The Leading Speakers Bureau

Professor of Artificial Intelligence

Raúl Rojas is a Professor of Artificial Intelligence at FreieUniversität Berlin since 1997. Prof. Rojas has been active in the field of Artificial Intelligence since 1986, having been a member of the Prolog Machine team at GMD-First (now FraunhoferGesellschaft).He has published extensively about neural networks, robotics, intelligent systems and the history of computing. Raul received the Technology Transfer Prize 2008 from the Berlin Technology Foundation and the Gold Medal Heberto Castillo from Mexico City for his contributions to robotics.

“A on Artificial Intelligence”

[expand title=”In detail”] Previously, he held professorships at Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, and at the Technical University of Vienna.Raúl Rojas obtained his bachelor and master degrees in Mathematics from the Technical University of Mexico, and attained his master in Economics at the National University of Mexico. He received a PhD in Economics from FU Berlin in 1989, where he also obtained his Habilitation degree in Computer Science in 1994.Rojas is a Member of the Mexican Academy of Sciences.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]In his presentations Professor Rojas offers audiences an in depth vision of the future of autonomous and self-driving cars. With a wealth of information from over 10 years of research and development including a fully working autonomous car he shows us a glimpse of the future and what we can expect to see on the roads in the next 5, 10, 15 and 20 years.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Raul is a passionate and dynamic speaker who provides worldwide audiences with innovative ideas backed up with videos and slides from his current projects.[/expand]

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Vice President, Creative Inc. Walt Disney

Duncan Wardle has worked for the Walt Disney Company for over 25 years, most recently as Vice President of Innovation & Creativity. The innovation catalysts are engaged by Disney Parks, ESPN, ABC, Pixar, Marvel and the Disney Studios, leveraging a unique design thinking process to increase the capacity for innovative and creative thinking, capturing unlikely connections that deliver unique insights, sparking revolutionary new ideas.

“Its about creating better ideas faster and enjoying the process along the way”

[expand title=”In detail”] Duncan graduated from Edinburgh Napier University in 1986 and began his career with Disney. Prior to heading up the Innovation & Creativity team, Duncan was Vice President of Global PR and has served Disney in an executive capacity in London, Paris, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Los Angeles and most recently Shanghai.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Thinking Differently – Do you ever wonder why most of your best ideas come to you in the shower? Have you ever wanted to be faster and more nimble to market? Or wondered how Walt Disney came up with the idea of Disneyland or how Pixar comes up with the ideas for so many of their movies? Or perhaps found yourself amazed at how some companies develop killer insights that enable them to break into major new categories. Building on over 25 years of experience with the Walt Disney Co. Duncan creates an immersive, engaging forum that will not only answer these questions but leave you with the tools to take on your challenges in new and different ways that deliver tangible results.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Acknowledging the 3 preferred learning styles: auditory, visual and kinesthetic, Duncan fully immerses the audience in a participatory workshop/forum to ensure they take away real tools they can use. He is also a very engaging, entertaining and motivational speaker.[/expand]

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Former design director at Saab Automobile AB and
Mercedes Benz designer

Einar Hareide is a Norwegian industrial designer, leading an award winning studio Hareide Design. Prior to that, he was a design director at Saab Automobile AB and later employed by Mercedes Benz. Since 2002 he has been an Executive Design Adviser for Bogwart AG. Einar has worked with companies from wide range of industries. His clients include Volvo Cars,SJ/Bombardier,
Kongsberg Maritime and Rolls-Royce Marine.

[expand title=”In detail”] Einar has an inspiring story to tell about his journey from a small island on the coast of Norway (Hareid) to end up as design director at Saab utomobile in Sweden at the age of 30. Experiencing first hand the period when Saab was a small car company with a slightly rebellious and a highly respected image to becoming a part of giant General Motors, a modern equivalent of David’s fight against Goliath. Einar started his career as a designer at Saab Automobile in 1986. In 1989 he was employed by Mercedes Benz and was responsible of the design of the 1994 E-Class that became the first Modern Mercedes with round headlamps. In 1991 he was asked to come back to Saab to be in charge of exterior design and in 1994 he was promoted to the position of design director with total responsibility for the exterior, interior and color&trim of all Saab Cars. During that period he was responsible for the design of the new generation of Saab cars that includes the Saab 9-3 series (1993) and Saab 9-5 series (1998). In 1999 He founded Hareide Design. The studio work has been internationally recognized by Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA), and received more than 20 awards.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]How do you create customer value in a world where products are becoming services, how can you get paid for a service that can be for free somewhere else, and how do you create true value to your customers? Einar answers those questions and demonstrates how important is design thinking and creating a culture of innovation that is active instead of re-active. He shows the importance of creating a long-term internal strategy for product and service development without being governed by what the competition is doing. Einar also covers areas connected with IoT (The Internet of Things) and robots entering production (Industry 4:0) and demonstrates how this affects design, production and the human being.

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[expand title=”How he presents”]Einar’s presentations are supported by unique visualization and animation tools, leaving the audience mesmerised and highly inspired. He has held many lectures in both in English, Swedish and Norwegian, to students and universities and to large multi international companies, as well as product launches for the car industry among others.

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Astronaut, Physician, Scientist & Photographer

Roberta Bondar was the first Canadian woman to fly in space. An astronaut, physician, and photographer, Roberta expanded the horizons of millions when she joined the space shuttle Discovery for its 1992 mission.

“Society needs heroes to rejuvenate, re-energize and renew itself with visions of the possible. That’s what heroes do.”

[expand title=”In detail”] For more than a decade at NASA, Roberta headed an international research team, continuing to find new connections between astronauts recovering from the microgravity of space and neurological illnesses on earth, such as stroke and Parkinson’s disease. Roberta is a member of the Governing Council of icipe, a pan-African institute researching the influence of climate change on the spread of insect borne diseases. She is Co-Founder and President of The Roberta Bondar Foundation, created to inspire all ages and to view and to engage our natural environment in a positive light through the lens of photography. [/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Roberta’s highly motivationaltalkspunctuated by her stunning photographsfocus on change, social responsibility and our environment. Roberta brings added value with her maturity, wisdom gained from “in the trenches” life experiences, broad educational background and depth of personality.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]By customizing each speech and keynote Roberta will ensure that any event will be extraordinary.
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Innovation & Technology Expert, Head of ESA’s Technology Transfer Programme

Frank Salzgeber is a leading expert on innovation, entrepreneurship, technology and trends. He is Head of the European Space Agency’s Technology Transfer Programme Office being responsible for innovation management, the defining of the overall approach and strategy for the transfer of space technologies, including the incubation of start-up companies and a related venture fund. From 2015, under his leadership, more than 100 new start-ups will be supported in 11 ESA Business Incubation Centers across Europe.

“ A global authority on the topic of innovation and industry 4.0”

[expand title=”In detail”] Frank is an advisory board member of the Triangle Venture Capital Group, was founding chairman of the EIROforum (CERN, EFDA-JET, EMBL, ESA, ESO, ESRF, European XFEL, ILL) working group on Innovation Management, Knowledge and Technology Transfer and was Strategy Audit Advisor to Fraunhofer IIS. He also held management positions at Apple covering Central Europe and was COO and CFO at a German IT start-up. Frank holds a degree in Graduated Industrial Engineering.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]With an extensive international experience gained from many years of working with leading research organisations, Frank communicates the importance and fascination of science to a wide audience. He shows decision makers from all industries the importance to foster innovation and to stimulate the transfer of technology.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]An inspiring and charismatic speaker, Frank delivers a powerful message on how innovation and technology will shape our future.[/expand]

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Head of the Society and Technology Research Group, DaimlerChrysler AG

Eckard Minx is one Europe’s leading experts on innovation and future technologies and is currently head of DaimlerChrysler’s Society and Technology Research Ground. Established in 1978, the Group has offices in Berlin, Germany, California and Japan and addresses the issue of future mobility and examines developments that will shape the face of tomorrow’s markets.

“One of Europe’s most respected innovators”

[expand title=”In detail”] After studying economics and law Eckard worked for multinational companies in Saudi Arabia and Algeria before he started working for DaimerChrysler in 1980. He is co-editor of the journal Organisationsentwicklung, lecturer at the FU Berlin and TU Berlin as well as honorary professor for sociology and technology at the University of Technology and Economics in Berlin. [/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]A specialist in scenario planning Prof. Minx works with corporations and institutions around the globe to create alternative perspectives of the future and develop innovative strategies based on the latest technologies.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Prof. Minx delivers his expertly researched presentations with flair and precision. He offers audiences great insight into new developments and the very latest in cutting edge technologies.[/expand]

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Founder and Former CEO, Zipcar, Buzzcar and GoLoco

Robin Chase is the founder and former CEO of Zipcar, co-founder of Buzzcarand GoLoco, an online ridesharing community. Zipcar, GoLoco and Buzzcar have been seen as disruptive and innovative: they used technology and marketing to change the way people own and use cars; they changed the ways cities are lived in and built; they changed prejudices about the incompatibility of environmentalism and capitalism. She is Executive Chairman of Veniam, a vehicle communications company building the networking fabric for the Internet of Moving Things.

“She is one of the pioneers of the sharing economy”

[expand title=”In detail”] Robin served on the board of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, the National Advisory Council for Innovation & Entrepreneurship for the US Department of Commerce, the Intelligent Transportations Systems Program Advisory Committee for the US Department of Transportation, the OECD’s International Transport Forum Advisory Board, the Massachusetts Governor’s Transportation Transition Working Group, and Boston Mayor’s Wireless Task Force.Robin lectures widely, has been frequently featured in the major media, and has received many awards in the areas of innovation, design, and environment, including Time 100 Most Influential People, Fast Company Fast 50 Innovators, and BusinessWeek Top 10 Designers. [/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]Highly innovative, Robin helps individuals, companies and government understand where to look for innovation and how to enable it. She explores how rethinking “excess capacity” can be combined with technology and platforms for participation to unlock innovation, new profit centres and ultimately lead us to a sustainable planet. [/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]Robin prepares each presentation to perfectly suit each event and offers audiences a wealth of useful actionable information with real life examples honed from her own business successes.[/expand]

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Eight Times World Memory Champion

Dominic O Brien is a British mnemonist. He is the eight times world memory champion and currently works as a trainer for Peak Performance Training. He had an entry in the Guinness Book of Records for his 2002 feat of committing to memory a random sequence of 2808 playing cards (54 packs) after looking at each card only once.

“I memorise ten packs of cards a day. When it’s over, I usually have a headache”

[expand title=”In detail”] Dominic began developing the mnemonic techniques that have made him famous when he saw Creighton Carvello memorise a pack of 52 playing cards in less than three minutes. His total belief in this issue of balance, coupled with his research into the brain, neuro-feedback and photic-stimulation have led him, with a colleague, to develop the unique Brainwave Conditioning System™. This is a system that has been used to help condition peak performance in athletes and sportsmen and is now being used to help in the treatment of dyslexia and attention-deficit disorder, resulting in extremely rapid changes.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]An outstanding mnemonist Dominic offers audiences fascinating insights into his memorisation techniques. He explains how you can reach peak personal and business performance by improving reading speed, memory and concentration skills. He gives lectures, and has been seen on television programmes such as The Human Body.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Described as the greatest memoriser of them all Dominic is a highly professional and confident presenter. [/expand]

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French High Wire Artist

Philippe Petit is a French High Wire Artist, Street Performer, Magician, Visual Artist, Lecturer and the author of 10 books. He electrified New York City and the world with his early morning high wire walk between the twin towers in 1974. This was no spur-of-the-moment fluke, but the result of six years of globetrotting preparation abetted by a motley crew of accomplices. Philippe’s memoir, ‘To Reach the Clouds’, recounting the “coup” is the basis for the Academy Award-winning documentary Man on Wire as well as the recent 3-D feature film, The Walk, directed by Robert Zemeckis.

“I, like everybody else, have a certain fear of heights”

[expand title=”In detail”] Since his clandestine walk between the Twin Towers, Philippe Petit has performed more than 80 high wire-walks around the world including Tokyo, Jerusalem, Paris, Sydney and New York City, many of which are high wire plays uniquely, conceived, directed and performed by Philippe on the high wire. He has been an Artist-in-Residence at the Cathedral Church of St John the Divine – the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world – in New York City for more than 30 years. [/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Philippe reveals fresh and unconventional ways of going about the artistic endeavour and has a unique way to share with the audience his singular creativity process. His strategies and insights will resonate with performers of every stripe, practitioners of the non-performing arts and professionals in search of new ways of meeting challenges.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Philippe Petit twinkles in front of his audiences, exuding such voluble Gallic esprit that he is able to hold us in his spell on his own. In a visual and dynamic style, he combines storytelling, drawings, audience participation and even magic tricks to address topics often neglected in today’s world: passion, tenacity, intuition, faith, dealing with mistakes, problem solving and cheating the impossible.[/expand]

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Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Danielle George is Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, and a Professor in the Microwave and Communications Systems research group at the University of Manchester. Danielle’s expertise in radio frequency and microwave communications has a wide range of applications across a number of industries. To date most of her research and development work has been carried out on a variety of aspects relating to ultra-low noise receivers for Space and Aerospace applications.

“I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be involved in science and technology”

[expand title=”In detail”] Danielle completed her BSc in Astrophysics, MSc in Radio Astronomy at The Victoria University of Manchester based at Jodrell Bank Observatory, and her PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering with UMIST. She worked at Jodrell Bank Observatory as a senior Radio Frequency Engineer until 2006 when she took up a lectureship post in the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. She was awarded a Professorship in 2015. Danielle has worked with agriculturists on the development of instrumentation to measure water usage and with a number of multi-national companies such as Rolls Royce where she worked on industrial gas turbine engines.[/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]Danielle demonstrates innovative concepts and ideas for commercial success.She isalso passionate about raising public awareness of the positive impact engineering and science has on all aspects of our everyday lives and highlighting to young people the immense depth and breadth of opportunities a career in engineering can offer.[/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]Danielle is able to both inform and inspire and can connect with audiences of all levels and functions and is a popular choice for a variety of conferences and events.[/expand]

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