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Speaker Biographies

AI/DATA INNOVATION STRATEGIES – SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES – March 25, 2026

 

Johann Beukes, Fractional CTO, Chief AI Officer, Svitla

Johann Beukes helps growth-stage companies turn artificial intelligence from a buzzword into measurable business value. As a Chief AI Officer, he defines and executes technology strategies that move from whiteboard to production. His work focuses on getting AI and ML initiatives shipped, scaled, and aligned with real business outcomes rather than remaining costly experiments.

With more than 25 years in software development and over 15 years in data science and AI, Johann brings deep technical expertise combined with executive-level judgment.

Johann’s approach is grounded in the belief that successful organizations are not “AI companies,” but companies that use AI effectively. His current focus includes leading AI practice development, building and scaling technical teams for high-growth environments, and implementing practical AI and ML solutions that deliver ROI faster.

 

Kevin Davis, Vice President of Applied AI and Data, CBTS

Kevin Davis is the Vice President of Applied AI and Data at CBTS, where he leads the strategic integration of advanced intelligence and modern data architectures for global enterprise clients. With a focus on moving beyond AI experimentation to industrial-scale application, Kevin is a vocal advocate for “defensible AI”—a paradigm that prioritizes proactive security and resilience as the foundation for innovation.

At CBTS, Kevin works at the intersection of product technology and delivery, ensuring that enterprise data infrastructures are optimized to fuel the next generation of secure, compliant, and scalable AI-driven business outcomes. He is dedicated to helping organizations build lasting trust in their AI initiatives, allowing them to innovate with confidence in an increasingly complex threat landscape.

 

Stéphan Donzé, Founder, AODocs

Stéphan Donzé is the Founder of AODocs, a software company he created from the idea that the enterprise’s need for compliance and efficient processes is not contradictory with a good user experience. Prior to founding AODocs, he was VP of Engineering at Exalead, a leading enterprise search company. After Exalead was acquired by Dassault Systèmes in 2010, he relocated to California from Paris as VP of Product Strategy.

Stéphan has a master’s degree in software engineering from Ecole Polytechnique in France (X96). With 25 years of experience in enterprise software, he is passionate about helping enterprises turn their unstructured data into business assets. 

 

Chadd Engel, AI Initiatives & Outcomes Assessment Manager, Waubonsee Community College

Chadd Engel is an AI and learning systems leader whose work sits at the intersection of generative AI, pedagogy, data infrastructure, and institutional transformation. Across his career, he has been a Computer Science for All advocate, working across K–12, higher education, and community-based settings to expand access to computing, data literacy, and emerging technologies.

His background spans system design, platform implementation, and analytics, with experience in Python, R, enterprise analytics workflows, data visualization, and data governance. He has led and supported institutional ecosystems that include learning management systems, assessment platforms, adaptive learning tools, student success and analytics systems, and enterprise collaboration environments—strengthening evidence-informed decision-making and organizational coherence.

Chadd is a Ph.D. candidate in Curriculum Studies at DePaul University (defense: March 11, 2026). His research examines the impact of generative AI on human learning, with a focus on transparency, ethics, and safeguarding human agency within automated systems. His work emphasizes AI not as a standalone tool, but as institutional infrastructure that must be governed, accountable, and aligned with human values.

A father of three, Chadd’s thinking about learning is shaped as much at home as it is in professional settings. Watching his children collaboratively design complex digital worlds through curiosity and play reinforced a guiding belief in his work: innovation does not begin with content delivery—it begins with environments that invite inquiry.

Across roles in enterprise technology, data systems, and education, he is guided by a core principle: transparency is a prerequisite during times of transformation and disruption.

 

Rit Faisal, Senior Enterprise Architect, College of American Pathologists

Rit Faisal is a senior Enterprise Architect with a distinguished track record of leading digital transformation across healthcare, insurance, financial services, and retail industries. He specializes in defining enterprise technology strategy and delivering scalable, secure, and future-ready architecture solutions that align with complex business objectives. Throughout his career, Rit has guided organizations through major transformation initiatives including cloud migration, application modernization, data platform integration, and customer experience enhancement. He has architected end-to-end enterprise solutions involving real-time, batch, and asynchronous integration, robust data flows, and future-state technology roadmaps.

Rit has also led enterprise-wide AI initiatives, working with cross-functional teams to identify opportunities for intelligent automation, optimize customer interactions, and enable data-driven decision-making. His approach emphasizes practical AI integration that enhances business value while maintaining architectural coherence and compliance. A collaborative and strategic leader, Rit brings together product, data, infrastructure, and security teams to drive enterprise alignment and accelerate innovation. He is known for establishing strong governance practices, promoting architectural standards, and delivering technology ecosystems that are resilient, adaptable, and strategically aligned.

 

James (Jim) MacLennan, Maker Turtle LLC; Former CIO, IDEX

James MacLennan (Jim) is the Founder of Maker Turtle LLC, an advisory firm helping organizations build sustainable, scalable businesses that unlock value for customers, employees, and communities. Through Maker Turtle’s portfolio of services (including the upcoming JazzAI virtual advisor), Jim helps leaders navigate digital transformation with practical frameworks grounded in decades of real-world experience.

Jim also leads Advisory Consulting services for VentureDNA, an established venture capital firm from Chicago. Services include defining and refining product strategy, revenue and operations, and investor outreach. VentureDNA helps early-stage companies in a range of disciplines.

Jim has 35+ years of experience in a variety of business models and markets, translating strategic drivers into tactical plans and tangible results. His career spans industries including manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, consumer durables, industrial products, and consumer package goods.

Jim’s latest book, Don’t Think So Much, lays out his vision for accelerating business with technology. He regularly speaks on digital and leadership topics, and publishes his insights at MakerTurtle.com

 

Doug Parker, Senior Vice President, JBS Dev

Doug Parker combines a strong technical background as a former developer with excellent personal and leadership skills to lead the team at JBS Dev. Doug interfaces with existing customers and prospective clients’ leadership to fully understand modern IT challenges and try to align with JBS Dev’s core capabilities.

 

Debashis Rana, VP Data and AI Markets, Myridius

Debashis Rana is Vice President of the Data & AI Practice at Myridius, leading market-facing efforts in data, analytics, AI, and generative AI. With nearly four decades of experience in the professional services industry, he brings deep expertise across multiple domains and industry verticals, helping clients drive innovation and measurable outcomes.

 

Duncan Robinson, Director – Principal Research Scientist – AI & Optimization, Franklin Templeton 

Bio to come!

 

Ankur Varma, CEO & Founder, Turgon ai

Ankur Varma is a two-time Founder and a seasoned executive with a proven track record of scaling businesses and driving growth. Ankur previously served as President at Course Hero, where he scaled the business 10x to a $3.6B valuation in five years, achieving a 43% CAGR at 20%+ EBITDA. He was the Founder and CEO of Plonked, a fintech startup, which was acquired by Fiserv. Ankur spent several years at Microsoft where he was part of the founding team of Xbox. In addition to his leadership roles, he is an active board member, investor, and advisor for various AI startups in Silicon Valley.

 

Aureo Zanon, Director, Data Analytics & Engineering, HAVI

Aureo Zanon is the Director of Data Operations, Engineering, and Agentic AI at HAVI Global Planning & Analytics, where he leads advanced data initiatives that drive strategic innovation across supply chain and analytics operations. At HAVI, he combines deep technical expertise in data engineering, machine learning, and AI to solve complex business problems and scale intelligent systems.

He brings decades of global experience spanning leadership roles in analytics, supply chain optimization, and technology development. Prior to HAVI, he held senior data science and analytics positions at United Airlines and played key roles in engineering and operational functions across major corporations earlier in his career.

He is also an Adjunct Instructor in the Engineering Division at Penn State Great Valley, where he teaches and mentors on engineering and data-driven topics. Aureo holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from UNICAMP and advanced graduate degrees in applied statistics, data analytics, business, and engineering, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Engineering focused on Agentic AI applications for Supply Chain Planning. His professional interests include generative AI, autonomous agents, supply chain analytics, and data science applications that enhance organizational impact.