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MEET THE SPEAKERS
15 JUNE
Business as usual? Not this year. At Innovation Summit 2026, we'll learn from international experts who will explore the trends redefining the future of business, technology, and leadership.
They will dive into key topics such as Human–Machine Collaboration, Clean Tech innovation, and the growing intersection between gaming and business, where creativity, strategy, and digital ecosystems are reshaping how companies engage customers and build competitive advantage.
Stay ahead of the curve, connect with forward-thinking leaders, and get inspired at Innovation Summit 2026.
Lars Silberbauer
Value Accelerator Advisor at Goldman Sachs, Former Senior Global Director of Digital at LEGO
Lars Silberbauer is an award-winning global CMO and thought leader in brand transformation, innovation, and digital strategy. He has led marketing and digital transformation for some of the world’s most iconic brands, including LEGO, MTV/Paramount, Nokia Phones, and the International Olympic Committee. Best known as the strategist behind LEGO’s global digital reinvention, Lars helps organizations understand how creativity, technology, and strong brand purpose can turn audiences into engaged communities. His work combines commercial insight with bold storytelling, showing leaders how to build brands that remain relevant in a fast-changing world. As a keynote speaker, Lars delivers inspiring and practical insights on brand innovation, AI and creativity, digital leadership, cultural relevance, and business transformation. His presentations are especially relevant for leaders, marketers, and organizations looking to strengthen their brand, engage audiences more meaningfully, and lead transformation with creativity and confidence. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Do what feels right. Not what feels safe. 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: What really happens behind the scenes when global brands reinvent themselves? In this rare and highly personal keynote, Lars Silberbauer opens the door to the transformation journeys behind some of the world’s most recognisable brands - from LEGO and MTV to The Olympics and Nokia. Through powerful stories and real-world lessons from the frontlines of transformation, Lars shares how iconic brands stay culturally relevant during moments of radical disruption, technological change and shifting consumer behaviour. Audiences will discover: * Why most organisations resist change * How timeless brands continuously reinvent themselves * Why authenticity beats perfection * And why the future belongs to brands brave enough to evolve.
Regina Quartey
Technology Advisor, MBA Lecturer, Founder
Regina Quartey is a brand strategist and WPP leader who helps brands and businesses grow through smart partnerships, innovation, and community. As founder of BrandBox and ExeQutive, she's built platforms where founders, professionals, and creatives connect, collaborate, and move ideas forward. Regina brings real-world experience at the intersection of brand, influence, and digital change, and a sharp eye for what actually works. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Authentic Influence in a World of Artificial Intelligence 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Everyone's racing to adopt AI, but the brands winning right now haven't lost their human edge. Regina Quartey breaks down how leaders can build genuine influence in a world where audiences are getting smarter at spotting what's real. This isn't about choosing between technology and authenticity, it's about knowing how to lead with both.
Lolita Cercel
AI Artist
Lolita is an AI artist who until now has existed only in headphones. At Bucharest Tech Week she debuts live projected onstage in real time and performing with a live band. The result: a hybrid live format, part concert, part conceptual experiment, that asks what performance can be when the artist isn’t physically present.
Cătălin Lupoaie
B2B Marketing Manager
As B2B Marketing Manager at BCR, he coordinates national projects dedicated to entrepreneurs and has been part of the BCR team for nearly eight years. He is one of the creators of BCR Școala de Business, a free entrepreneurial education platform that now counts over 21,000 users. For five years, he served as Business Grower within the InnovX-BCR accelerator, supporting more than 180 technology start-ups in scaling their operations. With an academic background in journalism and six years at Ziarul Financiar, where he worked closely with hundreds of entrepreneurs, Cătălin brings both analytical perspective and practical market understanding. He later completed a Master’s degree in Marketing, Advertising and Communication at Sheffield University, transitioning fully into strategic marketing and entrepreneurial ecosystem development. Recently he has joined the Strategic Growth Management Program at BISM. He advocates for businesses built on solid foundations and believes Romania’s growth depends on involvement, digitalization, and financial education. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Opening Ceremony Bucharest Tech Week 2026
Bogdan Lebu
CCO
Bogdan Lebu is an experienced Marketing Manager with a proven 20-year track record in Marketing Management, Business Development, Strategy, Customer Operations, and CX Management. Driven by a deep passion for discovering and understanding customer insights, Bogdan excels at aligning brands, products, processes, and teams to not just meet, but consistently exceed customer expectations. He brings a comprehensive, 360-degree approach to business growth, blending strategic vision with operational excellence. Areas of Expertise: Branding, Marketing Strategy & Digital Marketing Sales Strategy & Sales Management Customer Operations & Customer Experience (CX) Management 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Future-Proofing the Enterprise
Tatiana Makhankova
Head of Global Retail Transformation
Tatiana Makhankova is an innovative retail and marketing leader specializing in retail experiences and luxury customer engagement. With over 20 years of international experience, she drives transformation across global markets, blending strategy, creativity, and operational excellence. Currently at Diageo, she focuses on elevating consumer experiences and delivering impactful, scalable retail solutions. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Reinventing Consumer Engagement in Physical Spaces 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: This session explores how physical retail is evolving into a powerful consumer engagement and acquisition channel. Drawing on global brand examples, it highlights how experiential spaces and community-driven strategies drive conversion, build lasting relationships, and elevate brand storytelling. Discover how to design future-ready retail concepts that create memorable, high-impact consumer experiences.
Renate Strazdina
National Technology Officer North Europe Multi-Country Cluster
Dr. Renate Strazdina is National Technology Officer for Microsoft's North Europe Multi-Country Cluster, advising governments and enterprise leaders on how to transform organizations with AI securely and responsibly. With over 20 years across IT, consulting, and board roles - including EY and Swedbank - she sits at the intersection of agentic transformation, cybersecurity, and regulation. Renate holds a Doctorate in Computer Science from Riga Technical University and is completing an MSc in Cyber Security at the University of London. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: The Human + AI Enterprise: What Industry 5.0 Really Asks of Leaders 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Industry 5.0 isn't about more machines - it's about a new contract between people, AI, and the businesses that employ both. Drawing on Microsoft's view of how leading European organisations are deploying AI today, Renate Strazdina opens the Innovation Summit with a clear picture of what changes, what doesn't, and where the real competitive advantage of the next 24 months will sit. Expect a candid take on AI agents, regulation, talent, and the three decisions every CEO in the room should make before they go home.
Florin Popa
Director
Florin Popa has over 20 years of experience in the telecommunications sector and is Orange Business Director at Orange Romania since 2013. Florin is a graduate of Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies where he specialized in Economics and Business Law. His career in telecommunications began in December 2001 when he joined MobilRom in Craiova. In 2004, he moved to Bucharest and held various management positions in the sales team of Orange Romania. In 2007, he was appointed Sales & Distribution Director, and since February 2013 he holds the current position. As a representative of Orange Business in the local market, Florin has extensive expertise in the area of connectivity and IT&C solutions that support companies and public authorities in their digital transformation journey. Under Florin's leadership, Orange's revenues from IT&C solutions have become a significant driver of growth. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Opening Ceremony Bucharest Tech Week 2026
Emilia Dumitrașcu
Proxy Product Owner George Business
Emilia Dumitrașcu is the Proxy Product Owner of George Business, BCR’s digital banking platform for companies, leading the evolution of digital solutions that help businesses manage their financial operations with greater simplicity, control, and efficiency. With over two decades of experience in banking, digital transformation, and customer experience, Emilia has contributed to redefining how companies interact with financial services, championing solutions built around real business needs rather than traditional banking processes. Her work bridges technology, product innovation, and customer insights, with a strong focus on creating intuitive digital experiences that empower companies to make faster and better-informed decisions. Emilia is a strong advocate of innovation with purpose, believing that the true value of technology lies not in its complexity, but in its ability to remove friction, unlock opportunities, and help businesses focus on growth.
Octavian Palade
Cofounder
𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: Octavian Palade is the Cofounder of aimup.agency, an AI-first SEO content marketing agency helping companies scale faster with smarter & more affordable visibility strategies. A former journalist with 14 years covering innovation, business, and startups, he now blends storytelling, digital marketing, and large language models to drive organic growth online. With a background spanning video production, content strategy, and AI applications in marketing, Octavian focuses on how technology is reshaping business growth.
Dani Rayner
Global Marketing Strategist, Former Marketing Director
Dani Rayner is a global marketing strategist who has led marketing for some of the world’s most influential entertainment organisations, including Netflix, BBC and BAFTA. Most recently, Dani spent eight years at Netflix - serving as Director of Marketing Planning and Operations - before transitioning into independent consultancy. Alongside her advisory work, Dani is a keynote speaker and presenter, with recent appearances at MIP London, Wildscreen Festival, MarTech Summit, UBIQ Live and TikTok's Women in Leadership Summit. Dani guest lectures on Executive MBA and Masters programmes at King's College London and is a proud Trustee for the London Wildlife Trust. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Building brands in the age of algorithms 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: In an era of AI, automation and endless content, brand differentiation is harder than ever. In this keynote, Dani Rayner explores the seven deadly sins of modern brand behaviour - why brands default to sameness, how data can mislead as much as guide, and what it takes to build relevance, distinctiveness and impact in a noisy, tech-driven world.
James Harmer
Planning and Strategy Leader
James Harmer is a renowned conference speaker & strategic leader with 25+ years’ experience spanning consumer technology, innovation and sustainability across leading tech and design consultancies. He’s worked with global brands from PepsiCo to Panasonic, specialising in helping businesses translate emerging technologies into commercially viable, consumer-centric solutions with measurable environmental and social impact. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: The Circular Advantage: Redesigning Consumer Tech for Long-Term Value Creation 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Circularity could become a breakthrough growth strategy for the next generation of consumer technology businesses. This talk explores how circularity unlocks new commercial models by keeping products useful, materials valuable and customer relationships active for longer when product, software, data, service and business model are designed together.
Ovidiu Șutac
Country Head
Ovidiu Șutac is an accomplished leader with a solid background of 25+ years of experience in software development. Having extensive experience in management, Ovidiu is a driven entrepreneur, highly skilled in running own business and corporate organizations. He was part of multinational companies and also launched some start-up companies and managed the businesses from inception until maturity. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Opening Ceremony Bucharest Tech Week 2026
Jesus Contreras
Chief Operations and Financial Officer
Ovidiu Șutac is an accomplished leader with a solid background of 25+ years of experience in software development. Having extensive experience in management, Ovidiu is a driven entrepreneur, highly skilled in running own business and corporate organizations. He was part of multinational companies and also launched some start-up companies and managed the businesses from inception until maturity. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Opening Ceremony Bucharest Tech Week 2026
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