Dr. Walter K. Davis is a Product Engineering Specialist for Autonomous Vehicle Systems, at Honda Motor Company. In his current role, Dr. Davis serves as liaison between Vehicle Research and New Product Introduction, integrating autonomous vehicle sensing and adaptive safety designs from concepts to production at Honda’s flexible manufacturing facilities. Previously, he worked to integrate new products and create intellectual property management systems for defensive avionics, commercial appliances, and government specializing in electromagnetic sensors technologies, electronic controls, networking hardware, and vehicular communications. Walter’s experience spans engineering and analyst roles processing technology patents for the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, engineering development in multinational companies such as Northrop Grumman Aerospace and General Electric Appliances and while serving in the U. S. Army Signals Intelligence Command. 

Walter served eight years as technical specialist in the U.S. Army, supporting satellite and vehicular communication systems for the 2nd Infantry, Stryker Brigade and to Arctic Warfare Special Operations Forces. Dr. Davis received his Doctorate and MBA Cum Laude in Business Administration from Capella University with emphasis in Intellectual Property Development Strategy, and Operations Management, a Master’s in Project Management from the University of California, Irvine, professional certification in Intellectual Property Law from the U. S. Patent & Trademark Office, and a BASc, in Electronic Engineering Technology from ITT Technical Institute. Dr. Davis is a new published author of the book Career Advantages: An Interdisciplinary Approach, and volunteers as a graduate mentor assisting Doctoral business and technology students at Capella University’s Career Center located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

As Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s Intelligent Mobility Specialist in San Francisco, Alejandro conducts research relating to autonomous vehicles and mobility services globally. Alejandro holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana; and a Master of Energy Management and Policy from Columbia University in New York City. He has been a transportation and mobility analyst with Bloomberg New Energy Finance since 2010.

Vivek Muralidharan is the Head of Business Innovation at Technical Center India (TCI), the R&D Hub of Continental AG in Bangalore and is responsible for Innovation Portfolio for the Business Unit Passive Safety and Sensorics at the location. He is responsible for the innovation portfolio for Passive Safety and Sensorics business unit at TCI, where his work spans across Occupant Safety Systems in passenger vehicles and safety sensorics segments. Vivek is also responsible for innovation strategy and product benchmarking, currently focusing on strategy and innovation for satellite innovation centres, AI strategy for non-computer vision based sensorics products, and agile innovation processes. His past work in the industry include new product launch, industrial engineering, lean manufacturing, system engineering, and innovation management.

Guillermo Assales has been working in the Automotive Industry for 15 years – leading teams, different projects and looking for continuous improvement for our customers. Some plants from the USA, Italy, Venezuela and mainly Brazil enabled him to develop expertise in Quality and Product & Process optimisation through World Class Manufacturing in a challenging environment as the automakers industry. Guillermo graduated in Industrial Engineering and specialized in Business and Project Management.

Lina Baldursson, Transformation Lead Onboard Experience. In her present role, Lina is responsible for the onboard experience at Stena Line. The future within Stena Line and the vessel industry in general contain high ambitions, whereby the industry will transform with the implementation of new digital solutions and support from AI and machine learning.  This will enhance the experience for both our staff and our guests here at Stena Line. Lina started her career the same year apple launched their first iPhone and already knew at this stage, she was to work within the landscape of AI, human interaction and digital solutions.

Max van Someren leads the team developing MARINELINK-Smart, Perth-based shipbuilder Austal’s revolutionary digital system for improving high-speed ship efficiency and comfort.

Max is a naval architect by background who has spent his career working on the application of new technologies to the maritime industry.

His diverse range of experiences have included the development of novel designs for commercial and naval vessels; advising shipbuilders internationally on the development of ship design and construction technology; developing future underwater warfare concepts for the UK ministry of defence and (most recently) leading the establishment of Austal’s digital technology initiative.

In 2016 Max re-joined Austal as Technology Development Manager. Today Max has specific responsibility for identifying how emerging digital technologies can help Austal’s customers transform their own operations – reducing costs and increasing revenue for ship operators. Max is passionate about bringing new technology to the maritime industry to deliver more efficient, sustainable and comfortable ships.

Vivek Subramaniam heads Digital Enablement and COE teams at Nissan Digital India. He brings product development and management experience across Nissan, GE, Tech Mahindra & TCS. Over the last 5+ years he has focused on driving Digital Transformation across Manufacturing and Supply Chain.

Rafael Szarf is the current Head of Logistics for Americas and Sub-Saharan African, with solid experience on end to end Supply Chain, Last-mile distribution, Procurement and Innovation domains, engineer graduated in Brazil with Master of Science (MSc) in Innovation Management by Polytechnique in France.

In BAT for more than 10 years now, Rafael led transformational initiatives such as ‘Collaborative Logistics’ and ‘Last Mile Transformation’, both recognized as best FMCG Logistics case in Brazil (2018-2019) by multiple entities.

Andre Burgess manages Strategic Partnerships in the Digital Sector at National Physical Laboratory where the focus is on delivering confidence in the intelligent and effective use of data. Andre has led the creation of NPL’s Assured Autonomy Programme, which brings together disciplines across Data Science, Time and Frequency, Electro-Magnetic Technologies and Dimensional Metrology.  

His work on Self-Driving Cars has focused on building collaborations across the UK’s CAV sector to establish an integrated digital measurement infrastructure and technical framework to underpin the simulated testing ecosystems for autonomous vehicles at all Technology Readiness Levels.  Andre has over 20 years’ experience in the TMT sector having worked across Tier 1 Telecoms operators as well as setting up an international digital services company and supporting the launch of several start ups. 

Johanna is the Managing Director for Saab TransponderTech, a company which are pioneers in Automatic Identification System technologies, with more than 20,000 AIS vessel transponder systems delivered; thousands of AIS base stations installed in more than 50 countries; unique Secure AIS (encrypted) solutions; and is a major supplier of Airborne AIS transponders. Furthermore, they have an installed base of national AIS network systems with customers all over the world, including advanced multi-sensor solutions for sea traffic monitoring and control and coastal surveillance.

Johanna has been with Saab for more than 20 years with a number of different position primarily in Marketing & Sales, Business Development, Programme Management and R&D. She is currently based in Sweden, but has previously worked and lived both in France and in the UK. Johanna holds a Master of Science degree in theoretical physics and she is devoted to the benefits of diversity in the workplace. Inclusion is significant for her leadership.

Achyut Deshmukh is Lead Engineer in Advanced Technology department at R&D centre called Mahindra Research Valley of Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. The Mahindra Group is a USD 19.4 billion federation of companies that enables people to rise through innovative mobility solutions, driving rural prosperity, enhancing urban living, nurturing new businesses and fostering communities. It enjoys a leadership position in utility vehicles, information technology, financial services and vacation ownership in India and is the world’s largest tractor company by volume.  It also enjoys a strong presence in renewable energy, agribusiness, logistics and real estate development. Headquartered in India, Mahindra employs over 2,56,000 people across 100 countries.