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MEET THE SPEAKERS
16 JUNE
At Innovation Summit 2025, join top international speakers as they dive into the latest trends redefining the business landscape. Explore breakthroughs in bionic technologies, including next-generation bionic arms that merge human potential with intelligent design, and uncover how branding at the intersection of creativity and tech is shaping the future of customer engagement.
Take part in interactive sessions on design thinking, discover the importance of innovating in times of change, and learn why risk-taking is essential to breakthrough innovation.
Stay ahead, stay inspired!
Tilly Lockey
Active Ambassador and Co-developer of the Hero Arm, Influencer
Tilly's story is one of transformation. She is a motivational speaker, social media influencer, presenter, model, singer, advocate, and role model to people of all ages, as well as being an active ambassador and co-developer of the Hero Arm, the 3D-printed bionic arms which she wears produced by groundbreaking prosthetic company, Open Bionics. Tilly offers a unique perspective as somebody directly impacted by technology and its exponential growth, wearing it every day. She acts as the guinea pig, giving honest and crucial feedback to make this tech the best it can possibly be for herself and other amputees all around the world. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Bionically beautiful
Upen Barve
Chief Fusionist and Futuring Expert
Upen Barve is a fusionist, a dynamic business executive with over 20 years of experience, currently VP, Research & Innovation, SAP SE. He is an expert in strategic ecosystem engagement, bringing together corporates, startups or academia, with innovation networks to co-create futures—bridging business strategy with emerging technologies, that led him to engage with several high profile brands and transformative customers across the globe. He leverages his vast experience in technology, innovation, and management to help businesses stay future-ready. Upen is known for his creative mindset, bridging connections, and strategic influence. He has expertise in early-stage technology exploration engagements, business innovation strategies, and working closely with startups and scale-ups and government initiatives. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Launching Breakthroughs : Slingshot Model for Redefining Innovation 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Ready, aim, innovate! Upen Barve brings the Slingshot Model to life — showing how compressed ideas and well-timed tension can catapult your next big breakthrough. Innovation is transformative not an after thought!
Andrei Niculae
Vicepresident
Andrei Niculae has been serving as Vice-president of the Authority for the Digitalization of Romania since January 2023. As the youngest member of the Romanian Government, Andrei is a strong advocate for digital-first public policies. His strongest belief is that Romania has a once-in-a-generation opportunity: digital transformation. This implies the chance to rethink bureaucracy and the processes behind any public services offered to citizens. Andrei is a graduate of the Political Science Faculty @ the University of Bucharest and has fulfilled roles in strategic and crisis communication for the Romanian Gov. 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Opening Ceremony Bucharest Tech Week 2025
Octavian Ichim
CEO
Octavian Ichim, EMBA, CEO of Schwarz IT Romania, leads Schwarz IT division in Bucharest, part of Schwarz Digits, the IT and digital division of Schwarz Group. Schwarz Digits is the leading full-service provider of digital sovereignty in Europe. We provide our customers with Sovereign Cloud (STACKIT), Cyber Security (XM Cyber - embedded on STACKIT; XM Cyber can also be purchased via ISV marketplace), and AI/Data solutions. For Digits/STACKIT, it is important to get other attractive ISVs (independent software vendors) on board to run their services on the STACKIT cloud. We proudly partnered with ISVs like Google, SAP, ServiceNow, D.Velop, MicroStrategy, Aleph Alpha, and WIRE Octavian, a Bucharest University Computer Science graduate, has 28 years of experience in the IT industry. His leadership has been instrumental in coordinating projects, driving organizational transformations, and fostering relationships with customers, contractors, and stakeholders. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Overcoming the Unknown
Anton Kotov
Head of Corporate Strategy and M&A
Anton Kotov is heading Corporate Strategy and M&A for ABB Group ($32bn). Based out of the HQ in Zurich, Switzerland, Anton is leading the teams who run the Group Strategy & Portfolio, Business Intelligence, Enterprise Risk Management, Ventures Portfolio, and Corporate M&A. Prior to that, Anton served as a Global Head Strategy, Business Development, and Sustainability at ABB Electrification Business ($16bn). Before joining ABB in 2017, Anton spent 10 years in various roles at Schneider Electric where he was driving Business Optimization for the global business unit, worked on strategy projects and M&A deals within the Corporate Strategy & Development team, and held a position of Strategy VP for Global Segments & Strategic Accounts. Anton holds the MBA Degree from HEC Paris and IESE Business Schools. He also completed Executive Education Programs on M&A at London Business School, Strategic Sales at Harvard Business School, and Senior Leadership Development Program at IMD. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Running Corporate Strategy in a fully decentralized environment 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: ABB is global leader in electrifictaion and automatyion that has transformed from a centrally-driven to a decentralized enterprise. The session will cover how the Group Strategy department is running Corporate Strategy and Strategic Planning, including futureproofing & implementing strategic mandates for the company’s operating units, within the new set-up in the ABB Way.
Juan Campderá
CEO
Founding partner and CEO of We Are Aktivists, a leading ecosystem of creative agencies for the aspirational sector. More than twenty years captivating consumers through design and strategy for the best companies in the premium, prestige and lifestyle sector. Formed MAID by Central Saint Martins College and PDG by IESE Business School, completely passionate about entrepreneurship and active member of the investment ecosystem. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Purchase tension: Dopamine Brands 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Why do we crave what we don’t need? It’s not just clever marketing, it’s brain chemistry. Dopamine fuels desire, and norepinephrine creates tension. Together, they lock our attention and drive us to act. I’ll explore with you how modern brands use this chemistry to their advantage, crafting purchase tension through design, storytelling, and anticipation. From product reveals to visual cues, it’s not just about selling, it’s about making us want to buy. This is the psychology of desire in action, is your brand ready?
Thomas Kolarik
VP IT & Operations
IT executive COO/CTO with banking, IT-provider and start-up experience. Extensive experience in project delivery, operations and re-structuring in mission critical environments, mostly in financial services. Before that, built a consulting company from scratch after focusing on business growth as sales manager of a multi-national IT provider. Profound academic background. Supervisory board experience, University lecturer, Maker. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Opening Ceremony Bucharest Tech Week 2025
Julio Palazuelos Garrido
Pre-Sales Engineer
Julio serves as Pre-Sales Engineer at Samsung Electronics in The Netherlands having been part of the Samsung organization since 2020. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering with experience in different Cloud based solutions such as Magic Info Cloud, Lynk Cloud and now the pre-sales engineer as part of the SmartThings Pro task force set up to launch the connectivity product offering across Europe. Julio has been dedicated to the HVAC industry since 2019 with additional experience in Samsung’s visual display department in Spain. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: SmartThings Pro: the future of intelligent business management
Federico Menna
Chief Executive Officer
Federico is EIT Digital’s Chief Executive Officer since March 2023. Prior to that he was the Chief Operations/Finance Officer as well as interim Chief Executive Officer since November 2022. He is responsible for the overall management of the organization, including the development and implementation of strategic objectives and directions. He is also in charge of EIT Digital’s operational and financial processes as well as the supervision, coordination and management of EIT Digital support functions such as IT, HR, Communications and legal. In addition, he is driving the acquisition of new EU-wide private and public activities, partnerships and income streams. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Europe at the Crossroads: Balancing Risks and Rewards with Foresight 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: In times of crisis, the instinct to play it safe can be tempting—but for startups, scaleups, businesses, and even the public sector, bold decisions often lead to the biggest breakthroughs. Taking calculated risks drives innovation, unlocks new markets, and strengthens resilience in the face of disruption. For startups and scaleups, embracing risk can mean securing early market leadership and attracting strategic investment. For established businesses, it opens doors to diversification and technological advancement. And for the public sector, it enables more adaptive policymaking and effective crisis management. The key lies in combining risk-taking with strategic foresight—anticipating future challenges and opportunities to make informed, confident decisions. In a rapidly changing world, those who dare to take risks, guided by insight and preparation, are the ones who shape the future.
Dominik Heinrich
Adjunct Professor AI Design at Pratt Institute and Co-Founder, Creative AI Academy
With over two decades of pioneering experience, Dominik (Dom) Heinrich is a curious innovator, patented (AI) inventor, and global leader of design deeply embedded in AI. His expertise lies in bridging the gap between creativity and technology, having worked for and with the Top Fortune 100 to accelerate their growth and design impactful solutions. He is known for his appearance in the Wired documentary "Being Human in an AI World" and as a global thought leader and speaker in the AI space. Currently, Dom leads AI Design globally at The Coca-Cola Company, where he drives the integration of artificial intelligence into design to foster groundbreaking products and experiences across the brand portfolio. Additionally, he also serves as the Co-Founder at Creative AI Academy and as Adjunct Professor for Infinite (AI) Design at Pratt Institute. Dom is deeply committed to educating the next wave of designers and innovators, strongly believing in a harmonious Human-Machine Relationship. His career is marked by significant achievements, including leading organizational change at MRM McCann, recognized several times by Fast Company as the Best Workplace for Innovators. Dom has been honored with numerous international awards for creativity, design, and innovation, notably Cannes Lions in Innovation, Best World Changing Idea, and D&AD Impact Pencil. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: How Brands Can Stay Relevant to Both Humans and AI Agents 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Imagine gaining a day's worth of knowledge in an insightful keynote. Dominik Heinrich, an AI design professor with over a decade of experience in AI and working for major brands at the intersection of creativity and tech, has created award-winning consumer marketing innovations. He will demystify the hype around AI and reveal its impact for marketers, emphasizing how becoming more human is key to staying relevant in an AI-agentic world. Walk away with actionable insights on the steps brands can take today to ensure success.
Ioana Costea
Head of Business Transformation
Ioana Costea is a seasoned professional with nearly 20 years of experience in building and leading large global teams, driving ambitious transformation agendas, and aligning team goals with customer objectives. As Head of Business Transformation at Allianz Services Romania, she leads the Innovation Center – InnovateX, as well as the Automation and the Transitions & Transformations teams. Her focus is on boosting productivity through automation, process optimization, and right shoring, helping both the internal organization and other Allianz Group entities achieve their goals efficiently. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Overcoming the Unknown
Octavian Palade
Senior Growth Manager
𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿: Octavian Palade is a Senior Growth Manager at Upswing, the most innovative SEO agency in Romania. A former journalist, with almost 14 years of experience in writing about innovation, business and startups, Octavian is also a seasoned digital marketer with a background that covers video production, organic growth through content & using LLMs to scale online businesses. Passionate about all things tech, he follows the industry closely, keeping a keen eye on the advancements of AI and its uses in the fields of digital marketing & business transformation.
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