Invited Speakers, Panelists & Keynotes

Luciana Vaccaro is Rector of HES-SO, one of Switzerland’s largest higher-education institutions, a position she has held since 2013. With a background in physics, her work emphasizes applied research, technology transfer, and interdisciplinary collaboration. She is an active voice in national and international discussions on higher education policy and the responsible development of emerging technologies.

Antoine Bosselut is Professor of Computer Science at EPFL and Co-Lead of the Apertus Project. His research focuses on natural language processing and machine learning, with emphasis on language understanding, reasoning, and human-centered AI. Through Apertus, he explores how large language models can be developed and evaluated in an open and scientifically rigorous way.

François Fleuret is Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Geneva and a Research Scientist at Meta. His work spans machine learning, deep learning, and computer vision, with a strong emphasis on both theoretical foundations and real-world applications. He is actively involved in education, doctoral supervision, and international research collaborations.

Thilo Stadelmann is Professor of AI/ML at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) and founding director of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence (CAI). His work focuses on robust deep learning for pattern recognition in industrial and medical applications, with a strong emphasis on transferring AI research into practice. He also advises organizations on the practical deployment of AI technologies.

François Buchard is Group Managing Director of Voyages Buchard SA, a family business founded over 70 years ago. A graduate of HEC Lausanne, he has been leading the company since 2021, driving an ambitious digital transformation in the travel industry. His approach combines modernizing tools, digitizing processes, and leveraging data and AI to improve the customer experience.

Nijat Hajikhanov is Senior Data Steward at the Luxembourg National Data Service (LNDS), where he works on data governance and the responsible management of research data. His work focuses on enabling secure, compliant, and interoperable data sharing in line with European standards. He supports institutions and researchers in implementing sustainable data practices based on FAIR principles.

Stefano Carrino is Professor of Computer Science at HES-SO (HE-Arc) in Neuchatel and a member of the Data Analysis research group. His work focuses on explainable and trustworthy AI, with applied projects developed in collaboration with industry and public institutions. He contributes to transferring intelligent technologies into industrial and medical workflows through research and implementation.

Anthony Masure is an Associate Professor and Head of Research at HEAD - Geneva (HES-SO). He co-founded the journal Back Office with Kevin Donnot and Elise Gay. His work focuses on the social, political, and aesthetic implications of digital technologies on design.

Florian Bürki is a Scientific Associate at the Computer Science Institute of the School of Management, HES-SO Valais. His research focuses on the managerial impacts of digital transformation and the effects of AI on public sector employees. He also teaches Business-IT alignment and market analysis, and coordinates research support across the three HEG institutes.

François Briguet is Interim Head of the Technologies & Solutions division at Banque Cantonale de Fribourg (BCF), overseeing the bank’s IT strategy, systems, and technology services. With extensive experience in IT leadership and digital transformation in the financial sector, he has led major technological initiatives including large-scale banking system implementations. He is also President of the IT Valley association, which promotes collaboration and innovation in the ICT sector in western Switzerland.

Xavier Bays is Head of Services and Associate at Swiss Statistical Design & Innovation. His work focuses on transforming data into operational decisions through advanced analytics, predictive modeling, and artificial intelligence. Trained at EPFL, he supports organizations across sectors with projects such as forecasting, predictive maintenance, and AI-enabled decision tools.

As Group Project Leader Digitalization and PMO, Philippe Rapin is responsible for defining and executing Mikron’s global digital strategy. His role focuses on aligning technology, processes, and people to accelerate our digital transformation and strengthen our position as an innovative industrial partner.

Anda-Catalina Giraud is a Cloud Consultant and Evolution Architect specializing in AWS solutions, governance, and FinOps practices. She helps organizations design and implement modern cloud architectures to modernize their systems and operate efficiently. She is also active in the cloud technology community as a trainer, speaker, and organizer of AWS community events in Switzerland.

Maria Sokhn is Full Professor at the Haute école de gestion Arc (HES-SO) in Neuchâtel and Dean of the Institute for the Digitalization of Organizations (IDO). Her research focuses on digital transformation, data governance, and the use of emerging technologies to support organizational change, particularly for SMEs. She holds a PhD in computer engineering from Télécom ParisTech in collaboration with CERN.

Sébastien Rumley is an Associate Professor of Software Engineering at HEIA-FR (HES-SO) and a member of the iCoSys Institute. He teaches software engineering, computer engineering, and IT infrastructure monitoring. His current research focuses on cloud computing deployments, green and sustainable computing, and digital twins for smart buildings.

Robert van Kommer is an Innosuisse Innovation Mentor at Alliance Innovation, based at EPFL Innovation Park. He helps companies and academic teams transform research ideas into viable innovation projects and secure public funding. With a PhD in machine learning from the University of Fribourg and multiple patents in telecommunications and AI, he bridges the gap between academia and industry in Switzerland.

Richard-Emmanuel Eastes is an academic, science communicator, and education specialist at HES-SO, where he leads initiatives supporting academic and pedagogical development. He is also the director of Segallis, a consultancy focused on science communication, training, and innovation in learning. His work explores the dialogue between science and society, with a focus on innovative approaches to scientific education and public engagement.

Romain Bouvy is a Swiss entrepreneur, consultant, and trainer, and the founder of Lineopi. His work focuses on improving organizational performance by aligning technology, processes, and human factors in digital transformation projects. With a background in IT engineering and more than fifteen years of software development experience, he helps companies connect technological innovation with management practices and culture.

Justine Dima is Associate Professor at HEIG-VD, where she specializes in human resources management, digital transformation, and HR technologies. Her research focuses on how organizations adapt to technological change, particularly through the digitalization of HR functions, people analytics, and the integration of AI in the workplace. She also contributes to professional training and collaborations bridging research and practice.

Christine Pirinoli is Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland (HES-SO). With a PhD in social sciences from the University of Lausanne and a background in anthropology, she has worked on themes including memory, nationalism, gender, and Palestinian society. She focuses on research strategy and policy, scientific integrity, open science, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the societal impact of applied research.

Jerry Krattiger is Director of Economic Development for the Canton of Fribourg and a Swiss leader in regional innovation strategy. With a background in political science from the University of Lausanne and an Executive MBA from Copenhagen Business School, he combines public policy, business strategy, and international experience. His work focuses on positioning Fribourg as a business and innovation hub, with priority sectors including bioeconomy, agri-food, and Industry 4.0.