ecuador. She is characterized by her fervent enthusiasm for feminist technology, design, privacy and applied AI research. Currently, she is deeply committed to her role as co-founder and research director at Diversa, a studio dedicated to developing human-centered applied AI, she leads multidisciplinary projects spanning areas such as urbanism, migration, natural resources, ethics and justice in AI, among others. Her areas of interest include ethics and justice in AI, privacy, policy implications and power dynamics within the field of artificial intelligence. His professional background also encompasses cutting-edge product design and human-computer interaction (HCI) enhancement. Beyond her scientific pursuits, she has a passionate interest in exploring the intricate interplay between feminism, power dynamics, and the evolving landscape of technology.

Larisa K. Schelkin is CEO, Global STEM Education Center, Inc. a nonprofit corporation. Larisa is a teaching faculty at the United National Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Global Diplomacy Fellowship Program and at the UN General Assembly President’s Fellowship “HOPE”. She teaches courses on Science Diplomacy, Sustainable Development Goals, Global Environmental Outlook, UN Environmental program, NASA GLOBE education. Larisa is a UNITAR Fellow on Global Diplomacy, a Fellow on Education Policy, Institute for Education Leadership (IEL), Washington, DC, and a Fellow and Board member of Massachusetts Academy of Science. She is serving on the Governing Board of the Journal of Science Policy & Governance (JSPG). Larisa is a NASA GLOBE US Partner, IVSS Judge and serves on the GISN. She is a NASA GLOBE UN & SDGs consultant and a member of NASA GLOBE GIO TEPE team. Larisa held executive positions both in academia & global STEM corporations (WPI, WIT, Tufts University; TYCO Electronics Global Corporation). She has more than 20 years of professional experience in engineering research and development; and in global education. In addition to her engineering and computer science degrees Larisa studied Global Education at Harvard University Graduate School of Education “Think Tank” in Spring 2015 – 2019. Larisa is a NASA GLOBE Partner and NASA GLOBE educator. Larisa Schelkin is the author of the Global STEM Classroom ® teaching and learning virtual exchange model.  She has developed over 35 Global STEM projects and established partnerships with K-12 schools & universities in 12 countries. Larisa is a strong advocate for science diplomacy, for women in science and engineering and for diversity and inclusion in STEM. She holds BS and MS in Petroleum Engineering & MS in Computer Science. Prior to moving to Massachusetts, USA, Larisa and her family lived in Bashkortostan, Russia, India, and Africa.

Dr Andrew Williams is the policy lead for International Aeronautics Union's Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference (CPS). In this role, Dr Williams works to raise awareness of dark and quiet skies with space policymakers and coordinate policy studies and advocacy with the global astronomy community. He is also the founder and CEO of Science in Space, a UK company.

Andy was responsible for external relations at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) - an intergovernmental organisation of 16 Member States that constructs and operates world-leading astronomical facilities and fosters international cooperation in science. Dr Williams supports strategic relationships with current and future Member States, the EU, UN COPUOS, and international organisations such as ESA and CERN. .

Holger Krag is the Head of the Space Safety Programme Office at the European Space Agency. At ESA, he is working on space debris mitigation and safety issues, and has been for nearly 20 years.  Before ESA, he was a systems engineer for Thales, working on the Galileo mission.  Krag received his Master’s Degree in aerospace engineering at the University of Braunschweig.

Carmel Ortiz has more than 30 years of experience in the telecommunications, satellite, and digital media industries. In her current role as Senior Vice President of Technology and Innovation at Intelsat, Carmel is responsible for the ideation, design, and development of large breakthrough technology initiatives that will reshape Intelsat’s service offerings. Prior to joining Intelsat, Carmel was the Vice President/Chief Systems Engineer of OneWeb, where she was responsible for the overall system engineering, design, and performance of the low-earth orbit (LEO) broadband communication system.

Prior to OneWeb, Carmel co-founded Skjei Telecom, a satellite communications engineering consulting firm developing large, mission-critical systems serving commercial and federal government clients. Earlier in her career, Carmel held various engineering positions at GTE Corporation, GTE Spacenet, and GE Americom. She is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering.

Roohi Dalal is a Postdoctoral Fellow in Space Security and Sustainability at the Outer Space Institute (OSI) and University of British Columbia. Prior to joining the OSI, she completed her PhD in Astrophysics at Princeton University, was a Fulbright research scholar at Leiden University, and received undergraduate degrees in Astrophysics and History from the California Institute of Technology. In her research, Roohi applies her background as a physicist to advancing safety, security and sustainability in outer space, including through the modeling of orbital debris and resulting collision risks, studies of the environmental impacts of satellite launches and re-entries, as well as the identification of mitigation measures to preserve dark and radio-quiet skies. As a Next-Generation Fellow of the Physicists' Coalition for Nuclear Threat Reduction, and a Policy Vice-Chair of the American Astronomical Society's Committee for the Protection of Astronomy and the Space Environment, Roohi is also working to turn these studies into actionable policy measures to preserve the outer space environment.

Isabelle Mauro is Director General of the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA) that represents the interests of the satellite industry ecosystem. Under Isabelle’s leadership, GSOA and its member CEOs, lead the effort to showcase the benefits of satellite communications for a more inclusive, sustainable and secure society - vital to bridging the world’s digital divide, achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and realizing the full potential of the 5G & 6G ecosystem.Isabelle has 25 years’ experience in the Telecoms and Technology sector, starting at the GSMA, where she was responsible for International & External Affairs for fifteen years. In 2015 she moved to New York to join the World Economic Forum as Head of the Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) Industry, managing the portfolio of over 60 Tech companies globally and leading initiatives on inclusive and sustainable digital transformation.Isabelle is passionate about inclusion and sustainability. She is a Commissioner of the UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development. Isabelle is also Member of the Advisory Board of Access Partnership and of the High-Level Advisory Board of the DigitalGoesGreen Foundation. She also sits on the Advisory Board of Women in Tech.Isabelle holds an MSc in European Politics and Policy from the London School of Economics. She is fluent in French, English, Italian and Spanish.

Ms. Reid has worked in the space-sector since 2010 in roles ranging from ground segment software engineering

for Galileo and OneWeb through to solutions architect on conjunction analysis programs at NASA and now

LeoLabs. She has Master’s degrees in both physics and satellite engineering, and is passionate about space safety and space industry eduction.

Ms. Reyes is currently the Third Secretary in the Chilean embassy in Denmark, having been the Coordinator for Space, Telecommunications and Aeronautics at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs just before that. While at the Ministry, she was responsible for coordinating matters of international security in the areas of civil aeronautics, telecommunications, and space. She has represented Chile in both national and international organizations, and was responsible for the registration of Chilean space objects at the UN. She has advanced degrees in both engineering and economics.

Shelli Brunswick, a distinguished leader in the global space ecosystem, is renowned for her advocacy for space technology and innovation. She bridges the space community and the broader public, fostering collaboration that drives the industry forward. As a prolific keynote speaker and author, she engages audiences on leadership, career success, and the practical applications of space technologies. A futurist, she collaborates with global think tanks and contributes to initiatives shaping the future space paradigm. Her support for underrepresented groups has earned her accolades, including the Top 100 Women of the Future in Emerging Technology and two Lifetime Achievement Awards. Recognized globally, she was named one of the United Nations' 100 Voices for Our Planet, reflecting her significant impact across diverse sectors.

Silviu Pirvu FRSA is a London-based urban planner and architect with over 15 years of developing plans and technologies focused on planning healthy places on Earth and beyond by leveraging satellites, human expertise and AI. Silviu is a co-founder of Optimal Cities, a Member of the European Centre for Space Economy and Commerce and an experienced domain expert, working with space agencies, national and local authorities to develop space and health-focused initiatives across Europe, Asia and the Americas. He created some of the first digital plans and technologies for spatial planning in extreme environments including Antarctica, the Moon, Mars and also the upper atmosphere of Venus. Above everything else, Silviu is dedicated to prepare humans for life beyond Earth.

Edson Oliveira graduated from the Lisbon School of Medicine of the University of Lisbon in 2007. As a student at the Medical School, he developed several research projects in the field of Neuroanatomy and Aerospace Medicine and he's currently Assistant of Neurosurgery And Aerospace Medicine. He finished the Neurosurgery residency program of the North Lisbon University Hospital Center in 2016. He was elected President of the Portuguese Residents National Council between 2015-2017 and member of the Executive Committee of the Portuguese Medical Association between 2017-2019. Founder and Project Manager of the Center for Aerospace Medicine Studies he was part of the team that settled in Portugal the first pre-graduated subject of Aerospace Medicine in the Lisbon School of Medicine, running from 2020 in a joint venture with the Portuguese Air Force Academy. He started a PhD project related to SANS (Space flight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome). Currently he's an appointed member of the European Space Agency Medical Board and Team Leader of the Commercial Spaceflight Committee in the Aerospace Medical Association. He's an invited lecturer at the International Space University and member of the Space & Extreme Environment Research Center of the Health Sciences Federal University of Porto Alegre (Brazil).

Kim Degnan works in the space industry, currently as the Senior Partner for Space Strategy at AdvancedTechnologies.Space.  Previously, she held executive management positions at Intelsat, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Raytheon-Advanced Technologies, Pacific Satellite Inc., International Satellite Inc, and NTIA in the USG. She is well-known for her successful global business campaigns leading to measurable revenue growth.  She often serves as a SME on advanced technology proposals for private space companies and the USG.Kim is also an experienced orbit-spectrum engineer, well-versed in international satellite spectrum engineering and regulatory policy processes. She has worked on behalf of emerging nations at World Radio Conferences and has participated in the bilateral coordination of hundreds of ITU filings to secure national rights to orbit spectrum. She has published 100+ articles, many concerning the need for equitable allocation and global management of orbit spectrum. She has Master’s Degrees in Public Policy and Electrical/Telecom Engineering, and is certified in Program Management (PMP), Proposal Strategy (APMP) and Competitive Assessments (SCIP). She is also an original Founder of Space & Satellite Professionals International.As a Co-Chair of the Space Program Committee for the UN General Assembly’s Science Summit’s annual program, she convenes sessions in high-profile panels of Space Experts about subjects like Planetary Defense, Satellites Achieving the SDGs, Safeguarding Space as a Global Commons, Mitigating Space Debris, and ACES Worldwide’s Space Compacts Initiatives.  

Dr. Sergio Camacho-Lara is the Secretary General of the Regional Centre for Space Science andTechnology Education for Latin America and the Caribbean, affiliated to the United Nations. He is also a professor at the National Institute for Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics of Mexico. Dr. Camacho is a former Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs(UNOOSA). Previously, he was Chief, Space Applications Section of UNOOSA. Before that, he was Chief, Committee Services and Research Section also at UNOOSA and worked on the organization of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III).

Working with Member States of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), he contributed to implementing the recommendations of UNISPACE III. Highlights of that implementation have been the establishment of the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) and the Space Mission Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG).

Prof. Bernard H. Foing, President, Space Renaissance International, Executive Director of

International Lunar Exploration Working Group (ILEWG), EuroMoonMars & ArtMoonMars

Manager, Prof VU Amsterdam, Leiden observatory, ISU and EPFL, on leave from CNRS,

former ESA Chief Scientist and Chair of ESTEC staff association committee (2012-2017) &

SMART-1 Lead scientist. Chair IAF ITACCUS, member IAF committees (TAC, GLEX IPC,

space exploration, astronomy, space habitats, traffic management), full member IAA

International Academy of Astronautics since 2010, vice-chair COSPAR planetary and PEX

Planetary Exploration Panel, co-director IMA International Moonbase Alliance, Founder Moon

Village & MV Association, EGU space instrumentation officer, president MoonGallery

Foundation (moongallery.eu). Dr. Foing worked at ESA ESTEC(1989-2020), as ESTEC staff

committee chair (2012-2017), senior scientist, advisor to DG, Chief scientist, Head of Research

Division, study lead (SIMURIS, MORO lunar orbiter, EuroMoon lander).

Co-founder and Fellow of the Outer Space Institute; Emeritus faculty, International Space University (ISU); Chair of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (2016-2018); Director General of Space Science and Space Science and Technology, Canadian Space Agency (2004-2012); Vice President and Chair of the Finance Committee of the International Astronautical Federation (2008-2012); Bureau member and Chair of the Finance Committee of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) (2000-2008); Past Chair and member of the Steering Group of the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee; Past Co-Chair of a subgroup of the International Ad-Hoc Group on Earth Observations; Past Chair and Member of the Academic Council, and Director of the Space Studies Program (1999 & 2014) of the ISU. Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002) and the C.D. Howe Award of the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (2016-2017).

Dr. William Ailor has recently retired from the Aerospace Corporation. He was for many years director of the Center for Orbital and Reentry Debris Studies (CORDS) Vehicle Systems Division, Engineering and Technology Group. He assumed this position when CORDS was formed in June, 1997 and continued in this position for many years. In this role, he was responsible for directing the corporation’s research in the areas of space debris, collision avoidance, and breakup of reentering objects. He has also served as principal director of the Network Systems and Services Subdivision and led the evolution of Aerospace’s email and network services. He helped develop Aerospace’s first corporate strategic plan; he also developed the strategic plan for The Aerospace Institute. He also worked in the new business area, where he led negotiations leading to the corporation’s first major international contract. Ailor established and led the Space Hazards and Operations Support Directorate to prototype new capabilities for providing space situational awareness information to satellite operators. He is leading the development of the reentry breakup recorder, a small device that gathers data critical to understanding and minimizing hazards associated with reentering space hardware. Ailor has testified before Congress, regularly appears on local and national news programs and educational channels, and is interviewed for newspapers and magazines regarding his expertise in orbital and reentry hazards. Ailor’s educational Background includes a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, both at the North Carolina State University. He earned his Ph.D. in aerospace engineering at Purdue University. Ailor is a member of the International Academy of Astronautics, an associate member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, a fellow of the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety, and a member and chair of the Reentry and Space Debris Working Group.. Honors and Awards Ailor has received the NASA Group Achievement Award three times. He has served on numerous panels, including on the Interagency Nuclear Safety Review Panels for the Galileo, Ulysses, Cassini, Mars Pathfinder, Mars Exploration Rover, and Mars Science Laboratory missions. He has also served as chair or co-chair for eight international conferences, including four on planetary defense

Nikola Schmidt works as a senior researcher and is head of the Centre for Governance of Emerging Technologies. He studied Sociology at the Charles University Prague (BA), and International Relations and Security at the Metropolitan University Prague (MA), he received his PhD from Charles University in 2016 where he works as a researcher as well. He participated in a European Space Agency and NASA-funded planetary defense team project organized by the International Space University in 2015. The subject of his professional interests varies between International Relations theory Science and Technology Studies with focus on space, cyber and the general relation between technology, politics and global governance. He is currently leading a multidisciplinary project with participation from astronomers, space engineers, international lawyers, and political scientists. The objective is to devise a strategy for planetary defense and asteroid mining policy as key topics of a cosmopolitan responsible state. He edited or authored a number of recent works, including the Springer volume Planetary Defense: Global Collaboration for Defending Earth from Asteroids and Comets as well as articles in Acta Astronautica, Space Policy, New Space and Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Prior to re-entering academia, he founded and led two software development companies and worked on a nongovernmental organization-driven food facility project in Afghanistan.

Sieg Snapp, Global Program Director, Sustainable Agrifood Systems at CIMMYT is a diversity pioneer. She amplifies African farmers’ voices in agricultural research for development. As the "mother" of the "mother-and-baby" field trial design, she sponsored partnerships between producers and researchers in over thirty countries, empowering farmers to shape hundreds of technologies and crop varieties, for greater impact. Women’s preferences and capacities are explicitly accommodated in this participatory, co-design process, leading to broader adoption and biodiversity conservation. Her research has shattered misconceptions about soil carbon on small farms: farmers can increase soil organic matter. Sieg has led the charge for innovations that enable small-scale farms to produce nutritious food while simultaneously enhancing soil health, biological nitrogen fixation and cycling. Sieg’s research has spearheaded new design principles that consider more than grain production, from “Doubled up legumes” to crops that nourish for multifunction farming systems.

Dr. Tebila Nakelse serves as the GAP Initiative Research Lead for the Global Agricultural Productivity Initiative at Virginia Tech. He earned his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics at Kansas State University. His prior roles include working at UN-FAO as a Policy Specialist and Senior Policy Advisor, and positions at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and the Africa Rice Center. Tebila has extensive experience in various countries including the US, UK, Italy, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. He has significant expertise in agricultural productivity and policy, linking vital food and public policy issues.

Dr. Candiss Williams is the National Soil Health Specialist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA NRCS), Soil Health Division. She holds a PhD in Agronomy from Purdue University with a focus on soil and water chemistry and a Master’s in Soil Biology from Tuskegee University. Dr. Williams has spent the last 15 years evaluating and documenting conservation practice effects on soil and water quality and evaluating emerging computational techniques and research to improve conservation practices. Currently, she is responsible for the national leadership of NRCS soil health technology, development, and associated conservation and soil health policy development, implementation, and coordination.

He is a board member of the Alliance for Cooperation in the Exploration of Space (ACES Worldwide), Chairman of the Board of Riga Photonics Centre that advances light sciences and technologies for Latvia, and a writer and futurist. Vid Beldavs has served as a convenor of a number of sessions for the United Nations General Assembly Science Summits in recent years. He is an advisor to the African Network for Solar Energy (ANSOLE) and a Co-Founder of the International Lunar Decade Working Group; He has been nominated by the Latvian government to serve as expert on space issues to the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague. He served as Chair of the International Conference on Cooperation in Space Technologies 2014 (ICCST) that promoted cooperation in space between the Baltic Sea Region and Africa. He was the initiator and then also served as consultant to the International Baltic Economic Commission (IBEC) organized by Hudson Institute for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to develop an action plan to transition to market economies in 1990-1992. His prior service has included serving as a business trends advisor and futurist for Cummins, a global manufacturer of power systems. He has served as Vice President – Intelligent Resources International and Executive Director of the Technology Transfer Society. Other roles for Vid Beldavs have included publishing and the founding of several not-for-profit organizations. These have included the US-Africa Literary Foundation to promote African writers, New Leaf-New Life (criminal justice reform Bloomington, Indiana), and Futuristics Study Group (community futures forum in Columbus, Indiana). He is an American citizen semi-retired in Latvia. 

Peter Martinez is the Executive Director of the Secure World Foundation. He has extensive experience in multilateral space diplomacy, space policy formulation and space regulation. Prior to joining SWF, he served as the head of the national space regulatory authority in South Africa and chaired a multi-year process in the United Nations that negotiated a set of international consensus guidelines to promote the safety and sustainability of space operations. He has participated in several other international fora and processes, both within and outside of the UN context, dealing with the governance, safety, security, and sustainability of space activities.

Professor Dr. Kai-Uwe Schrogl is since 2016 the President of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL), the global association of space lawyers in governments, agencies, academia and private practice from more than 50 countries. He served from 2014 to 2016 as Chair of the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS). Kai-Uwe Schrogl works in the European Space Agency (ESA) as the Special Advisor for Political Affairs, He has written or co-edited 20 books and more than 140 articles, reports and papers in the fields of space policy and law.

Rajeev Gambhir is the Deputy Director General at SIA-India, a pivotal non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing the space sector. With over 40 years of experience, Rajeev has been instrumental in driving growth and innovation at the intersection of business and technology for space, satellite, media, and telecom companies. His expertise spans business development, policy advocacy, and strategic planning, focusing on creating a robust space industrial ecosystem. Rajeev is passionate about leveraging deep tech and intellectual property to connect investment opportunities with market dynamics in the space sector. As a member of the Global Advisory Committee for ACES Worldwide and a frequent speaker at international conferences, Rajeev engages with diverse perspectives on the space sector. His insights span business development, sustainable space operations, and the integration of space technology with UN Sustainable Development Goals. Rajeev's work focuses on fostering industry growth, promoting academia-industry interactions, and ensuring the seamless integration of the Indian space industry into the global matrix through strategic engagements with key stakeholders, policymakers, and regulatory bodies.

Devleena is a Data scientist with 15+ years’ of experience across US, Europe, New Zealand and India. She loves building data driven products, finding patterns, trends and solving real world problems with data driven insights. She is the founder and CEO of Numer8 which is a geo data science company. Numer8 is currently focused at building traceable, profitable and sustainable fisheries globally using their product OFish. They analyse satellite data, IoT data and various other forms of data to provide daily insights in their app OFish. The insights help marine fisherfolks to reduce their operational costs and increase their sales margin, fish buyers to get quality assurance and complete supply chain traceability. Devleena is also the Chief Operating Officer of ClimaCrew Pvt Ltd  which is working towards scaling seaweed production through the use of data, technology and social sciences.

Project Manager at Antarikchya Pratisthan Nepal, leading Slippers2Sat initiative since May 2023. MSC in Space Applications Engineering from TU Munich with the specialization of Earth System Sciences, BEng in Aeronautics from Nanjing University. Worked in processing earth observation data from Copernicus (Marine, Land and Climate Change) missions. Systems engineer for DEDRA (now MOVE III) by TUM and IAPG, working on ADCS and designing in orbit/de-orbiting of the satellite. Designed a 3U CubeSat mission for detection of Earth's gravity field using miniature accelerometers and intersatellite ranging (ISR) processes similar to GRACE and GRACE-FO. DTM (Distinguished Toastmaster) with Toastmasters International since 2010.  Experienced educator in China, Nepal, and Germany. Passionate about aerospace, community empowerment, and education. Enjoys hiking, running, and meditation.

Meshack Kinyua Ndiritu is an Officer of the African Space Agency of the African Union Commission, headquartered in Cairo, Egypt. He is responsible for the institutional and human capacity development for Global Monitoring for the Environment and Security in Africa (GMES & Africa) which is a continental project in Earth Observation. This activity includes a network of over 120 National and Regional institutions. Meshack’s emphasis has been on the integration of ICT with Earth Observation in areas like virtualization and cloud computing. GMES & Africa has redefined the delivery of Earth Observation services for Africa. In the first phase, the programme trained over 5,000 individuals in the space remote-sensing field. Meshack has been recognized for his significant contribution to defining the African Outer Space Programme, and the subsequent establishment of the African Space Agency focusing on four main domains: i) Earth Observation, ii) Satellite Communication, iii) Navigation, Positioning and Timing, iv) Astronomy and Space Sciences. Meshack is a member of two study groups of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) These are Study Group 4.19 on Promoting Global Space Knowledge and Expertise in Developing Countries, and IAA Study Group 4.26 on Cubesat Interface. He co-led the Space Technology for Disaster Management (STDM) Project of SGAC. He is an Alumnus of The Lindau Nobel Laureates Programme in Physics. He is also an instructor of the Cansat Leader Training Program (CLTP). This background also inspired him to co-found Omanchet Space for development of indigenous skills in satellite engineering. 

Rodolfo Dirzo (NAS) is the Associate Dean for Integrative Initiatives in Environmental Justice, Bing Professor in Environmental Science, Professor of Earth System Science, and Senior Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University. His research centers on the study of the ecology and evolution of plants and animals and on the impact of human activities on natural ecosystems. This includes studies on the evolution of plant defenses, plant and animal extinction, and how this affects ecosystem services and human wellbeing. Most of his work is carried out in Latin America, the Central Pacific, East Africa, and Northern California. His research involves local indigenous and rural communities from the countries where his study sites are located. He also runs science education programs for high school students from under-represented communities in Northern California. As a member of the National Academy of Sciences’ Board on Science Education, he participated in and co-authored the nationally adopted Framework for K-12 Science Education. He is also member of the Mexican Academy of Sciences, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the California Academy of Sciences. Dirzo received a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Morelos, Mexico and completed his Masters and PhD in Ecology at the University of Wales, UK.

Dr. Peter Fantke is an independent scientist and was professor and head of the Section for Quantitative Sustainability Assessment at the Technical University of Denmark. He develops quantitative methods for evaluating exposure and toxicity impacts on humans and the environment related to harmful chemicals and air pollutants released throughout product life cycles, published in more than 150 scientific articles. He contributed to various international projects focusing on life cycle impact assessment, chemical substitution, high-throughput risk screening, and external cost analysis. He is director of USEtox, the UNEP/SETAC scientific consensus model for characterizing toxicity impacts of chemicals, and chairs global task forces under UNEP and OECD for quantifying and evaluating environmental and human health impacts.

Aawatif Hayar is the Minister of Solidarity, Social Integration, and Family of Morocco. She was President of Hassan II University Casablanca 2019-2021. Since 2016, she has served as the Scientific Advisor of Smart City Casablanca event and in 2019 as General Co-Chair of IEEE international Smart Cities Conference. Since 2011, she is professor at University Hassan II Casablanca. She is also a member of the Casablanca “Avant-garde” City think tank. She was also selected by the African Innovation Foundation as one of the top ten innovative African women in 2015. She was the first Moroccan to receive the degree of “Agrégation” in Electrical Engineering with honors from ENS Cachan France in 1992. She received a “Diplôme d'Etudes Approfondies” in signal processing image and communications and a degree in Engineering in Telecommunications Systems and Networks from ENSEEIHT Toulouse in 1997. She earned her PhD with honors from Institut National Polytechnique in Toulouse in 2001.

Consultant surgeon at Soba University Hospital and a professor of Surgery, University of Khartoum, Sudan. He has special interest and tracks record in mycetoma and tropical surgery.

He has served as the Director of the Educational Development Centre for Medical & Health Professionals, University of Khartoum. He was the Founding Director of the Self Evaluation and Quality Enhancement Administration, University of Khartoum and then the University of Khartoum Academic Secretary.

He was the President of the Scientific Research and Innovation Agency, Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research, Sudan and advisor to the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific research, the Republic of Sudan. He is presently the Vice-President of the Arab Scientific Research Councils Federation. He is also the founding Director of the Mycetoma Research Centre (MRC), University of Khartoum.

He is a high-volume researcher in mycetoma and has published and presented extensively his original research in mycetoma has become a world reference. He published more than 270 peer-reviewed articles and edited a book on mycetoma and many textbooks' chapters, booklets and clinical guidelines on a number of themes in surgery, mycetoma and medical education. His total citation count is 12525, his h-index is 35, i10-index is 167 (Google Scholar, 21 Fe. 2023). He is among the top 2% of global scientists with high citation impact.

He is collaborating with more than 23 international research centres and institutes on different research activities to promote science. He established the EL Hassan Centre for NTDs Clinical trials as its first kind in the country.

He is a member of many national, regional, and international academic and scientific associations and societies. He sits on various curricula, research ethics, accreditations and administrative committees at national and regional levels.

In medical education, he is actively involved in teaching and organising national and international workshops, training courses, and conferences to collaborate with the WHO for medical and health professionals training. He has a special interest in E-Learning, medical informatics and teaching and learning innovation. He is a temporal WHO Consultant to develop medical education in the region.

He is an external examiner in surgery for many national and regional medical schools and the Royal Colleges of Surgeons.

He in collaboration with the Ministry of Health in Sudan and other organisations, has managed to include Mycetoma as Neglected Tropical Disease on the WHO/NTD list in 2016.

He established two Mycetoma satellite centres at mycetoma endemic villages in Sudan. He established the Mycetoma Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Centre (SAA’ID) recently. It is a hub for vocational training, business development, and entertainment, located at the Mycetoma Research Centre, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.

He managed to motivate a group of 60 fine artists, singers, comedians, celebrities and journalists to form a support group for the MRC and the Mycetoma Patients Friends Association, which he had established. This group had conducted many Mycetoma awareness and advocacy and community engagement events and activities.

Prof. Fahal received several awards and medals, to mention but a few, the State of the Sudan Golden Medal for Excellence and the Promotion of Scientific Innovation, the University of Khartoum Award for Long-Standing Excellence in Scientific Research, The Donald Mackay Medal, The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, London, The Knighthood of Palmes Académiques, The Republic of France, The Knighthood of Merit, The Republic of Italy, The Third World Academy of Science Fellowship, and The University of Khartoum Award for Excellence in Administrative Achievements, Sudan, 2019.

He was also awarded the fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians, London, for his distinctive achievements in scientific research. Recently, he was elected a fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists, London, for his basic, experimental and implementation research work.

  Prof. Suad, graduated from Faculty of Science, University of Khartoum, Sudan, was among few non-medical researchers employed at Federal Ministry of Health, to assess transmission and control of parasitic diseases for prevention. Receiving post-graduate degrees on the job allowed her to establish epidemiology research on endemic neglected diseases from environment and training many graduates on related fields. She is a pioneer female researcher, member of several disease control committees e.g. Federal Ministry of Health, research ethics committee; WHO referee in the EMRO region & Geneva; Sudanese Environment Conservation Society; Sudan Health Heritage Foundation.   As member of SNAS executive committee, Suad is Treasurer. She led holding a workshop on artisanal gold-mining funded through NASAC; involvement of Sudanese researchers in the diaspora (IAP); enquiry based science education EBSI (UNESCO) and STEM (USAID); Sudanese women in science workshops (OWSD); Swiss Sudanese Science Forum in partnership with Swiss Academies and local funds to establish a Sudanese network to reduce aflatoxin contamination in peanuts and sesame seeds in Sudan for food-security.     Suad participated in many workshops and meetings representing SNAS e.g. NASAC general assembly meetings; AMASA meetings; ICSU & ISC meetings representing Sudan. She was nominated to represent SNAS in the Women for Science working group and attended meetings of Women Leaders in Global Health

·       Professor of Economics, Department of Economics, Faculty of Economic & Soci Studies, Al-Neelain University, Khartoum, Sudan, since June 2013 ·       Taxation consultant and expert for domestic resources mobilization at the United Nations Economic Commission for African (UNECA), from August 2021- up to April 2023.·       Vice Chancellor, Red Sea University, Oct. 2019 - Til now ·       Academic secretary, AL Neelain University. Khartoum, Sudan, Dec. 2015 – Nov 2016. ·       Dean of Faculty of Economic and Social Studies, Al-Neelain University, July 2013- 2015. ·       Head Department of Economics, Faculty of Commerce, Economic and Social Studies, Al- Nelain University, from April 1998 until April 2005.·       Assistant Professor. Faculty of Commerce, Economic and Social Studies, Al-Nelain University - 1997 - 2003. - Associate Professor, as from 05/31/2003 till now.·       Tax officer Chamber of taxation, various categories: General Directorate for Research, Legislation, and Statistics - business profits - real estate - corporate - 1986 - 1995.·       Ass Director of Research Department Chamber of Taxation 1995- 1997. ·       Advisor and tax systems analyst: Independent Institute for Economic and Social Studies St. Petersburg 1991 - 1994 m.·       Head social researcher: the World Organization of Voluntary Welfare Group, ( SABAH), Khartoum in 1986.·       Member of the Committee on the application of value-added tax (VAT) in Sudan, according to Ministerial Decree No. (3), January 1999 - 2000 m. ·       Member of the Board of the Department of Economics, Higher Institute of Banking and Financial Studies, 2001.·       Member of the National Committee of the Tax Reform in Sudan, 2006.·       Member of the Scientific Committee of the Research Center, publishing and consulting, Sudan Academy for Banking and Financial Sciences, since 2007.·       Member of the senate and specialized committees, Al Neelain University. ·       Member of curricula evaluation committees for Sudanese universities and colleges, ministry of High Education and Scientific Research of Sudan, 2915 till now.

Master's student in Economics at the Brazilian Institute of Education, Development and Research (IDP) in Brasília/DF. Extensions in Public Management (FGV-2012) and People Management (ESAB-2019). Bachelor of Laws from the University of Noroeste Paulista. He has been a career employee at CAIXA Econômica Federal since 2008. He worked for twelve years in the bank's Government segment, where he had an outstanding role in modeling products and public policies in partnership with the Brazilian State, as well as implementing policies.  In 2021, he moved to the bank's Sustainability area, where he led the National Strategy and Sustainability Management, modernizing the process of applying resources from the bank's Socio-Environmental Fund, providing the opportunity to make important investments for environmental recovery. The year 2023 was marked by its request by the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic, to form the executive secretariat of the National Commission for Sustainable Development Goals. To date, he has worked on drafting the decree recreating the National Commission, in the public selection process of representative entities and in drafting the Commission's internal regulations. In June 2023, he assumed the Executive Secretariat of the National Commission for the SDGs. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lavito-bacarissa-76b140137/

Graduated in Nutrition from the School of Biological and Health Sciences “Dr Bezerra de Menezes” (1996). Master in Health Sciences and Technologies from the University of Brasília - UnB (2015). PhD in Food and Nutrition from Paulista State University "Julio de Mesquita" - UNESP/SP (2020). Specialist in Food Science from the Federal University of Santa Catarina - UFSC (2004) and in Clinical Nutrition from the Brazilian Nutrition Association (ASBRAN - 2006). Has experience in the area of Clinical and Renal Nutrition. Has worked mainly on the following topics: Nutritional Indexes, Chronic Renal Failure, Hemodialysis, Peritoneal Dialysis, Conservative Treatment, Transplantation and other nephropathies. He also has experience in Quality Implementation in the Nutrition Sector. Was a professor at the Lutheran Educational Association BOM JESUS / IELUSC, in the Disciplines of Nutritional Assessment and Nutritional Education, Supervisor of Compulsory Internship in the Areas of Clinical and Social Nutrition. Advisor of Course Completion Work (TCC) of the Lutheran Educational Association BOM JESUS / IELUSC. Professor at College Alvorada, in the Nutrition Course, in the Discipline of Nutrition in Public Health and Epidemiology (Brasília/DF). Is a Science and Technology Analyst at the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation (MCTI), worked at the Secretariat of Science and Technology for Social Inclusion (SECIS), where she served on the Working Group for Accountability (Ordinance N 35, of June 26, 2012), in Food and Nutrition Security, at the Secretariat of Applied Technologies (SETAP), in the Department of Technologies for Sustainable and Social Development Programs (DEPDS). She is currently assigned to the Secretariat for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (SEMPI), in the General Coordination of Enabling Technologies (CGTH), with the theme of Health as: Assistive Technologies, Rare Diseases and Pharma-MCTI Network. Is a specialist in Public Policies for Obesity. She is currently working at the Secretariat of Science and Technology for Social Development (SEDES), in the General Coordination of Sovereignty and Food and Nutritional Security with the theme of Adequate and Healthy Food, Agroecology and Food and Nutritional Security.

Doctor of Science in Public Health and master’s in health science and technology management at National School of Public Health - ENSP / FIOCRUZ. Senior Technologist and Head of Innnovation and Biodiversity Center - CIBS / Institute of Technology and Drug- Farmanguinhos/FIOCRUZ. Coordinator of the Lato sensu Postgraduate Course in Innovation Management in Bioversity Drugs; - EAD / ENSP - Farmanguinhos / Fiocruz. Other activities:  organization of the post-graduation course on Biodiversity Innovation. Coordinator of the National Network System – RedesFito- focused on innovation in biodiversity drugs. Current Leader of the Research Group/CNPq in Innovation of biodiversity medicines. Currently scientific periodic “Revista Fitos”.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/glauco-villas-boas-250303a2/

Evandro Holanda has been a researcher at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) since October 2001. He has a PhD in Animal Science from the Federal University of Minas Gerais. He specializes in Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) Policy Management, Innovation Management and Technological Capacity. Throughout his career, he has held various management positions at Embrapa and coordinated ST&I programs focused on social innovation and localized food systems. He is currently assigned to the General Management of Cooperation for PDI / Embrapa Headquarters, and coordinates the Permanent Advisory Committee to Embrapa's Board of Directors on the theme of Socio-Productive Inclusion and the design of programs guided by a Transformative Innovation approach.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/evandro-holanda-48a09299/

Associate professor in the Department of Human Sciences and Nutrition and Food Sciences at the Institute of Biosciences of the São Paulo State University -Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Botucatu-SP, Brazil (IBB/UNESP). She is the coordinator of the Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation for Food and Nutritional Sovereignty and Security (INTERSSAN) and the Thematic Network of Food and Nutritional Security at UNESP and Brazil’s representative on the Coordinating Committee of the Mechanism for Facilitating University Participation in the Food and Nutritional Security Council of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (MU-CONSAN-CPLP) and a coordinator of the Latin American Network for Teaching, Research, and Extension in Food and Nutritional Sovereignty and Security (Rede-LASSAN). For more than a decade, she has been involved in South-South cooperation processes with academia related to Food and Nutritional Security policies.

Chief Research Specialist at the Centre for the Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators (CeSTII) at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). She holds a DPhil in Sociology from Trinity College Dublin. Prior to joining CeSTII in 2017, she completed a post-doctoral fellowship in the Education and Skills Development programme at the HSRC. Il-haam’s research focuses on inter-organisational innovation networks, particularly the micro-foundations of innovation, and experimentation with new methodologies for understanding and measuring innovation in informal settings.

John Ouma Mugabe: Professor of Science and Innovation Policy at the Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM), University of Pretoria

John Ouma Mugabe is a Professor of Science and Innovation Policy at the Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM), University of Pretoria. He has more than 25 years of experience in science, technology and innovation policy research and analysis. Between 1995 and 2002, Prof. Mugabe was the Executive Director of the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) in Nairobi, Kenya, and between 2002 and 2008 he directed the Office of Science and Technology of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) in Pretoria and Midrand, South Africa.

He has participated in and led STI policy reviews for Ghana (2009/2010), SADC (2009/2010), Namibia (2016/2017), Seychelles (2016/2017), and Botswana (2021-present). Prof. Mugabe also led the development of pan-African STI policy initiatives including the AU Consolidated Plan for Science and Technology, ASTII and the UNECA review and training course on STISA-2024. He is currently leading the development of the AU’s new 10-year Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-2034).

Employed by the African Union Development Agency – New Partnership for Africa’s Development. Over the past 17 years, he has provided African Union Member States with technical support to strengthen the capacity to measure both research and development and innovation through the Swedish funded African Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators (ASTII) programme. ASTII is one of the most successful African Union flagship programmes implemented in collaboration with the African Union Observatory for Science, Technology and Innovation (AOSTI) and the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), in line with the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2015-2024 (STISA2024), soon 2024-2034 (STISA34) and SDG (target 9.5) for the formulation of evidence-based policies and monitoring of targets. So far, he has trained more than 3,000 national officials from 43 AU ministries responsible for STI and national statistics offices using international guidelines (OECD manuals) for surveys conducted in the business, government, higher education, and non-profit organizations sectors. He played a key role as a member of the drafting team of the recently approved AU-EU 10-year innovation agenda and now a member of its working group. During India's G20 presidency, Lukovi was one of the co-chairs of the 6th thematic area of Think20: "Agenda 2030, Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA) and Partnerships", and is now part of the working group on the development of the G20+ within the framework of Think20, the G20 Think Tank Network. Lukovi holds a master’s degree in economics of trade and investment (University of Pretoria, SA) and a bachelor honours degree in mathematical economics (University of Kinshasa). He mentored undergraduate economics students (University of Pretoria) before joining the AU system. Lukovi was a web manager in a private media group and held various leadership positions (civil society organisation) in academic, national, regional, and continental youth movements focusing on peace-making and peacebuilding.

Hugo Hollanders: Economist and Senior Researcher at UNU-MERIT

Hugo Hollanders is an Economist and Senior Researcher at UNU-MERIT, which is a joint research institute of Maastricht University (the Netherlands) and the United Nations University. He has over 25 years of experience in innovation studies and innovation statistics and has been involved in various projects for the European Commission (EC) on measuring innovation at the national, regional and industry levels, including extensive work on developing composite indicators. He has been the lead author of the EC’s European Innovation Scoreboard which provides a comparative assessment of research and innovation performance in Europe. Since 2010, he has been involved in redesigning the Community Innovation Survey, a biennial survey of innovation activity in European enterprises. He has been a member of several expert groups on measuring innovation for the EC, including the 2010 High-Level Panel on the Measurement of Innovation and the 2013 Expert Group on Public Sector Innovation. He has been a member of the Advisory Steering Committee for the South-African Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators (CeSTII), and from 2015 to 2018 of the Advisory Board of the Global Innovation Index (WIPO). Since 2017 he is a member of the Advisory Board of the Global Knowledge Index. In 2024 he joined the Advisory Board of the Public Sector Capabilities Index for UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP). He also contributed to the 2010, 2015 and 2021 UNESCO Science Report.

Deputy Director and Head, Planning, Programming and Linkages Department at the National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM)

Deputy Director and Head, Planning, Programming and Linkages Department at the National Centre for Technology Management, a Nigerian government agency responsible for policy research and capacity building on issues of science, technology, and innovation (STI) management. He holds a doctoral degree in Science and Technology Studies at the Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST) at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. For the past 15 years, he has led the team that collects Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) indicators in Nigeria, a subset of the African Science, Technology, and Innovation Indicators (ASTII) Initiative of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD). His research interests focus on innovation for inclusive development, R&D and innovation measurement, and STI for policy and development.

Deputy Director of Research at the National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM)Deputy Director of Research at the National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM), Nigeria. NACETEM is an agency of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Nigeria. He has a PhD in Public Policy with a focus on Environmental Sustainability from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. His research examines economic activities at the intersection of technological change and environmental sustainability. Specifically, his field of research includes low-carbon innovation development pathways, climate-resilient development climate change policy etc. He was a research fellow at the United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa, Accra, Ghana and the International Centre for Science and High Technology of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Trieste, Italy. He recently concluded a Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship programme sponsored by the European Commission at the European Institute of Economics and the Environment, Milan, Italy where he explored eco-innovation and the dynamics of external knowledge sourcing. Dr Sanni is the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions National Contact Point for Nigeria under the Horizon Europe Programme. He has been a home-based intern with the United Nations Development Program, Climate Change Adaptation Facility. He is also a part of the core research team for the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa's Development (AUDA-NEPAD) initiative on measuring Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators for Nigeria at NACETEM. He is currently the Head of Technology Management Education and Training at NACETEM.

Director of Reforestation and Recovery of Degraded Areas at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, PhD in Agricultural Sciences. Previously, she served as Director of Forestry Development at the Brazilian Forestry Service, but she has also served in this same Ministry as General Coordinator of Support for Federal Superintendences, Special Advisor to the Executive Secretariat and Director of the Department of Cane – Sugar and Agroenergy, she was a full member of the Deliberative Council of the Worker Support Fund – CODEFAT, was President of the Fiscal Council of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation – EMBRAPA, of CASEMG – Companhia de Armazéns e Silos do Estado de Minas Gerais and is currently president of the Fiscal Council of CeasaMinas – Centrais de Abastecimento de Minas Gerais S.A.

Sibsankar Palit is the Founder and Executive Director of the LIFE-To & Beyond Foundation, a young, dynamic, diverse, inclusive and sustainable registered Section-8 Space non-profit based out of West Bengal, India with a global community of young space enthusiasts and professionals working in the fields of Astrobiology, Space Studies, and Applications. He has been a Research Associate in the Young Scientist Program 2023 by Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, US currently a Visiting Scholar there working on a project related to the NASA-RCN Network for Life Detection database named Life Detection Knowledge Base regarding research inputs on Biosignatures.He has been an Active Member of SpaceCrew, a Working Group of InnovaSpace, UK since 2022 and is now the Coordinator of the Working Group alongside Dr. Thais Russomano (Expert Space Medicine Professional). He is also on the Board of Directors of ACES Worldwide, USA. As a part of his final year of undergraduate dissertation at the City College (University of Calcutta), he is involved in conducting a Bibliometric review on the role of Lipid membranes in the Origin of life, a crucial topic of discussion in the field of Astrobiology. Besides entrepreneurship, Palit is an avid young researcher and has been involved in active space science communication, event management, and outreach activities for the last 3 years.He has been a recipient of a full scholarship at the Venus Science and Engineering Summer Program by Mars University, US, and also the Deep Impact Scholarship by The Swiss School of Disruption, funded by AITI- Associazione Industrie Ticinesi. His interest ranges from Space Chemistry to Space Entrepreneurship to Space Diplomacy and he wishes to make a career in the ever-growing Space sector making it more accessible to all.

Nastasia Belc, Director General of National Research Institute for Food Bioresources - IBA. She is food senior scientist, PhD, and professor to the Faculty of Biotechnology within University of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, in Bucharest. She is member of Romanian Academy for Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, member of Consultative Council of Ministry of Research and Innovation, and Consultative Council of Department for Sustainable Development under the Romanian Government. She is also member of Scientific Council of The Sanitary Veterinary Authority and Food Safety. She is nominated by Romanian Ministry of Research and Innovation to be member of Governing Board of Food security, Agriculture and Climate Change, FACCE JPI and member of Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life Management Board, (HDHL JPI). She is currently involved in H2020 project METROFOOD-PP.

Joris Van Loco is a prominent scientist working at Sciensano, the Belgian institute for health. With a robust background in analytical chemistry, Van Loco has made significant contributions to public health through his research and expertise. At Sciensano, he focuses on ensuring food safety, developing methods for detecting contaminants and residues in food products, and ensuring compliance with health regulations.

Van Loco's work is pivotal in safeguarding public health by monitoring and controlling potential hazards in the food supply chain. He is involved in various projects that aim to improve analytical methods and enhance the reliability of food safety assessments. His research often involves collaboration with national and international bodies to establish standardized protocols and innovative techniques for food analysis.

In addition to his scientific endeavors, Van Loco is also engaged in policy-making and regulatory aspects of food safety. His expertise is sought in crafting guidelines that help maintain high standards of public health protection. His contributions to Sciensano and the broader scientific community underscore his commitment to advancing public health and safety.

Joris Van Loco's dedication to his field has made him a respected figure in food safety and analytical chemistry, playing a crucial role in ensuring that the food consumed by the public is safe and free from harmful contaminants.

Prof. dr. Nives Ogrinc received her PhD degree from the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology University of Ljubljana in 1997. Prof. Ogrinc obtained a NATO-postdoctoral fellowship from 2000-2002 in the Department of Chemistry at Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. This fellowship offered her possibilities to be involved in a larger research project on mercury (Hg) cycling in Canada (METAALICUS) using stable isotopes of Hg. Now, she works in the Department of Environmental Sciences at Jožef Stefan Institute as the Head of ISO-FOOD Chair. She is also a professor at the Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School and was a visiting professor in Earth Science at University of Parma, Italy. Her research work is characterized by a distinctly interdisciplinary approach where she has advanced the science in stable isotopes of light and heavier elements in various fields of research, including in food authenticity and traceability. In 2019 she was awarded the highest national “Zois award for outstanding achievements in the use of stable isotopes in interdisciplinary research”. Currently her bibliography includes more than 200 original papers with an h-index of 42. The excellence of her work is also evident by her involvement in several national and international projects and invited lectures at international conferences and symposia. She is a leader of METROFOOD Slovenian JRU and the coordinator of two EU projects: MSC ITN FoodTraNet and FishEUTrust.  In 2020, she became a vice-president of IMEKO-TC23 and in 2023 a vice chair of European Metrology Network (EMN) for Safe and Sustainable Food (EMN Food).

Dr. Karl Presser is the founder of Premotec. He trained as a computer scientist and earned his doctoral degree at ETH Zurich investigating data quality on food composition data focusing on basic principles of data quality and how a computer system can support users to manage data quality. After his computer science study, he was a senior scientist in the Department of Computer Science at ETHZ in the Global Information Systems Group. He also worked in an SME as product manager, product designer and developer on an application to calculate timetables for universities using artificial intelligence, in particular evolutionary algorithms. Karl was the primary creator of FoodCASE, an information system to manage food composition data where some research work is incorporated. Karl led or participated in several national and EU funded projects such as FoodCASE project (Swiss national project), MenuCH (Swiss consumption survey), EuroFIR Network of Excellence (FP6), EuroFIR NEXUS (FP7), TDS-Exposure (FP7), PRO-METROFOOD (H2020), and METROFOOD-PP (H2020). He is currently involved in the METROFOOD-RI, FNS-Cloud (H2020), FoodSafety4EU (H2020), DRG4FOOD (H2020) projects. He is also the president of EuroFIR AISBL. He has more than 30 publications and made over 40 scientific presentations and was involved in more than 14 university lectures.

Dr. Maria Fernandes-Whaley is the Senior Manager of Analytical and Material Sciences in the Chemistry, Materials, and Medical Metrology Division at the National Metrology Institute of South Africa.

She is a seasoned professional with an 18-year career in chemical metrology. Her expertise lies in capacity building and measurement science support for food safety and quality initiatives, environmental pollution monitoring, and the characterization of organic substances. She currently holds several key roles, including representing South Africa on the IMEKO Technical Committee 23 for Food and Nutrition, the FAO-IAEA Africa Food Safety Network, ISO Technical Committee 334 for Reference Materials, and the AOAC INTERNATIONAL Africa section. Since 2023, she has been serving as the chairperson of the Consultative Committee for Quantity of Material – Organic Analysis Working Group at the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM).

Her leadership has been instrumental in establishing the NMISA Reference Material Programme in 2015. This program has produced 25 new ISO 17034 and ISO/IEC 17043 accredited reference materials and custom proficiency testing schemes, significantly shortening the measurement traceability chain for Africa and enabling reliable measurements for chemical hazards in food and agriculture. Since 2019, she has implemented robust capacity-building initiatives aimed at supporting sustainable food production and trade in the region. Over 40 scientists in mandated food inspection and monitoring laboratories across Africa have been empowered through hands-on training in food testing, including maintenance and troubleshooting of analytical instruments.

Dr. Fernandes-Whaley’s contributions to chemical metrology include over 20 publications, international presentations, and a book chapter. She actively supervises postgraduate research in analytical chemistry and volunteers in the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Career Mentorship program. As a guest lecturer, she teaches a short course on Quality Assurance in chemical measurements to postgraduate Chemistry students at UP, where she earned her PhD in Analytical Chemistry in 2008.

David S. Bullock is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics at the University of Illinois.  He studies the economics of agricultural technology and information and has published research on precision agriculture technology since 1998.  He is the Principal Investigator of the USDA-sponsored Data-Intensive Farm Management project, which uses precision agriculture technology to conduct large-scale, on farm agronomic experiments which generate data to aid farmers’ management of nitrogen fertilizer and other inputs.   He teaches graduate courses in microeconomic theory.  He received his Ph.D. from the Department of Economics at the University of Chicago in 1989. 

Dr Richard Stirzaker works with CSIRO Agriculture and Food and developed the Virtual Irrigation Academy with the support of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. 

The Virtual Irrigation Academy team have developed a suite of soil water and solute monitoring tools that give output as colours, which are thresholds for action. Data is captured through mobile phones and presented as colour patterns, which highlight water and solute dynamics, such as under and over irrigation, nitrate leaching and salt accumulation. The work is aimed at smallholder farmers in low to middle income countries and has quickly spread around the world. The team set up a not-for-profit company to scale the technology and currently runs two sensor production lines in Africa. Over the last few months, the team has won several international awards including the Water Changemaker Innovation Award at COP28 in Dubai, the ‘Smarter Climate Farmers Challenge’ from the World Economic Forum and a grant to scale up production from the World Food Program.

Professional Background: Professor Osden Jokonya is an academic and NRF C2-rated researcher at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in South Africa. With a career spanning over two decades in both academia and the IT industry, Jokonya has established himself as a researcher in emerging technologies adoption. Before transitioning to academia, Jokonya amassed extensive industry experience, holding senior management IT positions across diverse sectors including mining, retail, manufacturing, financial services, insurance, utilities, and education. His industry experience equipped him with practical insights that complement his academic endeavors, enabling a holistic approach to teaching and research in Information Systems. Before joining UWC in January 2018 as an Associate Professor in the Department of Information Systems, Jokonya worked at the University of South Africa and North-West University as a Senior Lecturer. He served in various capacities at various universities including curriculum development committees, and industry advisory bodies, and participated actively in faculty and university committees.

Educational Background: Professor Jokonya holds a Ph.D. in Information Systems from the University of South Africa (UNISA), awarded in 2015. His doctoral research focused on developing a framework to assist organizations with information technology adoption governance. He also earned a Master of Commerce in Project Leadership and Management from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in 2010, complemented by an MBA majoring in Information Management and E-Commerce from UKZN, in 2008 and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management (Natal University) in 2004. His academic journey includes a diverse range of qualifications from institutions such as The University of Manchester (Post Graduate Certificate in Information Management) and BTech. Computer Studies (HEXCO Zimbabwe).

Areas of Expertise: Jokonya’s current research focuses on exploring the adoption of emerging technologies like Big Data, AI, IoT, Immersive Technologies, and Blockchain across industries and communities. He has contributed extensively to understanding digital transformations in sectors such as the food supply chain, emphasizing the integration of digital solutions in agriculture value chains, and logistics. His scholarly contributions extend beyond publications to supervising postgraduate students. He is actively involved in several professional bodies including the Association for Information Systems (AIS). Professor Jokonya’s expertise is sought globally, evident from his participation in international collaboration and conferences across continents.

I am a fourth-year doctoral student, and my research within this program focuses primarily on the impact of in vitro digestion of biologically active compounds on the quality and bioavailability of the monitored components. Within my study, I conduct analyses of the basic nutritional composition as well as the digestibility of individual nutrients, particularly proteins. In this regard, I have successfully introduced and optimized static in vitro digestion method in our department, following the methodology of Brodkorb et al. I also investigate the influence of various culinary preparations on basic nutritional parameters and digestibility.The major scientific achievement during my career was the research on the student grant: “Edible insects as a novel food – microbiological and chemical risk assessment” (registration no. CZ.02.2.69/0.0/0.0/19_073/0016944).

The project was focused on comprehensive research of insects as novel food and as feed. The nutritional values of insects, their nutritional value, microbiological and chemical risks were assessed.

Other projects:

-        Team member of grants: NutRisk Centre (CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_019/0000845); GA 21-42021L; GA 21-47159L

-        Sardines and sprats as a potentional source of nutrients required for supporting proper function of immune system in in vitro and in vivo models. GA 21-42021L

-        INPROFF: Quality, safety and authenticity of insect protein-based food and feed products, GA 21-47159L

-        NPO_CZU_MSMT-16607/2022

Education and career:

2021 – 2024: Charles University in Prague, First Faculty of Medicine, Bachelor´s study programme: Nutritional therapist

2020 – present: Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural, Doctoral's study programme: Agricultural Chemistry

2018-2020: University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Faculty of Food and Biochemical Technology, Master’s degree in Food Quality and Safety

2015-2018: University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Faculty of Food and Biochemical Technology, Bachelor's degree in Food Analysis and Safety

Graduated in Forest Engineering from the University of São Paulo (1991), specialized in Nuclear Energy in Agriculture (1989), master's degree in Agronomy (Agricultural Environmental Physics) from the University of São Paulo (1995), doctorate in Agricultural Engineering - Water and Soil the State University of Campinas (2001) and postdoctoral studies in hydrological modeling at the University of California, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (2001). He is currently a researcher at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation - Embrapa Digital Agriculture in the area of Global Climate Change and coordinator of the Embrapa’s Research Portfolio on Climate Change. Has experience in the area of Forest Engineering, with an emphasis on Agrometeorology, acting on the following topics: global climate change and its impacts on agriculture, trend analysis, environmental modeling, simulation scenarios, watershed, GIS and remote sensing and estimation of agricultural biomass.

PHD INEntrepreneurship and Management Empresas from Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (2013). Master's at Multidisciplinary from Universidade de Brasília (2002) and Bachelor's at Ciências Econômicas from Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (1998). Has experience in Economy, focusing on assessment impacts.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/graciela-vedovoto-21517a16/

Inácio Francisco de Assis Nunes Arruda (Inácio Arruda) is the Secretary of Science and Technology for Social Development (SSTSD) of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MSTI). A retired civil servant from the Ceará Court of Justice, Mr. Arruda graduated in Machine Mechanics from the Liceu do Ceará/Federal Technical School of Ceará and in Electrotechnics from the Federal Technical School. He also studied Law and Mathematics at the Federal University of Ceará (UFCE). With a long political career, he has been a member of the PCdoB party since 1987, was a councilor in the capital of Fortaleza from 1989 to 1991; a state deputy for Ceará from 1991 to 1995, as well as a federal deputy three times (1995 to 2007). His mandates were strongly linked to the country's social, cultural and economic movements. From 2007 to 2015, Inácio Arruda was Senator of the Republic for Ceará. He also has experience in the state executive sector. He was Ceará's Secretary of Science and Technology and Higher Education for eight years.

Graduated in Agronomy from Federal University of Recôncavo da Bahia, with a Master's degree in Development and Environment from Federal University of Sergipe, a postgraduate degree in Environmental Management from Albert Einstein College of Science and Technology, and a specialization in Public Management and Society from Federal University of Tocantins. Director of the Department of Innovation for Family Farming and Agroecological Transition at the Secretariat of Family Farming e Agroecology of the Ministry of Rural Development and Family Farming.

Iracema Moura has been a Social Policy Development Analyst (ATPS) since 2013. She holds a degree in Food Engineering from the Federal University of Ceará, a master's degree in Economic Development from UNICAMP, and a Ph.D. in Science, Technology, and Innovation in Agriculture from UFRRJ. She began her public service career in 2003 at INCRA/MDA and has held various positions in the Presidency of the Republic and the Ministry of Health. Her experience includes the management and evaluation of social policies, especially in food security, health, social participation, and family farming. Currently, she is the Director of Evaluation, Monitoring, Studies, and Strategic Information at the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Farming (MDA) and chairs the Board of Directors of the National Supply Company (CONAB).

Wilson Silva is a chemist who graduated from the University of São Paulo - Brazil. He also holds a Doctor of Science (Analytical Chemistry) from the same University. He was a visiting scientist at the University of Nantes (France). Dr. Silva was also a General and Analytical Chemistry professor at the Federal University of Uberlândia - Brazil. He joined Embrapa Instrumentação in 2002 as a researcher and has experience in Environmental Chemistry and Sanitary Engineering. He works mainly with soil and natural waters chemistry, technologies and processes for basic rural sanitation, and agricultural reuse of effluents and organic waste. He has several publications in scientific journals, book chapters, Embrapa´s technical texts, and the edition of 6 books. He has extensive experience in scientific communication, social mobilization, and training in actions aimed at rural basic sanitation.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilson-tadeu-lopes-da-silva-0a5a6837/

Ana Euler has Post-doctorate in Traditional Populations, Biodiversity Governance and Traditional Agricultural Systems (Research Institute for Development-IRD and Agricultural Research and International Cooperation Organization, CIRAD, France), PhD and Masters degree in Environmental and Forestry Sciences (Yokohama National University, Japan), Bachelor's degree in Forestry Engineer (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro). Researcher at Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), where currently she is the Executive-Director of Business working with Innovation and Technology Transfer, Bioeconomy and Social Inclusion. Currently Director of Technology Transfer at Anater - National Agency for Technical Assistance and Rural Extension and member of the Board of Directors of The Amazon Biobusiness Center (CBA). Former Amazon Conservation Officer at WWF-Brazil, Southwest Amazon Program Coordinator, she has more than 20 years of experience working in Amazon and also has conducted research in Africa (Burkina Faso, Kenya, Ghana). Between 2011 and 2014, she served as Director-President of the Amapa State Forestry Institute, implementing the Extractive Production Development Program , Forest Concessions Program, and launched the Amapá State Forestry Program and the Amapá Climate Change Forum.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-euler-7132a9b/

Ruth Almeida is PhD in Agricultural Sciences from the Federal Rural University of the Amazon - UFRA (2013), with a thesis focused on relations between Biocosmetics companies and Rural Communities. Master in General Sociology from the Federal University of Pará - UFPA (2005), Bachelor and Degree in Social Sciences from UFPA (2002). Currently, she is a professor at UFRA, working at the Socio-Environmental and Water Resources Institute (ISARH). She is a collaborating professor in the Socio-Environmental Diversity Postgraduate Program (PPGDS/MPEG). As a Social specialist, she is part of the Monitoring and Evaluation Committee of the Management contract signed between the Mamirauá Institute for Sustainable Development and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), in addition to acting as an advisor to the Peabiru Institute. Leads the Research Group on Gender Relations and Amazonian Ruralities (GERAR/CNPq). She has experience in the areas of Sociology, working mainly on the following topics: gender relations, family farming, business and community relations, conservation units and social conflicts.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-almeida-8262486b/

Sonia da Costa is Director of the Department of Social Technology, Solidarity Economy and Assistive Technology of the Secretariat of Science and Technology for Social Development (SSTSD) (https://gov.br/mcti/pt-br). Holds a degree in Art Education from the Federal University of Santa Maria (1993), a master's degree in Education from the Federal University of Santa Maria (1998) and a PhD in Education from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (2004) Teacher of the effective staff of UFSM since 2005. Has held the positions of Director in the Department of Regional Actions/Secretariat of Science and Technology for Social Inclusion/Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation; was an advisor to the Minister's Office; and General Coordinator of Innovation and Certification of the Secretariat of Professional and Technological Education of the Ministry of Education – SETEC/MEC. Is currently assigned to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation where she serves as Director of the Department of Social Technology, Solidarity Economy and Assistive Technology of the Secretariat of Science and Technology for Social Development (SSTSD).

Socióloga e historiadora, Cristina Araripe é atualmente Pesquisadora Titular da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, onde coordena nacionalmente a área de Divulgação Científica, vinculada à Vice-Presidência de Educação, Informação e Comunicação. Com Mestrado em História e Epistemologia das Ciências pela Universidade de Paris 7, Mestrado em Ciências pela Coordenação de Programas de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro e Doutorado em História das Ciências e da Saúde pela Casa de Oswaldo Cruz, ela vem atuando em pesquisas na área de educação, divulgação e comunicação pública da ciência. Coordenou o Programa de Vocação Científica (Provoc) da Fiocruz, entre 2004 e 2012, sendo uma das responsáveis pela criação, em 2010, do Observatório da Juventude, Ciência e Tecnologia, com apoio do CNPq e da Faperj. Em 2011, coordenou a implantação do Pibic-Ensino Médio na Fiocruz, hoje, uma experiência consolidada pelas instituições de CT com apoio do CNPq. Desde 2019, é Coordenadora Nacional do Programa Mulheres e Meninas na Ciência da Fiocruz, com destaque para a iniciativa Mais Meninas na Fiocruz e o STEM na Saúde. Desde 2006, com apoio do Ministério da Ciência Tecnologia e Inovação, coordena também o Programa Olimpíada Brasileira de Saúde e Meio Ambiente, a qual oferece pela 3ª vez consecutiva, em 2024, o Prêmio Menina Hoje, Cientista Amanhã da Fiocruz.

Prof. Dr. Gilberto Camara is a researcher in Geoinformatics, Observation of Land and Land Use Modeling at the National Research Institute Space (INPE). It is internationally recognized for promoting free access to geospatial data and for leading the monitoring system for satellite of the Amazon rainforest. Gilberto was general director of INPE in December 2005 to May 2012. Under his guidance, the INPE team has achieved major advances in monitoring changes to the earth using remote sensing, leading to a large decrease in deforestation in Amazon. Gilberto supervised 29 doctoral dissertations and 28 master's theses and published more than 180 peer-reviewed articles, cited more than 17,800 times. From June 2013 to May 2015, he was a visiting professor at University of Münster, Germany. He was Director of the Group Secretariat of Earth Observation (GEO) from July 2018 to June 2021. He was named Honorary doctorate from the University of Münster (Germany) and Knight of the French National Order of Merit. Received the William T. Pecora Award from NASA and the USGS for "leadership in broad, open access to data remote sensing”..

https://x.com/gcamara

Tuana Yazici is the Founder, Chair, and CEO of Tuana Group, AeroAI Voyages, AeroAI DesignLab, and nonprofit AeroAI Global Solutions. These entities collectively aim to leverage AI and space technologies to improve global living conditions. As a third-year law student and member of the International Institute of Space Law, Yazici holds a master’s in International Administration and a B.A. in PPE (Philosophy, Politics, Economics). With recent publications in space law and policy, Yazici is a featured speaker at global conferences, sharing insights into her work. Aside from work, Yazici is a student helicopter pilot working towards a private license.

Victoria Valdivia Cerda is political scientist from Chile, she holds a Masters degree in International Relations. Victoria has worked as a space policy advisor contributing to the formulation of Chile's defense whitepaper (2017)and to the  National Defense policy (2020). Currently, she is a Global fellow at the European Space Policy Institute and lecturer on “Space policies “ at the National Academy of Strategic and Politics Studies (ANEPE) from

Ministry of Defense in Chile. As a volunteer, Victoria has served as a mentor at the initiative of “space4women”, National Coordinator of WSW, and she is Chair for Chile of G100 “Space & Technology” wing. Also Victoria is the recipient of the first place at the GCSP 2024 prize on innovative futures.

Prof Matsabisa is currently the Director of the Indigenous Knowledge Systems (Health) Lead Programme (IKS) within the Department of Pharmacology, School of Clinical Medicine, and Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State. Prof Matsabisa is a Guest Professor at the Beijing University of Chinese Medicines (BUCM). He is the Director of the DSI-TIA-UFS IKS platform known as African Medicines Innovations and Technology Development (AMITD).

He is a current member of the Complementary Medicines Committee (CMC) of South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) and a reviewer of Complimentary medicines product dossiers.  He is the vice-chair of the CMC - Pharmaceutical and Analytical committee. He is currently a member and chairperson of an expert Group set up by SAHPRA to advice on the establishment of a regulatory and registration framework for African Traditional Medicines proprietary commercial products and chairs the working group. Prof Matsabisa is a member of the WHO Afro Regional Expert Committee on Traditional Medicines for COVID-19 of which he is a chairperson of. He continues to be used as a resource person for the SADC on research in traditional medicines and IKS.

He is also a member of the steering committee on access and benefit-sharing review of the Biodiversity Management Act.

Prof Matsabisa serves in the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) traditional Medicines Standards Committee which is part of the International standards settings for herbal and traditional medicinal products. He is the deputy president of the South African Society for Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (SASBCP), and a member of the African Organization for Standardization (ARSO) on herbal medicines standards and pharmacopoeia. Prof Matsabisa is a member of Plant Based Medicines Task Force for Medical Therapies Commission of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE).   

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/motlalepula-matsabisa-226937206/

Paul is the inaugural Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer Professor of the Deep History and Archaeology of Africa, in the Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge and the Mandela Magdalene Memorial Fellow at Magdalene College. He has a BA (1979) and MA (1984) in Archaeology and Anthropology, and a PhD in Archaeology (1986), all studied for at the University of Cambridge.

Paul’s first academic position (1989-91) was as a lecturer in Archaeology in the Department of History, University of Dar es Salaam, shortly after a degree course in Archaeology had been introduced. Paul then moved to the History Department, University of Botswana (1992-6) where he helped establish the University’s new degree programme in Archaeology and saw the first two cohorts of Batswana graduate in Archaeology. From 1998 to 2006, Paul was Director of the British Institute in Eastern Africa in Nairobi, where he had the opportunity to develop several projects on the later Holocene archaeology of the region and build new collaborations with East African colleagues. This led to a four-year research post at the University of York focusing on the historical ecology of East African landscapes (2007-11) that transitioned into a senior lectureship in Archaeology. In 2013, Paul was appointed Professor of Global Archaeology at Uppsala University and continued his research on the historical ecology of pastoralist societies in East Africa and processes of landscape domestication and resilience. Paul took up his current post at the University of Cambridge in June 2018 and has retained close ties with Uppsala University.

Prof Lahcen El Youssfi - is currently an associate professor at the National Higher School of Chemistry of Kenitra, Ibn Tofail University based in Kenitra Morocco. He is member of the team of Water and Energy Technologies training program and member of the Natural Resources Sustainable Development Laboratory (LRN2D).  Previously, Lahcen was a the coordinator of the training program on agriculture and rural development and the head of the Environmental Engineering and Agrobiotech Department at the Higher School of Technnology of Khenifra, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Morocco. He focuses his research on the development of application of bio-ecological, technical and economic principles for sustainable agro-ecosystems management (Soil, Water and Plant continuum).

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lahcen-el-youssfi-82487575/

Dr. John de la Parra is an ethnobotanist and Director of the Food Initiative at The Rockefeller Foundation. He leads efforts to advance a more nourishing, regenerative, and just food system, including the creation of The Periodic Table of Food Initiative. With over 20 years of experience and a PhD in ethnobotany and plant chemistry, John focuses on how food crops and medicinal plants affect human health, culture, and the environment. He is passionate about working with frontline and indigenous communities to address major global challenges, emphasizing capacity strengthening through the equitable exchange of knowledge and technology. His career has included roles as a Research Scientist and Lecturer at the MIT Media Lab and the Harvard University Herbaria, and Lecturer at Tufts and Northeastern Universities, as well as President of the Society for Ethnobotany.

Dr Chabalala is the current National Director of the Indigenous Knowledge-Based Technology Innovation Unit of the South African Department of Science and Technology. He is a Medical Natural Scientist with special interest in research, development and innovation of African Natural Medicines, Cosmeceuticals, Nutraceuticals, Health Infusions and Technology Transfer, for socio-economic development. He is an Applied Epidemiologist and African Medicine Practitioner with passion in ancient but scientific Afrikan and Afro-Asian Healing Arts. He serves as the Guest Professor at the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. He has led and participate in strategic policy development processes for e.g., Bio-Economy Strategy, Integrated Diseases Surveillance and Response Strategy, etc. He is the creator of the uBu-Ntu-Based Bio-Innovation Model for mainstreaming and interfacing African Knowledge Systems within the South African National System of Innovation.
He holds Master of Science (University of Pretoria), Master of Public Health (Tsinghua University) and PhD in Technology Innovation (Da Vinci Institute of Technology). His special craft is in systematisation and interfacing ancient African, yet universal knowledge systems with emerging sciences, e.g., quantum mechanics, pharmacology, epigenetics, biotechnology, astrophysics etc. He serves in South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) and the Ministerial Advisory and Presidential Master-Plan Committees on Medical Cannabis. He has formerly worked as Deputy- Director and Medical Scientist, heading the Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases Unit of the National Department of Health. He was also the World Health Organisation Focal Point for Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response in South Africa. His passion is in translating research findings into small, medium and micro-enterprises for socio-economic development of the poor and marginalised communities.

Mila Rosenthal is Executive Director of the International Science Reserve, at the New York Academy of Sciences.

Nico Pascal is Founder and Director of the University of California Disaster Resilience Network.

Anywar Godwin completed his doctorate as a German Academic Exchange (DAAD) and Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) fellow, from the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, the Institute for Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig (both in Leipzig, Germany) and Makerere University, where he investigated the anti-HIV-1, immunomodulatory activity and cytotoxicity of medicinal plants used by herbalists for treating people living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda. He currently lectures Makerere University in the department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology & Biotechnology. He is a fellow of the Global Young Academy (GYA) and co-lead of the Science Diplomacy in Africa group, Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY) at the African Studies Association, Africa Science Leadership Programme and the Uganda National Academy of Sciences. He is the vice president of the Uganda Textbook Academic and Non-Fiction Writers Association and, the Natural Products Network for Eastern & Central Africa Uganda Chapter. He is a member of the editorial boards of BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, Plos One and Frontiers in Pharmacology (Ethnopharmacology). He is a mentor with the Science Advice Skills Development Program at the International Network for Government Science Advice. His research interests are in ethnopharmacology, pharmacognosy, ethnobotany, complementary & alternative medicine, natural product development, nutraceuticals, poisonous plants, wild, neglected and underutilized food plants. He is widely published in international peer reviewed journals. He is a member of several professional bodies and winner of several international and local awards such as the Young Investigator Fellowship at the 19th International Congress of the International Society of Ethnopharmacology 2019, the Vice Chancellors Research Excellence Award at Makerere University in, 2024, and the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research post graduate Travel Grants for the International Congress on Natural Products Research in Kraków, Poland 2024.  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-godwin-anywar/

Tarik Benmarhnia is a professor in epidemiology at the University of California San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography where he leads the climate change epidemiology lab. He is also an affiliated researcher with the Universitad de Chile in Santiago and Inserm/EHESP in France. He finished his PhD in epidemiology jointly from the University of Montreal and Paris Sud and a post-doctoral position at McGill University with the Institute for Health and Social Policy. As an environmental and social epidemiologist, his work focuses on applying or developing causal inference methods to understand how environmental and social determinants affect population health and equity in the context of climate change but also what strategies are effective at minimizing such impacts.

Iphigenia Keramitsoglou is a Research Director in Satellite Earth Observation at the Institute for Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications, and Remote Sensing of the National Observatory in Athens, Greece. With a Ph.D. from Imperial College London, an M.Sc. in Remote Sensing from University College London, and a Physics Degree from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, her research specializes in enhancing remotely sensed land surface temperature (LST) data, retrieving spatially distributed air temperatures from LST images, and applying this data to urban actions against heatwave impacts. She co-leads the Global Urban Observation and Information Task of the Group on Earth Observation (GEO), is a member of the GEO Programme Board’s Urban Resilience Subgroup, and serves on the Science Panel of the Extreme Heat Resilience Alliance (Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation). Additionally, she coordinated the EXTREMA emergency notification system for extreme temperatures and collaborated on NASA's URBANLST project.

Ronnen Levinson is a Staff Scientist and Leader of the Heat Island Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) in Berkeley, California. Within his research portfolio he develops cool roof, wall, and pavement materials; improves methods for the measurement of solar reflectance; and quantifies the energy and environmental benefits of cool surfaces. He serves on the boards and technical committees of the Cool Roof Rating Council and the Global Cool Cities Alliance, and advises policymakers, code officials, utilities, and building rating programs about cool surfaces. He holds a B.S. in engineering physics from Cornell University and an M.S. and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. He has authored or co-authored over 100 publications, and serves on the editorial boards of Energy & Buildings, Solar Energy, Solar Energy Advances, and Scientific Reports. He received the 2016 Marty Hastings Award for outstanding contributions to the Cool Roof Rating Council, and a 2016 R&D 100 Award for invention of the Cool Roof Time Machine.

Chandni Singh is Senior Researcher within the School of Environment and Sustainability at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements, Bangalore. Chandni studies the linkages between climate change and development, with a focus on changing livelihoods and adaptation actions in rural and urban places. She has developed frameworks to assess adaptation feasibility and effectiveness, applied adaptation pathways approaches to urban heat, and works across rapidly transitioning, climate hotspots across South Asia and Africa. Chandni is a Lead Author on the IPCC Assessment Report 6 Working Group II, and Contributing Author on the IPCC Special Report on 1.5C.

Kelly Turner is an associate professor of urban planning and geography and serves as associate director of the Luskin Center for Innovation (LCI). She leads LCI’s research on heat equity which provides evidence-based approaches to protect people, especially vulnerable populations, where they live and work. Dr. Turner’s current research encompasses heat governance and policy, planning for climate resilient communities, and producing actionable data for heat-health equity. Her work has been published in Nature, Environmental Research Letters, and the Journal of the American Planning Association and funded by the National Science Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Strategic Growth Council of California. She has served as a panelist for the National Academy of Sciences and as a Science Advisor to the Arsht-Rockefeller Extreme Heat Resilience Alliance.

Dr. Turner prioritizes science communication to broad audiences. She is co-author on LCI’s Heat Policy Brief Series and regularly advises local and state officials on heat policy. She is an Association of American Geographers Elevate the Discipline Climate and Society Communications Fellow and serves on the executive committee for the Environment and Climate Change Literacy Projects.

Dr. Sabrina Bakeera-Kitaka completed her MBChB in1995; Masters of Paediatrics and Child Health in July 2002 both at Makerere University. She was a Gilead Fellow, and then Research Scholar at the Infectious Diseases Institute from 2003-2011 where she undertook a Fellowship in Paediatric Infectious Diseases and did research on HIV infected adolescents. She has a Ph.D. from the School of Medical Sciences,University of Antwerp, Belgium. She is involved in conducting basic research in various Paediatrics Infectious Diseases and offers clinical care to HIV infected children and adolescents most of whom are perinatally infected. She directs the Adolescent Health training program at the Makerere University College of Health Sciences and is the Founder President of the Society of Adolescent Health in Uganda (www.sahu.ug).Dr. Kitaka has over 50 peer reviewed publications and is an active member of the African Paediatric Society of Infectious Diseases(AFSPID), and a Fellow of the Uganda National Academy of Sciences. Her main interest is Pediatric Infectious Diseases.

Prof. Vincent Setlhare, MD, MBA, MFamMed, FGHL, PhD, is an affiliate researcher in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Medicine at the University of Botswana (Botswana, Africa). Prof Setlhare was the head of the department for 12 years. He is a family physician who taught family medicine and research to both undergraduate and postgraduate students, for many years. His area of research is in primary health care where his main area of interest is doctor patient interactions/relationships and improving the quality of care. Prof. Vincent Setlhare is a member of the World Spine Care Executive Committee and is the Botswana PI of the Global Spine Care Initiative Project. He is chairman of the African Consortium for Excellence in Family Medicine, an organization of family physicians from five African universities in Southern Africa. He has previously helped to review the WHO Package of Interventions for Rehabilitation of People with Low Back Pain. Vincent is a member of Primafamed, Wonca (Africa), and the Botswana Association of Family Physicians

Susan Nassaka Byekwaso is an international coordinator who organized Global health education programmes for students, residents and fellows from institutions of higher learning all over the world and for Makerere students. In addition, she oversees establishment and maintaining of international education partnership that focus on training of health professionals.Students believes that Global health education programmes provides a positive impact on participants intercultural sensitivity, professional and personal development. Besides, international partnerships provide a forum for academic mobility, capacity enhancement for staff through specialized training for health professions and benchmarking of best practices in higher education. Susan believes in fair treatment for all, equity and reciprocity of programmes and has successfully coordinated Global health service-learning programmes for several students undertaking course like Global Health in Public Health, Global mental health, Global Medicine and others.Susan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Arts with a major in diplomacy and international relations, Master’s of science in Management (MMS). During her studies, she undertook research that focused on internationalization of health professionals’ education and its effect on health service delivery at Makerere University College of Health Sciences.

Chiratidzo E Ndhlovu, M Med Sci (Clin Epi), FRCP is an Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine as well as a previous Deputy Dean at the University of Zimbabwe Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. As a medical educator and clinician involved in Nephrology and HIV Medicine, she has vast experience in internal medicine, renal care, and looking after HIV patients in a resource-limited setting.She has been a Principal Investigator in various HIV-related research activities, in particular studying outcomes in cryptococcal meningitis and HIV, and adherence to antiretroviral therapy in adolescents. She is the current Chairperson of the National Medicines and Therapeutics Policy Advisory Committee (NMTPAC) which advises the Secretary of Health & Child Welfare on issues pertaining to pharmaceutical use including coordinating the review of the Zimbabwe Essential Medicines List as well as monitoring rational use of medicines in the country.

Dr Syed Zahiruddin Quazi, Executive Director of the Directorate of Research & Innovation at the Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research (DMIHER), is a distinguished figure spearheading global health, clinical and innovation across all the affiliate institutions of DMIHER, with a robust background in global health, early childhood development, nutrition, maternal and child health. Recently, Dr. Quazi has evolved his expertise in Clinical Translation Research and Complex Health Interventions, particularly in biomedical engineering, with a notable focus on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine. His leadership has orchestrated successful pilot clinical studies on groundbreaking ventures like customized implants, bone scaffolds, and cranial grafts. Collaborating with esteemed institutions such as IISc Bengaluru, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Kanpur and VNIT Nagpur, Dr Quazi has demonstrated a remarkable ability to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, securing 640+ Million Indian Rupees R&D funding from national and international agencies such as Grand Challenge Canada, World Health Organization, AusAID, Bionest- BIRAC, ICMR, DST, PHRI, Imprint and Core Research Grant - SERB, DRDO, and ICSSR. With over 150+ peer-reviewed publications in esteemed journals such as Lancet, Nature, PloS, BMJ etc. With significant editorial contributions in the Q1 ranking Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) journals, Dr. Quazi's impact transcends academia. He has been pivotal in shaping policy frameworks and drafting key models for organizations like the WHO South-East Asia Region. Prof. Quazi is committed to indigenous product innovation, working with teachers to enhance students’ employability in the translational research sector and contributing to thought leadership and policy-making at various levels. Dr. Quazi's commitment extends beyond research; he actively mentors a multidisciplinary team, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence. Dr Quazi possesses deep disciplinary knowledge and expertise within one or more of the domains of the translational science spectrum. Under his guidance and supervision, DMIHER is recognized by the ICMR as a part of the Indian Clinical Trial and Education Network (INTENT). His vision and expertise are poised to accelerate the translation of cutting-edge technologies like 3D bio-printed tissue-engineered products from the lab to the clinic, ultimately advancing healthcare delivery and improving patient outcomes. He plays a role in expediting the integration of cutting-edge medical technologies into real-world clinical applications.

Dr. Khoa Duong, MD MPH MScHPE, is a passionate doctoral candidate at the Institute of Health Sciences Education, McGill University, Canada. His diverse background in medical research, public health, and education fuels his interest in the intersection of healthcare and education.Khoa earned his Medical degree from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City (UMP), Vietnam. He also holds a Master’s in Public Health from Université Paris-Sud, France, where he studied under the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie scholarship. After completing his residency, Khoa joined the faculty at UMP’s Department of Internal Medicine and the Medical Education Center. There, he actively contributed to clinical service, education, and research in areas such as pulmonary and sleep medicine, smoking cessation, palliative care, interprofessional education, and global health. Reflecting on his experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, Khoa shifted his focus to health sciences education, preparing future professionals for the challenges of our time.His academic journey continued with an MSc in Health Professions Education at Boston University, generously supported by the prestigious Fulbright scholarship. Now, Khoa is excited to pursue his PhD at McGill University in Canada, under the supervision of Dr. Meredith Young. His research explores advocacy and agency in health professions education, particularly in culturally diverse and resource-varied settings. Beyond academia, Khoa is a museum enthusiast, an inquisitive traveler, and a mindfulness practitioner.

Professional experience in Obstetrics and Gynecology since 2003. Trained as teacher in medicine and worked in Kazan State Medical University and Kazakhstan National Medical University. Scientific and International collaboration background with participating in different projects in USA, Europe, Asia.  Currently works for MSF OCB as an Ob/Gyn specialist in MSF Hangha Hospital, Kenema district, Sierra-Leone.

Chioma Uzo-Udegbunam(PhD), is the founder of SURE SMILES WOMEN AND CHILDREN ADVOCACY INITIATIVE. An organization that speaks,support and encourages gender equality and girl child's rights. I'm a Nigerian and a convenor at the UNGA SCIENCE SUMMIT IN NEW YORK. My session title is CLOSING THE GENDER GAP IN SCIENCE(STEM) TOWARDS ACCELERATING GENDER EQUALITY. my session date/time is 100117 and session ID is 108 with convenor ID 28

Prof. Edna Cabecinha is an Assistant Professor at the University of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Portugal, and an integrated member of the Agro-Environmental and Biological Research and Technology Centre (CITAB). She is Course Director of the International Doctoral Program in Marine Science, Technology and Management (Do*Mar) at UTAD. She co-leads the Nature-based Solutions Thematic Group at the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management. She is a member of the Ecosystem Services Partnership, and a member of the Working Group on Resilience and Marine Ecosystem Services, at the International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES WG RMES). She has a PhD in Environmental Sciences from UTAD, an M.Sc. in Environmental Technology from the University of Minho, Portugal, and a B.Sc. in Biophysical Engineering from the University of Évora. Her current work focuses on Landscape Management; Climate change; Ecological Modelling; Ecosystems restoration; Ecosystem services; Nature-based Solutions. Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7308-5840https://www.linkedin.com/in/edna-cabecinha-a33826a9/

Dr Ben Fitzpatrick is a Member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, an Adjunct Research Fellow at the University of Western Australia Oceans Institute and Director of Oceanwise Australia. He’s worked in coastal and marine science, conservation, and management for more than 25 years. He has been influential in progressing the protection the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area enjoys today and is increasingly contributing the lessons learned here to developing coastal and marine conservation initiatives globally.

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfitzpatrick1/

Dr Sarah Clement is an Associate Professor in Environmental Policy at the Australian National University. Her research has two main streams: (1) governance and transformation in the Anthropocene, and (2) how the use of Nature-Based Solutions can support efforts to address complex socio-economic and ecological challenges. She is currently in receipt of an Australian Research Council DECRA fellowship, leading a project to explore how changing governance can help society confront three fundamental challenges relating to wildfire: risk to life and property, risks to biodiversity, and escalating risks of climate change.LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahclement/

Emmanuel BIBA KALENGO is a Teaching Assistant and Researcher at the University of Kinshasa (D.R CONGO), where he graduated in Energy Engineering on December 2021. From July 2022 to October 2023, he taught students in the mechanical section at the "Institut Supérieur des Techniques Appliquées" (ISTA-Kin) and the "Institut Supérieur des Arts et Métiers" (ISAM-Kin). During the same period, he worked as Principal Assistant to the Vice-Dean in charge of teaching at the Faculty of Oil, Gas and Renewable Energies at the University of Kinshasa. From August 2022 to October 2023, he also worked as a "Training Officer" at the "SUEY Foundation" (ONGD/ASBL) in Kinshasa for the supervision of young Congolese in many trades (cutting and sewing, driving school, electrical installation, painting and others). Since November 2023 to these days, he has been a grant holder from the Moroccan International Cooperation Agency for the pursuit of his Master's degree in "Space Sciences and Technologies" at the Mohammed V University of Rabat (MOROCCO) in partnership with the African Regional Center for Space Sciences and Technologies in French language (CRASTE-LF) affiliated to the United Nations. He is an active member of ANSOLE and several Engineering networks. He works on the modeling of enclosures for energy production, while respecting environmental standards. His research focuses on renewable energies, water sciences, remote sensing and geographic information systems, mathematics and programming for engineers.

Benny Q. Shen is a second year PhD candidate in Archaeology at University of Cambridge with a specific interest in the archaeology and anthropology of sub-Saharan Africa. His MPhil dissertation work focused on the reassessment of current approaches in the archaeology of apiculture from the angle of Indigenous beekeeping practices in East Africa. He received his B.A. in Archaeology and Anthropology from IoA, UCL where he was awarded the Peter Ucko Prize for Anthropology and Archaeology and the Jonathan Lowe Prize for work in Palaeoecology. He worked as a field archaeologist for UCL Archaeology South-East in the commercial setting whilst also participating in a range of research excavations all over the world. He is currently working on his PhD project: Between the Bees: Comparative Historical Ecology of Apiculture in Elgeyo-Marakwet and Baringo, Kenya, for which he investigates the roles of beekeeping in long-term landscape and ecosystem management and modification through multidisciplinary and multiscalar methods to inform future environmental policy-making.

Ahmed Hussein Abdelrahman AdamAssociate professor. University of KhartoumDepartment of archaeologyEmail. ahmed.adam@usi.ch ahmed.adam@uea.ac.uk ahmedaba77@yahoo.com Currently visiting fellow at Forum Transregionale Studien. Berlin. Germany https://www.eume-berlin.de/fellows/vita/2023-2024/ahmed-adamVisiting fellow at USI 2023 - 2024Member of UNESCO Chair in Lugano. Switzerlandhttps://www.unescochair.usi.ch/our-teamLinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmed-adam-977067

C.V. Yahia Fadl Tahir Name: Yahia Fadl Tahir Academic Status: Professor in Environmental Archaeology. Academic qualification: Ph.D- Zoology, Ph.D- Archaeology - University of Khartoum. Position: Visiting Professor, Department of Archaeology, College of Arts and Social Studies, Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman. Administrative Responsibilities: -Head Department- 2007-2010. -Deputy Dean- Faculty of Graduate Studies -2020-2021. -University of Khartoum Academic Secretory -2021-2022. -Director: Archaeological, Ethnographical and Ecological Project of El-Ga’ab Basin in Western Dongola Reach- 2007- today. -Director: Archaeological Survey El Sikkot Region- 2019- today. Awards: - Excellence Award Price in Humanities and Education Studies, University of Khartoum, 2013. - Excellence Award Price in Humanities and Education Studies, University of Khartoum, 2018. - Excellence Award Price in Humanities and Education Studies, University of Khartoum, 2020. Publication: -Papers: more than 50 in international and local journals. -Scientific reports: 10 reports. -Books: -Environmental Archaeology of the Nile Third Cataract Region, 2014. LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, Germany. -Ali Osman and David N. Edwards, THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF A NUBIAN FRONTIER, SURVEY ON THE NILE THIRD CATARACT, SUDAN. With contributions by Yahia Fadl Tahir, Intisar Soghayroun el-Zein , Azhari Sadig and others Edited by David N. Edwards, Leicester University, UK, 2012. Membership: Many local and international societies. Supervision: Five Ph.Ds and eight M.As. External examiner: - Many Sudanese universities. -King Saud University Saudi Arabia. Reviewer: - Many books and papers. Community Services: - Many public lectures on Sudan Archaeology articles in Newspapers, Radio and TV programs in clubs and schools, Sudan. - Many public lectures on Sudan Archaeology via Zoom, Facebook and Youtube. -A lecture on Rock Gongs, Archeological Institute of America, Ontario. -A lecture on Boulders and Stone Structures in Nubia: The Rituals and Beliefs Realms during Prehistoric-Bronze Period, AmSARC.

Beatriz is the Global Air Quality Director at Air Quality at WRI. She is an expert in air pollution, with experience in both science and policy, from the study of biological processes to treat air pollutants, to the design and implementation of integrated policies to achieve clean air. collaborates with WRI teams on developing strategies and programs including tools to accelerate the path to a cleaner air. Prior to WRI, she was the General Director of Air Quality Management in Mexico City's Secretary of Environment. For more than a decade, she led the air pollution experimental research area at the National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change. She worked as air quality project leader at Centro Mario Molina in Mexico City and Director of Air Quality at the Megalopolis Environmental Commission for central region of Mexico. She has co-authored several papers and has participated in several research projects, including the major field campaigns in Mexico City Metropolitan Area in 2003 and 2006. She participated as Mexican Delegate at the IPCC bureau and CCAC, and as country expert in the Stockholm Convention Experts Group and the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation. She was Fulbright-Garcia Robles scholar at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she got a MS and PhD in Environmental Engineering. She is a Biochemical Engineer from the Autonomous Metropolitan University, an alumni of the Lead Mexico (Cohort 10), and holds a degree in Advance Studies in Environmental Diplomacy from the University of Geneva.

Andrew received his PhD in Energy Science from Kyoto University, after which he joined the International Institute for Carbon Neutral Energy Research (I2CNER) in Kyushu Univerisity. His research focuses on energy systems analysis, specifically the introduction of hydrogen, the transition to a non-fossil based energy system and the social equity impacts of this transition.

General Surgery / Hand Surgery and Microsurgery - Master in educational management - Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE) - Member of the Dominican Medical College and 18 national and international medical societies and medical education societies. - Full member of the Dominican Academy of Medicine and the Academy of Sciences of the Dominican Republic - Co founder and Past President Dominican Society of Hand Surgery - Past President of the Dominican College of Surgeons - Founder of the RENACIP Hand Surgery Unit, Dr. Salvador B. Gautier Hospital - Past President: Dominican Association of Medical Schools (ADOFEM) and the Dominican Academy of Medicine - Current President of the Pan American Federation of Associations of Faculties and Schools of Medicine (FEPAFEM 2022-2025) - Author of multiple scientific articles in national and international magazines; international speaker in America, Europe and Asia - Honorary Professor of the Faculty of Health Sciences Autonomous University of Santo Domingo. - Honorary Member of the Dominican Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, of the Dominican Society of Physiatry, and of the Dominican Society of Family and Community Medicine - Master of Dominican Surgery / January 2024 - Annual Award for Teaching Excellence from Higher Education Institutions. Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology / July 2024

Dr. Abhay Gaidhane is a Dean at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research Wardha. He completed his MBBS in 1996 and MD in Preventive and Social Medicine in 2002. He is also an Honorary Director of the School of Epidemiology and Public Health and a Professor of Community Medicine. He is currently the Chair of the Bioethics Unit at the university, under the International Network of Chair of Bioethics, and Convener of the Research Mentorship program.   Dr. Abhay Gaidhane published over 180 papers in peer-reviewed journals, books, and chapters. Dr. Abhay Gaidhane has been awarded three international fellowships, which include the Public Health Field Leader Fellowship of CDC, USA, in 2009; Australian Leadership Award Fellowship, University of Sydney, 2010; Fellowship in Policy and Qualitative Research at the School of Public Health, the University of Sydney in 2014. He served as lead trainer for many state and national-level workshops. He is a Member of the South Asia Infant Feeding Research Network. He has organized nearly 250 training for faculties, doctoral scholars, students, and NGOs, with wide-ranging topics like research methodology, data analysis, Quality assurance, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leadership and management, monitoring, and evaluation.  Dr. Abhay received seven grant awards for research projects from Grand Challenges Canada, the Department of Science and Technology, Govt of India; ICMR; the Ministry of Health, Family Welfare; NACO; Porticus and USAID. He has two innovation patents. He is a Director of a Startup ‘Avishkar Lab’ and is on the Section 8 Company – ‘ITE Research Foundation’ Board of Directors in India. His core interests are research design, policy and stakeholder analysis, rapid assessment of health programs, curriculum development, training in public health, education for healthcare providers, and technology in public health.LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhay-gaidhane-4b335020/

·      Assistant professor, University of Khartoum, faculty of Arts, Sudan, (13/7/2014- Nowadays).·      Member of the Research Council of the Faculty of Arts, University of Khartoum, Sudan (2018-2023).·      Head of the Department of Archaeology – University of Khartoum, Sudan (2018-2022).·      External Examiner, Department of Archaeology, Shendi University, Sudan (2020 - 2023).·      External Examiner, Department of Archaeology, Al Neelain University, Sudan (2022 - 2023).·      Member of Teaching Staff Trade Union, University of Khartoum, 2021- 2023.·      Member of Teaching Staff Initiative, University of Khartoum, 2019-2021. 

Ali is an economist and Associate Professor at King Saud University. His research interests include Responsible Tourism, Poverty Reduction, Sustainable Development, and Heritage Economics. He had 23 years of teaching experience at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia and Nile Valley University in Sudan. besides that, he has authored four books and twelve journal articles.

Prof Aremu is based at the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Centre in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. He is the President of the South African Association of Botanists (SAAB), a member of the Society for Ethnobotany (SEB) and the International Society for Ethnopharmacology (ISE). Nationally, he serving as a member of the Standing Committee on Biosafety and Biosecurity for the Academy of Science of South Africa and the National Research Foundation (NRF) Specialist Panel (Plant Science) on Rating. As a member of the Global Young Academy, Prof Aremu is one of 200 early and mid-career leaders from more 69 different countries, demonstrating excellence in their field of research, and commitment to improving the state of science and its links to broader society. Adeyemi has been in the forefront of promoting Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Ethnobotany. ‘His research group has systematically documented the rich traditional medicine among the Batswana, with more than 300 (and counting) medicinal plants used by humans and livestock. This has valuable indigenous knowledge directly contribute to the South Africa IKS Act 6 of 2019 and global effort on conservation and sustainability of biodiversity and associated indigenous knowledge which is always susceptible to be lost without adequate preservation and protection. The international impact of such research endeavour has not gone unnoticed as Prof Aremu received the Society for Ethnobotany’s Mid-Career Excellence Award/Economic Botany Excellence award (EBEA) in Atlanta (USA). The award signifies an individual whose early/mid-career has substantially advanced economic botany or ethnobotany by teaching, publishing, or practical work.

Chelsea Harvey is a reporter who covers climate change, and the intersection of science and policy, for POLITICO’s E&E News. Her in-depth reporting has appeared in Scientific American, and explores the knowns and unknowns of global warming, unpacks murky scientific questions about the impacts of rising global temperatures and evaluates the ways science informs national and global climate policy. Her stories have carried her across the country and around the globe, from the balmy barrier islands of South Carolina to the mountainous wilds of West Virginia to the remote corners of the ice-capped Arctic Ocean.

Aditya Kumar Jha is a high school junior with previous experience in global health and biotechnology. He is a passionate student researcher working on projects to make an impact.

Haniah is currently a highschool junior who's passionate about all things technology and AI ethics

Sampurn Kumar is a high school sophomore who is super passionate about Artificial intelligence, its applications in diagnosing diseases and combating climate change, social service, and MUNing/Debating. He has participated in and won multiple national and international science fairs and MUNs. He is also engaged in novel applied ML biotech research, having published an acclaimed paper. He also runs a non-profit, with a successful chapter in one city and upcoming chapters in different cities of India, aimed at increasing Indian high-schooler engagement in community service, spreading career awareness and digital literacy among underprivileged youth, and demonstrating CPR and first aid to the masses.

An avid leader and advocator passionate about mental health & cultural sharing and dedicated to serving new immigrant and refugee youths.

Dr ‘Makhotso Lekhooa is a Senior Lecturer of Pharmacology and the Study Director of client-led preclinical toxicity studies at the Preclinical Drug Development Platform (PCDDP) of the North-West University. She holds a PhD, Masters, and honours in Pharmacology. She also received a second Honours in Human Physiology and B.Sc (genetics) from the University of the Free State. She has more than a decade of experience focused on Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) research value chain and Natural product drug development and serves on the South African Health Products Regulatory Agency (SAHPRA) Complementary medicines committee. ‘Makhotso’s research projects focus on establishing the neuro-activity and the synergistic potential of IKS-based herbal medicines during co-treatment with conventional drugs. She hopes that the research will contribute to improved treatment outcomes for Depression, Malaria and Contraception in the global South and decrease the incidence of mental health. This research involves fingerprinting, phytochemical characterization in vitro bio-activity testing, Prediction of drug-herb interactions and compound-target affinity, safety testing and establishment of mechanism of action using rodent models. She also regularly reviews several international journals including The Frontiers, the South African Journal of Botany and the Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine. In her capacity as Study director, she has led multiple-stakeholder-consortium-funded COVID-19 vaccine Preclinical toxicology studies. She is passionate about enhancing science communication and leadership among, early career scientists. She is a Co-founder of the African Chapter of the International Society of the Study of Xenobiotics (ISSX), past Secretary-General and current Director of the South African Society of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (SASBCP) and on the second term tenure of the Young Investigator subcommittee membership of International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR).

Munzoul Assal (PhD University of Bergen, Norway) is Professor of Social Anthropology at the universities of Khartoum and Bergen, and Senior Researcher at the Chr. Michelsen Institute. He was the director of the Peace Research Institute (2017-2020) and Dean of Scientific Research (2021-2022) at the University of Khartoum. Assal was member of the Board of Trustees of the Arab Council for Social Sciences (2015-2023). In 2023, Assal was voted in as honorary member of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland. Assal published widely on diaspora, refugees and migration.

Mr Joel Mamabolo was born in Limpopo Province South Africa. He holds a Masters in Animal Production from the University of Pretoria, presently appointed as the Registrar for Animal Improvement Act,1998 Animal Identification Act, 2000 and a Director of Animal Production at the Department of Agriculture, Land reform and Rural Development (DALRRD).  Mr Mamabolo represents South Africa at the AU IBAR, the SADC Animal Production, Veld and Marketing committee and number of Animal production breeders’ societies and Livestock Fora’s. Formerly a regional Coordinator for SADC FAnGR (Farm Animal Genetic resources). He has authored and co-authored number of peer reviewed and popular articles on animals’ production articles on animal production,  exchange of genetic material, climate change and livestock surveys. 

Dr Igshaan Samuels is a specialist researcher in rangeland ecology and management within the Range and Forage Sciences unit of the Agricultural Research Council in South Africa. He holds a PhD in Botany from the University of Cape Town as has worked in dryland pastoral landscapes for 20 years. His research focuses on the dynamics of pastoralism, climate change adaptation and plant-animal interactions particularly in the arid zone and has led several international and national projects under these themes. He has supervised more than 40 post graduate students and published several papers on the qualitative and quantitative aspects of livestock production. He is the immediate past president of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA) having served in this position and other GSSA portfolios previously. Dr Samuels is the Global Co-chair for the International Support Group for the United Nations declared International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists in 2026. He is also a member of the International Rangeland Congress continuing committee representing Africa south of the Sahara. He has been involved in policy evaluation and development at local, national and international levels and is currently leading the development of South Africa’s Veld (Rangeland) Management Strategy and the finalisation of South Africa Range and Forage policy.

Dr Anne Mottet was a livestock development officer with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). She holds a MSc in agronomy and a PhD in Agro-ecosystems and has more than 15 years of experience in supporting policy makers and stakeholders through research, studies and strategic consulting on topics related to livestock, economics of production and supply chains, natural resources use efficiency, climate change and agroecology. She is currently working at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Italy. Here she provides technical support and guidance on investments in sustainable livestock development, to governments, producers, private sector, NGOs and investments institutions. Her areas of expertise are Livestock Production Systems and Value Chains, Livestock Policies, Environmental Science, Climate Change, Animal Sciences, Agroecology, Natural Resource Use and Sustainability in general.

Professor Matloub Hussain is a Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management at the College of Business Administration (COBA) of the University of Sharjah, UAE. He is also the coordinator of the Master of Science in Business Analytics program. Prof. Hussain has a PhD from the Management School of the University of Liverpool, UK, accredited by AACSB & AMBA. He has taught at the College of Business of Abu Dhabi University and, the Management School of the University of Liverpool, SZABIST, Pakistan. He is a qualified professor for teaching hybrid courses (both online and face-to-face). To his credit, Prof. Hussain has approximately EIGHTY international refereed journal papers, three books, conference papers, and many other scholarly contributions. He has been publishing in top journals of operations and supply chain management including, Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, Tourism Management, Journal of Cleaner Production, IJPDLM , SCM-I.J , IJPE, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, IJPR, etc. Prof. Hussain has won the Abu Dhabi University Researcher Award during 2017-18 and CoB Research Awards during 2018, 17, 16. He has been also honorarily selected as a University Research fellow during the year 2016-17. He has been actively involved in various research projects inside and outside the University. He acquired a research grant of $ 50000 on the issue of social sustainability in the healthcare supply chains of the UAE. He is also involved in various consultancy projects with local industry and government institutions. He is currently a member of several professional and academic societies/journals. Prof. Hussain was Chair of Ops and MIS at CoB, Abu Dhabi University. He was responsible for developing new programs/concentrations, program review, hiring, course allocation, performance evaluation, etc. Currently, he is the coordinator of the Master in Business Analytics Program. Prof. Hussain was also actively involved in DBA program review and chairing committees of DBA review and quality assurance. He has successfully supervised around 20 DBA students.

Prof Michiel Scholtz is a Specialist Researcher in Applied Animal Breeding at ARC-Animal Production at Irene and Affiliated Professor in Animal Breeding at the University of the Free State. Although he retired in 2018, he is continuing with his research and the mentoring of students. His current research focus is on research, development and transfer of technologies aimed at climate-smart beef production systems and breeding objectives to mitigate global warming for sustainable food production. He was the president of the South African Society for Animal Science from 2013 until 2017 and is a professional member of the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions. He served on a number of international scientific bodies, committees and working groups. He is currently representing the ARC on the Global Research Alliance on agricultural greenhouse gases.

Dr Benoit Dedieu is an Agronomist (INA PG, France, 1981). He has a PhD in Animal Sciences (INA PG, France, 1984). He is Director of Research at INRAE (French National Research Institute for Food, Agriculture and Environment– France). He was involved in research on medium- to long-term livestock farming adaptation pathways in a context of hazards and uncertainties. He also investigated how work (productivity, quality, meaning) interact with livestock management choices and produced several frameworks to analyse work organization (who is doing what task) at different time scales (daily, weekly, seasonal, yearly). He co-chaired two international Symposiums on work in agriculture (2016, 2021) and is president of the International Association on Work in Agriculture since its beginning, 2017. He chaired the INRAE Sciences for Action and Transitions Division (ACT), 2012 - 2020, an inter-disciplinary division with agronomists, ecologists and social scientists (14 research units and 300 agents). He now contributes to the development of the TSARA initiative (transforming food systems and agriculture through partnership research with Africa) gathering 26 institutions including INRAE and 22 African universities and research institutes. He notably coordinates the design of the scientific agenda and its thematic declinations.

Prof Azwihangwisi Maiwashe is a General Manager of the ARC Animal Production Campus. He holds a PhD in Animal Breeding and Genetics from Colorado State University in the USA. Prof Maiwashe is rated by the NRF as an established researcher. His research focuses on development of selection tools applicable to breeding of efficient and profitable livestock. Prof Maiwashe is passionate about training of students at post-graduate level. He has produced numerous MSc and PhD students to date. Prof Maiwashe is a member of the following professional entities: South African Society for Animal Science and South African Council for Scientific Professions.

Dr Julius Tjelele is a Research Team Manger & a Scientist in rangeland ecology and management at the Agricultural Research Council – Range & Forage Sciences. He holds a PhD (Botany) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. His research interest is in rangeland ecology and management with focus on understanding factors that underlie woody plant encroachment and their impact on and livestock production. He is also interested on the nutritional value of forage legumes and alternative forage plants for animal production. Dr Tjelele served as the Publication editor of Grassroots, a popular newsletter of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA), and as the President of the GSSA. He is also serving on the advisory board of the Centre for African Conservation Ecology at Nelson Mandela University and various committees. Dr Tjelele is passionate about mentoring early career scientist and the application of science to resolve societal issues.

Dr. Sushchenko is professor for innovative business technologies at the Kyiv National Economic University in Kyiv, Ukraine and research fellow at the Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Leipzig, Germany.He worked for UNDP in Ukraine as Team Lead of Energy and Environmental Portfolio with a focus on recovery and resilience building activities after COVID and a full-scale invasion of russia. Also, he is an expert on green and sustainable finance with a relevant practical experience at international organisations and in the private sector.

Erika Caballero Muñoz, Nurse and Midwife, Doctor of Education. Expert in Computer Nursing and Distance Education. 

Leader of the Promotion and Policy Group of ANHE Latin America.

Director of the School of Nursing at the Universidad Santo Tomas de Chile, Director of the Latin American Foundation for Humanized Care, Associate Professor of the Watson Caring Institute

Nurse, Doctor of Nursing, Master of Public Health.

Leader of the Buen convivir group of ANHE Latin America.

President of the Association of Environmental Nurses of Chile. 

Professor at the University of La Serena in Chile.

Nurse, Doctoral Student in Nursing, Master in Environmental Business Management, Specialist in Management of Health Institutions.

Member of ANHE Latin America. 

Legal Representative of Growing Up Foundation and director of the U-Nursing LatAm Community.

Nurse, Master in education and human development, Specialization in health administration.

Member of ANHE Latin America. 

Professor Rafael Núñez University Corporation.

·       Director, Renewable Energy Institute /University of Science and Technology /Omdurman, Sudan

·       Professor, Physics Department /Faculty of Science /University of Khartoum /Khartoum, Sudan.

·       Member, Sudanese National Academy of Sciences (SNAS) /Khartoum Sudan.

Present Job:

·       Director, Renewable Energy Institute/Omdurman/Sudan.

·       Professor, Physics Department, University of Khartoum/ Sudan.

She was Deputy Head of Research and Development at Embrapa Digital Agriculture from September 2021 to March 2024. She holds a bachelor's degree in Computing from  University of Brasilia (1988), a master's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering (1997) and a PhD in Computer Science (2009), both from  University of Campinas and an MBA in Management with  emphasis on Leadership and Innovation from Getúlio Vargas Foundation (2024). She has experience in Computer Science, with emphasis on Database and Software Engineering, working mainly on the following topics: geographic data integration, metadata, Research Data Management and eScience. She has been a researcher at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation since 1989, currently working on Research Data Management and Digital Inclusion of Rural Women, and she is also the coordinator of the GO FAIR Agro Brasil Thematic Network. She is a lecturer on the Postgraduate course at the Polytechnic School of the Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, teaching the subjects: Sustainability in Digital Agriculture, Digital Technologies and Platforms in Agriculture, Big Data and Data Science in Digital Agriculture and Introduction to Spatial Analysis using QGIS and applications in Agriculture. In 2008 she received the Brazil Women in Technology award from Google Inc.

Biologist, Master in Rural Extension and Local Development (UFRPE), former member of the Sabiá Center, the Executive Coordination of Articulation in the Brazilian Semiarid (ASA) and the National Commission for Agroecology and Organic Agriculture (CNAPO). He is currently Director of the Department of Combating Desertification at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA) and Technical Focal Point for Brazil at the UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification).

I hold a master's and a PhD in Soil and Plant Nutrition, also from UFV. I work as an Environmental Scientist (Global Climate Change) at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), currently stationed at Embrapa Vegetables. My research focuses on mitigation and adaptation of agri-food systems to climate change, with a focus on developing strategies for adapting vegetable crops, sustainable rural development, sustainable technological asset development, rural sanitation and water and wastewater reuse, carbon sequestration, and environmental impact assessment. I am the author or co-author of 101 scientific, technical-scientific or technical publications. I have contributed to the development of 60 technological assets. I participated in the development of the Climatic Risk Agricultural Zoning for onion and chickpea crops (ZARC Onion and ZARC Chickpea). I coordinated the Vulnerability Zoning of Soils and Aquifers in the state of Minas Gerais to Heavy Metal Contamination. I contributed to the development of 10 other public policy proposals related to global climate change and sustainable development. I have conducted 63 technical works, such as impact assessments of technologies generated by Embrapa Vegetables, Solid Waste Management Plans for Embrapa Vegetables, and alignment of technologies developed by Embrapa Vegetables with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), among others. My work has resulted in 62 media appearances to date. I was a former President of the Vegetable Crops Portfolio Management Committee at Embrapa and participated as a member of the Climate Change Portfolio Management Committee at Embrapa. I am part of the Permanent Committee on Space Farming at Embrapa and of the Space Farming Brazil network, under the Artemis Project – NASA, in partnership with the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB). I am a member of the Management Committee of the Sustainable Development Goals Network (SDG Network) at Embrapa. I am part of the Geospatial Data Infrastructure Network (GEOINFO Network) at Embrapa. I am a member of the Rural Sanitation Thematic Chamber and the Management Committee of the Sectoral Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change and Low Carbon Emission in Agriculture 2020-2030 (ABC+ Plan) of the Brazilian Federal District local Government. I also serve as a collaborating lecturer in the Professional Master's Program in Water Engineering at the Federal University of Itajubá (UNIFEI), Brazil.

He has a degree in Electrical Engineering from the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (1998), a master's degree in Electrical Engineering from the State University of Campinas (2001) and a PhD in Electrical Engineering from  University of Campinas (2004). He worked at CPqD in Campinas between 2004 and 2005, collaborating on studies to define the Brazilian Digital TV standards. He did post-doctoral work at Harvard University (Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA) from 2006 to 2007, and at the University of Victoria (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) from 2008 to 2009.He worked as a collaborating researcher at the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (FEEC) of the State University of Campinas (Unicamp)  from 2005 to 2011, working on various digital audio processing problems and supervising two master's students. Since 2011, he has been a researcher at the Embrapa Digital Agriculture (Campinas, SP) a research unit from the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa). His most relevant areas of work are currently: applying image processing and artificial intelligence to recognize plant diseases; using hyperspectral images to detect diseases and toxins in grains and plants; detecting and counting ticks in cattle using thermal images; counting fish using digital images; using drones to monitor cattle in the field; using satellite images to classify agricultural crops; among others.

Third Year Mining Student at Ahmadou Dieng University of Sangoyah - Guinea / Guinea Representative at the 13th UNESCO Youth Forum in Paris.Winner of the UNESCO International Youth Contest, President of the UNESCO Nelson Mandela Club and Honorary Member of the UNESCO Centre for Peace

Mrs. N'DIAYE has extensive experience in the fields of economics, environmental management, and the administration of governmental and international projects. Her academic and professional background is distinguished by high-level responsibilities and significant contributions to sustainable development and environmental management in Guinea.

Mr. DIALLO is a highly educated and skilled professional with significant experience in public and international relations, business administration, and mining economics. With a strong background in institutional, legal, and financial analysis, he excels in investor research, market analysis, crisis management, and strategic planning. His extensive expertise also includes project management, partnership development, and business leadership. Proficient in both English and French, he is capable of effectively coordinating services and mobilizing resources to achieve strategic investment goals.

Heleen Kruger is a Social Scientist at the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences and has worked in Australian agriculture for over 20 years. Over the last 15 years she has led and contributed to various projects that investigated the social and institutional aspects of agriculture, biosecurity and natural resource management.  Theoretical approaches she specialises in include systems thinking; agricultural innovation systems thinking and social-ecological systems and the commons.  She is a part of a CSIRO and ABARES collaboration that is building capacity to support agricultural innovation policy, in particularly exploring with experts and key players what the appropriate role and design of Australia’s agri-food innovation system is to contribute to addressing grand societal challenges.

Rabiaa Marhouch holds a PhD in French and comparative literature and works as a literary columnist and associate researcher. She has taught in Montpellier and directed an editorial collection in Casablanca. In 2023, she founded Africamoude, a Pan-African publishing house, in Rabat. She played a key role in establishing the Chair of African Literature and Arts in Morocco and has hosted shows about African writers.A staunch defender of African cultures and South-South dialogue, she serves as an advisor to the Moroccan National Human Rights Council. In this capacity, she organizes conferences and literary meetings, including those for the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and coordinates events at the Rabat International Book Fair.Additionally, Rabiaa Marhouch has significantly contributed to promoting African literary heritage and fostering cross-cultural exchanges. Her efforts include curating programs that celebrate the diversity and richness of African literature while advocating for the protection and advancement of human rights. Through her various roles, she continues to make substantial contributions to both the literary world and the broader cultural landscape in Morocco and beyond.

Ms. Zeline is an experienced professional in project management and business strategy, with a solid background in economic ethics and project management. Her ability to develop and implement effective action plans, analyze markets, and manage stakeholders is enhanced by her understanding of ethical principles. Passionate about sustainable development and innovation, Maeva is committed to integrating ethical practices into all her initiatives, thereby ensuring a positive and lasting impact for businesses and society.

Mr. KEITA completed his primary and secondary education in Guinea before continuing his studies in France and the United States. He gained extensive experience in the banking sector in the United States before returning to Guinea to contribute to the country's technological development. Through Tulip Industries Ltd, he innovated by creating standing computers, unique in Sub-Saharan Africa, which earned him numerous international awards and distinctions.

Joshua Viers is the Associate Vice Chancellor for Interdisciplinary Research and Strategic Initiatives at the University of California, Merced, as well as the Executive Associate Dean for its Agricultural Experiment Station. He is a broadly trained environmental scientist with proven expertise in the use of technology for environmental decision making. By bridging scales and disciplines, he has developed innovative methods in topical areas such as conservation, restoration, and sustainability. Dr. Viers serves as a full Professor of Water Resources Management in the School of Engineering, where he previously served as the Associate Dean for Research and Director of the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS), where he developed UC Merced’s emerging presence in agrifood technology research. As Director of the Valley Institute for Sustainability, Technology, and Agriculture (VISTA), he is leading UC Merced’s research and development effort for F3 Innovate, California’s contribution to the Economic Development Administration’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge. His work is global, with research programs in China, Nepal, Chile, and New Zealand, where as part of the International Science Advisory Panel he contributed to the New Zealand BioHeritage National Science Challenge 2014-2024. Prior to joining UC Merced in 2013, Dr. Viers served as the Executive Associate Director of the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences and research faculty in the Department of Environmental Science & Policy. His research is multi-disciplinary by design, team science based in execution, and dedicated to innovation in climate coupled food-energy-water systems. His teaching focuses on water resources, geospatial analytics, and sustainability. He is CEO and managing partner of Pacific Agroecology LLC, and a founder of the former start-up FrootBot Inc. He holds a BSc in International Agricultural Development and a PhD in Ecology, both from UC Davis.

Karen Warner is the founder and CEO of BEAM Circular, a new hub for the circular bioeconomy in California's agricultural heartland that is unlocking the power of local communities to transform waste into environmental solutions and economic prosperity. Born and raised in California's Central Valley, Karen began her career in global health, and built and ran programs in the US and East Africa as an early team member of the nonprofit organization Global Health Corps. She went on to serve in a variety of nonprofit, governmental, and private sector roles focused on social impact, including in the Office of the Governor of Colorado and at leading medical device company Medtronic. In 2018 she moved back to her hometown in the Central Valley and served as senior aide for a Member of the US House of Representatives prior to launching BEAM Circular. Karen has a Bachelor's degree in Human Biology and a Master in Business Administration from Stanford University, and a Master In Public Administration from Harvard University. Karen was a 2023 Emerson Collective Fellow as part of a cohort of climate change leaders, and currently serves on the board of the Stanislaus County Commission for Women.

Francis E. Agamah is the project coordinator at the DS-I Africa Coordinating Center based at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He is involved with coordinating DS-I Africa working groups, partnerships and outreach engagements, as well as coordinating activities among the DS-I Africa research hubs, training programs and ELSI projects.

Dr. Rumi Chunara is an Associate Professor of Computer Science and Biostatistics at the NYU School of Global Public Health and Tandon School of Engineering. She also directs the Center for Health Data Science, which develops data science methods in public and population health, as well as knowledge ecosystems to share and translate knowledge across disciplines and places. Previously, she was a Postdoctoral Fellow and Instructor at HealthMap and the Children's Hospital Informatics Program at Harvard Medical School. She completed her PhD at the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology and BSc at Caltech. She is an NSF CAREER, Facebook Research, Gates Foundation Grand Challenges, MIT Technology Review Top 35 Innovators Under 35 and Max Planck Sabbatical award winner.

Amina Abubakar is a developmental psychologist based at Aga Khan University. She is the P.I of the UZIMA-DS hub alongside Akbar Waljee of University of Michigan.

Brad Newsome, Ph.D., is a Health Scientist Administrator (Program Officer) in the Division of International Training and Research (DITR) at the Fogarty International Center, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). Brad serves as the Program Officer for the DS-I Africa Research Hubs and Partnership for Innovation Research Projects, and additionally oversees a global health research portfolio geared toward advancing mobile and digital health, point-of-care technologies, data science and innovation, dissemination and implementation research, climate and health, and medical/research capacity building efforts. Brad is a biomedical scientist trained at the interface of materials engineering, toxicology, environmental public health, and science policy, with research geared toward holistically addressing global health concerns associated with environmentally-induced non-communicable diseases. Prior to Brad's career at the Fogarty International Center, he lead the global health and implementation research portfolio at NIH's National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), and served as a AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow in the NIH Office of the Director. Brad is a humanitarian at heart, driven by the idea that diverse, global partnerships drive our best, most effective, most informed, and most equitable health innovations.

I am a HEAT Center scientific advisory board member and former Associate Director of the AIDS Programme at UNICEF. I am paediatrician and health scientist with many years of clinical as well as project and programme management experience. I have over 20 years' experience, leading clinical and research teams; formulating and brokering health and HIV programme policies and strategies and designing, implementing and monitoring health and HIV programmes with different governments and health professionals around the world. Over the years, I have worked with several donor and national governments in North America (Canada and USA), Europe ( Ireland, UK, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland and the Netherlands), sub-Saharan Africa (several countries in both Eastern and Southern Africa and Western and Central Africa including Nigeria, Ethiopia, South Africa etc.), South Asia (India) and East Asia and the Pacific (Cambodia, China, Fiji and the Pacific Islands, Hong Kong, Japan, PNG, South Korea. In addition, I have also successfully mobilised large project and programme funds and worked with a wide range of donors, multilateral organisations, civil society, foundations and research and academic institutions in the North and South. I worked as a paediatrician at the University Teaching Hospital in Zambia and with the National Health service in the UK.

An applied geo-spatial data scientist with a primary interest on applications to climate change, the environment and health, I am a Research Scientist at the Centre for Sexual Health, HIV and AIDS Research (CeSHHAR), and a senior lecturer at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM). I am also Senior lecturer and and former head of department for the surveying and geomatics department at Midlands State University (MSU), both in Zimbabwe. My role at CeSHHAR (LSTM global research hub) involves leading a team of data scientists on NIH funded work investigating influences of heat, air pollution and other environmental factors on maternal new-born and child health. At MSU, I lead the Place Alert Labs (PALs), a mixed methods health geography/GISc research initiative. Through PALs, my team does research on the mediating effect of geography on health outcomes, with a recent focus on maternal health.

Ijeoma is a senior researcher at the University of Witwatersrand’s Planetary Health Research Division (Wits PHR) in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her work focuses on exploring the effects of heat on maternal and child health and developing strategies to reduce these impacts. With a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, Ijeoma has extensive research and public health experience spanning 3 continents. Her research interests include the impacts of climate change on health, social determinants of health and health inequities, with a particular focus Maternal and Child health, Sexual and reproductive health, and the health of migrant and minority populations. She is passionate about including community voices in public health research.

Dr Nokuthula Mchunu is the Deputy Director at the African Open Science Platform hosted by the National Research Foundation, South Africa. Dr Mchunu has a wealth of experience in academia outreach programmes, the popularisation of science, and STEM with local communities. She was senior Researcher from the Agricultural Research Council of South Africa in the Biotechnology Platform. She completed her doctoral degree in fungal genomics, was previously a senior scholar in the Department of Biotechnology of Durban University of Technology for more than 15 years. She has also served as a scientist in a number of international institutions including the University of Cincinnati (USA), Lund University (Sweden), Tianjin University, (China) and the Centre for Chemical Biology (Malaysia). She is the first recipient of the Young Scientist Programme between China and South Africa. Her research focused on Covid and pathogen surveillance in wastewater, fungal genetics, Cannabis and Africa legume genomics.

Heads the Development Co-operation Research Unit at the OECD Directorate for Development Co-operation - focused on strategy, research and evidence on international development policy, partnerships including at the G20, development finance, and impact. She is managing editor of the OECD flagship development co-operation report and runs a network of chief economists of development agencies and finance institutes. Over her career at the OECD she has published on a range of issues from poverty and inequalities in the green transition, data for development, Digital transformation, civil society and development, crises and resilience building, and spent over a decade leading OECD country reviews on development co-operation. She has also worked at OECD Development Centre the government of Ireland’s permanent representation to UNESCO and OECD; and for NGOs sector in Ireland: Development Education for Youth and Timor Leste – Ireland solidarity campaign.

Professor Johann Mouton is the director of the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Scientometrics and STI Policy, and professor in the  Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST) at Stellenbosch University. He is on the editorial board of 5 international journals including the Journal of Mixed Methods Research, Science and Public Policy, Science, Technology and Society and Minerva. He has authored or co-authored 10 monographs including Understanding social research (1996), The practice of social research (2002, with E Babbie) and How to succeed in your Masters and doctoral studies (2001, 2nd edition 2022). He has also edited or co-edited 9 books, published 90 articles in peer reviewed journals and chapters in books, written more than 100 contract and technical reports and given more than 200 papers at national and international conferences and seminars. He has presented more than 60 workshops on research methodology and post-graduate supervision and supervised 82 doctoral and master’s students over the past twenty years. He has received two prizes from the Academy for Science and Arts in South Africa including one for his contribution to the promotion of research methodology in South Africa.  In 2012 he was elected to the Council of the Academy of Science of South Africa.

His main research interests are the philosophy and methodology of the social sciences, higher education knowledge production, sociology of science, scientometrics and science policy studies.

Hanna Zamazieieva is a Head of the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine (SAEE), Ukrainian politician and public person

Former Chairman of the Mykolaiv Regional Council of the 8th convocation. Former Deputy Chairman of the Chamber of Regions of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Ukraine.

Ukraine representative of the Ukrainian delegation to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe for 2021-2026 in accordance with the President of Ukraine Decree.

Member of the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

She has more than 20 years of experience in the financial and banking sphere, 14 years of which - on a management positions.

Former Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the “All-Ukrainian Association Financial companies”, member of the Public Council under the National Commission for State Regulation of Financial Services Markets.

Co-founder of the charitable foundation "Light Affairs" (https://svitlispravy.org).

As a Head of the State  Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine she aims at the cross sectoral and systematic implementation of the state policy on energy efficiency, alternative fuels and decarbonization in all sectors of economy.

She is convinced that energy efficiency and decarbonization are integral components of national economy, energy security and sustainable development of Ukraine.

Together with the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine team and ministries she is working on creating a whole set of programs and financial instruments, thanks to which Ukraine will be able to achieve real energy and cost savings, as well as fulfill more than 80% of the tasks foreseen by the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan within the European integration.

Dr. Leigh Ann Winowiecki is the Global Research Lead for Soil and Land Health at CIFOR-ICRAF, based in Nairobi, Kenya. Within the UN Food Systems Summit, she co-founded the Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH). With over 180 members the Coalition aims to catalyze investments in soil health for human well-being, nature, and climate. A soil scientist, her research focuses on scaling farmer-centered landscape restoration, understanding drivers of degradation and quantifying the impacts of land management on soil health Since 2009 she has co-developed and implemented the Land Degradation Surveillance Framework (LDSF) in over 40 countries across the tropics. The framework is a systematic methodology to assess soil health, land degradation and vegetation dynamics and track restoration efforts across landscapes. She has published widely on soil organic carbon, ecosystem services and land degradation across sub-Saharan Africa and the tropics, including a coherent set of open access datasets. She co-leads the CIFOR-ICRAF Landscape Restoration Transformative Partnership Platform. She is on the Scientific Task Force and the Monitoring Task Force for the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, the Scientific Steering Committee for the Global Soil Health Programme and a member of the Expert Network for Regen10. She is a founding Board Member of the International Union of Agroforestry (IUAF) and on the Board of Directors of International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC).

Senior Scientist at International S&T Affairs Directorate, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India

Dr. Justine Germo NZWEUNDJI is a Researcher and Plant Biotechnologist, she is the Deputy Director of Research, Valorization, and Innovation at the Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies (IMPM) in Cameroon. She served as the Deputy Head of the Laboratory of Botany and Traditional Medicine. She received the prestigious fellowship UNESCO-l’Oréal for her PhD research in the US at the Tropical Research and Educational Center, University of Florida, and at Alabama A&M University. She is a TWAS-DFG postdoctoral research fellow at Geisenheim Hoschule University in Germany. She is a fellow of the African Science Leadership Programme of Future Africa at the University of Pretoria, South Africa.

In 2022, she received a UMAPS fellowship for research on Science Policy at the University of Michigan. Dr. Justine has been awarded numerous grants and received the 2015 award for the best junior researcher of IMPM. Since 2017, she has been a member of the INGSA-Africa steering committee. She is currently the President of the Cameroon Academy of Young Scientists, and a member of the Global Young Academy where she co-ed the Working Group Science Advice as well as the working group Women In Science. Additionally, Dr. Justine Germo NZWEUNDJI is a member of the Executive Committee of the Global Young Academy and a fellow of the Female Science Talent Intensive Track fellow 2023 of the Falling Walls Foundation.

Julie Barrett O’Brien is Chief Executive Officer of OpenBiome. She is a global health leader who has guided organizations through transformative change. She was one of the earliest advocates for investing in strengthening health systems, and she played a vital role in bringing a successful resolution on Universal Health Coverage to the United Nations. Additionally, she served as a trusted strategic advisor to Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health. A distinguished lecturer at Yale’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs and a guest lecturer at Boston University’s School of Public Health, Julie holds an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School and a BA from the University of San Diego. Her advisory roles include contributions to the Clinton Global Initiative, the World Bank, and NAFTA’s Commission for Environmental Cooperation.

Alice Higiro is a Project Manager with 10+ years of experience, currently the Project Director of Smart Cities at the Ministry of ICT and Innovation in Rwanda – and the Head of the Rwanda Smart City Hub, where her portfolio includes developing Smart City initiatives to transform Rwandan cities into smart, sustainable and resilient environments for citizens and visitors of Rwanda.

She is also a Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Alumni, and a World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Shaper Alumni– Kigali Hub, and she sits on a number of Organization Boards.

She holds a Bachelors’ Degree in Business Studies from Cardiff Metropolitan University, a MBA from the University of South Wales and is currently pursuing the PMP certification.

Alice is a young professional, passionate about technology and its power to change and improve lives. She is an ardent creative arts enthusiast with talent and experience in a number of Arts disciplines, and she is also a public speaker.

Professor Sophie D'Amours is the first woman and the 26th person to hold the position of rector of Université Laval in Quebec City. Elected in 2017, she was re-elected for a second term in 2022.

Sophie D'Amours is a mechanical engineer. She holds a master's degree in business administration from Université Laval as well as a doctorate in engineering mathematics from École Polytechnique de Montréal. Having served as a professor in Université Laval's Department of Mechanical Engineering since 1995 and as the University's vice-rector of research and innovation from 2012 to 2015, she has a wide range of experience in higher education, research and university management, both home and abroad.  

Her career is marked by significant research contributions in business engineering and planning, particularly in the forestry sector. She has held a Canada Research Chair and an Industrial Research Chair from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and has led national and international initiatives in her field. She has been a visiting professor in many countries.

Sophie D'Amours is particularly proud of Université Laval's impact in responding to societal challenges and improving population well-being. She is committed to furthering that contribution by supporting innovation in higher education, fostering research partnerships, and increasing Université Laval's presence in the community and on the world stage.  

Committed and driven, Sophie D'Amours places a premium on teamwork, efficiency, and network collaboration. In addition to her duties at Université Laval, she is the former president of the Board of Directors of Universities Canada, she sat on the board of the International Development Research Centre of Canada and sits on the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Educational Exchange between Canada and the United States, the Fulbright Canada Program. Sophie D'Amours also chaired in 2021-2022 the international evaluation committee of INRAE, and now serves as vice-chair of the international evaluation committee of CNRS, on behalf of Haut Conseil de l'évaluation de la recherche et de l'enseignement supérieur (Hcéres) in France. 

Sophie D'Amours is committed to the economic and social development of Quebec and the Capitale-Nationale region. She is president of the Conseil de l’innovation du Québec and she sits on the board of directors of Québec International and Le Diamant.    

Sophie D'Amours has received numerous awards and distinctions during her career. With colleagues, she received the prestigious Brockhouse Canada Prize. She was also awarded the Prix Henri-Gustave-Joly-de-Lotbinière by Ordre des ingénieurs forestiers du Québec and the Harold Larnder prize for international distinction in operations research. She is an Officer of the Order of Québec, Officer of the Order of Canada, an Officer of the National Order of Merit of the French Republic, a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering and an International Fellow of the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry.

Dr. Jeffrey I. Gordon is Dr. Robert J. Glaser Distinguished University Professor and Director of the Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology at Washington University in St. Louis

Jeffrey I. Gordon received his BA from Oberlin College and his MD from the University of Chicago Medical School. He is internationally known for his research on gastrointestinal development and how gut microbial communities affect normal intestinal function, shape various aspects of human physiology including our nutritional status and affect predisposition to diseases. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, and the American Philosophical Society. He is the Principal Investigator in the Lab of Jeffrey I. Gordon at Washington University in St. Louis and holds 25 US patents.

Tahmeed Ahmed is the Executive Director of icddr,b, based in Bangladesh. He conducts community-based and clinical research to improve health outcomes for women and children, focusing on diarrheal diseases and associated conditions. One of his areas of focus is upstream research using tools to study microbiota, microbiome, and metabolome in improving the treatment of nutritional disorders. He has been recognized globally for his critical work in public health, especially in the areas of childhood malnutrition, diarrheal diseases, and COVID-19. He completed a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery at Mymensingh Medical College and completed his PhD at the University of Tsukuba.

Billo Tall is a Senegalese physician and researcher who has significantly contributed to maternal and newborn health in West Africa. Her work has been recognized nationally and internationally, and she continues to be a leading advocate for maternal and newborn health in Senegal and beyond. She is the principal investigator of a landmark clinical trial studying the use of probiotics to improve environmental enteropathy in pregnant women in Senegal.

Professor Department of BiochemistryQuaid-i-Azam University Islamabad PakistanMPhil., Ph.D and Post Doc in Biochemistry/ Molecular BiologyResearch focus:Environmental toxicants impact on health at molecular levelBiochemical Signaling and Therapeutic Intervention StudiesBench to Bedside Translational Studies for Cardiovascular, Cancer, Diabetes and Neurodegenerative DiseasesAiming for:Science policing on Socio-Economic Disparities and Health in underdeveloped and developing NationsEnvironmental modulation and health impactInnovation for the Public Sector / Strategic ForesightUN SDGs implementation at public sectors; health-academia Member European Society of Cardiology European Respiratory SocietyEuroScienceInternational Society for Heart ResearchThe Society of Hematologic Oncology (SOHO) and The SOHO ItalyWorld Economic Forum UN: Impact Circles: Innovation for the Public Sector/ Strategic ForesightBiotechnology Section South AsiaInternational Association of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring & Clinical Toxicology (IADTMCT)Science Consortium grants Technical Committee of Pakistan Science FoundationPost Doctorate awarding Committee of Higher Education Commission PakistanBritish Council –Study UK CouncellorAdvance HE UK Associate FellowEditorMedicine (Lippincotts Williams and Wolter Kluwers) ISSN 0025-7974(Frontiers) ISSN 2296-634XWeb of Science ResearcherID : I-6804-2013

I am Dr. Ibrar Ahmed. I completed my PhD at Massey University in 2014 and subsequently joined the Department of Biochemistry at Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad, Pakistan, as a faculty member. In 2017, I established Alpha Genomics Private Limited, an R&D start-up in Islamabad. To date, the scientific team at Alpha Genomics has contributed to over 40 scientific publications. In addition to my role as CEO of Alpha Genomics, I accepted a Brain Pool Fellowship from the National Research Foundation of Korea in August 2023. Since then, I have been working as a Research Scientist at the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) in Daejeon, Republic of Korea. I am also a collaborator with the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Network at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington. My areas of expertise include evolutionary genomics, human hereditary diseases, and comparative genomics in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

With an entrepreneurial mindset, I have led technology and product management initiatives across a wide range of industries. My experience spans startups, strategic planning, fintech, information security, healthcare, preventive healthcare, and artificial intelligence. I co-founded Stookle and Payactiv, building on the skills I honed at Microsoft, Philips Healthcare, and TSYS. I hold a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from The University of Punjab, Pakistan, and a Master's in Software Engineering from San Jose State University, CA, USA. Additionally, I serve as an advisor to Virtusense Technologies, where I focus on crafting impactful strategies, developing AI-driven solutions, and driving innovation to advance preventive healthcare. My expertise in AI-based technologies enhances my ability to deliver cutting-edge solutions that revolutionize the industries I work in.

Professor Andrea Harrington is Co-Director of the Institute of Air and Space Law at McGill University. She is a member of the editorial board for the McGill Annals of Air and Space Law, New Space, and the American Bar Association publication The Air and Space Lawyer as well as providing peer review for numerous other publications including Acta Astronautica and Space Policy.  Among other publications, she is the author of the book “Space Insurance and the Law: Maximizing Private Activities in Outer Space,” which won the British Insurance Law Association Book Prize for 2022. She has been Associate Chair for the Policy, Economics, and Law Department for the International Space University’s 2018 Space Studies Program, Jr. Project Manager for Secure World Foundation, and researcher on projects for the FAA Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation, the International Society for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the Space Security Index.  

Nigel Rollins trained as a pediatrician at Queen’s University, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He completed his doctoral research in Tanzania before moving to South Africa to work as Professor and Head of the Center for Maternal and Child Health at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban. There, his work focused on diarrheal disease, malnutrition, and HIV. In 2008, he joined the WHO’s Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health where he is a member of the Research and Guideline Development team in the Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Aging. Dr. Rollins’ work includes facilitating implementation research by building intervention programs and measuring their benefits to children, their mothers, and their families. He also serves on the WHO ethics review committee.

Vanessa Ridaura is Senior Program Officer, Microbiome Products, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She received her PhD in Molecular Genetics and Genomics at Washington University in the Laboratory of Jeffrey I Gordon, pursued her post-doctoral training at NIAID under the mentorship of Yasmine Belkaid, and led initiatives at Verily Life Sciences and Novome Biotechnologies. At the Gates Foundation, she leads strategic efforts to develop maternal microbiome- and food-based interventions to improve pregnancy outcomes and optimize neonatal microbiome and gastrointestinal health.