Coalition Members

Adrien Abecassis is a French career diplomat and a former senior advisor to the President of France (2012–2017). He has held academic fellowships at Harvard University and UCLA and is currently serving as Chief Policy Officer of the Paris Peace Forum.

Deborah Acosta is CEO of WeAccel, a civic innovation firm advancing community resilience through open, interoperable Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). Teamed with Ann Marcus, their collaborations empower communities to identify their most urgent need – beginning with infrastructure – and then applies AI and emerging technologies to accelerate climate-responsive solutions in energy, mobility, and communication. WeAccel specializes in convening public-private ecosystems that turn visionary ideas into practical, real-world impact.

Johnny is an experienced professional across various industries and technologies, currently focused on building a startup that provides AI solutions for small businesses.

Sayeed Ahmed has 20 years’ experience in Telco industry. Focused on Agentic AI workflows for Cleantech, Sports & Entertainment.

Olivier Bacs is the CTO and co-founder of Bendi, where he builds AI-powered tools that help companies gain visibility into their supply chains and collaborate more effectively with suppliers. His work combines geospatial analysis, automation, and natural language processing to uncover hidden risks while making complex compliance processes easier to navigate. Olivier is especially focused on decentralized and ethical approaches to AI, ensuring that technology enhances trust, equity, and resilience across global value chains.

Where he works with startups, investors and ecosystem partners to build new businesses in AI, HealthTech and CleanTech. He previously led innovation at Orange, Mozilla and the U.S. National Science Foundation, collaborated with the White House on advanced computing initiatives and co-founded a HealthTech startup. Will holds a PhD in Neurosciences from UC San Diego and a BS with Honors in Symbolic Systems, Stanford’s interdisciplinary computer science program.

John Barton, Founder & Executive Director of the Spectrum Gaming Project, is an AI strategist and governance architect focused on building ethical systems for underserved markets. With a Master’s in Counseling and decades in community education, he has delivered over 10,000 trainings in neurodiversity, education, and innovation. Based in Appalachia, his work has been recognized and adopted by the American Bar Association, the ACLU of West Virginia, Americorps VISTA Leaders, and the WV Community Development Hub.

Taylor Black is Director of AI & Venture Ecosystems in Microsoft’s Office of the CTO, where he designs and leads cross-company initiatives that integrate innovation, product development, and community engagement. With 19+ years of experience launching and scaling ventures across enterprise, deep tech, and social ecosystems, he brings a multidisciplinary background as a developer, educator, lawyer, entrepreneur, and venture builder. He mentors and invests in early-stage startups through networks such as Conduit Venture Labs and Fizzy Ventures. Taylor also helps shape Catholic University of America’s new institute at the intersection of AI, innovation, and human flourishing.

Victor L. Brown is a seasoned leader with extensive experience within both large global companies and start-ups where he has spent decades driving technology innovations across global markets.; Victor has driven business success as a leader and as a hands-on practitioner of best-practice approaches across engineering, marketing, business development & sales. Victor now cherishes the opportunity to explore ways to utilize AI to advance society.

Micah Boster is the founder and Principal at Nighthawk Advisors, where he works with early-stage technology companies on execution, AI strategy, and positioning. Previously, he spent eight years at Google and over a decade as an executive at several NYC-based startups. He holds a BS in Symbolic Systems from Stanford and an MBA from INSEAD.

Dr. Mathilde Cerioli is the Chief Scientist and cofounder of everyone.ai, a nonprofit dedicated to anticipating and educating on the opportunities and risks of AI for children. She holds a Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience and a Master’s Degree in Psychology, with a research focus on how AI intersects with cognitive and socioemotional development in children, adolescents, and young adults. In May 2024, she published the influential report Child Development in the AI Era, examining the potential impact of emerging technologies on cognitive and socioemotional development.

Dr. Irene Chen is the founder and CEO of Magvolts Energy, developing a novel biodegradable battery system to eliminate critical minerals and toxic e-waste. Her patent-pending modular design powers single-use energy pods for off-grid, IoT, and consumer devices—no charging or lithium required. A PhD-trained materials engineer with industry roots at Intel and Lockheed Martin, she bridges breakthrough science with real-world impact.

Darlene was an early co-founder in the drone transport industry, a former Vice President at Singularity University, and the author of a book on impact technology companies.

Jami Diaz is a community pioneer with over 15 years of experience building online communities for global tech giants including Intuit, PayPal, eBay, and Yahoo. In her current role at LG NOVA, she works closely with startups, investors and ecosystem partners to build new businesses in AI, HealthTech and CleanTech. She’s passionate about enhancing experiences to foster reciprocal, value-driven relationships.

Carolyn Eagen is the Founder and CEO of Kin Technologies and Kinstak, an AI-native platform pioneering private digital legacy management and decentralized digital asset manager for families and SMBs. She brings over 20 years of leadership in product strategy and innovation. Carolyn is passionate about building ethical, user-centered systems that unlock access, equity, and long-term resilience in the age of AI.

A technology leader and innovator, Dr. Christy Fernandez-Cull is an award-winning entrepreneur and visionary thought leader in the fields of autonomous systems, sensor architecture, and AI-driven technologies for mobility and health. As the CEO of DaVinci Wearables, she is at the forefront of revolutionizing digital health through innovative wearables and sensor technologies. With over two decades of experience, Christy has led teams at Waymo, Lyft, and Apple, where she played a role in the development of groundbreaking sensor systems, including autonomous vehicle technology and the first LiDAR module in the iPad. Her leadership spans across defense technologies at MIT Lincoln Laboratory to consumer-product technologies at Apple, making her a key figure in both the commercial and defense sectors. Christy holds a Ph.D. in Engineering from Duke University and an MBA from MIT.

Tin Hang Liu is the co-founder and CEO of Open Energy, and a Y Combinator alumnus developing AI-powered EV battery swap systems for sustainable transportation and logistics. His award-winning technology, recognized across Europe and Asia and hailed as the “DeepSeek moment” for EV infrastructure, is redefining how vehicles are powered. A recognized expert in New Mobility & Energy, Tin has shared insights at global forums including the Seoul Mobility Show 2025, IndiaEV by Entrepreneur Magazine, and CNBC Converge Live.

Annie Hanlon is Co-Founder/Partner of Playbook PLBK, focused on AI, storytelling, and innovation. An accomplished entertainment executive and award-winning producer, she is recognized for her impact at Netflix, Lytro, and Here Be Dragons. Annie is also Co-Founder of Playbook AIR, a platform designed to capture and verify human authorship in GenAI workflows, providing clear documentation to support copyright, protect creators, and ensure accountability. She is a sought-after industry speaker, a member of the Visual Effects Society, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and a board member of the Infinity Festival. Annie is a 2024 graduate of Space Camp (Huntsville, AL).

Stephanie Hockenberry serves as Growth & Retention Manager for Ohio County, WV, under the Ohio County Development Authority, where she champions initiatives that connect emerging talent with local business opportunities to foster long-term economic vitality. Her work blends strategic outreach with heartfelt community engagement, recruiting both residents and entrepreneurs to invest in the County’s future. Through youth pipeline development, collaborative marketing, and support for residential & business ecosystems, she positions Ohio County, West Virginia, as a welcoming and resilient place to plant new roots, build meaningful connections, and live your best life.

H. Timothy Hsiao is passionate about developing deep tech-solutions to address public health needs. His current focuses are radiological, quantum, and digital/AI technologies.

Dr. John Hsu practiced 32 years in anesthesia, chronic pain, and addiction medicine. He holds 8 granted patents in medical devices and drug development and was awarded a $1.9 NIDA/NIH grant. Dr. Hsu founded: iPill inc. a biometric secure pill dispenser to improve remote medication adherence; Quivivepharma a drug development company for an opioid-respiratory stimulant combination pill to make opioids safe and abuse deterrent; Fentavive a drug development company for a Narcan-respiratory stimulant combination injectable to address Narcan dosing ambiguity and is in the early stages of working with the DOD/DARPA; NAOMI systems, a practice management software company.

Aman Johar is CEO of DataCurve and focused on CleanTech plus Sports & Entertainment with AI to Craft New Revenue Streams.

Sylwana Kaźmierska is a Senior Data Scientist with over 8 years of experience developing machine learning solutions for business. She has worked with companies such as T-Mobile, Dyson, TomTom, AMD, and LEGO. Sylwana is also a TEDx speaker and was recognized as one of the Top 10 Women in AI in Poland as she actively explains AI to a broad audience in her home country.

Ram Krishnan is a cleantech executive, entrepreneur, and technologist with more than two decades of experience turning breakthrough research and engineering into global ventures. He currently leads cleantech incubation at LG NOVA, where he helps launch new businesses in areas including energy management, AI-driven software, electric vehicles, and grid modernization. Previously, he served as CTO of BrightNight, a global renewable energy company, and of NantEnergy, an Arizona State University spinout that pioneered the world’s first rechargeable metal-air battery. Ram is also an inventor with 50+ patents and has worked closely with universities as a lecturer, mentor, and entrepreneur-in-residence to bring research to market.

Christina Lee Storm is Co-Founder/Partner of Playbook PLBK, a consultancy specializing in AI, innovation and storytelling, and an award-winning producer and executive recognized for her work at major studios including Netflix, Universal, and DreamWorks Animation. She is also Co-Founder of Playbook AIR, a platform built to document and authenticate human authorship within GenAI workflows. Christina holds many leadership roles including Governor of the Television Academy's Emerging Media Programming peer group, Lead for the Academy’s Responsible AI & Production Standards Working Group, sits on the Producers Guild of America’s Production Innovation Task Force, and is a newly inducted member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, Class of 2025.

Originally from Toronto, Andrew has been with the Quebec Government Office in Seoul since early 2020, where he leads initiatives in research and innovation, spanning sectors such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, aerospace, and biotechnology. His role focuses on strengthening science, technology, and innovation collaboration between Quebec, Canada, and Korea. In addition to his official duties, Andrew holds several honorary positions. He serves as Chair of the International Public Cooperation Committee under the AX Association, affiliated with Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and is also President of the Yonsei Graduate School of International Studies Alumni Network. Before joining the Quebec Government Office, Andrew worked across a variety of sectors, including smart cities and broadcasting. In recognition of his contributions to strengthening ties between Seoul, Korea and Canada, he was awarded the honorary title of Seoul Honorary Citizen by the Mayor of Seoul in 2019.

Jess Loren is the CEO of Global Objects and a leader in AI-driven 3D scanning. She serves on the Television Academy’s Governors Board for Special Visual Effects and the Board of Managers for the Los Angeles Visual Effects Society. A Producers Guild of America member, Jess is also a proud wife and mother of three.

Environmental engineer, co-founder of BirdView, focused on applied entomology towards ecological pest control for public health and agriculture.

Ann M. Marcus is a Sonoma-raised, Portland-based communications strategist and ethical technology analyst focused on smart cities, community resilience, and public-interest innovation. She leads the Marcus Consulting Group and serves as director of ethical technology and communications at WeAccel.io, a public-good venture advancing mobility, communications, and energy solutions for communities. Ann has advised public and private organizations—including Cisco, the City of San Leandro, Nikon, AT&T, and InfoWorld—on trust-based data exchange, digital public infrastructure, resilience strategy, AI and more. Her current projects include a California senior evacuation program, a Portland robotics hub, and digital energy resource initiatives with utilities in Portland and the Bay Area.

Qiana Martin is a nationally recognized family caregiver advocate and creator of The Primary Caregiver ecosystem — a suite of AI-powered tools, physical resources, and corporate wellness talks designed to support caregivers balancing paid work and unpaid care. Her work addresses the intersection of healthcare, public health, and workplace burnout.

Roboticist and hardware engineer, co-founder of BirdView, focused on development and production of specialized equipment to release beneficial insects cost effectively over large areas.

Winston Morton is the CEO of Climative, a Canadian cleantech company delivering AI-powered carbon and energy insights at scale. With over 25 years of experience in energy, SaaS, and digital transformation, Winston is a serial entrepreneur and strategic leader in climate tech. He is driving innovation to accelerate building decarbonization and clean energy adoption across North America.

Jade Newton is a tech education professional, B2B consultant, and entrepreneur. With a background in linguistics and AI data, Jade advocates for the ethical and responsible development of emerging technologies, bridging the gap between human centered interaction and AI. Jade is also the Managing Director of Vertical Magazine, an online tech publication, and is deeply passionate about driving social impact through technology.

Refael Shamir, is a seasoned entrepreneur in the field of affective neuroscience, and is working towards introducing a new medium for gaining insights into spontaneous human reactions based on seamless integrations of devices in everyday environments. Refael is also a renowned speaker having presented his learnings in highly acclaimed conferences such as NVIDIA GTC, MOVE Mobility Re-Imagined, NeurotechX, among others.

Jiri Skopek is Architect, Smart Community Planner and Advisor for smart, green buildings and resilient and sustainable communities. He is best known for creating the GBI /ANSI Green Globes green building assessment standard. His current focus is on deployment of technologies to enhance communities’ economic development, resiliency, energy transition and decarbonization.

Svetlana Stotskaya is an award-winning global executive consultant and mentor. Svetlana is an active mentor for entrepreneurs at Techstars, Founder Institute, and Startup Wise Guys: the largest B2B accelerator in Europe. Featured in the World IP Changemakers' Gallery by the World Intellectual Property Organisation, she served on a jury board for international award competitions in innovation and technology.

Mark Wesson, MPH, FACHE, is a San Francisco Bay Area-based healthcare strategist and venture partner. With over 20 years of experience spanning clinical operations, digital health, and early-stage investment, he works with international founders, systems, and capital partners to accelerate the adoption of evidence-based, tech-enabled care. Mark is Managing Director at VitaX Ventures and a Venture Partner with Global Health Impact Fund. Mark brings deep expertise in healthcare innovation, implementation science, and strategic partnerships to his advisory roles worldwide.

Julia Yan is the CEO & Co-Founder of Baleena, where she leads efforts to redefine how the apparel industry measures and designs for durability. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and 776 Foundation Climate Fellow, she draws on her own founder journey to explore the opportunities and obstacles facing early-stage climate tech startups. Baleena, is where she leads efforts to redefine how the apparel industry measures and designs for durability. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and 776 Foundation Climate Fellow, she draws on her own founder journey to explore the opportunities and obstacles facing early-stage climate tech startups.

Wenli Yu, a serial entrepreneur and seasoned business executive of technology companies, currently serves as CEO of Archimedes Controls Corp., a Silicon Valley based technology innovator, designer and manufacturer of AI-powered industrial IoT solutions for industrial controls and automation, cloud and edge data centers, agriculture and environmental and transportation marketplaces.