The Leading Speakers Bureau

Complexity Scientist, TED Senior Fellow & Co-Founder of Vibrant Data Inc.

Eric Berlow is an internationally recognised ecologist, complexity scientist and speaker who specialises in not specializing. He is co-founder of Vibrant Data Inc., a company with a social mission to help people think more holistically about complex problems. Vibrant Data is building mappr – a cloud-based, multimedia, interactive network visualization and publishing platform to share stories about how things are connected. Their affiliated mapprlabs leverages mappr to help untangle complex problems that hold the promise of exceptional positive impact for humanity.

“Eric is named among the Top 100 creatives by Origin magazine”

[expand title=”In detail”] He was the founding director of the University of California’s first environmental research center in Yosemite National Park, where he continues to research climate change impacts to protected ecosystems and endangered species. Since 2004 Eric has been a Research Scientist at Pacific Ecoinformatics and Computational Ecology Laboratory, Berkeley CA. He is a TED Senior Fellow and his talk with Sean Gourley was named one of the top 8 data visualization talks on TED.com. Eric earned a BA in Biology from Brown University and a Ph.D. in Ecology from Oregon State University.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Eric applies his work on ecosystems to the business world, to help audiences rethink the way they structure their business. He helps audiences from any industry think bigger, question prevailing wisdom, and better assess their market. [/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Eloquent and thought provoking, Eric’s presentations are invaluable sources of actionable information that engages audiences around the globe. [/expand]

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CEO& Co-founder, Games2win

Alok Kejriwal is a serial entrepreneur who specializes in launching digital startups and making them profitable. He has been successful in building ventures in India, China and the US. He is currently the CEO and Co-founder of Games2win, one of the largest casual mobile gaming companies in the world. His previous ventures include contests2win.com, India’s first online contesting site and Mobile2win, acquired by Walt Disney in China and Norwest Ventures in India.

“A successful startup digital entrepreneur”

[expand title=”In detail”] Alokholds a master’s degree in commerce from Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai. He has vast fund raising experiences,having successfully raised venture capital from some of the world’s leading VCs such as Softbank China, Siemens Acceleration, Clearstone Venture Partners and Silicon Valley Bank. Alok collaborates with like-minded partners to startup companies and pounds the pavement to create rapid business traction. His signature is the ability to create companies that capture tremendous value with minimal capital investment. [/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Alok actively mentors first generation entrepreneurs looking at starting up on their own and helps them with startup strategy, VC contacts, negotiating funding, introduction to fortune 500 brand owners and media owners.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Alok is a persuasive and charismatic speaker who has a tremendous knack for making business ideas come to life in an easily way.[/expand]

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Chief Data Officer at Telefónica

Chema Alonso is the CDO – Chief Data Officer – at Telefónica. In this position he heads the company’s Big Data strategy, Advertising and the Fourth Platform. As part of the work to define the Fourth Platform, he also leads the Personal Data Bank team and is the main internal promoter of the Data Transparency Lab. He is also responsible for global cybersecurity and data security, having created the new Global Security Unit with the Information Security Global Business in B2B & B2C and Eleven Paths.

A world-renowned security expert

[expand title=”In detail”] Chema was previously the founder and CEO of Eleven Paths, a subsidiary of Telefónica Digital focusing on innovation in security products, and General Manager of Global Security Business in the B2B unit of Telefónica Business Solutions. Before joining Telefónica in 2013, he spent 14 years working for and directing Informática 64, a company focusing on computer security and training. He obtained doctorates in Computer Security at the King Juan Carlos University of Madrid, Computer Engineering at the same university and IT Systems Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, an institution which appointed him Honorary Ambassador of the University School of Computer Science in 2012. He has also directed the Master’s Degree in Information Security at the European University of Madrid.Chema is the author of several books and other works specializing in cybersecurity.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Chema Alonso regularly presents his experience and skills at the most prestigious conferences the world over offering an in-depth insights, recommendations and comments on technology security, big data and digital risk.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]A passionate and engaging speaker, Chema’s presentations are a veritable wealth of new ideas delivered in a unique and highly creative way.[/expand]

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Author of Lean Analytics and Solve for Everything

Alistair Croll is an entrepreneur with a background in web performance, analytics, cloud computing and business strategy. In 2001, he cofounded Coradiant, an early pioneer in User Experience Management acquired by BCM in 2011, and has since helped launch Rednod, CloudOps, Bitcurrent, Year One Labs and several other early-stage companies. He works with start-ups on business acceleration and advises larger companies on innovation and technology.

“Solve For Interesting. Otherwise Life Is Dull”

[expand title=”In detail”] Alistair has founded and run a variety of conferences, including Interop’s cloud content, Cloud Connect and the Enterprise Cloud Summit. He is the chair O’Reilly’s Strata + Hadoop World conference, the International Startup Festival and O’Reilly’s Findata content. He has also written several books on technology and business, including the best-selling ‘Lean Analystics’. Alistair tries to mitigate chronic ADD by writing about far too many things at “Solve For Interesting” and on Medium. He graduated from Dalhousie University with a B.Com (Honours) and an advanced major in Strategic Marketing.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]A sought-after speaker on data-driven innovation and the impact of technology on society, Alistair helps decision makers understand how a connected world is changing business as well as society and ethics. His presentations are tailored to each client giving a meaningful theory along with practical applications. Alistair is also an experienced conference host.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]His high-level knowledge delivered in a fun, easy to understand, passionate and insightful way make Alistair a sought after commentator at a wide range of conferences world-wide. [/expand]

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Renowned Computer Scientist, VP Watson Core Technology at IBM

Jerome Pesenti is the Vice President of Watson Core Technology at IBM where he leads a global team of researchers and software engineers. He is also responsible for the Watson Developer Cloud, which exposes cognitive technologies as easy-to-consume cloud services. In 2000, Jerome co-founded the search and text analytics company Vivisimo which was acquired by IBM

“Jerome is lead developer of IBM’s Jeopardy-winning Watson supercomputer”

[expand title=”In detail”] He is also active in the Big Data community through a non-profit that he created, Pittsburgh DataWorks, whose mission is to promote and provide access to big data education, projects, talent and technologies. In addition, Jerome is a Visiting Scientist at the Computer Science Department at Carnegie Mellon University. At Vivisimo he advised many large corporate and government customers such as P&G, Airbus, J&J, DIA, SSA, or the US Air Force. Vivisimo’s technology was based on the machine learning research he conducted with his co-founders in the CS department of CMU from 1998 to 2000.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Recognised as a leading computer scientist, Jerome has been involved with natural language processing, search, big data and machine learning for the past 16 years. He offers organisations valuable insights based on his research, and in his presentations he focuses on showing how to create value through innovation and how the use of new technologies can stimulate growth. [/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]A distinguished expert, Jerome Pesenti provides excellent and useful inside knowledge on the topic of computer science.[/expand]

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Brand and Social Media Strategist

Alex Hunter is a company incubator, angel investor, and branding expert. He is also a noted public speaker, appearing at events all over the world such as ad:tech, Future of Web Apps, Thinking Digital, Marketing 2.0, iStrategy, Tech4Africa, MARKA and Internet World. He’s also spoken at private events for organizations such asCisco, Infosys, Deloitte, Procter & Gamble, O2 and the BBC.He is also the creator and host of Attaché, a new kind of travel show.

“One of the most sophisticated professionals in today’s Online and Social Media Landscape”

[expand title=”In detail”] Previously, Alex served as the globalHead of Online Marketing forthe Virgin Group, curating the Virgin brand’s global digital strategy.He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the UK non-profit Drinkaware. He has also served as an adviser to the Prince of Wales’ Rainforest Trust specifically around the use of social media andengagement to propagate the Trusts’ message.Alex’s work has beenfeatured in the best-selling book ‘The Whuffie Factor’ by Tara Hunt, and he was recently profiled in the critically acclaimed book ‘Insites’ by Keir Whitaker and Elliot Jay Stocks.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Alex advises start-ups on strategy and business plans and is a popular and energetic speaker on brand and social media. As well as assessing with the power (and weaknesses) of brands online, he explores how a brand evolves, what makes anyone loyal to it and how to keep customers in an age of peer-to-peer power and media saturation.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Alex is a passionate, energetic and knowledgeable speaker who can engage any size audience in any industry.[/expand]

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Leading IT Specialist and Chairman, One Laptop per Child Foundation

Nicholas Negroponte is a world-renowned technology visionary with the keenest understanding of technology and its impact on business and society. He is a pioneer of visionary technology, and the driving force behind One Laptop per Child (OLPC), a non-profit organisation that seeks to provide children around the world with new opportunities to explore, experiment and express themselves via computers. To date, OLPC has two million laptops committed and one million already in the hands of children in 19 languages and 31 nations including Haiti, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Palestine.

“A pioneer in the field of computer-aided design”

[expand title=”In detail”] An original investor in WIRED (and the magazine’s “patron saint”), for five years he penned a column exploring the frontiers of technology — ideas that he expanded into his best-selling book Being Digital. An angel investor extraordinaire, he’s funded more than 40 startups and in the private sector, Nicholas Negroponte served on the board of directors for Motorola, Inc. and as general partner in a venture capital firm specializing in digital technologies for information and entertainment.
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[expand title=”What he offers you”]An exceptional speaker, Nicholas’ broad range of experience and thorough understanding of digitization and its effect on industry make him the foremost authority on transformations that define our future.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Nicholas is a brilliant speaker who brings great depth to his immaculately researched presentations. Highly engaging and fluid, his style is nonetheless very well punctuated allowing time to absorb his powerful messages.[/expand]

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Former Vice President of the European Commission for the Digital Agenda for Europe

Neelie Kroes was the Vice President of the European Commission, responsible for the Digital Agenda for Europe from 2010 to 2014. This portfolio included the information and communications technology (ICT) and telecommunications sectors ensuring trust and security for the Internet and new technologies. Currently, Ms. Kroes leads StartupDelta, Europe’s gateway for disruptive startups and fast growing tech companies based in The Netherlands.

“One of Europe’s leading experts on Digital and disruptive startups”

[expand title=”In detail”] Ms. Kroes’ political career started at the Rotterdam Municipal Council. She was elected as a Member of the Dutch Parliament and served as Minister for Transport, Public Works and Telecommunication. After politics, Ms. Kroes was appointed President of Nyenrode University and served on various company boards, including Lucent Technologies, Volvo and P&O Nedlloyd. Since 2004, Ms. Kroes has worked for the European Commission. As a Competition Commissioner she was responsible for ensuring a level playing field for business in Europe and fair prices and wide choice for consumers. Her charity work included advising the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and World Cancer Research Fund.[/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]In her presentations Ms. Kroes analyses the challenges that startup’s face to grow. She also covers topics such as Internet security, getting Digital and becoming world class in research and innovation explaining how to make the most of the Internet to support economy and society.[/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]Eloquent and highly inspiring, Neelie Kroes’ presentations leave audiences focused and ready to take action.[/expand]

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Founder, The Analogies Project

Bruce Hallas is the creator and founder of The Analogies Project and the owner and principle consultant at Marmalade Box Ltd. His expertise has most recently been called upon by Hewlett Packards Research and Innovation Labs, the UK’s Economic & Social Research Council and UK CyberSecurity KnowledgeTransfer Network to drive public policy debate. He has also been called upon, by both BBC radio and television, to comment upon information security related incidents.

“One of the sharpest minds in Info Security”

[expand title=”In detail”] Bruce’s formal training was in law, finance and marketing. This, combined with experience in business development and resource management, led him to develop information and people centric approach to security where achieving acceptable levels of risk, and not 100% security, was his objective. His research, in particularly into Integrated Regional Information Security Strategies in 2007 and the challenges of SME adoption of security best practice brought him into contact with the UK House of Parliament, national policy advisors, information security and assurance bodies, leading IT securityindustry vendors, cyber security thinktanks, research councils andEuropean government.
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[expand title=”What he offers you”]Bruce helps executive management to understand information security risks to their strategic and operational objectives providing insights into opportunities and challenges with regards to information security management. He puts down his success in information security to storytelling, facts, figures, metaphors and delivering against expectations.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]In his presentations, Bruce likes to draw parallels between events happening around us, and information security, and raise awareness of these through Twitter, his blog and The Analogies Project.[/expand]

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Cybersecurity Expert

Keren Elazari is an internationally celebrated researcher, author and speaker on all matters related to cybersecurity and hacker culture. Since 2000, Keren has worked with leading security firms, public organizations, Big 4 and Fortune 500 companies. Her research and writing about security has been featured in Scientific American, WIRED, CNN and she has been quoted, interviewed and frequently contributes to leading newspapers and magazines such as Focus, Der Spiegel and Neue Zuricher Zeitung amongst others. Keren’s 2014 TED talk has been viewed by 1.5 million people and was translated into 25 languages.

“Keren’s 2014 TED talk was selected for TED’s list of ‘Most Powerful Ideas’

[expand title=”In detail”] Keren holds a CISSP certification and Masters in Security Studies from the prestigious Security & Technology workshop at Tel Aviv University where she is a senior researcher with the Balvatnik Interdisciplinary Cyber Research Center. In 2012, she held the position of Security Teaching Fellow with Singularity University, NASA Research Park, California.[/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]Keren Elazari moves through business, academic and security circles, researching new technologies and emerging security threats. Inspired by science fiction and fuelled by insatiable curiosity, Keren spent years investigating the darker corners of cyberspace. Today, she emerges with a new understanding of the hacker underworld.[/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]Challenging and thought provoking, Keren’s presentations are always a highlight at conferences around the globe.[/expand]

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