Digital Strategy & Sustainability Manager | Product Management | UX Advocate | Sustainable Web

Digital Strategy & Sustainability Manager | Product Management | UX Advocate | Sustainable Web Show more

Imagine a world where cutting-edge technology teams up with unyielding passion to take on the biggest challenges of our time. That's where I come in. I'm Ayon Roy, and I'm not just about crunching numbers and lines of code.

I'm on a mission to leverage the extraordinary capabilities of Data Science, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence to tackle the pressing issues of sustainability and climate change.

What truly fires me up is the idea of using AI to tackle sustainability and climate-related challenges. I've had my fair share of adventures in the world of Data Science, AI, and ML, having hopped through various internships. Right now, I'm proudly wearing the hat of an Executive Data Scientist at NielsenIQ, where I get to channel my passion into meaningful projects.

However, my journey doesn't stop at my day job—I'm deeply involved in giving back to the community. I spend time mentoring hackathons and boot camps, helping budding tech enthusiasts find their way.

When it comes to speaking, I'm no stranger to the stage. I've stood in front of audiences around the world, delivering over 70 technical talks at international and national conferences, as well as meetups. From India to the USA, Ireland to Nigeria, and even Japan, I've taken the stage physically and virtually, adapting to different formats and keeping the crowd engaged.

But I'm not just about speaking; I'm also a firm believer in hands-on involvement. I've mentored over 100 hackathons, collaborating with prestigious institutions like John Hopkins School of Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, IIT Madras, and Delhi University. It's my way of giving back and nurturing the next wave of innovators.

One of my proudest achievements is organizing India's First Kaggle Days Meetup in Delhi NCR, a platform that brings together minds hungry for knowledge and collaboration. And yes, I also indulge in reviewing technical books because staying ahead of the curve matters to me.

If you want to know more about me, check out my Personal Website (https://ayon-roy.netlify.app) or connect with me on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayon-roy/). I'm excited about the chance to share my journey, insights, and passions with your event. Let's make it awesome together!

Imagine a world where cutting-edge technology teams up with unyielding passion to take on the biggest challenges of our time. That's where I come in. I'm Ayon Roy, and I'm not just about crunching numbers and lines of code. I'm on a mission to le... Show more

Andy Lehren is investigations editor for Mongabay, a leading global environmental news organization. He is director of investigative reporting at CUNY’s Graduate School of Journalism. On the IRE Board of Directors. Former investigative reporter for The New York Times and NBC News. Won 100+ journalism honors, including Polk, Peabody, Emmys, multiple IRE awards, contributed to a Pulitzer and part of a Pulitzer finalist team. Works extensively in data journalism, including for NICAR.

Andy Lehren is investigations editor for Mongabay, a leading global environmental news organization. He is director of investigative reporting at CUNY’s Graduate School of Journalism. On the IRE Board of Directors. Former investigative reporter for T... Show more

Edwin Ochieng, E.I.T., CFM, ENV SP, is a Water Resources Engineer specializing in flood risk analysis, floodplain management, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, and stormwater infrastructure. His professional experience includes drainage studies, detention pond design, dam safety evaluations, FEMA floodplain compliance, and community flood mitigation projects across Texas.

Edwin has applied tools such as HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS, XPSWMM, and GIS to evaluate flood hazards, support resilient infrastructure planning, and develop engineering solutions that reduce risk to communities. His work includes preparing FEMA Letters of Map Revision (LOMRs), conducting floodplain analyses, and assessing mitigation alternatives for public and private sector projects.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude and was recognized as the Outstanding BS Civil Engineering Student. Edwin is a Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM), Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP), Engineer-in-Training (E.I.T.), and has passed the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) examination.

Edwin Ochieng, E.I.T., CFM, ENV SP, is a Water Resources Engineer specializing in flood risk analysis, floodplain management, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, and stormwater infrastructure. His professional experience includes drainage studies, det... Show more

Hari Vamsi Krishna is a wastewater infrastructure analytics specialist focused on GIS, spatial-temporal analytics, and data-driven decision-making for municipal infrastructure systems. His work combines geospatial intelligence, condition assessment analytics, enterprise data management, and business intelligence to support infrastructure planning, rehabilitation prioritization, and operational performance improvement. He has experience developing analytical frameworks, dashboards, and digital workflows using GIS, Power BI, Python, and enterprise geodatabases. His research and speaking interests include infrastructure intelligence, predictive analytics, sewer rehabilitation planning, and digital transformation in utility asset management.

Hari Vamsi Krishna is a wastewater infrastructure analytics specialist focused on GIS, spatial-temporal analytics, and data-driven decision-making for municipal infrastructure systems. His work combines geospatial intelligence, condition assessment a... Show more

Worked in applied research in ML for 11 years
Lecturer on environmental impact of AI
Volunteer @ DataforGood

Worked in applied research in ML for 11 years Lecturer on environmental impact of AI Volunteer @ DataforGood Show more

Benedict is an accomplished and energetic digital leader, Chief Product & Technology Officer (CPTO) and start-up founder (1 exit), working across financial services, health, energy, media and government. He has 20 years of experience supporting brands by leading the development and deployment of innovative data, analytics, and technology products and solutions that solve their customers’ greatest needs and challenges.

As a founder, Ben has hands-on experience navigating challenges of early growth and scalability, building strong trust-based and commercial relationships with customers and stakeholders. As a resilient commercial leader, regularly developing and negotiating contracts worth £1m+, he built a consultancy with £6.5m/year turnover and 50+ people.

Ben is a rare leader with hands-on experience of the entire digital process, from marketing, design, coding and infrastructure to commercial sales, value prop development and mobilising energised teams-of-teams implementing transformational technologies. He is purpose driven and, as an accomplished speaker, enjoys sharing ideas for the future with the broader community.

Benedict is an accomplished and energetic digital leader, Chief Product & Technology Officer (CPTO) and start-up founder (1 exit), working across financial services, health, energy, media and government. He has 20 years of experience supporting brand... Show more

Faith Sycaoyao is an emerging entrepreneur, artist, and researcher with 10+ speaking engagements across academic and international spaces. She is the Boston Marathon Founding Muralist and founder of NCLS Holdings, where she has built a global audience of 70,000+ across 40 countries. Her work spans 15+ years in visual art and has been featured or presented through institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania, UC Berkeley, and the University of Texas at Austin, as well as outlets and platforms including UNESCO, NBC 10 WJAR, CBS Boston, and international art fairs. She has also received recognition from critic Anthony Fawcett (University of Oxford).

Her academic and research work includes collaborations and contributions with institutions such as Stanford University, the University of Texas at Austin, UCLA, and the University of Kentucky, with a focus on environmental studies, finance, and real estate. She has also contributed to youth-led and UN-affiliated initiatives, including UNICEF, UNESCO, and the WHO Youth Council, and has participated in global climate policy spaces such as COP and YOUNGO. She is a Vital Voices Visionaries Fellow with The Estée Lauder Companies and has worked with Climate Cardinals on climate education and communication projects.

Faith Sycaoyao is an emerging entrepreneur, artist, and researcher with 10+ speaking engagements across academic and international spaces. She is the Boston Marathon Founding Muralist and founder of NCLS Holdings, where she has built a global audienc... Show more

I'm a Graduate Engineer with the City of Houston Public Works, specializing in wastewater infrastructure operations and environmental compliance. My work focuses on addressing complex urban challenges such as sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), infrastructure constraints, and system reliability within one of the largest municipal utility systems in the United States.
I bring a strong field-oriented perspective, working closely with inspection teams, analyzing CCTV data, and supporting risk-based maintenance strategies to improve system performance. My interests include sustainable infrastructure, data-driven decision-making, and enhancing resilience in public utility systems.
I actively engaged in professional development and knowledge-sharing initiatives and is committed to contributing practical, scalable solutions to the evolving challenges in environmental engineering and urban infrastructure.

I'm a Graduate Engineer with the City of Houston Public Works, specializing in wastewater infrastructure operations and environmental compliance. My work focuses on addressing complex urban challenges such as sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), infrastr... Show more

I am an Associate Professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, with over thirty years of experience in medical education and academic leadership. I hold a Ph.D. in Anatomy from Manipal University, India, and specialize in clinical anatomy, reproductive biology, and molecular pathology. I teach across medical, dental, pharmacy, and allied health programs and serve as Course Chair, Unit Coordinator, and Lead Faculty within the integrated MBBS curriculum. I am a highly published researcher and a recipient of multiple awards for academic and teaching excellence.
In addition to my academic responsibilities, I provide leadership in community engagement and sustainability initiatives. I lead the LEAF (Linking Education and Farming) initiative at the University of Sharjah and spearhead multidisciplinary projects focused on food‑waste composting, plastic recycling, organic farming, and zero‑waste campus practices. Through these initiatives, I facilitate experiential learning and have trained many students in applied sustainability and environmental stewardship. Notably, I guide the first successful cultivation of black wheat in the UAE, contributing to national food security and sustainable agricultural practices. Through sustained collaborations with governmental organizations, non‑governmental agencies, and community outreach programs, I continue to advance sustainability education, social responsibility, and environmental awareness within the University of Sharjah and the wider community.

I am an Associate Professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, with over thirty years of experience in medical education and academic leadership. I hold a Ph.D. in Anatomy from Manipal University, India, an... Show more

Meredith is the co-founder + COO of WATS. Meredith is a TRUE Zero Waste Advisor, sat on the Board of Directors of the US Composting Council from 2020-2025, and was recognized with the 2019 Recycling Leadership award by the New York State Association of Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling. Meredith holds a BA in Anthropology from the University of Virginia and a MS in Urban Policy and Sustainability Analysis from the New School, plays ice hockey, and loves sandwiches.

Meredith is the co-founder + COO of WATS. Meredith is a TRUE Zero Waste Advisor, sat on the Board of Directors of the US Composting Council from 2020-2025, and was recognized with the 2019 Recycling Leadership award by the New York State Association ... Show more

Daniela Rosas es estudiante de Gestión y Alta Dirección con mención en Gestión Social y Pública en la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP) y Presidenta de 180 Degrees Consulting PUCP, donde lidera proyectos de consultoría estratégica para organizaciones sociales y emprendimientos de impacto. Ayacuchana de origen, su trabajo está profundamente conectado con la generación de soluciones que respondan a realidades diversas y descentralizadas.

Su enfoque se sitúa en la intersección entre tecnología, innovación social y estrategia, utilizando inteligencia artificial generativa, herramientas no-code y diseño centrado en el usuario (UX/UI) para transformar ideas en soluciones escalables, accesibles y con impacto medible. Ha implementado soluciones tecnológicas en ONGs y proyectos sociales, integrando automatización, marketing social y herramientas como n8n y Lovable para optimizar procesos, fortalecer el fundraising y movilizar comunidades de manera innovadora.

Ha sido Parlamentaria Joven Nacional del Congreso de la República del Perú, donde contribuyó al diseño de propuestas legislativas en temas ambientales, participación ciudadana y transparencia, incorporando indicadores de impacto y mecanismos de seguimiento. Asimismo, fue becaria del Millennium Fellowship (ONU) y participante del Aspire Leaders Program de Harvard University, consolidando su formación en liderazgo global e impacto social.

Como consultora en sostenibilidad en Mypes Verdes, ha acompañado a pequeñas empresas en la adopción de modelos responsables y elaboración de reportes de sostenibilidad. Además, es fundadora de Responsible Work For Ecology, una iniciativa comunitaria en Ayacucho que ha capacitado a más de 80 mujeres en prácticas sostenibles, promoviendo su empoderamiento económico y ambiental.

Ha sido reconocida como ganadora del HONOR College Marketing Challenge 2025, finalista en la Datatón OEFA Innova y en el GreenTech Challenge, destacando por su propuesta de “IA que te entiende y potencia tu esencia”, entendida como el uso de la inteligencia artificial para potenciar capacidades humanas y construir soluciones más empáticas e inclusivas.

Daniela promueve activamente el acceso inclusivo a la tecnología y el uso ético de la IA, convencida de que romper los patrones en la industria implica que más mujeres y actores del sector social pasen de ser usuarios a creadores de tecnología, diseñando soluciones que transformen realidades y generen valor sostenible.

Daniela Rosas es estudiante de Gestión y Alta Dirección con mención en Gestión Social y Pública en la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP) y Presidenta de 180 Degrees Consulting PUCP, donde lidera proyectos de consultoría estratégica para ... Show more

Joe Kramer is the CEO of Parjana Engineering, Inc., where he leads the development and deployment of advanced water infrastructure solutions focused on restoring natural infiltration and improving stormwater performance.

Through the IRIS™ Infiltration System, his work has helped municipalities, developers, and infrastructure owners move beyond traditional design assumptions toward measured, real-world performance outcomes.

Joe is also leading HydroCoin, a framework designed to create auditable, verifiable records of water infiltration and recharge, enabling environmental performance to be measured, tracked, and trusted at scale.

His work sits at the intersection of infrastructure, environmental markets, and digital systems, focused on one core shift:
transforming water from an unmeasured liability into a quantifiable, defensible asset.

Joe Kramer is the CEO of Parjana Engineering, Inc., where he leads the development and deployment of advanced water infrastructure solutions focused on restoring natural infiltration and improving stormwater performance. Through the IRIS™ Infiltra... Show more

Stefano Besseghini past President of ARERA, Italy’s independent regulatory authority for energy, networks, and environment. A physicist by training, he combines academic rigor with institutional leadership, driving innovation and efficiency in essential public services. With a career spanning research, industry, and public governance recognized as one of Europe’s most authoritative voices on regulation, sustainability, and the future of energy systems.

He is known for making complex energy and sustainability issues clear and engaging, regularly addresses international conferences, institutional events, and corporate forums, bringing authority, clarity, and vision to discussions on the future of energy, innovation, and regulation.

Stefano Besseghini past President of ARERA, Italy’s independent regulatory authority for energy, networks, and environment. A physicist by training, he combines academic rigor with institutional leadership, driving innovation and efficiency in essent... Show more

Neeraj is the co-founder of Vivid Climate, a climate management and accounting platform. Neeraj is a polyglot. Over the years, he has worked on a variety of full-stack software and data-science applications, as well as computational arts, and likes the challenge of creating new tools and applications, and is an active speaker with talks and tutorials presented at multiple conferences.

Neeraj is the co-founder of Vivid Climate, a climate management and accounting platform. Neeraj is a polyglot. Over the years, he has worked on a variety of full-stack software and data-science applications, as well as computational arts, and likes t... Show more

Amber Hasan is an interdisciplinary artist and community organizer focused on using Creative Practice as a tool for change. Amber is Co-Founder of The Sister Tour collective, she has worked with photographer LaToya Ruby Frazier regarding the Flint Water Crisis, she is a Board Member of Title Track Michigan, and a Board Member of Commongrounds, where she is the advocate for the Boardman River in Traverse City, Michigan.

Amber Hasan is an interdisciplinary artist and community organizer focused on using Creative Practice as a tool for change. Amber is Co-Founder of The Sister Tour collective, she has worked with photographer LaToya Ruby Frazier regarding the Flint W... Show more

I’m Vanessa Vovor, a Strategic Advisor, Facilitator, and Speaker with over a decade of experience supporting NGOs, city networks, international organizations, and development agencies to turn complex challenges into clear, actionable strategies.

I run a portfolio consultancy at the intersection of climate action, governance and inclusion, partnering with mission-driven organizations across Africa and Europe. My work combines policy expertise, technical knowledge and strategic facilitation — from leading multi-country teams at GIZ and moderating high-level dialogues for the EU, to structuring project pipelines in sustainable energy, waste management, circular economy, and gender equity.

I’m Vanessa Vovor, a Strategic Advisor, Facilitator, and Speaker with over a decade of experience supporting NGOs, city networks, international organizations, and development agencies to turn complex challenges into clear, actionable strategies. I... Show more

David based in Nice, France is a Data Centre
Decarbonisation and Heat Reuse consultant with many years of experience in district heating, HVAC and data centre cooling. He worked for global heat transfer companies during the last 20 years and has a comprehensive approach for data
centre design.
David is committed to offer technical & ownership consulting services to his clients, with a special focus on the data centre industry and heat reuse applications for
different climates. His support based on carbon footprint analysis and climate profile provide the transparency and avoid the “greenwashing”.
He is well-known for representing the Open Compute Project Foundation (OCP) in the EMEA region and active participation in OCP Cooling Environments Project. He is also a member of Technology Committee at Infrastructural Masons (iMasons).

David based in Nice, France is a Data Centre Decarbonisation and Heat Reuse consultant with many years of experience in district heating, HVAC and data centre cooling. He worked for global heat transfer companies during the last 20 years and has a c... Show more

Steffen M. Schumacher is an expert in communication, education, and sustainability based in Kiel, Germany. As a systemic Coach, consultant, speaker, and founder, he supports companies in their journey toward sustainable transformation. His focus is on fostering communication and educational processes to enable change at every level.

His mission is to make people visible—on equal footing, whether in professional contexts, within teams, or on stage. With years of experience as a teacher and a hands-on practitioner, he creates spaces for knowledge sharing and drives sustainable change processes that work from the inside out.

Through his start-up, ID4C.org, he connects personal and organizational development to achieve sustainable business goals through the intrinsic motivation of employees. As a speaker, he inspires audiences with insights on communication and sustainability, regularly sharing his expertise in professional publications.

Steffen M. Schumacher is an expert in communication, education, and sustainability based in Kiel, Germany. As a systemic Coach, consultant, speaker, and founder, he supports companies in their journey toward sustainable transformation. His focus is o... Show more

Leena Joshi is an award-winning social entrepreneur, climate advocate and author. She is the founder and executive director of Climate Conservancy, an international nonprofit, with 9000 volunteers in 60+ countries. She has sat on boards and advisory councils for multifarious companies. She's the CEO and Chair of the Board at EcoVita.

Leena's work has been featured by international media outlets and organizations such as World Bank Group, United Nations, Climate Reality Project, Her Campus Media, Feminist, U.S. Department of State and Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation.

As a Youth Stocktake Researcher, Leena co-authored the UNFCCC Youth Stocktake Report, a pivotal document that is reshaping youth engagement in global climate governance. She currently serves as a Research Advisor to Imperial College London, where her work on climate anxiety and ecological grief is trailblazing new global conversations around the emotional and psychological costs of climate breakdown.

Leena is a prolific public speaker and has spoken at universities across the world including Harvard, Oxford, Sciences Po and Cambridge. She's a TEDx Speaker and has also spoken at high-level global conferences. She has authored books including 'The Climate Awakening' and 'Ethereal'.

She is a conservation photographer, environmental artist, and climate poet, intersecting art and climate justice through climate artivism for our blue planet.

Leena Joshi is an award-winning social entrepreneur, climate advocate and author. She is the founder and executive director of Climate Conservancy, an international nonprofit, with 9000 volunteers in 60+ countries. She has sat on boards and advisory ... Show more

Daniel Theobald is a visionary leader in robotics, AI, and automation, with decades of experience at the forefront of innovation. With 67 issued patents and over 30 patents pending, Daniel has made significant contributions to shaping the future of intelligent technology.

Daniel achieved a perfect academic record at MIT and was chosen by the faculty as "the student who has achieved the highest academic standing and has exceptional potential for impact on technology and society." He was awarded the prestigious Henry Ford II Scholar award, and was chosen as both an NSF and Hertz Foundation Fellow. Daniel founded Vecna.com in 1998, pioneering advancements in robotics and healthcare access. He later co-founded MassRobotics.org, a non-profit organization driving the global robotics industry, and in 2018, founded VecnaRobotics.com, a global leader in autonomous forklift technology.

Daniel’s work extends beyond healthcare and industrial robotics into sustainable agriculture through TwistedFields.com, a research farm in beautiful San Gregorio, CA which provides free consulting and test space to startups in the agtech space. In 2024 he seed funded Rotate8.com, an amazing farm robotics company that is building multi-purpose solar-powered farming robots that farmers can actually afford.

Daniel does significant pro-bono work. He helps a number of VC firms with technical due diligence, and mentors numerous founders and startups. He provides free consulting to organizations trying to automate. He helps them differentiate robust, scalable solutions from hype, believing that automation project success benefits the industry as a whole. For larger projects, Daniel and his team at Mekable.com provide expert consulting, simulation and automation product/process development to help organizations large and small navigate their automation journey with confidence.

Daniel is a leader on the integration of AI, Robotics, and IoT into society, inspiring audiences to explore the transformative potential of technology to create a sustainable, equitable future.

Daniel Theobald is a visionary leader in robotics, AI, and automation, with decades of experience at the forefront of innovation. With 67 issued patents and over 30 patents pending, Daniel has made significant contributions to shaping the future of i... Show more

Aakash is a US patent holder, multiple hackathon winner, pulished author and an open source advocate. He has completed his engineering from Savitribai University and a PGP from IIM Indore. He is passionate about building products for the next billion users and creating a positive social change through technology.

Aakash is a US patent holder, multiple hackathon winner, pulished author and an open source advocate. He has completed his engineering from Savitribai University and a PGP from IIM Indore. He is passionate about building products for the next billio... Show more

Beto has been writing open-source software for more than 2 decades, with open-source serving as the unifying theme across their diverse career. This includes their work as a climate scientist with a PhD in oceanography running global simulations for the IPCC, as an instructor and speaker at Facebook/Meta passionate about data tools and best practices, as a software engineer working daily on Apache Superset, and as a musician using open hardware and open-source plugins to compose and produce their songs.

The tools and libraries that Beto has created or worked on are used daily by thousands of companies and countless users, focusing on making data access seamless and switching the spotlight to the user experience instead. Their first big project was Pydap, a server for climate data developed during the Google Summer of Code in 2005. Pydap was used by the IPCC to distribute their simulations when they won their 2007 Nobel Prize, and also by the Danish Navy when removing chemical weapons from Syria.

Since 2017, Beto has been working daily on Apache Superset, a modern and modular business intelligence web application that is the number 1 Apache project in terms of GitHub stars. This work has led to the creation of an ecosystem of products: DataJunction, a semantic layer that has been adopted by data teams at Netflix; Shillelagh, a Python library that makes any kind of data easily queryable via SQL; and Cantrip, a magical semantic layer that lives in the database itself, requiring no additional resources. All of these projects focus on empowering users to answer their questions in an effortless way.

Additionally, Beto is also a prolific musician, having written over 500 songs in the past decade. They are an avid participant in the February Writing Album Month challenge, which has the goal of composing 14 new songs in 28 days, and is also part of both the small development team and moderation team. Their songs are written using an open-source digital audio workstation (DAW) with open-source plugins, and all the hardware they use is also based on open-source code.

Beto has been writing open-source software for more than 2 decades, with open-source serving as the unifying theme across their diverse career. This includes their work as a climate scientist with a PhD in oceanography running global simulations for ... Show more

Over the past ten years, Allie has built and run businesses in various industries including audio engineering, wellness tech, software development and user experience design, and accelerator programming. She has worked closely with dozens of entrepreneurs to build their climate and social impact organizations through coaching, fractional leadership roles, and her original entrepreneurship curriculum. Her clients include impact organizations like CrowdSolve, CU Boulder, Glazier Clinics, Conscious Capitalism, and the Downtown Denver Partnership.

Outside of work, Allie is passionate about her work supporting and mentoring youth, nonprofits, and impact entrepreneurs in partnership with capacity-building economic development organizations including SVP Denver, Rocky Mountain Microfinance Institute, Good Business Colorado, and SEA Change. She has been instrumental in cultivating thriving and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems in Denver, Reno, and Greeley, CO. Allie is an experienced audio engineer, musical composer, UX/UI designer, yoga teacher, no-code developer, workshop facilitator, design thinking expert, and entreprenerd.

She currently designs curriculum for hackathons and pitch competitions through her company, Meep, and works with the City of Greeley and nationally ranked venture capital firm gener8tor to run the gBETA Greeley AgTech pre-accelerator program.

Over the past ten years, Allie has built and run businesses in various industries including audio engineering, wellness tech, software development and user experience design, and accelerator programming. She has worked closely with dozens of entrepre... Show more

Sophie Kempston (she/they) is a current PhD candidate in the School for Cross-Faculty Studies at the University of Warwick. Her research focuses on measuring the sustainability impacts of the increase of demand for critical raw materials as a result of the UK's increasing demand for electric vehicles. This includes forecasting scenarios for electric vehicle uptake and battery market shares in the UK, and developing a framework to assess the holistic sustainability impacts of these scenarios. They are also a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the School for Cross-Faculty Studies at their University and are kindly funded by the Leverhulme Trust through the TRANSFORM Doctoral Programme.

Sophie Kempston (she/they) is a current PhD candidate in the School for Cross-Faculty Studies at the University of Warwick. Her research focuses on measuring the sustainability impacts of the increase of demand for critical raw materials as a result ... Show more

Ankita is currently part of the Founders' Office at Mavarick AI, a climate-tech startup based in the EU. The company leverages AI to help manufacturing companies address Scope 3 emissions and drive sustainable impact.

Previously, Ankita worked at Invact, an ed-tech startup focused on upskilling unemployed graduates from Tier 2+ cities in India. At Invact, she was part of the Founders' Office, managing a wide range of B2C initiatives, including strategy, marketing, product development, and daily operations.

Now working in the B2B sector, Ankita brings her experience from both B2C and B2B contexts to her role at Mavarick AI. As a generalist, she supports initiatives across strategy, product development, and daily operations.

Ankita is currently part of the Founders' Office at Mavarick AI, a climate-tech startup based in the EU. The company leverages AI to help manufacturing companies address Scope 3 emissions and drive sustainable impact. Previously, Ankita worked at ... Show more

David Levine is a technology entrepreneur, systems architect, and self-described Silicon Hillbilly who has been building internet companies since the early days of the commercial web. Over the past three decades, he has founded ventures in fintech, online gaming infrastructure, renewable energy, blockchain, and AI, and has worked with organizations ranging from DARPA, NASA, and DHS to Cisco, Sony, IBM, Bloomberg, and National Geographic.

David founded one of the earliest web development companies in the 1990s, presented at the First International Conference of the World Wide Web at CERN, helped pioneer standards for electronic mortgage trading, built cloud infrastructure for massively multiplayer online games, and later founded Geostellar, a big-data energy platform featured by The New York Times, Fox Business, Reuters, Scientific American, and Forbes.

Today he is the founder and CEO of Kiduna Club and the founder and President of Kinship Intelligence Institute, where he is focused on the emerging architecture of agentic organizations, agentic commerce, and the infrastructure required for autonomous agents to operate safely and effectively on the open internet. He has worked with policymakers, entrepreneurs, lawyers, and blockchain builders involved in the effort that led to the West Virginia DUNA Act, a new legal framework designed for autonomous online organizations.

His work sits at the intersection of AI, blockchain, governance, economics, and organizational design, exploring what happens when intelligent agents become participants in commerce rather than simply tools for productivity.

David Levine is a technology entrepreneur, systems architect, and self-described Silicon Hillbilly who has been building internet companies since the early days of the commercial web. Over the past three decades, he has founded ventures in fintech, o... Show more

Joe Dana is a multi-media journalist in Phoenix covering public education, energy policy and climate.
Reports on schools examine:
-funding, academics and policy debates in the nation's first universal private voucher program, launched in 2023
-how federal, state and local tax dollars support three systems of education in Arizona (school districts, charter schools, ESA private vouchers)
-how billions of dollars flows from the state, to private voucher accounts, and then to education vendors, tutors, and retailers like Amazon. This multi-year investigation has led to an ongoing public records lawsuit brought by investigative reporter/colleague Craig Harris against the AZ Superintendent and Treasurer.
Joe's series, Power & Influence, examines climate and justice concerns in Arizona's energy sector. His stories exposed faulty customer service at Arizona's largest utility in 2019, prompting a $25 million class settlement. A 2025 investigation about utility shut-off deaths during extreme heat was credited by the AZ Attorney General for helping lead to a $7 million civil settlement for low-income customers.
Joe gets easily distracted, chasing random stories about stuff like birdwatching technology, the science of art therapy and what its like to walk Arizona's first barefoot forest trail.

Joe Dana is a multi-media journalist in Phoenix covering public education, energy policy and climate. Reports on schools examine: -funding, academics and policy debates in the nation's first universal private voucher program, launched in 2023 -how... Show more

Bharat Raj Thukral is an architect, industrial designer, worldbuilder, and founder of Dasein Lab, a multidisciplinary worldbuilding studio working across architecture, material research, circular systems, ecological futures, and experimental arts. He graduated in Architecture from CEPT University, Ahmedabad, and has professional training experience from Japan, having worked with Shigeru Ban Architects and Meglab, Tokyo. He has also been part of the Healthy Materials Lab programme at Parsons School of Design, New York, where his interests in healthy materials, climate-responsive design, and circular construction systems deepened.

Bharat’s practice bridges speculative imagination with real-world material and ecological urgencies. He is the recipient of the Saint-Gobain Transparence Grant for DebrisCrete, a hyper-local material solution developed using construction and demolition waste and agricultural residues. He also received the Nirmal Dhingra Trust Scholarship for his bamboo joinery innovation, developed through his research on assembly-based temporary structures. Through Dasein Lab, he is developing studio frameworks that connect CLI-FI worldbuilding, speculative infrastructures, biomimicry, vernacular knowledge systems, and circular material practices into tangible design propositions for climate-resilient futures.

His work has been exhibited and presented across platforms including the London Design Festival, Serendipity Arts Festival, BLR Hubba, and other cultural, ecological, and design-led contexts. Alongside his studio practice, Bharat is developing a worldbuilding curriculum that brings together architecture, climate fiction, systems thinking, storytelling, and spatial design. He also conducted India’s first Worldbuilding Hackathon at École Intuit Lab, Calcutta, positioning worldbuilding as a practical design method for imagining and prototyping futures that are contextually grounded, materially aware, and socially transformative.

Bharat Raj Thukral is an architect, industrial designer, worldbuilder, and founder of Dasein Lab, a multidisciplinary worldbuilding studio working across architecture, material research, circular systems, ecological futures, and experimental arts. He... Show more

Dave is a professional administrator, educator and facilitator with expertise in sustainability, project development and completion, Higher Education and Experiential Education. He has been an environmental advocate for over 35 years and is currently directing the Office of Sustainability at University of Wisconsin of Stevens Point.

Dave is a professional administrator, educator and facilitator with expertise in sustainability, project development and completion, Higher Education and Experiential Education. He has been an environmental advocate for over 35 years and is currentl... Show more