Hwalani believes in the power of collaboration for the greater good through entrepreneurship, technology, financial inclusion and designs this opportunity through all her work. She is a Provincial General Manager at ABSA Bank working closely with individual clients, business owners, investment companies, and broader clients of the bank to mitigate loss, financial stability and promote trade and commercial activities that results in economic growth and development. A seasoned speaker ,Hwalani is also a Chairperson of the University of Venda Center for Entrepreneurship & Rapid Incubation and an Executive Board Member of Women in Tech® South Africa Chapter.A finalist in the Standard Bank 40 under 40 young achievers, Hwalani was listed in Mail & Guardian Women Changing South Africa. An advocate for women empowerment, Hwalani is currently pursuing Doctoral Studies at the University of Pretoria.She describes her passion for women as contagious, brave and fierce with indomitable will.

Isabelle Mauro is Director General of the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA) that represents the interests of 28 global and regional satellite operators. She reports directly to their Chief Executives. Under Isabelle’s leadership, GSOA and its member CEOs lead the effort to showcase the benefits of satellite communications for a more inclusive and secure society – vital to bridging the world’s digital divide and achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Isabelle has 25 years experience in the Tech sector and has held senior positions at GSMA and the World Economic Forum. Isabelle is passionate about inclusion and sustainability. She sits on the Advisory Board of Women in Tech and is Chair of the High-Level Advisory Board of the DigitalGoesGreen Foundation. She holds an MSc in European Politics and Policy from the London School of Economics.

Jameka S. Pankey is a thought leader, strategist and community leader committed to creating sustainable change around diversity, inclusion, and equity within the workplace. Over the past 15 years, she has held leadership roles within the corporate and retail in-store industry, specializing in cultivating talent while enhancing the employee experience and company culture. Jameka currently serves as the Head of Events and Experiential for Amazon Music.

Julia Lee currently holds the position of Executive Director for Education and Research at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), concurrently serving as the Executive Vice Provost for Strategic Initiatives at the Universidad de Ingenieria y Tecnologia (UTEC) in Peru. In her tenure from 2005 to 2014, Julia was a professor in the Harvard Department of Astronomy. At UTEC, her role involves re-envisioning the university’s curriculum and research initiatives. Julia collaborates with faculty, NGOs, and industrialists to develop strategic Centers at UTEC, focusing on research areas such as Water (launched in 2017) and upcoming initiatives in Energy and Mining. Julia’s international activities extend to overseeing programs for Harvard SEAS. Pedagogically, she has directed efforts to integrate engineering, humanism, and innovation into UTEC’s core curriculum, addressing global issues and emphasizing the impact of the Peruvian economy on the environment. This includes raising awareness of issues related to deforestation, water, soil, and atmospheric contamination. Her contributions also involve co-leading initiatives for a science-focused Masters program in preventative art conservation to cultivate local expertise in the handling and treatment of ancient artifacts in Peru and South America. Additionally, Julia leads a group of international universities and industries developing a collaborative degree/certification program focused on Global Challenges, set to launch in late 2018. Julia C. Lee is recognized for her significant contributions to astrophysics. She co-authored the discovery paper for cosmic acceleration, attributed to dark energy, which earned her the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics, the 2007 Gruber Cosmology Prize, and the 2015 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics. She has served on science advisory committees for X-ray satellite missions for NASA, ESA, and JAXA, and on the executive committee for US High Energy Astrophysics.

Kirsty Charleson is an experienced director with 23 years of cross-industry and multi-country experience across the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Kirsty has an educational background is in Mathematical Science & Economics and Computer Science specialising in AI & ML. She is currently a Director in Microsoft and is our America’s Regional Director for Women in Tech – covering LATAM, North America & Canada regions. Kirsty is a member of the Microsoft European Development Centre Advisory Board and Diversity & Inclusion Lead. Kirsty has direct experience driving organizational change and new product development globally.
Kirsty is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in tech, especially for women and girls. With an aim to help empower 5 million women and girls by 2030 in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) fields. She is responsible for organizing and promoting various events, programs, and initiatives that celebrate and support women in tech around the world. She is also a mentor, teacher, and speaker and actively supports platforms and programs that promote gender diversity and inclusion in tech. She was recently recognised as a female leader driving change in diversity & inclusion by Digital First publication.

Kristel Kruustuk, a passionate software testing and entrepreneur, founded Testlio to address challenges in software testing freelancing platforms. As the Founder and Board Director, she shares the Testlio story globally, including a keynote at the Nordic Business Forum in 2022. Beyond her entrepreneurial role, Kristel is a committed investor in companies led by female founders, advocating for increased diversity in the startup ecosystem. Despite the challenges, she remains determined to make a difference. As a mother of two, Kristel finds purpose in living harmoniously, balancing her time with hobbies like playing the piano and horse riding.

After completing her education at Miami University and Cleveland State University, she ventured into the legal profession. However, her trajectory took a turn when she joined Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, where she dedicated her efforts to registering voters in Kansas City, Missouri. Subsequently, Ladavia made her mark in Washington, D.C., serving as legislative counsel for U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) in 2009. Her role expanded over time, earning her a promotion to legislative director within Fudge’s congressional office. Following this, in December 2010, she transitioned to the Grocery Manufacturers Association, where she assumed the position of Senior Director of Federal Affairs. From 2013 to 2015, Ladavia served as the Executive Director of the Congressional Black Caucus, working alongside her political mentor, Marcia Fudge, who chaired the organization during Ladavia’s tenure. In January 2015, she transitioned to the Mayor’s Office in Washington, D.C., where she directed the Office of Policy and Legislative Affairs. The political landscape drew her back in 2015 when she became the National Director of African American Outreach and Deputy Director of Congressional Affairs for Hillary for America, a role she held until November 2016. Presently, Ladavia holds the role of Director and Global Head of Inclusion, Diversity & Equity at Amazon Web Services (AWS), underlining her commitment to fostering inclusive and equitable environments.

Linda Pereira holds a prominent position as the G100 Global Chair for Communication & Advocacy, leading an empowered group of 100 women leaders worldwide. This group manages 100 global wings, supported by 100 He for She champions in the Denim Club and 100 Country Chairs. Their collective mission is to advocate for gender equality, raise awareness, and drive impact across governments and organizations for a gender-equal future. In addition to her global advocacy role, Linda is a University Lecturer and a CNN Commentator. Since 2008, she has been an entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of CPL, a company specializing in top-tier meeting and event planning. As a Message Architect and Stage Presenter, Linda has demonstrated her proficiency in shaping impactful communication. Linda’s achievements include being the Winner of the Business Spirit Award and the recipient of the Business Owner Award in 2008. In 2011, she was voted into the top 100 women in eCommerce. She received the AHMP Education Award in 2009, reflecting her commitment to education and mentorship. Actively contributing to academia, Linda serves as a Meeting Industry Mentor for three universities in Russia, the USA, and the UK. She holds positions as a Board Member of the New World Leaders Association, Labor er Dignitas, and WECAI. Linda is also the President of APPEN and a Member of the Advisory Board of Meetings Show UK.