SUMMIT OF THINGS 2026

Dr. Ray Islam (Mohammad Rubyet Islam) is the author of Generative AI, Cybersecurity, and Ethics (Wiley), a widely catalogued academic and professional reference available through hundreds of university libraries worldwide. He is an accomplished leader in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Digital Transformation, with extensive experience across both industry and academia.

Dr. Islam has held leadership and advisory roles with Fortune 500 and Fortune Global 500 organizations, including Deloitte, Booz Allen Hamilton, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, and the U.S. Department of Commerce. His work has supported major government and commercial organizations, including the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Space Force, NASA, the General Services Administration (GSA), the White House, Capital One Bank, Carrefour, Walmart, ALCOA and others.

A professor, researcher, and technology leader, Dr. Islam has led multimillion-dollar initiatives across financial services, insurance, healthcare, government, manufacturing, retail, and defense sectors. With five academic degrees earned across five countries, he brings a global perspective to innovation, technology strategy, and organizational transformation. He is currently pursuing a Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Finance at Harvard University.

Lewin Wanzer is an enterprise AI governance strategist, Microsoft architect, author, and founder of Tourque AI with more than 25 years of experience helping organizations modernize enterprise collaboration and AI. Having worked with Microsoft, NASA Headquarters, Raytheon, BP, NIH, NOAA, and other government and commercial organizations, he specializes in AI governance, Microsoft 365, SharePoint, enterprise architecture, and process intelligence. Lewin is the author of Implementing SharePoint 2019 and My Journey from Mainframe to AI. His presentations explore how governance transforms AI from an impressive technology into a trusted enterprise capability.

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I have worked on an amazing and fun array of topics over the years. Deep expertise in data science, AI, ML and big graphs applied to multiple domains: IoT, Eldercare, Watson Health and Watson Financial Services (NLP). Consultant to national and international clients. All had deep technical elements and most involved business elements working with senior executives. Recognized dynamic speaker with clients at conferences and classes.

I am a member of IBM's Academy of Technology (800 of IBM's top technical talent) and an IBM Master Inventor with 47 issued patents.

I have recently earned a PhD in computer science, with research focused on the AI of multi-agent systems and a formal logic of "commitments". This kind of research has tremendous potential in our increasingly interconnected world.

I am an author of multiple published books and refereed academic papers.

I am also a prolific programmer. Current favorite technologies are Java, Python, Jupyter, Spark, TensorFlow, Groovy, Gremlin, Gradle and TDA (topological data analysis).

I blog about these topics at knowledgereactor.ai/blog.

Most network-effects literature assumes humans are the dominant interaction participants. IoT structurally changes that. My research explores what happens to platform theory and ecosystem design when machines increasingly generate the interaction density.

I am an independent, self-taught researcher focused on how platform theory, network effects, interoperability, and ecosystem design apply to the future evolution of IoT.
My research centers on a core question:

How do network effects scale when machines — not humans — increasingly become the dominant interaction participants inside networking ecosystems?

Over the years, I have independently studied:
- IoT ecosystems
- Platform theory
- Network effects
- Digital transformation
- Smart-home ecosystems
- Interoperability
- AI infrastructure trends
- Consumer technology adoption
- Operating-system/platform models

My perspective differs from most traditional IoT discussions because I view IoT fundamentally as:
Networking interactions between:
- People-to-Machine (P2M)
- Machine-to-Machine (M2M)
I believe the future scaling of IoT will increasingly depend on:
- interaction density,
- interoperability,
- orchestration,
- ecosystem continuity, and the ability to absorb operational fragmentation as networking environments evolve and scale over time.

A major focus of my research is understanding why existing digital transformation and network-effects literature — which is largely human-participation-centric — may not structurally translate to IoT as machine interactions increasingly dominate networking ecosystems.
I am particularly interested in:
- Consumer IoT ecosystems
- Smart-home evolution
- Platform economics
- Interoperability as interaction infrastructure
- Ecosystem governance models
- IoT -> Network Effects → Data → AI scaling dynamics
- The long-term evolution of machine-centric networking environments

My work is entirely self-directed and research-driven.
I do not come from a traditional technical or academic background in IoT. My perspective has been developed independently through years of studying technology ecosystems, platform models, market structures, and the evolution of connected systems.
I use LinkedIn primarily to:
- share research and ideas,
- challenge assumptions around IoT,
- connect concepts across disciplines, and learn from others in the field.

# Mark E.S. Bernard, CISSP, CISA, CISM, CGEIT, CRISC
## Executive Product Strategist for AI Governance & Cyber Risk Platforms
Mark E.S. Bernard is a globally experienced cybersecurity executive, AI governance strategist, and enterprise transformation leader with more than 25 years of experience helping organizations navigate complex technology, risk, compliance, and operational challenges across Canada and the United States.

As Founder and Executive Director of the Bernard Institute, Mark specializes in building scalable governance frameworks that integrate artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, enterprise risk management, privacy, compliance, and business strategy into unified operating models. His work focuses on helping boards, executives, and public-sector leaders deploy trusted AI while strengthening organizational resilience and regulatory readiness.

Throughout his career, Mark has led cybersecurity, governance, risk, and compliance programs for government agencies, financial institutions, healthcare organizations, critical infrastructure providers, technology startups, and multinational enterprises. He has successfully delivered ISO/IEC 27001 Information Security Management Systems (ISMS), SOC 2 Type II programs, CMMC readiness initiatives, AI governance frameworks aligned with ISO/IEC 42001, and enterprise risk management programs based on NIST, COBIT, COSO ERM, and ISO 31000.
Mark is recognized for leading several pioneering certification and transformation initiatives, including supporting the first Canadian government organization, Canadian banking operations, and Canadian space-sector organizations in achieving internationally recognized security and governance certifications. He has also directed large-scale cloud, SAP, cybersecurity, and digital transformation programs across North America.

His leadership philosophy combines human-centered governance with practical business outcomes. He believes that successful AI adoption requires more than technology—it requires trust, accountability, transparency, and operational discipline. This perspective has shaped his work developing enterprise AI governance models, sovereign trust risk frameworks, and executive advisory programs focused on responsible AI innovation.

A long-standing member of ISACA and a CISSP certification holder for more than two decades, Mark regularly publishes research and thought leadership on AI governance, cybersecurity strategy, digital trust, and organizational resilience. His work explores the intersection of emerging technologies, regulatory expectations, and executive decision-making in an increasingly autonomous world.

Today, Mark serves as a trusted advisor to executives, boards of directors, government agencies, and technology leaders seeking to build resilient, trustworthy, and future-ready organizations in the age of artificial intelligence.

Jim Morrish is a Founding Partner of Transforma Insights. He is a respected Digital Transformation, Internet of Things, and Artificial Intelligence industry expert, with over 25 years’ experience of strategy consulting, operations management and telecoms research. Jim is responsible for the addition of the term Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) networking to the lexicon of the IoT, and is a co-author of the Ignite|IoT project management framework for IoT and the accompanying book entitled “Enterprise IoT”.

Yumna Aysen is an international Success Coach, Motivational Speaker, and host of The Life Unlock Code podcast. Originally from South Africa and now based in New York City, she brings a deeply global and human-centered perspective to leadership, personal development, and communication.

With an MBA in Coaching, Mentoring, and Leadership and over seven years of experience coaching professionals from JP Morgan Chase, Disney, and across diverse industries, Yumna helps individuals build confidence, clarity, and authentic personal brands that resonate. Her work centers on human connection as the foundation for meaningful leadership - a theme inspired by the South African philosophy of Ubuntu (“I am because we are”), which shapes her approach to coaching and speaking.

Yumna’s insights have been featured in Entrepreneur, Medium, national TV and radio in South Africa, and global stages where she speaks about authenticity, purpose, and the future of human-centered leadership in a rapidly evolving digital world. Her mission is to help people unlock their potential, tell their stories boldly, and lead with humanity - especially as technology transforms how we connect and communicate.

[email protected]

NetGainIT.com | CyberCrimeJunkies.com

David Dean Mauro, J.D.

Cybersecurity & AI Speaker | Author, Moving Target Trilogy | Host, Cyber Crime Junkies | FBI InfraGard

David Dean Mauro reaches thousands of decision-makers who follow him across Cyber Crime Junkies, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Substack — an audience of non-technical business leaders, SMB owners, and executives who are actively looking for solutions to cybercrime and AI risk. He is the author of the Moving Target Trilogy (Book 1 reached #1 New Release on Amazon), VP of Growth at NetGain Technologies (SOC 2 Type II certified MSSP), FBI InfraGard member, and a sought-after keynote speaker to national associations, Fortune 1000 companies, and industry conferences across the healthcare, manufacturing, and AI security sectors. His audience trusts him because he has no product to sell them. He has spent 27 years translating how criminal operations actually work into language that gets people to act.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it", is a seriously bad idea when it comes to business. The business environment is not static and you can't afford to be static. I am a firm believer in progress and looking for ways to improve, to innovate ... to think differently.

I'm currently focused on the world of data - all data. It is an inescapable fact that our current centralized approach to storing, securing, managing and using data is hopelessly ill-equipped to deal with today's volume, variety and velocity of data.

We live in a world where data is generated, processed and utilized on billions of distributed devices. Yet, our current data management model is centralized - we aggregate and store "dumb" data in warehouses, lakes etc. and build massively expensive and inefficient infrastructure to manage, secure and make sense of this dumb data.

There is a better way - that's why we built PrivacyChain.
- The right data, in the right place, in the right format and, crucially, for as long as it needs to be there.
- Dynamic and optimized distribution of data across all devices.
- Intelligent data in which every data record know everything about itself and is directly findable by query - Security, control, rights enforcement built into the data layer and enforced on every individual data record.

Starting with UAV's, autonomous equipment and vehicles where current events are showing just how far behind we are in how we manage data across distributed devices.

Feel free to connect or engage (DM) if these topics resonate.

My LinkedIn Profile

Karl J. Weaver is the founder of Newport Technologies, created in Puget Sound in 1999 to evangelize the design-in of cutting-edge mobile/wireless technologies for the APAC ICT manufacturing supply chain. Karl is a bilingual Mandarin Chinese speaking US Citizen, career Asian mobile device & wireless industry GTM Biz Dev Veteran with decades of global expertise/experiences, having worked for Zetron (Redmond 1993-1999) in the Land Mobile Radio Communications Control/signaling equipment world, for Freeacale Semiconductor in Tempe, AZ (2004-05), with Gemalto (Thales) & Trustonic in the smartcard ecosystem working in Beijing, China (2008-2013), at ARM promoting eSIM/iSIM (2016-2018), and for Aitos.io pitching design-in of IoT + Blockchain SDK integration into cellular IoT modules to build a Green energy data infra network in Singapore (2020-2024). My career is in wireless technology and global markets, and I worked as an expatriate for 18+ years in Taiwan, the Netherlands, Mainland China, and Singapore. I jumped into the Satellite ecosystem in 2026, and today will deliver a presentation titled: “Global Satellite IoT Ecosystem & Multi-Orbit D2D/D2C Services.” In 2026, there is a revolution ongoing for Satellite D2D & D2C communications on Smartphones and Smart IoT Devices. Cell Towers in the Skies are coming!

Rajdeep Biswas is a senior Data, AI, and Industrial Technology executive with 20 years of experience building enterprise-scale data platforms, AI systems, IoT-enabled solutions, and advanced analytics capabilities across manufacturing, energy, retail, financial services, and supply chain. He has held leadership roles at Microsoft, Neudesic/IBM, GEP Worldwide, Hortonworks, and JPMorgan Chase, where he has led large global teams and delivered measurable business impact through cloud modernization, AI adoption, data engineering, machine learning, digital transformation, and governed enterprise analytics.

Raj’s work sits at the intersection of AI, IoT, edge intelligence, digital twins, real-time analytics, and responsible enterprise adoption. He has helped organizations modernize legacy platforms, scale AI from pilots to production, and build trusted data foundations for intelligent connected ecosystems. His experience includes industrial AI, cloud-scale analytics, real-time monitoring, retail, manufacturing and energy transformation, and AI-driven operating models.

Raj is also active in the technology community as an advisor, speaker, mentor, and industry contributor.

For this event, Raj brings a practical executive perspective on how enterprises can move beyond experimentation and build scalable, secure, and value-generating AIoT and intelligent automation ecosystems.

Chris LaPré is an IoT strategist and ecosystem architect with more than two decades of experience at the intersection of technology standards, connected devices, and market strategy. As a leading voice in the development of Matter, Aliro, and Zigbee during seven years as Head of Technology at the Connectivity Standards Alliance, he helped shape the protocols now embedded in hundreds of millions of devices worldwide.

Today, Chris leads IntentIoT LLC, an advisory consultancy helping companies navigate the IoT landscape, from product strategy and standards positioning to go-to-market execution. His clients span hardware makers, software platforms, and emerging IoT ventures.

A recognized industry voice, Chris was named to Business Insider's 100 People Transforming Business (2022) and recognized as a Parks Associates Top Leader in Technology (2023–2025).

Global AI Governance Leader | Cybersecurity Executive | International Keynote Speaker | Author

Dr. Mavis Ofe is a globally recognized AI Governance Leader, Cybersecurity Executive, international keynote speaker, author, and Founder & CEO of Eyongest Technology Group LLC. She is at the forefront of helping organizations navigate one of the defining challenges of our time: how to ensure humanity remains in control as Artificial Intelligence becomes embedded in millions of intelligent connected devices.

As AI transforms industries, critical infrastructure, healthcare, transportation, finance, manufacturing, and smart cities, Dr. Ofe challenges leaders to think beyond innovation and ask the more important questions: Who is accountable when AI makes decisions? How do we govern increasingly autonomous systems? And how do we build a future where technology serves humanity, not the other way around?

Through Eyongest Technology Group, Dr. Ofe advises organizations, develops AI governance strategies, and equips executives and technology professionals with the knowledge and practical skills needed to build secure, trustworthy, and responsibly governed AI systems. Her expertise spans AI governance, cybersecurity, AI risk management, responsible AI, third-party risk, regulatory compliance, and emerging technology strategy.

Driven by a passion for preparing society for the AI era, Dr. Ofe is also the Founder of MentorMa, a global leadership and mentorship platform, and Co-Founder of MaMiMa Global Foundation, a nonprofit organization advancing education, technology, innovation, leadership development, entrepreneurship, and community empowerment for children, youth, and underserved communities worldwide.

A prolific author, Dr. Ofe has written multiple books on Artificial Intelligence, AI governance, leadership, and empowerment, including the Guardians of Tomorrow children's series, which inspires young people to understand AI, not just use it and Unstoppable: The Rise of Africa's Daughters, celebrating resilience, leadership, and the transformative power of women.

A sought-after international speaker, Dr. Ofe is recognized for translating complex AI and cybersecurity challenges into practical strategies that help leaders innovate with confidence while preserving human accountability. Her message is clear: The future will not be defined by how intelligent Artificial Intelligence becomes, it will be defined by how wisely humanity chooses to govern it.

Joya Scarlata is an AI strategy and marketing leader focused on what happens after organizations adopt intelligent technology: how decisions, accountability, and ways of working must evolve around it. As Director of Digital Marketing at InterraIT, she works at the intersection of AI, business transformation, and organizational readiness.

Named one of the Top 25 Women Leaders in AI in 2026, Joya has spoken at TEDx, We Make Future in Bologna, Digital Marketing Europe, and the Thames Valley AI Summit. She is also the co-host of The Marketer’s Guide to the AI Galaxy and writes Signals & Strategy, a newsletter examining AI beyond the hype.

Her work explores AI literacy, governance, human judgment, and the operating models organizations need to turn emerging technology into responsible, measurable business value.

OA Quantum Labs: Pioneering quantum-AI hybrids for breakthrough solutions in finance, identity, and beyond. Let's rethink your projects, DM to explore. I and my companies are on the forefront of quantum computing and artificial intelligence.

Hemant Soni is a highly accomplished technology and product leader with recognized expertise in digital transformation and platform innovation across the Telecom, Media, and Technology (TMT) sectors. With over 22 years of experience at global firms such as Capgemini, Evalueserve, and Vodafone, he has consistently demonstrated exceptional technical and strategic capabilities in delivering transformative solutions.

His expertise lies in architecting AI-powered platforms that have revolutionized digital customer experiences, improved operational efficiency, and driven measurable advancements in product development. Hemant’s ability to integrate intelligent automation into enterprise systems has resulted in significant business impact and elevated customer engagement.
Throughout his career, Hemant has applied his deep expertise in business analysis, application architecture, and data-driven strategies to lead complex, large-scale telecom initiatives. His innovative thinking and strategic execution have delivered substantial value across diverse business environments.

Hemant’s core areas of expertise include digital transformation, telecom network operations, and service solution development, with a strong emphasis on product innovation, infrastructure modernization, and customer experience platforms. He is widely regarded as a thought leader in the TMT industry, known for his forward-looking approach and influential contributions.

Grounded in globally recognized frameworks such as SAFe Agile, ITIL, and eTOM, Hemant excels in managing high-impact projects aligned with industry standards. In addition to his technical leadership, he actively mentors emerging professionals in product management and artificial intelligence, reflecting his commitment to advancing the field and nurturing future innovators.

As a Research Director at IDC, Rob is a cloud infrastructure analyst and strategist. He's held executive leadership roles at Ericsson, Hitachi, and Microsoft and is a globally recognized pioneer and leader in IoT and Digital Twin technologies.

As Vice President and Head of IoT Strategy at Ericsson, he drove 5G connection management with the IoT Accelerator and participated in global M&A activities. As Chief Technology Officer at Hitachi, he received the Presidential “Product of the Year” award for designing the Lumada Industrial IoT platform which landed in Gartner’s “Leaders” Magic Quadrant. Spending most of his career at Microsoft, Rob was Director and Global Technology Lead for the Azure IoT cloud platform which also made it to Gartner’s “Leaders Quadrant.” Prior to Microsoft, he co-founded NetPerceptor developing one of the industry’s earliest Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) platforms for smartphones.

As a bestselling author and keynote speaker, Rob is a frequently sought-after source of insights globally. He’s been featured in Wired, Forbes, CIO, Fierce Wireless, Inc. Magazine, Dataconomy, Thinkers360, Onalytica, Mobile World Live, Techonomy, and SXSW.

Rob is a U.S. Navy Submarine veteran.

Jeff Kagan is an Industry Analyst, Strategic Advisor, Tech Influencer or TechFluencer, and Columnist who follows the companies and technologies transforming business and society, including AI, wireless communications, telecommunications, broadband, pay TV, IoT, and related technology sectors.

Kagan advises CEOs and senior leadership teams navigating the AI era and has written thousands of columns and articles translating technology trends into practical business insights.

Ellethea is the Founder and CEO of The Ethical Compass AI, an Alberta-based organization dedicated to helping businesses adopt AI responsibly. As an AI ethics expert, Ellethea works with organizations — including nonprofits — to navigate the practical and ethical challenges of AI deployment, translating complex governance and accountability principles into actionable AI policy for real-world contexts. Ellethea has spoken at the ATLE Emerge Conference 2026 and the IAPP Knowledge Network

If you can’t tell a story, you probably don’t understand it.

Emmanuel Ahishakiye is a senior at the University of Rochester studying Computer Science with a concentration in Artificial Intelligence and Business Information Systems. He is a software engineer and entrepreneur building AI systems that help people and organizations work with knowledge more effectively.

He is the Founder and CEO of Foundly, an AI platform for the aviation industry that helps airports and airlines modernize lost item recovery through intelligent matching, workflow automation, and enterprise software.

At Fiduciary Trust International, a Franklin Templeton company, Emmanuel works as an AI, Data and Process Optimization Intern, where he develops solutions involving large language models, retrieval systems, institutional knowledge management, knowledge graphs, and AI powered automation to improve how information is captured, organized, and shared across the firm.

He also contributes to MemVerge, supporting the development of AI infrastructure for large language models with a focus on memory architectures and retrieval systems.

Previously, Emmanuel worked as a Salesforce AI Software Engineering Intern at Cendance Systems, where he built AI powered enterprise applications and cloud based solutions.

In addition to his engineering work, Emmanuel writes The Latitude Series, beginning with AI: The Past, the Present, and the Future of Humanity. The series explores the history, ideas, and technologies behind artificial intelligence, bringing together perspectives from computer science, philosophy, business, and society.

His work brings together software engineering, artificial intelligence, and product development, with a focus on building practical systems that solve real world problems while making complex ideas easier to understand.

Tell me your story, and I’ll tell you mine.